• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2024

Background: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph conducted a systematic review of the relationship between asbestos and ovarian cancer. However, there may have been information bias due to the undue weight given to few articles. To address this limitation, the present study performed a meta-analysis integrating studies published both before and after the 2012 IARC Monograph on Asbestos, with the aim of investigating the association between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer. Methods: A comprehensive search of major journal databases was conducted to identify studies examining the relationship between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer, including those featured in the 2012 IARC Monograph on Asbestos. A meta-analysis on asbestos exposure and cancer risk was performed. Results: The meta-analysis of studies published after the 2012 IARC Monograph on Asbestos found a summary Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) of 2.04 (95% CI: 1.03-4.05; p = 0.0123; 5 studies), with a significant degree of heterogeneity among the studies (I² = 72.99%). The combined analysis of 15 studies before and after the 2012 IARC Monograph showed an overall summary SMR of 1.72 (95% CI: 1.43-2.06; p = 0.0349; 15 studies), with a moderate degree of heterogeneity (I² = 42.99%). Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides evidence of a significant association between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer mortality. While the possibility of misdiagnosis in earlier studies cannot be completely ruled out, recent findings suggest a robust correlation between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer. This highlights the importance of sustained efforts to minimize asbestos exposure and protect public health.

• 지질공학
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.393-402
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• 2011

석면은 강한 독성이 있는 물질로 폐암 및 폐와 관련된 질환에 치명적이다. 최근 자연 상태의 석면이 함유된 지역에 대한 정확한 정보의 부재로 석면이 함유된 지역을 효율적으로 관리할 필요가 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 효율적인 석면관리를 위해서 석면위험지역을 지역적으로 등급화 할 수 있는 자연 상태의 석면 노출위험도를 제작하는 것이다. 이를 위해서는 먼저 석면 위험지역을 평가할 수 있는 주제를 발굴하고 필요에 따라 현지조사를 통해 공간적으로 매핑 할 수 있는 주제도를 작성한다. 또한 석면 데이터에 대한 분석 표현 및 프로세스들을 정리하여 석면 지식베이스 구축을 하고 석면노출위험을 위한 평가모델을 마련한다. 석면 노출위험도 작성을 위한 공간분석은 문헌 및 전문가의 의견에 기반을 둔 가중치 분석과 불확실한 데이터에 사용하는 퍼지 연산자들을 이용한 공간 중첩분석을 수행한다. 가중치 및 퍼지 연산에 따라 작성된 석면 노출 위험도는 지역을 계층적 관리함으로써 석면 안전 및 보상에 활용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

• 동아시아식생활학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.451-462
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the level of concern and the level of knowledge of endocrine disruptors, and the level of dietary behaviors to decrease exposure to endocrine disruptors, to determine the factors affecting the level of knowledge and behaviors, and to assess the causal relationship between them. The data were collected from 579 adults in Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan and Gwangju provinces. Frequencies, t tests, analysis of variance, Cronbach's alpha, Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis, multiple regression analyses, and path analysis were carried out by SPSS for Win V.18.0. The results of this study were as follows: The level of concern about endocrine disruptors was higher than the medium level. The respondents were most concerned about a container of cup ramen among products related to foods. The levels of both knowledge and behaviors in order to decrease exposure to endocrine disruptors in dietary life were not high. The factors affecting the level of knowledge of endocrine disruptors were educational level, attendance in education for endocrine disruptors, and concern about endocrine disruptors. On the other hand, sex, age, concern about endocrine disruptors, and the level of knowledge of endocrine disruptors affected the level of behaviors to decrease exposure toward endocrine disruptors. The results of the path analysis showed that educational level and education of endocrine disruptors had an indirect influence on the level of behaviors in order to decrease exposure to endocrine disruptors in dietary life. The concern about endocrine disruptors had both a direct and an indirect effect on the level of behaviors to decrease exposure to endocrine disruptors in dietary life. In addition, sex, age and the level of knowledge of endocrine disruptors directly affected the level of behaviors to decrease exposure to endocrine disruptors in dietary life.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.157-166
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• 2017

Objectives: Exposure to hazardous air pollutants could be affected by sociodemographic factors such as age, gender and more. Information on time spent in microenvironments has a critical role in exposure assessment. The purpose of this study was to analyze the exposure pathways which influence personal exposure through time-activity patterns and sociodemographic factors. Methods: A total of 379 subjects were collected from the second term of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey. A questionnaire survey in relation to sociodemographic factors and a time-activity diary were carried out for personal exposure to toluene. Focusing on personal exposure to toluene, factors affecting personal exposure were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results: Participants spent their time in an indoor house for $16.8{\pm}4.0hr$, workplace or school $2.3{\pm}3.5hr$, and other indoor $2.1{\pm}2.2hr$. Sociodemographic factors were significantly different among each personal exposure and microenvironment. Time of staying at an office turned out to be a main factor from point of exposure in exposure pathway using multiple regression analysis. As a result, this means that exposure may be different according to the time of staying in each microenvironment. Conclusions: Personal exposure to air pollutants might be decided by time-activity pattern indicating when, where, and which activities people pursue, as well as individual sociodemographic factors.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.217-225
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• 1998

