• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.428-436
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• 2019

Background: Metalworking fluids (MWFs) are mixtures with inhalation exposures as mists, dusts, and vapors, and dermal exposure in the dispersed and bulk liquid phase. A quantitative risk assessment was performed for exposure to MWF and respiratory disease. Methods: Risks associated with MWF were derived from published studies and NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations, and lifetime risks were calculated. The outcomes analyzed included adult onset asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pulmonary function impairment, and reported symptoms. Incidence rates were compiled or estimated, and annual proportional loss of respiratory capacity was derived from cross-sectional assessments. Results: A strong healthy worker survivor effect was present. New-onset asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, at 0.1 mg/㎥ MWF under continuous outbreak conditions, had a lifetime risk of 45%; if the associated microbiological conditions occur with only 5% prevalence, then the lifetime risk would be about 3%. At 0.1 mg/㎥, the estimate of excess lifetime risk of attributable pulmonary impairment was 0.25%, which may have been underestimated by a factor of 5 or more by a strong healthy worker survivor effect. The symptom prevalence associated with respiratory impairment at 0.1 mg/㎥ MWF was estimated to be 5% (published studies) and 21% (Health Hazard Evaluations). Conclusion: Significant risks of impairment and chronic disease occurred at 0.1 mg/㎥ for MWFs in use mostly before 2000. Evolving MWFs contain new ingredients with uncharacterized long-term hazards.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.257-267
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• 1997

This study focuses on the health risk assessment of airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a petrochemical complex, with several emphases on a risk assessment method. The first emphasis is on the importance of hazard identification to determine the likely carcinogenic potential of a VOC. Without considering this type of information, a direct comparison of the carcinogenic risks of two pollutants is meaningless. Therefore, wer suggest that this type of information be prepared and be listed with the estimate of cancer risk in parallel. The second emphasis is on the selection of a better dose-response model to estimate unit risk or cancer potency factor of a carcinogenic VOC. Finally, probilistic risk assessment method is discussed and recommended to use within a comparison of conventional point-estimate method. A health risk assessment has also been carried out. For non-carcinogenic risk, even the highest hazard index for carbon tetrachloride is estimated to be less than 1 with the other VOCs less than 0.03. However, the lifetime cancer risk from the inhalation of airborne VOCs is estimated to be about $2.6 \times 10^{-4}$ which is higher than the risk standard of $10^{-6}$ or even $10^{-5}$. Therefore, the investigation into domestic petrochemical complexes should be strengthened to obtain more fine long-term airborne VOC data.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2001

Objectives : To elucidate the transient effects on the risk of occupational injuries as acute events and establish so alternative proposal. Methods : The study population comprised a total of 302 workers randomly selected from applications for occupational injury compensation reported to the Inchon local labor office from January 1. 1999 to December 31. A case-crossover design, where each case serves its own control, was applied to this study. Through a telephone interview, workers provided useful data concerning five job related stressful events such as company transfer, work load change, overtime work, exchange duty, and work-part transfer. They were asked whether there were stressful events within a week of the occurrence of injury and the degree of stress. Exposure status from one year prior was used as control information. In the end, the data provided by 158 of selected persons was used for the analysis based on the quality of the data provided by the participants. A conditional logistic regression was used to discover the transient effects on the risk of occupational injuries as acute events. Results : The effects a company transfer and work load change on occupational injury was statistically significant on the risk of occupational Injuries as an acute event(RR=5.5, 95% CI=2.501-12.428; RR=3.1, 95% CI=1.963-5.017, respectively). Other stressful events were found to elevate the risk factor for the occurrence of occupational jujury, but were not significant. Conclusions : Our results suggested that transient stressful events elevated the risk factor for the occurrence of occupational injury.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-25
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• 2017

