• Advances in environmental research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2012

Recent studies showed that air pollution is a risk factor for hospitalization for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there is limited evidence to suggest which subpopulations are at higher risk from air pollution. This study was undertaken to examine the modifying effect of specific secondary diagnosis (including hypertension, diabetes, pneumonia, congestive heart failure) on the relationship between hospital admissions for COPD and ambient air pollutants concentrations. Hospital admissions for COPD and ambient air pollution data for Taipei were obtained for the period from 1999-2009. The relative risk of hospital admissions for COPD was estimated using a case-crossover approach. None of the secondary diagnosis we examined showed much evidence of effect modification.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.43-55
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• 1994

Two thematic maps on environmental geology were produced in the Cheong-Ju area, with aids of GIS technique. They are landslide hazards & risk maps and cut-fill maps. The models of environmental geology map and digital database were established for creation of these maps by means of cartographic simulation in GIS. These special maps are very important for understanding the environmental characteristics of the study area, and can be applied in the establishment of the regional land use planning. For instance, the landslide hazard and risk map can play very important role in the road design, and cut- fill map in the construction work in the area. The scoring system for landslide analysis was developed through the evaluation of each environmental geologic factor in relation to the others and reflects the relative imporatance of each factor. The excavation index(easy, intermediate and difficult) was evaluated through cut-fill analysis, and they can be very useftil for assessing the degree of excavation difficulty.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.307-314
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of symptoms relating to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and investigate the risk factors among researchers at university laboratories. Methods: 209 researchers were included in this study, drawn from 27 laboratories at three universities in Korea. Checklists for MSD symptoms and risk factor assessment were utilized. Results: The symptoms checklist showed reliable results with Cohen's Kappa 0.33-0.56, percent agreement 81.0-96.8%, and correlation coefficient 0.41-0.63. The overall prevalence of MSD symptoms was 68.9%, while the prevalence in specific parts of body were as follows: shoulders (47.6%), lower back (46.9%), neck (46.9%), knees (25.4%), wrists (20.1%), elbows (13.6%). The symptom prevalence among women was higher than among men (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.37-5.18). Daily exposure time was observed to be a significant risk factor for developing MSD symptoms (OR 2.14-6.07). Conclusions: This study suggested that repetitive pipetting and static work posture are the most significant risk factors for MSD symptoms among laboratory researchers.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.193-200
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to identify how students majoring in nursing perceive causes of cancers and the effects of diet for preventing cancers. Data for the study were collected by 651 nursing students, who were registered in the second and third year in three technical colleges and third and fourth year in two universities. The Research instruments included items on general characteristics of subjects, items about the degree of perception of the frequency of cancer onset and items on the perception of mortality. risk factors. preventive diets, knowledge, and high risk factor for cancer in specific body areas. The findings of this study are as follows : 1. Almost all subjects(92.8%) reported that the frequency of cancer onset increases and that it is 93.9% for people over 40. Degree of perception about cancer mortality was low at 33.0%. 2. As far as the perception of risk factors for cancer onset was concerned, smoking, stress, heredity, family history, and alcohol were rated high, over 80.0%. Risk factor in. eluding virus, hormones. pesticides were rated as low. 3. As to the perception of risk factor for body area as associated with diet salted and scorched food were rated at 44.5% for stomach cancer, alcohol, 50.4% for liver cancer, smoking. 72.8% for lung cancer. pregnancy times. 25.3%, and marriage age, 23.0% for uterine cancer, and no delivery experience, 40.1% for breast cancer. 4. The knowledge score for cancer was between 12 and 36, with a mean score of 26.75(SD=4.13). There was a statistically significant difference between experience in raring for cancer patients during clinical practice and knowledge score(t=3.09. p=.002).

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.3 no.2 s.10
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• pp.75-86
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• 2002

The construction market is diversely changing because social environmental factors are rapidly transforming. Therefore, Construction projects are becoming complex and diverse. Furthermore, the risk being inherent in construction projects are increasing, and now people are considering about the risk management of construction projects in successfully handling the risk factor. The purpose of this study is first to comprehend the preparation of basic references for objective and systematic identification, categorization, and analysis of risk. Secondly it is to find the principle elements within the risk factors identified and categorized around planning process. Finally it is to manage objectively on the planning process, which forms a lot of uncertainty, in order to accentuate the importance about the risk of pre-planning process stage

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2009

We conducted human risk assessment due to inhalation exposure to heavy metals emitted from incinerator. The process of health impact assessment(HIA) on incinerator is as follows: The first step is to presume and calculate the amount of heavy metals emitted using emission factor. The second step is to conduct an exposure assessment using the K-SCREEN model which is used for predicting the concentration in a conservative method. The last step is to carry out a risk assessment on carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic substances. This study revealed that rank of carcinogenic human risk was $Cr^{+6}$ > As > Ni > Cd, and values of human risk assessment on carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic substances is lower than the US criteria for risk assessment except $Cr^{+6}$. It is expected that the technique of HIA, especially human risk assessment on heavy metals, would be applied to the incinerator construction project. In addition, more systematic studies are needed to overcome some weak points and limits found in this study.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.11 no.1_2
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• pp.1-10
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• 1996

