• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.372-379
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• 2023

Background: Laundry workers are known to be exposed to organic solvents in various works including dry cleaning. Long-term exposure to organic solvents may cause adverse health effects among laundry workers. Objectives: To investigate the association between exposure to organic solvents and symptom of headache or eyestrain among laundry workers. Methods: The subjects were total 267 laundry workers who participated in the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS). Responses to exposure to 'inhalation of vapor from organic solvent' was categorized into two (non-exposed: rarely or absolutely not exposed during working hours; exposed: ≥1/4 working hours) or three (non-exposed; low exposure: 1/4 of the working hours; high exposure: ≥1/2 working hours) groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between exposure to organic solvents and symptom of headache or eyestrain in the last 12 months among laundry workers. Odds ratios (ORs) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for experience of the symptom of headache or eyestrain with adjustment for age, sex, education, workplace size (by the number of workers), working hours per week, and current working period (year). Results: The proportions of exposure groups, i.e., non-exposed, low exposure, and high exposure, were 80.4%, 11.1%, and 8.5%, respectively. The proportion of those who had symptom of headache or eyestrain in the last 12 months was 18.7%. There was a significant association between exposure to organic solvents and experience of headache or eyestrain (OR=3.2, 95% CI=1.4~7.4). And, the proportion of those who experienced symptom of headache or eyestrain tended to increase significantly as the level of exposure to organic solvents increased (P_trend=0.002). Conclusions: Our results suggest that exposure to organic solvents are associated with symptom of headache or eystrain among laundry workers in Korea. However, further studies with more relevant design is needed to replicate the association.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.250-257
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• 2021

Laundry industry has traditionally been considered an industry that generates large amounts of wastewater and Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs). This is still the case until now. Household laundry detergents are produced and distributed within the safety regulations on the amount of harmful substances detected. While industrial laundry detergents are often distributed without safety regulations, and even laundry workers manufacture and use them on their own. This contaminates water and air and also threatens the safety of workers. This study is a basic study for distributing eco-friendly detergents(EFD-A) developed through previous studies to the laundry industry. Safety, washability and wastewater quality of EFD-A are evaluated. Three existing commercial detergents(PD1, PD2, LD4) are also evaluated to compare with EFD-A. The safety of detergents is confirmed by the content of optical brightener, VOCs, and arsenic. Washability is evaluated by the difference in reflectance of washed and unwashed artificial soiled fabrics according to detergent concentration, washing temperature, and washing time. TOC is used as the index of assessing the wastewater quality. The results are as follows; EFD-A doesn't contain the optical brighteners, VOCs, and arsenic. The optimal washing conditions for EFD-A are 3 g/L concentration, 40 ℃ washing temperature, and 30 min washing time. The soil removal efficiency is about 71 %, which was similar to or somewhat superior to that of PD1, PD2, and LD4. TOC is 63.5 %, which is about 15 % lower than the discharge limit. Through this study, the developed detergent EFD-A can be used as a safe and eco-friendly detergent for the human body and the environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2016

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the generating characteristics of VOCs and the exposure effect to chemicals among laundry workers and to identify the current status of occupational safety and health through health check-ups. Methods: During the six-month period from April to September 2015, this study quantitatively measured seven VOCs in ten laundries and carried out health examinations on 35 workers. Results: Comparing the monitoring results for the ten laundries, they were classified into three groups by ventilation system, dry-cleaning and size of shop. The average concentration of toluene, chlorobenzene, xylene, ethylbenzene, benzene, styrene and TCE were 23.9, 15.6, 5.5, 2.8, 0.9, 0.3 and $1.3{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. During dry-cleaning, VOC concentrations were 1.3-8.9 times higher than usual. On the other hand, at night the concentrations of toluene, chlorobenzene, xylene, ethylbenzene, benzene, styrene and TCE were 64.3, 41.5, 12.2, 6.3, 1.1, 1.2 and $6.6{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The health checkup results for the 35 workers showed that 13 workers were diagnosed as normal, while 22 workers were diagnosed as requiring continuous monitoring or re-checkup of liver and hematogenous functions. Conclusions: Although the results of exposure evaluation to VOCs did not exceed reference value and items had a low correlation with health checkup items, it is necessary to improve indoor air quality due to VOC volatilization from clothes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 2001

