OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of industrial noise on blood pressure and heart rate. METHODS: Resting blood pressure, hearing loss, and general characteristics of the 102 subjects who were engaged in a factory in Pusan were measured from March to June for two years, in 1998 and 1999. With noise dosimeter, noise exposure level was measured from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. Ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate were also measured every 30 minutes from 8 A.M. to 10 P. M. RESULTS: Controlling for age, smoking, and Quetelet's index, in subjects of under 40 years old exposed to higher than 85dBA, noise exposure and systolic blood pressure had a statistically significant correlation, and the same result was obtained in all subjects. The daily variability of ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate were observed in older than 40 years old group, but only heart rate in under 40 years old. CONCLUSIONS: The blood pressure and heart rate would be elevated when the workers exposed to noise. And in under 40 years old, the systolic blood pressure was elevated to the workers exposed to higher than 85dBA.
Adult ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index ; Busan ; Hearing Loss ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Noise* ; Smoke ; Smoking

This study was carried out to analyse the food intake and associated factors of the urban poor elderly by comparing poor district, Unbong rental apartment in Bonsong 2 dong with other areas in Pusan. 135 elderlies(men 36, women 99) in Unbong rental apartment 136 elderlies(men 45, women 91 ) in the other areas were investigated during the period of March to August in l994. The assumption that the study area represented poor district was satisfied because the age and sex distribution was not significantly different, and the income of the study area was significantly lower than that of the control area. The variables of hospitalized in previous 12 month, gastrointestinal problem, alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking did not differ significantly. But the variables of chronic disease, take medicine, perceive, vitamin supplement differed significantly between two groups. Therefore some factors associated with health state in the study area are worse than those of the control areas. At most of all variables, nutrients intake of the study area did not reach the recommended dietary allowances(RDA) for Koreans, and that nutrient intakes of the study area were significantly lower than those of the control area. The hypothesis of this study that nutrient status depends on economical status was proved. As for the score of nutritional knowledge, the study area was significantly lower than the control area. But as for the score of nutritional behavior, two areas were not significantly different. The latter is counter result of our hypothesis, owing to the effect of the confounding factors including education etc. As for the correlation of variables, not only economic status and educational level, but the score of nutritional knowledge effects strongly on nutrient status in the study area, the poor district. Therefore, adequate nutritional education to the elderly in the poor district should be considered.
Aged* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Busan ; Chronic Disease ; Eating* ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Sex Distribution ; Smoking ; Vitamins