• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.367-376
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• 2016

Objectives: The production and use of nanoparticles have been increased. In 2014 Workplace Survey Results, 335 companies produce and treat nanoparticls. However, lack of data on nano-toxicity and a method for risk management and regulation on nanoparticles and the standard test method are not sufficient. Protective equipment selection guidelines for nanoparticles are not established. It is required to carry out respirator efficiency test against nanoparticles. This study was performed to evaluate filtration efficiency and manikin-based total inward leakage of particle filtering mask using in Korean country challenged with silver nanoparticles. Methods: We investigated filtration efficiency and total inward leakage of 7 respirator with silver nanoparticle. Results: The geometric mean diameters of Silver nanoparticles were 30 nm and number concentration were about $10^6{\sharp}/cm^3$. Filtration efficiency of six of the seven particle filtering masks was more than 98% and one particle filtering masks filtration efficiency was 94.9%. The filtration efficiency of particle filtering masks to 20 nm silver nanoparticels was highest. Artificial breathing machine with manikin based total inward leakage were 7.6% ~ 42.3%. Conclusions: The results of this study nano-silver filter efficiency was high but the total inward leakage was higher than filter penetration. Therefore, education on how to wear a respirator should be demanded. Especially for workers handling nanoparticles and toxic material, user seal checking and fit test must be performed.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.93-102
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• 2011

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate working environment for dental technician by measuring dust level, ventilation conditions and the use of personal protective equipment and to provide basic information required to improve working environment and develop health education programs for dental technician. Methods: A total of 240 dental technician who are registered with the Daegu Association of Dental technician and working at 34 dental laboratories participated in the study. And the dust level was measured at 21 different spots in 16 dental laboratories out of 34. Results: Of 34 dental laboratories, 31 (91.2%) were equipped with a ventilator, but the remaining 3 (8.8%) did not have a ventilator. By the number of ventilator, 1 to 3 ventilators were found in 22 dental laboratories (71.0%), 4 to 6 ventilators were in 7 laboratories (22.5%) and more than 7 ventilators in 2 laboratories(6.5%). According to the frequence of changing filters in dust collector, 20 dental laboratories (58.9%) changed filters every four weeks, 10 laboratories (29.4%) changed them every six weeks and 4 laboratories (11.7%) changed them every eight weeks. Of total respondents, 114 (61.3%) said they wore a mask all the time while working, 56 (29.6%) said they frequently wore a mask, 19 (10.1%) said they did not wear a mask. As for the type of masks, 159 (84.1%) used a disposable mask, 25 (13.2%) used a cotton mask and 5 (2.7%) used an anti-dust mask. For dust sat on their outfits while working, 102 (54.0%) shook their uniforms inside workplace to keep dust off the uniforms, 64 (33.9%) did not anything until they wash their uniforms and 23 (12.1%) shook their uniforms outside workplace to keep dust off the uniforms. Of total respondents, 182 (96.3%) had a particle in their eyes while carrying out grinding work. Based on the measurement of floating dust at workplace, 3 dental laboratories showed dust concentration exceeding the minimum level of 10 mg/$m^3$ allowed under the permit for environment. Of those, 1 laboratory had the dust concentration that was more than 1.5 times higher than the minimum level. Dust concentration was higher in laboratories that used a dust collector with 0.5 horse power and changed filters more than 3 weeks ago. Dust comprised of nickel (more than 70%), chrome (9%) and others. The mean chrome concentration was more than twice higher than the minimum permissible level of 0.5 mg/$m^3$. There were two laboratories that showed chrome concentration exceeding the level of 0.4 mg/$m^3$. Like dust concentration, chrome level was higher in laboratories that used a dust collector with 0.5 horse power and changed filters more than 3 weeks ago. There were six laboratories that had nickel concentration exceeding the minimum permissible level of 1 mg/$m^3$. Of those, one laboratory had nickel concentration that was more than three times higher than the minimum permissible level. Nickel concentration was also higher in laboratories that used a dust collector with 0.5 horse power and changed filters more than 3 weeks ago. Conclusion: It is not likely that heavy metal concentrations found in the study constitute respiratory dust. It is however necessary for health of dental technician to apply the Industrial Safety and Healthy Law to dental laboratories and make recommendations for the use of personal protective equipment, installation of a proper number of ventilators, more frequent change of filters in dust collector and improved ventilation for polishing work. At the same time, dental technician need education on how to use personal protective equipment and how to efficiently remove dust from their uniforms.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2022

