• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2011

Assessing human exposure to food-borne hazards requires standardized assessment tools. The objective of this study was to validate a newly developed dietary assessment questionnaire to assess human exposure to food-borne hazards, which include dietary behavior and food consumption patterns such as eating frequency, types of food containers and cooking methods. A total of 216 adults were recruited for two questionnaire surveys (questionnaire 1 and 2) about 1 week apart with a 3 day diet record. Reproducibility was evaluated by comparing responses from questionnaires 1 and 2, and validity was checked by comparing responses from questionnaire 2 and the 3 day diet record. Comparisons were based on the percent agreement and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The mean exact agreement of food containers at purchase between questionnaires 1 and 2 was 73.5%, for storing containers it was 71.9%, and for cooking methods it was 83.0%. The mean correlation coefficient for food intake frequency between questionnaires 1 and 2 was 0.71 (range, 0.50-0.83). The mean correlation coefficient of the food intake frequency between questionnaire 2 and the 3 day diet record was 0.21 (range, 0.04-0.48). The exact and adjacent agreement of food intake frequency quartile assessed by questionnaire 2 and the 3 day diet record was 65.4% (range, 51.0-82.1%). Although the correlation coefficient for food intake frequency between questionnaire 2 and the 3 day diet record was low, the exact and adjacent food intake frequency agreement was higher than 50% and reproducibility of the dietary behaviors exceeded 70%. Therefore, the questionnaire developed in this study could be applied to assess diets for the human exposure to food-borne hazards as a qualitative assessment in a large population.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.152-168
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• 2019

The element arsenic, which is abundant in the Earth's crust, is used for various industrial purposes including materials for disease treatment and household goods. Various human activities, such as the disposal of soil waste, metal mining and smelting, and combustion of fossil fuels, have caused the pollution of the environment with arsenic. Recently, guidelines for arsenic in rice have been adopted by the Korean ministry of food and drug safety to prevent health risks based on rice consumption. Because of the exposure to arsenic and its accumulation in the human body through various channels, such as air inhalation, skin contact, ingestion of drinking water, and food consumption, integrated multimedia risk assessment is required to adopt appropriate risk management policies. Therefore, integrated human health risk assessment was carried out in this study using integrated exposure assessment based on multimedia (e.g., air, water, and soil) and multi-route (e.g., oral, inhalation, and dermal) scenarios. The results show that oral uptake via drinking water is the most common pathway of arsenic into the human body, accounting for 57%-96% of the total arsenic exposure. Among various age groups, the highest exposures to arsenic were observed in infants because the body weight of infants is low and the surface areas of infant bodies are large. Based on the results of the exposure assessment, the cancer and non-cancer risks were calculated. The cancer risk for CTE and RME is in the range of 2.3E-05 to 6.7E-05 and thus is negligible because it does not exceed the cancer probability of 1.0E-04 for all age groups. On the other hand, the cancer risk for RME varies from 6.4E-05 to 1.8E-04 and from 1.3E-04 to 1.8E-04 for infants and preschool children, exceeding the excess cancer risk of 1.0E-04. The non-cancer risks range from 5.4E-02 to 1.9E-01 and from 1.5E-01 to 6.8E-01, respectively. They do not exceed the hazard index 1 for all scenarios and all ages.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

