No abstract available.
Environmental Health* ; Toxicology*

No abstract available.
Environmental Health ; Toxicology

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Chemistry* ; Korea*

Background: Methods of determining proper endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure to prevent air leakage include the minimal occlusive volume (MOV) technique, which uses auscultation, and the spirometer technique, which directly measures inspiratory and expiratory breathing volumes. Spirometers may measure even small air leakage, therefore, the spirometer technique requires a higher cuff pressure than the MOV technique to completely seal the airway. This study aimed to evaluate the difference in cuff pressure between the two techniques used to seal the airway. Methods: Thirty-five female patients were intubated using an ETT with a cuff, and cuff inflation was performed with both techniques at a 10-min interval in random order—the MOV technique and then the spirometer technique or vice versa. The cuff pressure was measured at each period. Results: The cuff pressures were 16.7 ± 1.2 cm H2O and 18.7 ± 1.3 cm H2O for the MOV and spirometer techniques, respectively. The cuff pressure for the spirometer technique was 2 cm H2O higher than that for the MOV technique and this difference was statistically significant (95% confidence interval, 0.7–3.3; P = 0.003). Considering the upper end (3.3 cm H2O) of the 95% confidence interval and the size of one scale unit (2 cm H2O) of a manometer, the difference in cuff pressure was up to 4 cm H2O in practice. Conclusions Even though the air leakage sound disappears on auscultation, unlike the previous recommendation, the airway sealing would be completed only by increasing the cuff pressure by approximately 4 cm H2O.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, childhood-onset, neuropsychiatric disorder with an estimated prevalence of 2–7.6% in Korean children. Although the etiology of ADHD is not well understood, evidence from genetic factor and environmental factor studies suggests that ADHD results from a gene environmental interaction. In the current study, we reviewed the evidence for and clinical implications of the hypothetical roles of organophosphate pesticides, organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, phthalate, bisphenol, polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, manganese, tobacco, alcohol as harmful risk factors in the development of ADHD.
Arsenic ; Cadmium ; Child ; Genes, vif ; Humans ; Manganese ; Pesticides ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Tobacco

In effort to determine whether aircraft noise can have health effects such as hearing loss, hypertension and psychological stress, a total of 111 male professors and administrative officers working a college near a military airport in Korea(exposed group) and a total of 168 males and 112 females matched by age groups(control groups) were analyzed. Personal noise exposure and indoor and outdoor sound level of jet aircraft noise were measured at the exposed area. And pure tone, air conduction test and measurement of blood pressure were given to the exposed(males) and matched control groups(males and females). BEPSI(Brief Encounter Psychological Instrument) and psychological response to aircraft noise were examined for the exposed group. The noise dosimetry results revealed time-weighted averages(TWAs) that ranged from 61 to 68 dBA. However the levels encountered during taking off jet airplanes reached 126 dBA for two half minutes time period. The audiometric test showed that mean values of HTL(hearing threshold level) in exposed group at every frequency(500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 Hz were much lower than them of male and female control groups. And in old age groups, interaction of age and noise was observed at 8,000 Hz in both ears(p< 0.05). Conclusively, aircraft noise does not appear to induce hearing loss directly, but may decreased hearing threshold level by interaction of aging process and noise exposure. However, difference of mean values of exposed and control groups on blood pressure was not significantly. In psychological test, annoyance was the most severe psychological response to noise in exposed group, but mean value of BEPSI was not correlated with job duration in exposed group
Aging ; Aircraft* ; Airports ; Blood Pressure* ; Female ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Noise* ; Presbycusis ; Psychological Tests ; Stress, Psychological*

