Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Original Article

Particulate matter concentration effects on attention to environmental issues: a cross-sectional study among residents in Korea’s Pohang Industrial Complex: Hye-seung Ryu, Jea Chul Ha, Insung Chung, Seonhee Yang, Hyunjoo Kim, Sung-Deuk Choi; Ann Occup Environ Med 2023;35:e31. Published online August 10, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2023.35.e31

Abstract Abstract in Korean PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub: Background
With modernization, air pollution has become increasingly serious, and its effects on health have been revealed. As a result, public interest in environmental pollution has become critical for regulating air pollution. In our study, we aim to evaluate the impact of air pollution levels on public attention to environmental issues and examine whether awareness of the residential environment’s impact on health acts as a mediator in this relationship.
Methods
We conducted an analysis on 400 individuals surveyed in the preliminary feasibility study on adverse health effects in the Pohang Industrial Complex, to examine the relationship between particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and attention to environmental issues. Logistic regression analysis was performed, and mediation analysis was used to determine whether awareness of the residential environment’s impact on health mediated the relationship.
Results
The logistic regression analysis results showed that PM2.5 levels were associated with attention to environmental issues (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3–3.5; p = 0.003) and awareness of health impacts (AOR: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.6–7.1; p = 0.001). The PM2.5 levels showed 9.9% (95% CI: 5.4–14.0) increase in the prevalence of high attention to environmental issues, of which, only 1.0% (95% CI: 0.2–2.3) were mediated by health impact awareness. In the overall analysis, 10% of the total effect of PM2.5 on attention to environmental issues was mediated by health impact awareness.
Conclusions
According to this study’s results, there was a correlation between air pollution levels and attention to environmental issues. Awareness of the health impacts of air pollution partially mediated the effect of air pollution levels on attention to environmental issues. In future studies, it is recommended to identify other mediators to further understand this structure.; 미세먼지(Particular matter)농도가 환경문제에 대한 관심에 미치는 영향 : 포항시 거주민을 대상으로 한 단면연구
목적
근현대화가 진행되어오면서 대기오염은 심각해지고 대기오염에 의한 건강영향이 밝혀지면서 대기오염을 규제하기위해 환경오염에 대한 대중의 관심도가 중요해졌다. 이번 연구에서는 대기오염 수치가 환경오염에 대한 관심도에 미치는 영향을 평가하고 그 구조로써 건강영향에 대한 인식이 매개체로써 작용하는지 탐구하고자 하였다.
방법
포항 산업단지 건강피해 예비타당성 위해소통 설문조사에서 파악된 400명에 대하여 분석을 시행하였다. PM2.5와 환경오염에 대한 관심의 관계에 대해서 보기위해 로지스틱 회귀분석을 시행하였고, 그 구조를 파악하기 위해 매개분석을 사용하여 건강영향에 대한 인식이 매개체로써 작용하는지 확인하였다.
결과
로지스틱 분석 결과 PM2.5 수치는 환경에 대한 관심과 관련이 있었고([AOR]: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3, 3.5, P = 0.003), 건강영향에 대한 인식도와도 관련이 있었다(AOR: 3.4, 95% CI: 1.6, 7.1, P = 0.001). PM2.5수치는 전체 환경에 대한 관심도에 비교위험(%)이 9.9 (95 % CI: 5.4, 14.0)인데 전체에서 1.0 (95 % CI: 0.2, 2.3) 만이 건강영향 인식도에 의해 매개되는 비교위험이다. 전체 분석 결과에서 PM2.5가 환경에 대한 관심에 미치는 전체 영향의 10%가 건강영향 인식에 매개되었다.
결론
연구결과에 따르면 대기오염 수준은 환경오염에 대한 관심도와 관련이 있었다. 건강영향에 대한 인식은 대기오염수준이 환경오염에 대한 관심도에 미치는 영향의 일부를 매개하였다.

