• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.243-249
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• 2011

Objectives: Cement contains hexavalent chromium, which is a human carcinogen. However, its effect on cancer seems inconclusive in epidemiologic studies. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to elucidate the association between dust exposure in the cement industry and cancer occurrence. Methods: The cohorts consisted of male workers in 6 Portland cement factories in Korea. Study subjects were classified into five groups by job: quarry, production, maintenance, laboratory, and office work. Cancer mortality and incidence in workers were observed from 1992 to 2007 and 1997-2005, respectively. Standardized mortality ratios and standardized incidence ratios were calculated according to the five job classifications. Results: There was an increased standardized incidence ratio for stomach cancer of 1.56 (27/17.36, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-2.26) in production workers. The standardized mortality ratio for lung cancer increased in production workers. However, was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our result suggests a potential association between cement exposure and stomach cancer. Hexavalent chromium contained in cement might be a causative carcinogen.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.63-73
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to survey the related factors of metabolic syndrome of Chinese workers aged 20 years and above. Methods: The study was conducted at three locations in Shandong, China, currently working and took the physical examination (PE) within one year in the area as target participants. Personal characteristics, physical and biochemical results based on the PE, lifestyle habits, and food intake of the participants were used to analyze the relationship with metabolic syndrome. Results: Results showed that overall, thirty-one subjects (22.5%) had metabolic syndrome, twenty males (32.7%) and eleven females (14.2%). Metabolic syndrome was related to age, gender, educational level and occupational type with more risk in male (P < 0.05), people of older age (P < 0.001), low educational level (P < 0.05) and non-office workers (P < 0.01). According to the life style scores, lifestyle evaluation showed specifically alcohol consumption and smoking (P < 0.001) and stress management (P < 0.05) as important factors that were associated with the metabolic syndrome. High calorie (P < 0.01) and carbohydrate (P < 0.01) intakes were observed on male participants with metabolic syndrome in comparison to the non-metabolic syndrome but no significant difference on female participants. Conclusions: This results of this study can be used as significant supporting data to prevent and control metabolic syndrome in Chinese workers.

• The Magazine of the Society of Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers of Korea
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.590-605
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• 1987

The purpose of this study was to investigate thermal environmental factors, thermal clothing properties, and thermal sensation of the office workers in four selected office buildings in Seoul, and to determine the effect of thermal environmental factors and clothing insulation to the thermal sensation of the subjects. The subjects selected from each office were 5 males and 5 females at a time. Thermal environmental factors(DBT, GT, RH, MRT, $ET^{\ast}$) and clothing variables such as clothing weight per body surface $area(g/m^2)$ and estimated clothing insulation values(clo) were significantly different among each seasons(p<0,001). Means of $ET^{\ast}$ and estimated clothing insulation values of each season were as follows; Winter; $20.84^{\circ}C$ $ET^{\ast}$ with 0.72 clo for male and 0.79 clo for female Spring and fall; $23.65^{\circ}C$ $ET^{\ast}$ with 0.59 clo for male and 0.68 clo for female Summer; $26.00^{\circ}C$ $ET^{\ast}$ with 0.47 clo for male and 0.53 clo for female. In comparison these data with ASHRAE Standard, the subjects were predicted to feel comfort-able in spring and fall, and slightly hot in summer and slightly cold in winter because of high and low clo respectively. But the result of this survey showed more than $80\%$ of the occupants were thermally comfortable at a given environmental temperature and clo.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.614-624
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 3-month nutrition education (First Time Intervention, FI) + additional 3-month nutrition education (Repeated Intervention, RI) which was performed after the 8-month followup. FI was conducted during 0-3 months and RI for 11-14 months. Ninety-two subjects completed FI program, and 38 out of 92 subjects who received FI finished the RI. Anthropometric data, dietary assessment (24hr recall) and fasting blood analysis were measured at 0 month, 3 months, 11 months and 14 months time points. After FI (3 mo), waist circumference, triglycerides, total cholesterol were significantly decreased. At 11 month follow-up, body weight, BMI, hip circumference, SBP, DBP were significantly rebounced and HDL cholesterol was significantly decreased. Therefore, the effect of short-term nutrition education was not being sustained. After the secondary nutrition intervention (14 mo), waist circumference and hip circumference were again significantly decreased. Total diet quality index-international (DQI-I) score was significantly increased in both FI group and RI group. The changes in DQI-I scores were significantly correlated with the changes in body weight (r = -0.129, p < 0.05) and counts of nutrition education (r = 0.159, p < 0.05), indicating that effective nutrition education helps improve the diet quality leading to a possible role in CVD prevention among male workers. Although a short-term intervention seems to be a success, the effect was not retained in this study. Therefore, we suggest incorporating nutrition education as a routine program for male worker at worksite.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to find the ways to prevent the fatigue of the office of railroad employees. Method: The data were collected from the male employees of Korea Railroad Corporation. Results: The mean score of the degree of fatigue was 4.33. The factors that affected the level of fatigue were support from senior officials, exercise, age, work stress, number of work hours per week, alcohol intake and working area. To be more specific, the level of fatigue was lower when the support from senior officials was higher. The employees who did no exercise, who are in the age between 31 and 40, with high working stress, who worked 61 hours per week of higher, non-drinkers were found to have higher level of fatigue. The employees with the age of 51 years or older with unspecified work area had relatively lower level of fatigue. Conclusion: In conclusion, to decrease the level of fatigue of the office of railroad employees, the development of health improvement programs are required such as increase of the support from senior officials, change in exercise and drinking habit, decrease of the work stress and adjustment of the working hours.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.471-483
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• 2013

