• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.55-60
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• 2000

Wire codes, introduced by Wertheimer and Leeper, are interesting largely because several case-control studies have reported associations between them and certain types of cancers, including childhood leukemia. This paper is concerned with the reliability of wire codes as a surrogate for residential electric and magnetic field, divided into four categories based on the electrical wiring within 40m of homes. To examine the correlation between spot measurements and wire codes, EMF was measured by using HI-3604 and classified by wire codes. The correlation between long-transformed RMS of magnetic field and wire codes was 0.81. But the correlation between log-transformed RMS of electric field and wire codes was 0.27. The results led us to determine a four category from of the Wertheimer and Leeper code that 1) may be useful in domestic epidemiological studies and 2) is not suitable for electric field exposure. Thus, the critical point of exposure assessment in residential magnetic field is to classify a wire code precisely.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.142-150
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• 2015

Several reports supported that continuous exposure to 60 Hz magnetic field (MF) induces testicular germ cell apoptosis in vivo. We recently evaluated duration- and dose-dependent effects of continuous exposure to a 60 Hz MF on the testes in mice. BALB/c male mice were exposed to a 60 Hz MF at $100{\mu}T$ for 24 hours a day for 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks, and at 2, 20 or $200{\mu}T$ for 24 hours a day for 8 weeks. To induce the apoptosis of testicular germ cell in mice, the minimum dose is $20{\mu}T$ at continuous exposure to a 60 Hz MF for 8 weeks, and the minimum duration is 6 weeks at continuous exposure of $100{\mu}T$. Continuous exposure to a 60 Hz MF might affect duration- and dose-dependent biological processes including apoptotic cell death and spermatogenesis in the male reproductive system of mice. The safety guideline of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) indicates that the permissible maximum magnetic flux density for general public exposure is $200{\mu}T$ at 60 Hz EMF (ICNIRP Guidelines, 2010). In the present study, we aimed to examine the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes regulated by the continuous exposure to 60 Hz at $200{\mu}T$ in Sprague-Dawley rats for 20 weeks. The continuous exposure to 60 Hz at $200{\mu}T$ does not affect the body and testicular weight in rats. However, exposure to 60 Hz MF significantly affects testicular germ cell apoptosis and sperm count. Further, the apoptosis-related gene was scrutinized after exposure to 60 Hz at $200{\mu}T$ for 20 weeks. We found that the message level of endonuclease G (EndoG) was greatly increased following the exposure to 60 Hz at $200{\mu}T$ compared with sham control. These data suggested that 60 Hz magnetic field induced testicular germ cell apoptosis through mitochondrial protein Endo G.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2010

Nanoparticle exposure assessment presents a unique challenge in the field of occupational and environmental health. With the commercialization of nanotechnology, exposure usually starts from the workplace and then spreads to environment and consumer exposure. This report discusses the current trends of nanoparticle exposure assessment, including the definition of nanotechnology relevant terms, essential physicochemical properties for nanomaterial characterization, current international activities related nanomaterial safety, and exposure assessment standard development for nanotechnology. Further this report describes challenges of nanoparticle exposure assessment such as background measurement, metrics of nanoparticle exposure assessment and personal sampling.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.96-101
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to conduct the field validation of alternative method(ETM method) by using non-carcinogenic, and less toxic solvents than NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) analytical method 5524 for measuring the airborne metalworking fluids in workplaces. We carried out the field validation test by using the exposure chamber, guaranteeing the air sampling homogeneously in a machining environment. The ETM mixed solvent presented the complete solubility of MWFs used in test field. Based on the field test data, the bias of the ETM method from reference method, NIOSH analytical method 5524, was from -7.0% to 5.1%. The overall uncertainty of the ETM nethod was 21.6%, which satisfied the NIOSH criteria for the sampling and analytical criteria.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.264-270
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• 2010

Agricultural workers are often exposed to high levels of dust during field operations. A systematic exposure assessment of annual task-weighted exposure has not been thoroughly examined. The occupational dust exposure in two wine grape vineyards was measured. Exposure levels to total and respirable dust were determined for a 1-year cycle of work. An operation profile including the frequency of tasks was established. The means of total and respirable dust exposure were $1.08\;mg/m^3$ and $0.07\;mg/m^3$, respectively. Based on the exposure for each task and the task frequency, task-weighted mean exposures to total and respirable dust were estimated as $1.115\;mg/m^3$ and $0.079\;mg/m^3$, respectively. The task-weighted exposure was significantly represented by three operations and could be attributed to the exposure frequency rather than the exposure intensity of operations. The measurement of a few of the most frequent tasks may be an alternative method of estimating task-weighted exposure. Agricultural dust exposure can be significantly reduced by targeting those tasks most important to task-weighted dust exposure.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.265-275
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• 2019

