• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.467-477
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• 2017

Objectives: Oxidative stress and DNA damage have been proposed as mechanisms linking pesticide exposure to health effects such as cancer and neurological diseases. We investigated whether protective measures could significantly reduce the levels of biomarkers for oxidative stress and DNA damage in agricultural workers. Methods: In the present study, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), biomarkers related to oxidative stress and DNA damage, respectively, were analyzed in urine samples collected from agricultural workers in two provinces of Korea (n=60). The influence of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and performing protective behaviors on the levels of these two biomarkers was also evaluated. Results: The median urinary levels of MDA and 8-OHdG were 10.45 nmol/mg creatinine and 14.42 ng/mg creatinine in subjects living in region A, while they were 6.25 nmol/mg creatinine and 24.77 ng/mg creatinine in subjects living in region B, respectively. The levels of MDA and 8-OHdG were higher in male farmers. Farmers wearing greater numbers of PPE and performing more protective behaviors had significantly lower levels of MDA. Greater numbers of protective behaviors was significantly associated with lower levels of 8-OHdG. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that pesticide exposure could induce oxidative stress and DNA damage in agricultural workers, and that protective measures are important for mitigating pesticide exposure.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2018

Mold grows more easily when humidity is higher in indoor spaces, and as such is found more often on wetted areas in housing such as walls, toilets, kitchens, and poorly managed spaces. However, there have been few studies that have specifically assessed the level of mold in the indoor spaces of water-damaged housing in the Republic of Korea. We investigated the levels of airborne mold according to the characteristics of water damage types and explored the correlation between the distribution of mold genera and the characteristics of households. Samplings were performed from January 2016 to June 2018 in 97 housing units with water leakage or condensation, or a history of flooding, and in 61 general housing units in the metropolitan and Busan area, respectively. Airborne mold was collected on MEA (Malt extract agar) at flow rate of 100 L/min for 1 min. After collection, the samples were incubated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 120 hours. The cultured samples were counted and corrected using a positive hole conversion table. The samples were then analyzed by single colony culture, DNA extraction, gene amplification, and sequencing. By type of housing, concentrations of airborne mold were highest in flooded housing, followed by water-leaked or highly condensed housings, and then general housing. In more than 50% of water-damaged housing, the level of airborne mold exceeded the guideline of Korea's Ministry of Environment ($500CFU/m^3$). Of particular concern was the fact that the I/O ratio of water-damaged housing was greater than 1, which could indicate that mold damage may occur indoors. The distribution patterns of the fungal species were as follows: Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp. (14%), Aspergillus spp. (13%) and Alternaria spp. (3%), but significant differences of their levels in indoor spaces were not found. Our findings indicate that high levels of mold damage were found in housing with water damage, and Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium brevicompactum were more dominant in housing with high water activity. Comprehensive management of flooded or water-damaged housing is necessary to reduce fungal exposure.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.443-449
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• 1999

The investigation of the amount of the ecosystem damage on the shoreline due to the NAHODKA oil-spill accident, which occurred in the Sea of Japan, was attempted by using geoinformatics. At first, it was assumed that symbolical vegetation's distribution could be specified in the coast in Ishikawa Pref. where the heavy oil was washed, and surveyed the regional distribution. Then, the presumption result of those environmental capacities was arranged by GIS. In addition, the amount of the ecosystem damage was presumed as cost necessary though a symbolical living thing for the retreat because of the base line by the heavy oil drifting ashore was recovered. By comparing the vegetation line and the surveying data which shows environmental capacity, the retreat areas of the vegetation were 1100-1200 $m^2$. When the amount of damage on the ecosystem of the NAHODKA oil-spill accident was presumed based on the retreat area of this vegetation and the restoration cost, the amount of damage within Shioya beach which 150m in the surveying range became 2 to 2.5 million Yen. Because the extension distance from the Shioya beach to the Katano beach was about 3,500m, the amount of damage became about 46 to 65 million Yen. As a result of calculation for the amount of damage on the ecosystem of the NAHODKA oil-spill accident, it was estimated approximately 1,400 to 2,000 million Yen in the shoreline of Ishikawa Pref., because the total extension of beaches in Ishikawa Pref. is about 110km.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.373-380
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• 2004

Objectives : There has been gradually increasing concern about the adverse health effects of electromagnetic radiation originating from cell phones which are widely used in modern life. Cell phone radiation may affect human health by increasing free radicals of human blood cells. This study has been designed to identify DNA damage of blood cells by electromagnetic radiation caused by cell phone use. Methods : This study investigated the health effect of acute exposure to commercially available cell phones on certain parameters such as an indicator of DNA damage for 14 healthy adult volunteers. Each volunteer during the experiment talked over the cell phone with the keypad facing the right side of the face for 4 hours. The single cell gel electrophoresis assay (Comet assay), which is very sensitive in detecting the presence of DNA strand-breaks and alkali-labile damage in individual cells, was used to assess peripheral blood cells (T-cells, B-cells, granulocytes) from volunteers before and after exposure to cell phone radiation. The parameters of Comet assay measured were Olive Tail Moment and Tail DNA %. Results : The Olive Tail Moment of B-cells and granulocytes and Tail DNA % of B-cells and granulocytes were increased by a statistically significant extent after 4-hour use of a cell phone compared with controls. Conclusion : It is concluded that cell phone radiation caused the DNA damage during the 4 hours of experimental condition. Nonetheless, this study suggested that cell phone use may increase DNA damage by electromagnetic radiation and other contributing factors.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.89-110
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• 2014