A decrease in stratospheric ozone probably caused by chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) emissions, has been observed large parts of-the globe. It is generally accepted that if ozone levels in the stratosphere are depleted, greater amounts of shortwave ultraviolet radiationB (UVB) will reach the earth's surface, resulting in increased incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer. In this study, we evaluated several mathematical models, such as a power and an exponential model, and a geometric model considering the surface area of a human body part and ages for the prediction of Skin cancer incidence caused by exposure to the UVB radiation. These models basically estimated the risk of skin cancer based on those measurements of the local ozone in stratosphere and UVB. Both were measured at a part of Seoul with a Dobson ozone spectrometer and Robertson-Berger UV Biometer for 1995. As a result, we calculated the point estimation applying a biological amplification factor (BAF), UVB radiation and other factors. We used a Monte-Carlo simulation technique with assumption on the distribution of each considered factor. The sensitivity analysis of model by there components conducted using Gaussian sensitivity method. The annual integral of UVB radiation was 2275 MED (minimal erythema dose)/yr. Also, an estimate of the annual amount of UVB reaching the earth's surface at a korea's latitude and altitude was 3328 MED/yr. The values of the radiation amplification factor (RAF) were ranged from 0.9 to 1.5 in Seoul. To give the effective factors required to model the prediction of skin cancer incidence caused by exposure to the UVB radiation in Korea, we studied the pros and cons of above mentioned models with the application of those parameters measured in Seoul, Korea.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.21-31
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• 2012

This paper presents the short-term and long-term measures to determine the fugitive dust concentration in a contaminated site, which is a crucial step for the determination of particulate emission factor (PEF) for risk assessment. As a long-term measure, USEPA method employing Q/C value (inverse of the ratio of the geometric mean air concentration to the emission flux at center of a 0.5-acre square source) seems to be suitable as it reflects regional-specific meteorological conditions. However, it requires nation-wide database collection and interpretation. Use of ASTM method is an alternative as a short-term measure. The method is readily field-applicable as PEF calculation equation is simple and input parameters can be easily derived at the site of interest as well without the nation-wide efforts. Using ASTM method, PEF at the Former Janghang Smelter Site was determined. According to various mode of aggregate size distribution and fractions of vegetative cover, which are the most important factors in PEF calculation, PEF values at the Former Janghang Smelter Site varied greatly. When the mode of aggregate size distribution was set at 0.25 mm, PEF values at the Former Janghang Smelter Site was 5~20 times higher than the default PEF value (i.e., 35 ${\mu}g/m^3$) shown in the current Korean Soil Contamination Risk Assessment Guidance. On contrast, when the mode was set at 2 mm, PEF values at the Former Janghang Smelter Site was 160~640 times lower than the default PEF value in the Korean Guidance.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.691-702
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• 2015

This study examined the levels of risk perception of food risk elements by adopting a psychometric paradigm and analyzed factors affecting concerns about food risk elements to obtain basic materials for food safety policy. The data were collected from 296 housewives in Daegu, Korea, by a self-administered questionnaire. Frequency distributions, Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis, factor analysis, Cronbach's ${alpha}$, and multiple regression analyses were conducted by SPSS 21.0. The mean level of concern for food safety was 3.75/5.00 points, and the mean percentage of correct answers about heavy metal contamination was highest among food risk elements. The respondents perceived radioactive contaminated foods, GM foods, and endocrine disruptors as a new, delayed, scientifically unknown, involuntary, serious, and uncontrollable risk in risk perception. According to the result of factor analysis for risk perception, two factors such as non-controllability and dread were categorized. In the risk perception map, radioactive contaminated foods and GM foods were considered as an uncontrollable and dreaded risk, heavy metal contamination, endocrine disruptors, and pesticide residues as a controllable and dreaded risk, and foodborne illness and food additives as a controllable and less dreaded risk. On the other hand, the levels of concerns about food risk elements were higher in order of radioactive contaminated foods, GM foods, and endocrine disruptors. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that age, concern for food safety, percentage of correct answers about food risk elements, non-controllability, and dread influenced the concerns about food risk elements. These results imply that food safety policies should consider differences in consumer's risk perception of food risk elements.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.321-333
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• 2008

Considering risks and artificial enrichments of metals in the soils of the study area, the study aims to analyze geology, grain size and geochemistry. Geology is mainly composed of gneisses and phyllites of metamorphic rocks, sandstones, siltstones, shales, tuffs of sedimentary ones and granites and andesites of igneous ones in the area. In the area, mean contents of metals are not meaningful in accordance with petrogenesis. The soil textures of the area are of S, lS and sL of sandy soil, L, scL, cL of loam and C, zC and sC of clayey soil. Mean contents of Ni, Cr, Co and Cu are meaningfully high in loam and clayey soil relative to sandy soil, whereas Ni, Zn, Cd contents are higher in clayey soil than in loam. Those differences imply the metallic contents are dependent to grain size. Based on the metal contents in the soils of the study area, Cu and Zn in loams and Pb in sandy soils are corresponded to soil contamination warning standards, and As showing 75mg/kg of maximum content in loams is assigned to soil contamination countermeasure standards, respectively. Artificial enrichment factor minimized wall rock and grain size relations is over 1 in Cr, Ni and Cu, but the factor is below 1 in average of other metals.