Technological advances of mankind, through the development of electrical and communication technologies, have resulted in the exposure to artificial electromagnetic fields (EMF). Technological growth is expected to continue; as such, the amount of EMF exposure will continue to increase steadily. In particular, the use-time of smart phones, that have become a necessity for modern people, is steadily increasing. Social concerns and interest in the impact on the cranial nervous system are increased when considering the area where the mobile phone is used. However, before discussing possible effects of radiofrequency-electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) on the human body, several factors must be investigated about the influence of EMFs at the level of research using in vitro or animal models. Scientific studies on the mechanism of biological effects are also required. It has been found that RF-EMF can induce changes in central nervous system nerve cells, including neuronal cell apoptosis, changes in the function of the nerve myelin and ion channels; furthermore, RF-EMF act as a stress source in living creatures. The possible biological effects of RF-EMF exposure have not yet been proven, and there are insufficient data on biological hazards to provide a clear answer to possible health risks. Therefore, it is necessary to study the biological response to RF-EMF in consideration of the comprehensive exposure with regard to the use of various devices by individuals. In this review, we summarize the possible biological effects of RF-EMF exposure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.277-284
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• 2023

Since the radiological risk is different depending on the working environment, protection measures and policies must be developed through analysis of the field area environment. Evaluating the characteristics of the field area that uses radiation should be conducted through comparative analysis with other industries, not just the numerical value of the field area. In this study, evaluation factors were derived from exposure records by the department to compare radiation occupational exposure records by sector. And then, we developed a polygonal model for comparative analysis and applied them to eight work fields through ten evaluation factors. Based on the occupational exposure record in 2020, a polygonal model was applied to compare and evaluate the characteristics of the radiation work area. Through this, the usefulness of the polygonal model was confirmed, and protection policy measures for the industry were proposed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2012

Objectives: To compare the exposure level of extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields among semiconductor workers, shipyard welders and office workers. Methods: To measure the ELF magnetic field concentration, EMDEX LITE (Enertech, USA) were used and monitored for eight hours continuously. Five companies handling the electric and magnetic field (EMF) source were investigated, which the exposure groups were classified into three groups: semiconductor workers, welders, and office workers. Welder group was chosen as a high exposed group and office group as a low exposed group. Results: The arithmetic mean (${\pm}SD$) and geometric mean (GSD) of personal exposure level of semiconductor workers were 0.73 (${\pm}1.33$) ${\mu}T$, 0.43 (2.88) ${\mu}T$, respectively. The ceiling value ranged between 0.18 and 123.2 ${\mu}T$. Welders were exposed high with the arithmetic mean value of 3.46 (${\pm}\;13.46$) ${\mu}T$ and geometric mean value of 0.45 (4.70) ${\mu}T$, respectively, and ceiling value range of 75.5~129.6 ${\mu}T$. The exposure levels of office workers were low compared to other exposed groups; the arithmetic mean 0.05 (${\pm}0.13$) ${\mu}T$, geometric mean 0.03 (2.38) ${\mu}T$ and ceiling value range 0.37~3.35 ${\mu}T$. This study revealed statistically significant differences of the mean ELF magnetic field exposure doses among three groups (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The average ELF magnetic field exposure doses of semiconductor workers were much higher than those of office workers in control group, but were lower than those of welders in high exposure group.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.550-556
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• 2006

Photosensitive carbon nanotube (CNT) pastes are explored to develop a CNT field emitter for field emission display (FED) application. We formulated a photosensitive paste including multi-walled CNTs (MWNTs) for screen printing. The photosensitive CNT paste was synthesized by mixing of MWNTs, inorganic fillers (nano metal), organic vehicle, monomers and photo initiator. The CNT paste films were patterned by using backside exposure technique. The CNTs were strongly fixed on a cathode by formation of carbon residue during firing process. For the CNT emitters, current-voltage(I-V) characteristics and images of field emission were evaluated. The emission properties of CNT emitters are dependent on the paste composition. A turn-on electric field for the CNT field emitters is measured to be 1 V/$\mu$m. Additionally, the effect of heat treatment parameter on field emission properties was discussed. The newly formulated photosensitive CNT paste can be potentially applicable to highly reliable CNT field emitters.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.381-392
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• 2022

Objectives: Objective of this study is to review briefly exposure characteristics, monitoring instruments and threshold limit values for extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF) methods. This study was undertaken through brief literature review. We performed a literature search in PubMed to identify ELF-MF studies conducted in workplaces. Initial search keywords such as 'extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF)' and 'electromagnetic fields (EMF)' combined or singly. We limited our review to occupational rather than general nonworkplace environmental exposures. Methods: The contents we reviewed: key industry and occupations generating ELF-MF, several direct-reading instruments monitoring ELF-MF and threshold limit values (TLV) preventing health effects may be caused by the exposure to ELF-MF. Results: The industries related to the generation and supply of electricity, electrolytic installations, welding, and induction heating and more were regarded as high ELF-MF exposure industries. All jobs handling or employed performed in power cable lines, electrical wiring, and electrical equipment are found to be exposed to ELF-MF. Threshold or ceiling limit, 1,000 µT, is established to prevent acute effects of exposure to low-frequency EMFs on the nervous system: the direct stimulation of nerve and muscle tissues and the induction of retinal phosphenes. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified ELF-MF as possibly carcinogenic to humans chiefly based on epidemiological studies on childhood leukemia. However, a causal relationship between magnetic fields and several types of cancer including childhood leukemia has not been established nor has any other long-term effects. Risk management using precautionary measures, has been initiated by the US and EU to prevent chronic health effects related to ELF-MF exposure in workplaces. Conclusion: This study recommends the implementation of various measures such as theestablishment of occupational exposure limit values for ELF-MF and precautionary principle to prevent potential chronic occupational health effects may be caused by ELF-MF in Korea.