Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

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Migration of phthalates and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from paper and plastic drinking straws immersed in human saliva: a pilot migration study: Kiook Baek; Ann Occup Environ Med 2026;38:e39. Published online August 20, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e39

Abstract Abstract in Korean PDF: Drinking straws contact the oral cavity directly, and children use them routinely, raising concern about exposure to various chemicals. In this pilot study, six paper and three plastic straws were immersed in human saliva for 10 minutes, and five per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and two phthalates were quantified by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, respectively. Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid were below the limit of detection (LOD) in all samples; perfluorooctanesulfonic acid was above the LOD in the procedural blank and one paper straw, and perfluorodecanoic acid was above the LOD in two straw samples. Di-n-butyl phthalate, which was below the LOD in the blank, was detected up to 30.097 μg/L in paper straws and 45.974 μg/L in plastic straws. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was elevated in the procedural blank (14.240 μg/L), precluding quantitative comparison between materials; nevertheless, four paper straws and one plastic straw exceeded this background. This pilot study highlights the need for methodological refinement and further investigation.; 종이 및 플라스틱 빨대에서 인간 타액으로의 프탈레이트 및 과불화화합물 용출 확인을 위한 실험실 연구
빨대는 사용 중 구강과 직접 접촉하며 영유아·소아도 일상적으로 사용하므로, 내분비교란물질 노출에 대한 우려가 있다. 본 예비연구에서는 종이 빨대 6종과 플라스틱 빨대 3종을 사람의 타액에 10분간 침지한 시료 9개와 공시료 1개를 대상으로, 과불화화합물 5종(PFHxS, PFOA, PFNA, PFOS, PFDeA)과 프탈레이트 2종(DBP, DEHP)의 용출량을 각각 LC-MS/MS 및 GC-MS법으로 정량하였다. PFHxS, PFOA, PFNA는 모든 시료에서 검출한계(LOD) 미만이었다. PFOS는 공시료(0.040 µg/L)와 종이 빨대 1종(0.034 µg/L)에서, PFDeA는 빨대 시료 2종(0.017 및 0.048 µg/L)에서만 LOD를 근소하게 상회하였다. 따라서 과불화화합물은 본 실험 조건에서 유의미하게 높은 농도로 검출되지 않았으며, 그 결과는 결론을 내리기 어려운 수준으로 해석하였다. 프탈레이트의 경우, 공시료에서 LOD 미만이었던 DBP가 종이 빨대에서 최대 30.097 µg/L(평균 7.481 ± 11.251 µg/L), 플라스틱 빨대에서 최대 45.974 µg/L(평균 17.761 ± 24.588 µg/L)로 검출되어 두 재질 모두 여러 제품에서 실제 용출 가능성이 있음을 시사하였다. DEHP는 모든 시료에서 검출되었으나 공시료에서도 비교적 높은 수준(14.240 µg/L)으로 나타났으며, 네 종의 종이 빨대와 한 종의 플라스틱 빨대에서 이 배경 수준을 초과하였으나(최대 33.280 µg/L) 외부 및 시료 보관 과정에서의 오염을 배제할 수 없어 재질 간 정량적 비교는 어려웠다. 본 예비연구는 빨대로부터 타액으로의 일부 프탈레이트 용출 가능성을 확인하였으나, 소규모 시료라는 한계로 확정적 결론을 제시하지는 못하며, 시료 채취·침출·분석법을 정교화한 추가 연구의 필요성을 제시한다.

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Original Article

Hospital admissions due to endocrine diseases in Korean male firefighters: Seunghoon Ryu, Yong-Jin Lee, Eun-Chul Jang, Soon-Chan Kwon, KiSeok Kim, Yeon-Soon Ahn, Young-Sun Min; Ann Occup Environ Med 2021;33:e32. Published online October 28, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2021.33.e32

