Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Case Report

Unveiling a hidden hazard: lead poisoning from hobbyist activities and its long-term impact: Chiara Pucci, Luca Tomassini, Marco dell’Omo, Alessandra Deini, Daniele Lillacci, Cristiana Gambelunghe, Mauro Zampolini, Nicola Murgia, Angela Gambelunghe; Ann Occup Environ Med 2025;37:e15. Published online May 26, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2025.37.e15

Abstract PDF: Background
Lead poisoning is a serious public health issue that can arise from various sources, including nonoccupational exposure. This can make it challenging to manage, as lead poisoning can arise from unexpected sources. This case study examined lead poisoning in a 52-year-old man linked to hobbyist activities involving lead pellets, highlighting the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with this uncommon source of exposure.
Case presentation
A 52-year-old man with a history of sports fishing presented with confusion, balance disorders, and memory loss. The initial medical evaluation revealed anemia and elevated lead levels. Further investigations, including imaging and blood tests, confirmed the presence of ingested lead pellets. The patient underwent chelation therapy, which led to a reduction in blood lead levels and improvement in symptoms. Follow-up over 46 months showed a gradual decrease in lead levels and partial recovery of cognitive function, although a few lead-related effects persisted.
Conclusions
This case underscores the need for awareness of non-traditional sources of lead exposure, such as hobbyist activities. Effective diagnosis and treatment, including chelation therapy, can significantly alleviate the effects of lead poisoning. Ongoing monitoring is essential to manage long-term health outcomes related to chronic lead exposure.

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Original Article

Clusters of Pneumoconiosis among Residents Near Cement Factories: Jong Han Leem, Jae Hwa Cho, Eui Cheol Lee, Jeong Hoon Kim, Dong Hoon Lee, Seung Jun Lee, Ji Young Lee, Hwan Cheol Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2010;22(2):140-145. Published online June 30, 2010; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2010.22.2.140

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated case clusters of pneumoconiosis among residents near cement factories in Young_Wol, Korea.
METHODS
There were 1,396 residents of a total 3,418 residents surveyed for this study. Informations on demographics, health-related behaviors (smoking and drinking), past medical history, and clinical symptoms were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. All study participants underwent a physical examination, including chest X-ray, and physicians' interview. Chest CT (computerized tomography) was taken if there was abnormal finding on chest X-ray and physicians' interview.
RESULTS
We detected 5 cases of pneumoconiosis. 2 cases were related to occupational exposure to dust, such as underground mining and the breaking up of concrete. However, 3 cases were not related to occupational or environmental exposure, except that persons were living near cement factories and limestone mines.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that the long-term exposure of cement dust among residents near cement factories and mines may lead to the development of pneumoconiosis.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Emphysema prevalence related air pollution caused by a cement plant
Hyun Seung Lee, Chul Gab Lee, Dong Hun Kim, Han Soo Song, Min Soo Jung, Jae Yoon Kim, Choong Hee Park, Seung Chul Ahn, Seung Do Yu
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2016;[Epub] CrossRef
Ventilation impairment of residents around a cement plant
Sul Ha Kim, Chul Gab Lee, Han Soo Song, Hyun Seung Lee, Min Soo Jung, Jae Yoon Kim, Choong Hee Park, Seung Chul Ahn, Seung Do Yu
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2015;[Epub] CrossRef
A Study on the Results of Questionnaire Survey and Health Examination for Respiratory Disease among Residents in Briquette Fuel Complex in Ansim, Daegu
Kwan Lee, Hyun-Sul Lim, Min-Gi Kim, Young-Sun Min, Young-Hyun Lee, Sung-Woo Kim, Hye-Sook Choi, Yeon-Soon Ahn, Joon Sakong, Seung-do Yu, Geun-Bae Kim, