BACKGROUND Foundry workers are known to be exposed to silica and have an increased risk of silicosis. There are also reports that state these foundry workers were associated with asbestos-related change in the X-ray results of the lungs. This report discusses a case of localized asbestosis developed in a foundry worker who worked in 12 Korean foundries. CASE REPORT: A 49-year-old man who worked at molding and melting for 30 years, presented with sore throat, cough and yellow sputum for 1 month. From physical and clinical examination, pulmonary tuberculosis was highly suspicious; therefore, he was medicated for 6 months. After tuberculosis medication, the radiological finding was reactivation of tuberculosis, and an asbestos body was detected at a transbronchial lung biopsy. During an operation, operators found multiple palpable masses and bullae localized in the right upper lobe (RUL) and performed right upper lobectomy and right middle lobe wedge resection. Using hematoxylin-eosin stain and iron stain, we could detect asbestos bodies by light microscopy. We analyzed the asbestos fiber burden in dry lung tissue by transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (TEM-EDX). The fiber type was chrysotile and the fiber burden was 23.26x106 fiber/g dry lung. DISCUSSION This case study of a foundry worker with localized asbestosis is uncommon in Korea. We found an occupational relationship between the foundry worker and localized asbestosis through various investigative techniques such as measurements taken at his working environment, clinical, radiological and pathological examination of the foundry worker and mineralogical examination of the asbestos fiber.
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Sustainable management of hazardous asbestos-containing materials: Containment, stabilization and inertization Shiv Bolan, Leela Kempton, Timothy McCarthy, Hasintha Wijesekara, Udara Piyathilake, Tahereh Jasemizad, Lokesh P. Padhye, Tao Zhang, Jörg Rinklebe, Hailong Wang, M.B. Kirkham, Kadambot H.M. Siddique, Nanthi Bolan Science of The Total Environment.2023; 881: 163456. CrossRef
BACKGROUND It is well-known that organic solvents can cause various neurologic toxicities, and in particular, it had been reported that Parkinson's syndrome can be caused by organic solvents. CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old man who had worked for 13 years as a shipyard spray and brush painter and manifested with moderate cognitive disorder and was diagnosed with chronic toxic encephalopathy. We can assume he had had considerable exposure to organic solvents considering the estimates of the amounts of organic solvents in his work place. He had no specific medical history. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) showed mild cognitive deficit, depression, and anxiety. Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) indicated a slightly decreased flow at the edge of the left temporal brain area, while T2 brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed no specific signs except for ischemic changes in small vessels in the periventricular and subcortical white matter. He was also diagnosed with both carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy through a neuroconductive study. Several years later, he developed progressive bradykinesia and rigidity and, later, resting tremors in the left hand. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and treated with dopaminergic agents, but there was no effect. After that, he was given deep brain stimulation, both. As a result, his tremor is improved. but, the rigidity remained. Three years later, He has continuously received dopaminergic therapy. but, he complains about tremors in both hands and more greatly reduced cognitive function. CONCLUSION In this case, we assumed by patient's work history and exposure estimates that he was exposed to excessive levels of organic solvents. The clinical symptoms of this patient were very similar to those from Parkinson's disease, but the psychological symptom appeared earlier than the other symptoms and there was no response to dopaminergic agents. We conclude that this case is likely Parkinson's syndrome caused by organic solvents.
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Overview of occupational cancer in painters in Korea Jun-Pyo Myong, Younmo Cho, Min Choi, Hyoung-Ryoul Kim Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
The Work Environment and Wearing Conditions of Industrial Protective Clothing in Shipbuilding Workshops Hyun-Sook Bae, Min-Young Kim Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles.2012; 36(5): 512. CrossRef
Occupational Neurological Disorders in Korea Eun-A Kim, Seong-Kyu Kang Journal of Korean Medical Science.2010; 25(Suppl): S26. CrossRef
OBJECTIVES This study was carried out to investigate the effect of manganese on the brains of rats, and chronic exposure to manganese is known to induce Parkinsonism in human. METHODS The rats were divided into three groups: the first group was a control group that was administrated normal saline, and the second group was subdivided into the low dose group (10 mg/kg) and the high dose group (40 mg/kg) according to the administered dose of manganese. The rats of each group received an injection of normal saline and manganese via a tail vein once a week for 4 weeks. The rats were sacraficed at 4 weeks after the first adminstration of manganese. Brain MR imaging was performed before the rats were killed. After the rats were killed, the concentration of blood manganese was measured, and pathologic examination of the brain was performed in all the groups. RESULTS The concentration of blood manganese was increased proportionally to the administered dose. The signal intensity of the basal ganglia on the T1-weighted imaging of brain MRI was increased in accordance with the administered dose. The ratio of neuron/glial cells in the basal ganglia was decreased in the experiment group as compared to that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that the signal intensity and the damage of neurons in basal ganglia were increased according to the administered dose of manganese in rats.
OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between KOSHA's cardiovascular disease risk assessment and the predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease developed by Jee.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data were obtained from a structured questionnaire survey and medical examination of 509 male workers aged 30-59 years employed at a wallpaper and floor covering workplace in May 2008. We calculated KOSHA's cardiovascular disease risk assessment and Jee's predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease. A high risk of cardiovascular disease was defined as the upper 10th percentile of Jee's predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, Kruskal Wallis test and a logistic regression model. RESULTS Jee's predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease significantly increased as KOSHA's cardiovascular disease risk increased. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the group with 3 or more cardiovascular disease risk factors according to KOSHA's model was more likely to experience cardiovascular disease within 10 years(OR=34.4, 95% C.I.=4.4-267.2). CONCLUSIONS KOSHA's cardiovascular disease risk assessment was fairly well associated with Jee's predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease and was believed to be a practical and convenient method of preventing cardiovascular disease at the workplace.
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Comparing Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency and National Health Insurance Service’s cardio-cerebrovascular diseases risk-assessment tools using data from one hospital’s health checkups Yunrae Cho, Dong Geon Kim, Byung-Chan Park, Seonhee Yang, Sang Kyu Kim Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Overall and cardiovascular mortality according to 10-year cardiovascular risk of the general health checkup: the Kangbuk Samsung Cohort Study Youshik Jeong, Yesung Lee, Eunchan Mun, Eunhye Seo, Daehoon Kim, Jaehong Lee, Jinsook Jeong, Woncheol Lee Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
OBJECTIVES We wanted to investigate the relationship between job stress and liver dysfunction in Korean male white collar workers. METHODS A total of 700 male white collar workers who worked at one electronic institute and who participated in an annual surveillance program were recruited: 664(94.9%) workers were initially recruited and the data for 36 workers was excluded due to poor responses and a past history of liver disease. The questionnaire survey included the participants' general characteristics, the job-related factors, the health-related behaviors and job stress. Job stress was assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF). We merged the job stress data with the individual liver function results by conducting annual surveillance. Multiple logistic regression analysis with adjusting it for the confounding variables, including alcohol drinking and the body mass index (BMI), was used to evaluate the relationship between job stress and liver dysfunction. RESULTS After adjustment for the confounding variables, the proportion of liver dysfunction cases was significantly higher in the groups with a high level of job stress, as assessed by the 'job demands and total score'. After conducting a stratified analysis with considering alcohol drinking and the BMI, the prevalence odds ratio of liver dysfunction was higher in the groups with a high level of job stress, as assessed by the 'job demands and total score'. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that the level of job stress (and especially that assessed by the job demands and total score) is related to liver dysfunction. Thus, further preventive efforts and studies are needed to reduce job stress and address liver dysfunction.