Abstract Abstract in Korean PDF: Background
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between occupational exposure to various hazards and hospital admission due to endocrine diseases in Korean male firefighters.
Methods
From 2000 to 2008, former and current male firefighters registered in the Korean National Emergency Management Agency were investigated based on their hospitalized health insurance admission data for the same period. Admission data for endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases were obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Standardized admission ratio (SAR) with reference to the general population of Korean men was analyzed.
Results
SAR for firefighters with endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases was 0.56 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49–0.65), which was significantly less than that of the general population of Korean men. For those with endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases, SARs for those with a history of fire suppression tasks and those without experience of fire suppression tasks were 0.58 (95% CI: 0.49–0.68) and 0.53 (95% CI: 0.40–0.70), respectively.
Conclusions
The admission rate of Korean male firefighters due to endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases was significantly lower than that of the general Korean men population, the hazardous potential of endocrine disruptors remains an open question. Further studies of firefighters with longer follow-up are needed.; 한국 남성 소방관에서 내분비 질환으로 인한 입원
목적
본 연구의 목적은 남성 소방관들을 대상으로 유해인자 노출과 내분비질환과의 관련성을 조사해보고자 하였다.
방법
2000년부터 2008년까지 소방방재청에 등록된 총 34,875명의 전·현직 남성 소방관들의 건강검진 자료와 동일 기간 건강보험 입원자료를 근간으로 전·현직 남성 소방관들에 대해 조사하였고, 이를 일반인구집단과 비교하여 표준화입원비를 분석하였다.
결과
내분비, 영양 및 대사질환의 표준화입원비는 0.56(95% 신뢰구간: 0.49-0.65)으로 우리나라 일반 남성들에 비하여 통계적으로 유의하게 적게 입원하였다. 또한, 화재진압 유무에 따라 분석하였을 때, 내분비, 영양 및 대사질환의 표준화입원비는 화재진압 유경력자는 0.58(95% 신뢰구간:0.49-0.68), 무경력자는 0.53(95% 신뢰구간: 0.40-0.70)으로 두 집단 모두 우리나라 일반 남성들에 비하여 통계적으로 유의하게 적게 입원하였다.
결론
우리나라 남성 소방관들의 내분비, 영양 및 대사질환의 표준화입원비는 우리나라 일반 남성에 비하여 통계적으로 유의하게 낮았다.

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Original Article

Acute Toxicity of Administered Bisphenol A Di Glycidyl Ether in Male Sprague Dawley Rats: Jae un Im, Yun jung Yang, Tae jin Lee, Yeon pyo Hong; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2006;18(4):318-326. Published online December 31, 2006; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2006.18.4.318

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
Bisphenol A Di Glycidyl Ether (BADGE) is the major component in commercial liquid epoxy resins, which are manufactured by co-reacting bisphenol A with epichlorohydrin. The authors investigated the acute toxicity of BADGE.
METHODS
BADGE was administered by a gavage to 8 week old SPF Sprague Dawley rats in a single dose of 0 (negative control), 0.37 (Diethylstilbesterol, DES), 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 mg/kg/day of BADGE. Each treatment group contained 7 rats. The general status and weight of the rats were observed for 14 days. The rats were anesthetized by ether at 14 days, and the changes in morphology, organ weight, sperm count and motility, and hormone level were measured.
RESULTS
All the rats treated with BADGE had diarrhea on the 1st day. The rats administered BADGE at 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg/kg/day showed a soiled perineal region and soft stools with diarrhea until the 3rd day. The 8000 mg/kg/day BADGE rats had diarrhea for two days followed by emaciation, soiled fur, a soiled perineal region, staining around the mouth and were moribund for three to eight days. No weight gain was observed after the 1st day in the 2000, 4000, and 8000 mg/kg/day BADGE rats and after the 7th day in all the treatment groups compared with the control groups. Some treatment groups were observed to have a decrease in the weight of the heart (BADGE 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg/kg/day), liver (BADGE 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 mg/kg/day) and prostate (BADGE 4000 mg/kg/day) compared with control group. The weight of the liver was significantly lower in all treatment groups compared with the control group. The relative weight of the liver (BADGE 1000 and 4000 mg/kg/day) was significant lower than the control. No pathological changes were observed in the brain, liver, thyroid, heart, spleen, kidney, lung and prostate. The number of spermatid in the seminiferous tubule in the testes was lower in all treatment groups than the control. The sperm motility tended to decrease with increasing concentration but the sperm count was similar in all treatment groups. The plasma Estrogen and testosterone level were similar in the control and treatment groups.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that BADGE induces general, hepatic and reproductive toxicity at 1000 mg/kg/day.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Distribution of serum bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and its metabolite in Korean adult men and its association with reproductive hormone levels
Sang-il Kim, Yun-jung Yang, Yeon-pyo Hong, Soon-Chul Myung, Sae-Chul Kim
Molecular & Cellular Toxicology.2015; 11(1): 71. CrossRef
Acute Testis Toxicity of Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether in Sprague-Dawley Rats
Yun-jung Yang, Shin-young Lee, Kyung-yong Kim, Yeon-pyo Hong
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.2010; 43(2): 131. CrossRef

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