Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Tae Won Jang

9 Articles

The Assessment of Pulmonary Function in Dental Technicians: Kyoung Han Kim, Jong In Lee, Min Choi, Jun Pyo Myong, Yong Sang Park, Tae Won Jang, Jung Wan Koo; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2012;24(4):356-364. Published online December 31, 2012; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2012.24.4.356

Abstract PDF: OBJECTIVES
Dental technicians are exposed to various toxic materials in the workplace. The objectives of this study were to assess the pulmonary function of dental technicians and to evaluate the association between work-related factors and pulmonary function of dental technicians.
METHODS
Study subjects were 209 dental technicians in the Korean Dental Technologist Association. A self-report questionnaire including general characteristics, respiratory symptoms, and work-related characteristics was conducted on study subjects, and a pulmonary function test (PFT) was done. Study subjects were classified into two groups(normal and abnormal pulmonary function) based on the pulmonary function test (PFT).
RESULTS
43 subjects (20.6%) among 209 subjects had abnormal pulmonary function. After adjusting for general characteristics such as age, sex, past medical history, familial history, and smoking status, the odds ratio for work duration (per year) was 1.42(95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14~1.83). After adjusting for general and work-related characteristics, the odds ratio for work duration (per year) was 1.48(95% CI 1.18~1.92).
CONCLUSIONS
Dental technicians are exposed to hazardous materials, which might lead to abnormal pulmonary function. A long work duration could increase exposure time, thereby increasing the chance for abnormal pulmonary function. Therefore, pulmonary function tests should be carried out periodically in dental technicians to ensure their pulmonary health.

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A Case of Epilepsy and Assessments of Fitness for Work: Kyoung Han Kim, Min Choi, Se Eun Kim, Tae Won Jang, Hyoung Ryoul Kim, Jung Wan Koo; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2012;24(3):287-293. Published online September 30, 2012; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2012.24.3.287

Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
Epilepsy affects an individual's ability to work as well as their daily activities. Patients with epilepsy have difficulties in finding and maintaining jobs, and they may not have opportunities to perform adequately. Therefore, evaluation of work-fitness is important for patients with epilepsy. In this report, the authors reviewed a case of epilepsy and discussed aspects of the case for evaluation of work-fitness.
CASE
REPORT: A 43-year-old man with epilepsy visited the hospital for evaluation of work-fitness. His job consisted of forklift driving and crane operation using a remote control. As a seizure attack could threaten worker's safety, we recommended a job change. The employer refused to approve a job change due to the company's circumstances, so we recommended several conditions, including continuous medication, use of protective equipment, restriction of night-shift work, restriction of strenuous exercise, and profound sleep. An epilepsy event occurred during the follow-up period, prompting his company to evaluate his work. There were frequent movements of forklift operations and workers in the workplace, so we recommended restriction of forklift driving and a job change if possible. As a result, the employer changed his job and we recommended "capable of performing work without any conditions".
CONCLUSION
For evaluation of work-fitness in patients with epilepsy, adequate job analysis, assessment of patient's medical conditions, and interviews of coworker and employers should be conducted. It is also important to let the employer make the best decision in terms of the patient's health and coworker's safety.

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Factors for Approving Cerebrovascular Disorders and Cardiovascular Diseases as Work-related Diseases in Chronically Overworked Workers: Sang Chul Ryu, In Suk Kim, Jong Heon Lee, Jong Uk Won, Tae Won Jang, Young Jun Kwon; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011;23(4):379-386. Published online December 31, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2011.23.4.379

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to analyze the factors that affected the decision of claims for cerebrovascular disorders and cardiovascular diseases in chronically overworked workers, that submitted their claims after the reformation of approval standards in the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act on 1 July 2008.
METHODS
Of 2909 cases, who claimed between January 1. and December 31. 2009, 1046 cases were selected based on their worker's compensation record and investigated following 6 provincial committees for work-related diseases. The approval rate and odds ratio were analyzed with respect to the general characteristics, past medical history and work-related information using a logistical regression and Student t-test.
RESULTS
Of the 1046 selected cases, the approval rate was 18.5%(194 cases). In the multivariate logistical regression analysis, the factors for approving cerebrovascular disorders and cardiovascular diseases as work-related diseases were found to be the average working time over the last 1 week, occupational category, gender, age, death or survival, the presence of an associated disease, claimed province, and smoking.
CONCLUSION
Factors for approving claims of cerebrovascular disorders and cardiovascular diseases as work-related diseases were the average working time over last 1 week, gender, age, death or survival, claimed disease, presence of associated disease, claimed province, smoking.