In this study, we performed risk assessment of chloroprene by hazard evaluation and workplace investigation. The chemical is used to manufacture of shoes, tires, adhesives, and classified as IARC category 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) and target organ systemic toxicity. It is used about 1,300 tons per year in 27 sites. It was calculated the risk of carcinogenesis with chloroprene by Monte-carlo simulation that the averages are 2,199 and 26,404 in each case of working less than 15 minutes per day with local exhaust ventilation and over 4 hours per day without local exhaust ventilation. The risk of target organ systemic toxicity are 4.10 and 169.06 with high correlation with working time to be longer and with ventilation system. Therefore, it is recommended that the local exhaust ventilation and respirators to prevent occupational cancer and target organ systemic toxicity with chloroprene. Especially it is determined that there is a need to strengthen the workplace exposure limit (TWA 10 ppm) in Korea since it is managed with TWA less than 5 ppm ($18mg/m^3$) by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as it has carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.373-389
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• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate exposure level and risk of heavy metals in livestock foodstuffs and Korean foods. Based on the "Food Intake Data," a part of the 2005 National Health & Nutrition Survey and the "2005 Seasonal Nutrition Survey", 113 Korean foods items were selected. 3 samples from different manufacturers of each 113 items of Korean foods were purchased on summer and fall, so total 678 samples were used. The food groups were classified into 15 categories. For the livestock foodstuffs category, meats and poultry (chicken, pork, pork belly, beef, beef feet soup), milks and dairy products (milk, ice cream, liquid yoghourt, sherbet), eggs (egg) were selected. It was found that the daily amount of heavy metals intake (mg/person/day) from livestock foodstuffs is 0.00020 arsenic, 0.00000 cadmium, 0.00020 lead, and 0.00006 mercury, and the daily amount of heavy metals intake (mg/person/day) from Korean foods is 0.0265 arsenic, 0.0083 cadmium, 0.0067 lead, and 0.0028 mercury. Daily amount of heavy metals intake from livestock foodstuffs was low among the food groups. For risk assessment, PDI (Probable Daily Intake) was calculated and compared with PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake) of JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additive). Relative hazard of these livestock foodstuffs was 0.006% in arsenic, 0.000% in cadmium, 0.085% in lead, and 0.149% in mercury. Relative hazard of Korean foods was 0.941% in arsenic, 14.676% in cadmium, 3.319% in lead, and 6.860% in mercury. Thus, livestock foodstuffs and Korean foods were as safe as satisfied with the recommended standards of JECFA.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.549-560
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• 2015

The priorities of siting restriction was derived from quantification of environmental hazard according to industrial classification based on 'Chemical Ranking and Scoring System(CRS)' which is handling the discharge characteristics of 31 industrial classifications regulated from locating at 'Industrial Complex in Rural Area(ICRA)'. CRS that is utilizing the data of 'Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers(PRTR)' is applied to determine human health risk and ecological risk which are calculated by discharged amount and materials $LC_{50}$ according to water, soil and air media based on industrial classification. From this process, exposure assessment and toxicity assessment for integrating the adverse environmental impact and the mitigation effect of environmental risk according to the development of environmental technologies into establishing the rational landuse management method for the 31 industrial classifications regulated from locating at ICRA was analyzed. From the assessment result of the siting restriction removal at ICRA for 31 industrial classifications, based on 2012 year reference 6 industries that includes Manufacture of Guilt Coloration Surface Processing Steel Materials, Manufacture of Biological Product, Manufacture of Smelting Refining and Alloys of Copper, Dyeing and Finishing of Fibers and Yarns, Manufacture of Other Basic Iron and Steel n.e.c., Rolling Drawing and Extruding of Non-ferrous Metals n.e.c. are calculated as having relatively lower environmental hazards, thus it is judged that the siting restriction mitigation at ICRA is possible for the 6 industrial classifications that are not discharging the specific hazardous water contaminants during manufacturing process.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3451-3454
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• 2012

Background: Esophageal cancer in Iran is the sixth most common cancer and is particularly important in east Azerbaijan. The aim of this study was to calculate survival rates and define prognostic factors in esophageal cancer patients. Methods: In this study, all patients with esophageal cancer registered in the Radiation Therapy Center, during March 2006 to March 2011, were analyzed and followed up for vital status. Data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Out of 532 patients, survival information was available for 460, including 205 (44/ 5%) females and 255 (55/4%) males. The mean age was $65.8{\pm}12.2$, ranging from 29 to 90 years at the time of diagnosis. 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates after diagnosis were 55%, 18% and 12%, respectively, with a median survival time of $13.2{\pm}.7$ (CI 95% =11.8-14.6) months. In the univariate analysis, age (P=0/001), education (P=0/001), smoking status (P= 0/001), surgery (P= 0/001), tumor differentiation (P= 0/003) and tumor stage (P= 0/001) were significant prognostic factors. Tumor morphology, sex, place of residence, tumor histology and tumor location did not show any significant effects on the survival rate. In multivariate analysis, age (P = 0/003), smoking (P= 0/01) and tumor stage (P= 0/001) were significant independent predictors of survival. Conclusion: In summary, prognosis of esophageal cancer in North West of Iran is poor. Therefore, reduction in exposure to risk factors and early detection should be emphasized to improve survival.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.245-256
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• 2017

