Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

A Case of Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome in a Synthetic Resin Manufacture Factory: So Young Park, Jong Seong Lee, Boo Wook Kim, Joung Oh Lee, Kyu Chul Park, Byung Soon Choi; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2008;20(4):372-378. Published online December 31, 2008; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2008.20.4.372

Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS), which represents between 5% and 18% of new-onset, work-related asthma, remains underreported in spite of increasing reports of occupational asthma cases through occupational asthma surveillance in Korea. We report a 61-year-old male who developed RADS after exposure to a high level of toxic gases from a workplace accident.
CASE
The patient who had worked for 21 years at a PVC manufacture factory and had retained good health until Aug 22, 2007, when he was exposed to PVC (polyvinyl chloride), DEHP (Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate), dibutyl tin maleate and epoxidized soybean oil gases from a heated mixer. Within several minutes of exposure, he developed coughing, rhinorrhea, dyspnea and wheezing. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) showed an FVC of 3.81 L(82% of predicted), FEV1 of 1.63 L/s (50% of predicted), FEV1/FVC% of 43 %, and FEV1 of 1.80 L/s that increased by 170 ml and 10.4% in response to bronchodilator. After 7 months of treatment with inhaled steroids and bronchodilators, repeat PFTs showed an FVC of 6.56 L(143.5% of predicted), FEV1 of 3.21 L(99.3% of predicted), and FEV1/FVC% of 48.9%. A methacholine challenge test was negative at a concentration of 25 mg/ml.
CONCLUSION
RADS occurred due to exposure to raw material vapors or their thermal decomposition products.

33 View
0 Download

Farmers'Syndrome and its Risk Factors of Vinylhouse and Non-vinylhouse Farmers in Gyeongbuk Province Rural Area: Jung Jeung Lee, Jin Hoon Yang, In Sob Hwang; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2006;18(2):146-155. Published online June 30, 2006; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2006.18.2.146

OBJECTIVES
This study was performed to estimate the risk factors affecting the farmers'syndrome of vinylhouse and non-vinylhouse farmers in the Gyeongbuk Province rural area.
METHODS
As a cross-sectional study, a questionnaire survey was conducted from 2003 to 2005. Data was collected from 243 vinylhouse farmers and 236 non-vinylhouse farmers. The data from 394 subjects were used for the final analysis. We surveyed their lifestyle, 8 components of farmers'syndrome and characteristics of farm work.
RESULTS
For the vinylhouse and non-vinylhouse workers, 32.0% and 34.0% were positive for farmers syndrome, while 48.3% and 43.5% were suspicious, respectively. The differences between the two groups were not significant. For both groups, the most frequent symptom of farmers'syndrome was lumbago, followed by paresthesia of hand or foot, and shoulder stiffness. Among the vinylhouse workers, the rates of wearing protective equipment and washing the skin after spraying pesticide were significantly lower than among the non-vinylhouse workers. From multiple logistic regression analysis, the risk factors significantly associated with farmers'syndrome were sex {odds ratio (OR)=3.12, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.42-6.89} and hours of farming per day (OR=2.63, 95%CI=1.22-5.65) among vinylhouse workers. However, sex (OR=4.24, 95%CI=1.87-9.65) was the only the risk factor significantly associated with farmers'syndrome among the non-vinylhouse workers.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, educational programs and attention to the female farmers were needed in particular. In addition, it was recommended that the farmers wear protective equipment continuously from opening the coverlets of the pesticide container to the completion of pesticide spraying, and wash the skin immediately after contact with pesticides.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Occupational Exposure to Pesticides and Nerve Conduction Studies Among Korean Farmers
Su Kyeong Park, Kyoung Ae Kong, Eun Shil Cha, Young Joo Lee, Gyu Taek Lee, Won Jin Lee
Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health.2012; 67(2): 78. CrossRef
A Study on Health Promotion Lifestyle, Farmers' Syndrome and Related Factors of Workers in Agricultural Industry
Ae-Ran Joo
Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing.2012; 21(1): 37. CrossRef
Agricultural Safety Clothing: Implications for Making and Selecting Clothes
Jong-Suk Chun, Jung-Woo Jee, Kyoung-Sook Hwang
Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea.2011; 30(4): 509. CrossRef
Work-related Injuries and Diseases of Farmers in Korea
Kwan LEE, Hyun-Sul LIM
INDUSTRIAL HEALTH.2008; 46(5): 424. CrossRef

26 View
0 Download
4 Crossref

Validation of High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method with UV Detector for the Determination of Di(2-ethylhexyl)Phthalate in Plasma in some Korean Male Workers: Yun Jung Yang, Soon Chul Myoung, Sae Chul Kim, Yeon Pyo Hong; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2005;17(1):70-78. Published online March 31, 2005; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2005.17.1.70

