• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.146-155
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• 2015

Objectives: The aims of this study were to set up benzene exposure matrices according to industry and process and to assess the risk of those occupational exposure to benzene. Methods: The benzene exposure matrices were assembled depending on industry and process, based on an exposure database provided by KOSHA(the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency), which was gathered from a workplace hazards evaluation program in Korea. These exposure matrices were assessed by Hallmark Risk Assessment tool. Results: The benzene was treated 412 industries sector(36%), 2,747 business places, and 471 industrial processes according to database. The arithmetic mean of past decade 8 hours time-weighted average of airborne benzene concentrations in the workplace was 0.10722 ppm. 1.07% of the total sample were greater than OEL, and 59.8% were showed less than the limit of detection. The highest risk values(Danger Value) were seen 36 industries including manufacture of general paints and similar product and 12 processes, such as other painting of manufacture of metal fabricated members. Exposure matrices based on employee exposure data base may provide exposure histories and can be used in epidemiological studies. Conclusions: It was found that more attentions should be paid to 36 among 412 industries and 12 of 471 processes, with a higher risk value.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.213-217
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• 2014

Medical operations and diagnosis using interventional radiology techniques have been increased. The management and monitoring of occupational radiation exposure to the staff of interventional radiology become important, specially because they stand in close proximity to the patient. The operational radiation protection quantity, Hp(10) which can be obtained from personal dosimeter do not always represent the effective dose to the staff. So, in this study, to estimate the critical organ doses to the staff of interventional radiology, Monte Carlo calculations with mathematical human phantom and dose measurements with personal dosimeters were carried out for the major interventional radiology procedures using C-arm. Results showed that the values of Hp(10) measured by personal dosimeters were higher than critical organ doses which were calculated. And the calculated dose to thyroids was much higher than those of other critical organ doses. For the proper radiation protection of the medical staff of interventional radiology, additional radiation protection for thyroids as well as for whole body shielding like wearing a lead apron should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the association between emotional labor and job stress in bus drivers, as well as to propose management strategies for job stress. Methods: The study was conducted in February 2013 and involved 182 bus drivers working in the Gyeonggi area. Results: emotional labor was $9.5{\pm}2.34$ on average, and job stress was higher than the median of the same indicator among Korea's workers in the areas of physical environment, job autonomy, and relationship conflicts. Factors that affected job stress was lower if the subjects' Higher values for emotional labor indicated a higher level of job stress. Conclusion: To reduce among drivers, the following measures are necessary: increase the comfort of the driver's seat within the vehicle, provide adequate rest between bus headways, provide comfortable in-house rest facilities, and establish physical training spaces to reduce musculoskeletal disorders as well as programs for reducing back pain. In addition, relationship conflicts may be relieved by increasing job autonomy as much as possible, by granting autonomous control of working hours and bus headways, as well as by banning long work hours. Moreover, various club activities, exercise programs, and counseling programs that workers can be involved in together may be beneficial. This study is significant in that it identified the relationship of the bus drivers' emotional labor and job stress, which has previously been ignored as a research topic. Through its results, this study provides baseline data for the preparation of management strategies that can address the job stress of bus drivers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2021

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to develop a quality control protocol of inorganic acids using ion chromatograph and to evaluate analytical proficiency of the legally designated agencies. Methods: This study prepared inorganic acid samples by injecting three anion certified solutions (chloride, nitrate, and sulfate) on the quartz filters. To investigate the storage stability and concentration consistency of the samples, 240 samples for each anion were tested at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 while storing at 4℃ and 25℃. To evaluate analytical proficiency, two separate testings were administrated for six skilled analysts and 46 analysts affiliated with legally designated agencies. Results: Average recoveries of the three ions after 16 weeks of storage were fairly high (over 95%). In addition, average recoveries (chloride = 97%, nitrate = 96%, and sulfate = 103%) after 16 weeks of storage at low temperate were relatively higher than those (94%, 93%, and 98%) at room temperature. The coefficients of variation (CV) for the three ions were less than 5% except for the sulfate sample at 5.56 ㎍ (CV = 12.4%). The average ratios of the concentration values analyzed by the legally designated agencies to the injected concentrations were close to 1. However, their CVs were relatively greater (chloride ≤ 49%, nitrate ≤ 14%, and sulfate ≤ 28%), which implies a need for quality control. Conclusions: The quality control protocol used in this study for the three inorganic acids can be utilized in the quality control for ion chromatography.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.37-56
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• 2016

