• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.548-554
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• 2020

Objectives: This study is to examine the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials in elementary school classrooms and libraries in Seoul, and to investigate phthalate contamination in indoor dust. Methods: PVC material was identified for building materials and furniture using portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF). Phthalates in dust samples (n=19) were extracted by ultrasonic extraction using cyclohexane and analyzed by GC-MS. Results: Diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were found in all collected dust samples (n=19), and diisonyl phthalate (DINP) was detected in all except for one sample (n=18). The concentration of DEHP (median: 2190 mg/kg) and DINP (2960 mg/kg) were higher than other compounds, suggesting that there are many products in the school that used these compounds. When comparing the phthalate concentration in the classroom (n=11) and library dust (n=8), the total concentration in the classroom (median: 10000 mg/kg) was higher than that in the library (8030 mg/kg). DEHP was the dominant compound in the library. The library is relatively more equipped with PVC furniture (n=83) and most floors are also identified as PVC material, suggesting that floors and furniture made of PVC materials are main sources of DEHP contamination. Conclusions: This study is a pilot survey for investigating phthalate contamination in elementary schools. As a result of the survey, phthalate contamination in elementary school was confirmed. However, further study requires risk assessment of children through analysis of phthalate metabolites in children based on sufficient number of samples and information about the site.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.21 no.2 s.74
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• pp.138-142
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• 2006

Occupational asthma is commonly known to be induced by isocyanate exposure. Spray painters generally use isocyanates for 2-pack spray painting to coat wooden panel surfaces in the furniture industry in South Australia. Due to a lack of actual exposure data, this study conducted environmental and dermal/ocular monitoring from a company in the furniture industry. According to this study, there was no significant airborne contamination, due to the use of high volume low pressure (HVLP) spray guns, low concentration of hardener in paint solutions and appropriate respirator like full face-air line respirator. There was no significant HDI detection in the general work area around the spray booths. Owing to the use of disposable nitrile gloves during the spray painting, no significant dermal exposure was found. According to color monitoring, there was a possible dermal exposure from surfaces in the workplace, unless either protective gloves were worn or appropriate working practices like clean-up process and storage in a secure places. No eye contamination was detected from the spray painters. No significant exposure levels from inhalational, dermal, ocular were found. The area of most concern was work practices.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.243-247
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• 2014

Formaldehyde is defined as carcinogen causing leukaemia, lymphoma or nasopharyngeal carcinoma at high level of exposure. Furniture-manufacturing workers can be exposed to formaldehyde, which implies serious impact on health of the workers. The authors carried out ambient monitoring of formaldehyde in the field, and identified the source of formaldehyde generated during the working process by testing the condition in the laboratory settings. After sampling formaldehyde in the air with 2,4-DNPH (2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine) coated silica gel, we extracted formaldehyde derivative with acetonitrile and analyzed the extract using HPLC with UV detector at 360 nm. Formaldehyde was separated by ACQUITY UPLC BEH $C_{18}$ column at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min using 45% acetonitrile as mobile phase. The workers were exposed to higher level of formaldehyde than normal air. Formaldehyde up to 0.31 ppm was detected in the process of veneer attachment, which exceeded 0.3 ppm, the ceiling value of ACGIH standard. The laboratory test of measuring formaldehyde generated from the glue and veneer used in the attachment process resulted in more formaldehyde generation as the temperature increased, and more from the veneer. Heating the veneer to $100-150^{\circ}C$ following the real condition of the manufacturing site generated 1.14-2.70 ppm of formaldehyde from the sample, which was 2-5 times higher level than Korean limit of exposure (0.5 ppm). As the workers handling and processing the veneer which was produced by wet process had high possibility to be exposed to formaldehyde, urgent improvement and management of working environment of furniture manufacturer is demanded.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.114-120
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• 2021

