• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.5
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• pp.341-348
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• 2011

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate annual changes in pulmonary function in workers who were exposed to inorganic dust. Methods: The subjects were 2,922 male patients who had been diagnosed with pneumoconiosis more than twice during 6 years from 2005 to 2010. Results: Of the 2,922 cases, forced vital capacity (FVC) decreased by 54 mL in 1 year. In contrast, the annual change of forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$) decreased by 56 mL. Conclusion: This is the first study that has investigated the annual change in pulmonary function in workers exposed to inorganic dust. The results will help estimate the pulmonary condition of patients who are unable to perform a pulmonary function test due to age or a disorder.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.163-165
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• 2001

A patient,58 years of age, with suspected 0/l pneumoconiosis since 1993, complained of a dry cough and exertioning dyspnea for 6 months. He had worked in an asbestos company for more than 20 years from 1974. He was subsequently diagnosed with an interstitial lung disease during an annual special health check-up for asbestos workers. h chest X-ray showed an interstitial lung disease and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) showed a round opaque asbestosis with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. A pulmonary function test indicated that the patient had a mild restrictive lung disease with FEV1 1.67 litters and 82% FEVl/FVC. The bronchoalveloar larvage fluid included many asbestos bodies, indicating previous exposure to asbestos. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX) revealed many asbestos bodies consisting of mainly crocidolite fibers (6,071$\times$$10^6$fibers/g of dry lung). The patient had an unusually high asbestos content of 6,112$\times$$10^6$ asbestos fibers/9 of dry lung.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2009

Equisetum hyemale Linne. (EH) (Equisetaceae) has been used for the treatment of eye and skin disease, chronic eczema, pneumoconiosis and asthma in Korea and China. Human leukemic mast cells are widely distributed in the connective tissues of mammals and other vertebrates. Phorbol 12-myristrate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187 stimulated Human leukaemic mast cell line-1 (HMC-1) can produce a variety of inflammatory mediators and several pro-inflammatory and chemotactic cytokines such as TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8. Since TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8 are major factors during the inflammatory process, we studied the effects of EH on TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8 release in HMC-1 stimulated with PMA and A23187. The result of this study indicate that EH inhibits TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8 in activated HMC-1 cells via $I{\kappa}B$/Nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ pathway. Therefore, EH might contribute significantly to the prevention or treatment of mast-cell mediated inflammatory diseases and EH has potential use in the therapy of chronic allergic inflammation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.68-83
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• 2003

Welders working in a confined space, like in the shipbuilding industry, are at risk of being exposed to high concentrations of welding fumes and developing pneumoconiosis or other welding-fume exposure related diseases. Among such diseases, manganism resulting from welding-fume exposure remains a controversial issue, as the movement of manganese into specific brain regions has not been clearly established.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.125-125
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• 2003

Respiratory effects in full time welders include bronchitis, airway irritation, lung function changes, and lung fibrosis. Welder's pneumoconiosis has been generally determined to be benign and not associated with respiratory symptoms based on the absence of pulmonary function abnormalities in welders with marked radiographic abnormalities.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.72-72
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• 2003

Welders working in a the confined space, like in the shipbuilding industry, are have at risk of being exposed toing a high concentrations of welding fumes and of developing pneumoconiosis or other welding- fume exposure related diseases. Among such diseasesthem, manganism resulting fromcaused by welding- fume exposure remains ais still controversial issue, as the movement ofnd no clear demonstration of manganese movement into the specific brain regions has not been clearly established. (omitted)