OBJECTIVES: Our objective is to review and summarize the previous studies on the health effects of exposure to oil spills in order to make suggestions for mid- and long-term study plans regarding the health effects of the Hebei Spirit oil spill occured in Korea. METHODS: We searched PubMed to systemically retrieve reports on the human health effects related to oil spill accidents. The papers' reference lists and reviews on the topic were searched as well. RESULTS: We found 24 articles that examined seven oil spill accidents worldwide over the period from 1989 to August 2008, including the Exxon Valdes, Braer, Sea Empress, Erika, Nakhodka, Prestige and Tasman Spirit oil spills. Most of the studies applied cross-sectional and short-term follow-up study designs. The exposure level was measured by assessing the place of residence, using a questionnaire and environmental and personal monitoring. Studies on the acute or immediate health effects mainly focused on the subjective physical symptoms related to clean-up work or residential exposure. Late or mid-term follow-up studies were performed to investigate a range of health effects such as pulmonary function and endocrine, immunologic and genetic toxicity. The economic and social impact of the accidents resulted in the socio-psychological exposure and the psychosocial health effects. CONCLUSIONS: Studies of the health effects of exposure to oil spills should consider a range of health outcomes, including the physical and psychological effects, and the studies should be extended for a considerable period of time to study the long-term chronic health effects.
*Accidents, Occupational ; *Environmental Exposure ; Fossil Fuels/*adverse effects/poisoning ; Hazardous Substances ; Humans ; *Water Pollution

BACKGROUND: The perceived risks of blood transfusions are important to be considered in creating a blood service policy. We surveyed the perception of blood transfusion risks among Korean laypeople. METHODS: A one-month nationwide telephone survey was conducted in September, 2007. The questionnaire was designed to assess the demographics of respondents, their responses to the term 'blood transfusion', and the perceived risks of a transfusion. A total of 500 interviews were completed. RESULTS: The words evoked by the term 'blood transfusion' included blood, donation, AIDS, help, and patients. About one third (33.6-35.8%) of the respondents gave a moderate to high rating for the perceived risks of blood transfusions. More than half (55.6%) of the respondents agreed that the blood supply in Korea is safe, and 81.6% of the respondents agreed to be transfused when transfusion is needed. The perceived risk of a blood transfusion was greater in women than in men and in people who never had a transfusion than those who had. More men than women agreed that the blood supply in Korea is safe, and the proportion of respondents who agreed to be transfused when needed was higher in men and in less educated people. The relative perceived transfusion risk (scale of 10) was 4.5+/-2.3. CONCLUSIONS: The Koreans in the survey had a tendency of positive thinking about blood transfusions, and previous transfusion experiences appear to decrease the fear about transfusions. These results will be useful in understanding how Koreans think about the risks associated with transfusions.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Transfusion/*psychology ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Perception ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVES: There is an increasing concern for the social, economic, environmental and health effects of the Asian dust (Hwang-sa in Korean language) in Korea. In this study, we intended to indirectly determine ordinary people's perception about the Asian dust by analyzing the contents of newspaper articles dealing with it. METHODS: By using article searching services in the internet websites of three newspaper companies, we collected newspaper articles dealing with the Asian dust during the period from January 1st of 1998 to December 31st of 2002. We classified the articles into four categories: those forecasting the occurrence of the Asian dust, those about measures to cope with it, those about its occurrence in the neighboring foreign countries, and those about its effects. In particular, we analyzed articles about the health effects of the Asian dust more distinctly. RESULTS: A total of 1, 225 articles dealing with the Asian dust were found during the 5 year period. The number of articles increased from 102 in 1998 to 518 in 2002, approximately a five-fold increase. The numbers of articles about health effects, environmental effects and economical effects were 191 (44%), 171 (41%) and 147 (34%), respectively. It was reported that various diseases such as respiratory diseases (87%), eye problems (69%), and skin diseases (12%) were associated with the Asian dust. CONCLUSION: The increasing concern for the negative effects of the Asian dust necessitates more studies about this field. As the effects of the Asian dust are various, the information on the major concern of ordinary people could help establish the research agendas and measures for the Asian dust.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Dust* ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Skin Diseases ; Periodicals