This study was conducted to identify the current status of occupational safety and health by checklist and to evaluate the airborne exposure to chemicals and to provide the appropriate recommendation for safety and health of laundries. A total of 20 laundries located in tile Gyungi district area were surveyed from July 20 to September 15, 2000. The prevalence of laundries having a stove and gas range were found to be 25 % and 55 %, respectively. Smoking is not allowed in 60 % of the laundries. Only 10 % of dry-cleaners were isolated. Ventilation systems in laundries had not been annually inspected. Most of the workers didn't put on respirators, MSDS were not available, and storage bottles did not contain warning labels. The bulk samples of dry cleaning agent include many chemicals that are not controlled by the MOL in Korea. The detected airborne organic solvents in the laundries were benzene, toluene, p-xylene, m-xylene, o-xylene, perchloroethylene, and 2-butoxy ethanol. The airborne concentrations of organic solvents were much less than the occupational exposure limits proposed by the Ministry of Labor(MOL) in Korea. But the concentrations of benzene exceeded the TLV of ACGIH. This study showed that the current status of occupational safety and health was not appropriate for workers in laundries. It is recommended that laundry workers should be educated for the treatment and storage of hazardous organic solvents to improve the occupational safety and health of the working environment as well as MSDS usage. Also, extended research and survey for the organic solvents that are not controlled by the MOL has to be conducted.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.347-352
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• 2020

Background: Low self-esteem can be an issue among health-care workers due to the hierarchical medical system. Health-care workers are also in a high pressure environment that can lead to stress and burnout. This study was conducted to estimate the proportion of health-care workers with low self-esteem, high stress, and burnout and the factors associated with these in a private hospital in Bangalore city. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a random sample of health-care workers of various cadres - doctors, nurses, nursing aides, technicians, and workers in ancillary departments such as laundry, dietary, central sterile supply department, and pharmacy, with probability proportional to size. Rosenberg Scale for Self-esteem, Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale, and Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure were used as study tools. Results: Among the 306 health-care workers, there were high levels of low self-esteem (48.4%), stress (38.6%), and burnout (48.7%), with the lowest levels being among doctors. Those aged younger than 30 years had significantly lower self-esteem and greater stress. Conclusions: Health-care workers with low self-esteem were nearly thrice more likely to suffer high stress, Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.84 (1.36-5.92), and those who were stressed had more than three times higher chance of experiencing burnout, OR = 3.6 (2.02-6.55). Path analysis showed that low self-esteem among health-care workers had a direct effect on burnout, as well as an indirect effect through stress (mediator variable). This study indicates the need for screening and counseling for low self-esteem, stress, and burnout as part of a periodic medical examination of all cadres of health workers.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.142-153
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• 1999

The objective of this study was to analysis the pesticide chemical-using of farm workers and working clothes for diminishing the possible damage by their improper chemicals usages. For the data Questionairs were collected 340 from the farm families of the 3 different districts in Yeoju, Kyonggido, and also inquired of the persons in charge of the chemicals and of the laundry in each family. Among the replies, 233 was classified as useful, and analyzed the frequency, the percentage and correlation. The results were as follows : 1. 64.3% of the farmers were using the chemicals for 5∼20 years, of whom 33.6% experienced stopping of chemicals-using for health. 2. The applicators experienced poisoning symptoms such as habitual fatigue, hadache, dizziness, chest discomfort, eye irritation, skin irritation, blurred vision, vomiting, nausea etc. after chemical work. 3. 74.7% answered they did not obtained educational information for the care of chemicals contaminated clothes. 69.1% said they need to obtain educational information about safety awareness of agricultural chemicals.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.683-692
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• 2005

