• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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• pp.11.1-11.17
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• 2023

Background: Studies on the relationship between organic solvent exposure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have presented inconsistent results. Definition of CKD has changed in 2012, and other cohort studies have been newly published. Therefore, this study aimed to newly confirm the relationship between organic solvent exposure and CKD through an updated meta-analysis including additional studies. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was conducted on January 2, 2023 using Embase and MEDLINE databases. Case-control and cohort studies on the relationship between organic solvent exposure and CKD were included. Two authors independently reviewed full-text. Results: Of 5,109 studies identified, a total of 19 studies (control studies: 14 and cohort studies: 5) were finally included in our meta-analysis. The pooled risk of CKD in the organic solvent exposed group was 2.44 (1.72-3.47). The risk of a low-level exposure group was 1.07 (0.77-1.49). The total risk of a high-level exposure group was 2.44 (1.19-5.00). The risk of glomerulonephritis was 2.69 (1.18-6.11). The risk was 1.46 (1.29-1.64) for worsening of renal function. The pooled risk was 2.41 (1.57-3.70) in case-control studies and 2.51 (1.34-4.70) in cohort studies. The risk of subgroup classified as 'good' by the Newcastle Ottawa scale score was 1.93 (1.43-2.61). Conclusions: This study confirmed that the risk of CKD was significantly increased in workers exposed to mixed organic solvents. Further research is needed to determine the exact mechanisms and thresholds. Surveillance for kidney damage in the group exposed to high levels of organic solvents should be conducted.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.80-88
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• 2001

Objectives : In an epidemiologic study on the health impact of Agent Orange exposure, the valid estimation of exposure level is the most important step. Based on recent studies, we examined the correlation between exposure levels categorized by personal exposure estimates and serum 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD, Dioxin), exploring the possibility of utilizing the exposure level as a surrogate for the estimate of exposure to agent orange. Methods : During the study period (Jan 1996-Feb 1996), blood specimens of 745 subjects taken randomly among 1,329 persons and kept frozen, were analyzed for 2,3,7,8-TCDO and six other dioxin congeners. The serum dioxin and congeners were measured in 1998 by CDC, adjusted for serum lipids. We categorized the total exposure scores into five groups based on Agent Orange exposure data collected by interview and military records. Pearson and Spearman's correlation coefficients & multiple regression analysis were used to identify the relationship of the exposure level categorized with serum concentration of 2,3,7,8-TCDD, and six other dioxin congeners. Results : Dioxin and the other congeners, except 1,2,4,6,7,8-HpCDD, showed significant correlations to exposure categories (p<0.005): 2,3,7,8-TCDD and OCDD showed positive correlations, whereas the other congeners did negative. The values of 2,3,7,8-TCDD differed according to exposure category and proportionally increased from the low exposure group to the high, a dose-response relationship, even after other possible confounding variables were adjusted for. In multiple regression analysis, age$(\beta=0.033)$, dioxin$(\beta=0.433)$, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD$(\beta=-0.998)$, 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD$(\beta=-0.773)$, 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD$(\beta=0.255)$, 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD$(\beta=-3.468)$, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD$(\beta=0.109)$ we re found to be significantly related to the total exposure score(p<0.005). Conclusion : This study demonstrated that the use of such categorizations as a surrogate measure of agent orange exposure in identifying exposure degrees in a health impact study is valid.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.209-225
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• 2016

본 연구는 핵의학 분야의 방사선종사자에 대해 방사선 피폭선량을 지식, 인식, 행태 및 이와 관련된 요인으로 분석하고, 특히 여성 핵의학 방사선종사자를 중심으로 피폭선량과 관련요인을 분석하고자 하였다. 핵의학과에 근무하는 방사선종사자 106명(여성 : 42명, 남성 : 64명)을 대상으로 방사선 피폭선량과 일반적 특성, 지식, 인식, 행태에 대한 설문조사를 시행하고, 분석하였다. 성별에 따른 핵의학 방사선종사자의 피폭선량을 지식, 인식, 행태 요인으로 분석한 결과, 여성 핵의학 방사선종사자에서 피폭선량과 지식 점수는 -0.221, 피폭선량과 행태 점수는 -0.512로 음의 상관관계가 있었다. 남성 핵 의학 방사선종사자는 피폭선량과 행태 점수는 -0.248로 음의 상관관계가 있었다. 임신 경험 유무에 따른 여성 핵 의학 방사선종사자의 피폭선량을 지식, 인식, 행태 요인으로 분석한 결과, 임신 경험이 없는 방사선종사자의 피폭선량과 지식 점수는 -0.238, 피폭선량과 행태 점수는 -0.511이었으며, 임신 경험이 있는 방사선종사자의 피폭선량과 인식 점수는 -0.540, 피폭선량과 행태 점수는 -0.643으로 음의 상관관계가 있었다. 핵의학 방사선종사자의 피폭선량의 관련요인에 대한 회귀분석에서 성별 요인이 가장 영향력이 있었으며, 남성에 비해 여성의 피폭선량이 3.272 mSv 낮았다. 여성 핵의학 방사선종사자의 피폭선량의 관련요인에 대한 회귀분석에서 행태 요인이 가장 영향력이 있었으며, 임신 경험이 없는 방사선종사자에 비해 임신 경험이 있는 방사선종사자의 피폭선량이 0.332 mSv 낮았다. 핵의학 방사선종사자 중 여성은 방사선 지식정도에 비례하여 행태에 반영하고 방사선 방어에 대해 실질적으로 노력하는 반면 남성은 방사선 지식을 행태적으로 거의 활용하지 않는 것으로 여겨진다. 이에 남성은 보다 적극적인 방사선 방어에 대한 교육을 통해 피폭선량 저감을 위한 활동이 요구된다. 또한 여성 핵의학 방사선종사자 중 임신 경험이 없는 방사선종사자는 방사선 방호와 관련하여 지식 정도에 비례하여 행태에 반영하지만, 임신 경험이 있는 방사선종사자는 지식 정도와는 관계없이 인식 정도가 행태에 반영되고 있으므로 이에 대해 임신 경험이 없는 방사선종사자는 방사선 방어에 대한 인식을 강화할 수 있는 방법을 모색하고, 임신 경험이 있는 방사선종사자는 지식을 강화할 수 있는 교육의 적용이 요구될 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

