• 자원환경지질
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.309-322
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• 2018

석면이 '1급 발암물질'로 지정되어 국내 외적으로 사회적 관심이 높아지면서, 폐석면 광산 또는 자연적으로 산출되는 석면에 대한 특성과 위해성에 대한 연구의 필요성이 제기되고 있다. 기존 연구는 (초)염기성암에서 산출되는 석면에 관한 연구에 국한되어 있으며, 변성퇴적암류인 탄산염암에서 산출되는 자연발생석면에 대한 연구는 상대적으로 미비하다. 따라서 이 연구는 국내 탄산염암에서 산출되는 자연발생석면의 산출양상 및 광물학적 특성을 파악하고자 하였다. 연구 지역인 충청남도 아산과 전라북도 무주 및 장수 일대에는 선캠브리아기 편마암 내에 탄산염암이 분포하고, 주변에는 고생대, 중생대의 화강암이 널리 분포되어 있다. 시료는 탄산염암 일대의 석면함유 암석시료로 cross/mass/slip fiber 형태 등의 섬유상 광물이 관찰되는 부분과 모암인 탄산염암을 대상으로 채취하였으며, XRD, PLM, EPMA SEM-EDS 분석을 실시하여 탄산염암에서 산출되는 자연발생석면의 광물학적 특성을 연구하고자 하였다. 연구결과, 아산, 무주, 그리고 장수지역의 탄산염암 내에서 산출되는 자연발생석면으로 각섬석군 투각섬석이 확인되었다. 석면의 산출은 모암인 탄산염암 내에서 cross/mass/slip fiber 형태로 존재하고 있었다. 또한 자연발생석면과 형태적 유사성을 가지며 석면함유가능물질에 포함되는 활석, 질석, 해포석이 함께 산출되었다. 이러한 세지역의 투각섬석은 일반적인 석면형 기준과 일치하는 길이 $5{\mu}m$ 이상, 종횡비 3:1 이상으로 나타났다. 세 지역의 탄산염암 내에서 산출되는 투각섬석은 석면형과 비석면으로 모두 존재하고 있으며, 풍화와 같은 지질과정과 환경적인 요인에 따라 비석면형도 쪼개지면 가늘고 긴 석면형이 될 수 있음을 확인하였다. 지질학적 및 지구화학적 특성과 광물조성과 그 산출양상을 보았을 때 탄산염암 주변으로 관입한 규질 화성암의 영향에 의한 열수변질작용이나 열수 충진작용 등에 의해 형성되었을 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.5029-5037
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• 2015

본 연구의 목적인 우리나라 일부 학교의 석면함유 건축자재을 조사하고 EPA AHERA rule과 ASTM rule을 적용하여 위해성평가를 실시하였다. 총 100개 학교를 2010년 1월부터 12월까지 조사하였다. 건축년도에 따른 ACM 검출율은 1980년대 이전 건축물은 100%, 1990년대 이전은 94.1%, 2000년대 이전은 100%, 2000대 이후는 62.5%로 나타났다. 학교별 ACM 검출율은 유치원과 고등학교는 100%, 초등학교는 97.1%, 중학교는 92.9%, 특수학교는 80%로 나타났다. 천장 텍스는 2~8 %의 백석면과 갈석면, 밤라이트 보드는 6~11 %의 백석면이 검출되었다. 또한 개스킷과 슬레이트 지붕은 각각 16~17 %, 10~13 %의 백석면이 검출되었다. EPA AHERA rule을 이용하여 ACM의 위해성 평가를 실시한 결과, 모든 건축자재는 "Pool" 등급이 나왔으며, ASTM rule 평가에서는 모든 ACM이 "Q&M program"이 필요한 것으로 나타났다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.273-279
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• 2017

Objectives: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are next-generation industrial nanoparticles which possess excellent mechanical strength along with good thermal conductivity and electric properties. Given these characteristics, carbon nanotubes are being widely applied in various fields, including research and development. However, concerns have been raised over hazardous properties due to their similar fiber shape to asbestos. Recent studies have shown that CNTs pose potential hazards which may cause fibrosis and/or lung inflammation similarly to asbestos. Methods: After intratracheal instillation of SWCNTs and MWCNTs to rats, pulmonary surfactant (PS) of the SWCNTs and MWCNTs was measured and analyzed using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collected from the lung. After a single intratracheal instillation of SWCNTs and MWCNTs, phospholipid predominantly showed a significant increase compared to the control group, while proteins exhibited a significant increase both three days and one week after instillation. Results: As a result of surface tension, MWCNTs showed a significant decrease three days after treatment compared to the control group. In the case of the total cell number three days after instillation, MWCNTs revealed a temporarily significant increase when compared to the control group. For PMN number, when compared to the control group, SWCNTs displayed a significant increase throughout the observation period, while MWCNTs showed a significant increase three days and three months after treatment. Conclusions: After exposure to CNTs, the total cell number and PNT number, which indicate inflammatory response, were significantly increased. Therefore, this study suggests fiber-shaped CNTs may have a harmful effect on the lungs.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.435-439
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• 2010

