• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.37-50
• /
• 1987

The exposure of the population in the United States to ionizing radiation has recently been evaluated by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP). This was done by constituting six organizational groups to address various phases of the work and the results of this work are summarized in this article. The article is based on the report, by the same title, which is scheduled for publication by the NCRP in September, 1987. The six organizational groups are titled Radiation Exposure from Consumer Products, Natural Background Radiation, Radiation Associated with Medical Examinations, Radiation Received by Radiation Employees, Public Exposure from Nuclear Power, and Exposure from Miscellaneous Environmental Sources. These titles are descriptive of the subject areas covered by each of these separate groups. The data evaluated are for the years 1977-1984 with the majority of the data being for the period 1980-1982. Summary information is presented and discussed for the number of people exposed to given sources, the effective dose equivalent, the average effective dose equivalent to the U.S. population, and the genetically significant dose equivalent. The average annual effective dose equivalent from all sources to the U.S. population is approximately 3.6 mSv (360 mrem). Exposures to natural sources make the largest contribution to this total. Radon and radon decay products contribute 2.0 mSv (200 mrem) whereas the other naturally occurring radionuclides contribute 1.0 mSv (100 mrem). Among man-made or enhanced sources, medical exposures make the largest additional contributions, namely 0.39 mSv (39 mrem) for diagnosis and 0.14 mSv (14 mrem) for nuclear medicine. It was not possible to evaluate exposures for therapy. Most of the other sources of population exposure, including nuclear power and consumer products, are minor. A possible exception would be the use of tobacco products. These exposures are discussed in relation to a negligible individual risk level of $10{\mu}Sv/y$ (1 mrem/y). The NCRP considers exposures below the negligible individual risk level as trivial and as such should be dismissed.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.67-76
• /
• 1974

This experiment was carried out to identify and to compare the radiosensitivities of bacteriz isolated from the sources of different radiation exposure histories. Among 10 strains isolated in this investigation, 4 strains of bacteria, Bacillus firmus, Bacillus brevis, Baciilus subtilis and Bacillus sphaericus were isolated from high and low radioactive sites simulaneously. Bacterial strains isolated from radioactive sources such as reactor and isotope production rooms were more resistant to irradiation than the microganisms from medical products and laboratories, however, there was no significance in radiosensitivity in the same species of bacteriz, even if they were isolated from different radiation exposure histories.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.183-187
• /
• 2008

Indoor air quality can be affected by indoor sources, ventilation, decay, and outdoor levels. Various indoor and out-door combustion sources produce nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$), which is a by-product of high temperature fossil fuel combustion. Especially, the presence of gas ranges and smoking have been identified as major factors contributing to indoor $NO_2$ exposures. In this study, we compared an industrial complex area with a country area by assessing the personal exposure to $NO_2$with measurements of indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ levels in residences and by house characteristics and questionnaire. Personal exposure concentrations were significantly correlated with indoor $NO_2$ concentrations of residences in both the industrial complex area and the country area with correlation coefficients of 0.561 and 0.664, respectively, compared to outdoors. Multiple regression analysis, indicated that indoor $NO_2$ levels in residences were only affected by outdoor levels (p = 0.000) in spite of higher indoor sources such as smoking. Therefore, it is suggested that outdoor air quality as well as indoor air quality should be considered in the reduction of the personal exposure to air pollutants.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.257-265
• /
• 2008

Nanotechnology is emerging as one of the key technologies of the 21 st century and is expected to enable one to broaden the applicability across a wide range of sectors that can benefit public and improve industrial competitiveness. Already, consumer products containing nanomaterials are available in markets including coatings, computers, clothing, cosmetics, sports equipment and medical devices. Recently, Institute of Occupational Medicine in UK reported an occupational hygiene review for nanoparticles in the viewpoint of nanotoxicity. They reported that the exposure control is very important issues in workplace for exposure assessment, but no proper methods are available to measure the extent of exposures to nanoparticles in the workplace. Therefore, for the estimation of exposure of nanomaterials, we have to approach the material-balance methodology, which similarly carried out in TRI (toxic release inventory) for hazardous chemicals. In order to use this methodology, the exposure source of nanomaterials should be determined firstly. Therefore, herein we investigated the main sources and processes for the exposure to nanomaterals by conducting the survey. The results could be used to define and assess nanohazard sources.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.539-548
• /
• 2006

