• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2005

Objectives: Particulate contaminants, such as total and respirable dusts, can harm the health of farm workers via several routes. The principal aims of this field study were to determine the concentrations and emissions of particulate contaminants: total and respirable dusts, in the different types of swine houses used in Korea, and allow objective comparison between Korea and the other countries in terms of swine housing types. Methods: The swine houses investigated in this research were selected with respect to three criteria: the manure removal system, ventilation mode and growth stage of pigs. Measurements of total and respirable dust concentrations and emissions in the swine houses were carried out on 5 housing types at 15 different farm sites per housing type. The swine houses investigated were randomly selected from farms situated within the central districts in Korea: province of Kyung-gi, Chung-buk and Chung-nam. Results: The total and respirable dust concentrations in the swine houses averaged $1.88\;and\;0.64mg/m^3$, ranging from $0.53\;to\;4.37mg/m^3$ and from $0.18\;to\;1.68mg/m^3$, respectively. The highest concentrations of total and respirable dusts were found in the swine houses with deep-litter bed systems: $2.94mg/m^3\;and\;1.14 mg/m^3$, while the lowest concentrations were found in the naturally ventilated buildings with slats: $0.83mg/m^3\;and\;0.24mg/m^3$, respectively (p<0.05). All the swine houses investigated did not exceed the threshold limit values (TLVs) for total ($10mg/m^3$) and respirable ($2.5mg/m^3$) dusts. The mean emissions of total and respirable dusts, per pig (75 kg in terms of live weight) and area ($m^2$), from the swine houses were 97.33 and 9.55 mg/h/pig and $37.14\;and\;12.83mg/h/m^2$, respectively. The swine houses with deep-litter bed systems showed the highest emissions of total and respirable dusts (p<0.05). However, the emissions of total and respirable dusts from the other swine houses were not significantly different (p>0.05). Conclusion: The concentrations and emissions of total and respirable dusts were relatively higher in the swine houses managed with deep-litter bed systems and ventilated naturally of the different swine housing types tested. In further research, more farms than the number used in this research should be investigated, which will present objective and accurate data on the concentrations and emissions of total and respirable dusts in Korean swine houses. In addition, personal sampling should be performed to objectively assess the exposure level of farm workers to particulate contaminants.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.31-36
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• 2016

The flash point is one of the most important properties for characterizing the fire and explosion hazard of liquid solutions. In this study, the flash points of two flammable binary mixtures, n-pentanol + n-propanol and n-pentanol + n-heptanol systems were measured using a Seta flash closed cup tester. The flash point was estimated using the methods based on Raoult's law and multiple regression analysis. The measured flash points were also compared with the predicted flash points. The absolute average errors (AAE) of the results calculated by Raout's law were $1.3^{\circ}C$ and $1.3^{\circ}C$ for the n-pentanol + n-propanol and n-pentanol + n-heptanol mixtures, respectively. The absolute average errors of the results calculated by multiple regression analysis were $0.4^{\circ}C$ and $0.3^{\circ}C$ for the n-pentanol + n-propanol and n-pentanol + n-heptanol mixtures, respectively. According to the AAE, the calculated values based on multiple regression analysis were better than those based on Raoult's law.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.33-48
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• 1997

Korean diffusive sampler (KDS) and charcoal tube (CT) were used for sampling n-hexane, trichloroethylene and toluene in air KDS was made by Department of Environmental Health, SNU-SPH in 1995. Surveys were conducted at ten industrial plants with organic solvents. The relationship between two sampling methods was examined by linear regression analysis, and concentrations by two sampling methods were compared using paired t-test. The results are as follows: 1. The geometric means by CT and KDS methods were 3.26ppm and 3.32ppm for n-hexane, 5.07ppm and 6.34ppm for toluene, and 7.18ppm and 7.90ppm for toluene, respectively. There was no significant difference between results by CT and KDS methods in three organic vapors (p>0.05). When linear regression analysis was performed, two sampling methods were highly related ; correlation coefficients were 0.98, 0.90 and 0.96 for n-hexane, toluene and trichloroethylene, respectively. 2. Airborne concentrations of n-hexane (n=21) were below 0.5 TLV level. The GM by two methods were almost same (3.09 ppm). And there was no significant difference between results by two methods (p>0.05). 3. Since toluene and trichloroethylene concentrations showed several levels, appropriate sampling rates were applied for each level. The GM of toluene concentrations by two methods at 0.5 TLV level were 3.75ppm and 5.48ppm. The KDS method overestimated the toluene concentrations at 0.5 TLV level (p<0.05). The GM values of toluene concentrations at 1 TLV level were 31.80ppm and 25.38ppm and at 2 TLV level were 64.13 ppm and 51.37 ppm. The KDS method underestimated concentration at both level (p<0.05). For trichloroethylene, the GM at 0.5 TLV level were 4.97 ppm and 7.11ppm. The KDS method overestimated the concentration of trichloroethylene (p<0.05). In conclusion, concentrations of three organic vapors measured by CT and KDS were not significantly different and results by two methods were highly related. But at contain concentrations, the levels by method were significantly different. Therefore, it is suggested that sampling rate of KDS should be studied simultaneously using CT method for organic vapors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.811-816
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• 2013

Background: Pervious studies suggested occupational workers exposure to pentachlorophenol (PCP) might contribute to increased risk of cancer. However, few studies have focused on associations between PCP and cancer risk at the community level. Objective: The present study was to explore the cancer risk for the community population living long-term in a PCP contaminated area. Methods: All the cancer cases diagnosed in 2009-2011 in Tongling City were collected. The cancer patients' residencies were geo-referenced in each district. The historical PCP usage for each district of Tongling was calculated as the PCP pollution index, which was further used to divide into PCP exposure categories. Standardized rate ratios (SRRs) of cancer incidence were applied to detect the cancer risk as exposure grade elevated. Correlation analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between PCP pollution and cancer incidence. Results: A total of 5,288 cancer cases (3,451 male and 1,837 female) were identified. PCP usage was correlated with the incidence of leukemia (r=0.88, P=0.002) for males, and with cancer of the esophagus for males (r=0.83, P=0.008) and females (r=0.71, P=0.020). Compared with the low exposure category, significant SRRs for total cancer sites was obtained for high PCP exposure category (SRR=1.61, 95%CI=1.59-1.62). Most SRR values of the cancer sites were significantly increased as exposure grade elevated and exposure time extended. Conclusion: The present study found that community residents living in the PCP contaminated area had increased risk of cancers. Leukemias, lymphomas and nasopharyngeal and esophageal cancers are most possibly associated with PCP exposure.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.459-465
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• 2002

This study was performed to identify the proper analytical conditions of endotoxins regarding optical density in the workplace where metalworking fluids are used. This study found that "onset time method" was more accurate than "time to $V_{max}$ method". Reproducibility and accuracy analyzed by "onset time method" was greatly higher than the "time to $V_{max}$". The optical density of "0.03" was the most appropriate analytical condition among "onset time method". In this analytical condition, linearity of 0.998 was obtained and recovery rate ranged from 88% to 105% at the endotoxin concentrations below 5 EU/mL. No significant difference of endotoxins was observed between the optical densities of "0.03" and "0.05". However, correlation coefficients were different with statistical significance (p<0.01). This study confirmed that either the optical densities "0.03" or "0.05" should be used to analyze endotoxin. Of these optical density values, OD with correlation coefficient higher than 0.98 should be used to analyze endotoxin in environmental samples.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2003

To investigate the changes of cortico-cortical connectivity during odor stimulation of subjects classified by occupations, the mutual information content of EEGs was examined, for general workers, perfume salespersons and professional perfume researchers. Analysis of the averaged-cross mutual information content (A-CMI) from the EEGs revealed that, among the professional perfume researchers,. changes in the A-CMI values during odor stimulation were more apparent in the frontal region of the brain, although for the general workers group and perfume salespersons group such changes were more conspicuous in the overall posterior temporal, parietal and frontal regions. These results indicate that the brains of professional perfume researchers respond to odors mainly in the frontal region, reflecting the function of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) due to the occupational requirement of these subjects to discriminate of identify odors. During odor stimulation, the perfume salespersons, although relatively more exposed to odors than the general workers, showed similar changes to the general workers. A-CMI value is in inverse proportion to psychological preferences of the professional perfume researchers and perfume salespersons, but this is not the case with the general workers. This suggests that functional coupling for people who are occupationally exposed to odors may be related to odors nay be related to psychological preference.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.469-484
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• 2017

