• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.565-575
• /
• 2020

Objective: South Korea still lacks systematic national poisoning data collection or a poison control center (PC). The objectives of this study are to provide estimates of poisoning incidents in South Korea and to stress the necessity of a national poisoning surveillance framework managed by a national PC. Method: The number of poisoning incidents was estimated based on the 2018 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS). Our estimation of poisoning data was classified according to age group, reason for poison exposure, and case management site. Results: Total poisoning cases estimated numbered 326,636, which is tantamount to 631 cases per 100 thousand. Poisoning cases among those younger than five years old accounted for 71.7% in the United States. Fatal poisoning cases were estimated to be 210.63 (95% CI: 199.70-222.15). Non-intentional poisoning cases (250,378 cases, 95% CI: 249,992-250,764, 76.7%) were estimated to be far higher than intentional cases (62,399 cases, 95% CI: 62,207-62,593, 19.1%). Conclusion: Our results can be used to suggest the necessity of producing national poisoning data and establishing a PC despite the uncertainty of estimation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.86-93
• /
• 2017

Purpose: Some advanced countries have reported annual statistics for poisoning based on data from poison control centers. This study was conducted to propose a baseline format and statistics of poisoning in Korea from a national representative database. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of poisoning patients based on data from an emergency department (ED) based injury in-depth surveillance project by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2016. Bite or sting injuries were not included. Variables related to poisoning were summarized using a similar format as the National Poison Data System in the United States. Results: A total of 7,820 poisoning patients presented to 23 EDs. Adults ${\geq}20$ years accounted for 84% of the population, while the proportion of intentional poisoning was 59.4%. The most common poisoning substances were therapeutic drugs (45%), gas (21%), pesticides (15%), and artificial toxic substances (13%). Overall, 34.5% of patients were admitted for further treatment. The mortality was 3.2% (248 cases), and the most common causative substances were carbon monoxide, glyphosate, and paraquat, in order. Conclusion: This study showed the recent status of poisoning in Korea. However, a comprehensive poisoning registry based on poison control centers may be required to provide more accurate national statistics in the future.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2004

Backgrounds: Deaths from pesticides poisoning has increased annually, but no studies have been reported. Especially paraquat is suspected to be a major material in pesticide poisoning deaths. In Korea, simple epidemiology of pesticides poisoning is not well known. So, there is no effective method to prevent pesticides poisoning. We tried to investigate the present status of pesticides poisoning with data from Korea National Statistical Office and suggest an effective counterplan. Methods: We analysed death cause data derived from Korean Statistical association, deaths causes being pesticides poisoning in the year 2002. Also, we investigated data from internet, mainly from Korea National Statistical Office home page. Results: Total 2,875 persons died after pesticides poisoning in 2002 year. Average age is 54.2 year, standard deviation being 17.7 year. Many victims (about $41\%$) died during the herbicides' non-necessary period (JanuaryMarch, October-December) Conclusion: Herbicides sale should be restricted only during herbicides' necessary period, and so called a pesticides safety supervisor system shall effectively prevent herbicides poisoning.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2019

In this study, we wanted to analyze the causes of food poisoning and its major occurrence in September 2018 and analyze the relevance of the HACCP certification system to report the correlation. Based on three-year food poisoning cases and causative substances data, and big data on HACCP certification companies and food poisoning frequency, Hygiene 1: 'Salmonella would have spread through school food processing medium.' Hypothesis 2: The difference in the number of food poisoning cases in the last three years as the number of HACCP certifier increases, the number of food poisoning cases will be verified and the cause of food poisoning in September 2018. Studies show that the food poisoning in September 2018 was caused by salmonella bacteria and that outsourced food provided through school meals was the cause. It was also shown that the expansion of HACCP certification did not significantly contribute to the reduction of food poisoning. Therefore, the management operation measures were proposed as a solution to prevent salmonella and to become HACCP certification that could reduce food poisoning.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.85-93
• /
• 2020

Purpose: The annual statistics for poisoning are reported based on the data from poison control centers in many advanced countries. In 2016 a study was conducted to analyze the 2016 Korea Poisoning status. This study was conducted to make a better annual report for poisoning statistics in Korea from a 2017-2018 national representative database. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of poisoning patients based on the data from an emergency department (ED) based injury in-depth surveillance project by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2017-2018. Bite or sting injuries were not included. Results: A total of 17714 patients presented to 23 EDs because of poisoning. Adults above 20 years old age accounted for 84.6% of the population, while the proportion of intentional poisoning was 60.8%. The poisoning substance presented in the ED were therapeutic drugs (51.2%), gas (20.3%), pesticides (16.4%), and artificial substances (11.4%). Overall, 35% of patients were admitted for further treatment. The mortality was 2.4% (422 cases), and the most common fatal substances in order were carbon monoxide, other herbicides, and paraquat. Conclusion: This study showed the 2017-2018 status of poisoning in Korea. The prognosis is different from the cause of poisoning and the initial mental state of the patient. Therefore, appropriate methods for preventing poisoning and therapeutic plans in specific situations are needed.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.265-274
• /
• 2019