Furniture is an essential element in the area of human residence, and the necessity of system furniture suitable for the pursuit of unity in design, which clearly distinguishes the various and flexible arrangements and characteristics of space, is gradually expanding. The elderly population in Korea currently exceeds 15%, and is expected to be close to 40% by 2050. An increasing number of elderly generations are showing different behavioral patterns, such as sharing information, health care, and seeking independence from children. In order to maintain an independent daily life, a stable living environment has become essential, but as a result of a study that safety accidents caused by households increase due to a decrease in cognitive ability and physical ability, the need for a suitable household has increased. Therefore, the biological changes and characteristics of the elderly were investigated, and the concept definition, scope and limitations of system households were studied. In addition, by grasping the changes in the home appliance market and trends in the home appliance market, the design direction of system furniture required by the elderly was presented.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.227-233
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• 2014

Background: The aims of this study were to determine hippuric acid levels in urine samples, airborne toluene levels, acute and chronic neurological symptoms, and to describe any correlation between urinary hippuric acid and airborne toluene. Methods: The hippuric acid concentration in the urine of 87 paint workers exposed to toluene at work (exposed group), and 87 nonexposed people (control group) was studied. Study participants were selected from similar factories in the same region. Urine samples were collected at the end of a shift and analyzed for hippuric acid by high performance liquid chromatography. Air samples for the estimation of toluene exposure were collected with diffusive personal samplers and the toluene quantified using gas-liquid chromatography. The two groups were also interviewed and observed about their work practices and health. Results: The median of the 87 airborne toluene levels was 55 ppm (range, 12-198 ppm). The median urinary hippuric acid level was 800 mg/g creatinine (range, 90-2547 mg/g creatinine). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between airborne toluene exposure and urine hippuric acid levels (r = 0.548, p < 0.01). Workers with acute symptoms had significantly higher hippuric acid levels than those who did not (p < 0.05). It was concluded that there was a significant correlation between toluene exposure, hippuric acid levels, and health (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There appears to be a significant correlation between workers exposure to toluene at work, their urine hippuric acid levels, and resulting symptoms of poor health. Improvements in working conditions and occupational health education are required at these workplaces. There was good correlation between urinary hippuric acid and airborne toluene levels.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2015

It is important thing that air quality affects human health. And It is more important thing that Indoor Air Quality more affects human health than Outdoor Air Quality. The cause of that is indoor air pollutants are more absorbed than outdoor air pollutants. By the way, in case of Multi-use facility for example office, department store, school etc., it has a feature that there are more people than any other buildings. therethrough, effects of Indoor Air Quality of Multi-use facility affect more people's health than Indoor Air Quality of any other buildings. However, in multi-use facility, specifically retail store, chemical treated materials are used for interior finishing, showcase finishing and product finishing because esthetic element is more added for detention of customer. Consequently, in place where demands brisk sales, possibility that indoor air is polluted by VOCs is high. This study considered retail store's Indoor Air Quality. as result of experiment, figure of department store's air pollution exceed about 5~20 times in guideline of multi-use facility's Indoor Air Quality in any kind of shop of department store (guideline : $500{\mu}g/m^3$).

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.87-100
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure in children and adolescents using the results of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 3. Methods: A total of 2,380 subjects (n=571, 887, and 922 for 3-5, 6-11, and 12-17 years of age, respectively) were analyzed using an environmental exposure survey and environmental chemical substances concentration levels. Univariable linear regression analysis was performed to determine associated variables such as sex, age, income level, housing type, secondhand smoke time, cup noodles and canned food consumption, seafood consumption, new furniture (within the previous six months), drinking water type, and consumption of herbal medicines. Variables with p-values of less than 0.2 were extracted from the results and a multivariable linear regression analysis was performed using stepwise selection. Results: Univariable linear regression analysis showed positive associations between BPA concentration levels and variables including sex, age, secondhand smoke time, new furniture (within the previous six months), renovated living space (within the previous six months), fish and shellfish consumption, plastic-bottled drink consumption, and herbal medicine. As a result of performing multivariable linear regression analysis, the lower was the age the higher was the concentration of BPA levels. Additionally, women showed higher BPA levels than those of men. The more frequently fish was consumed, the higher was the BPA concentration. Moreover, higher BPA concentrations were observed when taking herbal medicine. Conclusions: The main factors affecting BPA concentration levels were age, gender, and consumption of fish and herbal medicine.

