• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.21 no.11
• /
• pp.490-502
• /
• 2021

Horticultural facility farmers subscribe to crop accident insurance and insurance products secured by horticultural facilities in preparation for possible risks in the facility. Insurance is purchased to prepare for natural disasters such as typhoons, hail, frostbite, heavy rain, and strong wind damage covered by the product. In order to find out the effect of risk perception, which is a subjective perception of the risks of a given situation, on horticultural facility farmers' intention to purchase horticultural facility insurance products, the risk perception and insurance purchase intention were analyzed. A t-test was conducted to determine the impact relationship between farm size, insurance coverage, and risk perception, and multiple regression analysis was conducted to verify the effect of personal characteristics and behavioral factors such as subjective perception, reference group, media exposure, and compensation understanding. In addition, a three-step regression analysis by Baron & Kenny was conducted to confirm the mediating role of personal characteristics and behavioral factors in the relationship between risk perception and insurance purchase intention. As a result of the study, although there was no difference in farm size, it was analyzed that policy holders had a higher degree of risk perception than non-subscribers, and that compensation understanding had the greatest influence and subjective knowledge had the smallest influence. In addition, these four factors were verified to have a mediating effect on the relationship between risk perception and insurance purchase intention. These results are expected to provide practical help to the development and marketing activities of horticultural facility insurance products.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.61-70
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to examine radon exposure in terms of the relationship between the living environment and indoor radon concentrations among vulnerable households. Methods: Nationwide, 1,129 subjects were selected using personal questionnaires for adequately understanding the living environment, installation of E-PERM radon gas detectors, and investigation of the structure of the housing. Results: The mean concentration of indoor radon for all subjects was $130.2Bq/m^3$ (GM=101.7), and a total of 438 subjects (38.8%) exceeded the recommended standards ($148Bq/m^3$) for public facilities by the Ministry of the Environment. By location, the highest concentrations ($164.3Bq/m^3$, GM=124.1) were seen in North Chungcheong Province. In the case of the Seoul/Gyeonggi Province metropolitan area, they showed $125.6Bq/m^3$ (GM=105.1) and $118.9Bq/m^3$ (GM=96.5), respectively. By type of housing, indoor radon concentrations in single-family housing were higher than in row/multi-family housing (p<0.01). Although indoor radon concentrations raised in accordance with year of construction (p<0.05), the difference between indoor radon concentrations in underground residences was not observed to be statistically significant (p=0.633). Conclusion: More studies are necessary in the future regarding the difference in indoor radon concentrations that may occur due to different of types of indoor construction, building materials, and the amount of building materials.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.20 no.7
• /
• pp.799-809
• /
• 2011

Objectives: This study is aimed at identifying the influential factors on the pulmonary function of ordinary residents in the surrounding areas of Yeosu Industrial Complex. Methods: The PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) was conducted on the target residents numbering 989 people (male 361, female 628). The exposed group (813 people) resided within the radius of 5km from Yeosu Industrial Complex and the control group (176 people) resided in the radius of more than 15 km from May 2007 to November 2007. The survey also took into account other factors including personal characteristics, life habits, respiratory diseases and allergic symptoms, medical histories, and the living environments of the residents in order to further identify influential factors on pulmonary function. Result: When comparing the PFT values of the exposure groups to the control group of the same city, values of the exposure groups were meaningfully lower with an %$FEV_1$ of 107.05% and %FVC of 100.28%. Conversely, the control group reported an %$FEV_1$ and %FVC of 107.26% and 102.85% respectively, indicating that ambient air pollutants reduce lung function. The odds ratio of asthma diagnosis history increased when a subjects residence was close to a heavily trafficked road, traffic amount was huge, a bed was used, and the family had less than four members. However the results were not statistically meaningful. The odds ratios of abnormal pulmonary function were statistically higher among those with asthma(OR=4.29, CI=1.75-10.56), wheezing (OR=2.59, CI=1.24-5.41), and nasal congestion (OR=2.87, CI=1.36-6.08) (p<0.01). The factors affecting $FEV_1$ were symptoms including asthma, passive smoking and allergic eye disease ($R^2$=0.049, p<0.001). For the FVC symptoms including asthma ($R^2$=0.014, p<0.001) were measured. The analysis showed that FVC decreased with increases in $O_3$ and CO(p<0.01). Furthermore, $FEV_1$ decreased with increases in $O_3$(p<0.01). Conclusions: These results will provide preliminary data for establishing responsive measures to protect the health of residents in industrial complexes from air pollution, and to develop lasting environmental health policies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.sup1
• /
• pp.37-42
• /
• 2016

