• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.177-183
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• 1974

It is generally recognized that the environmental noise of the various working places thought to be the cause of hearing disturbance. This survey was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of noise-induced occupational bearing loss among the weavers of 39 textile industries in Taegu, Korea. For this survey, 432 male workers and 2,023 female workers were examined their hearing acuity by Individual pure tone threshold determination test(air conduction), from November, 1972, to January, 1973. Main findings were as follows : 1. The mean of noise intensity of the 54 weaving rooms was, in over all, $95.6{\pm}4.2dB\;(A),\;95.9{\pm}4.0dB\;(B)\;and\;96.2{\pm}3.9dB\;(C)$. 2. The mean hearing threshold levels by service years in the 4,000 Hz were intensively increased from 1st to 3rd year and slightly decreased. than that of 3rd year, from after 3rd to 5th year, after 5th year that increased slightly. 3. The mean hearing threshold levels by frequencies were highest in the 4,000 Hz(male: $25.0{\pm}11.3dB$, female: $22.0{\pm}10.2dB$) and followed by 6,000, 8,000 and 3,000 Hz. 4. The mean hearing threshold level of the 6,000 Hz (male: 17.0 dB. female: 17.9dB) was higher than that of 4,000Hz (male: 16.4 dB, female: 17.1dB) in tile 1st service year. 5. The mean hearing loss of examinees was $16.2{\pm}8.0dB$ in male and $15.4{\pm}7.8dB$ in female.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.411-427
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• 2013

To investigate the comparison of dietary status and health behaviors according to obesity, 239 male workers were selected and classified as normal (18.5-22.9 27.2%), overweight (23-24.9, 37.7%), and obese (25-29.9, 35.2%) by body mass index ($kg/m^2$). The SAS (ver. 9.2) program was used and verified by the chi-square and f-value methods. Drinking frequency(2-3 times a week) was higher in normal males(45.3%), but not as high as in obese males (48.1%) (p<0.001). Smoking frequency and amount were the highest in overweight males, but not-quit-smoking was high in obese males(51.9%) (p<0.001). Exercise time was longer in normal males(108 minutes) than other groups(69 overweight males, and 82 obese males (p<0.01). Obese groups(73.8%) slept well (p<0.001), but overweight males(44.4%) showed less than 6 hours of sleep (p<0.01). Meal frequency differed by group(two meals a day 67.7% in normal males (p<0.001), no-snack 65.5% in obese males(p<0.001). The frequency of eating-out was once a day in normal males (38.5%), differed in the eating-out time (lunch(45.8%) in normal males, dinner in overweight males(52.1%) and obese males(59.5%) (p<0.01). Korean food (49.3%) was selected, but noodle differed by group(10.2% normal 21.5% obese (p<0.01). Self-perception of body differed from the body's actual condition(p<0.001). For weight control, exercise(56.4%) was practiced more than diet(18.6%). Nutrition knowledge was poor (correct answer rate was 36.7% in normal males, 41.7% in overweight males, and 46.7% in obese males). For eating attitudes, obese males answered more in "flexible to change eating habits", "supplemented when poor eating"(p<0.001), normal responded in "impact on nutrition to health", "try new food for health"(p<0.01). From these results, it is evident that male workers, especially overweight ones, must work to learn more about health and nutrition so as to combat chronic diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2010

This study was designed to investigate the effect of increased blood and tibia lead on the change of bone mineral density in retired male lead workers. One hundred nine retired male lead workers who worked in 4 different lead industries and 51 nonoccupationally lead exposed male subjects were recruited from March 2004 to October 2004. Bone mineral density(BMD) was measured by broadband ultrasound attenuation(BUA) at left calcaneous bone area with broadband ultrasound attenuation method of QUS-2(Metra Biosystems Inc, USA). Tibia bone lead was measured for skeletal bone lead with K-xray fluorescence(K-XRF) and blood lead was analyzed with flameless atomic spectrophotometer. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum calcium and iron were also analyzed. In addition, information for smoking and drinking status and basic personal data such as age and lead exposure were also collected using questionnaire inquiry. Blood lead was correlated with tibia lead (r=0.711) and these two variables were negatively correlated with BUA in bivariate analysis. BUA and tibia lead showed significant main effects on the change of blood lead after adjusting covariates. The effect modification by the level of BMD (low: lower than the median of BUA and high: higher than the median of BUA) was observed between the association of tibia lead and blood lead after adjustment of covariates. The subjects who had higher BMD seemed to have lower blood lead by the increase of tibia lead than those of lower BMD. In the multiple regression analysis of blood lead and tibia lead on BUA after adjustment of covariates, only blood lead showed statistically significant effect on BUA. This study confirmed that BMD and blood lead were significantly associated. To verify the causal association of BMD on blood lead and vice versa, further longitudinal studies are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.1608-1617
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• 2013