Objectives: There is higher rates of experience of suicide ideation and suicide attempt of adolescents in the Lima and Callao region compared with the results of the epidemiological study (2013) conducted by Peru National Institute of Mental Health and the Global School-based Student Health Survey (2010) which is was conducted among adolescents across all regions of Peru. Based on the PRECEDE model, this study analyzed the prevalence and the factor associated with the suicide attempt among the adolescent in a poor urban area in Peru. Methods: A stratified random sampling was used for the survey to select study participants from the 6 secondary schools based in Comas or Callao. The survey was conducted November 25th and December 4th in 2015 and a total of 738 individuals included in the analysis. In order to analyze factors influencing suicide attempt, comparison of predisposing factor, reinforcing factor, enabling factor, behavioral factor, environmental factor, psychological factors by suicide attempt and suicide risk group were identified through the chi-square test and hierarchical logistic regression. Results: Results showed that those who reported having less parental understanding, less time spent with parents, and 'almost none/none' for parental affection had more experience of suicide attempt and were more likely to sort into the high suicide risk group. Also, a greater proportion of those with the experience of suicide attempt had more experience of smoking and alcohol consumption, and experience of physical abuse and feeling insulted and depression in comparison to that of those without experience of suicide attempt. Variables that had a significant effect on suicide attempt included depression, subjective happiness, smoking experience, sexual intercourse, involvement in fight, parental affection, and gender (male). Conclusions: The results of the current study can serve as grounds for the necessity of acknowledging that adolescent suicide does not simply depend on a couple of factors, but arises from situations in which individual, home, school, social factors influence one another, and therefore adolescent suicide should be prevented and addressed through a multi-dimensional and integrated approach.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.89-98
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• 2016

Purpose - This article tackles risk communication issues and aims to address the characteristics of MERS risk information distribution in South Korea, and secondly to examine the communicative behavior of the public health authority in terms of the quality of communication strategies. Thirdly, the study attempts to figure out the risk communication to cope with MERS through the applications of SMCRE model in chronological order. We employ the social amplification of risk framework for analyzing the emergent public response as one of the main approaches. Research Design, Data and Methodology - The main framework of this study is theoretically based on the social amplification of risk, which describes signals about risk transmitted and processed by individuals and social groups. The model also reflects the interactions between social groups and institutes about disaster-related risk issues, which are potential amplifiers or attenuators of communication signals. S-M-C-R-E Model is methodologically employed to examine the social amplification for MERS risk information in each period, which we defined operationally. The proposed methodology allows the assessment of effectiveness and ineffectiveness on risk communication to be conceptualized as a countermeasure against disasters. The paper focuses on exploring how social risk amplification can be applied and organized in each stage. Results - The SMCRE model describes the exchange of risk information and is also applied to all forms of communication between stakeholders including public health authority, local government and media. Each factor of risk communication includes source, message, channel, receiver and effect. The results support that the effective risk communication involves not only the improved reliability of public health authority as a key factor of risk communication, but also a close cooperation and good collaboration with local governments. It does not seem to be possible that the government-initiated risk communication based on controllability and management cope effectively with infectious disease in early stage. The results of this study imply that the shared risks between local, regional and national authorities can enhance risk communication system. Conclusions - The study supports that the disparities in how disaster-related risk information is interpreted and coded, have made effective risk communication and public sense-making impeded. Our findings support a more communicative discussion about the role of risk information sharing between governments for the improvement of emergency management and underline the importance of social elements in the risk communication, such as relationship and trust building. Findings suggest that trust building between stakeholders could be added to help explain the processes of social amplification and attenuation of risk. It would be recommended that the continuous risk communication with all the involved stakeholders will be able to help national health promotion policy to be improved regarding emergency management. Furthermore, risk communication has to be a scientific approach for the communication pertaining to potentially sensitive or controversial situations with public concerns and low public trust.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2013

Objectives: Unprotected leisure time exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or artificial tanning beds is the most important environmental risk factor for melanoma, a malignant skin cancer with increasing incidences over the past decades. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of skin health information provided by several sources and different publishing issues on knowledge, risk perception, and sun protective behavior of sunbathers. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among Austrian residents (n=563) spending leisure time outdoors in August 2010. Results: Print media, television, and family were perceived as the most relevant sources of information on skin health, whereas the source physician was only ranked as fourth important source. Compared to other sources, information provided by doctors positively influenced participants' knowledge on skin risk and sun protective behavior resulting in higher scores in the knowledge test (p=0.009), higher risk perception (p<0.001), and more sun protection (p<0.001). Regarding gender differences, internet was more often used by males as health information source, whereas females were more familiar with printed information material in general. Conclusions: The results of this survey put emphasis on the demand for information provided by medical professionals in order to attain effective, long-lasting promotion of photoprotective habits.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.352-360
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• 2011

