• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.80-96
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• 2016

최근 담배제조회사의 불법행위법상 손해배상책임을 둘러싼 소송이 계속되고 있다. 이미 대법원 판결이 나온 사건도 있고, 현재 소송이 계속 중인 사건도 있는데, 원고가 증거로 제출한 역학 자료에 의하여 흡연과 질병 사이의 인과관계가 증명되었다고 볼 수 있는지가 이 사건들의 공통된 주요 쟁점이다. 담배소송에서 인과관계의 증명이 쟁점으로 부각되는 까닭은 흡연에 따른 질병의 발생이 흡연 외의 다양한 요인의 영향을 받을 뿐만 아니라 흡연과 발병 사이의 시간적 간격도 길어 원고가 인과관계의 증명에 곤란을 겪기 때문이다. 흡연자 담배소송의 대법원 판결(대판 2014. 4. 10, 2011다22092)은 역학적 증거에 의한 인과관계의 증명 여부에 관하여 비교적 신중한 입장을 취하고 있는데, 몇 가지 아쉬움이 남는다. 첫째, 대법원은 질병을 특이성 질환과 비특이성 질환으로 2분하여 양자 사이에 인과관계의 증명방법을 달리 보았다. 그러나 특이성 질환의 개념은 발병요인에 관하여 의학계와 보건학계에서 확립된 학설인 다요인설에 배치된다. 더구나 불법행위법의 영역에서 특이성 질환 개념을 새로 도입하여야 할 필요성도 발견하기 어렵다. 둘째, 대법원은 비특이성 질환의 경우에 역학적 상관관계가 인정된다고 하더라도 원고가 위험인자에 노출된 시기와 노출 정도, 발병시기, 그 위험인자에 노출되기 전의 건강상태, 생활습관 등을 증명하여 그 위험인자에 의하여 비특이성 질환이 유발되었을 개연성을 증명하여야 한다고 하였다. 하지만 질병과 위험인자와의 역학적 관련성이 상당한 강도에 이른 경우에도 여전히 원고에게 추가적 증명책임을 부과하는 것은 권리구제의 범위를 지나치게 좁힐 우려가 있다. 셋째, 대법원이 이처럼 역학적 증거의 가치를 인정하는 데에 소극적인 까닭은 역학적 연구가 개인이 아닌 특정인구집단을 대상으로 한 것이기 때문으로 보인다. 그러나 역학적 증거가 집단의 구성원인 개인(들)에 대하여 가치 있는 정보를 제공하지 못한다고 단정하기에는 이르다. 예컨대, 역학에서 산출하는 인과확률은 집단 내에서 무작위로 뽑아낸 환자의 질병 발생이 위험인자에 의해 발생하였을 확률을 나타내는데, 이는 집단 차원의 확률을 구성원인 개인의 확률로 전환하는 유용한 지표이므로 역학적 증거만으로도 인과관계의 개연성을 증명할 여지가 있다고 생각된다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.202-212
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• 2021

Objectives: The reproductive health of female workers has been extensively investigated in South Korea and other countries worldwide. However, few studies have discussed the reproductive health of male workers. In this study, we reviewed the recent literature that reports on the effects of occupational exposure on the reproductive health of male workers and the health of their children. Methods: In May 2020 we used the PubMed search engine to search the literature over the last 10 years and chose case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional studies and reviews. We selected epidemiological studies that investigated the association between pre-pregnant occupational exposure and the reproductive health of male workers and the health of their children. We excluded case reports, non-epidemiological studies (animal experiments, cellular-level experiments, and similar articles), and studies that described postnatal occupational exposure. Results: We eventually selected 23 studies. The studies that included exclusively male workers reported that those employed in the agricultural sector or those exposed to pesticides showed lower blood levels of reproductive hormones and a high risk of lympho-hematopoietic system cancer in their children. Male workers exposed to complex organic solvents and organic compounds showed a high risk of poor semen quality, increased time to pregnancy, decreased blood levels of reproductive hormones, and a high risk of lympho-hematopoietic system cancer in their children. Male workers employed in occupations that involved significant social contact, or in the leather and livestock industries, and in occupations with high levels of exposure to lead and organic solvents showed a high risk of malignancies, including lympho-hematopoietic system cancer, neuroblastoma, and central nervous system tumors in their children. Studies that investigated both male and female workers reported that children of male smelters showed a high risk of premature birth, and children of male workers exposed to metals showed a high risk of hypospadias and cryptorchidism. Children of male welders and workers employed in the glass, ceramic, and tile industries showed a high risk of premature birth. Conclusion: The findings of this study will serve as basic data for further research on male workers' reproductive health and provide a scientific basis for the development of strategies to protect the reproductive health of males employed in high-risk occupations. Moreover, the results of this study may provide guidelines to improve the understanding of and knowledge on male workers' reproductive health.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2001년도 International Symposium on Signal transduction in Toxicology
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• pp.14-21
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• 2001

