• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• /
• 제35권
• /
• pp.13.1-13.12
• /
• 2023

Background: Indoor air pollution can cause and exacerbate asthma. We report a previously undescribed case of occupational asthma related to indoor air pollution in a worker at an indoor air gun shooting range and highlight the potential risk of developing occupational asthma in this environment. Case presentation: A 31-year-old man presented with dyspnea, cough, and sputum and was diagnosed with asthma complicated by pneumonia. Objective evidence of asthma was obtained by performing a methacholine bronchial provocation test. It was suspected that the patient had occupational asthma, which began one month after changing jobs to work within the indoor air gun shooting range. The highest peak expiratory flow (PEF) diurnal variability on working days was 15%, but the highest variation was 24%, with 4 days out of 4 weeks having a variation of over 20% related to workplace exposure. Conversely, the diurnal variability on the rest days was 7%, and no day showed a variation exceeding 20%. The difference in the average PEF between working and rest days was 52 L/min. PEF deterioration during working days and improvement on rest days were noted. Conclusions: The results obtained from the in-depth analysis of the PEF were adequate to diagnose the patient with occupational asthma. Exposure to indoor air pollution and lead and the patient's atopy and allergic rhinitis may have contributed to the development of occupational asthma.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
• /
• 제48권4호
• /
• pp.251-261
• /
• 2023

본 연구는 국내 농업인의 천식 및 만성 폐쇄성 폐질환을 파악하기 위해 「농업인의 업무상 질병 및 손상조사」를 조사하였다. 관련된 국내연구자료가 미비하여 국외 농업인의 천식 및 만성 폐쇄성 폐질환 연구결과를 찾아보았고, 그 결과. 국내 농업인들의 천식 및 만성 폐쇄성 폐질환 유병률은 국외 연구 결과들보다 낮게 나타났다. 실제 국내 농업인의 호흡기 질환 유병률은 더 높을 수 있으므로, 추가적인 연구가 필요하고, 호흡기 질환 예방대책이 마련되어야 한다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
• /
• 제28권3호
• /
• pp.304-311
• /
• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the self-reported symptoms of occupational asthma, occupational rhinitis, and respiratory symptoms between a direct exposure to flour dust group and a non-exposure group from the bakery industry. Methods: The participants were 62 workers directly exposed to flour dust and 30 non-exposed workers. The survey was composed of questions related to general characteristics. Korean self-reported respiratory symptoms(SNU-93), occupational asthma, and occupational rhinitis data was collected from April to July 2017. Results: The smoking rate among the direct exposure to flour dust workers was 67.7% and the mean of working hours(11-12) was 96.8%. The SNU-93 questionnaire revealed that respiratory symptoms in the chest and wheezing or whistling were significantly higher among the direct-exposure group than non-exposure group. The response for occupational asthma symptoms was significantly higher in the direct exposure group(2.4 points) than in the non-exposure group(1.6 points). Conclusion: In order to decrease the symptoms of these respiratory diseases among bakery workers exposed to flour dust, it is necessary to reduce working hours and the smoking rate. The performance of periodic medical examinations is needed to find abnormal respiratory diseases. In addition, workers who have been diagnosed with asthma and rhinitis should consider switching to a process that is not exposed to flour dust.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• 제6권4호
• /
• pp.264-273
• /
• 2006

Epidemiological evidences and clinical as well as experimental observations have suggested a link between asthma and occupations. This relationship also involves other aspects like nonimmunologic exposures in the environment that can increase the chance of developing work related asthma and respiratory diseases. The purpose of this pamphlet is to supply information of work related diseases, which will give patients suffering with asthma, an intelligent understanding of their disease, and thus stimulate their interest so that they will cooperate more readily with their allergist. Recognizing the symptoms, causes, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment is an important part of managing occupational asthma and related diseases, so that it helps in decline of this rapidly increasing prevalence throughout the world.