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to validate a simple, rapid and sensitive reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detector (HPLC-UV) and present the plasma level of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in some Korean male workers.
METHODS
HPLC-UV for quantification of plasma DEHP was validated by the following guideline from the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)-calibration/standard curve, precision, accuracy and recovery. Plasma DEHP from 255 healthy Korean male workers aged from 30 to 60 years was analyzed by validated HPLC-UV method.
RESULTS
The calibration curve over the range 0~150 microgram/liter for the plasma DEHP standard solution showed linearity(r2=0.999). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of plasma DEHP were 5.22 microgram/liter and 15.81 microgram/liter, respectively. The accuracy and precision for 2.5 microgram/liter of DEHP were acceptable in CDER guideline on the second and third day but not first day, and those for 50 microgram/liter and 150 microgram/liter of DEHP were acceptable on all three days(Ed-confirm this addition). The distribution of plasma DEHP level was skewed to the left and ranged from 0 to 18.9 microgram/liter. The plasma DEHP level was lower than 10 microgram/liter for 98 % of subjects and lower than 5 microgram/liter for 85 %. The geometric mean and standard deviation of plasma DEHP were 0.4 +/- 1.5 microgram/liter.
CONCLUSIONS
The HPLC-UV method for quantification of plasma DEHP was acceptable by CDER guideline. The plasma DEHP of 255 Korean male workers ranged from 0 to 18.9 microgram/liter and the distribution was skewed to the left.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Assessment of Di (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate Exposure by Urinary Metabolites as a Function of Sampling Time
Moon-seo Park, Yun-jung Yang, Yeon-pyo Hong, Sang-yon Kim, Yong-pil Lee
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.2010; 43(4): 301. CrossRef

24 View
0 Download
1 Crossref

Age-dependent Effect of Metabolism and Testicular Toxicity to di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate: Yeong Ju Park, Byung Sun Choi, Jung Duck Park, Yeon Pyo Hong; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2002;14(3):236-246. Published online September 30, 2002; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2002.14.3.236

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the age-dependent response of testicular toxicity and the mechanism of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) induced testicular toxicity.
METHODS
DEHP was administered orally in doses of 0, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg/day, for 7 days, to 3, 6 and 9 week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Testicular weight and sperm head counts, plasma level of DEHP, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and testicular lipid peroxidation were measured. Histopathological changes in the testis were observed.
RESULTS
Reductions in weight gains, and relative testis weights, were observed in the 3 week-old rats in a dose-dependent manner, but not in the 6 and 9 week-old rats, compared to those of the control rats. Sperm head counts were decreased in the 6 week-old rats exposed to 2.0 g/kg/day, but not in the 9 week-old rats. Testicular atrophy and significant size reduction of the seminiferous tubule were observed in a dose-dependent manner in the 3 week-old rats. The plasma concentrations of MEHP were higher than those of DEHP, with these levels being most elevated in the younger rats. Lipid peroxidation, following exposed to DEHP, was increased in a dose-dependent manner in the 3 week-old, but with no changes in the 6 and 9 week-old rats.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest the age related difference observed in the testicular response to the oral administration of DEHP may be due to the metabolism, and that oxidative stress may be related to the mechanism of DEHP induced testicular toxicity.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

The Impairment of Thyroid Hormones Homeostasis after Short-Term Exposure to Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in Adolescent Male Rats
Sang-Yon Kim, Yeon-Pyo Hong, Yun-Jung Yang
Development & Reproduction.2021; 25(4): 293. CrossRef

31 View
0 Download
1 Crossref

Sex hormones among Workers Exposed to Pesticides: Wonjin Lee, Cheong Sik Kim, Hyeong Su Kim, Chang Hoon Lee, Jin Seok Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2000;12(2):179-186. Published online June 30, 2000; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2000.12.2.179

Abstract PDF: OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine the effects of occupational pesticides exposure on the level of serum Luteinizing Hormone(LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone(FSH), testosterone in male workers.
METHODS
Twenty-two male workers exposed to pesticides were compared with twenty-eight male workers at same factory who were not exposed to pesticides. The selected variables for studying reproductive hormones were LH, FSH and testosterone. As part of the baseline health status, subjects were asked medical history.
RESULTS
There were no statistically significant differences on the level of LH, FSH, testosterone between the exposed and non-exposed group. Also the level of sex hormones were not significant difference with each department in exposed group. And the level of LH, FSH positively correlated with age.
CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that there are no alterations in LH, FSH, testosterone at workers exposed to pesticides. But our findings are highly preliminary because of a small sample size. Thus it calls for furthur investigation of the hormonal effects at workers exposed to pesticides.

20 View
0 Download

Search