• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 2024

Background: Coal miners are highly prone to occupational health risks, such as black lung disease. This study aims to assess the prevalence of black lung disease and the factors associated with black lung disease among coal miners in Asia. Method: This systematic review, conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, searched through the scientific literature of the following databases: EBSCO, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Scopus. We selected articles that studied black lung disease among coal miners from 48 countries in Asia and were published between 2014 and 2023. Article quality was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program. Result: The seven articles that we review studied a total of 653,635 coal miners from various types of coal mines from three countries in Asia. Of these miners, 59,998 experienced black lung disease. Black lung disease is prevalent among 9.18% of coal miners in Asia, which is approximately four times higher than the worldwide prevalence. Common factors that influence black lung disease in Asia include age, years of dust exposure, smoking, drinking, working types, and sizes of mines, type of mines, respiratory functions, spirometry parameters, tenure, lack of attention to occupational health, inefficient surveillance, and weak occupational health service. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of black lung disease among coal miners in Asia is considerably high, it can be addressed through effective prevention measures, monitoring, control, and case reporting.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.277-280
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• 2017

A 3 year-old black goat was presented to Animal and Plant Quarantine agency for diagnosis in June, 2017. She was intaken feed with Rhododendron schlippenbachii the day before death. The clinical signs included loss of appetite, lethargy, hypersalivation, astasia, yelling. At necropsy, foamy discharge were observed in the airway. Histologically, foreign body, eosinphil and macrophges was observed in alveolar lumen of lung. Grayanotoxin derived from Rhododendrons was detected in ruminal contents. Based on the pathological and toxine examination, we diagnosed this case as grayanotoxin poisoning in a black goat.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.65-70
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• 2014

Recent episodes of severe air pollution in eastern Asia have been reported in the scientific literature and news media. Therefore, there is growing concern about the systemic effects of air pollution on human health. Along with the other well-known harmful effects of air pollution, recently, several animal models have provided strong evidence that air pollutants can induce liver toxicity and act to accelerate liver inflammation and steatosis. This review briefly describes examples where exposure to air pollutants was involved in liver toxicity, focusing on how particulate matter (PM) or carbon black (CB) may be translocated from lung to liver and what liver diseases are closely associated with these air pollutants.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2013

Gas-sensor array technology, which has been much utilized in the field of food technology by the name of 'electronic nose' is drawing attention in diagnosing lung cancer based on the analysis of the exhaled human breath. Much understanding has been accomplished about the composition of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the human exhaled breath, in spite of some variations depending on research groups due mainly to lack of the standardization of the sensing procedures. Since VOCs may be produced during the process of cellular metabolism, difference in the cellular metabolism between healthy cells and lung cancer cells are expected to be reflected on the composition variation of the exhaled VOCs. Several studies have attempted to apply the gas-sensor array technology to lung cancer analysis using many different types of sensors including metal oxide, carbon black-polymer composite, surface acoustic wave, and gold nanoparticles. In this mini-review VOC as biomarkers, sensor array technology and application of the array technology for the diagnosis of cancer disease have been described.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.302-312
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• 2017

Objectives: In this study, an evaluation of the working environment of furnace workers was performed and the work-relatedness of the occupational diseases were examined Methods: In this study, two electric furnaces at a single casting business site producing manganese-based iron alloy were selected, and occupational exposures to hazardous substances were evaluated for furnace workers and furnace worker assistants. Results: As a result, total dust concentration were $0.407{\sim}3.001mg/m^3$ and respirable dust concentration were $0.196{\sim}0.584mg/m^3$. The highest concentration of crystalline silica was $0.079mg/m^3$ In the case of Masato and Sosuckwhoi crystalline silica, they contained 90.85% and 4.17% respectively. Manganese concentration was the highest at a $0.205mg/m^3$ maximum. The average of black carbon is $11.56{\mu}g/m^3$ and the maximum concentration is $604.23{\mu}g/m^3$. PAHs concentration was the highest at a $78.301{\mu}g/m^3$ of naphthalene. The concentration of carbon monoxide was 18.82 ppm(total average 3.89 ppm) during pouring, and the maximum is 131 ppm. The formaldehyde concentration was 0.003 to 0.007 ppm. Conclusions: It seems that conditions in the past were worse, since casting has recently been performed only twice per day for about 20 minutes, reducing the amount of pouring, and local exhaust systems have been installed one-by-one. In addition, it was judged that the past exposure levels were higher considering the points measured on the back-side due to the risk of damage to the individual samples. It was found that operators could be exposed to high concentrations of crystalline silica, and that they were also exposed to high concentrations of metal(fume) and carbon monoxide during pouring. Therefore, there is a risk that occupational diseases such as lung cancer and COPD may occur with long-term work in such a process.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.475-484
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• 2008