• Journal of The Korean Digital Architecture Interior Association
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2009

This study examined the programs of public library and the spaces for them in Seoul and Gyunggi area. The examination was performed by making field surveys on 12 sample public libraries and posing user questionnaires on 4 libraries out of the sample. The data from the questionnaire survey were processed and analyzed with SPSS 14.0. The results are as follows: First, according to the arrangement of the furniture, the space usages for the programs in public libraries are divided into four classes, one-way exposure: free of furniture: two-way exposure. The one-way exposure has been the most common though the furniture arrangement varies with the characteristics of a program. Second, language or information technology related programs are the most frequently attended programs in public libraries. Lastly, the space usage for the reading education programs has had the highest level of the user satisfaction measurement while the user satisfaction is lower in those for general culture programs and health care programs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.145-157
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• 1999

Wood dust is created when machines are used to cut or shape wood materials. Industries of high risk of wood dust exposure are sawmills, dimension mills, furniture industries, and carpenters, etc. Health effects associated with wood dust exposure includes dermatitis, allergic respiratory effects and cancer. Health effects of wood dus t are mainly depend on the concentration, dust size and exposure time. This study were carried out to evaluate the concentration and particle size distribution of wood dust during working processes. The subjects of this study were 53 workers exposed to wood dust in 7 furniture factories and 5 musical instruments, and 5 sawmill factories. The average total wood dust concentrations measured by personal cascade impactor were $1.82{\pm}2.31mg/m^3$ in primary manufacture, $3.59{\pm}1.72mg/m^3$ in s econdary manufacture, $5.09{\pm}1.46mg/m^3$ in sanding operation. Mass median diameters of hardwoods dust were $3.36{\mu}m$ in primary manufacture, $4.25{\mu}m$ in secondary manufacture, $4.21{\mu}m$ in sanding operation. softwoods dust were $3.39{\mu}m$ in primary manufacture, $4.34{\mu}m$ in secondary manufacture. Particle size distributions showed a nearly the same pattern in each working processes. The sample concentration of all hardwood dust exceeded the Threshold Limit Value(TLV) and 20.8% of the softwood dust exceeded the Threshold Limit Value. The range of size distribution were $0.5-10{\mu}m$ in the soft and hardwood dust. The respirable dust of soft and hardwood took up 59% and above. Therefore new threshold limit value for wood dust should be needed in Korea. Also, it should be done for various studies on health effects related to occupational exposure of wood dust.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.266-277
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• 2003

In order to investigate the working conditions related to cumulative trauma disorder(CTD) and symptoms of CTD, a survey was conducted covering 305 employees who were working in three furniture manufacturing companies in Kyungin area. Data were collected by using questionnaire of the Personal Ergonomics Profiles. The results were as follows : 1. The mean score of working conditions related to CTD was 0.95. The mean score of working conditions for labor workers were significantly higher than that of clerical workers. Among 4 factors of working conditions, the higher score were shown in the working and environment factors with 1.22 and 1.18, respectively. 2. Symptom prevalence rate of CTD for workers was $81.0\%\;{;}\;82.9\%$ for labor workers and $77.0\%$ for clerical workers. As for symptom of CTD in body part, higher rate were shown in lower back with $50.2\%$, shoulder and neck with $38.4\%\;and\;36.4\%$ respectively. 3. The score of symptom severity of CTD were 3.45. Significant difference was shown in symptom severity of forearm and wrist/hand part between labor and clerical workers. As for symptom severity of CTD in body part the higher score were shown in shoulder, ankle/foot, forearm. lower leg and elbow. and the highest score for labor workers were shoulder and ankle/foot and for clerical workers was lower back. 4. As a whole, symptom of CTD for workers positively correlated to working conditions. 5. Symptom of CTD for workers seemed to be significantly influenced by working factor, sex, working duration and working area factor.