Studies have shown that smoking is a learnt behavior, often initiated during adolescence. This paper aims to describe tobacco-related knowledge, attitude and associations among school adolescents aged 13-15 with exposure to anti-smoking information. Using data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) in Viet Nam, 2014, knowledge was measured through 4 questions about tobacco use, and attitude was assessed through 3 questions on personal, social and environmental aspects. Students giving most anti-tobacco responses to all questions were considered as having correct knowledge or appropriate attitude or both. Access to anti-smoking information was determined by exposure to any media messages on tobacco control during the past 30 days and teaching in school about the danger of tobacco use during the past 12 months. A substantial percentage of students thought that being near others who smoke might be harmful to them and smoking is harmful to health (89.4% and 89.6% respectively). However, only 46.4% reported that it is definitely difficult to quit smoking and 66.9% thought that smoking for only 1 or 2 years, once stopped, is harmful to health. Slightly more than half of the respondents reported appropriate attitude that young smokers have fewer friends than others and smoking makes them less attractive and less comfortable at social events. Noticing anti-smoking messages in the media together with having lessons in school about the dangers of tobacco substantially increased the likelihood of having correct knowledge, appropriate attitude and both. Despite relatively high awareness about smoking harms, effective educational communication is still highly needed to improve the level of comprehensive knowledge and an appropriate attitude regarding tobacco use.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.131-142
• /
• 1999

By using the Korean demographic data and the modified relative risk projection model given in the Committee on the Biological Effect of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) report-V under the U.S. National Academy of Science, the radiogenic excess risk in Korean population has been evaluated. On the basis of this risk, a safety goal for the safe operation of domestic nuclear power plants has been further derived in terms of personal dose. The baseline risk of death due to all causes in Korea and the trivial risk level, which the society considers safe, were estimated to be $5.2{\times}10^{-3}$ and $5.2{\times}10^{-6}$, respectively. The radiogenic excess cancer risk in Korea has been estimated to be $5.2{\times}10^{-3}$ for tie case of acute exposure to 0.1 Gy and $3.7{\times}10^{-3}$ for the case of chronic lifetime exposure to 1.0 mGy/y. On the basis of these risks estimate, the resulting safety goal for one year opeation of a reactor was 0.05 mSv, which is quite identical with the ALARA guideline prescribed by the USNRC in the Appendix I, 10CFR50.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.7-16
• /
• 1994

This study was designed to establish the relationship between airborne trichloroethylene concentrations and total trichloro-compounds and trichloroacetic acid in urine samples of the trichloroethylene exposed workers, to examine if the biological screening value for trichloroacetic acid in urine set by the Ministry of Labor is appropriate, and to suggest a suitable biological screening value for total trichloro-compounds in urine. Seventy male workers from the cleaning, the packing, and the inspcetion areas were selected as the study group and eighty male office workers were chosen as the control group. The results were as follows: 1. The mean values of total trichloro-compounds and trichloroacetic acid in the exposed group ($48.1{\pm}1.5mg/{\ell}$, $19.7{\pm}1.9mg/{\ell}$) were significantly higher than those in the control group($4.3{\pm}1.5mg/{\ell}$, $1.8{\pm}1.2mg/{\ell}$). 2. The airborne tichloroethylene concentrations were significantly related with the concentrations of total trichloro-compounds in urine(r=0.8212) and the concentrations of trichloroacetic acid in urine(r=0.7216). 3. The average trichloroethylene concentrations in the manual cleaning plants and that in the automatic cleaning plants were 40.1 ppm and 7.7 ppm, respectively. The difference between two groups was statistically significant. 4. The geometric mean of 49.6 ppm trichloroethylene concentration was resulted in the $185.4mg/{\ell}$ total trichloro-compounds in urine, and the 50 ppm trichloroethylene concentration was expected to produce $170.4{\pm}28.5mg/{\ell}$ total trichloro-compounds in urine. 5. With the geometric mean of 49.6 ppm trichloroethylene concentration, the corresponding geometric mean concentration of trichloroacetic acid in urine was $74.7mg/{\ell}$. In conclusion, the level of personal exposure to trichloroethylene concentration was significantly correlated with the concentrations of total trichloro-compounds and trichloroacetic acid in urine. Current biological screening value of $75mg/{\ell}$ for trichloroacetic acid in urine set by the Ministry of Labor was thought to be appropriate, and a biological screening value for total trichloro-compounds in urine should be set in the range of $170.4{\pm}28.5mg/{\ell}$ as a reference value for trichoroethylene exposure.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.96-107
• /
• 2020

This study aimed to identify the associated factors of protective behaviors for radiation exposure among some radiology technologists using the Health Belief Model. The subjects of the study were 541 radiology technologists working at hospitals or clinics in Honam Province. Using the SPSS version 18.0 program, data were analyzed using a t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis. To modify the factors, the performance of subjects who had a higher level of education and nuclear medicine rooms were higher than those who worked in simple radiography rooms. The radiation protective behaviors performance of the subjects who had more exercise, medium-level stress, and worked in higher-quality protection facilities was higher. Regarding the personal perceptions, the cues to action (β=.292, p=.0001), and perceived seriousness (β =.075, p=.010) were factors that had effects on the performance of radiation protection behaviors. Regarding the likelihood of action, the benefits (β=.168, p<.0001), self-efficacy (β=.148, p=.007), and the performance of protective behaviors were higher. In conclusion, protection education as a cue to action should be provided to stimulate protective behaviors, and the benefits of protective behaviors should be emphasized. To increase the performance of protection behaviors, self-efficacy should be enhanced, and the subjects are offered appropriate information that helps perceive seriousness.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.25 no.10
• /
• pp.1349-1368
• /
• 2016