본 연구에서는 A청감보정 소음레벨과 폭로기간에 대한 소음유발 청력손실과 소음폭로 사이의 관계를 해석하였다. 연령과 소음폭로등 다양한 변수에 대하여 청력손실과 청감민감도 변화를 조사하였다. 연구결과 전체 청력손실은 음압의 시간적분에 의한 소음폭로 레벨에 비례하였다. 만약 소음폭로가 노인성 난청보다 크면 연령과 소음에 의해 발생하는 청력손실은 주된 원인이 소음에 의한 것임을 확인하였다. 과도한 소음은 일시적 청력손실의 원인이며, 폭로가 길어지거나 강력하면 영구적 청력손실의 원인이 될 수 있다. 소음유발 청력손실을 겪는 사람의 청력도는 4kHz 영역에서 청감민감도의 급격한 손실을 보여주며, 이 영역은 여러 형태의 산업소음으로 인해 가장 손상받기 쉬운 전형적인 주파수영역임을 확인하였다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제46권5호
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• pp.213-225
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between Agent Orange exposure and self-reported diseases in Korean Vietnam veterans. Methods: A postal survey of 114 562 Vietnam veterans was conducted. The perceived exposure to Agent Orange was assessed by a 6-item questionnaire. Two proximity-based Agent Orange exposure indices were constructed using division/brigade-level and battalion/ company-level unit information. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for age and other confounders were calculated using a logistic regression model. Results: The prevalence of all self-reported diseases showed monotonically increasing trends as the levels of perceived self-reported exposure increased. The ORs for colon cancer (OR, 1.13), leukemia (OR, 1.56), hypertension (OR, 1.03), peripheral vasculopathy (OR, 1.07), enterocolitis (OR, 1.07), peripheral neuropathy (OR, 1.07), multiple nerve palsy (OR, 1.14), multiple sclerosis (OR, 1.24), skin diseases (OR, 1.05), psychotic diseases (OR, 1.07) and lipidemia (OR, 1.05) were significantly elevated for the high exposure group in the division/brigade-level proximity-based exposure analysis, compared to the low exposure group. The ORs for cerebral infarction (OR, 1.08), chronic bronchitis (OR, 1.05), multiple nerve palsy (OR, 1.07), multiple sclerosis (OR, 1.16), skin diseases (OR, 1.05), and lipidemia (OR, 1.05) were significantly elevated for the high exposure group in the battalion/company-level analysis. Conclusions: Korean Vietnam veterans with high exposure to Agent Orange experienced a higher prevalence of several self-reported chronic diseases compared to those with low exposure by proximity-based exposure assessment. The strong positive associations between perceived self-reported exposure and all self-reported diseases should be evaluated with discretion because the likelihood of reporting diseases was directly related to the perceived intensity of Agent Orange exposure.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.273-284
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• 2002

At present, the health risks associated with the natural radionuclides of ground water have become a concern as potential social problems. However, there are no regulatory actions or control strategies for such risks. Therefore, we have investigated and discussed the risks and associated management strategies for radionuclides in other countries. US EPA has proposed MCL (300 pCi/L) and AMCL (4,000 pCi/L) for radon, and 30 ppb for uranium, 15 pCi/L for gross-alpha and 5 pCi/L for radium as final MCLs. Also, Canada, WHO and European countries have their inherent management levels. Finally, we suggested several criteria for setting guidelines in our countries including exposure related criteria such as geological distribution, occurrence, exposure probability distribution, exposure population and multimedia exposure assessment, acceptable risk, and cost -benefit analysis. The national-scale exposure and risk assessment, and economic analysis should be conducted for producing and aggregating the representative information on these criteria.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제64권6호
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• pp.286-292
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• 2021

Background: The effect of exposure to environmental factors on autism spectrum disorders (ASD), especially during pregnancy, is unclear. Purpose: This meta-analysis investigated the association between exposure to pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during pregnancy and ASD risk among children. Methods: We searched Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest for articles published through September 2019. Random-effects models were used to examine the association among studies using pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). I2 tests were used to measure interstudy heterogeneity. Results: The pooled OR indicated a significant association between PCB and pesticide exposure during pregnancy and ASD risk among children (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.26-2.34; and OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02-1.39), respectively. Conclusion: Findings of the present study indicate that exposure to pesticides and PCBs during pregnancy may affect the risk of ASD among children.

• 방사선산업학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.141-145
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• 2024

In Publication No. 66 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, an activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) of 5 ㎛ is considered in internal exposure dose assessment owing to inhalation of radionuclides in a workplace. However, analysis of aerosols generated during dismantling experiments, such as in the oxy-cutting of a reactor vessel conducted in Korea, revealed that the radioactive aerosols have AMAD ranging from 0.024 to 0.064 ㎛. Such extremely fine aerosols can induce internal exposure if inhaled. In particular, alpha radionuclides in aerosols can lead to significantly higher levels of radiation exposure than beta and gamma radionuclides, thus highlighting the need to establish appropriate internal exposure radiation protection programs and monitoring systems that specifically address alpha radionuclides when decommissioning nuclear power plants in Korea.

• 환경생물
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

This study evaluated the risk of single and combined exposure to microplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio) through biomarkers, such as survival rate, excretion rate, and histological alterations of organ systems. The experimental groups were the control(Cont.), single microplastics exposure group(MPs, 1.83%/fish total weight(g)), the copper group(Cu, 21.6 ㎍ L^-1), and a group with combined exposure to MPs and copper (MPs^*Cu). The experiment was conducted with individual exposure (7 days) for MP excretion rate analysis and group exposure (14 days) for biomarker analysis. The daily excretion rate of MPs tended to decrease in a time-dependent manner. The copper concentration in the body was not significantly different between single and combined copper exposure. The degeneration of mucous cells in the skin, capillary dilation of the gill lamella, increased intestinal mucous, hepatocyte hypertrophy, and the degeneration of glomeruli and renal tubules were observed in all exposure groups. These histological alterations showed the highest tendency in the MPs^*Cu group. In this study, the changes in biomarkers were attributed to the single effect of copper or the combined effect of copper and MPs rather than being solely influenced by MPs.