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The effect of long working hours on cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease; A case‐crossover study
Kyong‐sok Shin, Yun kyung Chung, Young‐Jun Kwon, Jun‐Seok Son, Se‐hoon Lee
American Journal of Industrial Medicine.2017; 60(9): 753. CrossRef
Long Working Hours and Work-related Cerebro-cardiovascular Disease in Korea
Yun Kyung CHUNG, Young-jun KWON
Industrial Health.2013; 51(5): 552. CrossRef

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The Effect of a Stretching Exercise on Myofascial Pain Syndrome Patients in Small and Medium Sized Industries: Jung Wook Lim, Young Jun Kwon, Tae Won Jang, Jong Heon Lee, In Seok Kim, Sang Cheol Ryu, Jae Hoon Roh, Jong Uk Won, Bong Suk Cha, Chul Ho Lee; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2010;22(4):307-315. Published online December 31, 2010; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2010.22.4.307

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to identify the effect of a stretching exercise on myofascial pain syndrome patients that work in small and medium-sized industry.
METHODS
Questionnaires surveys including general characteristics, work-related characteristics, and musculoskeletal symptoms on neck and shoulder area was administered to 393 subjects who worked in small and medium sized industries. Symptomatic workers were examined to identify whether they had myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Of the 393 subjects, 108 MPS patients performed 6 weeks stretching exercise program. Intensity of pain was estimated with visual analogue scales (VAS). All patients were interviewed to estimate their compliance to stretching exercise program.
RESULTS
Of the 393 workers, 119 workers were diagnosed with MPS of the neck and shoulder. Post-exercise VAS was significantly reduced compared to pre-exercise VAS (p<0.05). High compliance patients to stretching exercise were more effective to exercise therapy (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.19~7.04), and overtime workers were less effective to exercise therapy (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.17~0.95).
CONCLUSION
The Stretching exercise program was identified to be effective in MPS patients in small and medium-sized industries. It is recommended that workers with MPS in small and medium-sized industries practice a well-designed stretching exercise program, and avoid overtime work.

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Effect of Resistance Exercise Program for Middle-Aged Women with Myofascial Pain Syndrome on Shoulder Pain, Angle of Shoulder Range of Motion, and Body Composition Randomized Controlled Trial, RCT
WonJong Kim, Myung-Haeng Hur
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2020; 50(2): 286. CrossRef
Related Factors to Musculoskeletal Discomfort Symptoms on Some Middle·High school Teachers
Jae-Yoon Lee, Byeong-Yeon Moon, Youn-Hong Jeong, Hyun-Kyung Woo
Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society.2012; 13(1): 264. CrossRef
The Effects of Stabilization Exercise and Stretching Exercise on Muscle Strength and Pain of Patients with Lower Back Pain
Kwang-Il Kwag, Jae-Heon Lim
Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology.2011; 9(2): 39. CrossRef

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Influencing Factors in Approving Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Diseases as Occupational Disease in Seoul: Tae Kyung Lee, Soo Geun Kim, Jong Uk Won, Tae Won Jang, Seong Sik Cho, Young Su Ju, Young Jun Kwon, Hyoung June Im; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2010;22(3):262-270. Published online September 30, 2010; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2010.22.3.262

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
This study was performed to analyze the factors that affected the decision making process in approving workers' compensation claims for cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases cases that occurred just before refoming approval standards of Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act on 1 July 2008 and to provide fundamental information in preparing better standards.
METHODS
We examined 283 claims cases involving cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases that occurred between 1 January, 2006 and 31 December, 2007 and collected data based on the worker's compensation records from 3 Seoul Regional Centers of the Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service. We analyzed the approval rates and odds ratios according to the general characteristics, injury information, past medical histories, and work related information using chi-square or univariate logistic regression. In addition, we identified the factors affecting the approval using multivariate logistic regression.
RESULTS
Overall, 101 of the 283 cases were approved and approval rate was 35.7%. Approval rates differed significantly according to type of disease, survival, accident site, accident time, the presence of associated disease and overwork (p-value <0.05). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis with adjusted for age and sex, approval rate of death cases with associated disease was lower than cases without associated disease (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.12~0.42). Approval rate of cases occurred in worksite was higher than others (OR 4.81, 95% CI 2.22~10.40). Cases of accepted overwork had a higher approval rate significantly than cases of not accepted (OR 28.53, 95% CI 9.74~83.52).
CONCLUSION
Factors in approving cases of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease as cases involving occupational disease included conditions of overwork, high rate of accidents in the workplace and the presence of associated disease. It is necessary to investigate further behaviors of work and chronic work-related stress.