Objectives: The present study is aimed at performing real-time measurement of fibrous materials using an F-1 fiber monitor, investigating the correlations between the measurements and environmental conditions, and assessing the feasibility of the use of the monitor in actual exposure assessments based on the accuracy and reliability of the device. Methods: Asbestos specimens with a fixed asbestos content were dispersed in a chamber and collected with a particle measuring test device. Measurements obtained by the existing PCM method, and with the F-1 fiber monitor were compared. In addition, concentrations of asbestos fibers obtained by the PCM method, the TEM method, and the F-1 fiber monitor were compared with that of specific ABS scenarios in NOA regions. Correlations of asbestos contents in soil and weather conditions with each method of measurement were analyzed. Results: Laboratory results showed that levels of asbestos fibers measured with each method increased as fiber contents in soil increased. In the accuracy and reproducibility assessment, no significant differences were found between the different methods of measurement. On-site assessment results showed positive correlations among the methods, and these correlations were less significant compared with what was shown by the laboratory results. Levels of asbestos fibers increased as asbestos contents in soil increased, and as temperature increased. Levels of asbestos fibers decreased as humidity increased, and wind speed did not significantly affect the extent to which asbestos fibers were scattered. Conclusions: While it would be premature to replace existing methods with the use of F-1 fiber monitors in real sites based on the results of this study, the monitor may be useful in the screening of the sites, which assesses hazard levels in different regions. Replacement of existing methods with the use of F-1 fiber monitors may be possible after the limitations identified in this study are overcome, and additional assessment data are obtained and reviewed under different conditions to confirm the reliability of the monitor in future research. Obtained assessment results may be used as basic data for the assessment of asbestos hazard in NOA regions.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.111-122
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• 2020

Objectives: The study aims to compare indirect form of employment with direct form of employment on the variables of occupational danger and physical health. Methods: I studied based on the data of 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) which was performed by Occupational Safety & Health Research Institute of Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency in 2017. SAS 9.4 was used for statistical analysis of the final data. Results: Based on the verification result, the hazard is higher for direct employment than for dispatch or subcontract in case of exposure to risks in the health and social welfare industry. Based on cross tabulation, significant differences were found in the proportions of harmful and safe tasks in direct employment and those in outsourcing in the physical health industry. It was found that the risk of hazard is 2.18 times higher in outsourcing jobs than in direct employment. Conclusions: It is necessary to consider a dispatch and subcontract partner as a strategic partner and not simply hand over dangerous or hard tasks to them. Active and aggressive cooperation along with support from the employer enterprise built in the contract is necessary for the safety and health of dispatch or subcontract laborers.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.170-186
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• 2016

This paper introduces a multi-phase fuzzy risk graph model, representing a method for determining for SIL values for railway industry systems. The purpose of this paper is to compensate for the shortcomings of qualitative determination, which are associated with input value ambiguity and the subjectivity problem of expert judgement. The multi-phase fuzzy risk graph model has two phases. The first involves the determination of the conventional risk graph input values of the consequence, exposure, avoidance and demand rates using fuzzy theory. For the first step of fuzzification this paper proposes detailed input parameters. The fuzzy inference and the defuzzification results from the first step will be utilized as input parameters for the second step of the fuzzy model. The second step is to determine the safety integrity level and tolerable hazard rate corresponding to be identified hazard in the railway industry. To validate the results of the proposed the multi-phase fuzzy risk graph, it is compared with the results of a safety analysis of a level crossing system in the CENELEC SC 9XA WG A0 report. This model will be adapted for determining safety requirements at the early concept design stages in the railway business.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.145-158
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• 2016

This paper introduces a risk graph which is one method for determining the SIL as a measure of the effectiveness of signaling system. The purpose of this research is to make up for the weakness of the qualitative determination, which has input value ambiguity and a boundary problem in the SIL range. The fuzzy input valuable consists of consequence, exposure, avoidance and demand rate. The fuzzy inference produces forty eight fuzzy rule by adapting the calibrated risk graph in the IEC 61511. The Max-min composition is utilized for the fuzzy inference. The result of the fuzzy inference is the fuzzy value. Therefore, using the de-fuzzification method, the result should be converted to a crisp value that can be utilized for real projects. Ultimately, the safety requirement for hazard is identified by proposing a SIL result with a tolerable hazard rate. For the validation the results of the proposed method, the fuzzy risk graph model is compared with the safety analysis of the signaling system in CENELEC SC 9XA WG A10 report.