• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제46권5호
• /
• pp.226-236
• /
• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the levels of serum 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and evaluate their association with age, body mass index, smoking, military record-based variables, and estimated exposure to Agent Orange in Korean Vietnam veterans. Methods: Serum levels of TCDD were analyzed in 102 Vietnam veterans. Information on age, body mass index, and smoking status were obtained from a self-reported questionnaire. The perceived exposure was assessed by a 6-item questionnaire. Two proximitybased exposures were constructed by division/brigade level and battalion/company level unit information using the Stellman exposure opportunity index model. Results: The mean and median of serum TCDD levels was 1.2 parts per trillion (ppt) and 0.9 ppt, respectively. Only 2 Vietnam veterans had elevated levels of TCDD (>10 ppt). The levels of TCDD did not tend to increase with the likelihood of exposure to Agent Orange, as estimated from either proximity-based exposure or perceived self-reported exposure. The serum TCDD levels were not significantly different according to military unit, year of first deployment, duration of deployment, military rank, age, body mass index, and smoking status. Conclusions: The average serum TCDD levels in the Korean Vietnam veterans were lower than those reported for other occupationally or environmentally exposed groups and US Vietnam veterans, and their use as an objective marker of Agent Orange exposure may have some limitations. The unit of deployment, duration of deployment, year of first deployment, military rank, perceived self-reported exposure, and proximity-based exposure to Agent Orange were not associated with TCDD levels in Korean Vietnam veterans. Age, body mass index and smoking also were not associated with TCDD levels.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제40권1호
• /
• pp.17-26
• /
• 2014

Background: Despite children's unique characteristics that distinguish them from adults, relatively few attempts have been made to measure exposure factors for characterization of children's exposure to hazardous chemicals in child-specific products (CSP). This study was conducted to establish the child-specific exposure factors for exposure and risk assessment of hazardous substances in CSP. Methods: We investigated the exposure factors (e.g., time use of child-products, time and frequency of object-to-body contact, time and frequency of object-to-mouth contact) influencing children's exposure to CSP (e.g., toys, playmats, oil pastels, etc.) in 650 children through a parent-completed questionnaire using a web-based survey. Participants were recruited in five age groups, <1, 1-2, 2-3, 3-6, and 6-12 years of age. Results: The child-specific exposure factors were presented as the mean, median, $95^{th}$ percentile, minimum, and maximum values. Time activity for play mats was the longest among CSP and infants spent more time on them than did elder age groups (189.3-224.7 min/day for <1-2 years vs. 91.2 min/day for 6-12 years). It is apparent that time and frequency of toy block- and plastic toy-to-mouth contact significantly decreased as a function of age. When the variation of CSP use patterns was compared by gender, the only variable that was statistically different between genders was time activity in child-products exposure space. Conclusion: We believe the five child-specific exposure factors suggested in the present study will be valuable for reducing uncertainty in the estimation of chemical exposure during risk assessment of CSP and furthermore, in the appropriate regulations to protect children's health.

• 한국농공학회지
• /
• 제35권4호
• /
• pp.38-46
• /
• 1993

This study is to analyze effect of exposure environment and mode of ASR on the engineering properties of synthetic lightweight aggregate concrete, such as dynamic modulus of elasticity and ultrasonic pulse velocity. The results of this study are summarized as foflows ; 1. The expansion rate of each exposure environment in 380$^{\circ}$C and NaCI 4% solution was shown higher than in 20$^{\circ}$C and normal water. The expansion rate of each exposure mode was largely shown in order of fjill immersion, wetting/drying, half immersion. 2. The dynamic modulus of elasticty and ultrasonic pulse velocity of each exposure environment in 38$^{\circ}$C and NaCl 4% solution was shown less than in 20$^{\circ}$C and normal water. The dynamic modulus of elasticity and ultrasonic pulse velocity of each exposure mode was shown smaller in order of full immersion, wetting/drying, half imersion.3. The relation between dynamic modulus of elasticity and ultrasonic pulse velocity was highly significant. The dynamic modulus of elasticity was increased with increase of ultrasonic pulse velocity. The decreasing rate of the dynamic modulus of elasticity was shown 2.1~3.4 times higher than the ultrasonic pulse velocity at each age, exposure environment and mode, respectively. 4. The expansion of each exposure environment and mode was increased with increase of curing age. The dynamic modulus of elasticity and ultrasonic pulse velocity of those concrete was increased with increase of curing age. At the curing age 28 days, the highest properties was showed at each type concrete, it was gradually decreased with increase of curing age. Specially, at the curing age 98 days of full immersion, the rate of expansion of type D was shown 3.95 times higher than the type A. But the dynamic modulus of elasticity and ultrasonic pulse velocity was decreased 17% and 8.3%.

