• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.49-56
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• 2002

Objectives : To identify the relationship between the use of medical services by workers with three types of respiratory diseases(total respiratory diseases, acute upper respiratory infections and chronic lower respiratory diseases) and exposure to hazardous agents after controlling for other factors affecting medical services use, such as characteristics of the enterprises(scale, industry type) and employee demographics (sex, age). Methods : The study population comprised 28,882 workers who had undergone general or special medical examinations at the industrial health center at least once between Jan 1995 and Dec 1997 and had possessed medical insurance during the period. We combined medical examination data with medical insurance data in order to analyze the relationship between exposure to hazardous agents and respiratory diseases, Results : Among the 28,882 study subjects, 17,454 employees(60.4%) used medical services more than once during 3-year study period, owing to more than one kind of respiratory diseases. In logistic regression analysis, sex, age and the size of the enterprises proved to be significant variables on the use of medical services for all three types of respiratory disease; The use of medical services increased with employee age. Women used more medical services than men and the employees in the large-scale enterprises used more services than employees in small-scale enterprises. However, exposure to dust or organic solvents did not affect medical service use due to total respiratory diseases or acute upper respiratory infections. Only in the case of chronic lower respiratory diseases did workers exposed to dusts(OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.01-1.24) or organic solvents(OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.05-1.35) use more medical services than those not exposed. Conclusions : Workers exposed to dusts or organic solvents are particularly apt to suffer from chronic lower respiratory diseases and use medical services more often than those not exposed. That is, chronic exposure to hazardous agents such as dusts and organic solvents is believed to be harmful and to cause respiratory symptoms and diseases.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.303-314
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• 2004

본 연구대상의 작업특성을 조사한 결과 일년에 45회 정도 닭을 들여와 사육하였고, 양계업 종사년수는 최소 2년에서 최고 12년이었으며, 평균 종사 년수는 약 8년이었다. 닭을 사육하는 기간에는 일주일 내내 작업을 했고, 하루에 평균 6.3시간을 양계와 관련된 작업을 하며, 양계장 안에서 보내는 시간은 평균 3.3시간이었다. 14가지로 분류한 양계작업 중에서 닭의 입 출하와 분뇨처리는 외부인력과 함께 하거나, 외부인력에 맡기고 있었고, 이를 제외한 대부분의 일을 부부가 함께 하는 편이었다. 양계장의 사료 급여와 급수 시설은 자동시스템이었고, 환기창의 조절은 윈치커튼을 이용한 반자동 시스템이었다. 양계장의 환기는 겨울에는 강제환기를, 그 외 계절에는 자연환기 시스템을 사용하고 있었다. 계사의 바닥 재료는 왕겨를 사용하고 있었으며, 닭을 입하하기 전에 깔아서 출하한 다음에 제거하고 있었다. 양계장 내부애사 측정한 총 먼지와 호흡성 먼지의 지역시료 농도는 각각 평균 4.0mg/$m^3$(Range 3.16.8mg/$m^3$). 0.9mg/$m^3$(Range 0.41.8mg/$m^3$)였으며 호흡성 먼지의 개인노출량은 평균1.4mg/$m^3$(LOD미만 7.8mg/$m^3$)로 나타났다. 암모니아는 지역시료에서 평균 23.3ppm(Range 14.542.1ppm)이 측정되었고 개인노출량은 평균 22.2ppm(13.639.9ppm)으로 나타났다. 먼지의 지역시료 측정결과에서 총먼지에 대한 호흡성 먼지의 비율이 946%로 나타났고 호흡성 먼지 개인노출농도는 6개 농가 중 2개 농가의 개인노출량은 미국산업위생전문가협의회 (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist: ACGIH)의 노출기준치인3mg/$m^3$ 초과하였다(5.5mg/$m^3$, 7.8mg/$m^3$). 암모니아 개인노출농도 평균은 22.2ppm으로 ACGIH (시간가중)노출기준인 25ppm에 근접하였고, 34.2ppm, 39.9ppm 등 단시간노출기준(STEL) 35ppm과 비슷하거나 넘는 경우가 있어 매우 위험한 상황임을 알 수 있었다. 뿐만 아니라 양계장안에서 작업 중에 노출되는 먼지 또한 일반적인 호흡성먼지 보다 생물활성이 높은 유기먼지라는 점 등을 감안한다면 양계농업인의 건강영향은 매우 우려되는 바, 향후 의학적 검진이 병행되는 종합적인 조사가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.217-224
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• 2009