In recent years a concern of excessive intakes of vitamins and minerals from various sources is increasing, since there has been a marked increase in production and consumption of vitamin and mineral supplements and fortified foods. The purpose of this study was to assess the maximum exposure of vitamins and minerals from various sources including diet, fortified foods, and health functional foods among Koreans. As a result, the highest exposure group of most vitamins and minerals from diet was adults (30 - 49 years of age) according to 2001 Korean National Nutrition and Health Survey Report. Maximum dietary intakes of vitamin A, $B_1,\;B_2$, C, nicotinamide, calcium, phosphorus and iron were 0.5 - 7 times of the RDA for Koreans, 7th ed. Maximum intakes of vitamins and minerals from fortified foods by adults (20 - 59 years of age) were 8 - 760% of the Korean RDA. In addition, maximum exposure of vitamins and minerals from vitamin mineral health functional foods by middle aged people was 35 - 140% of the upper limits (UL: DRI for Koreans). As a consequence, maximum combined intakes of vitamin $B_6$, vitamin C, calcium, iron and zinc from the above sources including diet, fortified foods and vitamin mineral health functional foods were greater than the UL. These results would be applied for determining the safe upper limits of vitamin and mineral of health functional foods.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.325-331
• /
• 2023

Background: Heat stress is a harmful physical hazard in many occupational settings. However, consequences of occupational heat exposure among workers in a sugarcane factory in Ethiopia are not well characterized. This study aimed to assess the level of occupational heat exposure-related symptoms and contributing factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, five workstations were selected for temperature measurement. Heat stress levels were measured using a wet-bulb globe temperature index meter. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 1,524 participants. Heat-related symptoms were assessed using validated questionnaires. Results: The level of occupational heat exposure was 72.4% (95% CI: 70.2%-74.8%), while 71.6% (95% CI: 69.3%-74.9%) of participants experienced at least one symptom related to heat stress. The most common heat-related symptoms were swelling of hands and feet (78%), severe thirst (77.8%) and dry mouth (77.4%). The identified risk factors were a lack of reflective shields (AOR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.53, 3.17), not-enclosed extreme heat sources (AOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.51), a lack of access to shade (AOR: 9.62, 95% CI: 6.20, 14.92), and inappropriate protective clothing provision (AOR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.27, 2.71). Conclusions: The burden of occupational heat exposure and heat-induced symptoms was high. Lack of reflective shields, the absence of enclosed extreme heat sources, a lack of access to shade, and inappropriate protective clothing provision were considerable attributes of heat stress. Therefore, the use of mechanical solutions to stop heat emissions at their sources and the key factors identified were areas for future intervention.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.28
• /
• pp.9.1-9.5
• /
• 2013