• 한국산업보건학회지
• /
• 제25권4호
• /
• pp.573-583
• /
• 2015

Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of noise exposure and aging on changes in hearing threshold level and the relationship between age and noise. Materials: The author selected 274 male shipyard and assembly line workers as the noise exposed group and 582 males not exposed to noise as the general population group. Data were collected from five years of consecutive annual audiometric tests performed from 2008 to 2012. Results: In the general population and noise exposed groups, there was a reverse phenomenon that hearing threshold level for 2009 was lower than that of 2008, which seemed to be due to the learning effect, but from 2010 hearing threshold level increased. In the noise exposed group, the mean hearing threshold level in the left ear was significantly higher than that for right ear. In the general population group, the older was the age, the higher was the hearing threshold level, especially at 4000 Hz. In the general population and noise exposed groups, frequency, age group and noise exposure independently affected hearing threshold level, and there was no relationship between age and noise exposure. Over all frequencies, the change of hearing threshold level was larger in the noise exposed group than in the general population group. In the noise exposed group below thirty years old, the change at 4000 Hz was remarkable. Conclusions: Age and noise exposure seem to affect hearing threshold level independently and contribute to an additive effect on hearing threshold level.

• 대한의생명과학회지
• /
• 제30권3호
• /
• pp.169-172
• /
• 2024

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by wheezing, cough, and chest pain. The objective of this study was to examine asthmatic effect due to house dust mite (HDM) according to age and exposure duration. Asthma induction in young (6 weeks) and old (12 months) aged C57BL6/J mice was accomplished by HDM administration. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected. Inflammatory cells in BALF were counted. Mucus production in lung tissues was evaluated by periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intranasal (IN) injection of HDM induced infiltration of inflammatory cells into lungs of mice. The increase of total cells was higher in young mice than in old mice. Mucus secretion from goblet cells increased after HDM administration, with young mice showing higher mucus production than old mice. In chronic asthmatic state induced by i.p. and IN (three times) injection, old mice exhibited more inflammatory cells, specifically eosinophils, and mucus production than young mice. Our findings suggest that age and exposure duration are critical factors in different manifestations of asthma. Thus, they should be overarchingly considered in drug development for asthma.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제53권1호
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2020

Objectives: Prenatal cadmium (Cd) exposure may be associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the relationship between Cd exposure during gestation and ADHD at 6 years of age. Methods: As part of an ongoing cohort study (the Environment and Development of Children study), 479 mother-child pairs from Seoul, Korea were included for analysis between 2008 and 2011. The whole blood concentration of Cd was analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The parents were surveyed about ADHD behaviors in their children at age 6. Multivariable linear regression models were used to investigate the relationship between prenatal exposure to Cd and ADHD at 6 years of age. Results: Increased prenatal Cd concentrations were associated with increased scores for ADHD for girls, but not for boys, at age 6. A 2-fold increase in the prenatal Cd level was significantly associated with a 22.3% (95% confidence interval, 11.6 to 34.1) increase in ADHD in girls at 6 years of age, as indicated by the linear regression model. Conclusions: Our results identified significant associations between prenatal Cd exposure and ADHD scores in 6-year-old girls.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제7권3호
• /
• pp.376-383
• /
• 2012

A number of scientific researches are currently being conducted on the potential health hazards of power frequency electric and magnetic field (EMF). There exists a non-objective and psychological belief that they are harmful, although no scientific and objective proof of such exists. This possible health risk from ELF magnetic field (MF) exposure, especially for children under 17 years of age, is currently one of Korea's most highly contested social issues. Therefore, to assess the magnetic field exposure levels of those children in their general living environments, the personal MF exposure levels of 436 subjects were measured for about 6 years using government funding. Using the measured database, estimation formulas were developed to predict personal MF exposure levels. These formulas can serve as valuable tools in estimating 24-hour personal MF exposure levels without directly measuring the exposure. Three types of estimation formulas were developed by applying evolutionary computation methods such as genetic algorithm (GA) and genetic programming (GP). After tuning the database, the final three formulas with the smallest estimation error were selected, where the target estimation error was approximately 0.03 ${\mu}T$. The seven parameters of each of these three formulas are gender (G), age (A), house type (H), house size (HS), distance between the subject's residence and a power line (RD), power line voltage class (KV), and the usage conditions of electric appliances (RULE).