In Korea, food-risk shock announcements are made one or more times annually; such as last September, 2010 when Seoul City revealed a very high concentration of cadmium in small octopus intestines sold in Korea. As a result, consumers avoided eating domestic as well as imported small octopus. Fishermen protested against Seoul city; however, the Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) announced that small octopus intestines pose no safety risk. The conflict between KFDA and Seoul City on the safety of small octopus intestines amplified the confusion of consumers. The small octopus cadmium shock resembled previous food-risk shocks in many respects. Effective risk communication is important in resolving food risk shocks as risk affects people case-by-case; for example people who do not eat small octopus intestines should not be at any risk, but those who do enjoy small octopus intestines, especially one more times per week, could be at risk. Therefore, it is necessary to communicate different risk messages to people or groups with different eating habits. From this point of view, the risk message conveyed by the KFDA on small octopus intestines was not appropriate.

• 환경위생공학
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.95-110
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• 1992

Much progress has been made in understanding the subcellular events of the human lung injuries after acute exposure to environmental air pollutants. Host of those events represent oxidative damages mediated by reactive oxygen species such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and the hydroxy, free radical. Recently, nitric oxide (NO) was found to be endogenously produced by endothelial cells and cells of the reticulo-endothelial system as endothelialderived relaxation factor (EDRF) which is a vasoactive and neurotransmitter substance. Together with superoxide, NO can form another strong oxidant, peroxonitrite. The relative importance of exogenous sources of $N0/N0_2$ and endogenous production of NO by the EDRF producing enzymes in the oxidative stresses to the heman lung has to be elucidated. The exact events leading to chronic irreversible damage are still yet to be known. From chronic exposure to oxidant gases, progressive epithelial and interstitial damages develop. Type I epithelial cells become thicker and cover a smaller average alveolar surface area while thee II cells proliferate instead. Under acute damages, the extent of loss of the alveolar epithelial cell lining, especially type II cells appears to be a good predictor of the ensuing irreversible damage to alveolar compartment. Interstitial matrix undergo remodeling during chronic exposure with increased collagen fibers and interstitial fibroblasts. However, Inany of these changes can be reversed after cessation of exposure. Among chronic lung injuries, genetic damages and repair responses received particular attention in view of the known increased lung cancer risks from exposure to several air pollutants. Heavy metals from foundry emission, automobile traffics, and total suspended particulate, especially polycystic aromatic hydrocarbons have been positively linked with the development of lung cancer. Asbestos in another air pollutant with known risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma, but asbestos fibers are nonauthentic in most bioassays. Studies using the electron spin resonance spin trapping method show that the presence of iron in asbestos accelerates the production of the hydroxy, radical in vitro. Interactions of these reactive oxygen species with particular cellular components and disruption of cell defense mechanisms still await further studies to elucidate the carcinogenic potential of asbestos fibers of different size and chemical composition. The distribution of inhaled pollutants and the magnitude of their eventual effects on the respiratory tract are determined by pollutant-independent physical factors such as anatomy of the respiratory tract and level and pattern of breathing, as well as by pollutant-specific phyco-chemical factors such as the reactivity, solubility, and diffusivity of the foreign gas in mucus, blood and tissue. Many of these individual factors determining dose can be quantified in vitro. However, mathematical models based on these factors should be validated for its integrity by using data from intact human lungs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.249-253
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• 2013

Background: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive tumor of mesothelial surfaces. Previous studies have observed an association between ABO blood groups and risk of certain malignancies, including pancreatic and gastric cancer; however, no information on any association with MM risk is available. The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations amoong MM clinicopathological features and ABO blood groups and Rh factor. Materials and Methods: In 252 patients with MM, the ABO blood group and Rh factor were examined and compared with the control group of 3,022,883 healthy volunteer blood donors of Turkish Red Crescent between 2004 and 2011. The relationship of blood groups with various clinicopathological features were also evaluated in the patient group. Results: The median age was 55 (range: 27-86) and 61.5% of patients were male. While 82.8% of patients had a history of exposure to asbestos, 60.7% of patients had a smoking history. Epithelioid (65.1%) was the most common histology and 18.7% of patients had mixed histology. Overall, the ABO blood group distribution of the 252 patients with MM was comparable with the general population. The median overall survival (OS) was 14 months (95% confidence interval, 11.3-16.6 months). The median OS for A, B, AB, and O were 11, 15, 16, and 15 months respectively (p=0.396). First line chemotherapy was administered to 118 patients. The median OS of patients on pemetrexed or gemcitabine was longer than patient who was not administered chemotherapy [17 months (95%CI, 11.7-22.2) vs. 9 months (95%CI, 6.9-11.0); p<0.001]. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that patients with MM can benefit from treatment with pemetrexed or gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin. We did not observe a statistically significant association between ABO blood group and risk of MM.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.258-266
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• 2017

