In order to fine out the relationship between traffic accidents and atmospheric phenomena, we have analyzed 2,562 cases, one tenth of the total traffic accidents occurred in Taegu city for a year in 1988. The meteorological elements observed by Taegu Weather Bureau were used. It was divided into two largy categories: the patterns of accident as human injuries and destructions of car. When the accidents were overlapped in each other, it was considered as human injury. Human injuries were subdivided into three parts: death, severe damage. The average number of daily traffic accidents including human injuries were lowest in winter of four seasons. The accident patterns in accordance with the seasons showed statistically significant difference. The frequency was the highest as 3.3 case in an hour at 25.1-30.0 degrees C of atmospheric temperature, the rate of human injury showed the increase by the increased temperature. But there were not significant. Also it was the highest as 3.7 cases in less than 31% of humidity and the rate of human injury was the highest at 41-50%, but not significant. And it was the increasing tendency as wind speed increase, and the rate of human injury was the highest at 6.1-7.0m/sec, but it was not significant. In relation to precipitation, and visibility, were the highest as 5.4 cases at 5.1-10.0 mm of rainfall, the rate of human injury was increased by the increased precipitation and showed statistically significant. And it was highest within 6 Km of visibility, but the rate of the human injury was the lowest within same distance, and also showed significance. The accidents were higher with snow on the road, but the rate of human injury was comparatively lower, but no significance.
Accidents, Traffic* ; Daegu ; Humans ; Humidity ; Seasons ; Snow ; Weather ; Wind

The author investigated whether there were clear seasonal variations in the incidence of both spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages(SICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage(SSAH), and which climatic factor affected on the occurrence rate. From January 1988 to December 1994, 787 patients with SICHs and 556 patients with SSAHs were admitted to our hospital. The author compared the occurrence rate of spontaneous cerebral hemorrhages and the meteorological data on each date, such as daily temperatures(average, maximu, and minimum), temperature change(intradiurnal and daily), precipitation, average wind speed, average relative humidity, duration of sunshine, mean sea level barometric pressure, daily barometric pressure difference and wind-chilling effect. There was a clear seasonal variation in the occurrence rate of SICHs. It was high in early spring(February, March, and April) and early winter(October and December)(P<0.05). In SSAHs, there was no statistically significant differences in the occurrence rate, however. Daily temperatures(average, maximum, and minimum) and mean sea-level barometric pressure were the important climatic factors influencing the occurrence rate of SICHs(P<0.05). The lower daily temperatures(average, maximum, and minimum ), and the higher mean sea-level barometric pressure, the more SICHs occurred. In SSAHs, daily average temperature and intradiurnal temperature affected on the occurrence rate(P<0.05), however, there was no climatic factors with a statistically significant correlation. These results suggested that SSAHs differed from SICHs in its pathogenic mechanism. In any events, the dry(high barometric pressure) and cold(low temperature) weather might be a risk factor for the hypertensive patients. To reduce or prevent SICHs, such a hypertensive patient should not go out in dry and cold weather.
Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Humidity ; Incidence ; Risk Factors ; Seasons ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Sunlight ; Weather ; Wind

Extraoral maxillofacial prostheses are essential for restoring facial structures that are lost as a result of congenital missing, injuries from accidents, surgical treatments of head and neck cancer. Recently, silicone is the most useful material for this purpose and is more advantageous than other maxillofacial prosthetic materials. However, there are some problems for long-term usage of silicone prostheses due to tear and color change. These are major contributing environmental factors to those problems that are such as ultraviolet light, cleansing agents, changes in humidity and successive adhesion and removal. The aim of this study is to evaluate the physical properties and color changes of maxillofacial prosthetic silicone material by those environmental factors using A - 2186 silicone material (Factor II, USA) and two pigments, cadmium yellow medium and cosmetic red. Aluminium molds were fabricated according to the ASTM No. D412 & D624 specifications and resulted specimens from molds were fabricated and treated as follows. Control group and experimental I group were fabricated with 0.1% wt. pigment mixing in silicone elastomer and II-1 group, II-2 group of experimental II group were fabricated with 0.2%, 0.3% wt. pigment mixing in silicone elastomer, respectively. Control group was kept in darkroom at room temperature, I-1 group was kept under natural sunlight during 1 week, I-2 group was soaked in 20% soap water during 1 wk. I-3 group was successively adhered and removed 200 times on inner region of arm using Daro adhesive-33. Experimental II groups were kept in darkroom at room temperature. Instron universal testing machine was used to measure the% elongation, tensile strength, tear strength of control, experimental I, II groups and reflectance spectrophotometer (COLOR EYE-3000, Macbeth, USA) was used to measure the color differences between control group and experimental I group. The results were as follows : 1. When compared with control group, natural weathering group and 20% soap-water soaking group had no significant differences in% elongation (p>0.05). 2. 200 times successive adhesion and removal group, 0,2% wt. pigment group and 0.3% wt. pigment group had significant decreases in% elongation (p<0.05). 3. Natural weathering group, 20% soap-water soaking group and 200 times successive adhesion and removal group had no significant differences in tensile strength (p>0.05) 4. 0.2% , 0.3% wt. pigment groups had significant decreases in tensile strength (p<0.05). 5. Values of all experimental groups were decreased in tear strength. and 200 times successive adhesion and removal group had significant decrease in tear strength (p<0.05). 6. Natural weathering group and 20% soap-water soaking group had significant color differences (deltaE) and it could be detectable to naked eye (p<0.05) 7. Color differences between control group and 200 times adhesion and removal group were not detectable to the naked eye (deltaE<1.0)
Arm ; Cadmium ; Detergents ; Fungi ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humidity ; Maxillofacial Prosthesis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Silicone Elastomers ; Soaps ; Sunlight ; Tensile Strength ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Water ; Weather

OBJECTIVES: To explore the possible effect of an interaction between summertime heat waves and ozone on cardiopulmonary mortality during the 1994 heat wave in Korea. METHODS: The unusually hot summer of 1994 in Korea was defined as the heat wave in this study. We examined the associations of air pollutants with daily cardiopulmonary deaths between 1991-1995, considering the product term of the heat wave and each pollutant, weather and time trends. RESULTS: During the heat wave, while temperatures were uniformly higher than those of other summers, the within-heat-wave difference in mortality paralleled that in the regional ozone levels. In terms of the influence of the heat wave, the results of ozone were different to those of total suspended particles (TSP) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The ozone association (relative risk (RR) =1.036; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.018-1.054) was observed only under heat wave conditions, while the TSP (RR =1.006, 95% CI = 0.999-1.012) and the SO2 (RR =1.018, 95% CI = 1.011-1.024) associations were found under normal weather conditions (per interquartile increase of each pollutant; results of three pollutants model). The ozone association under heat wave was attributable to the statistical interaction between the heat wave and ozone. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the possibility of a biological synergy between the heat wave and ozone, one that is not evident between the heat wave and other major pollutants like particles or SO2.
Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution ; Hot Temperature* ; Infrared Rays* ; Korea* ; Mortality* ; Ozone* ; Sulfur Dioxide ; Weather

BACKGROUND: The objectives of the present study are to: (i) evaluate the effect of environmental and metabolic heat on heat-related illnesses in outdoor workers; and (ii) evaluate the effect of personal factors, including heat acclimation, on the risk of heat-related illnesses in outdoor workers. METHODS: We identified 47 cases of illnesses from exposure to environmental heat in outdoor workers in Korea from 2010 to 2014, based on review of workers' compensation data. We also obtained the information on location, time, and work environment of each heat-related illness. RESULTS: Our major results are that 29 cases (61.7%) occurred during a heat wave. Forty five cases (95.7%) occurred when the maximum estimated WBGT (WBGTmax) was equal to or greater than the case specific threshold value which was determined by acclimatization and metabolic rate. Twenty two cases (46.8%) were not acclimated to the heat. Thirty-seven cases (78.7%) occurred after tropical night (temperature above 25 °C), during which many people may find it hard to sleep. CONCLUSION: Personal risk factors such as heat acclimation as well as environmental factors and high metabolic rate during work are the major determinants of heat-related illnesses.