• 한국조리학회지
• /
• 제16권5호
• /
• pp.233-246
• /
• 2010

베이커리 종사자의 건강을 지키고 관리하는 측면과 제품 제조의 직무효율을 증가시킬 수 있는 방법을 모색하고자 직업성 천식 및 비염이 직무성과와 이직 의도에 미치는 영향을 연구하였다. 표본 조사의 대상은 서울, 경기, 인천에 소재한 호텔, 자영업 베이커리, 체인 베이커리, 대형 할인 매장 내의 베이커리에 종사하는 베이커리 종사자를 대상으로 하였고, 조사 시기는 2008월 12월 1일부터 12월 15일까지 하였으며, 245부를 본 연구의 최종 분석 자료로 사용하였다. 본 연구에서 설정된 연구 가설의 관계를 검증하기 위하여 SPSS 12.0 통계패키지를 이용하여 빈도분석, 요인분석, 신뢰도분석, 분산분석, 상관관계분석, 회귀분석을 실시하여 결론을 도출하였다. 연구 결과로는 베이커리 종사자의 직업성 천식 및 비염은 직무 성과에 영향을 미치며, 이직 의도에도 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 베이커리 종사자의 직무 성과를 높이고 이직 의도를 줄이기 위해서는 베이커리 종사자의 작업 환경을 개선시키며, 직업성 천식과 비염에 대한 교육을 실시하여 질병 예방과 완화에 노력해야 하겠다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제39권5호
• /
• pp.438-446
• /
• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed in order to determine airborne fungi levels in homes and find related factors that may affect airborne fungi concentration. Methods: Fifty homes were study subjects for measuring airborne fungi. For sampling airborne fungi, the impaction method on agar plates was used and samples were counted as colony forming units per cubic meter of air ($CFU/m^3$). In addition, information regarding housing characteristics and atopic disease in each home were collected via questionnaire. Results: The geometric means (GM) of airborne fungi concentrations in fifty living rooms and bedrooms were 68.03 and 62.93 $CFU/m^3$, respectively. The GM of airborne fungi concentration in atopy homes was 78.42 $CFU/m^3$. This was higher than non-atopy homes' 54.34 $CFU/m^3$ (p-value=0.051). In the results of the multiple regression analysis, outdoor airborne fungal concentration proved a strong effective factor on indoor airborne fungal concentration. Also, construction year, floor area of house, indoor smoking and frequency of ventilation were factors that showed a significant association with indoor airborne fungi concentration. Conclusions: The results of this study show that some housing and living characteristics may affect the development and increase of airborne fungi. In addition, exposure to airborne fungi may be a risk factor for the prevalence of childhood atopic diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제71권5호
• /
• pp.317-321
• /
• 2011

Occupational lung disease (OLD) is a group of lung diseases caused and/or aggravated by organic and inorganic inhaled dust, fumes, and mist. OLD can develop under various occupational situations. Therefore, occupational history should be considered when evaluating respiratory symptoms. Once OLD is developed, it may not be treated and may even progress after exposure to the causative agents has stopped. The best ways to treat OLD are prevention and early detection by controlling the working environment and conducting regular surveillance of workers. Common OLDs in Korea are coal worker's pneumoconiosis, asbestos-related diseases, and occupational asthma. Recent aspects of these common OLDs in Korea will be described based on recently published studies.

• 월간산업보건
• /
• 통권291호
• /
• pp.65-71
• /
• 2012

• 한국산업보건학회지
• /
• 제17권1호
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2007

We have reviewed all cases and epidemiological studies that have reported the association between worker's exposure to metalworking fluids(MWF) and non-malignant respiratory diseases. The followings are main conclusions we critically reviewed. Exposure to MWF was believed to be significantly related to the risk of cough and phlegm. Relative risk caused by straight MWF was found to be higher in exposure to straight MWF than water-soluble MWF. We also found that exposure to water-soluble MWF significantly caused hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and occupational asthma. The main culprits that cause the development of HP and asthma are believed to be microbes contaminated in MWF, ethanolamine and biocides. HP and asthma could be developed at even exposure to lower than $0.5mg/m^3$, exposure level recommended by NIOSH. Most epidemiological studies have reported that relationship between chronic bronchitis and exposure to MWF was significant. Although there were several studies that suggested the significant association between exposure to MWF and the development of rhinitis and sinusitis, we could not conclude the causal relationship because of lack of evidences.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제23권3호
• /
• pp.338-344
• /
• 1990

This study investigated the symptoms, medical and occupational history of 424 workers of 5 reactive dye Industries in the Inchon area in Korea. The study was performed on March 6 and July 19, 1989. The tests applied to the subjects were : serum total IgE, specific IgE, skin prick test with 7 inhalatory antigens, pulmonary function test, chest X-ray, methacholine test, and bronchoprovocation test. The workers were classified according to these tests into 4 groups (healthy, realtively healthy, need careful medical observation, and occupational asthma), and were compared in terms of the group characteristics and the symptom prevalence. The prevalece of occupational asthma of workers in reactive dye was 5.9% Significant differences were observed among the 4 groups. The groups were significantly different in the variables of sex and duration of smoking among their general characteristics ; and dyspnea, wheezing, chest pain, cough, nasal symptoms and sore throat among symptoms ; asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases with respect to their past medical history. This study suggests that we should pay special attention to the workers exposed to the risk of occupational asthma.