• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2007

Diesel vehicles are a significant source of fine carbon particle emissions including polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) is firmly established as a useful biomarker of PAHs uptake in human. To investigate the exposure effect of PAHs in miners according to using diesel truck which was for transportation of ore, we measured urinary 1-OHP as the PAHs exposure biomarker, and analyzed the relationship between urinary 1-OHP concentration and using diesel truck. The study was performed on 118 workers (56 miners in factories using diesel truck, 62 miners in factories non-using diesel truck) and 21 controls. Urine samples were obtained at the end of shift on the survey day. There was no significance in comparison with the mean concentrations on urinary 1-OHP by age, BMI, work duration, smoking, drinking and ventilation type. But significant difference were found among urinary 1-OHP concentrations on factories according to using diesel truck (p=0.000). The urinary 1-OHP mean concentration on underground miners using diesel truck ($0.54{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine) was higher than those of surface miners using diesel truck ($0.33{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine, p=0.028), underground miners non-using diesel truck ($0.32{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine, p=0.001) and controls ($0.22{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine, p=0.000). In comparison with using status diesel truck, the urinary 1-OHP mean concentration of underground miners using diesel trucks was higher than those of other mine status. The study results would be beneficial to future environmental and biological studies of PAHs exposure to diesel exhaust in mines.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.2
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• pp.56-62
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of pulmonary function impairment (PFI) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) by multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT), and the effect of pneumoconiosis on CAC or PFI. Methods: Seventy-six subjects exposed to inorganic dusts underwent coronary artery calcium scoring by MDCT, spirometry, laboratory tests, and a standardized questionnaire. CAC was quantified using a commercial software (Rapidia ver. 2.8), and all the subjects were divided into two categories according to total calcium scores (TCSs), either the non-calcified (<1) or the calcified (${\geq}1$) group. Obstructive pulmonary function impairment (OPFI) was defined as forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity ($FEV_1$/FVC, %)<70, and as $FEV_1$/FVC (%){\geq}70 and FVC<80 for restrictive pulmonary function impairment (RPFI) by spirometry. All subjects were classified as either the case (profusion${\geq}1/0$) or the control (profusion${\leq}0/1$) group by pneumoconiosis findings on simple digital radiograph. Results: Of the 76 subjects, 35 subjects (46.1%) had a CAC. Age and hypertension were different significantly between the non-calcified and the calcified group (p<0.05). Subjects with pneumoconiosis were more frequent in the calcified group than those in the non-calcified group (p=0.099). $FEV_1$/FVC (%) was significantly correlated with TCSs (r=-0.316, p=0.005). Subjects with OPFI tended to increase significantly with increasing of TCS (4.82, p=0.028), but not significantly in RPFI (2.18, p=0.140). Subjects with OPFI were significantly increased in the case group compared to those in the control group. Conclusion: CAC is significantly correlated with OPFI, and CAC and OPFI may be affected by pneumoconiosis findings.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2020

There has been a growing concern and subsequent interest surrounding numerous reproductive toxic agents found in various working and non-working environments. Meanwhile, there have been many efforts in medical fields such as toxicology and epidemiology applying experimental studies to elucidate reproductive toxic agents' characterization and health effects. However, there remains insufficient research data and inadequate evidence in humans. Adverse reproductive outcomes vary from transient, moderate health effects to severely detrimental consequences, such as permanent infertility or childhood cancer of one's offspring. Furthermore, upon exposure to toxic agents, the latent period before reproductive health effects are observed is relatively short compared to other occupational diseases (e.g., occupational cancer); instant action is required once exposure to reproductive toxic agents is detected. Therefore, it is very important for workers and healthcare professionals to know about the reproductive toxic agents they are likely to be exposed to. In this review, we discuss the general epidemiology of reproductive health in Korea, and the information regarding these reproductive toxic agents.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.23-24
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• 2003