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제49권4호
• /
• pp.210-217
• /
• 2023

Background: N-nitrosamines are carcinogenic substances often found in rubber products. They are produced when certain additives of rubber products react with nitrite in saliva or air. Exposure assessment for the proper management and communication of N-nitrosamines in rubber balloons should be carried out. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of N-nitrosamines in rubber balloons in the South Korean market and assess exposure among Korean children. Methods: Forty eight rubber balloon products in the domestic market were purchased and a total of 68 balloons were analyzed for N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances. Chemical analysis was conducted by HPLC-MS/MS according to the method EN 71-12. For exposure assessment, an exposure algorithm and coefficients were obtained from previous studies. Results: Among the 68 rubber balloons, N-nitrosamines were detected in 18 (26.5%) with an average level of 60.77 ㎍/kg. N-Nitrosatable substances were detected in 44 products (64.7%) with an average level of 1353.33 ㎍/kg. As a result of the exposure evaluation, the exposure dose differed according to how exposure coefficients were applied. The median exposure (50th percentile) was higher in the age group of 6~12 years, and high exposure (95th percentile) was higher in the age group of 13~18. Conclusions: We evaluated the N-nitrosamines contained in rubber balloons purchased in the domestic market and assessed oral exposure among South Korean children. For integrated risk management of N-nitrosamines, further studies and discussion regarding exposure and risk assessment are required.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
• /
• 제5권4호
• /
• pp.195-200
• /
• 2011

최근의 방사선 피폭 선량을 조사하여 그 경각심을 일깨워주기 위함이다. 그 분석결과, K병원의 2008년도 평균피폭 선량은 $0.75{\pm}0.26mSv$, 2009년은 $0.67{\pm}0.30mSv$, 2010년은 $0.92{\pm}0.33mSv$였다. P병원은 2008년이 $0.43{\pm}0.13mSv$, 2009년 $0.43{\pm}0.20mSv$, 2010년이 $0.33{\pm}0.85mSv$로 나타났으며, 연령별 평균 피폭선량은 K병원의 20대가 13.39mSv, 30대 8.37mSv, 40대 1.19mSv, 50대 0.28mSv, 60대 0.32mSv로 나타났고 P병원은 20대 0.33mSv, 30대 1.41mSv, 40대 0.83mSv, 50대 1.66mSv, 60대 1.12mSv 였다. 또한 3년간 피폭선량의 평균을 성별로 나누어서 나타냈는데 K병원에서 남자의 피폭선량은 $2.92{\pm}1.03mSv$, 여자의 피폭선량은 $0.94{\pm}0.93mSv$였다. P병원에서의 남자의 피폭 선량은 $0.66{\pm}0.18mSv$이고 여자는 $1.80{\pm}0.60mSv$로 나타났다. 방사선을 취급하는 과별로 받는 년간 평균 피폭 선량은 영상의학과 $1.65{\pm}1.54mSv$, 방사선종양학과 $1.17{\pm}0.82mSv$, 핵의학과 $1.79{\pm}1.42mSv$, 기타 $0.99{\pm}0.51mSv$였으며 상대적으로 저선량율 에너지를 사용하는 핵의학과에서 다른 과와 비교해서 방사선 피폭이 높게 나타났으며(p<0.05), 핵의학과내에서는 특히 동위원소 조작실과 주입실의 년간 평균 피폭량이 $3.69{\pm}1.81mSv$으로 많은 피폭을 받고 있었다(p<0.01). 직종별 연평균 피폭선량은 의사 $1.75{\pm}1.17mSv$, 방사선사 $1.60{\pm}1.39mSv$, 간호사 $0.93{\pm}0.35mSv$, 기타 $1.00{\pm}0.3mSv$로 의사와 방사선사가 다른 직종에 비해 높게 나타났다(p<0.05). 방사선 작업 종사자에 대한 피폭측정 및 평가가 철저히 이루어져 피폭 가능성을 줄이는데 관심과 주의가 필요하며 누적 선량을 최소화하여 방사선 작업 종사자의 건강을 유지하고 증진 시켜야 할 것이다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제40권5호
• /
• pp.397-406
• /
• 2014

Objectives: Perchloroethylene (PCE) is a volatile chemical widely used as a solvent in the dry-cleaning and textile processing industries. It was evaluated as Group 2 "probably carcinogenic to humans" by the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) of the United State Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) in 2012. In order to provide a scientific basis for establishing risk management measures for chemicals on the national priority substances list, aggregate risk assessment was conducted for PCE, included in the top-10 substances. Methods: We conducted the investigation and monitoring of PCE exposure (e.g., exposure scenario, detection levels, and exposure factors, etc.) and assessed its multi-media (e.g., outdoor air, indoor air, and ground water) exposure risk with a deterministic and probabilistic approach. Results: In human risk assessment (HRA), the level of human exposure was higher in the younger age group. The exposure level through inhalation at home was the highest among the exposure routes. Outdoor air or uptake of drinking water represented less than 1% of total contributions to PCE exposure. These findings suggested that the level of risk was negligible since the Hazard Index (HI) induced by HRA was below one among all age groups, with a maximum HI value of 0.17 when reasonable maximum exposure was applied. Conclusion: In conclusion, it was suggested that despite low exposure risk, further studies are needed considering main sources, including occupational exposure.