A set of exposure factors that reflects the characteristics of individual behavior capable of influencing exposure is essential for risk and exposure assessment. In 2007, the Korean Exposure Factors Handbook was, therefore, issued, driven by the need to develop reliable exposure factors representing the Korean population. The purpose of this study was to overview the development process of the Korean Exposure Factors Handbook and major recommended exposure values for the Korean population to allow information exchanges and comparison of recommended values among nations. The researchers reviewed the domestic data that could be used in the development of exposure factors, confirmed a knowledge gap, and set a priority of development by phases. A methodology to measure exposure factors was established to develop measuring techniques and test their validity. Data were processed or a survey was conducted according to the availability of data. The study thus produced recommended values for 24 exposure factors grouped by general exposure factors, food ingestion factors, and activity factors by setting up a database of exposure factors and carrying out statistical analysis. The study has significantly contributed to reducing the potential uncertainty of the risk and exposure assessment derived by the application of foreign data or research findings lacking representativeness or grounds by developing a set of exposure factors reflecting the characteristics of the Korean people. It will be necessary to conduct revisions in light of the changing statistical values of national data and the exposure factors based on Korean characteristics.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.169-177
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• 2023

Background: The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has identified cases of people suspected of suffering lung disease potentially caused by chloromethylisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT) used in humidifier disinfectants (HDs). The Korean Ministry of Environment (MoE) epidemiological investigation and toxicity test study found that HDs caused health damage such as asthma and lung disease. Objectives: The main purposes of this study were to classify the HD exposure rating and to analyze the exposure characteristics that affect exposure to CMIT/MIT HDs. Methods: The exposure characteristics and socio-demographic characteristics of victim participants using CMIT/MIT HDs were investigated through questionnaires. An inhalation no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for CMIT/MIT was produced based on inhalation toxicity values. Exposure ratings (class 1~class 2) were cross-tabulated with clinical ratings (acceptable~unacceptable). A correlation analysis was conducted with the main exposure characteristics that affect the exposure concentration of CMIT/MIT HDs. Results: The concentration in indoor air of CMIT/MIT was 8.75±25.40 ㎍/m³, and the exposure concentration was 2.30±6.29 ㎍/m³. The CMIT/MIT exposure rating of 67 participants with high exposures of not more than MOE 100 were evaluated as 14.5%, while the damage participants who matched the clinical rating made up 4.5%. The exposure concentration of CMIT/MIT showed a positive correlation with the daily usage amount and usage frequency, and a negative correlation with volume of the indoor environment. Conclusions: A new exposure rating could be suggested and calculated based on the MOE, and the factors affecting the exposure concentration could be identified.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.47-55
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• 1991

Exposure level of respirable coal dust of underground coal mines in Taebaek area was evaluated. Personal air samplers with 10-mm nylone cyclones were attached to the coal workers including drillers, coal cutters, their assistants, haulers, and separators. Log-normality of respirable dust exposure concentration were tested by Kolmogorov-Smirnov one-sample test. Differences of means of respirable dust exposure concentration between work sites were tested by one-way ANOVA test and multiple comparison(Scheffe) test. And differences of respirable dust exposure concentration of principal and assistant workers in drilling sites and in coal faces were tested by paired t-test. Relation of respirable dust exposure concentration for the principal workers and their assistants in drilling sites and in coal faces were tested by regression analysis. The results were as follows : 1. All of the respirable dust concentration were log-normally distributed. 2. There were not only significantly different means of exposure concentration between drillers and coal cutters but between coal cutters and haulers. 3. Means of exposure concentration of drillers and drilling assistants were not significantly different. And means of exposure concentration of coal cutters and coal cutting assistants were not different.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.301-310
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• 1998

