• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.145-155
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• 1997

Interview survey and dermatological examination have been performed to investigate the health problems of workers continuously exposed to coal-tar pitch. The phototoxicity of coal-tar pitch was confirmed by the photopatch tests for six healthy adults. The main results are followings; 1. There was no special history of allergic diseases in both the exposed and non-exposed group. 2. The frequency of the phototoxic dermatosis and the coal-tar acne in the exposed group was significantly greate.(p<0.05) than that of the control group. In the exposed group, the phototoxic dermatosis and the coal-tar acne were observed in nine workers(90%) and seven workers(70%), respectively. However, those, disease were not observed in the control group. 3. Five results(83%) were positive to the photopatch test for coal-ta. pitch 48 hours after UVA irradiation. But the lesion was subsiding 72 hours after UVA irradiation. 4. Malignant cancers were not reported among workers ever exposed to coal-tar pitch. In conclusion, it appears that workers exposed to coal-tar pitch have high risks of phototoxic dermatosis and coal-tar acne. A health policy should be provided to prevent phototoxic dermatosis among coal-tar pitch workers. More studies are required to determine malignancy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.197-207
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• 1989

This study was planned to investigate employer's attitude about health management of workers in coal mine industry. The sample size was 38.3% (178 coal mine industries) of total 463 coal mine industries. The mailing survey was used to collecting data of coal mine industry and manager of coal mine industry. Distribution of attitude about health management of workers in coal mine industry, specifically necessity and availability of some items of health management and some apparatus of working environment, was skewed to positive attitude. While recognition of susceptability of coal workers' pneumoconiosis was low, that of seriousness of incidence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis was high.

• 방사선산업학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.161-172
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• 2023

Coal-fired power plants handle large quantities of coal, one of the most prominent NORM, and the coal ash produced after the coal is burned can be tens of times more radioactive than the coal. Workers in these industries may be exposed to internal exposure by inhalation of particles while handling NORM. This study evaluated the size, concentration, particle shape and density, and radioactivity concentrations of airborne suspended particles in the main processes of a coal-fired power plant. Finally, the internal radiation dose to workers from particle inhalation was evaluated. For this purpose, airborne particles were collected by size using a multi-stage particle collector to determine the size, shape, and concentration of particles. Samples of coal and coal ash were collected to measure the density and radioactivity of particles. The dose conversion factor and annual radionuclide inhalation amount were derived based on the characteristics of the particles. Finally, the internal radiation dose due to particle inhalation was evaluated. Overall, the internal radiation dose to workers in the main processes of coalfired power plants A and B ranged from 1.47×10^-5~1.12×10^-3 mSv y^-1. Due to the effect of dust generated during loading operations, the internal radiation dose of fly ash loading processes in both coal-fired power plants A and B was higher than that of other processes. In the case of workers in the coal storage yard at power plants A and B, the characteristic values such as particle size, airborne concentration, and working time were the same, but due to the difference in radioactivity concentration and density depending on the origin of the coal, the internal radiation dose by origin was different, and the highest was found when inhaling coal imported from Australia among the five origins. In addition, the main nuclide contributing the most to the internal radiation dose from the main processes in the coal-fired power plants was thorium due to differences in dose conversion factors. However, considering the external radiation dose of workers in coal-fired power plants presented in overseas research cases, the annual effective dose of workers in the main processes of power plants A and B does not exceed 1mSv y^-1, which is the dose limit for the general public notified by the Nuclear Safety Act. The results of this study can be utilized to identify the internal exposure levels of workers in domestic coal-fired power plants and will contribute to the establishment of a data base for a differential safety management system for NORM-handling industries in the future.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.25-28
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• 1989

Sixty-two medical records of patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis who died in hospital as coal workers' pneumoconiosis were analysed for study of the relationship between forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$) and life expectancy in coal workers'pneumoconiosis. In the group who died of asphyxia from hemoptysis, life expectancy were well fitted with $FEV_1$(p<0.05). But others were not well fitted to simple linear regression equation. The prevalence of ECG sign of col pulmonale was more in the group of cardiorespiratory failure than asphyxia group. So, in the case of far advanced cor pulmonale, it was difficult to predict life expectancy by simple linear regression equation

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.47-55
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• 1991

Exposure level of respirable coal dust of underground coal mines in Taebaek area was evaluated. Personal air samplers with 10-mm nylone cyclones were attached to the coal workers including drillers, coal cutters, their assistants, haulers, and separators. Log-normality of respirable dust exposure concentration were tested by Kolmogorov-Smirnov one-sample test. Differences of means of respirable dust exposure concentration between work sites were tested by one-way ANOVA test and multiple comparison(Scheffe) test. And differences of respirable dust exposure concentration of principal and assistant workers in drilling sites and in coal faces were tested by paired t-test. Relation of respirable dust exposure concentration for the principal workers and their assistants in drilling sites and in coal faces were tested by regression analysis. The results were as follows : 1. All of the respirable dust concentration were log-normally distributed. 2. There were not only significantly different means of exposure concentration between drillers and coal cutters but between coal cutters and haulers. 3. Means of exposure concentration of drillers and drilling assistants were not significantly different. And means of exposure concentration of coal cutters and coal cutting assistants were not different.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.238-245
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• 1991