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The Relationship between Job Stress and Organizational Effectiveness for Office Workers Yoo-Mi Chae, Jeong-bae Rhie, Sook Lee Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society.2016; 17(7): 389. CrossRef
Objective: To investigate the relationship between aircraft noise and the results of audiological evaluation on tinnitus and hearing loss among residents near United States military air-bases in Pyeongtaek city. METHODS Residents (n=492) exposed to aircraft noise were selected from eight villages near U.S. military air-bases (K-55 and K-6) in Pyeongtaek city. Residents (n=200) from five villages located at least 10 km away from the air-base were selected for the control group. All participants completed a questionnaire on tinnitus and audiological evaluations included pure tone audiometry (PTA) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE). Statistical analyses involved a general linear model and multiple logistic regression stratified by gender and data was adjusted by age, educational level, stress response index and noise type (i.e. military, agricultural and occupational). RESULTS The equivalent noise levels (Leq) in the vicinity of the air-field were 73.4~81.5 dB (A). Tinnitus prevalence was 47.3% and odds ratio (OR) was 2.06 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09~3.88) among noise-exposed males. Tinnitus prevalence was 50.8% and OR was 1.97(95% CI: 1.17~3.30) among noise-exposed females. Tinnitus handicap scores among exposed group were significantly higher in functional, emotional, and catastrophic subclasses (p<0.001). PTA revealed hearing thresholds among the exposed group of 0.5 and 1 kHz (male right ear), 0.5 and 1 kHz (female left ear) and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 kHz on female right ear that were significantly higher than those of the unexposed group. No significant difference in DPOAE was observed among noise-exposed males. However, significant differences were evident for noise-exposed females at 3175 and 4007 Hz. ORs of right female ears 3175 and 4007 Hz were 1.73(95% CI: 1.01~2.99) and 1.78(95% CI: 1.01~3.15). ORs of left female ears at 3175 Hz and 4007 Hz were 1.92(95% CI: 1.10~3.36) and 2.71(95% CI: 1.49~4.91) CONCLUSIONS: Aircraft noise may adversely affect hearing function and tinnitus.
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Occupational Hearing Loss in Korea Kyoo Sang Kim Journal of Korean Medical Science.2010; 25(Suppl): S62. CrossRef
OBJECTIVES In order to determine find out the best methods for a more objective detection of neurologic abnormality in early hand arm vibration syndrome(HAVS), early with analyzing the validity of each of the detection methods was analyzed. We evaluated the relationships between the sensorineural stage of Stockholm-revised vibration syndrome classification and the results of several tests. METHODS 497 workers were investigated for symptom, exposure duration, the types of tools used, and medical history from January 2000 to December 2007. Pain sense threshold, vibrotactile threshold, hand grasp force, finger grasp force, and a finger tapping frequency test were performed by the workers. RESULTS The grinder(67.3%) was the most commonly used tool and the mean exposure duration was 14.8 years. Although the pain sense and vibrotactile threshold level tended to increase according to sensorineural stage of the Stockholm classification, there was statistically significant difference in the vibrotactile threshold of 125, 250 Hz (p=0.006~0.038) but not in the pain sense threshold. Hand and finger grasp force tended to decrease according to the sensorineural stage of Stockholm classification and there was statistically significant difference(p=0.041,<0.001, 0.034) only on the right hand side. The tapping frequency also generally decreased according to the sensorineural stage of the Stockholm classification and there was statistically significant difference (p=0.002~0.019) only on the left hand side. CONCLUSIONS Although there is no single standardized method that can objectively diagnose the sensorineural component of early HAVS early, the combination of subjective symptoms, the sensorineural stage of Stockholm classification, the pain and vibrotactile threshold test, the hand and finger grasp force, and the finger agility (tapping) test can objectively detect sensorineural component of HAVS early.
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Application of cold intolerance symptom severity questionnaire among vibration-exposed workers as a screening tool for the early detection of hand-arm vibration syndrome: a cross-sectional study A Ram Kim, Dae Yun Kim, Ji Soo Kim, Heun Lee, Joo Hyun Sung, Cheolin Yoo Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2019;[Epub] CrossRef
Trend of Human Vibration Research in Korea Hee-Sok Park Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea.2013; 32(4): 293. CrossRef
OBJECTIVES To evaluate effects of lead on the central nervous system of children by measuring blood lead concentration, computerized neurobehavioral function and intelligence of elementary school students. METHODS The study was conducted with 208 elementary school students living in the vicinity of Pohang Industrial Complex in October and November, 2005. Data on demographic characteristics, living environments and lifestyle habits were collected from subjects. RESULTS Blood lead levels of elementary school students ranged from 0.76-4.97 microg/dl, which is below the 10 microg/dl recommended level of CDC. The blood lead levels were similar with those reported in other domestic and international studies. Neurobehavioral tests revealed that most third grade students reacted slowly and their speed declined in simple reaction time (p<0.05), choice reaction time (p<0.05), symbol digit substitution (p<0.01), finger tapping speed nondominant hand (p<0.05) as blood lead levels increased. Sixth grade students demonstrated significance in test performance, and displayed blood lead levels of 2.00-4.00 microg/dl. Results of intelligence testing showed significantly low