Acclimatization ; Extreme Heat* ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Infrared Rays ; Korea ; Risk Factors ; Workers' Compensation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible effects of meteorological and environmental factors on allergic rhinitis of children. METHOD: Daily numbers of outpatients consulting general practitioners for AR between Jan 1 2007 and Dec 31 2011 were obtained from the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children Medical Center. Daily maximum, average and minimum temperatures and humidity and wind power for Shanghai of the same 5 years were obtained from the Shanghai Meteorological Office. Air Quality data was provided by the Shanghai Municipal Environmental Protection Monitoring Center on daily SO2, NO2 and PM10, the average of O3 per 8 hours. The data was available as average values derived from the data of 6 state comtrolled monitoring stations distributed across Shanghai. Non-parametric generalized additive model (GAM) was used to analyze the highly non-linear or non-monotonic exposure-response relationship between meteorological and environmental factors and daily outpatient visiting for AR of children. RESULT: The daily numbers of AR children in outpatients department in this study were highest in the average daily temperature 11°C and 21°C. It showed two peak. But as the humidity increased, daily numbers of outpatients of AR children went down, indicating that the higy humidity has protective effect. Every 10 microg/m3 increase of environmental pollutants O3, SO2 and PM10 was linked to 1.95%, 1.19% and 0.33% increase in the number of visitors, respectively, suggesting the air pollution may increase the risk of onset of AR in children. CONCLUSION Meteorological and environmental factors have important effects on AR in children.
Child ; Climate ; Humans ; Humidity ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; etiology ; Temperature ; Weather

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was conducted to estimate the effects of climate factors and air pollution on asthma exacerbations using a case-crossover analysis. METHODS: Patients who visited the emergency department (ED) of 2 university hospitals in Chuncheon for asthma exacerbations from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2011, were enrolled. Daily average data for meteorological factors (temperature, daily temperature range, relative humidity, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, presence of rain, solar irradiation, and presence of fog) and the daily average levels of gaseous air pollutants (SO2, NO2, O3, CO, and PM10) were obtained. A case-crossover analysis was performed using variables about the weather and air pollution at 1-week intervals between cases and controls before and after ED visits. RESULTS: There were 660 ED visits by 583 patients with asthma exacerbations. Low relative humidity (lag 1 and 2) and high wind speed (lag 1, 2, and 3) were associated with ED visits for asthma. Fog (lag 2) showed protective effects against asthma exacerbations in Chuncheon (risk increase: -29.4% [95% CI=-46.3% to -7.2%], P=0.013). These relationships were stronger in patients ≤19 years old than in those >60 years old. High levels of ambient CO (lag 1, 2, and 3) and NO2 (lag 2 and 3) were associated with decreased ED visits for asthma. However, there were no significant relationships among levels of ambient CO or NO2 and asthma exacerbations after adjusting for wind speed and relative humidity. CONCLUSIONS: High wind speed and low humidity were associated with an increased risk of asthma ED visits. Fog was associated with a decreased risk of asthma ED visits after controlling for seasonal variations in weather and air pollution.
Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution* ; Asthma* ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Climate ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Gangwon-do* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Humidity ; Korea* ; Meteorological Concepts ; Rain ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Weather* ; Wind

PURPOSE: This study shows the relationship between meteorological factors and the number of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients in the emergency room and lag effect of meteorological factors affecting CAP. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. Patients diagnosed with CAP in the emergency room between January 2012 and December 2014 were enrolled. The patients were over 18 years old and lived in Seoul, Korea. Meteorological factors (highest daily temperature, lowest temperature, mean temperature, diurnal temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, amount of sunshine, and powdery dust under 10 microg/m3 (PM10)) between December 2011 and December 2014 in Seoul were acquired from the Korea Meteorological Administration. Multiple Poisson regression (Generalized Linear Model) was used with daily patient's number of CAP as the response variable and meteorological factors as the explanatory variable. Variable selection was performed via Elastic net. RESULTS: A total of 568 CAP patients were checked. Highest temperature (before 6 days), rainfall (before 1 day), relative humidity (before 20, 15, 13, 6, 2, and 1 days), and PM10 (before 27, 24, 17, and 13 days) showed relationship and lag effect with the incidence of CAP. CONCLUSION: This study showed that meteorological factors (highest temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and PM10) had relationship and lag effect with the incidence of CAP. We can make a prediction model with health weather index for prevention of CAP and redistribution of medical facilities and resources.
Dust ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Humidity ; Incidence ; Korea ; Meteorological Concepts ; Pneumonia* ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Sunlight ; Weather*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of heat wave on emergency department (ED) visits due to heat related illness, we developed an ED based active surveillance system. We want to identify epidemiology of ED visits due to heat related illness and determine the effect of heat index on daily ED visits due to heat related illness. METHODS: We developed an ED based active surveillance system for adults who visited the ED due to heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, heat edema, and heat cramp. We collected demographic and clinical variables, risk factors, and heat index by standardized registry on the webpage. We operated the surveillance into 16 emergency departments in Daegu City from June to September 2011. We analyzed epidemiologic variables descriptively and assessed the effect of heat index on the number of daily ED visits by multivariate Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: During the study period, 34 cases were registered and nine cases were heat stroke. Heat stroke patients were older, and had more unemployment status than those with other heat related illness (p<0.05). More ED visits due to heat related illness were observed during the danger period than during the cool period, classified by heat index severity (Adjusted odds ratio: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.33-2.23). Increasing heat index by one degree caused more ED visits due to heat related illness (Adjusted incident rate ratio: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07-1.19). CONCLUSION: We developed an ED based active surveillance system and observed more elderly persons and lower educational level in patients with heat stroke. In addition, increase in heat index significantly affected more daily ED visits due to heat related illness.
Adult ; Aged ; Daegu ; Edema ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Epidemiology ; Extreme Heat ; Heat Exhaustion ; Heat Stress Disorders ; Heat Stroke ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Infrared Rays ; Odds Ratio ; Public Health Surveillance ; Risk Factors ; Syncope ; Unemployment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epistaxis may be related to changes in weather, but this relationship has not been well-defined. We investigated the effects of climate fluctuations (temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure) on the number of emergency department (ED) visits for epistaxis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: In total, our study population included 1910 patients who visited the ED of a large, urban hospital during a 5-year period for epistaxis. Patients with clear etiology for epistaxis (trauma, iatrogenic, coagulopathy, and/or hypertension) were excluded, leaving 912 patients for subsequent analysis. Daily climate data was collected through the Korea Meteorological Administration. Correlation between epistaxis ED visits and weather variables were investigated using Poisson distribution and multiple regression analysis. The effect of climate factor was evaluated on the day and up to 3 days prior to ED presentation. Additionally, analyses were conducted separately for children (<15 years-old), adults (15-64 years-old), and elderly patients (> or =65 years-old). RESULTS: Changes in the lowest temperature 2 days prior to ED presentation significantly increased the number of ED visits for epistaxis (beta=-0.043, p=0.033). No associations were found between the number of ED visits and changes in humidity or atmospheric pressure. However, in children, interday changes in the highest atmospheric pressure between 2 and 3 days prior to ED presentation were both significantly associated with increased number of epistaxis ED visits. CONCLUSION: Cold temperatures 2 days prior to ED presentation were related to the increased incidence of epistaxis. Fluctuations in barometric pressure appear to influence the number of pediatric ED visits for epistaxis.
Adult ; Aged ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Child ; Climate ; Cold Temperature ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Epistaxis* ; Hospitals, Urban ; Humans ; Humidity ; Incidence ; Korea ; Meteorological Concepts* ; Weather