Background: Welders are exposed to many known and suspected carcinogens. An excess lung cancer risk among welders is well established, but whether this is attributable to welding fumes is unclear. Excess risks of other cancers have been suggested, but not established. We investigated welding cancer risks in the population-based Canadian Census Health and Environmental Cohort. Methods: Among 1.1 million male workers, 12,845 welders were identified using Standard Occupational Classification codes and followed through retrospective linkage of 1991 Canadian Long Form Census and Canadian Cancer Registry (1992-2010) records. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models based on estimated risks of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and nasal, brain, stomach, kidney, and bladder cancers, and ocular melanoma. Lung cancer histological subtypes and risks by industry group and for occasional welders were examined. Some analyses restricted comparisons to blue-collar workers to minimize effects of potential confounders. Results: Among welders, elevated risks were observed for lung cancer [HR: 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.31], mesothelioma (HR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.01-3.18), bladder cancer (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15-1.70), and kidney cancer (HR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.01-1.67). When restricted to blue-collar workers, lung cancer and mesothelioma risks were attenuated, while bladder and kidney cancer risks increased. Conclusion: Excess risks of lung cancer and mesothelioma may be partly attributable to factors including smoking and asbestos. Welding-specific exposures may increase bladder and kidney cancer risks, and particular sources of exposure should be investigated. Studies that are able to disentangle welding effects from smoking and asbestos exposure are needed.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.140-148
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• 2006

Recently, indoor air quality (IAQ) in workplace, residential environments and schools has been concerned of people, scientists and related the public, and has recognized the health effects related to indoor air pollution. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the characteristics of IAQ in 55 kindergartens, elementary school, middle schools, and high schools from June, 2004 to May, 2005 in Korea. We measured indoor air pollutants($PM_{10},\;CO_2$, HCHO, total bacteria colony(TBC), CO, radon, TVOCs, asbestos, and $O_3$), and physical factors(noise, temperature, relative humidity, and illumination) with necessary of management for IAQ in school. We classified into 5 kinds of the school by period since building completion, <1 year, 1-3 years, 3-5 years, and 5-10 years. The concentration of pollutants and the level of physical factors compared with standards and guidelines of IAQ on the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. The major results obtained from this study were as follows. Temperature, relative humidity and illumination among the physical factors did not exceed the standards, but noise exceeded it. Asbestos and $O_3$ did not detect in surveyed classrooms. CO, TBC, TVOCs, and HCHO in kindergartens, TBC in elementary schools, TBC, TVOCs dnd HCHO in middle schools, and HCHO in high schools detected the standards. This study is conducted as a part of efforts to provide a foundational data for further relative researches on management of IAQ of school. Therefore, we suggest that country plan for management of IAQ in school should be established through long-term and continuous investigation for assessment on IAQ in school and health risk assessment for students.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.54-67
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• 2006

This study was performed to deduct the extension possibility of the standards establishment for $NO_2$, $O_3$, Asbestos, Radon, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) excluded in the indoor air part of Industrial Safety Acts in Korea. The air pollutants were sampled for 30 office buildings from August to September, 2005 in the metropolitan area. The airborne concentrations of $NO_2$, $O_3$, Radon and TVOC were 0.0092 ppm, 0.0035 ppm, 0.57 pCi/L and $423{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The management plan and reduction methods is required in the aspect of indoor air quality(IAQ) because the emission sources of those also exist in indoor as well as outdoor even though those were not exceeded the standards of the Ministry of Environment in Korea. The standard for TVOC in the new and remodeling office has to be established based on the risk assessment when hazard index exceeded "1" in the worst case scenario. In the state of art, the management of each volatile organic compounds has a difficulty due to not enough data for toxicological reference. Therefore, it is suggested that first of all, the standard for TVOC be established and then expanded to each materials for decision-making of improvement of IAQ in office.

• 한국건축시공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국건축시공학회 2018년도 춘계 학술논문 발표대회
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• pp.232-233
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• 2018

Among the recent environmental pollution, indoor air pollution has an adverse effect on the health of indoor residents. Radon, one of the causes of indoor air pollution, is released from concrete, gypsum board and asbestos slate among building materials. Radon is a primary carcinogen and is a colorless, tasteless, odorless inert gas that adheres to airborne dust and enters the body through breathing. At this time, there is a risk of developing cancer if the alpha rays from the lononggas entering the human body destroys the lung tissue and is continuously exposed to a high concentration of lonon gas. The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the reduction of radon and its exposure to radon by classifying it as a first-level carcinogen, but many people have not recognized it yet, and the research is underdeveloped. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the properties of adsorbed coconut radon to prevent the inflow of radon gas, which is an air pollution source of indoor air, and to prevent inflow into the human body.