OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to evaluate association between computerized neurobehavioral performance and blood lead concentration in Korean elementary school students. METHODS The subjects were 1,077 elementary school students of Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Gwangju. Blood lead concentration was measured and computerized neurobehavioral performance tests were performed. RESULTS Blood lead concentration of the subjects was in the range of 0.20 and 7.39 microg/dl. The geometric mean of the subjects' blood lead concentration was 1.41 microg/dl. As blood lead concentration increased, reaction time to the symbol digit tended to increase significantly and linearly. As a result of LOWESS(locally weighted scatterplot smoothing), increasing reaction time to the symbol digit was observed. CONCLUSIONS As blood lead concentration under the CDC (center for disease control and prevention) reference value increased, reaction time to the symbol digit tended to increase. But, as the number of subjects over 3 microg/dl is small, it is difficult to make a definite conclusion. If confounding variables are controlled properly in a follow-up study, we can obtain a more definite conclusion.
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Association of heavy metal complex exposure and neurobehavioral function of children Minkeun Kim, Chulyong Park, Joon Sakong, Shinhee Ye, So young Son, Kiook Baek Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Performance assessment on the Korean Computerized Neurobehavioral Test using a mobile device and a conventional computer: an experimental study Young Seok Byun, Sung Kyu Park, Joon Sakong, Man Joong Jeon Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
The association between lead concentration in the blood and neurobehavioral performance of children Dae-Seon Kim, Seungchul Ahn, Seungdo Yu, Eun-Hee Lee Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences.2012; 4(2): 87. CrossRef
Evaluation of reliability of computerized neurobehavioral tests in Korean children Kyeong-Soo Lee, Man-Joong Jeon, Tae-Yoon Hwang, Chang-Yoon Kim, Joon Sakong NeuroToxicology.2012; 33(5): 1362. CrossRef
OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to examine the effect of blood mercury on neurobehavioral performance in Korean elementary school students. METHODS We measured the blood mercury concentration in 1,077 elementary school students from Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Gwangju, then the students underwent computerized neurobehavioral test. RESULTS The mean concentration of blood mercury of study subjects was 2.10 microg/L. An increased blood mercury was associated with an increased reaction time in digit addition and symbol digit. CONCLUSIONS The blood mercury concentration of study subjects was very high compared to findings in a foreign country. We found several associations between blood mercury level and neurobehavioral performance.
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Performance assessment on the Korean Computerized Neurobehavioral Test using a mobile device and a conventional computer: an experimental study Young Seok Byun, Sung Kyu Park, Joon Sakong, Man Joong Jeon Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
Evaluation of reliability of computerized neurobehavioral tests in Korean children Kyeong-Soo Lee, Man-Joong Jeon, Tae-Yoon Hwang, Chang-Yoon Kim, Joon Sakong NeuroToxicology.2012; 33(5): 1362. CrossRef
OBJECTIVE: A cross-sectional study was performed to assess changes in computerized neurobehavioral performance across multiple test sessions for developing a valid performance level and reducing test time. METHODS The study was conducted on 118 male car painters exposed to low-dose, mixed organic solvents. The study controls were 113 unexposed reference workers matched for age and educational year from different sections of the same factory. Each worker completed a medical and occupational exam and questionnaire. Three tests of the Swedish Performance Evaluation System (5 minutes of Simple Reaction Time, 9 sessions of Symbol Digit, and 4 sessions of Finger Tapping Speed) were administered to each group. RESULTS The mean age, mean duration of employment, and mean years of education were 33 years, 6.7 years, and 12 years in both groups, respectively. The mean reaction times of the Simple Reaction Time increased with the lapse of time. The known group difference between the exposed and control groups was larger for the first minute than for the successive 3 minutes. Both groups showed improved performance across the first to the seventh sessions on Symbol Digit. Following the seventh session, the performance levels of Symbol Digit had worsened. The t statistic of the two groups was the largest when the two mean reaction times were calculated from the sessions of the fifth to the seventh. In the dominant and non-dominant hands, the number of taps increased and decreased, respectively, across the sessions on Finger Tapping Speed. The known group difference was the largest when comparing the performances from the first to the second sessions. CONCLUSIONS For valid interpretation and timesaving in computerized neurobehavioral tests, the following is recommended: one practice and one test session for Simple Reaction Time, four practice and three test sessions for Symbol Digit, and one practice and two test sessions for Finger Tapping Speed.
