• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.268-277
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• 2012

Objectives: 1) To determine mercury levels in urine samples from garbage workers in Southern Thailand, and 2) to describe the association between work characteristics, work positions, behavioral factors, and acute symptoms; and levels of mercury in urine samples. Methods: A case-control study was conducted by interviewing 60 workers in 5 hazardous-waste-management factories, and 60 matched non-exposed persons living in the same area of Southern Thailand. Urine samples were collected to determine mercury levels by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometer mercury analyzer. Results: The hazardous-waste workers' urinary mercury levels (10.07 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine) were significantly higher than the control group (1.33 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine) (p < 0.001). Work position, duration of work, personal protective equipment (PPE), and personal hygiene, were significantly associated with urinary mercury level (p < 0.001). The workers developed acute symptoms - of head-aches, nausea, chest tightness, fatigue, and loss of consciousness at least once a week - and those who developed symptoms had significantly higher urinary mercury levels than those who did not, at p < 0.05. A multiple regression model was constructed. Significant predictors of urinary mercury levels included hours worked per day, days worked per week, duration of work (years), work position, use of PPE (mask, trousers, and gloves), and personal hygiene behavior (ate snacks or drank water at work, washed hands before lunch, and washed hands after work). Conclusion: Changing garbage workers' hygiene habits can reduce urinary mercury levels. Personal hygiene is important, and should be stressed in education programs. Employers should institute engineering controls to reduce urinary mercury levels among garbage workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2019

Background: Lead (Pb) exposure in shooting ranges has been reduced by various measures such as jacketed ammunition and lead-free primers. Nevertheless, this may lead to exposure to other metals, potentially resulting in adverse health effects. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 35 subjects from seven different shooting ranges were studied: four shooting instructors, 10 police officers, 15 Special Forces, and six maintenance staff members. Metals and metalloids were determined in blood and urine by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Results: The concentrations of most elements did not differ significantly between groups or compared to reference values, except for Sb and Pt in urine and Pb in blood. Mean values for Sb were considerably higher in urine from the Special Forces ($0.34{\mu}g/L$), the maintenance staff ($0.13{\mu}g/L$), and shooting instructors ($0.32{\mu}g/L$) compared to the police officers before shooting ($0.06{\mu}g/L$) and a Belgian reference value ($0.04{\mu}g/L$). For Pt, the Special Forces showed higher mean urinary concentrations ($0.078{\mu}g/L$) compared to a Belgian reference value (<$0.061{\mu}g/L$). Mean values for blood lead were markedly higher in the Special Forces ($3.9{\mu}g/dL$), maintenance staff ($5.7{\mu}g/dL$), and instructors ($11.7{\mu}g/dL$) compared to police officers ($1.4{\mu}g/dL$). One instructor exceeded the biological exposure index for blood Pb ($38.8{\mu}g/dL$). Conclusion: Since both Pb and Sb were found to be higher in shooting range employees, especially among frequent shooters, it is advisable to provide appropriate protective equipment, education, and medical follow-up for shooting range personnel in addition to careful choice of ammunition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.10 no.2 s.21
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• pp.69-79
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• 2004