Radiological Technologists deals with the life of a person which means professional competency is essential for the job. Nevertheless, there have been no studies in Korea that identified the job competence of radiologists. In order to define the core job competencies of Korean radiologists and to present the factor models, 147 questionnaires on job competency of radiology were analyzed using 'PASW Statistics Version 18.0' and 'AMOS Version 18.0'. The valid model consisted of five core job competencies ('Patient management', 'Health and safety', 'Operation of equipment', 'Procedures and management') and 17 sub - competencies. As a result of the factor analysis, the RMSEA value was 0.1 and the CFI, and TLI values were close to 0.9 in the measurement model of the five core job competencies. The validity analysis showed that the mean variance extraction was 0.5 or more and the conceptual reliability value was 0.7 or more, And there was a high correlation between subordinate competencies included in each subordinate competencies. The results of this study are expected to provide specific information necessary for the training and management of human resources centered on competence by clearly showing the job competence required for radiologists in Korea's health environment.

• 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.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2014

Malondialdehyde (MDA), used as an oxidative stress marker, is commonly assayed by measuring the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) using HPLC, as an indicator of the MDA concentration. Since the HPLC method, though highly specific, is time-consuming and expensive, usually it is not suitable for the rapid test in large-scale environmental epidemiologic surveys. The purpose of this study is to develop a simple and rapid method for estimating TBARS levels by using a multiple regression equation that includes TBARS levels measured with a microplate reader as an independent variable. Twelve hour urine samples were obtained from 715 subjects. The concentration of TBARS was measured at three different wavelengths (fluorescence: ${\lambda}-_{ex}$ 530 nm and ${\lambda}-_{em}$ 550 nm; ${\lambda}-_{ex}$ 515 nm and ${\lambda}-_{em}$ 553 nm; and absorbance: 532 nm) using microplate reader as well as HPLC. 500 samples were used to develop a regression equation, and the remaining 215 samples were used to evaluate the validity of the regression analysis. The induced multiple regression equation is as follows: TBARS level (${\mu}M$) = -0.282 + 1.830 ${\times}$ (TBARS level measured with a microplate reader at the fluorescence wavelengths ${\lambda}-_{ex}$ 530 nm and ${\lambda}-_{em}$ 550 nm, ${\mu}M$) -0.685 ${\times}$ (TBARS level measured with a microplate reader at the fluorescence wavelengths ${\lambda}-_{ex}$ 515 nm and ${\lambda}-_{em}$ 553 nm, ${\mu}M$) + 0.035 ${\times}$ (TBARS level measured with a microplate reader at the absorbance wavelength 532 nm, ${\mu}M$). The estimated TBARS levels showed a better correlation with, and are closer to, the corresponding TBARS levels measured by HPLC compared to the values obtained by the microplate method. The TBARS estimation method reported here is simple and rapid, and that is generally in concordance with HPLC measurements. This method might be a useful tool for monitoring of urinary TBARS level in environmental epidemiologic surveys with large sample sizes.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.185-196
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• 2005

Although medical exposure from diagnostic radiology procedures such as conventional x-rays, CT and PET scans is necessary for healthcare purposes, understanding its characteristics and size of the resulting radiation dose to patients is much of worth because medical radiation constitutes the largest artificial source of exposure and the medical exposure is in a trend of fast increasing particularly in the developed society. Annual collective doses and per-caput effective doses from different radiology procedures in Korea were estimated by combining the effective dose estimates per single medical procedure and the health insurance statistics in 2002. Values of the effective dose per single procedure were compiled from different sources including NRPB reports, ICRP 80, MIRDOSE3.1 code and independent computations of the authors. The annual collective dose reaches 27440 man-Sv (diagnostic radiology: 22880 man-Sv, nuclear medicine: 4560 man-Sv) which is reduced to the annual per-caput effective dose of 0.58 mSv by dividing by the national population of 47.7 millions. The collective dose is far larger than that of occupational exposures, in the country operated 16 nuclear power plants in 2002, which is no more than 70 man-Sv in the same year. It is particularly noted that the collective dose due to CT scans amounts 9960 man-Sv. These results implies that the national policy for radiation protection should pay much more attention to optimization of patient doses in medicine.