As emphasized in the COVID-19 quarantine guidelines, hand washing is the most important prevention rule in tandem with distancing and mask. This study aimed to confirm relevant factors that affect practice of hand washing to find out approach for improvement of hand washing practice rate after COVID-19. Using the 2020 Community Health Survey data. As methods of research, this study searched for relevance by carrying out univariate logistic regression analysis, and also conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis using significant variables. Analysis results show that hand washing practice rate was high in females, well-educated, low age, cities, office job, the more people wear a face mask indoors, the higher the cycle of ventilation, the higher the cycle of disinfection and the more people maintain healthy distance. This study understood factors related to the rate of hand washing practice and results can be used as basic data for COVID-19 quarantine guidelines.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.23-30
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• 2021

PURPOSE: Physical therapists are at risk of becoming infected because they are in contact with or within 2 meters of the patient while treating them. The purpose of this study is to investigate the anxiety and depression of physical therapists during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to identify the factors that affect anxiety and depression. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the pandemic. The survey were completed by 84 physical therapists in 24 local hospitals in Gwangju, South Korea. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate their anxiety and depression status. Logistic regression models were used to identify the general characteristics factors related to anxiety or depression. RESULTS: It was found that 40 (47.6%) respondents had anxiety, and 37 (44%) had depression. If there was a child under the age of seven in the physical therapist's family, a high probability of anxiety (p < .05) prevailed. Physical therapists in their 30s had a higher risk of depression than those in their 40s (p < .05). The risk of anxiety and depression in physical therapists who were with patients who did not wear masks was higher than for those who were with patients who wore masks (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The anxiety and depression status of physical therapists in Gwangju, South Korea, during the pandemic of COVID-19 was poor. It is necessary to wear a mask for all people during physical therapy.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-98
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• 2023

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Korea took the lead in implementing "social distancing" policies more strongly than other countries. In addition to making it mandatory to wear a mask according to the policy, all patients using medical institutions are tested for COVID-19 to prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections, and only those patients who test negative have been regulated to receive face-to-face medical treatment. In this process, situations such as the disabled, who have difficulty wearing masks, were not taken into account, and emergency patients did not receive timely treatment or surgery from medical personnel. In response, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea has decided that forcing everyone to wear a mask and restricting access to medical institutions constitutes discrimination against the disabled. Therefore, the purposes this study has that, the first is to review cases of human rights discrimination against persons with disabilities due to measures to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases that did not consider the characteristics of persons with disabilities in the COVID-19 situation and issues regarding the decisions of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, the second is to find a reasonable plan and the need for measures to prevent refusal of treatment by medical institutions for the disabled who have difficulty wearing masks.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.15-20
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• 2017

We are investigated about the Hepatitis infection risk of the funeral director related to wearing PPE(Personal Protect Equipment) within Metropolitan, Chungcheong and Gyeongsang regions in Korea. We are classified that the vaccinated group was classified as low risk group and the non-vaccinated group was classified as high risk group. And we are analyzed the risk rate of infection based on whether or not to wear PPE(personal protective equipment) among high-risk groups. The result is as follows. The mask wearing rate of high-risk group about HAV(hepatitis A virus) is three times lower than that of low-risk group. The surgical glove wearing rate of high-risk group about HBV(hepatitis B virus) is twice lower than that of low-risk group. The surgical glove and mask not wearing rate among the high-risk group observe that potential infection risk was high 4.23 times and 3.5 times, respectively. We are concluded that increasing the risk of potential infection risks from the funeral director could result in increased risk of infection to national public health, including the bereaved family. We are suggested that the funeral director must be bound to vaccinate against hepatitis and make PPE mandatory. It is deemed necessary for the government to develop policies to promote personal health and national health care.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.301-311
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• 2011