This study was analysis of ${\alpha}$-quartz in the 37 worker's lung died of coal workers' pneumoconiosis(CWP) and in the 9 normal's lung by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer. The results were as follows : 1. The dried lung weight percents in wet lung weight were 24.4%, 25.4%, coal workers' pneumoconiosis and normal lungs, respectively. Ash weight percents in dried lung weight were 7.7%, 5.0%, coal workers' pneumoconiosis and normal lungs, respectively. 2. The presision (as of coefficient of variation) for the ${\alpha}$-quartz determination were 2.6% in standard quartz (ranged from 9.9 to $198.0{\mu}g$) and 3.7% in ashed lung samples. 3. The characterstic ${\alpha}$-quartz absorption spectra in lungs of CWP were only shawn by LTA ashing. 4. Geometric mean of ${\alpha}$-quartz concentration in CWP lung was 173mg/100g dried lung. 5. The concentrations of ${\alpha}$-quartz in Korean CWP lungs were similar to those of foreign coal miner's lungs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.76-83
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• 2001

연구배경 : 탄광부 진폐증은 석탄 분진의 흡입에 의한 폐조직의 손상에 대하여 부적절하고 과도한 염증반응이 일어나 폐섬유화를 유발하여 발병하는 것으로 생각되어지고 있다. 이 반응에는 대식세포를 비롯한 많은 염증세포들과 그 세포들에서 분비되는 매개물질들이 중요한 역할을 한다. TGF-$\beta$는 특발성 폐섬유화증, 규폐증 및 석면증의 폐섬유화 과정에 관여한다고 알려져 있다. 그러나 비슷한 기전에 의해 폐 섬유화가 진행되는 것으로 생각되는 탄광부 진폐증에서는 TGF-$\beta$의 관여여부에 대한 보고가 거의 없다. 본 연구는 탄광부 진폐증 환자에서 혈청 TGF-${\beta}_1$을 측정하여 섬유화의 정도에 따른 그 활성도의 변화를 비교하여 탄광부 진폐증의 폐섬유화 과정에 TGF-${\beta}_1$이 관여하는지 알아 보고자 하였다. 방법 : 직업력과 방사선학적 소견 상 탄광부 진폐증으로 진단 된 환자 중 단순 탄광부 진폐증 20예와 복잡성 탄광부 진폐증 20예를 대상으로 하였다. 정상소견인 자 10명을 대조군으로 설정하였으며, 각 대상을 human TGF-${\beta}_1$ immunoassay kit (R&D system, Minneapolis, MN)을 이용하여 혈장 내 TGF-${\beta}_1$을 측정하였다. 결과 : 단순 탄광부 진폐증($0.64{\pm}0.17$ ng/mL)과 정상 대조군($0.63{\pm}0.18$ ng/mL)보다 복잡성 탄광부 진폐증 ($0.79{\pm}0.18$ ng/mL)의 혈중 TGF-${\beta}_1$의 농도가 의미 있게 높았다(p<0.05). 결론 : 탄광부 진폐증의 섬유화 진행 과정에 TGF-${\beta}_1$이 관여함을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 단순 탄광부 진폐증과 복잡성 탄광부 진폐증의 감별진단과 경과 예측인자로서 혈장 TGF-${\beta}_1$이 유용하리라 생각되며, TGF-${\beta}$의 생성을 억제한다면 탄광부 진폐증의 섬유화 진행을 저지함으로써 탄광부 진폐증의 치료에 있어 중요한 역할을 할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국대기환경학회지
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.23-32
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• 1988

The exposure level of respirable dust and silica for the coal workers of underground coal mines in Taebaek area was evaluated. Personal air samplers were attached to the coal workers-drillers, coal cutters, their helpers, haulers, and separators. Normality and lognormality of respirable dust and silica concentrations were tested by Kolmogorov-Smirnov one-sample test, differences of means of respirable dust and silica concentration were tested by group-t-test and paired t-test, and relation between respirable dust and silica concentration were tested by regression test.

• 재활간호학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.31-37
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was to evaluate the effects of foot reflexology on depression and anxiety in coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Method: The research design used was a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The foot reflexology was performed for 60 minutes twice a week through five weeks in the experimental group, not in the control group. The subjects of this study consisted of both the experimental group of twenty-nine and the control group of thirty coal workers' pneumoconiosis. The data were collected from December 10, 2002 to February 15, 2003. To evaluate the effects of foot reflexology the scores of depression and anxiety were measured before and after the experiment in both groups. Data of this experiment were analyzed by Chi-square test, t-test, unpaired t-test, ANCOVA and Repeated Measures ANOVA with the SAS Program. Results: The score of depression decreased in the experimental group, not in the control group. There was a significant difference of depression between the two groups. The score of anxiety decreased in the experimental group, not in the control group. There was a significant difference of anxiety between the two groups. Conclusion: As a summary of the study results, foot reflexology was regarded that it attributed to the emotional promotion of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Therefore the foot reflexology is considered that might be used as an effective skill of nursing intervention program for coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

• 월간산업보건
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• 통권2호
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• pp.4-10
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• 1988

In order to investigate the prevalence of occupational disease in coal mine workers in Chonnam area, a cross sectional study was conducted in 1,097 workers from September to December in 1987. The results were as follows; 1. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis including suspected cases was 6.9% and was increased by age and working duration. 2. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis excluding suspected cases was 2.8%. 3. By the kind of job, prevalence of pneumoconiosis including suspected cases was l2.9% in tunnel drivers, 6.3% in coalface workers and 6.0% in other workers. 4. The prevalence of noise induced hearing loss was 5.1% and was increased by age and working duration. 5. The prevalence of noise induced hearing loss was the highest among tunnel drivers(7.3%), but it was not significantly different by the kind of job. 6. Occupational disease caused by vibration was not found in coal mine workers.