• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2003

Purpose : While there have been growing concerns about the effects of Asian dusts on health, there are few studies for relationship between Asian dusts and health outcome. This study was designed to examine the perceived symptoms and behavior change of children during the Asian Dust events. Methods : We surveyed 459 students at an elementary school in Seoul, Korea from November 20th to 27th 2002. Children with parents were asked to return the completed questionnaires within a week. The questionnaires included the sociodemographic factor, previous respiratory disease, and perceived symptom, hospital visits and behavior change during the Asian dusts. Results : The majority of children reported that they restrained going out and outdoor recreational activity during the Asian dusts. The rate of children who worn the mask was 49% and 47% in second grade and fifth grade, respectively. Regarding the perceived symptom during the Asian dusts, the children in 2nd were more likely to have symptom than 5th and there were significant difference between two groups in cough, asthma symptom, dry cough, phlegm and medication for allergy or asthma symptom. In addition, children who had previous disease were more likely to change behavior in order to prevent the effects of Asian dusts. Conclusions : This study suggested that the younger children and children who had past respiratory disease were susceptible to the effect of Asian dusts. There is a need for providing public information and health education to prevent the impact of Asian dusts on health.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.21-34
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• 2007

Objectives: This study aims to examined whether physical activity prevent the negative effect of psychological stress on cardiovascular reactivity by reducing stress induced sympathetic output and preventing norepinephrine depletion negative psych-affective responses. It is assumed that physical activity reduces the magnitude of cardiovascular responses and psychological responses to stress which threaten individuals' physical and mental health. The result of investigating the effect of physical activity on reducing negative physiological and psychological responses would suggest useful information health for practitioners who want to prevent stress-induced diseases, especially coronary heart disease. Methods: participants of this study were 30 students (10 males & 20 females), whose mean age was 21.30 (SD=2.29). Fifteen students (5 males & 10 females) were assigned for in each group, treatment and control groups. They were interviewed and given a survey that included a consent form, demographics sheet and psychological tests, such as State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Before the application of psychological stress, participants in treatment group were going through with a course of physical exercise, running on treadmill 15minutes, while participants in control group were not physically active. After exercise, there was 15 minutes resting period before applying cognitive stress. During the experiment, all participants performed challenging cognitive tasks for 20minutes in situations that were designed to experience learned helplessness and measured their cardiovascular reactivity including blood pressure and heart rate every 5 minutes, until 10 minutes after finishing the application of psychological stress(recovering state). In the end of experiment, they were given some psychological test again. Results: Heart rates of exercise group were significantly higher than non-exercise group, especially, five minute after applying cognitive stress and at the end of recovery, in other word 10 minutes after stressful event. Systolic blood pressures of exercise group were lower than those of non-exercise group during the stressful event, but this differences in borderline level of significance. state anger level of exercise group decreased even experiencing stress, while those of non-exercise group increase. And state anxiety level of exercise group decreased in borderline level of significance. Conclusion: This study reiterate health benefits of physical activity and suggest that regular moderate exercise may regulate cardiovascular reactivity and psycho-affective responses from stress by reducing stress induced sympathetic output.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.166-174
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• 2012

Introduction: After 17 years since the first production of humidifier disinfectants in Korea, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced that the odds ratio of lung injury related with humidifier disinfectant usage was 47.3 (95% confidence interval 6.0-369.7) according to a case-control study with 18 adult cases, including 8 pregnant women at a university hospital in Seoul. Results: From September 2011 to April 2012, one-hundred and seventy four victim cases have been reported to an environmental non-governmental group (NGO). We summarized timetable of humidifier disinfectants accidents, analyzed health outcomes (death, lung or lung and heart transplantation, pulmonary disease) of reported victims, and classified some information for humidifier disinfectants with health outcomes, and government action for this accident. Among the victims, number of death cases are 52 (30.0%), including 26 babies less than 3 years old. Sixty-nine victims come from twenty-seven family with 2 to 4 members per family. About twenty types of humidifier disinfectant products and about 600,000 product items a year have been sold. Fifty-two death cases used 7 different types of disinfectant products, including imported goods and some private brands of well-known supermarkets. KCDC confirmed inhalation toxicity of 6 products through an animal experimental test, and based on this observation recalled disinfectants containing PHMG (polyhexamethylene guanidine) and PGH (Oligo(2-(2-ethoxy)ethoxyethyl guanidinium chloride). Discussions: The use of these biocides involved highly fatal consequences among biologically vulnerable victims, such as pregnant women, several family member victims after semi-acute exposure. This is the first biocide disaster in Korea with non-specific targets, and unknown scale of victims, warranting concerns on use of biocides in the living environment. Conclusions: Special administrative agency for chemical safety and compensation act for environmental health victims are needed to prevent similar problems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.287-298
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• 2013