This study verified the effect of occupational value, as felt by new employees working in the food service industry, on turnover intent and also the moderating effect of perceived organizational support between occupational value and turnover intent. The analysis drew out the following results. First, the study verified that, among inherent values, only social commitment had a positive(+) direction of influence on turnover intent, and second, among extrinsic values, only face-saving and stability seeking had a positive(+) direction of influence on turnover intent. Third, as a result of verifying the effect of inherent values on turnover intent according to emotional support, the study revealed that turnover intent increased, as the perception of emotional support increased, on condition that the item, value of knowledge seeking, among inherent values, was perceived highly, On the other hand, if the item, relationship-centered, scored highly among inherent values, then the higher the perception of emotional support, the lower the turnover intent. Fourth, as a result of verifying the effect of extrinsic values on turnover intent according to emotional support, the study revealed that turnover intent decreased, as the perception of emotional support increased, on condition that the value of economic priority, among extrinsic values, was perceived highly. On the other hand, if the item, face-saving, scored highly among extrinsic values, then the higher the perception of emotional support, the higher the turnover intent. Fifth, as a result of verifying the differing effect of inherent values according to methodical support, the study revealed that turnover intent increased as the perception of methodical support increased, if the item, knowledge-seeking among inherent values was perceived highly. Sixth, as a result of verifying the differing effect of extrinsic values according to methodical support, the study revealed that turnover intent decreased as the perception of methodical support increased, if the item, economic priority among extrinsic values was perceived highly. On the other hand, if the item, face-saving, among extrinsic values, was perceived highly, the higher the perception of methodical support, the higher the turnover intent.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.18-24
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• 2015

The flash point is one of the most important indicators of the flammabiliy of liquid solutions. The flash point is the lowest temperature at which there is enough concentration of flammable vapor to form an ignitable mixture with air. In this study the flash points of binary flammable solutions, 2-propanol+propionic acid and n-hexanol+formic acid systems, were measured using Seta flash closed cup tester. Particularly n-hexanol+formic acid system exhibited minimum flash point behavior. The measured values were compared with the calculated values using Raoult's law and optimization method. The calculated data by optimization method described the measured values more effectively than those calculated by Raoult's law.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.22 no.2 s.80
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• pp.47-52
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• 2007

The flash points and the fire points for the m-xylene+n-propionic acid and n-butanol+n-pentanol systems were measured by using Tag open-cup apparatus(AS1M D 1310-86). The experimental flash points of two binary systems were compared with the values calculated by the Raoult's law, Van Laar equation and Wilson equation. The calculated values based on the Raoult's law on m-xylene+n-propionic acid system were found to be better than those based on Van Laar and Wilson equations. The calculated values based on Van Laar equation on n-butanol+n-pentanol system were found to be better than those based on the Raoult's law and Wilson equation. The the fire points for the m-xylene+n-propionic acid system were about $7{\sim}8^{\circ}C$ above the flash points. In the case of n-butanol+n-pentanol system, the flash points and the fire points had been found to be identical.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.31-36
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• 2016

The flash point is one of the most important indicators of the flammability of liquid solutions. The flash point is the lowest temperature at which there is enough concentration of flammable vapor to form an ignitable mixture with air. In this study the flash points of ternary liquid solutions, n-nonane+n-decane+n-dodecane system, were measured using Seta flash closed cup tester. The measured values were compared with the calculated values using Raoult's law and empirical equation. The calculated data by empirical equation described the measured values more effectively than those calculated by Raoult's law.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.58-71
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• 2015

