Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Soon Choy

2 Articles

Comparison of the Self-rated Health Status of Wage Workers in Korea according to Income Index by Gender: Dae Ho Kim, Dong Mug Kang, Jong Eun Kim, Young Ki Kim, Jin Kon Sul, Soon Choy; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011;23(4):360-370. Published online December 31, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2011.23.4.360

OBJECTIVES
This study aims to find differences that reflect the magnitude of health disparities in wage workers in Korea according to income index(personal income, household income, equivalized income) by gender.
METHODS
Data was obtained from the 11th wave of Korean Labor and Income Panel Survey in 2008. This study analyzed 4,205 subjects(2,570 males and 1,635 females) aged 19-65 years. To compare the health effects of each income index by gender, unconditional multiple logistic regression, health-related behaviors, and working conditions were used. The unconditional multiple logistic regression was adjusted by socio-demographic characteristics. All statistics were estimated using SAS survey procedures.
RESULTS
According to unconditional multiple logistic regression, significant differences in ORs between men and women were observed in this study for those wage workers who self-rated their health status to be poor. This was consistent between each income index. Men had an OR of 1.76 (95% CI, 1.28~2.43) by personal income, 1.70 (95%CI, 1.25~2.32) by household income and 1.69 (95% CI, 1.23~2.31) by equivalized income. Women had an 2.09 (95% CI, 1.47~2.97) by household income and OR of 1.95 (95% CI, 1.36~2.79) by equivalized income, but personal income did not have a significant effect on OR for women.
CONCLUSIONS
The study of occupational and environmental medicine should consider that each income index has different effects on the self-rated health status according to gender. Household income index and equivalized income index would represent a health status for women.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Working Poverty and Health Disparities in Korean Workers
Jin-Hwa Lee, Bokim Lee
Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing.2020; 31(4): 514. CrossRef
Job Stress and Mental Health of Female Household Head Workers
Hyung Seon Kim, Min Kwon, Jinhwa Lee
Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing.2016; 25(4): 249. CrossRef

21 View
0 Download
2 Crossref

A Case of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in a Worker Treating Pesticide Wastes: Soon Choy, Jung Won Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011;23(4):480-487. Published online December 31, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2011.23.4.480

Abstract PDF

BACKGROUND
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease involving the motor neuron of the cerebrum, brain stem, and spinal cord. It has been suggested that various occupational or environmental agents could be a cause of ALS. We report upon a case of a person contracting ALS who experienced a long-time exposure to pesticides, implying that pesticides are probable causal agents of ALS.
CASE REPORTS
The patient has been experiencing shoulder pain and limitation of movement that started abruptly about three years ago. Over time, these symptoms have become aggravated despite ongoing therapies including medication. After two years, he was diagnosed with ALS through electromyography, nerve conduction velocity and many laboratory tests at a university hospital in Seoul. His social and medical history was non-specific. The patient had worked for about 15 years at a waste disposal site and mainly destroyed glass bottles containing pesticides. During this period, his respiratory tract and skin were exposed to various raw pesticides without appropriate personal protective equipment. He did this job one or two times a week and worked for two or more hours without a break. Through an investigation into the patient's working environment, significant levels of dichlorvos, one of the organophosphates, were detected.
CONCLUSIONS
The study results revealed that the patient was exposed to considerable doses of pesticides as opposed to men spraying pesticides. Although controversial, pesticide exposures have been associated with ALS. However, we suggest that in this case the possibility that these pesticide exposures acted as a causal agent for the diagnosed ALS based on plausible biological mechanisms and epidemiologic data.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Agricultural Environments: A Systematic Review
Hyun Kang, Eun Shil Cha, Geun Joo Choi, Won Jin Lee
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2014; 29(12): 1610. CrossRef
Pesticides and human chronic diseases: Evidences, mechanisms, and perspectives
Sara Mostafalou, Mohammad Abdollahi
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology.2013; 268(2): 157. CrossRef

33 View
0 Download
2 Crossref

Author index