Objectives: Workers who use chemicals are exposed to safety accidents and occupational diseases. Employers are required to provide workers with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) in order to prevent accidents and diseases related to chemicals. Thus, it is very important to offer reliable MSDSs. In this paper, we assessed the reliability of MSDSs for chemicals including formaldehyde. Methods: To evaluate MSDS reliability, we collected 14 MSDSs and bulk samples from the chemical industry. MSDS reliability was evaluated by the completeness of details. In order to evaluate the adequacy of the formaldehyde contents in a mixture, bulk samples were collected and analyzed by HPLC. The result of Globally Harmonized System (GHS) classification was confirmed by identifying physical chemical properties, toxicology information and ecological information. Results: The result of the evaluation of 14 MSDSs showed 76.29% average reliability on each item, especially 53.9% average appropriate rate on hazard risk classification. No chemicals failed to match between the content (%) in MSDSs and the result of analysis. Conclusions: To elevate MSDSs reliability, the certified education of MSDS drafters and reorganization of the MSDS circulation system is required.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.470-479
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• 2020

Objectives: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused the death of 740,000 people around the world as of August 12, 2020. Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Avian Influenza, and African Swine Fever are serious livestock diseases. Government agencies in Korea have provided ingredient information and usage instructions for disinfectants used to counter those infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to provide information on the chemical ingredients in disinfectant products used against COVID-19 and certain livestock diseases. Methods: We collected information from the Korean government. The Central Disaster Management Headquarters and Central Disease Control Headquarters provided information on disinfectant products used against COVID-19. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency of Korea provided information on efficacy-certified disinfectant products for use against selected livestock diseases. Health hazard and environmental hazard information on the ingredients in the disinfectants was collected from the Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency's Material Safety Data Sheets, and toxicity value information was collected from United States Environmental Protection Agency's CompTox Chemicals Dashboard. Results: There were 76 COVID-19 disinfectant products in use, and the most common ingredients were benzalkonium chloride (51%), alkylbenzyl dimethyl ammonium (30%), and ethanol (3%). There were 216 livestock disease disinfectant products comprised of 89 acidic, 88 oxidic, 30 aldehydic, three alkaline, and six other products. Among the 49 active ingredients used in the disinfectants that were investigated, health and environmental hazard information was provided for many of them, but only 20 chemicals had official toxicological information. Conclusion: Since the disinfectants included numerous chemicals, an understanding of their chemical characteristics could be critical to prevent unintended human or environmental exposure.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study was to verify relationships between light- and heavy alcohol drinking and health-risk behaviors such as smoking, inappropriate weight control, physical inactivity, and sexual activity among adolescents. Methods: The data of 68,043 adolescents in middle- and high school collected from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey in 2015 were analyzed. For statistical analysis, logistic regression model was used. Results: The rate of heavy alcohol drinking increased with increasing age up to 21.5% among boys and 13.9% among girls. Among boys, heavy alcohol drinkers were at a higher risk of smoking (adjusted odds ratios [OR]=3.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.8-3.8), inappropriate weight control (OR=1.7; 95% CI=1.4-2.1), having sexual intercourse (OR=3.6; 95% CI=3.0-4.2) than light drinkers. Multiple health-risk behaviors of smoking, inappropriate weight control and sexual intercourse also increased in accordance with the severity of drinking alcohol beverage compared to non-drinker. Physical inactivity was decreased among heavy drinkers compared to light drinkers (OR=0.8; 95% CI=0.7-0.9 for inactivity of moderate exercise). Similar results were observed among girls. Conclusions: Alcohol drinking especially heavy alcohol drinking among adolescents is related to other risky behaviors including smoking, inappropriate weight control, and sexual activity. To prevent health problems in adolescents, it is necessary to adopt a combined approach regarding heavy drinking and health-risk behaviors.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.297-305
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• 2001

