• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.23-36
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• 2017

Objective: This paper presents a study to evaluate the WBGT index for assessing the effects of a wide range of outdoor weather conditions on human responses. Background: The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index was firstly developed for the assessment of hot outdoor conditions. It is a recognised index that is used world-wide. It may be useful over a range of outdoor conditions and not just for hot climates. Method: Four group experiments, involving people performing a light stepping activity, were conducted to determine human responses to outside conditions in the U.K. They were conducted in September 2007 (autumn), December 2007 (winter), March 2008 (spring) and June 2008 (summer). Environmental measurements included WBGT, air temperature, radiant temperature (including solar load), humidity and wind speed all measured at 1.2m above the ground, as well as weather data measured by a standard weather station at 3m to 4m above the ground. Participants' physiological and subjective responses were measured. When the overall results of the four seasons are considered, WBGT provided a strong prediction of physiological responses as well as subjective responses if aural temperature, heart rate and sweat production were measured. Results: WBGT is appropriate to predict thermal strain on a large group of ordinary people in moderate conditions. Consideration should be given to include the WBGT index in warning systems for a wide range of weather conditions. However, the WBGT overestimated physiological responses of subjects. In addition, tenfold Borg's RPE was significantly different with heart rate measured for the four conditions except autumn (p<0.05). Physiological and subjective responses over 60 minutes consistently showed a similar tendency in the relationships with the $WBGT_{head}$ and $WBGT_{abdomen}$. Conclusion: It was found that either $WBGT_{head}$ or $WBGT_{abdomen}$ could be measured if a measurement should be conducted at only one height. The relationship between the WBGT values and weather station data was also investigated. There was a significant relationship between WBGT values at the position of a person and weather station data. For UK daytime weather conditions ranging from an average air temperature of $6^{\circ}C$ to $21^{\circ}C$ with mean radiant temperatures of up to $57^{\circ}C$, the WBGT index could be used as a simple thermal index to indicate the effects of weather on people. Application: The result of evaluation of WBGT might help to develop the smart clothing for workers in industrial sites and improve the work environment in terms of considering workers' wellness.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제27권12호
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• pp.1261-1269
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the external thermal environment, following the application of evaporative cooling systems in buildings, in response to climate change. In order to verify changes in the external thermal environment, a T-test was performed on the microclimate, Thermal Comfort Index (TCI), and building surface temperature. Differences in microclimate, following the application of the evaporative cooling system in the building, were significant in terms of temperature and relative humidity. In particular, temperature decreased by more than 7% when the evaporative cooling system was applied. According to the results of the Thermal Comfort Index analysis, the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was below the limit of outdoor activities, indicating that outdoor activities were possible. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) values were within the very strong heat stress range when the evaporative cooling system was not applied, When the system was applied, the UTCI values were within the strong heat stress range, indicating that they were lowered by one level. The building surface temperature decreased by ~10% or more when the evaporative cooling system was applied, compared to when it was not applied. Finally, the outside surface temperature of the building decreased by ~12% or more when the system was applied, compared to when it was not applied. We conclude that the energy saving effect of the building was significant.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.277-285
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• 2019

Heat watch warning systems are operating in Korea and several other countries (China, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Germany, Australia, and Japan). The heat wave indices used in this system are the heat index, perceived temperature, the wet bulb globe temperature, and the daily maximum temperature. To improve the heat wave advisory and warning system, some suggestions have been made. The meteorological-health index (i.e., indirect index), has especially been proposed in previous studies. This information should be provided not only to vulnerable groups (seniors, infants, and children), but also to outdoor workers who may be particularly exposed to heat waves. In addition, to have sufficient preemptive response times, the need for an extension of the heat watch warning period was suggested. Finally, the subdivision of administrative units and risk stages was proposed.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제23권11호
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• pp.1929-1941
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• 2014