Recently, bathes have been suspected to an Important source of indoor exposure to volatile organic compounds(VOCs). Two experiments were conducted to evaluate chloroform exposure and corresponding body burden by exposure routes while bathing. Another experiment was conducted to ekamine the chloro- form dose during dermal exposure and the chloroform decay In breath after dermal exposure. The chioroform dose was determined based on exhaled breath analysis. The ekamine breath concentration measured after normal baths (2.8 Vg/$m^3$) was approxidmately 13 tomes higher that measured prior to normal bathes (0.2 ug/$m^3$). Based on the means of the normalized post exposure chloroform breath concentration. the dermal exposure was estimated to contribute to 74% of total chloroform body burden while bathing. The Internal dose from bathing (Inhalation plus dermal) was comparable to the dose ostimated Srom dally water Ingestion. The rusk associated 10 a weekly, 30-min bath was estimated to be 1 x 10.5, while the rusk firom dally Ingestion of tap water was to be $0.5{\times}0^{-5} for 0.151 and 6.5{\times}10^{-5}$ for 2. 0 1. Chloroform breath concentration Increased gradually during the 60 minute dermal exposure. The breath decay after the dermal exposure showed two-phase mechanism, with early raped decay and the second slow decay. The mathematical model was developed to describe the relationship between water and air chloroform concentrations, with $R^2$ : 0.4 and p<0.02.

• 방사선산업학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.23-33
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• 2024

This study was conducted to analyze the characteristics of three high-exposure tasks performed by radiation workers in Korean pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and to identify factors that reduce their exposure during work. Three high-exposure tasks were selected based on a previous study. In this previous study, nozzle dam installation and removal, eddy current testing, and manway opening and closing were determined as high-exposure tasks through normalization (radiation dose per unit time). Based on the analysis of the characteristics of the high-exposure tasks in this study, the high-exposure tasks were steam generator-related tasks performed inside and outside the water chamber. This study analyzed the reduction factors for high-exposure tasks and suggested improvements in terms of time, distance, and shielding. The use of the characteristics of high-exposure tasks and their dose reduction factors enables Korean PWRs to optimize radiation protection for workers who receive relatively high doses.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.123-132
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• 2021

Radiological impact analyses were carried out for a near-surface radioactive waste repository at Gyeongju in South Korea. The RESRAD-ONSITE code was applied for the estimation of maximum exposure doses by considering various exposure pathways based on a land area of 2,500 ㎡ with a 0.15 m thick contamination zone. Typical influencing input parameters such as shield depth, shield materials' density, and shield erosion rate were examined for a sensitivity analysis. Then both residential farmer and industrial worker scenarios were used for the estimation of maximum exposure doses depending on exposure duration. The radiation dose evaluation results showed that 60Co, 137Cs, and 63Ni were major contributors to the total exposure dose compared with other radionuclides. Furthermore, the total exposure dose from ingestion (plant, meat, and milk) of the contaminated plants was more significant than those assessed for inhalation, with maximum values of 5.5×10-4 mSv·yr-1 for the plant ingestion. Thus the results of this study can be applied for determining near-surface radioactive waste repository conditions and providing quantitative analysis methods using RESRAD-ONSITE code for the safety assessment of disposing radioactive materials including decommissioning wastes to protect human health and the environment.

• 한국구조물진단유지관리공학회 논문집
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.53-59
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• 2017

본 연구에서는 고온에 노출된 GFRP 보강근과 고온에 노출된 후 알칼리용액에 노출된 보강근의 단면을 현미경을 통해 관찰하고 발생된 손상의 특징을 고찰하였다. 또한, 각 시험체에 발생한 레진 균열과 공극에 대한 정량적 분석을 실시하였다. 알칼리로 인한 손상은 주로 표면에 집중되며 레진균열과 작은 공극을 발생시키는 것으로 확인되었다. 고온노출에 의한 손상은 레진균열과 공극을 발생시키는 것은 알칼리와 동일하지만 전단면에서 발생하며, 공극의 크기가 훨씬 크다. 또한 정량분석 결과, 동일한 알칼리 용액 노출조건에도 불구하고, $200^{\circ}C$ 이상의 고온에 노출된 시편에서 발견된 레진 균열과 공극이 고온노출이력이 전혀 없는 보강근에서 발견된 것 보다 1.5 및 1.4배 큰 것으로 확인되었다. 그러므로 동일한 알칼리 노출 조건이라 할지라도 $200^{\circ}C$ 이상의 고온에 노출된 보강근은 고온노출이력이 없는 보강근에 비하여 레진의 열화가 가속화 될 가능성이 있음을 알 수 있다.