This study focuses on the relationship between pollution factors around Masan, Changwon and Chinhae city considerd as main pollution sources and marine environment in Masan bay of Korea. Water quality data measured In Jinhae bay and environmental investigation data in Masan, Changwon and Jinhae cities from 1981 to 1998 were used for this study. Annual means and standard deviations of COD, DIN and DIP concentrations from 1981 to 1998 showed that both their concentration and fluctuations were higher in the inner part of Masan bay (region A) than near Somodo (region B). Sediment dredging in Masan bay had been done from 1990 to 1994. After dredging, COD concentration has been decreasing In surface layer. Also water pollution was gradually spreaded from the inner part to the outer part of the bay due to the continuous inflow of domestic sewage and industrial wastewater. In the late of 1990s, the pollution was heavier. DIN and DIP concentrations were found to be increased by establishment of industry complex and decreased by sewage treatment plant near the city adjacent to Jinhae bay, 1993. The correlation between COD, DIN and DIP changes and neighbor cities' pollution sources were calculated From 1981 to 1998, correlation coefficient (r) was over 0.8 except for the bottom of region A From 1981 to 1998, r between the DIP concentration and population was over 0.65 except for the surface of region A, and the r between the DIP and the number of factories was over 0.6 too, in region B.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.529-540
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyze experiments for the rules of material change unit in 9th grade science textbooks and develop experiments applying small-scale chemistry (SSC). For this study, experimental methods for the precipitation experiment, water electrolysis experiment, decomposition of hydrogen peroxide experiment presented in the 9 science textbooks were analyzed. Problems and improvements that were needed were extracted by 13 science teachers performing the experiments. Experiments applying SSC were developed based on the improvements needed. Afterwards, 19 pre-service science teachers performed both the developed SSC experiments and the science textbooks' experiments. A questionnaire about merits and demerits of the experiments applying SSC was performed. According to the results of this study, most of the 9th grade science textbooks included the lead iodide precipitation experiment, water electrolysis experiment by Hoffman voltameter, and decomposition of hydrogen peroxide experiment using catalytic manganese dioxide. Improvements were needed on the quantity of reagents, time for performing experiments, and scale of experimental apparatus. Merits of the developed experiments applying SSC which used small amount of reagents were safety, easy waste material disposal, short reaction time, and reproducible experimental results. Demerits of the experiments applying SSC were difficulty in observing, decreased achievement, and lack of skill in handling small-scale apparatus. Therefore, if the experiments developed applying SSC were to be utilized in 9th grade science experiments, it will be possible to use less reagent and be able to teach and carry out reproducible experiments at the same time. Also, the reproducible experiments based on SSC will help students under stand the scientific concepts for the rules of material change unit.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.49-71
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to serve as a basis for school health care of better quality, by making a comparative analysis of the health care satisfaction and attitude of elementary school students in consideration of their general characteristics and the presence or absence of nurse teacher. The subjects in this study were 919 selected six graders in 16 elementary schools in the city of Tongduchun, Koyang and Euijungbu, Yangju-kun and Yeunchun-kun. A survey was conducted with questionnaire designed for measurement of health care satisfaction and attitude. As a result of analyzing the data collected from June 1 through 15, 2000, the conclusions were as follows. 1) As for the general characteristics of the students investigated, the subjects included 513 boys(55.8%) and 406 girls(44.2%). The schools where 390(42.4%) students attended were located in municipal area, and the schools where 529(57.6%) students attended were located in kun area. 608(66.2%) students had a nurse teacher at their schools, while 311(33.8%) students had no nurse teacher. 498(54.2%) had an experience to use the health room this year, but 421(45.8%) had no such an experience. Their mean school life satisfaction was scored $3.42{\pm}.71$, above the average. And their health condition was rated $3.81{\pm}.87$, which implied they tended to be in good health. 2) The mean satisfaction at the health room operation was scored $3.33{\pm}.71$, above the medium level. What they were most satisfied with($4.02{\pm}1.08$) was, among the health room facilities, that there were beds. But they expressed the least satisfaction($2.83{\pm}1.17$) at the location of health room. The presence or absence of nurse teacher made a significant difference to their satisfactionat health room operation, because the students in schools with nurse teacher showed greater satisfaction($3.42{\pm}.72$) than the others in schools with no nurse teacher did($3.15{\pm}.66$). 3) Concerning their attitude to use the health room in case of disease or accident occurrence, a lot of students in schools with a nurse teacher, who had ever suffered from indigestion, headache or traumatic injury, used the health room. In schools with no nurse teacher, there was a tendency to talk to their class teachers(p<.001). The recognition of the necessity for health counseling was generally on a medium level. The counselor whom they wanted to discuss health problem with was family or friend in the largest cases. Few students discussed with class teachers in case there was a nurse teacher in school. Instead, some of them discussed with friend, family or nurse teacher, and there was a significant difference between them(p<.001). 4) The mean satisfaction at health, sanitation and environmental management was rated $3.20{\pm}.90$, above the average. The classroom lighting gave them the best satisfaction with $3.67{\pm}1.07$, but the satisfaction at toilet cleanness and disinfection was not good with $2.83{\pm}1.19$. By the presence or absence of nurse teacher, those who had a nurse teacher expressed better satisfaction at water supply facilities including hot water than the others who had no nurse teacher did(p<.001). But no significant difference was observed in the other items. 5) The health education satisfaction was rated $3.19{\pm}.99$, which was on a medium level. By item, the mean satisfaction level was $3.36{\pm}1.19$ at nurse teacher's explanation about treatment, $3.13{\pm}1.15$ at the frequency of health education, and $3.08{\pm}1.16$ at the explanation on the cause of disease. By the presence or absence of nurse teacher, the students with nurse teacher showed significantly better satisfaction at every factor0(p<.001). 6) Regarding health education attitude, their recognition of the need for school health education was scored $3.89{\pm}.96$. Those who had a nurse teacher felt it more necessary($3.96{\pm}.92$), yet the others who had no nurse teacher felt its necessity a little less($3.74{\pm}1.01$). The most preferred thing for them to learn in health education was first aid, followed by sex education, obesity prevention, safety accident prevention in school and outdoors, smoking-related health, good use of leisure time, and environmental pollution cause in the order named. According to the presence or absence of nurse teacher, there was a significant difference in sex education(p<.01), but no significant disparities were found in the other factors. The most preferred person who would offer health education was a lecturer from the outside(45.8%) and nurse teacher(45.4%). Their preference for class teacher as a person in charge of health education was just 8.8%. But the presence or absence of nurse teacher didn't produce any differences to their preference for a person in charge of health education.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.193-211
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• 1997