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is an effective alternative to conventional inspections which are time-consuming and subjective. SHM can detect damage early and reduce maintenance cost and thereby help reduce the likelihood of catastrophic structural events to infrastructure such as bridges. After reviewing the Damage Index Method (DIM), an Iterative Damage Index Method (IDIM) is proposed to improve the accuracy of damage detection. These two damage detection techniques are compared based on damage on two structures, a simply supported beam and a pedestrian bridge. Compared to the traditional damage detection algorithm, the proposed IDIM is shown to be less arbitrary and more accurate.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.87-94
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• 1995

In highway bridges robust damage detection exercises are mandatory to secure the safety of the structures from hostile environmental conditions such as fatigue earthquake, wind, and corrosion. This paper presents a damage detection practice in a full-scale highway bridge by utilizing modal response parameters of as-built and damaged states of the structure. first the test structure is described and modal testing procedures are outlined. Next, a damage detection model which yields information on the location of damage directly from changes in mode shapes is outlined. Finally, the damage detection model is implemented to predict the location of damage in the ten structure. From the results, it was found that the damage detection model accurately locates damage in the test structures for which modal parameters of only a single mode are available for pre-damage (as-built) and post-damage stages.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.87-97
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• 2022

In this study, type analysis was conducted along with the advancement of basic data to calculate the maximum damage caused by strong winds during the typhoon period. The result of the damage by region showed that in 2012, the difference in damage was clearly distinguished as the region was classified in detail. In addition, the result of the annual damage in 2011 was strong on the west coast, and in 2016, the damage to the southeast coast was significant. In 2012, the 3-second gust was relatively stronger on the west and southeast coasts than in 2011, and the winds blew stronger along the southeast coast in 2016. Monthly damage data showed that the damage to the west coast was high in August, and the damage to the southeast coast was high in October from 2002 to 2019. The 3-second gust showed the result of wide expansion throughout the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula in October. As a result, the damage differs for type bacause the intensities and paths of typhoons vary depending on their characteristics, the 3-second gust blows differently by region based on regional characteristics, and the sale price is considered in metropolitan cities.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.69-75
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• 2019

The frequency of natural disasters and the scale of damage are increasing due to the abnormal weather phenomenon that occurs worldwide. Especially, damage caused by natural disasters in coastal areas around the world such as Earthquake in Japan, Hurricane Katrina in the United States, and Typhoon Maemi in Korea are huge. If we can predict the damage scale in response to disasters, we can respond quickly and reduce damage. In this study, we developed damage prediction functions for Wind waves caused by sea breezes and waves during various natural disasters. The disaster report (1991 ~ 2017) has collected the history of storm and typhoon damage in coastal areas in Korea, and the amount of damage has been converted as of 2017 to reflect inflation. In addition, data on marine weather factors were collected in the event of storm and typhoon damage. Regression analysis was performed through collected data, Finally, predictive function of the sea turbulent damage by the sea area in 74 regions of the country were developed. It is deemed that preliminary damage prediction can be possible through the wind damage prediction function developed and is expected to be utilized to improve laws and systems related to disaster statistics.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.150-153
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• 2002

Solar UV light is a well-known carcinogen. UVA radiation is probably carcinogenic to humans. In addition, recent investigations point to the importance of UVA irradiation in the photoaging. We investigated the mechanism of sequence- specific DNA damage using $\^$32/P-Iabeled DNA fragments in relation to carcinogenesis and aging. Furthermore, we investigated whether UVA accelerates the telomere shortening in human WI-38 fibroblasts. The exposure of double- stranded DNA fragments to 365 nm light in the presence of endogenous sensitizers produced sequence-specific cleavage at the 5' site of 5'-GG-3' and 5'-GGG-3' sequences. In addition, HPLC analysis revealed that sensitizers plus 365 nm light increased the 8-oxodG content of double-stranded DNA. We discuss the mechanisms of guanine-specific DNA damagecaused by excited photosensitizers in relation to carcinogenesis and aging.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.207-220
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• 2010

The 'chain reaction' effect of the interaction between wind pressure and windborne debris is likely to be a major cause of damage to residential buildings during severe wind events. The current paper (Part II) concerns the quantification of such pressure-debris interaction in an advanced vulnerability model that integrates the debris risk model developed in Part I and a component-based wind-pressure damage model. This vulnerability model may be applied to predict the cumulative wind damage during the passage of particular hurricanes, to estimate annual hurricane losses, or to conduct system reliability analysis for residential developments, with the effect of windborne debris fully considered.