International journal of crisis & safety

Purpose: This study evaluates the toxicological hazards of paraphenylenediamine(PPD) to establish safety assessment protocols and occupational protection strategies for the beauty industry. PPD is internationally classified as a category 1A skin sensitizer, and particular attention is given to the safety risks associated with “black henna” products containing illegally high concentrations of PPD and misleading “natural” claims. By comparing international regulatory standards, this study aims to propose a risk-management framework to enhance protection for both beauty practitioners and consumers from preventable chemical hazards. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted using international and domestic databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, KISS, and RISS) covering studies published between 2000 and 2024. Inclusion criteria focused on PPD-related toxicological mechanisms, chemical detection in black henna products, occupational contact dermatitis, and official safety regulations issued by the FDA, EU SCCS, and MFDS. Data were synthesized through structured thematic analysis across four safety domains: molecular toxicology, occupational and consumer expo-sure risks, regulatory frameworks, and evidence-based safety management strategies. Results: PPD was found to be associated with acute and chronic contact dermatitis, pigmentary disorders, and severe systemic toxicities, including methemoglobinemia. Epidemiological evidence indicates that approximately 20-30% of Korean hairdressers experience hair dye-related dermatologic symptoms, with sensitization rates in-creasing with employment duration. Investigations by the Korea Consumer Agency reported that products mis-leadingly labeled as “chemical-free” contained up to 1.0% PPD and levels of microbial contamination exceeding safety standards by as much as 11,000-fold. Comparative regulatory analysis further showed that the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) enforces the strictest controls, limiting the final concentration of PPD in hair dyes to ≤2% and prohibiting its use in temporary skin tattoos. Conclusion: PPD represents a high-risk allergenic chemical associated with significant occupational and consumer exposure concerns. Strengthening domestic safety management requires the implementation of mandatory patch testing, enhanced ingredient labeling and regulatory enforcement, improved ventilation and use of personal protective equipment, and the continued development and adoption of safer alternatives to PPD.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the current status of elderly care service provision in a hyper-aged society and to provide foundational evidence for the development of elderly care policies. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed using secondary data from 2022 to 2023. The study population included adults aged 65 years and older residing in Province J. Data were obtained from publicly available sources, including the National Health Insurance Service, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and local government statistics related to long-term care insurance, customized elderly care services, and elderly welfare services. Variables analyzed included long-term care eligibility, service utilization rates, caregiving types, and the size of care blind spots. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted using frequencies, percentages, and estimated population ranges. Results: Approximately 68,000 older adults in Province J were eligible for long-term care services, accounting for 16.24% of the elderly population, which is about 4 percentage points higher than the national average. The total number of users of long-term care and customized elderly care services was approximately 97,000, representing 23.04% of the elderly population. The private caregiving rate was high at 61.2%, with family caregiving accounting for 53.9%, paid caregiving for 2.9%, and other caregiving for 4.4%. An estimated 9,700 older adults were identified as being in care blind spots, with the number increasing with age. In addition, approximately 21,000 older adults were estimated to be in dementia-related care blind spots. The total number of elderly individuals utilizing care services ranged from 96,000 to 121,000. Conclusion: As the transition to a super-aged society accelerates, a substantial proportion of older adults re-main outside the formal care system. These findings highlight the need for a rational assessment system to identify care needs accurately and to provide customized care based on functional status. Furthermore, the establishment of integrated community-based care centers and sustainable public–private partnerships is essential to reduce care blind spots and strengthen elderly care service delivery.

Purpose: This study aims to identify the structural relationships between ecological resources and visitor pres-sure across 29 provincial parks in Korea. The analysis further seeks to compare characteristics across park types and derive management implications based on identified patterns. Given the wide variation in resource conditions and limited existing research, an integrated evaluation of ecological value and visitor infrastructure was required. Method: Excluding one DMZ-adjacent park, 29 provincial parks were classified into four types—mountain, urban, coastal, and wetland. Indicators of ecological resources and visitor pressure were compiled and analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis. This approach enabled a comprehensive assessment of re-source distributions, inter-type differences, and structural linkages among variables. Results: Mountain-type parks exhibited the highest levels of ecological richness and visitor infrastructure, while coastal and wetland parks showed comparatively lower values. Strong positive correlations were identified among major indicators, including plant–animal species richness, trail length–segment count, and budget–staff capacity. These findings indicate that resources, use, and management systems operate in interdependent rather than isolated forms. Conclusion: Ecological resources and visitor pressure differed significantly across park types, and clear structural linkages were observed among indicators. These results suggest the need for differentiated, type-specific management strategies rather than uniform approaches. Integrated systems connecting budget, staffing, and facilities were found to be essential for efficient park management.

Purpose: The core objective of the current study was to assess how cyberbullying victimization influences academic helplessness in elementary students, specifically focusing on the mediating role of attention problems. Method: This study involved 338 students from grades 4 to 6 in elementary schools located in the Seoul metropolitan area. The participants were surveyed on levels of cyberbullying victimization, attention problems, and academic helplessness. Data analysis was conducted via descriptive statistics and correlation analysis, followed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results: The results of the analysis were as follows. Firstly, cyberbullying victimization in elementary school students was found to significantly increase both attention problems and academic helplessness. Secondly, attention problems were found to significantly increase academic helplessness. Thirdly, attention problems were found to mediate the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and academic helplessness. Specifically, the fol-lowing sequential pathway was identified as significant: ‘cyberbullying victimization → attention problems → academic helplessness’. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the harm of cyberbullying extends to cognitive and academic domains, beyond emotional distress. The study provides new insights for developing effective support systems that address not only the emotional aftermath but also the cognitive and academic difficulties faced by cyberbullying victims.