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the classification system of chemical substances in the Occupational Safety and Health Act(OSHA) and Chemical Substances Control Act(CSCA) and to compare several health indices (i.e., Time Weighted Average (TWA), Lethal Dose ($LD_{50}$), and Lethal Concentration ($LC_{50}$) of chemical substances by categories in each law. Methods: The chemicals regulated by each law were classified by the specific categories provided in the respective law; seven categories for OSHA (chemicals with OELs, chemicals prohibited from manufacturing, etc., chemicals requiring approval, chemicals kept below permissible limits, chemicals requiring workplace monitoring, chemicals requiring special management, and chemicals requiring special heath diagnosis) and five categories from the CSCA(poisonous substances, permitted substances, restricted substances, prohibited substances, and substances requiring preparation for accidents). Information on physicochemical properties, health indices including CMR characteristics, $LD_{50}$ and $LD_{50}$ were searched from the homepages of the Korean Occupational and Safety Agency and the National Institute of Environmental Research, etc. Statistical analysis was conducted for comparison between TWA and health index for each category. Results: The number of chemicals based on CAS numbers was different from the numbers of series of chemicals listed in each law because of repeat listings due to different names (e.g., glycol monoethylether vs. 2-ethoxy ethanol) and grouping of different chemicals under the same serial number(i.e., five different benzidine-related chemicals were categorized under one serial number(06-4-13) as prohibited substances under the CSCA). A total of 722 chemicals and 995 chemicals were listed at the OSHA and its sub-regulations and CSCA and its sub-regulations, respectively. Among these, 36.8% based on OSHA chemicals and 26.7% based on CSCA chemicals were regulated simultaneously through both laws. The correlation coefficients between TWA and $LC_{50}$ and between TWA and $LD_{50}$, were 0.641 and 0.506, respectively. The geometric mean values of TWA calculated by each category in both laws have no tendency according to category. The patterns of cumulative graph for TWA, $LD_{50}$, $LC_{50}$ were similar to the chemicals regulated by OHSA and CCSA, but their median values were lower for CCSA regulated chemicals than OSHA regulated chemicals. The GM of carcinogenic chemicals under the OSHA was significantly lower than non-CMR chemicals($2.21mg/m^3$ vs $5.69mg/m^3$, p=0.006), while there was no significant difference in CSCA chemicals($0.85mg/m^3$ vs $1.04mg/m^3$, p=0.448). $LC_{50}$ showed no significant difference between carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxic chemicals and non-CMR chemicals in both laws' regulated chemicals, while there was a difference between carcinogens and non-CMR chemicals in $LD_{50}$ of the CSCA. Conclusions: This study found that there was no specific tendency or significant difference in health indicessuch TWA, $LD_{50}$ and $LC_{50}$ in subcategories of chemicals as classified by the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the Ministry of Environment. Considering the background and the purpose of each law, collaboration for harmonization in chemical categorizing and regulation is necessary.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.450-464
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• 2016

Objectives: This study developed and validated reference materials (RMs) to analyze metal compounds in blood. Methods: We referred to KoNEHS (Korea National Environmental Health Survey) to estimate concentrations of blood metals (cadmium, Cd; lead, Pb; mercury, Hg) and applied analytical methods (inductively coupled plasma - mass spectroscopy, ICP-MS, for Cd and Pb; graphite furnace - atomic absorption spectrometry, GF-AAS, for Cd and Pb; and direct mercury analyzer, DMA, for Hg). Homogeneity and stability tests were carried out. In addition, certified values and uncertainties of RMs were calculated through internal and external experiments. All RMs were developed and assessed in various forms according to element, analytical method, and two types of concentration levels high concentration for occupational exposure and low concentration for environmental exposure. Results: All samples showed acceptable homogeneity, except for low concentration of Cd in the GF-AAS method. Short- and long-term stabilities were satisfied by ANOVA testing. In the inter-laboratory comparison, robust medians were lower than the certified values of all RMs (robust median/reference value; $1.301/1.327{\mu}g/L$ for Cd, ICP-MS, low concentration; $3.152/3.388{\mu}g/L$ for Cd, ICP-MS, high concentration; $1.219/1.301{\mu}g/L$ for Cd, GF-AAS, low concentration; $3.074/3.321{\mu}g/L$ for Cd, GF-AAS, high concentration; $14.473/14.516{\mu}g/L$ for Pb, ICP-MS, low concentration; $50.069/50.114{\mu}g/L$ for Pb, ICP-MS, high concentration; $12.881/14.147{\mu}g/L$ for Pb, GF-AAS, low concentration; $47.015/47.591{\mu}g/L$ for Pb, GF-AAS, high concentration; $4.059/4.218{\mu}g/L$ for Hg, DMA, low concentration; $11.474/11.181{\mu}g/L$ for Hg, DMA, high concentration). Conclusion: This study demonstrates procedures for developing and validating RMs for biomonitoring in the field of the environmental health.