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The effect of long working hours on cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease; A case‐crossover study
Kyong‐sok Shin, Yun kyung Chung, Young‐Jun Kwon, Jun‐Seok Son, Se‐hoon Lee
American Journal of Industrial Medicine.2017; 60(9): 753. CrossRef

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Occupational disease surveillance system in Busan, Ulsan, Kyung-Nam area: Jung Il Kim, Byung Gwan Kim, Jung Won Kim, Chang Ho Chae, Cheol Ho Yi, Dongmug Kang, Ji Hong Kim, Jin Ha Kim, Young Wook Kim, Young Ha Lee, Ji Ho Lee, Younghee Choi, Jung Ho Kim, Hyung Ryul Yun, Cheol In Yoo, Baek Geun Jeong, Tae Won Jang, Yun Gyu Kim, Dong Young Yun, Jin Uk Kang, Jong Eun Kim, Jin Hong Ahn, Dong Joon Lee, Joon Ho Jang, Kwang Young Lee, Hyu Ran Song, Yong Hwan Lee, Byung Man Cho, Hong Ryul Choi, Sang Baek Koh, Euna Kim, Yu Jin Lee, Young Seoub Hong, Kap Yeol Jung, Jung Man Kim, Joon Youn Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2004;16(1):1-12. Published online March 31, 2004; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2004.16.1.1

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVE: Occupational medicine specialists in the Busan, Ulsan and Kyung-Nam areas established an area-based occupational disease surveillance system and used this system to collected case information for the purpose of preventing occupational diseases METHODS: 11 hospitals participated in this system. The authors selected five main diseases, which were hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSD), occupational asthma, occupational skin disease and occupational lung cancer and established their case definitions. All cases were reported on the web, and real time analysis was conducted.
RESULTS
Between Apri1 2001 and April 2003, 192 cases of HAVS, 118 cases of WRMSD, 33 cases of occupational asthma, 17 cases of occupational skin disease and 17 cases of occupational lung cancer (for a total of 377 cases of these five main diseases) were reported. Most of the HAVS cases came from shipbuilding, and 172 of them (92.7 %) were associated with grinding. Of the four main types of WRMSD, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) was the most prevalent with 46 cases and shipbuilding was also the main industry involved (83.9 %). The ergonomic risk factors involved mainly associated with the hand. In 19 (57.6 %) and 4 (12.1 %) cases of occupational asthma, the agents included isocyanate and welding fume, respectively. 64.7 % of the cases of occupational skin diseases were contact dermatitis, and organic solvents and welding fume were the main agents involved. The causative agents of occupational lung cancer included Cr, welding fume, PAH, Ni, etc. 10 (58.8 %) of the cases were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma and 5 (29.4 %) as adenoma.
CONCLUSION
This result showed that an area-based occupational disease surveillance system might provide an effective method of evaluating the prevalence of such diseases, however the Busan, Ulsan and Kyung-Nam provinces are too large to be treated as individual areas. Therefore, the authors suggest that each province should establish its own surveillance system.

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Work-relatedness of lung cancer by smoking and histologic type in Korea
Young-Il Lee, Sang-Gil Lee, Dong-Mug Kang, Jong-Eun Kim, Young-Ki Kim, Jong-Han Leem, Hwan-Cheol Kim
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2014;[Epub] CrossRef
Occupational Skin Diseases in Korea
Yeon-Soon Ahn, Min-Gi Kim
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2010; 25(Suppl): S46. CrossRef

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Aluminum Clearance by Hemodialysis in Chronic Renal Failure: Joon Youn Kim, Ki Hyun Kim, Won Suk An, Tae Won Jang, In Sik Kim, Young Seoub Hong, Jung Il Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2002;14(1):78-84. Published online March 31, 2002; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2002.14.1.78