Now a days, frequency of abnormally high temperatures like heat wave by global warming and climate change is increasing constantly and the number of patient with heat related illness are jumping rapidly. In this study, we chose the case day for the heat wave in Busan area(Busan and Yangsan), 2013 which it was the most hottest year during 21th century. And then, we analysed the weather condition using automatic synoptic observing system(ASOS) data. Also, four indices, heat index(HI), wet bulb globe temperature(WBGT), Man-ENvironment heat EXchange model(MENEX)'s results like Physiological subjective temperature(PST), Physiological strain(PhS), were calculated to evaluate the thermal comfort and stress quantitatively. However, thermal comfort was different as the each station and thermal comfort index during same time. Busan's thermal indices (HI: hot, WBGT: sweltering, PST: very hot, PhS: very hot) indicated relatively higher than Yansan's (HI: very hot, WBGT: sweltering, PST: very hot, PhS: sweltering). It shows that Busan near coast is relatively more comfortable than Yangsan located in inland.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제24권9호
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• pp.1171-1180
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• 2015

To investigate thermal environment and effect of clean-road system over a broad way, we conducted the filed meteorological observation during 12~13 August 2014. The clean-road system was employed over a part of the broad way of Dalgubul(Dalgubul-Daero) by Daegu Metropolitan city in 2011. The clean-road system in general is operated two times(4 am, 2 pm) during summertime. In case of scorching alert, the system is operated 3 times a day(4 am, 2 pm and 4 pm). To evaluate the present thermal condition and the improvement effects due to the system, we analyzed the time variation of discomfort index and WBGT(wet-bulb and globe temperature). WBGT was more than 25 during 8 a.m. ~ 9 p.m. And discomfort index was more than 75 during 8 a.m. ~ 11 p.m. The thermal improvement effect of the clean-road system was restrictive during daytime.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

Background: As the impact of climate change intensifies, exposure to heat stress will grow, leading to a loss of work capacity for vulnerable occupations and affecting individual labor decisions. This study estimates the future work capacity under the Representative Concentration Pathways 8.5 scenario and discusses its regional impacts on the occupational structure in the Republic of Korea. Methods: The data utilized for this study constitute the local wet bulb globe temperature from the Korea Meteorological Administration and information from the Korean Working Condition Survey from the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute of Korea. Using these data, we classify the occupations vulnerable to heat stress and estimate future changes in work capacity at the local scale, considering the occupational structure. We then identify the spatial cluster of diminishing work capacity using exploratory spatial data analysis. Results: Our findings indicate that 52 occupations are at risk of heat stress, including machine operators and elementary laborers working in the construction, welding, metal, and mining industries. Moreover, spatial clusters with diminished work capacity appear in southwest Korea. Conclusion: Although previous studies investigated the work capacity associated with heat stress in terms of climatic impact, this study quantifies the local impacts due to the global risk of climate change. The results suggest the need for mainstreaming an adaptation policy related to work capacity in regional development strategies.

• 대기
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.1-20
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• 2023

Holding the longest observation data from April 1904, Busan is one of the essential points to understand the climate variability of the Korean Peninsula without missing data since implementing the modern weather observation of the South Korea. Busan is featured by coastal areas and affected by various climate factors and fluctuations. This study aims to investigate climate variability and changes in climatic variables, extremes, and several weather indexes. The statistically significant change points in daily mean rainfall intensity and temperature were found in 1964 and 1965. Based on the change point detection, 117 years were divided into two periods for daily mean rainfall intensity and temperature, respectively. In the long-term temperature analysis of Busan, the increasing trend of the daily maximum temperature during the period of 1965~2021 was larger than the daily mean temperature and the daily minimum temperature. Applying Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition, daily maximum temperature is largely affected by the decadal variability compared to the daily mean and minimum temperature. In addition, the trend of daily precipitation intensity from 1964~2021 shows a value of about 0.50 mm day^-1, suggesting that the rainfall intensity has increased compared to the preceding period. The results in extremes analysis demonstrate that return values of both extreme temperatures and precipitation show higher values in the latter than in the former period, indicating that the intensity of the current extreme phenomenon increases. For Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (effective humidity), increasing (decreasing) trend is significant in Busan with the second (third)-largest change among four stations.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제19권9호
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• pp.1103-1108
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• 2010

