Risk Factors for Health and Environmental Disease in Gyeongju, Pohang, and Ulsan

Abstract

This study was undertaken in an attempt to provide scientific grounds in explaining the causes of environmental and respiratory diseases resulting from air pollutants in Gyeongju and its neighboring areas. In relation to heavy metals, lead (Pb) was 0.0135~0.1744 µg/m 3 and high in order of Pohang, Ulsan, and Gyeongju while nickel (Ni) was 0.0023~0.0115 µg/m 3 . The concentrations of heavy metals in the investigated areas did not exceed the environmental standards or Guideline Value of Korea or other countries. However, it is considered necessary to apply intensive control to some heavy metals including cadmium (Cd) that show a relatively high level of hazard. Based on the responses to the survey, measured personal interest in environmental pollution and the basic knowledge of the causes of the respiratory diseases was higher in those with a family history of allergic reactions to metals and bronchial asthma. The incidence of allergic disease was higher in those who are currently in poor health state. In addition, the general knowledge of environmental pollutants was higher in those with higher educational level and those with a higher interest in environmental pollution. Personal interest in environmental pollution was higher in those with higher basic knowledge of environmental pollutants. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the awareness through better education and campaigns on environmental pollution.

The Characteristics of the Appearance and Health Risks of Volatile Organic Compounds in Industrial (Pohang, Ulsan) and Non-Industrial (Gyeongju) Areas

“…Also, more than 100 asthmatic patients per day for every 100,000 of the population in Japan are treated in hospital. The prevalence rates of asthma and atopy in Korea have been increasing, and the prevalence rate of asthma in primary and middle school student has increased more than 30% between 2002 and 2008 according to a report from the Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease [ 4 , 8 , 9 ]. The result analyzed from health insurance payment data from 2002 to 2008 for patients with environmental diseases, such as atopy, asthma, allergic rhinitis and chronic bronchitis, showed that the prevalence rates in 2008 had increased by 8.7% compared to those in 2007, with a 6.4% increase in the yearly average from 631 in 2002 to 1,034 in 2008 per 10,000 of the population.…”