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
This study was carried out to investigate aluminum levels in blood and the factors affecting aluminum concentration; we also presented findings on aluminum clearance during hemodialysis in chronic renal failure patients.
METHODS
We selected 56 patients with case of chronic renal failure and 144 healthy examinees as a control group. We analysed aluminum concentrations in their blood, water and dialysis fluid.
RESULTS
The blood aluminum concentration in the 56 patients was 2.38+/-0.27 microgram/ dL , about 4 times higher than that of the control group (p < 0.01). Blood aluminum concentrations were not affected by factors such as creatinine, BUN, hemodialysis duration, iron, and drinking water. After hemodialysis, blood aluminum level were decreased by about 15% and the aluminum concentration in the dialysis fluid was increased.
CONCLUSIONS
Blood aluminum levels were significantly high in the chronic renal failure patients; and hemodialysis helped the patients to excrete aluminum. Authors suggest that a purified dialysis fluid containing a lower aluminum concentration would facilitate aluminum excretion in hemodialysis patients.

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Effects of Lycii fructus Water Extracts of Serum Enzymes Activities on Renin and Aldosterone Hormone in Aluminum Fed Rats
Sung Hee Han
Journal of The Korean Society of Food Culture.2015; 30(4): 468. CrossRef

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The Relationship between Cold-Exposure and Hypertension: Tae Won Jang, Yoon Gyu Kim, Dong Young Yoon, Chang Hee Lee, Young Seoub Hong, Hae Rim Shin, Kab Yeul Jung, Joon Youn Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2001;13(4):376-384. Published online December 31, 2001; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2001.13.4.376

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
This study was carried out to suggest preventive methods for hypertension in cold-exposed workers.
METHODS
In 11 refrigeration industries, 68 workers working in refrigerated areas more than one time per day were selected as the exposed group, and 68 workers not exposed to cold were selected as the control group. We interviewed the subjects with a questionnaire covering occupational history, and conducted clinical and laboratory tests including measurements of blood pressure and core temperature.
RESULTS
The systolic blood pressure in the exposed group(130.0+/-13.3 mmHg) was significantly higher than that recorded in the control group(118.3+/-12.1 mmHg), as was the diastolic blood pressure in the exposed group(82.7+/-8.5 mmHg) versus the control group(77.4 +/-8.7 mmHg). The core temperature in the exposed group(36.1+/-0 . 7degrees C) was significantly lower than that experienced in the control group(36.4+/-0 . 5degrees C). In logistic regression analysis, age, cold exposure severity and milk intake were significant variables, with odds ratios of 5.204(95 % CI 1.440~18.812), 2.674(95 % CI 1.080~6.618), and 0.364(95 % CI 0.141~0.942), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that cold-exposed workers have higher a higher risk of hypertension, and that their core temperature is lower. Risk factors affecting hypertension of cold-exposed workers include age, cold exposure severity and milk intake. For the prevention of hypertension, cold-exposed workers should minimize cold-exposure time as much as possible.

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Comparison of Changes in Physiological and Perceptual Indices of Cold Stress under Normal Clothing and Thermal Insulation Clothing among Automotive Service Workers in Isfahan
Fatemeh Naghdi, Zohreh Mohebian, Habibollah Dehghan
International Journal of Environmental Health Engineering.2023;[Epub] CrossRef

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A case of asbestosis: Young Su Lee, Tae Won Jang, Ho Dae Yu, Maan Hong Jung, Yong Hwan Lee, Ji Young Suh, Bang Hur, Jae Sung Lee; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1999;11(1):119-124. Published online March 31, 1999; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1999.11.1.119

Abstract PDF: Asbestosis is the disease of pulmonary fibrosis caused by the inhaled asbestos fibers, and could be diagnosed clinically, in the case of exposure history to asbestos is proved, by clinical symptoms of dyspnea or dry cough, physical examination findings, and the radiographic features. But many other inorganic dusts would show similar findings in the chest radiogram and sometimes the exposure history is obscure, so for the exact diagnosis of asbestosis lung biopsy is needed. In Korea, there have been some reports of survey in the workplace where asbestos is handled or of asbestos related diseases. This is a case report of asbestosis with accompanying pleural plaques, who had the occupational exposure to asbestos for 30 years and the consistent clinical, radiographic and pathological findings in the lung tissue obtained by the videoscope assisted thoracoscopic biopsy(VATS).

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