• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.13.1-13.12
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• 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.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.251-261
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• 2023

Objective: Farmers are known to have high prevalence of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). This study aims to investigate the current status of asthma and COPD in domestic and foreign farmers with the ultimate goal of raising awareness of asthma and COPD among farmers and contribute to supporting evidence for the prevention of respiratory diseases in farmers. Methods: The study utilized data from the "Farmer's Occupational Disease Survey," conducted by the Rural Development Administration, to determine the prevalence of respiratory diseases in domestic farmers. The prevalence of asthma and COPD in overseas farmers was evaluated by researching other foreign studies and articles. Results: The prevalence of asthma and COPD in domestic farmers was less than of foreign farmers'. The prevalence of asthma in domestic farmers was high as upto 8.4% and COPD upto 5.5%. Studies from Europe and America showed prevalence of asthma in farmers high as upto 14.8% and COPD upto 17.1%. Conclusions: This study conducted an investigation using the 'Survey on Occupational Diseases and Injuries in Farmers to understand the current status of asthma and COPD in domestic farmers. Due to a lack of relevant domestic research, we examined and compared with the research results on asthma and COPD among overseas farmers. Further research is necessary and preventive measures for respiratory diseases need to be developed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.304-311
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• 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
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.264-273
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• 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.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.233-246
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• 2010

This study investigates the effects of occupational asthma and rhinitis on job performance in order to maintain the health of bakery workers and to increase manufacturing productivity. Hotel bakery workers, small bakery businesses, bakery franchises and bakeries in large discount stores, located in Seoul, Kyungki and Incheon were sampled for the study over the period of December 1 to 15, 2008. A total of 245 samples were used for the final analysis. To verify the hypothesis established for the study, we conducted frequency analysis, factorial analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis using SPSS 12.0, a statistical package, to derive a conclusion. As a result of this study, it turned out that occupational asthma and rhinitis in bakery workers does affect job performance as well as motivating the intention to quit job. It is recommended that in order to increase the job performance of bakery workers and reduce their desire to quit job, their work environment should be improved and that training about occupational asthma and rhinitis should be provided for the prevention and reduction of disease.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.438-446
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• 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
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• v.71 no.5
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• pp.317-321
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• 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
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• s.291
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• pp.65-71
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• 2012

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 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
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• v.23 no.3 s.31
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• pp.338-344
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• 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.