The study was designed to gain necessary basic data in order to grasp the health knowledge, attitude, and practice level of students and teachers of elementary, middle and high schools. This study was conducted through interviews of 3,400 students and 1,022 teachers attending 14 different schools large, middle and small cities and rural towns during a period of nine months (from Oct. 2 1995 to Jun. 30 1996). By the results of this study, the recommendations can be summarized as follows: 1. A school health development committee should be established of 10 members: school health related teachers (physical trainers, nurses, and teachers in charge of health), parents, persons related to health administration, local medical doctors, and student reprensentatives in order to support and immplement school health development plans. 2. Like advanced countries, a health class of 2~4 hours should beplaced in middle and high schools. A nurse majoring in health from a university should be the teacher. 3. A curriculum of health should contain the following: education on health, sex, alcohol, tabacco, the misuse of the drugs, the structure and function of human body, the growth of the body, mental health, safety and emergency care, the prevention of disease, proper eating habits and nutrition, daily health life, family health education, society health, community health, environmental pollution and individual responsibility. 4. Create a school health promotion center, with a nurse's office, and a sports center which has health machines (bars, aerobics, training, twist machine, belt massage, running machine, bench press, chest waist, hack hip extension machine) as well as a physical strength measuring machine (muscular strength, alertness, flexibility, endurance, lung functions and so on), so that the teaching staff and students can use them and train their bodies. 5. Through a refresher education program, urge teachers to understand school health promotion services. 6. Regulate a standard and establish a system of monitoring the physical enviroment of the school (the height of desks and chairs, illumination facilities, ventilation facilities, safe drinking water). 7. Create a check list of health to evaluate improvement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.15-32
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the soil characteristics and propose the management for the Monument Beobsoo Marsh, Korea. The soil properties of O.M, $Ca^{2+}$, $Na^+$ and CEC were higher and the soil properties of pH_{1:5}$ and $P_2O_5$ were lower the studied sites than other marsh sites in Korea. Although the Heavy metals such as Pb, Hg, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr and As were lower compare to the safety standard of soil pollution in Korea, the overall conservation management plan based on long-term monitoring should be considered just because it varied by the point and non-point source pollution within the studied marsh. The source of water pollution varied due to non-point polluting origins such as sewage inlet, degraded terrain for agriculture, fishing sites, sites of removed water grasses, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, as well as fallen leaves. The creation of an artificial marsh is recommended due to the soil environment of the studied sites may be changed owing to the accumulated contaminants from the sources of both of point or non-point contaminants. The establishment of the zones of core, buffer and transition which is basic management structure of the UNESCO MaB could be applied to manage the studied site. Simultaneously the promotion of voluntary participation and education of the local residents are needed.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.22 no.2 s.55
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• pp.138-146
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• 1983

With the increase of pesticide consumption, not only pesticide handling population would grow greater but also the chances to be exposed to the pesticides would be also increased. Thus, safe use and handling of the pesticides are becoming more important and serious in these days. The pesticides are well known to most pepole, however there are very limited number of persons who have correct understanding of chamicals. Intoxication cases caused by pesticides have been reported very rarely through the mess media, even they were lack of scientific evidences. In this paper, problems related to pesticide manufacture, transportation, storage, sprays, and residues and their countermeasures were discussed in connection with public health and enviromental aspects. Acute intoxication cases by pesticide handling might be caused accidently either through manufacture, marketing, transportation, or spraying. Safety aspects of workers in manufacturing plants include not only exposure to toxic chemicals, but also posibilities of of explosion and brought about by pesticides and their diluents. The problems of water pollution by waste chemicals from the manufacturing factories were discussed. Packing and loading methods of pesticides for transportation are considered in safety scheme and discussions are given in association with traffic accidents. With regard to warehouse, the pesticide storage, location structure, keepers, and standing materials for emergency are concerned with safety aspects. Concerning the spraying of chemicals, there are some problems to be discussed about clothes, spray equipment, wind direction, spray period, and spray workers condition. After the spray, treatment of used containers, remainder of Pesticides, and spray tools are also discussed. For the dissolutions of problems on public health and environmental danger arising from pesticide residues, there are two legal sanctions; 'Pesticide Tolerances' and 'Pesticide Safe Use Standards'. These regulations are legally effective, however, some problems still remain in practices to implement the acts properly, because these provisions are followed by the far mers mostly. With these regards, most problems are concerned with various sectors and persons, affecting public health and environment from the producers to the end users and consumers. As a whole persons concerned with pesticides, every possible effort has to be assembled to protect hazards from the chemicals. For the foremost place, special training and education are required for managing groups; such as factory managers and agricultural extension workers who are responsible for training the factory workers and farmers. The education is the only way to solve the hazard problems caused by the pesticides.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.515-530
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• 2012

