Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine (대한예방의학회)
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Chest Radiological Changes after Cessation and Decrease of Exposure to Welding Fume in Shipyard Welders

조선업 용접공진폐증에서 용접 흄 폭로력에 따른 방사선 소견의 경시적 변화양상

  • Sohn, H.S. (Dept. of Prev. Med. and Inst. of Occup. Med., Inje Unive., Coll. of Med.) ;
  • Lee, J.T. (Dept. of Prev. Med. and Inst. of Occup. Med., Inje Unive., Coll. of Med.) ;
  • Shin, H.R. (Dept. of Prev. Med. and Inst. of Occup. Med., Inje Unive., Coll. of Med.) ;
  • Lee, C.U. (Dept. of Prev. Med. and Inst. of Occup. Med., Inje Unive., Coll. of Med.) ;
  • Pae, K.T. (Dept. of Prev. Med. and Inst. of Occup. Med., Inje Unive., Coll. of Med.) ;
  • Park, H.J. (Dept. of Prev. Med. and Inst. of Occup. Med., Inje Unive., Coll. of Med.) ;
  • Kim, Y.W. (Dept. of Prev. Med. and Inst. of Occup. Med., Inje Unive., Coll. of Med.) ;
  • Yun, I.G. (Department of Preventive Medicine, Catholic Medical College)
  • 손혜숙 (인제대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 이종태 (인제대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 신해림 (인제대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 이채언 (인제대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 배기택 (인제대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 박형종 (인제대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김용완 (인제대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 윤임중 (카톨릭 의과대학 예방의학교실)
  • Published : 1989.09.01
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Abstract

27 shipyard welders were diagnosed as pneumoconiosis and suspected pneumoconiosis(1976-1988) by chest radiographs and were observed over three years. 27 welders were divided into three groups by the state of exposure to welding fume i.e. cessation, decresase or continuity of exposure. And we observed the changing pattern of the chest radiographs of 27 welders with the passage of time. The results were as follows; 1. Grour I (ceased exposure to welding fume) were 10 cases(3 cases: suspected pneumoconiosis,7 cases: pneumoconiosis). Chest radiographs of all cases were improved. The shape and size of small opacities was improved in 6 cases(85.7%) and did not changed in 1 case(14.3%) out of 7 pneumoconiosis welders. 2. Group II (decreased exposure to welding fume) were S cases(2 cases: suspected pneumoconiosis, 3 cases: pneumoconiosis). Chest radiographs were progressed in 2 cases(40%), did not changed in 1 case(20%), were improved in 2 cases(40%) out of 5 cases. The shape and size of small opacities was progressed in 1 case(33.3%) and was improved in 2 cases(66.7%) out of 3 pneumoconiosis welders. 3. Group III(continued expoxsure to welding fume) were 12 cases(1 case: suspected pneumoconiosis, 11 cases: pneumoconiosis). Chest radiographs were progressed in 9 cases(75%), did not changed in 3 cases(25%) out of 12 cases. The shape and size of small opacities was progressed in 1 case(9.1%) and did not changed in 10 cases(90.9%) out of 11 pneumoconiosis welders. 4. The average duration for development into suspected pneumoconiosis was 6.6 years and for progression of each one category after that was 2.2 years(p<0.01). The radiological appearance of pneumoconiosis had disappeared or decreased after cessation of exposure to the welding fume. So that, early detection and control e.g., change of department of pneumoconiosis of welders by screening program will be important for medical surveillance of welders.

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