Standard combination chemotherapy including isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol is very effective against tuberculosis. But, these medicines can cause hepatotoxicity which is the main reason for treatment interruption or change in drug regimen. In order to identify risk factors associated with hepatotoxcity in Koreans and assess elevated baseline LFTs' contributions to hepatotoxicity, a retrospective case control study was performed. The medical records of 277 patients who diagnosed with tuberculosis at a community hospital from January 1st, 2007 to June 30th, 2010 were reviewed. Patients were categorized into 3 groups (non toxic group, patients without increase in LFT levels; mild to moderate hepatotoxic group and severe hepatotoxic group). And the correlation between risk factors and hepatotoxicity was analyzed by using SPSS program. The overall incidence of hepatotoxicity was 18% and 8.7% of patients developed severe toxicity. Patients in the severe toxic group had the longest treatment period among the three groups. In 75% of severe toxic group, hepatotoxicity occurred within 18.3 days after starting medication. Hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin <3 g/dl) was a significant risk factor for development of severe toxicity. Elevated baseline transaminase (except ALT), total bilirubin, and preexisting hepatitis were also risk factors which were more than twice as likely to increase risk of severe hepatotoxicity (p>0.05). In conclusion, hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin level <3 g/dl) was a significant risk factor for anti-tuberculosis druginduced severe toxicity. Therefore, before starting antituberculosis chemotherapy, serum albumin level should be assessed at baseline. In high-risk patients (hypoalbuminemia, elevated LFTs) for hepatotoxicty, liver function should be closely monitored up to at least 21 days after taking medication.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.201-206
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• 2002

Findings from European and American studies have indicated such health behaviors as smoking, drinking, lack of exercise, and insufficient intake of grains, fruits and vegetables as risk factors for hypertension. However, because dietary pattern and health behaviors of Korean differ from people of other countries, the risk factors for Koreans could be different. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify food consumption patterns and health behavior characteristics of Korean hypertensive adults. Data on food consumptions and other health behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and exercise together with development of hypertension were collected from 597 persons aged 20 to 69 years in a local community. The first stage of analysis utilized cluster analysis to aggregate individuals into different health behavior and food consumption groups. Four health behavior groups were characterized by passive cluster, smoker cluster, fitness cluster and drinker cluster. Food consumption patterns of the subjects were also aggregated into 4 different clusters: dairy cluster, grain & vegetable cluster, fruit cluster, and fish & meat cluster. Then univariate analysis was followed to identify the variables associated with hypertension. The final stage of analysis was the identification of the relative importance of the variables selected from the univariate analysis on hypertension, using multiple logistic analysis. The results showed that heavy drinking was the most significant health behavior associated hypertension, which was similar to the findings in European and American studies. However, unlike the findings from foreign studies, grain and vegetable consumption appeared to be a risk factor for hypertension. A possible reason for the contradictory results between Korean and Western studies may be the dependence of Koreans on white rice as the major staple food, and/or the frequent consumption of salted vegetables, rather than fresh vegetables as is customary in Europe and America.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.684-691
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• 2006

Abdominal obesity (AO) is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which has shown a remarkable increase in Korea. This study aimed to identify prevalence of AO and related risk factors in Korean adults. A total of 5,132 men and women aged 20-85 years old from the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in the analyses. AO was defined as waist circumference >=90 cm in men and >=85 cm in women as proposed by Korean Society of Obesity. Multiple logistic regression was carried out to identify risk factors for AO. Three models were specified: (i) demographic and socioeconomic factors (model 1: age, education, poverty income ratio, employment), (ii) lifestyle factors and covariates (model 2: physical activity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary quality, type 2 diabetes, co-morbidity) and (iii) demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors (model 3). The prevalence of AO was 24.1 % in men, 23.5% in women. High poverty income ratio in men and low education attainment in women were risk factors for AO in model. 1. There was a significant association of AO with alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and dietary quality in men, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking in women. These factors except alcohol consumption in men became insignificant in model 3. This findings underscore the importance of developing AO prevention programs in Korea that target the at risk groups identified in this study. A program focusing on low income men or less educated women would be more efficient.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.5
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• pp.61-72
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors affecting home care patients 65 years of age and older with symptoms of depression. The author conducted this study for 80 depressed and non-depressed who were taking home care. Data was colleted from November 1996 to October 1997. The major findings of this study were as follows. Significant mean group differences were found on age and income in old home care patients with symptoms of depression, compared with non -depressed. Old home care patients who have less than 300,000won of income, smoking, exercise, unsatisfactory of home care, living in saparateness, rent, living alone, unbalanced diet, irregular diet were statistically significant risk factors by logistic regression. Old home care patients who do not exercise, less than 300,000won of income, unsatisfactory of home care, smoking, living alone were the risk factors by final logistic regression model predicting depression.