Inhaled inorganic dusts such as coal can cause inflammation and fibrosis in the lung called pneumoconiosis. Chronic inflammatory process in the lung is associated with various cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Expression of some cytokines mediates inflammation and leads to tissue damage or fibrosis. The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of blood cytokines interleukin (IL)-$1\beta$, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ and monocyte chemoatlractant protein (MCP)-1 among 124 subjects (control 38 and pneumoconiosis patient 86) with category of chest x-ray according to International Labor Organization (ILO) classification. The levels of serum IL-8 (p= 0.003), TNF-$\alpha$ (p=0.026), and MCP-1 (p=0.010) of pneumoconiosis patients were higher than those of subjects with the control. The level of serum IL-8 in the severe group with the small opacity (ILO category II or III) was higher than that of the control (p=0.035). There was significant correlation between the profusion of radiological findings with small opacity and serum levels of IL-$1\beta$(rho=0.218, p<0.05), IL-8 (rho=0.224, p<0.05), TNF-$\alpha$ (rho=0.306, p<0.01), and MCP-1 (rho=0.213, p<0.01). The serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8, however, did not show significant difference between pneumoconiosis patients and the control. There was no significant correlation between serum levels of measured cytokines and other associated variables such as lung function, age, BMI, and exposure period of dusts. Future studies will be required to investigate the cytokine profile that is present in pneumoconiosis patient using lung specific specimens such as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), exhaled breath condensate, and lung tissue.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.215-221
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the exposure level of hazardous chemical agents for dental technicians in Ulsan. Methods: We measured airborne total dusts and metals such as Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt, and Chromium in 10 dental laboratories by the NIOSH Methods 0500 and 7300, respectively. Methyl methacrylate (MMA), a key ingredient in acrylic resin, was also monitored using passive samplers for long-term sampling and Tenax tubes for short-term sampling. Results: Measured levels of all items were below 10% of the Korean exposure limit except for Nickel. The geometric mean concentration and geometric standard deviation of total dust, Nickel, and MMA were $0.14mg/m^3$ (2.16), $165.3{\mu}g/m^3$ (3.31), and 0.2 ppm (2.5) respectively. Airborne Nickel concentration of two dental laboratories exceeded the exposure limit ($1000{\mu}g/m^3$). The major emission sources of Nickel were metal trimming and casting processes. Conclusions: We found that Nickel, a carcinogen, should be controled most urgently to protect dental technicians.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.301-311
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• 2015

Objectives: Operators of overhead traveling crane in a ship assembly factory perform work to transmit large vessel blocks to an appropriate working process. Hazardous matters such as metal dusts, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, loud noise and fine particles are generated by variable working activities in the factory. The operators could be exposed to the hazardous matters during the work. In particular, welding fumes comprised of ultra fine particles and heavy metals is extremely hazardous for humans when exposing a pulmonary through respiratory pathway. Occupational lung diseases related to welding fumes are increasingly on an upward tendency. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess properly unknown occupational exposure to the welding fumes among the operators. Methods: This study intended to clearly determine an equivalence check whether or not chemical constituents and composition of the dusts, which existed in the driver's cab, matched up with generally known welding fumes. Furthermore, computational fluid dynamics program(CFD) was used to identify a ventilation assessment in respect of a contamination distribution of welding fumes in the air. The operators were investigated to assess personal exposure levels of welding fumes and respirable particulate. Results: The dust in an operation room were the same constituents and composition as welding fumes. Welding fumes, which caused by the welding in a floor of the factory, arose with an ascending air current up to a roof and then stayed for a long time. They were considered to be exposed to the welding fumes in the operation room. The personal exposure levels of welding fumes and respirable particulate were 0.159(n=8, range=0.073-0.410) $mg/m^3$ and 0.138(n=8, range=0.087-0.178) $mg/m^3$, respectively. They were lower than a threshold limit value level($5mg/m^3$) of welding fumes. Conclusions: These findings indicate that an occupational exposure to welding fumes can exist among the operators. Consequently, we need to be keeping the operators under a constant assessment in the operator process of overhead traveling crane.

• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2013

This study was conducted to compare the value of the working environment measurement with the expected exposure value drawn by using a program, thereby going to investigate whether it is available to the risk assessment of domestic workplace. We used the ECETOC TRA program which is one of the exposure predictive models. Four kinds of substances were measured in two workplace which was exposed to organic solvents and one kind of substance was measured in three workplace which was exposed to dusts and then an exposure assessment of chemical risk factors was conducted. The result value of the working environment measurement, solid substance exceeded standard in one site, and it was found that the other solid and liquid substances were within the standard. The value of the exposure assessment program showd the same result; it was higher than the value of the working environment measurement, suggesting that due to its nature, the exposure assessment program is run only on the worst situation. Therefore, it was found that when the exposure assesment program is used, variables should be substituted only after accurately assessing the workplace and it is a good idea to assess the risk beforehand with the exposure assessment program in the case of the workplace which employs no more than 5 people and where it is hard to assess the working environment.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.355-365
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was conducted to better understand the relationship between health effects and exposure to dusts from a briquette fuel complex in Ansim, Daegu, Korea. Methods: The subjects of this study consisted of 2,980 persons over 40 years old who had lived 20 years or more around a briquette fuel complex in Daegu. We conducted a questionnaire survey, and chest radiography was performed. In addition, chest computed tomography(CT) (335 cases) and pulmonary function test(PFT) (658 cases) were done. Pneumoconiosis was diagnosed if one of three radiologists determined(or suspected) pneumoconiosis. We also conducted in-depth interviews for pneumoconiosis cases. We defined the exposed group as subjects residing within a 500 meter radius from the walls of the briquette fuel complex, and the others were defined as the control group. Results: Subjects in the exposed and control groups are respectively 715(24%) and 2,265 cases(76%). Major respiratory symptoms in the exposed group such as sputum, dyspnea, chest tightness and wheezing were significantly higher than in the control group. By chest radiography, 173 cases of pneumoconiosis or suspicious pneumoconiosis were detected. By PFT, 62 cases(29.5%) of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) among 210 asymptomatic subjects were detected. Finally, by chest CT we concluded 28 cases to be pneumoconiosis, and eight cases among them proved to be pneumoconiosis by environmental exposure. Conclusions: Through this study, we concluded that health outcomes such as respiratory symptoms, pneumoconiosis, and COPD were caused by continuous exposure to dusts from the briquette fuel complex. Policies to reduce environmental exposure are needed, and cases of environmental disease should be intensively followed up by the government.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.68-77
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• 2000