This study is performed to evaluate the effectiveness of a weight management program for overweight and obesity office workers; comparing their changes in the anthropometry, biochemistry, nutrient intakes, and exercise performance before and after the obesity management program. This program was performed on 39 workers, who are overweight or obese, over BMI 23 for 6 months in Jeollabuk-do public institution. As the results of this study suggests, triceps thickness (TT) of male subjects was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) of the total subjects were significantly decreased after the weight management program (P<0.05). The biochemical result of the Total cholesterol (TC) (P<0.05) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) (P<0.01) was significantly decreased in male subjects. The results of abdominal computed tomography (CT) also showed that subcutaneous fat area (SFA) of male subjects was significantly decreased after the weight management program (P<0.01). The nutrient intake's results of female subjects, who took Fe, Vit B2, and niacin, were increased significantly after the weight management program (P<0.05). The nutrition knowledge score of male subjects was significantly increased (P<0.05), and a muscular endurance of the physical test was significantly increased after the obesity management program (P<0.01). At the work place, workers need a systemic health and obesity management program to improve their work efficiency and quality of life. After this study, the program should be developed and supported continuously to maintain positive results from this study.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.46-61
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nutrition counseling on improving metabolic syndrome (MS) risk factors. Sixty-eight subjects were grouped according to their numbers of MS risk factors. Subjects who have three or more risk factors of MS were defined as "High risk", subjects who have two risk factors of MS were defined as "low risk", and subjects who have below two risk factors of MS were defined as "no risk" group. All groups finished nutrition counseling every three weeks for 12 weeks. Anthropometric, dietary assessments (24 hr-recall) and blood samples were measured at 0 and 12 weeks nutrition counseling. After 12 weeks of intervention, anthropometric data (weight, BMl, body fat (%), and waist/hip ratio) were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in all groups. Daily consumption of calorie was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the group of low risk and high risk. Blood level of fasting plasma glucose was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in all groups after 12 weeks of intervention. Significantly, the fasting plasma glucose level was returned to normal range in the high risk group. The number of people who have three or more risk factors of MS (high risk group) was decreased from 25 to 12. Sum of MS Criteria decreased from 85 to 52 in the group of MS and decreased from 143 to 99 in all groups. These results indicate that nutrition counseling for male workers at the worksite proved to be helpful by reducing the risk factors of MS and thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Continuing and systematic nutritional management programs should be developed and implemented for male workers at the worksites.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.64-70
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the raise of cigarette prices by KRW 2,000 at the beginning of 2015 on the change in smoking behavior among male office workers, and to analyze the correlation of various factors including their work behaviors and socio-economic factors with their smoking rate. Methods: In this research, a follow-up observation panel was constituted with 420 smokers as targets from among male office workers at a bank located in Daegu, South Korea. A cross-analysis and ANOVA analysis were carried out in order to examine whether changes in smoking status, amount of smoking, stop-smoking motivation, and reasons for smoking cessation failure after the passage of time since the cigarette price hike were statistically significant. The level of statistical significance was P < 0.05. Results: After the cigarette price hike, among the 420 smokers who were the target of the panel the rate of smoking cessation declined at the time-point of the survey to 15.5%, 12.4%, 8.5%, and 5.7% after one month, three months, six months, and 12 months, respectively. As a result of a follow-up observation of 65 smokers who stopped smoking immediately after the price hike, the actual non-smoking rate declined to 15.5%, 8.3%, 4.4%, and 3.1% after one month, three months, six months, and 12 months, respectively. One (1) year after the cigarette price hike, the non-smoking rate among the 420 smokers reached as low as 3.1% (13 persons). The most important reason for the failure of the attempts to quit smoking was stress for more than 60% of the smokers who attempted to stop. Conclusions: It seems that a powerful anti-smoking policy by the state targeting the nation's workers is necessary. For companies, mediation for workers' job stress can become a strategy for the success of non-smoking attempts. The government seems to require a practical policy to reduce the smoking rate by actively carrying out social, economic, and scientific research to come up with a reduction method for the cigarette hazard, an effective price hike policy, and other non-price policies.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.121-127
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• 2014