Background: Methyl alcohol poisoning in mobile phone-manufacturing factories during 2015-2016 was caused by methyl alcohol use for cleaning in computerized numerical control (CNC) processes. To determine whether there were health complications in other workers involved in similar processes, the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute conducted a survey. Methods: We established a national active surveillance system by collaborating with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and National Health Insurance Service. Employment and national health insurance data were used. Overall, 12,048 employees of major domestic mobile phone companies and CNC process dispatch workers were surveyed from 2016 to 2017. We investigated methyl alcohol poisoning by using the national health insurance data. Questionnaires were used to investigate diseases due to methyl alcohol poisoning. Results: Overall, 24.9% of dispatched workers were employed in at least five companies, and 23.9% of dispatched workers had missing employment insurance history data. The prevalence of blindness including visual impairment, optic neuritis, visual disturbances, and alcohol toxicity in the study participants was higher than that reported in the national health insurance database (0.02%, 0.07%, 0.23%, and 0.03% versus 0.01%, 0.07%, 0.13%, and 0.01%, respectively, in 2015). Moreover, 430 suspicious workers were identified; 415 of these provided an address and phone number, of whom 48 responded (response rate, 11.6%). Among the 48 workers, 10 had diseases at the time of the survey, of whom 3 workers were believed to have diseases related to methyl alcohol exposure. Conclusion: This study revealed that active surveillance data can be used to assess health problems related to methyl alcohol poisoning in CNC processes and dispatch workers.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.57-63
• /
• 2011

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance degrades when hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) is present in the fuel hydrogen gas; this is referred to as $H_2S$ poisoning. This paper reveals $H_2S$ poisoning on PEMFC by measuring electrical performance of single cell FC under various operating conditions. The severity of $H_2S$ poisoning depended on $H_2S$ concentration under best operating conditions($65^{\circ}C$ of cell temperature and 100% of anode humidification). $H_2S$ adsorption occured on the surface of catalyst layer on MEA, but not on the gas diffusion layer(GDL) by analyzing SEM/EDX data. In addition, MEA poisoning by $H_2S$ was cumulative but reversible. After poisoning for less than 150 min, performance of PEMFC was recovered up to 80% by just inert nitrogen gas purging.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.15-24
• /
• 1986

In order to offer an basic data for the prevention of pesticide poisoning this study was carried out at Chun Song County, Kang Won Province for the period from 1983 to 1985. The major results are as follows: 1. The rates of those who read an explanation of pesticidesbefore scattering are 76.5% in 1983, 82.6% in 1984, 85.8 % in 1985 but among these people the rates of those who practice as explanation are 78.2%, 72.2%, 41.4% every year. 2. More than 50% of those who scatter pesticides feel pesticide poisoning. 3. The difference in average time of pesticide scattering and pesticide poisoning reveals statistical significance (P < 0.05). 4. Among those who feel pesticide poisoning, 85.5% in 1984, 87.3% in 1985 are due to insecticides.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.140-147
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze the features of poisoning in individuals aged 0-18 years to understand the characteristics of potential victims and eventually prevent poisoning. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed poisoned children and adolescents (0-18 years) who visited the emergency department of one tertiary hospital from January 2003 through December 2013. We collected data including their age, sex, reason for poisoning, components and dose of poison, results of treatment, and psychiatric diagnosis. Results: During the study period, there were 436 cases of poisoning (male 47.2% (n=206); female 52.8% (n=230)). Subjects were classified into four groups (0-1 years, 2-5 years, 6-12 years, 13-18 years). The most common cause of poisoning in all age groups was accidental poisoning (72.9%), but intentional poisoning increased as age increased (p<0.001). Moreover, females were more often subject to intentional poisoning than males (p<0.001). The most common poisoning material was drugs (41.7%). Among intentional poisoning patients, 62.7% patients had consulted a psychiatrist, and their most common diagnosis was adjustment disorder (44.6%). Conclusion: The most common cause of poisoning in individuals aged 0-18 years was accidental poisoning, while intentional poisoning was most common among adolescents. Guardians should take care to prevent accidental poisoning, while psychiatric consultation and national moderation will be needed to prevent intentional poisoning.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.319-327
• /
• 2016

This research attempts an analysis that fuses the big data concerning weather variation and health care from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014; it gives the weather factor as to what kind of influence there is for the incidence of food poisoning, and also endeavors to be helpful regarding national health prevention. By using R, the Logistic and Lasso Logistic Regression were analyzed. The main factor germ generating the food poisoning was classified and the incidence was confirmed for the germ of bacteria and virus. According to the result of the analysis of Logistic Regression, we found that the incidence of bacterial food poisoning was affected by the following influences: the average temperature, amount of sunshine deviation, and deviation of temperature. Furthermore, the weather factors, having an effect on the incidence of viral food poisoning, were: the minimum vapor pressure, amount of sunshine deviation and deviation of temperature. This study confirmed the correlation of meteorological factors and incidence of food poisoning. It was also found out that even if the incidence from two causes were influenced by the same weather factor, the incidence might be oppositely affected by the characteristic of the germs.