Oxidative stress is the hallmark of various inflammatory lung diseases/disorders such as asthma, adult respiratory distress syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, lung transplantation, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, lung cancer and various occupational diseases. (omitted)

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.178-187
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• 2016

Objectives: Diisocyanates are a potent inducer of diseases of the airways, especially asthma. In this study, toluenediamine(TDA) and methylenedianiline(MDA) in urine were evaluated as biomarkers of exposure to tolunenediisocyanate(TDI) and methylenediphenyl diisocyanate(MDI), respectively. Methods: Workers exposed to TDI and MDI, as well as non-occupationally exposed subjects, were studied and pre- and post-shift urine samples were collected from 8 control subjects and 8 workers from a factory which manufactures polyurethane products for reducing noise and vibration in automobiles. Airborne TDI and MDI(n=8) were sampled on solvent-free glass filters impregnated with n-butylamine and detected by liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Urinary TDA and MDA were detected as pentafluoropropionic acid anhydride(PFPA) derivatives by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Results: The median levels of urinary 2,6-TDA(p<0.001), 2,4-TDA(p=0.001), and MDA(p<0.001) of workers in post-shift samples were significantly higher than those of controls. The median levels of urinary 2,6-0TDA($0.63{\mu}g/g$ creatinine vs $0.34{\mu}g/g$ creatinine, p=0.017) and MDA($4.21{\mu}g/g$ creatinine vs $3.18{\mu}g/g$ creatinine, p=0.017) of workers in post-shift samples were significantly higher than those of the pre-shift samples. There were significant correlations between the urinary 2,6-TDA, 2,4-TDA, and MDA of workers in post-shift samples and the airborne 2,6-TDI(rho=0.952, p<0.001), 2,4-TDI(rho=0.833, p=0.001), and MDI(rho=0.952, p<0.001). Conclusions: These urinary diamines, metabolites of diisocyanates, in post-shift samples were useful biomarkers to assess occupational exposure to diisocyanates.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.7-18
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aims to investigate whether there is a difference in the prevalence of hypertension according to gender, occupational group, and occupational group according to gender. Research design, data, and methodology: This study classified the occupational groups according to the gender of men and women between the ages of 20 and 49 into office workers and non-office workers from the 7th 2017 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 2,691 people were surveyed, including 1,394 office workers and 1,297 non-office workers. Frequency analysis, chi-square, and Independent T-test for distribution difference analysis of categorical variables analysis for occupation and hypertension were applied. Statistical significance was verified at 0.001 to determine the validity analysis. All statistical analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS 24.0 program. Results: The main risk factors for hypertension were gender, age, education, obesity, smoking, drinking, family history, and chronic diseases. There were differences in the prevalence of hypertension among office workers and non-office workers. Conclusions: Men had a higher prevalence of hypertension than women, while non-office workers had a higher prevalence than office workers. In the case of women, non-office workers have a higher prevalence of hypertension than white-collar workers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.168-176
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• 2011