Objectives Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a powerful tool for assessing exposure in epidemiologic studies. We used GIS to determine the geographic extent of contamination by perfluorooctanoic acid, C8 (PFOA) that was released into the environment from the DuPont Washington Works Facility located in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Methods Paper maps of pipe distribution networks were provided by six local public water districts participating in the community cross-sectional survey, the C8 Health Project. Residential histories were also collected in the survey and geocoded. We integrated the pipe networks and geocoded addresses to determine which addresses were serviced by one of the participating water districts. The GIS-based water district assignment was then compared to the participants' self-reported source of public drinking water. Results There were a total of 151,871 addresses provided by the 48,800 participants of the C8 Health Project that consented to geocoding. We were able to successfully geocode 139,067 (91.6%) addresses, and of these, 118,209 (85.0%) self-reported water sources were confirmed using the GIS-based method of water district assignment. Furthermore, the GIS-based method corrected 20,858 (15.0%) self-reported public drinking water sources. Over half (54%) the participants in the lowest GIS-based exposure group self-reported being in a higher exposed water district. Conclusions Not only were we able to correct erroneous self-reported water sources, we were also able to assign water districts to participants with unknown sources. Without the GIS-based method, the reliance on only self-reported data would have resulted in exposure misclassification.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.358-369
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study aimed to introduce cases of exposure to humidifier disinfectant (HD) in hospitals and to present their exposure characteristics. Methods: We used data from 4,393 subjects who participated in the fourth assessment survey of environmental exposure to HD conducted by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute. In this study, we selected 301 subjects who reported their place of use of HD as a hospital. Then, we classified cases as 'Hospital-provided'. 'Probably hospital-provided', 'Individual purchased', and 'Unknown' according to the supply sources of HD. Also, we introduced detailed exposure characteristics for the selected cases. Results: Of the 4,393 subjects, 301 (6.9%) reported the use of HD in 392 hospitals (including duplicate answers for the use in ${\geq}2$ hospitals). The 301 hospital-user subjects included 139 survivors and 162 non-survivors. When we classified the 392 cases by supply sources, 'Hospital-provided' was 12.2% (48 cases), 'Probably hospital-provided' was 25.5% (100 cases), 'Individual purchased' was 59.7% (234 cases), and 'Unknown' was 2.6% (10 cases). Among the 'Hospital-provided' cases, we selected six cases and provided a detailed description of the HD use in this study. Additionally, we reported details for six cases that had purchased HD upon a doctor or nurse's recommendation and for three cases that had purchased it at hospital stores. Conclusion: This study presents various cases of HD exposure in hospitals. Because there may be a considerable burden of HD exposure in public spaces, including hospitals, further studies are necessary to assess HD exposure in hospitals and public places.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.79-91
• /
• 2010

This study investigates the differences between purchasers and non-purchasers of naturally dyed-products in the hobby/leisure, media exposure, usage of media program type, and information sources about naturally dyed-products. Data were collected from a total 213 Korean females ranging from 20 to 59 years old, and in data analyses, there were partially significant differences between the two groups. Compared to non-purchasers of naturally dyed-products, Purchasers of those ones were more interested in traditional fields and nature. They are also more exposed to newspapers and less exposed to TV. Purchasers used more informational and educational programs as well as personal and commercial information sources (store visual presentations and sales persons) than non-purchasers. However, the differences between these two groups were not significant in the interests of fashion/cooking and sports, Internet exposure, entertainment programs and public/commercial information sources about naturally dyed-products. Marketers can use the results to access the market of naturally dyed-products for promotion.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.1 s.94
• /
• pp.11-15
• /
• 2007

This study was performed to evaluate the congeners of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins(PCDDS) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans(PCDFs) in Korean foods among children in Korea, in comparison with the findings in their mothers. The PCDDs and PCDFs intakes of 24-h diet duplicates were estimated from the previous Korean reports. In Korean children and their mothers of this study, major sources of lipid intake were plant-based foods(62% for children, 66% for their mothers). The women took 34% of lipid from animal sources, among which meats were leading sources of animal lipids(30%). Fish and shellfish were accounted for 4% in total lipid intake. Daily intake of PCDDs and PCDFs in the children md their mothers were 0.002-3.188 and 0.002-2.717 pg WHO-TEQ/day in animal sources and ND-0.283 and ND-0.296 pg WHO-TEQ/day in plant sources, respectively. PCDDs/PCDFs intake from animal origin was the major exposure source for both children and their mothers in Korea. Among the 17 PCDD/Fs congeners, 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran was assumed to be the effective exposure marker for diet intake.