The study aimed to investigate the wearing & purchase practices with shirts and analyze the group differences on the shirt size, BMI & perceived body type. Total usable questionnaires were obtained from 350 male office workers aged from 20 to 49 in Seoul. Results were gained from the statistical analysis such as factor analysis, ANOVA, t-test using SPSS 21.0. The results were as follows. First, male office workers had difficulty in choosing the right size among the different sizes of ready-made shirts and had trouble in vexatious order & high price for custom-made shirts, however, they had an emphasis on design and size for the 2 kinds of shirts in common. Second, the groups by shirt size, BMI, perceived body type showed significant differences in shirt fitness and shirt wearing methods of ready-made shirts but showed no difference in purchase intention of custom-made shirts. Fatness and body type were proved to be important for wearing shirts and it was assumed that there were socio-psychological reasons for the custom-made shirt purchase. Finally, the groups by the experience of purchasing custom-made shirts showed no difference in shirt fitness and shirt wearing methods of ready-made shirts but showed difference in purchase intention of custom-made shirts. This meant that purchase of a custom-made shirt stimulated another purchase. Therefore, shirt brands should focus on the first purchase of custom-made shirts.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality in pre-elderly and elderly individuals in Jakarta, Indonesia. Methods: We employed a case-control study design, utilizing secondary data from the Epidemiology Surveillance, Immunization Prevention, and Disease Control Sections of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Health Office, collected from December 2020 to January 2021. The study included 188 cases and an equal number of controls. Cases were COVID-19 patients confirmed to have died, as reported by hospitals and communities and subsequently verified by healthcare workers. Control subjects were patients who completed a 14-day isolation period and had been officially declared recovered by healthcare professionals. The dependent variable was the mortality of COVID-19 patients in the January 2021 period. The independent variables consisted of demographic data (age and sex), clinical symptoms (cough, runny nose, anosmia, diarrhea, headaches, abdominal pain, muscle pain, and nausea/vomiting), and comorbidities (hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes). Multivariate analysis was conducted using multiple logistic regression. Results: The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed several factors associated with COVID-19 fatalities in Jakarta: age of 60 years or older (odds ratio [OR], 4.84; 95% CI, 3.00 to 7.80), male (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 2.41 to 3.68), dyspnea (OR, 3.93; 95% CI, 2.04 to 7.55), anosmia (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.46), and heart disease (OR, 4.38; 95% CI, 1.04 to 18.46). Conclusions: The control and prevention of COVID-19 among elderly individuals require particular vigilance. When a COVID-19 case is detected within this demographic, prompt treatment and medication administration are crucial to mitigate the presenting symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2001