A year round study was carried out to investigate the etiology, clinical signs, postmortem lesions and occurrence of naturally occurring enterotoxaemia in Black Bengal goats. Sixteen goats of different age and sex died in different seasons with sigh associated with enterotoxaemia made the materials of this study. Accidental access to large amount of concentrate was noted as one of the predisposing factors although few cases were reported to occur without known diet change. Younger animals(50%) and males(62.50%) were found more prone to the disease and it was likely to be more prevalent during winter(50%) followed by at rainy season(31.25%) and summer(18.75%). Diarrhoea(81.25%), dullness(56.25%), drooping of the ears(50%), anorexia(43.75%) were recorded as major clinical signs whereas enterocolitis(100%), lung edema(87.50%), fluid filled intestines(87.50%), enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes(56.52%) etc. were most common post mortem lesions found. A few cases showed lesions on heart(31.25%), brain(25%) and/or liver/spleen(18.75%) but no lesion was found on kidney. Thus the so called 'pulpy kidney' lesion was absent. Intestinal contents were subjected to conventional bacteriological culture based methods to identify the causal agents. Based on the morphological, cultural and biochemical properties the causal agent was identified as Clostridium perfringens. Despite the study was carried out at certain area it showed a clear picture of goat enterotoxaemia in terms of etiology, clinical signs, postmortem lesions and occurrence of goat enterotoxaemia in Bangladesh.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.219-231
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• 2007

The effects of intraduodenal administration of Clostridium perfringens type D whole culture in goats were evaluated to develop a reliable experimental model of enterotoxemia in this species and the eventual evaluation of treatment with different drug preparations was also carried out. A total of 28 conventionally reared healthy unvaccinated black bangle goat kids of 6-12 months of age were dosed intraduodenally with whole cultures of C peliringens type D. Four kids were used as controls and received sterile, nontoxic culture medium intraduodenally. All animals received starch solution into the abomasum. The clinical signs developed within 12 hours of post inoculation that were similar to those observed in naturally occurring cases. Among the clinical signs, diarrhea was most common (96.43%) followed by dyspnea (53.57%) and central nervous system (CNS) signs (25.0%). The most striking postmortem findings consisted of necrotizing pseudomembranous colitis (100.0%), lung edema (69.23%) and fluid filled intestines (61.53%). The protocol thus provided a reasonable model of naturally occurring enterotoxemia in goats, producing a range of clinical signs and postmortem changes similar to those observed in the natural disease. Beside this, treatment trial with different drug preparations showed penicillin combined with antitoxin was most effective (100.0%), followed by combination of oxytetracyclin with antitoxin, and combined preparation of antitoxin and sulfur drugs both showed 75% recovery rate. On the other hand, treatment with antitoxin, penicillin and oxytetracycline singly could protect goat enterotoxaemia only 25.0%, 50.0% and 50.0%, respectively. Thus in the present study, it eas observed that antisera in combination of antibiotics gave better recovery rate than the antitoxin or antibiotics alone.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.180-185
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• 2006

