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http://dx.doi.org/10.15269/JKSOEH.2015.25.4.534

MCS/IEI Prevalence Rate of Workers Around an Accidental Release of Hydrogen Fluoride in Gumi Industrial Complex  

Han, Hye-Ji (Department of Occupational Health, Catholic University of Daegu)
Woo, Kuck-Hyeun (Environmental Health Center for Hazardous Gas Exposure, Gumi Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine)
Choi, Sung-Yong (Environmental Health Center for Hazardous Gas Exposure, Gumi Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine)
Jeon, Byoung-Hak (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University)
Choi, Sangjun (Department of Occupational Health, Catholic University of Daegu)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene / v.25, no.4, 2015 , pp. 534-541 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence rate of multiple chemical sensitivity/idiopathic environmental intolerance(MCS/IEI) among workers in the Gumi industrial complex around the region of accidental release of hydrogen fluoride in 2012. Materials: We evaluated MCS/IEI using the Korean version of the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory(QEESI). A total of 535 workers at six manufacturing companies in the Gumi industrial complex were investigated using self-administered questionnaires from February to March 2015. After exclusion of incompletely answered questionnaires, 271 were analyzed. Results: The prevalence rate and proved positive rate of MCS/IEI were 5.9%(16 out of 271) and 3.7%(10 out of 271), respectively. The scores of chemical intolerance, other intolerance, symptom severity and life impact were significantly higher(p<0.05) in females than those of males. In terms of masking index scores, males showed significantly higher(p=0.003) than female. The self-reported MCS/IEI prevalence rate, 7.7%, of workers exposed to hydrogen fluoride in 2012 was higher than no-exposure group(5.6%), but not statistically significant(p=0.815). Conclusions: Although the prevalence rate of MCS/IEI symptoms of workers exposed to hydrogen fluoride gas in 2012 was not significantly higher than no-exposure group, it is necessary to conduct follow-up study on the exposure group of hydrogen fluoride.
Keywords
industrial complex; MCS/IEI; QEESI; symptom prevalence rate;
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