Objectives : The authors evaluated the effects on renal function of workers chronically exposed to low-level organic solvent mixtures. Methods : The authors measured the level of urine ${\beta}2$-microglobulin(${\beta}2$-MG) and microalbumin as biochemical markers of renal function and damage in 29 male workers exposed to organic solvents for more than five years and compared their results with those of 30 male office clerks as a reference group. Results : 1. The mean values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, SGOT, SGPT, ${\gamma}$-GTP were all within normal limits and there was no significant difference, except for hemoglobin(p<0.01), between exposed and reference group. 2. The values of BUN and serum creatinine were within reference limits and there was no significant difference between exposed and reference group. 3. The difference of mean values of urine microalbumin corrected by urine creatinine were statistically significant (p<0.01), but those of urine ${\beta}2$-MG was not. 4. There were no correlation of urine hippuric acids with BUN, serum creatinine, urine microalbumin and ${\beta}2$-MG. 5. There were no significant difference of BUN, serum creatinine, urine microalbumin and ${\beta}2$-MG upon work duration. Conclusions: It is assumed that chronic low-level organic solvent exposure in these workers shows early renal dysfunction, glomerular changes. The result corresponds to previous studies showing the relationship between hydrocarbon exposure and glomerulonephritis. For evaluation of impairment on kidney tubules, we need further study using more precise markers and long-term follow-up.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to estimate the industrial worker's knowledge, attitude, and practice about occupational health and to provide the basic data for the development of industrial health services. The study was undertaken from January 15 to January 30, 1993. 549 industrial workers at the Industrial Complex located in Chonbuk Province were participated in this study. The results were as follows; 1. The Knowledge, Attitude and Practice leveles of Workers about Occupational Health. The levels were measured by five point scale. The mean score of knowledge was 2. 59 point out of 4. The mean score of attitude was 2.37 point out of 4. The mean score of practice was 2. 38 point out of 4. 2. The analysis of their knowledge" attitude, and practice about general characteristics. 1) There was significant difference among different age groups. $(P{\leqq}0.0001)$ -. The group of age 25-29 was the highest value in knowledge and attitude. -. The group of age over 50 was highest value in practice. 2) There was significant difference between sexual groups in all items. -. Male workers were higher than Female workers in all items. (P=0.0000) 3) There was significant difference according to the marital status in all items. -. Married workers were higher than Single workers in all items. (P = 0.0000) 4) There was significant difference among different groups of educational level in attitude and practice. (P<0.05) The value was positivly correlated to their educational level. 5) There was significant difference among the groups of job-part in knowledge and practice. (P=0.000, P=0.031) -. Office workers were higher than Production workers in all items. 6) There was significant difference among different group of job experience in knowledge and attitude. (P=0.0000. P=0.0387) The value was positively correlated to the years length of job experience. 7) There was significant difference among the groups of different monthly income in all items. (P=0.000) The value was positively correlated to their monthly income.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.133-146
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• 2008

Purpose: This research aims to investigate into company workers' awareness of scaling and related factors and provide basic materials for setting up appropriate policies to improve the hygiene of the mouth of industrial workers and developing training programs for the worker's hygiene of their mouth, as part of researches to establish schemes for improving the workers's hygiene of their mouth. Method: Questionnaire was conducted by convenience sampling for 220 office workers belonging to H Group located in Seoul Metropolitan city over about 5 weeks between December 17, 2007 and January 20, 2008. The questionnaire for this study was constructed in consideration of general characteristics of the subjects, behaviors of the dental management. and scaling. The collected questionnaires were electronically processed using SPSS 12.0. Result: The followings are the findings of this research. First, in general, scaling is experienced by male unmarried worker in their 40s. whose monthly average income is 1.00-1.99 million won and have little interest in the hygiene of their mouth and, consequently. whose hygiene of the mouth is not good. Second, scaling is experienced once every six months by the worker in their 50s or older, who are college graduates and have much interest in the hygiene of their mouth and, consequently. whose hygiene of the mouth is good. Third. scaling is not periodically conducted because of high costs of it in terms of almost every parameter of general characteristics. Fourth, they have correct knowledge of scaling since they regard it as 'removing of plaque and tartar' in terms of every parameter of general characteristics. Fifth, the workers' sex (pE0.05), hygienic condition of the mouth (pE0.05) and knowledge of scaling (pE0.001) have a significant effect on their scaling experience. Conclusion: It is considered that dental health management should be continued by training of the importance of prevention through scaling as measure for dental health promotion of workers.