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Effects of computer familiarity and computer type on the performance of Korean computerized neurobehavioral test Nak Joon Baek, Gun Il Park, Young Seok Byun, Man Joong Jeon, Joon Sakong Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2016;[Epub] CrossRef
OBJECTIVES Most studies on the indoor air quality of newly built schools have focused only on the number of schools exceeding a standard or on subjective symptoms, such as sneezing, irritated eyes and an irritated nose. However, there has been no report on how poor indoor air quality affects children's academic performance. This study evaluated the effects of indoor air quality on the neurobehavioral performance of elementary school children. METHODS This study measured the indoor air pollutants and compared children's performance, using a computerized neurobehavioral test, between a newly built and a 12-year-old school. In addition, a questionnaire was administered regarding the indoor air quality related symptoms of children in a newly built and a 12-year-old school. RESULTS In the newly built school, the formaldehyde levels in the 1st and 4th classes with an open window were 34.6 and 27.3 microgram/m3, respectively. The levels in the 1st and 4th classes with the window closed were 80.2 and 127.1 microgram/m3, respectively. In the 12-year-old school, the formaldehyde levels in 1st and 4th class with open and closed window were 12.6 and 7.5 microgram/m3, and 19.8 and 25.2 microgram/m3, respectively. With respect to total volatile organic compounds, the levels in the 1st and 4th classes with the window open in the newly built school were 87.2 and 428.2 microgram/m3, respectively. In the 1st and 4th classes with the window closed, the total volatile organic compounds were 1,283.5 and 1,715.4 microgram/m3, respectively. In the 12-year-old school, the total volatile organic compounds were 240.9 and 150.8 microgram/m3, and 371.9 and 448.0 microgram/m3 in the 1st and 4th classes, respectively. In the case of a newly built school, the performance of the students in the neurobehavioral test in the 4th class with the window closed was 8.3% lower than for those in the 1st class with the window closed, but was only 5.9% lower when the windows were open. There was a statistical significant difference in the total numbers of symptoms between the two schools. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest a proper evaluation of the indoor air quality within schools is required into both the level of contamination and the health effects of these contaminants toward children.
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Performance assessment on the Korean Computerized Neurobehavioral Test using a mobile device and a conventional computer: an experimental study Young Seok Byun, Sung Kyu Park, Joon Sakong, Man Joong Jeon Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
Occupational Neurologic Disorders in Korea Yangho Kim, Kyoung Sook Jeong, Yong-Hun Yun, Myoung-Soon Oh Journal of Clinical Neurology.2010; 6(2): 64. CrossRef
OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to investigate the occupational exposure level to toluene among rotogravure printers and neurobehavioral effects among them. METHODS Fifty rotogravure printers and 147 controls participated in this study. Environmental and biological monitoring was performed for the investigation of toluene exposure level, and neurobehavioral performance test were performed by using the Behavioral Assessment and Research System with Korean language instructions(BARS-K). RESULTS The major results were as follows; 1. Geometric mean toluene concentrations in the ambient air of 5 rotogravure printing workplaces were 10.5 (GSD 5.9)~181.9 (GSD 17.7), with a grand total of 56.7 (GSD60.9) ppm. 2. The geometric mean urinary hippuric acid level for rotogravure printers of 5 workplaces were 0.31 (GSD 0.11)~5.14 (GSD 0.55), with the grand total of 1.87 (GSD 2.06) g/g creatinine. 3. There was a linear correlation between hippuric acid levels in urine and the exposed toluene in air: urine hippuric acid (g/g creatinine)=0.03 toluene (ppm) + 0.15 (r=0.899, p<0.01, n=50). 4. After adjustment for confounders, significant associations were found between toluene exposure and Digit span forwards, Digit span backwards, Tapping preferred hand, Symbol digit and Selective attention trials. CONCLUSIONS 1. Rotogravure printers were occupationally exposed to relatively high concentration to toluene, and their neurobehavioral performances were decreased. 2. The BARS neurobehavioral testing program, which minimizes the use of text in the instructions, was very effective in overcoming the cultural barriers in neurobehavioral testing.
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Evaluation of environmental and biological monitoring methods for toluene exposure assessment in paint industry Mansour A. Balkhyour, Radhouane Chakroun, Faycal Faidi Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences.2023; 30(2): 103538. CrossRef