Objectives : In order to identify the awareness of influenza A (H1N1) having currently high frequency and risk as an infectious disease, to find problems and to reflect them on curriculum improvements from students before/after clinical practices. Methods : The data was collected from 279 dental hygiene students of 1st and 2nd years at G health college university from December 6th 2010 to December 10th 2010. The questionnaire were consisted of awareness of influenza A (H1N1), preventive attitude, sociodemographic characteristics. Results : 1. 1st year was 51.6%, the case having dental experience was 51.2%, in the infection control training experience 'had' was 46.6%. In the route acquiring the information, the mass media was 70.6%, in obtained information, personal hygiene was 82.1%. In the impact on human body, 'great impact' was 58.1%. In terms of the most need for response and preparedness, vaccination was the highest, 67.4%. People who experienced influenza A (H1N1) were 10.7%. 2. Awareness of influenza A (H1N1) was 0.71 points, and treatment and spreading mechanism was 0.78 points, prevention was 0.63 points, causes and definition was 0.53 points. 3. In the attitude for infection prevention of influenza A (H1N1), 'washing hands before practice' was the highest, 0.99 points and 'wear the mask only in case of contact with patient within 1~2 meters upon occurrence of no aerosol' was the lowest, 0.72 points. 4. Awareness of influenza A (H1N1) according to sociodemographic characteristics showed the significant differences upon the impacts on systemic health (p<0.05). Preventive attitude didn't show a significant difference in grade, clinical experience, experience in infection control training, acquiring rmation routes, the possibility for occurrence, impact on systemic health, the most need for prevention, experience in influenza A (H1N1) (p>0.05). 5. The significantly correlated between awareness of influenza A (H1N1) and preventive attitude(p<0.01). Conclusions : Information and preventive attitude for influenza A (H1N1) as well as systematic training programs to identify actual affecting factors and to improve the practice are needed. Also government's institutional support is needed.

• Journal of the Health Care and Life Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.303-309
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• 2023

This study conducted a survey using Google on 282 college students to investigate college students' awareness of COVID-19, which has been converted into a class 4 infectious disease. As a result, the average level of interest in COVID-19 information was 2.85, and the average level of interest in COVID-19 information was 2.85. 54% did not know that the level had changed, showing that interest in COVID-19 was not high. In terms of personal hygiene attitude, the average of those who are not currently wearing a mask was 3.95, but the average of those who wear a mask when necessary was 3.94, washing hands for more than 30 seconds, washing hands frequently, and coughing etiquette were observed well. Additionally, awareness of infection was observed by others. Rather, they thought of their symptoms as connected to COVID-19 and were still conscious of COVID-19 infection (average 3.85). Additionally, COVID-19 was recognized as a threatening infectious disease that could cause a resurgence and repeat a pandemic. Since the crisis stage regarding COVID-19 can change at any time in the WithCorona era, this study sought to provide basic data for successful response to future crises by investigating trends in changes in people's perceptions.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.430-437
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• 2016

Objectives: The new Chemical Control Act from the Korean Ministry of Environment (2014-259) simply states only in basic phrases that every worker handling the listed chemicals should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and does not consider the different hazard characteristics of particular chemicals or work types. The purpose of this study was to produce an exposure risk matrix and assign PPE to the categories of this matrix, which would be useful for revising the act to suggest PPE to suit work types or situations. Methods: An exposure risk matrix was made using hazard ranks of chemicals and workplace exposure risks in the previous study. For the 20 categories of exposure risk matrix PPE, levels A, B, C, D as classified by OSHA/EPA were assigned. After 69 hazardous chemicals were divided into 11 groups according to their physiochemical characteristics, respirators, chemical protective clothing (CPC), gloves and footwear were suggested on the basis of the assigned PPE levels. Results: PPE table sheets for the 11 groups were made on the basis of work types or situations. Full facepiece or half-mask for level C was recommended in accordance with the exposure risk matrix. Level A was, in particular, recommended for loading or unloading work. Level A PPE should be worn in an emergency involving hydrogen fluoride because of the number of recent related accidents in Korea. Conclusion: PPE assignment according to the exposure risk matrix made by chemical hazards and work type or situation was suggested for the first time. Each type of PPE was recommended for the grouped chemicals. The research will be usefully used for the revision of the Chemical Control Act in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.385-390
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• 2020

In the present, external environmental factors affect human health. In particular, the most important issue is fine dust in these days. Because fine dust is inhaled through the human respiratory system is known to be harmful to health. Tunnels for cars and people can also be easily seen around us. This study, the amount of scattering radiation was measured for walkable tunnels about dust. For the measurement method, dust and radiation dose in the tunnel were measured on good weather (fine dust level: 0 ~ 30 ㎍/㎥) and normal day (fine dust level: 0 ~ 80 ㎍/㎥). The measurement resulted in an increase of 10~20 % of dust in the center of the tunnel on a good weather day and an increase of 20~30 % of dust in the center of the tunnel on normal weather. On the other hand, the results of tunnel measurement of radiation dose increased by 10~20 % at the center of the tunnel non-depending on the weather. As a result, pedestrians should pay attention to scattering dust and scattered radiation while moving through the tunnel. Therefore, it is recommended to wear a filter mask of PM2.5 or less during frequent tunnel walking.