Objectives: Hundreds of thousands of call center workers are wearing an acoustic device for their businesses, such as telemarketing and customer counseling, and the number of the workers are increasing sharply. Because call center workers always talk to dozens of customers over the headset, they would be placed under the state of a higher risk with their hearing ability. The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that affect the hearing thresholds for the call center workers. Methods: This study investigated hearing losses of 101 workers of 5 call centers in Korea by executing puretone audiometry and self-administered questionnaires. A cross table analysis was processed to compare gender differences between male and female. Male and female hearing thresholds were compared with the Students' t-test, and one-way ANOVA was conducted to observe the difference between non-occupational and occupational characteristics in 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz hearing thresholds for the female workers. Additionally, multiple regression analysis was conducted to find the factors that affect the 4 kHz hearing thresholds. Results and Conclusions: Male hearing thresholds were higher than those of female except for 8 kHz. In the group having an ear related disease, hearing threshold of male left ear was highly affected rather than that of female in 4 kHz. There were significant differences in the variables of alcohol drinking (2 kHz) and headset volume (8 kHz) in both ears. While this study does not show any significant factors that affect the hearing thresholds in the occupational characteristics, the gender and the previous ear related diseases, non-occupational characteristics, were found as the factors in 4 kHz. It is suggested that the more detailed survey be performed to identify the occupational factors that affect the hearing thresholds in the call center workers based on the result derived from this study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.298-307
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the recent trends in patients with work-related musculoskeletal disorders in South Korea and to check the major results by reviewing the literature on the risk factors and prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases related to work. Methods: Industrial disaster data from the Ministry of Employment and Labor from 2012 to 2021 were used, and the literature was reviewed regarding risk factors for musculoskeletal diseases related to work using PubMed and RISS. Results: The trend of patients with work-related musculoskeletal disorders has increased overall since 2017 after declining until 2016, with a particularly notable increase in the average annual number of patients with physical burden work. The average annual rate per ten thousand people for patients with body burden work, non-accidental lower back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome among work-related diseases was high in the mining industry. The average annual rate per ten thousand people for patients with accidental lower back pain was the highest in the fishing industry. Within the manufacturing field, it was the highest in the shipbuilding and ship repair industry. As a result of the literature review, the search rate for work-related musculoskeletal disease papers in unstructured work was high. In addition, physical stress factors were high among risk factors, and pain areas showed a high rate for the waist. Conclusion: Even after the institutional implementation of a hazard investigation system related to musculoskeletal diseases is implemented, the number of patients with occupational musculoskeletal disorders continues to increase. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct regular surveys and implement effective improvement activities for vulnerable industries or occupations.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.1-18
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• 2000

This study was conducted to find medical care utilization pattern and to examine the affecting factors on medical facilities utilization using Andersen's medical care service behavioral model. Three hundreds and five public officials with detected disease through the health examination in 1998 were surveyed using self-administered questionnaire. And 230 data were available and analyzed. The results of this study were summarized as follows: Among variables of predisposing factors, knowledge for disease, confidence about periodic health examination program in health insurance, and the attitude toward medical utilization in the usual showed significant relations with the medical utilization. Other variables were not related with the medical utilization. Variables of enabling factors did not show significant relations with the medical utilization. Recognition of family members for detected disease had significant relations with the medical utilization. Among variables of need factors, absence caused by detected disease was significantly related with the medical utilization. The number of non-occupational diseases detected, but untreated people were 75(32.6%) of total subjects, mainly because detected diseases seemed insignificant to them. With multiple logistic regression analysis, the significant variables having an effect on the medical facilities utilization were 'knowledge for disease', 'attitude toward medical utilization in the usual', 'recognition of family members for detected disease' and 'experience of absence caused by detected disease'. On considerations of above findings, counselling for detected disease and its treatment, health education for individuals and program for family support promotion are needed for health management of public officials with diseases detected in health examination.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.206-211
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• 2017

Background: Self-reported low back pain (LBP) has been evaluated in relation to material handling lifting tasks, but little research has focused on relating quantifiable stressors to LBP at the individual level. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Composite Lifting Index (CLI) has been used to quantify stressors for lifting tasks. A chemical exposure can be readily used as an exposure metric or stressor for chemical risk assessment (RA). Defining and quantifying lifting nonchemical stressors and related adverse responses is more difficult. Stressor-response models appropriate for CLI and LBP associations do not easily fit in common chemical RA modeling techniques (e.g., Benchmark Dose methods), so different approaches were tried. Methods: This work used prospective data from 138 manufacturing workers to consider the linkage of the occupational stressor of material lifting to LBP. The final model used a Bayesian random threshold approach to estimate the probability of an increase in LBP as a threshold step function. Results: Using maximal and mean CLI values, a significant increase in the probability of LBP for values above 1.5 was found. Conclusion: A risk of LBP associated with CLI values > 1.5 existed in this worker population. The relevance for other populations requires further study.