Invasive Pseudomonas infections most often occur in the immunocompromised patients and are associated with high mortality rate. Rarely this disease may develop in healthy infants and children. We report two cases of invasive Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections that were diagnosed in otherwise healthy infants. The first case was a previously healthy 5-month-old infant with ecthyma gangrenosum and septicemia. She presented with fever, swelling of left periorbital area and multiple erythronodular skin lesions. Each skin lesion formed a black eschar surrounded by an erythematous areola over time. Cultures of blood, urine and discharge from skin lesions grew P. aeruginosa. On the day of visit, she showed pancytopenia which was normalized after 10 days. The patient responded well to the management with ceftazidime and tobramycin. The other case was a previously healthy 9-month-old infant with community-acquired pneumonia. He was referred from an outside hospital with fever and cough. Chest x-ray revealed pneumonic infiltrations on both lower lungs with pleural effusion on the right side. Cultures of blood and pleural fluid grew P. aeruginosa. Chest CT performed on the ninth day demonstrated pneumatoceles, lung abscess and necrosis of lung parenchyma. He was managed with ceftazidime and amikacin for 50 days. No residual pulmonary complications were noted during the three month follow-up. Laboratory results to evaluate immunologic defects of phagocytic cells, complement components and T- and B-lymphocytes were all within normal range in both patients. It should be kept in mind that Pseudomonas can be, though uncommon, a cause of community-acquired invasive infections in the previously healthy infants.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.142-154
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• 2022

Arsenic (As) contamination in groundwater is one of the main problems in Bangladesh. As toxicity causes serious human health problems such as edema, skin cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, hyperkeratosis, premature birth, and black foot disease. As contamination in groundwater mainly originates from the geological characteristics of the area due to the influence of anthropogenic activities. Since most of the people in Bangladesh rely on tube well for drinking water, it is necessary to investigate the current status of As pollution and identify the treatment technologies that can be used to provide arsenic-free drinking water in water-scarce areas. A total of 92 papers were reviewed in this study to present a complete overview of the recent status of groundwater As contamination in Bangladesh and different low-cost remediation technologies. A method for evaluating the relative feasibility of different treatment technologies was also utilized to determine the most appropriate technologies for groundwater As treatment in Bangladesh. The districts with the highest groundwater As contamination include Brahamanbariya, Tangail, Barisal, Pabna, Patuakhali, Kurigram, Magura, and Faridpur, with concentrations exceeding 0.05 mg/L. Only six districts had relatively low groundwater arsenic concentrations (0.01 mg/L), including Kushtia, Khagrachari, Jessore, Dinajpur, Meherpur, and Munshiganj. There were a number of technologies used for treating As in water, but aerated electrocoagulation, Mg-Fe-based hydrotalcite-like compound, and electro-chemical As remediation (ECAR) reactor were found to be the most feasible treatment methods for As. Overall, the investment, operational, and maintenance costs, availability of materials, and expertise requirements should be considered when selecting the most appropriate treatment method for As in water.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.337-341
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• 2006

Objectives : Endobronchial anthracofibrotic pigmentation, which presents as dark black or brown pigmentation mucosal changes of multiple bronchi combined with bronchial fibrosis and obstruction, is not a rare finding when performing diagnostic bronchoscopy for Koreans. This study was performed to define the clinical characteristics and to determine the association of these finding with the Korean life style and such other diseases as coal workers, pneumoconiosis or tuberculosis in the patients with anthracofibrotic pigmentation. Methods : This retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 (5.2%) patients with endobronchial anthracofibrotic pigmentation, among a total of 1340 patients who underwent bronchoscopy. The distinctive clinical features, the personal life style, the past medical history, the histology and microbiology, the radiologic finding and the natures of the bronchoscopic lesions were analyzed. Results : This mean age of the patients with anthracofibrotic pigmentation was $60.6{\pm}9.2$ year old and the male to female ratio was 1:1.7. The common respiratory symptoms of these patients were coughing and sputum (81%, 57/70), and this was followed in order by dyspnea and hemoptysisir. The symptoms were not related with smoking and an occupational history such as being a coal worker and so on. Pneumonia was most common finding on the radiologic studies. On bronchoscopy, the right middle lobe bronchus was most commonly involved. The most common associated disease was tuberculosis, and 40 cases (57.1%) were diagnosed by AFB staining, TB PCR, bronchoscopic guided tissue biopsy and a past history of tuberculosis. Other diseases related with anthracotic pigmentation were hypertension, diabetes, COPD, lung cancer, pneumoconiosis and asthma. Conclusion : These results suggest that endobronchial anthracofibrotic pigmentation was mostly related with pulmonary tuberculosis rather than with coal- related disease. Endobronchial anthracofibrotic pigmentation was more prevalent in older age females in Korea.