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Prevalence of Occupational Asthma in TDI-Exposed Workers
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Hyoung Ryoul Kim, Cheol Woo Kim, Yun Chul Hong, Hyung Joon Chun, Chi Nyon Kim, Hyun Soo Kim, Jee Na Lee, Joo Yeon Shin, Dong Hee Koh, Jaehoon Roh
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Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2004;16(2):191-199. Published online June 30, 2004
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2004.16.2.191
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 Abstract
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- OBJECTIVES
This study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of isocyanate-induced occupational asthma in toluene diisocyanate (TDI) exposed workers.
METHODS
We examined 170 workers who had been directly exposed to TDI through a medical questionnaire, physical examination, and pulmonary function test. Based on screening examination, workers with suspected occupational asthma were selected for further evaluation such as methacholine and TDI challenge tests.
RESULTS
Eleven (6.9%) among 170 workers complained of symptoms of occupational asthma, and 7 among these 11 symptomatic workers showed positive responses to the methacholine challenge test (4.1%). One spray painter was confirmed as having the TDI induced occupational asthma following a positive response to TDI challenge test.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of TDI-induced asthma was at 0.58% was lower than that for former studies (2-20%). Improved workplace environment, lower level of TDI exposure compared to the past, and the healthy workers effect may have contributed to this low rate of asthma prevalence in workers with TDI exposure.
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Characteristics of Occupational Asthma Reported by Surveillance System in Incheon
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Hyoung Ryoul Kim, Yun Chul Hong, Jong Han Leem, Jong Uk Won, Hyung Joon Chun, Jee Na Lee, Joo Yeon Shin
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Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2003;15(4):344-350. Published online December 31, 2003
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2003.15.4.344
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Abstract
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This study was carried out to estimate the magnitude of occupational asthma and to determine its characteristics.
METHODS
We collected and analyzed 121 cases of occupational asthma reported by a surveillance system in Incheon for 5 years. The cases were classified according to industry and causing gent. We attached the data to worker's compensation records to establish the degree of agreement between the two sources.
RESULTS
The industry of musical instrument manufacture was the most common (31 cases, 25.6%), followed by furniture manufacture, dye making, and machinery manufacture. TDI was the most common causing agents (52 cases, 43%), followed by reactive dye, wood dust, and organic dust. There was poor agreement with the worker's compensation records (2 cases, 8%).
CONCLUSIONS
TDI and reactive dyes were the major materials causing occupational asthma. Most cases reported by the surveillance system were not applied to the worker's compensation system. Therefore, the surveillance system should be used to estimate the magnitude of occupational asthma and to determine its characteristics.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by  - Clinical Importance of Work-Exacerbated Asthma: Findings From a Prospective Asthma Cohort in a Highly Industrialized City in Korea
Woori Jo, Kwang Won Seo, Hwa Sik Jung, Chui Yong Park, Byung Ju Kang, Hyeon Hui Kang, Seung Won Ra, Yangjin Jegal, Jong Joon Ahn, Soon Eun Park, Moon Sik Jung, Ju Ik Park, Eun Ji Park, Chang Sun Sim, Tae-Bum Kim, Taehoon Lee
Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research.2021; 13(2): 256. CrossRef - Work-Related Asthma in Korea - Findings from the Korea Work-Related Asthma Surveillance (KOWAS) program, 2004-2009
Soon-Chan Kwon, Jaechul Song, Yong-kyu Kim, Geoffrey M. Calvert
Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research.2015; 7(1): 51. CrossRef
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The effect of Residential Environments on the Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness
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Sang Sup Kim, Hyung Joon Chun, Domyung Paek, Rokho Kim, Ho Kim
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Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2000;12(2):157-169. Published online June 30, 2000
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2000.12.2.157
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Abstract
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The increased prevalence of asthma over the last 30 years has been reported from many different countries, including Korea. The increased prevalence may be due to increased exposure to indoor air pollutants.
METHODS
In this study, the relationship between residential environments and airway hyper-responsiveness has been examined among 280 family members. The bronchial hyper-responsiveness was expressed as the log-transformed slope of FEV decrease over the log-transformed dose of methacholine concentration(BRindex). Simple regression analysis was done for the effect of sex, age, atopic status, and residential environments including active and passive smoking exposures on airway responsiveness. Based on simple regression results, multiple rwegression analysis was performed for total group and also according to sex.
RESULTS
The mean of BRindex of residents living in gas boiler heating houses was higher than that of central heating system (p=0.014). Smoking status was a significant determinant of bronchial hyper-responsiveness in both genders; male(p=0.017), female (p%.022). In the male group the mean of BRindex of current smokers was significantly higher than those of ex-smokers and non-smokers, and the mean of BRindex of passive smokers was higher than that of non-smokers, but statistical significance was border-line(p=0.069). In female group, the mean of BRindex of kerosene stove users was higher than that of non-users(p=0.057).
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that indoor air pollutants including type of heating, passive smoking and kerosene stove use can contribute to the increase in asthma prevalence in Korea.
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