Many epidemiological studies have revealed that the use of aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce the risk of colon cancer. Since the well-documented pharmacological action of aspirin and other NSAIDs is the inhibition of cyclooxygenase [COX, the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis], it has been inferred that the beneficial effect of NSAIDs may be mediated through the inhibition of PG biosynthesis.(omitted)

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.1
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• pp.163.2-164
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• 2003

Several epidemiological studies suggested that arsenic exposure was strongly correlated with the development of cardiovascular disease such as hypertension. In order to examine whether arsenic affects vasomotor tone in blood vessels, we investigated the effect of arsenic on agonist-induced vasorelaxation using the isolated rat aortic rings in vitro organ bath system.Treatment with arsenite inhibited acetylcholine-induced relaxation of aortic rings in a concentration-dependent manner. (omitted)

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.1
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• pp.212.3-213
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• 2003

Polyphenolic compounds including flavonoids are wide spread in the plant kingdom, and interested recently because epidemiological studies have suggested correlations between the consumption of polyphenol-rich plant foods and the prevention of chronic diseases. Soy is a main source of isoflavonoids which are high dietary intake for the oriental population. In this study, anti-inflammatory action of sophoricoside, an isoflavone glycoside isolated from immature fruits of Sophora japonica (Leguminosae family), has been demonstrated. (omitted)

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.27-40
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• 1977

The purpose of this paper is to know the cause of a rapidly fatal disease of Korean native cattle commonly occurred in the farm-houses in Gyeonsangbugdo district and the rest of the country. The author diagnosed this acute fatal disease of Korean native cattle as enterotoxemia due to Clostridium perfringens based on the clinical, epidemiological and pathological findings.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2002년도 Current Trends in Toxicological Sciences
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• pp.106-106
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• 2002

Several epidemiological studies suggested that arsenic exposure was strongly correlated with the development of cardiovascular disease such as hypertension. In order to examine whether arsenic affects vasomotor tone in blood vessels, we investigated the effect of arsenic on agonist-induced vasorelaxation using the isolated rat aortic rings in in vitro organ bath system.(omitted)

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2002년도 Current Trends in Toxicological Sciences
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• pp.67-67
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• 2002

According to the epidemiological studies in chromium workers, hexavalent chromium is associated with the risk of lung cancer. Genotoxicity such as chromosome aberration, and cellular oxidative damages by reactive oxygen species produced by hexavalent chromium exposure may play an important role in the carcinogenesis process.(omitted)

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2003년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.27-28
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• 2003

It is widely accepted that free-radical induced oxidative damages are involved in pathogenic processes of major diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. A number of epidemiological studies have indicated that frequent consumptions of plant foods rich in antioxidants reduce the risk of developing cancer and cardiovascular diseases, while many intervention trials have failed to prove the protective role of major dietary antioxidants.(omitted)

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2001년도 International Symposium on Dietary and Medicinal Antimutgens and Anticarcinogens
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• pp.120-120
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• 2001

It is generally thought that continuous oxidative damage to DNA is a major contributor to the risk of cancer development. Epidemiological studies suggest that fruits and vegetables might reduce the risk of cancer through their antioxidant properties. This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of fruits and fruit juice consumption against the oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes of healthy subjects. (omitted)