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Case Report

Mental health impact on a humidifier disinfectant disaster victim: a case report: Ye-Sung Lee, Min-Woo Nam, Hyun-Il Kim, Hyeong-Cheol Kim, Eun-Chan Mun, So-Young Park; Ann Occup Environ Med 2020;32:e15. Published online June 1, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2020.32.e15

In Korea, the cause of lung disease of unknown origin was identified as humidifier disinfectants in November 2011. In February 2017, the ‘Special Act on Remedy for Damage Caused by Humidifier Disinfectants’ was promulgated. Even though emotional and mental injuries caused by humidifier disinfectants have been reported, the focus of the special act has been on physical injury only, and criteria for recognizing mental health impact have not been considered. This case considers emotional and mental injury caused by humidifier disinfectants. After a humidifier disinfectant was used from January 2005 to April 2006, the patient's son aged 20 months was hospitalized with respiratory symptoms, and he died within two weeks. Also, the patient was hospitalized for a month with the same symptoms, and then she led a normal life with no symptoms. After both mother and son were diagnosed with definite (level 1) humidifier disinfectant lung injury (HDLI) in 2017, she took to drinking alcohol because of extreme guilt over her son's death. In March 2018 she died from acute liver failure due to alcohol use disorder. The patient's death was caused by continuous alcoholism, due to emotional and mental trauma caused by her son's death after HDLI was revealed as the cause. The government did not acknowledge her death was due to humidifier disinfectants, but the company that sold the humidifier disinfectants recognized her as a victim and compensated the family of the victim. There are still lots of psychological responses among humidifier disinfectant disaster victims. Mental health impact on humidifier disinfectant victims should be considered more carefully, and institutional improvements should be made into establish psychological interventions and measures.

Citations

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In vitro neurotoxicity evaluation of biocidal disinfectants in a human neuron–astrocyte co-culture model
Ha-Na Oh, Seungmin Park, Sangwoo Lee, Hang-Suk Chun, Won-Ho Shin, Woo-Keun Kim
Toxicology in Vitro.2022; 84: 105449. CrossRef
Health Effects Associated With Humidifier Disinfectant Use: A Systematic Review for Exploration
Ji-Hun Song, Joonho Ahn, Min Young Park, Jaeyoung Park, Yu Min Lee, Jun-Pyo Myong, Jung-Wan Koo, Jongin Lee
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Developmental Toxicity and Thyroid Endocrine Disruption of Polyhexamethylene Guanidine Hydrochloride and Humidifier Disinfectant in Zebrafish Larvae
Suhyun Park, Hyojin Kim, Kyunghee Ji
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Hyun Kil Shin, Sangwoo Lee, Ha-Na Oh, Donggon Yoo, Seungmin Park, Woo-Keun Kim, Myung-Gyun Kang
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Need for individual-based evaluation to determine the association between humidifier disinfectants and health injuries
Hyeong-Cheol Kim, Hyunil Kim, Eun-Chan Mun, Yesung Lee, Soyoung Park
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2021;[Epub] CrossRef

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Research Article

The responses of subjective feeling, task performance ability, cortisol and HRV for the various types of floor impact sound: a pilot study: Seok Hyeon Yun, Sang Jin Park, Chang Sun Sim, Joo Hyun Sung, Ahra Kim, Jang Myeong Lee, Sang Hyun Lee, Jiho Lee; Ann Occup Environ Med 2017;29:13. Published online May 15, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-017-0168-x

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Background

Recently, noise coming from the neighborhood via floor wall has become a great social problem. The noise between the floors can be a cause of physical and psychological problems, and the different types of floor impact sound (FIS) may have the different effects on the human’s body and mind. The purpose of this study is to assess the responses of subjective feeling, task performance ability, cortisol and HRV for the various types of floor impact.