Concentrations of fine particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$) and several of its particle constituents measured outside homes in Houston, Texas, and Los Angeles, California, were characterized using multiple regression analysis with proximity to point and mobile sources and meteorological factors as the independent variables. $PM_{2.5}$ mass and the concentrations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), benzo-[a]-pyrene (BaP), perylene (Per), benzo-[g,h,i]-perylene (BghiP), and coronene (Cor) were examined. Negative associations of wind speed with concentrations demonstrated the effect of dilution by high wind speed. Atmospheric stability increase was associated with concentration increase. Petrochemical source proximity was included in the EC model in Houston. Area source proximity was not selected for any of the $PM_{2.5}$ constituents' regression models. When the median values of the meteorological factors were used and the proximity to sources varied, the air concentrations calculated using the models for the eleven $PM_{2.5}$ constituents outside the homes closest to influential highways were 1.5-15.8 fold higher than those outside homes furthest from the highway emission sources. When the median distance to the sources was used in the models, the concentrations of the $PM_{2.5}$ constituents varied 2 to 82 fold, as the meteorological conditions varied over the observed range. We found different relationships between the two urban areas, illustrating the unique nature of urban sources and suggesting that localized sources need to be evaluated carefully to understand their potential contributions to $PM_{2.5}$ mass and its particle constituents concentrations near residences, which influence baseline indoor air concentrations and personal exposures. The results of this study could assist in the appropriate design of monitoring networks for community-level sampling and help improve the accuracy of exposure models linking emission sources with estimated pollutant concentrations at the residential level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.169-179
• /
• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate occupational and individual risk factors and working conditions in relation to musculoskeletal symptoms in street cleaners. Investigation was conducted through a survey of 395 male street cleaners employed by the government office in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Chung-Nam from July to August of 2009. The control group was comprised of 143 male drivers and security guards. Risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms in street cleaners were investigated by multiple logistic regression analysis and also evaluated ergonomic risk factors by assessing working conditions of 4 street cleaners. As a result of symptom questionnaires, all of the prevalent rates of musculoskeletal symptoms in street cleaners had significantly higher results than those of the control group(p<0.05). On binary logistic regression analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms, street cleaners showed significant higher odds ratio as 18.84(95%CI: 6.56-54.12) in the arm/elbow, 10.49(95%CI: 4.29-25.65) in the hand/wrist compared to the control group. Both absence of rest breaks and exposure to ergonomic risk factors showed to be important internal risk factors of musculoskeletal symptoms among street cleaners. The exposure levels of QEC(Quick exposures checklist) in street cleaners were revealed to be higher on the shoulder/arm, wrist/hand, and neck than back, or from stress. The findings appear to show that street cleaners were high-risk group of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore street cleaners require a holistic interventional strategy, including adequate arrangement of rest breaks, improvement of working tools and control of individual risk factors such as obesity and smoking.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.30 no.2 s.57
• /
• pp.356-368
• /
• 1997

In effort to determine whether aircraft noise can have health effects such as hearing loss, hypertension and psychological stress, a total of 111 male professors and administrative officers working a college near a military airport in Korea(exposed group) and a total of 168 males and 112 females matched by age groups(control groups) were analyzed. Personal noise exposure and indoor and outdoor sound level of jet aircraft noise were measured at the exposed are3. And pure tone, air conduction test and measurement of blood pressure were given to the exposed(males) and matched control groups (males and females). BEPSI(Brief Encounter Psychological Instrument) and psychological response to aircraft noise were examined for the exposed group. The noise dosimetry results revealed time-weighted averages(TWAs) that ranged from 61 to 68 dBA. However the levels encountered during taking off jet airplanes reached 126 dBA for two half minutes time period. Th, audiometric, test showed that mean values of HTL(hearing threshold level) in exposed group at every frequency(500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 Hz were much lower than them of male and female control groups. And in old age groups, interaction of age and noise was observed at 8,000 Hz in both ears(p<0.05). Conclusively, aircraft noise does not appear to induce hearing loss directly in high frequency, but may decreased hearing threshold level by interaction of aging process and noise exposure. However, difference of mean values of exposed and control groups on blood pressure was not significantly. In psychological test, annoyance was the most severe psychological response to noise in exposed group, but mean value of BEPSI was not correlated with job duration in exposed group.