This study was conducted to be used as basic data of environmental friendly construction planning by comparing and analyzing thermal environment, find particles and biotope area rate according to land cover types of outside space of schools located in Chung-ju. When meteorological factors were analyzed according to land cover types, for temperature planting area and paved area showed low-and high-temperature ranges, respectively, and relative humidity was negatively related with temperature as low-and high-temperature ranges corresponded to high-and low-humidity ranges, respectively. For Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Index (WBGT) by land cover types, it was observed to be artificial grass> bare land> natural grass. Find particles were different according to land cover types of playground with being bare land> artificial grass> natural grass in the order. Bare land playground, where there were artificial factors and no absorption of fine particles through stomata of leaves as a function of natural circulation, recorded the highest level of $39.8\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and the level was relatively higher compared to the levels by season in Chung-ju. Biotope area rate showed the order of M elementary school> K elementary school> C commercial high school. That was considered to be caused by the difference of land cover type of school playground accounting for a large part of a school.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제30권8호
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• pp.621-628
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• 2021

The characteristics of time changes in air temperature, DI (discomfort index) and WBGT (wet-bulb globe temperature) were investigated for inland city (daegu) and coastal city (pohang) of Gyeongbuk Province during the 2018 consecutive heat wave season. The time when the temperature dropped below 33℃ was around 19h in both regions. As such, the two regions were similar with respect to the time up to which the heatwave warning levels continued. However, the discomfort index (DI) was higher than 27 in Pohang. Most people feel unpleasant when an discomfort index of 27 or higher appears. The results indicated that Korea's night-time thermal environment during the summers is particularly poor in the southern coastal areas. WBGT began at 09:00 and lasted until 21:00, with a score of 31 or higher; this score, in principle, corresponded with the duration of outdoor activity in both regions. Therefore, it was found that outdoor work was at a level where all day long had to be stopped in both areas during the heat wave. Although time changes in temperature and WBGT were similar in both regions, Discomfort Index (DI) differed significantly. The difference refers to the fact that Pohang is strongly affected by the high heat capacity effect and the supply of water vapor from the sea.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.119-126
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• 2021

Background: During the period 2001 to 2016, the maximum temperatures in Thailand rose from 38-41℃ to 42-44℃. The current occupational heat exposure standard of Thailand issued in 2006 is based on wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) defined for three workload levels without a work-rest regimen. This study examined whether the present standard still protects most workers. Methods: The sample comprised 168 heat acclimatized workers (90 in construction sites, 78 in foundries). Heart rate and auditory canal temperature were recorded continuously for 2 hours. Workplace WBGT, relative humidity, and wind velocity were monitored, and the participants' workloads were estimated. Heat-related symptoms and signs were collected by a questionnaire. Results: Only 55% of the participants worked in workplaces complying with the heat standard. Of them, 79% had auditory canal temperature ≤ 38.5℃, compared with only 58% in noncompliant workplaces. 18% and 43% of the workers in compliant and noncompliant workplaces, respectively, had symptoms from heat stress, the trend being similar across all workload levels. An increase of one degree (C) in WBGT was associated with a 1.85-fold increase (95% confidence interval: 1.44-2.48) in odds for having symptoms. Conclusion: Compliance with the current occupational heat standard protects 4/5 of the workers, whereas noncompliance reduces this proportion to one half. The reasons for noncompliance include the gaps and ambiguities in the law. The law should specify work/rest schedules; outdoor work should be identified as an occupational heat hazard; and the staff should include occupational personnel to manage heat stress in establishments involving heat exposure.