This study was performed to evaluate tannin exposure by wooddusts for workers in furniture factories and to investigate the relationship between tannin exposure and sino-nasal cancer risk. In order to explore possible cytological changes leading to nasal cancer, we have examined 50 male furniture workers and 50 matched controls using brush cytology. The results we have obtained in this study were as follows: 1. The tannin contents of woods used in woodworking factories have been measured and varied from 0.43 to 8.72 mg tannic acid equivalent per gram wood, for reconstituted softwood and turpentine (Syncarpia glomuliferia) respectively. 2. Airborne tannins in wooddusts were also determined by area and personal exposure. The values of mean exposures for both methods are ranged from 3.1 to $5.0{\mu}g/m^3$ and from 4.6 to $14.5{\mu}g/m^3$ in furniture manufactures. 3. Over nasal cytology scores 2, the scores of study group were slightly more than control group and this kind of metaplasias seemed to be occurred over $2mg/m^3$ wooddust and $6{\mu}g/m^3$ tannin exposure. Keratinising squamous metaplasia was investigated at nasal cytology score 3 and $10{\mu}g/m^3$ tannin exposure. The nasal cytology score 4 was seemed to be atypical squamous metaplasia. 4. To find out contributing factors to nasal cytology change, odds ratio that is one of fundmental biostatistics was applied. Actually the relationship between wooddust, tannin concentration and metaplasia were not meaningful, but the relationship between working experence more than 15 years and metaplasia was calculated as 1.83. This reveals that significant clinical abnormalities could be influenced from the years of woodworking experiences. However further research is required to evaluate the significance of the data, for the purposes of sino-nasal risk assessment, standard setting to prevent nasal cancer occurrences and possibility of changing workplace.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.184-195
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide information in reference to the health hazards of asbestos substitutes. Methods: This study was conducted by reviewing the literature on the types of asbestos substitutes, product development using alternative materials and the health effects associated with asbestos substitutes. Results: Synthetic or natural fibers such as synthetic vitreous fiber, polyamide, attapulgite, sepiolite and wollastonite are known as asbestos substitutes. According to the patents data of the United States and Europe since the 1970s, many asbestos-free products have been developed in a variety of industries. Health hazards of some asbestos substitutes including synthetic vitreous fibers have been evaluated by many experts, however, additional researches are required to be carried out in the future. Conclusions: Alternatives to asbestos are necessary to develop the asbestos-free products. Health hazards for only several asbestos substitutes have been assessed so far and occupational exposure limit has not been established for many asbestos substitutes yet. Therefore, even though workers are handling asbestos-free products, it is recommended to control the working environment well enough in order to minimize the exposure of workers to dusts or fibers caused during the working process.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.428-436
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• 2019

Background: Metalworking fluids (MWFs) are mixtures with inhalation exposures as mists, dusts, and vapors, and dermal exposure in the dispersed and bulk liquid phase. A quantitative risk assessment was performed for exposure to MWF and respiratory disease. Methods: Risks associated with MWF were derived from published studies and NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations, and lifetime risks were calculated. The outcomes analyzed included adult onset asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pulmonary function impairment, and reported symptoms. Incidence rates were compiled or estimated, and annual proportional loss of respiratory capacity was derived from cross-sectional assessments. Results: A strong healthy worker survivor effect was present. New-onset asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, at 0.1 mg/㎥ MWF under continuous outbreak conditions, had a lifetime risk of 45%; if the associated microbiological conditions occur with only 5% prevalence, then the lifetime risk would be about 3%. At 0.1 mg/㎥, the estimate of excess lifetime risk of attributable pulmonary impairment was 0.25%, which may have been underestimated by a factor of 5 or more by a strong healthy worker survivor effect. The symptom prevalence associated with respiratory impairment at 0.1 mg/㎥ MWF was estimated to be 5% (published studies) and 21% (Health Hazard Evaluations). Conclusion: Significant risks of impairment and chronic disease occurred at 0.1 mg/㎥ for MWFs in use mostly before 2000. Evolving MWFs contain new ingredients with uncharacterized long-term hazards.