This research aims to audit foodservice sanitation management practices and to assess microbiological quality of foods and their food contact environments in kindergartens. Sanitation auditing was conducted in 10 kindergartens in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon areas to assess the levels of safety practices. Results revealed that the surveyed kindergartens scored 41.4 out of 100 points, on average. The average scores of each category were 6.4/11 (58.1%) for facilities sanitation, 4.2/12 (35.0%) for equipment sanitation, 2.4/10 (24.0%) for personal hygiene, 5.1/10 (51.0%) for food ingredients management, 6.0/17 (35.3%) for production process, 5.4/10 (54.0%) for environmental sanitation, 2.0/6 (33.3%) for kitchen utensils sanitation, and 2.2/6 (96.7%) for safety management. Microbiological quality of raw, prepared foods, personal sanitation (hands), environmental sanitation, and drinking water were assessed. Total plate counts (TPC) of the following menus exceeded the critical limit: seasoned leek (5 log CFU/g), cucumber (5.0 log CFU/g), panbroiled fish paste (TNTC at $10^4$), tangpyeongchae (5.3 log CFU/g), egg rolls (6.1 log CFU/g), panbroiled sausage (TNTC at $10^4$), and soft tofu pot stew (TNTC at $10^4$). Coliform which exceeded the standard limit were detected from seasoned leek (2 log CFU/g), cucumber (2.5 log CFU/g), panbroiled fish paste (2.0 log CFU/g), egg roll (3.8 log CFU/g), tangpyeongchae (4.0 log CFU/g), panbroiled sausage (2.3 log CFU/g), and soft tofu pot stew (3.7 log CFU/g). For seasoned foods (muchim), S. aureus ranged 2.2~2.9 log CFU/g. In food workers' hands, microbial profiles ranged 3.8~7.9 log CFU/hand for TPC, ND~4.5 log CFU/hand for coliforms, ND~4.7 log CFU/hand for S. aureus, and ND~5.3 log CFU/hand for Enterobacteriaceae. Microbiological profiles of food contact surface of knives, cutting boards, dish-clothes, and trays showed possibilities of cross-contamination. General bacteria were 2.1~4.5 logCFU/ml in 4 purified water samples and E. coli were found in the kitchen of one kindergarten. These results suggested that environmental sanitation management practices need more strict improvement: effective sanitation education methods and practices were strongly required, and more strict sanitation management for cooking utensils and equipment were required.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.463-476
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• 2014

The riverine wetlands located in the riverside bring about social conflicts through confrontation between flood control value through flood control project and ecological preservation value of riverine wetland. In this study, we identified the importance of both values through analysis of economic feasibility of flood control and ecological values of riverine wetland, and tried to suggest management plans for riverine wetland considering both of flood control safety and ecological preservation through these results. For this, we calculated the expected annual flood damage of Imjin River using the multi-dimensional flood damage analysis(MD-FDA), and calculated the total value of riverine wetland using the contingent valuation method(CVM) to estimate preservation value of riverine wetland. The result of the analysis shows that the Imjin River needs flood control project and the ecological preservation of riverine wetland is also important. Therefore, the establishment of the management plan for protecting riverine wetland is also needed. As a result, the Imjin riverine wetland was classified as the area where sedimentation continues to take place, and the flood water level to rise. On the basis of the analyzed results, it is judged that the Imjin River needs flood control for public safety and ecological consideration for ecosystem preservation in the river improvement project. So, the stepwise river improvement is desirable to protect riverine wetland and minimize ecosystem disturbance. The results is expected to be made good use as the basic study for establishment of institutional river management plans considering flood control project and riverine wetland preservation in the future.