This study was executed to provide the basic data to prevent and manage the workers' metabolic syndrome (MS) in workplace by analyzing the health examination data of 1,152 workers at the ages from 19 to 34 and comparing the differences in MS prevalence, its components and living habits according to obesity. As a result, MS prevalence showed 8.9% in male and 1.5% in female respectively. MS prevalence according to obesity showed the differences that prevalence of male subjects without obesity was 1.6% and 21.7% with obesity and prevalence of female subjects without obesity was 0% and 12.5% with obesity. Components of MS according to obesity showed 4 factors except hypertriglyceridemia were significantly related with obesity in female subjects and all factors were significantly related with obesity in male subjects. With the above results, obesity is identified as the risk factor affecting MS prevalence and components of younger than 40 year old workers. Therefore, it is suggested health manager should consistently implement obesity management to prevent and manage the MS in working place and increase the workers' participation through the development and utilization of a web-based obesity management program considering space-time restriction and efficiently manage the MS.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4025-4035
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• 2012

This study was performed to determine the musculoskeletal symptoms and its association with sociodemographic and health related characteristics, job-related characteristics and occupational stress among manufacturing workers. The self-administered questionnaires were given to 856 male workers in randomly selected 62 work places with 50 or less employees in manufacturing industries during the period from October 1st, 2011 to November 30th, 2011. Complaint rates of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms was 82%. In logistic regression analysis, significant factors related with musculoskeletal symptoms were marital status, BMI, subjective health status, alcohol drinking, job position, job tenure, experience of sick absence and visiting out-patient department. In conclusion, the study results suggested that the complain rates of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms of workers in work places of manufacturing industries with 50 or less employees were higher than workers in a large enterprise or the small and medium enterprises and it was related with sociodemographic and health related characteristics, job-related characteristics and occupational stress.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.3 s.51
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• pp.678-689
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• 1995

Chromium is one of the representative toxic substance by occupational exposure which damage the mucosa of respiratory tract including nasal septal perforation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of chromium exposure on olfactory function and to obtain the fundamental information about chromium exposure. The authors performed olfactory function test, laboratory tests and questionnaire interview on the subject of three groups, that is, two exposed groups and one nonexposed group from May 1 to June 30, 1994. Exposed group 1 was 15 male workers without nasal septal perforation, exposed group 2 was 15 male workers with nasal septal perforation among 103 workers in 22 chromium plating factories, and nonexposed group was 15 male medical students. The gathered informations were histories of chromium exposure, habits of smoking and alcohol drinking, the concentrations of chromium in serum and urine, and asparate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase, etc. Olfactory function was checked by T and T olfectometer using phenyl ethyl alcohol(material A), methyl cyclopentenolone(material B), iso-valeric acid(material C), $\gamma$-undecalactone(material D), skatole(material E) and the results were expressed by detection threshold(DT) and recognition threshold(RT). There was a significant difference between exposed groups and nonexposed group in A, B, C, D, E substances by DT and in A, B, C, D substances by RT(P<0.01). The degree of olfactory dysfunction was highest in the exposed group 2 and lowest in the nonexposed group in all five substances by DT and it was same in A B, D substances RT and the difference of RT and DT. As summary, olfactory dysfunction by chromium exposure was recognized and the degree of olfactory dysfunction was higher in the exposed group with nasal septal perforation. Therefore, it would be helpful to apply olfactory function test for the early detection of olfactory dysfunction, and this test would be considered as the basic tool within workers' compensation system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2017

Objectives: It is difficult to identify exposure factors in the semiconductor industry due to low exposure levels to hazardous substances and because various processes take place in fabrication (FAB). Furthermore, a single worker often experiences a variety of job histories, so it is difficult to classify similar exposure groups (SEG) in the semiconductor industry. Therefore, we intend to develop a new exposure index, the period of working in FAB, that is applicable to the semiconductor industry. Methods: First, in specifying the classification of jobs, we clearly distinguished whether they were FAB workers or non-FAB workers. We checked FAB working hours per week through questionnaires administered to FAB workers. We derived an exposure index called FAB-Year that can represent the period of working in FAB. FAB-Year is an index that can quantitatively indicate the period of working in FAB, and one FAB-Year is defined as working in FAB for 40 hours per week for one year. Results: A total of 8,453 persons were surveyed, and male engineers and female operators occupied 90% of the total. The average total years of service of the subjects was 9.7 years, and the average FAB-Year value was 6.8. This means that the FAB-working ratio occupies 70% of total years of service. The average FAB-Year value for female operators was 8.4, for male facility engineers it was 7.7, and for male process engineers it was 3.5. A FAB-Year standardization value according to personal information (gender, job group, entry year, retirement year) for the survey subjects can be calculated, and standardized estimation values can be applied to workers who are not participating in the survey, such as retirees and workers on a leave of absence (LOA). Conclusions: This study suggests an alternative method for overcoming the limitations on epidemiological study of the semiconductor industry where it is difficult to classify exposure groups by developing a new exposure index called FAB-Year. Since FAB-Year is a quantitative index, we expect that various approaches will be possible in future epidemiological studies.