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 2024

Background: Coal miners are highly prone to occupational health risks, such as black lung disease. This study aims to assess the prevalence of black lung disease and the factors associated with black lung disease among coal miners in Asia. Method: This systematic review, conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, searched through the scientific literature of the following databases: EBSCO, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Scopus. We selected articles that studied black lung disease among coal miners from 48 countries in Asia and were published between 2014 and 2023. Article quality was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program. Result: The seven articles that we review studied a total of 653,635 coal miners from various types of coal mines from three countries in Asia. Of these miners, 59,998 experienced black lung disease. Black lung disease is prevalent among 9.18% of coal miners in Asia, which is approximately four times higher than the worldwide prevalence. Common factors that influence black lung disease in Asia include age, years of dust exposure, smoking, drinking, working types, and sizes of mines, type of mines, respiratory functions, spirometry parameters, tenure, lack of attention to occupational health, inefficient surveillance, and weak occupational health service. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of black lung disease among coal miners in Asia is considerably high, it can be addressed through effective prevention measures, monitoring, control, and case reporting.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.147-163
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to find out the restructuring strategy for five provincial hospitals through the business analysis and survey of the service area. Through the survey of the service area of 5 hospitals. service area was classified into three groups, such as underserved area, adequate area, and overserved area. The strategy for the restructuring the clinical departments was set up based on the result of the business analysis and characteristics of the service area. The result of the study was as follows; 1) Whether or not a provincial hospital has specialized in specific area according to the circumstances and the needs of the community was the major factor influencing on the operating result of the hospital. 2) Provincial hospitals at the underserved area has to invest according to the changes of the occupancy rate and increasing pattern of the number of patients while maintaining the status as a general hospital. 3) Provincial hospitals at the adequate area has to lower the grade from the general hospital down to the hospital first and has to upgrade the competency through the restructuring the clinical departments and investment in specific area. 4) Provincial hospitals at the overserved area has to lower the grade from the general hospital down to the hospital first and has to seek ways to change the hospital fundamentally into geriatric hospital, pneumoconiosis hospital or psychiatric hospital etc. Provincial hospitals incapable to compete with private hospitals and clinics has to lower the grade from the general hospital down to the hospital first, to specialize in specific area and to restructure some clinical departments into rental base or self-operating basis. In case such methods are judged not so good solution, provincial hospitals has to find out ways such as shut-down of several departments or operating under the attending system.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.141-156
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• 2001

This study was performed to identify the occupational diseases in the dental technicians working in Korea, and to elucidate the main related affecting factors for the occurrence of the occupational diseases. The research was carried out using a mail questionnaire and data collection was done for two months from April 15, 2000. The questionnaires were delivered to 1000 dental technicians working at 250 dental laboratories which were chosen among the total 1330 dental laboratories in south Korea. And 763 questionnaires were collected, then 739 questionnaires were used for a logistic and a multiple regression analyses. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows: 1. The occupational diseases in the dental technicians included pneumoconiosis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, hyposmia, allergic dermatitis, eczema, contagious dermatitis, central nervous disorder, dysfunction of finger, vertebral disorder, dysfunction of interphalangeal joint, ophthalmitis, auditory dysfunction, otitismedia, optic trauma, and bum. 2. The main related affecting factors for the occurrence of the occupational diseases in the dental technicians were elucidated as follows: On the ccurrence of chronic bronchitis, vibration of equipment and job career were affected positively. On the ccurrence of asthma, job career and career on current working part were affected positively, but exhaust ventilation, work hour were affected negatively. On the occurrence of eczema, career on current working part and vibration of equipment were affected positively, but personal protective equipment, local exhaust ventilation, isolation of gas source were affected negatively. And eczema was occurred more in methyl methacrylate work than in any other work part. On the occurrence of finger dysfunction, vibration of equipment and noise of work place were affected positively. But personal protective equipment, local exhaust ventilation, isolation of dust and gas source were affected negatively. But finger dysfunction was occurred more in metal polishing than in any other work part. On the occurrence of auditory dysfunction, noise of work place were affected negatively. The results obtained in this study can give a valuable information for a prevention of the occupational diseases in the dental technicians working in Korea, and for keeping them in healthy. This study also can be helpful for a researcher who is aiming at a identification of occupational diseases and a elucidation of related affecting factors in a similar occupation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.130-142
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• 2009

This study compared FTIR with XRD method for the analysis of quartz by % recovery, coefficient of variation (CV) and influence of the interference. the results were as the following. 1. In FTIR method, the coefficient of determination ($r^2$) was 0.9998 in a calibration curve of $695\;cm^{-1}$, and the limit of detection was $4.9{\mu}g/sample$. 2. The highest recovery was $799\;cm^{-1}$ (98.2%). 3. The CVpooled of the FTIR method was approximately 10% in three wave numbers. 4. The analysis of qualitative and quantitative for quartz is difficult with mixed cristobalite and iron oxide. 5. In XRD method with rotating sample holder and LynxEye detector, the coefficient of determination was 0.9996 in a calibration curve, and the limit of detection was $5.9{\mu}g/sample$. 6. The recovery and CV pooled were 104.3%, and 11 %, respectively. 7. In muffle furnace ashing, the quartz weight decreased to 34% when the maximum weight of the iron oxide was more than eight times. In conclusion, the accuracy (% recovery) and precision (CV) of FTIR and XRD method for analyzing $\alpha$-quartz were similar. FTIR method was a disadvantage for sample matrix because it indicates possibility of interference. However, XRD method distinguished specific crystalline forms of silica, and the majority of silicate minerals. In addition, XRD method recommend filter dissolution to pretreatment method.