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of food behavior and life-style behavior on the health-status of male industrial workers in the Masan region. The average age of the 173 male subjects was 42.9 years and 59% of the subjects were labor workers, 25% office workers, and 70% of them earned 1 - 1.5 million won monthly. The subjects were categorized into one of three groups : normal group, health-concerned group, and disease-suspected group classified by the criteria of the data (blood pressure, blood glucose, blood hemoglobin, serum total cholesterol, and serum triglyceride) obtained from a health examination. Forty seven belonged to the normal group, 71 to the health-concerned group, and 55 to the disease-suspected group. The health-concerned group, and disease-suspected group had significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose, and serum total cholesterol than the normal group, and the disease-suspected group showed a significantly higher serum triglyceride level than the normal and health-concerned groups. The disease-suspected group consumed carbohydrate foods, such as cereals more frequently and protein foods such as beans and eggs less frequently than the normal group and health-concerned group. However, there was no difference in nutrient intakes among the three groups. The disease-suspected group and health-concerned group smoked more cigarettes and drank more frequently than the normal group, and the disease-suspected group exercised less as compared to the normal group. The kinds of diseases diagnosed in the disease-suspected group were hypertension, hyperlipidemia, liver disease, and neurological disease. The results of this study indicate that nutrition education and monitoring should be implemented for industrial workers to prevent chronic diseases and to reduce medical cost for the treatment of disease.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.146-154
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• 2018

There are more than 25 species of Mentha plants, which are aromatic perennial herbs. Currently, these species are being widely used with great interest because of various clinical findings regarding their health benefits. This is due to the abundance of volatile compounds that could expedite environmental interactions such as protection against herbivores, parasites, pathogens, and so on. Therefore, in this study, the antimicrobial effect of Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil on Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Cronobacter sakazakii, and Salmonella Enteritidis were investigated using the spot-on-lawn method. The results show that Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil exhibited antimicrobial activities against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Cronobacter sakazakii; however, it did not inhibit the growth of Salmonella Enteritidis. This shows that the antimicrobial effect of Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil is effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Hence, in the present study, Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil was shown to have strong antimicrobial activities; it could be used as a potential food additive for improving the quality of various milk-based products due to its various bioactive properties. Future studies should be conducted for manufacturing functional dairy products with the addition of peppermint oil to prevent and/or alleviate specific diseases.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.362-371
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• 1999

This study was conducted to explore the relationship between locus of control and health belief. the life style of gastric cancer patients. The subjects of this study were 40 of the early gastric cancer and 90 of the advanced gastric cancer who first visiting patient to general surgery out patient department of Chungnam University Hospital for operation. The data was collected with structured questionnaire from July. 1998 to Feb. 1999 The tool were Moon's Health Belief Scale and Multiple Locus of Control of Wallston. Wallston, DeVellis. The data was analysed by SAS program using frequency, $X^2$-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, ANOVA. Scheffe-test, t-test. The results were as follows 1. 30.8% of subjects were early gastric cancer anf 69.2% were advanced gastric cancer. The subject knowing about diagnosis was 83.1%. 16.9% did'nt know about diagnosis. 2. The correlationship between Health belief and Locus of control of subjects was not supported. 3. There was statistically no difference of life style between early and advanced gastric cancer patients. 4. There were statistically significant differences in perceived sensitivity according to weight. educational level. and birth order, in perceived barrier according to educational level. and in perceived severity according to occupation among demographic characteristics of study subjects. From above results. health professional has to educate general population to detect gastric cancer early to improve survival rate because early gastric cancer is high in survival rate, and to prevent recurrence and to maintain continuing healthy status. In the future, gastroscopy also has to expand to detect early. For there was no difference in life style between early and advanced gastric cancer. carcinogen related to diet should be emphasized through education. The perceived benefit among health belief model was not supported in this study therefore further study and comparison between gastric cancer and normal population are needed.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.521-532
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• 2011

The study's purpose was to clarify childcare's impact on the psychological well-being of fathers with an infant. This study included 1,250 households that used 15 nursery centers. The questionnaire asked about the fathers' age, income, working conditions, participation in childcare, recognition of sense of usefulness to their family, marital satisfaction, mental health, health-related quality of life(QOL), and the mothers' age, number of children, age of the youngest child, and working conditions. A casual model was examined using SEM. The results were as follows: first, fathers' participation in childcare contributed to health-related QOL through the recognition of feeling useful to their family. Second, fathers' participation in childcare contributed to marital satisfaction, directly and indirectly through health -related QOL and improved mental health. Third, fathers' participation in childcare contributed to health related QOL through the recognition of feelings of usefulness, marital satisfaction, and mental health, indirectly. These results suggest that promoting fathers' participation in childcare is important to help prevent many problems and to improve QOL.