performance in IQ (p<0.05), vocabulary ability (p<0.05), reasoning ability (p<0.05), mathematical ability (p<0.05) and perception ability (p<0.05) among third grade students who displayed high levels of blood lead concentration. Sixth grade students showed significantly low performance in vocabulary ability (p<0.05) at high level of blood lead concentration. The difference in mean IQ scores between the group with blood lead level of < or =2.00 microg/dl and the group with blood lead level > or =3.00 microg/ dl was 3.21 in third grade students and 4.28 in sixth grade students. Low academic achievement was observed among third grade students (p<0.05) and six grade students (p<0.05) as the average blood lead level increased. Correlation analysis on the association of blood lead concentration with neurobehavioral tests revealed a positive correlation between blood lead levels and reaction time of choice reaction time and symbol digit substitution in third grade students. A positive correlation was observed between blood lead levels and reaction time of symbol digit substitution and finger tapping speed in sixth grade students. There was a negative correlation between blood lead levels and reasoning ability of third grade students (r=-0.247) and vocabulary ability of six grade students (r=-0.255). CONCLUSION There have been few studies on the effects of blood lead on the central nervous systems of children in Korea. The study supports the findings of earlier studies that blood lead has an impact on children. However, the study did not confirm significant association of blood lead concentration with each neurological and motor test conducted for this study due to a small sample size and relatively low blood lead levels of elementary school students. Further studies using a similar assessment methods would be helpful to evaluate the effects of low blood lead levels on the central nervous systems of children.
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The association between lead concentration in the blood and neurobehavioral performance of children Dae-Seon Kim, Seungchul Ahn, Seungdo Yu, Eun-Hee Lee Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences.2012; 4(2): 87. CrossRef
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OBJECTIVES Discomfort in the upper extremities affects and restricts the daily activities and work of many workers. This study was conducted to apply a standardized tool for identifying musculoskeletal symptoms and measuring how greatly these symptoms affect the performance of workers in small manufacturing industries as well as to analyze the relationships between the socio-demographic characteristics of the workers, the psychosocial factors, and ergonomic risk factors on the one hand and the reported musculoskeletal symptoms and their effects on work performance on the other. METHODS Workers in small manufacturing companies were asked to self-evaluate musculoskeletal symptoms, restrictions on work performance, and the ergonomic risk in their working environments. A standardized tool (musculoskeletal symptoms table, DASH [Disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand]) was used to evaluate the musculoskeletal symptoms and the restrictions on work performance. RESULTS 1) The DASH score was significantly higher among women, older workers who had been in that job for a long time, married workers, those with no leisure activities or hobbies, those with long hours of housework, those who had experienced a disease in the past, and those who had had an accident in the past; 2) the DASH score was also significantly higher for those workers who were unsatisfied with their work, who worked hard, who no control over their work, and whose work required heavy equipment, tools, and materials; 3) the DASH score was significantly higher in workers with major ergonomic risk factors; 4) the DASH score was significantly higher among workers with occupational musculoskeletal disease and was distributed as follows, from highest to lowest rates of occurrence; symptoms in the upper arms, difficulty sleeping, difficulty with work, restrictions in daily activities, restrictions in social activities, and difficulties in specific work performance; 5) explanatory power increased in the model with the addition of socio-demographic variables, i.e., in analyses with the DASH total score as the dependent variable and psychosocial factors, ergonomic risk factors, and upper extremity discomfort symptoms as the independent variables. The total explanatory power found a significant effect at 35.3%. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study show that to enhance the upper extremity performance level of workers in the manufacturing industry, preventive measures should be based on a consideration of ergonomic risk factors, psychosocial factors, and the socio-demographic characterisitics of the individual workers.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the actual conditions of absence and early leave due to job stress of 4,350 workers in 83 small and medium scale industries, and its relationship to job stress factors using Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF). METHODS A structured self-reported questionnaire was used to assess each respondent's sociodemographics, job stress, experience of absence and early leave due to job stress. Seven KOSS-SF domains of job stress were used. We estimated the relation of absence and early leave due to job stress and job stress factors using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Absence or early leave due to job stress occurred in 7% of male workers and 8% of female workers. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significantly positive association job stress-related absence/early leave and job demand, interpersonal conflict, organizational system, lack of rewards and occupational climate. CONCLUSIONS Absence and early leave due to job stress is significantly attributed to organizational system and lack of reward for men, and occupational climate and organizational system for women.
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