This study was intended to analyze the clothing shopping orientations and purchasing practices for men's dress shirts. It was conducted by means of convenience sampling survey with male office workers who usually wear dress shirts at work and who also live in Seoul, Geonggi, and Chungcheong area. The data collected were analyzed by frequency analysis, cross-tabulation analysis, factor analysis, t-test, and ANOVA using SPSS. The results are as follows: 1) Clothing shopping orientations were classified into six factors: brand oriented; planned; enjoying; expediency oriented; negative shopping; and low price oriented. There were partially significant differences in clothing shopping orientations according to the surveyees' age. 2) The surveyees prioritized low price and expediency in clothing shopping, but they also showed low interest in brands. 3) The criteria for purchasing were in the order of size, color, comfort, and design. There were also partially significant differences in the estimation criteria for dress shirts according to marital status and age. 4) Most respondents tended to purchase 3 or 4 pieces of dress shirts a year, paying 30,000 to 50,000 won for a piece, usually at department stores. 5) When they purchase a dress shirt, they always considers its size. In the case of married men, however, it is the laundry tag that they do care about.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.718-734
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to provide basic data f3r improvement in Working Uniform in both scientific and efficient ways. The study were enforced by questionnaire and personal interview. The subject of the survey were the workers of 264 in mechanic industry in Seoul. The results obtained from the researches by methods above are as follows. 1. In general, Working Uniform could be classified types of two. One is loose-fitting one-piece garment covering the body and legs, the other is two-piece garment. The latter is a jacket with either sports collar or soutein collar, fastened with either buttons or a zipper and its sleeve is finished by cuffs and tapes. Regarding to color. inkblue, dark navy, khaky, dark beige are favourable ones. 2. In regard to the necessity of uniform that workers suppose, most of them were aware of it and agreed wearing uniform could play an important part. The reason why are on the basis of safety-first and work efficiency and also to protect a body from harmful or toxic dirt specially in machinery workplace. 3. The purpose of wearing an uniform according to statistics of population make some difference in age, gender. categories of industry, and the scale of factory. 4. In regard to care of uniform, front hem, edge of sleeve in a jacket, and knee, hip part in pants were most vulnerable spots for dirt. The parts damaged easily are edge of sleeve in a jacket and a zipper in pants. On the average, laundry have been done by water and was once a week frequency.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.1-15
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is getting information for making a plan of immigrant workers in Korea. As a first step to suggest plans for immigrant workers who have multi-cultural background, this study investigated to the domestic living of Koreans(ChoSun-Tribe) of Gillim province in China. For this, usage of domestic space questionnaire were used. Results of the research were as follows. 1. The most popular LDK type was the one which kitchen was separated from living room and dining room. Most of them thought that kitchen and living room have to be separated. 2. There was no plan for laundry room specially and most houses have a washing machine in the bathroom. Most houses didn't install a bathtub in the bathroom and they didn't think that it was indispensable. 3. It was estimated that they used a living room as a multi-purpose room for the family but used a master bedroom for its own purpose. 4. They used a table and chair for meals normally but they took meals sitting on the floor with a large family or guest. 5.All of them took off the shoes inside of the house for hygienic reason. There was no plan for the space to take on-off shoes in most houses and they just put the mat on the floor for it. 6. Modified Ondol system which use water pipe under the floor was popular in apartment while most detached houses had traditional Ondol system. The satisfaction about Ondol system was very high compared to other ones and also Ondol system was the most desirable one for ChoSun-Tribe.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.113-134
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• 2005

The study was first part of the research on development of consumer education program as social education program. The purpose of this study was to review social consumer education programs conducted by various organizations and to examine the consulting statistics from Korea Consumer Protection Board and Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations. In Consumer Protection Board, consumer education was operated mainly for both college students majored in consumer studies and public-sector workers. Outgoing education was provided mainly to the persons in industries and housewives. Other consumer organizations conducted consumer education using government funds. The organizations considered 'purchasing' and 'consumerism' most frequently as the topics for the education. 'Credit' and 'insurance' were another main concerns at the education. The consulting statistics showed that 'mobile communication', 'laundry service', 'health foods', and 'educational materials for foreign language' took the largest portion of the consumer consulting. Some implications were made for developing consumer education program as social education.