Study of Environmental Health Problems in Korea Using Integrated Environmental Health Indicators

We have investigated the usefulness of environmental health indicators for the evaluation of environmental health in Korea. We also assessed the association between environmental contamination and health outcomes by integrating indicators into a composite measure. We selected health-related environm...

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Main Authors: Seulkee Heo, Jong-Tae Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2013-07-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/8/3140
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spelling doaj-5ce8e97799194f7eb9d0f2515a5127612020-11-25T00:08:20ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012013-07-011083140315610.3390/ijerph10083140Study of Environmental Health Problems in Korea Using Integrated Environmental Health IndicatorsSeulkee HeoJong-Tae LeeWe have investigated the usefulness of environmental health indicators for the evaluation of environmental health in Korea. We also assessed the association between environmental contamination and health outcomes by integrating indicators into a composite measure. We selected health-related environmental indicators and environment-related health status indicators. The data were obtained from published statistical data from the period 2008–2009. Both synthesized measures of environmental indicators and health status indicators were calculated using Strahll’s taxonometric methods. The range of values determined by this method is 0–1, with higher values representing a better situation in the given area. The study area consisted of 16 large administrative areas within Korea. The arithmetic mean of the synthesized measure of environmental indicators was 0.348 (SD = 0.151), and that of the synthesized measure of health status indicators was 0.708 (SD = 0.107). The correlation coefficient between the synthesized measures of environmental indicators and health status indicators was 0.69 (95% CI: 0.28–0.88). Comparisons between local communities based on integrated indicators may provide useful information for decision-makers, allowing them to identify priorities in pollutant mitigation policies or in improvement actions for public health. Integrated indicators are also useful to describe the relationships between environmental contamination and health effects.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/8/3140environmental healthenvironmental hazardsenvironmental health indicatorsdecision making
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Seulkee Heo
Jong-Tae Lee
spellingShingle Seulkee Heo
Jong-Tae Lee
Study of Environmental Health Problems in Korea Using Integrated Environmental Health Indicators
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
environmental health
environmental hazards
environmental health indicators
decision making
author_facet Seulkee Heo
Jong-Tae Lee
author_sort Seulkee Heo
title Study of Environmental Health Problems in Korea Using Integrated Environmental Health Indicators
title_short Study of Environmental Health Problems in Korea Using Integrated Environmental Health Indicators
title_full Study of Environmental Health Problems in Korea Using Integrated Environmental Health Indicators
title_fullStr Study of Environmental Health Problems in Korea Using Integrated Environmental Health Indicators
title_full_unstemmed Study of Environmental Health Problems in Korea Using Integrated Environmental Health Indicators
title_sort study of environmental health problems in korea using integrated environmental health indicators
publisher MDPI AG
series International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
issn 1660-4601
publishDate 2013-07-01
description We have investigated the usefulness of environmental health indicators for the evaluation of environmental health in Korea. We also assessed the association between environmental contamination and health outcomes by integrating indicators into a composite measure. We selected health-related environmental indicators and environment-related health status indicators. The data were obtained from published statistical data from the period 2008–2009. Both synthesized measures of environmental indicators and health status indicators were calculated using Strahll’s taxonometric methods. The range of values determined by this method is 0–1, with higher values representing a better situation in the given area. The study area consisted of 16 large administrative areas within Korea. The arithmetic mean of the synthesized measure of environmental indicators was 0.348 (SD = 0.151), and that of the synthesized measure of health status indicators was 0.708 (SD = 0.107). The correlation coefficient between the synthesized measures of environmental indicators and health status indicators was 0.69 (95% CI: 0.28–0.88). Comparisons between local communities based on integrated indicators may provide useful information for decision-makers, allowing them to identify priorities in pollutant mitigation policies or in improvement actions for public health. Integrated indicators are also useful to describe the relationships between environmental contamination and health effects.
topic environmental health
environmental hazards
environmental health indicators
decision making
url http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/8/3140
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