Methods

Ten men and 5 women were enrolled in our study, and the English listening test was performed under the twelve different types of FIS, which were made by the combinations of bang machine (B), tapping machine (T), impact ball (I) and sound-proof mattress (M). The 15 subjects were exposed to each FIS for about 3 min, and the subjective annoyance, performance ability (English listening test), cortisol level of urine/saliva and heart rate variability (HRV) were examined. The sound pressure level (SPL) and frequency of FIS were analyzed. Repeated-measures ANOVA, paired t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test were performed for data analysis.

Results

The SPL of tapping machine (T) was reduced with the soundproof mattress (M) by 3.9–7.3 dBA. Impact ball (I) was higher than other FIS in low frequency (31.5–125 Hz) by 10 dBA, and tapping machine (T) was higher than other FIS in high frequency (2–4 k Hz) by 10 dBA. The subjective annoyance is highest in the combination of bang machine and tapping machine (BT), and next in the tapping machine (T). The English listening score was also lowest in the BT, and next in T. The difference of salivary cortisol levels between various types of FIS was significant (p = 0.003). The change of HRV parameters by the change of FIS types was significant in some parameters, which were total power (TP) (p = 0.004), low frequency (LF) (p = 0.002) and high frequency (HF) (p = 0.011).

Conclusions

These results suggest that the human’s subjective and objective responses were different according to FIS types and those combinations.

Citations

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Quantifying the Effect of Noise on Cognitive Processes: A Review of Psychophysiological Correlates of Workload
Jan Grenzebach, Erik Romanus
Noise and Health.2022; 24(115): 199. CrossRef

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Short Communication

Environmental health centers for asbestos and their health impact surveys and activities: Dong-Mug Kang, Jong-Eun Kim, Yong-Jin Lee, Hyun-Hee Lee, Chang-yeol Lee, Seong-Jae Moon, Min-Sung Kang; Ann Occup Environ Med 2016;28:68. Published online December 1, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-016-0154-8

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In 2009, Korea banned the import, transport, and use of asbestos, and the Asbestos Injury Relief Act (AIRA) was promulgated in 2011. Two environmental health centers for asbestos (EHCA), including Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital (PNUYH) and SoonChunHyang University Cheonan Hospital (SCHUCH), were adapted to find environmental asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) and to support the purposes of AIRA. EHCA conducted a health impact survey (HIS) on persons who resided or reside near asbestos factories or mines. A total of 13,433 persons have taken screening examinations in PNUYH EHCA, and 623 persons (4.6%) have had secondary examinations. Of the 21,014 persons who had screening examinations in SCHUCH EHCA, 2490 persons (11.8%) had secondary examinations. Some of those who tested positive for ARDs through HISs filed applications for the asbestos victims’ medical pocketbook (AVMP). Approximately 116 and 612 persons received AVMPs as a result of PNUYH and SCHUCH examinees, respectively. EHCAs have conducted HISs, public relations, and education for asbestos victims, ordinary citizens, and physicians. As HISs are based on voluntary participation, they does not monitor high-risk groups. Active surveillance focusing on high-risk groups has been blocked by the personal information protection act. Although important work has been performed in finding environmental asbestos victims and increasing public awareness on asbestos, it is necessary to improve the current system and registration.

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Hideki Hasunuma, Masayuki Shima
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Relationships of Lower Lung Fibrosis, Pleural Disease, and Lung Mass with Occupational, Household, Neighborhood, and Slate Roof-Dense Area Residential Asbestos Exposure
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2018; 15(8): 1638. CrossRef
Monitoring and Simulating Environmental Asbestos Dispersion from a Textile Factory
Dongmug Kang, Yongsik Hwang, Yeyong Choi, Se-Yeong Kim, Young-Ki Kim
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2018; 15(7): 1398. CrossRef
Occupational Burden of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Korea, 1998–2013: Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer, and Ovarian Cancer
Dong-Mug Kang, Jong-Eun Kim, Young-Ki Kim, Hyun-Hee Lee, Se-Yeong Kim
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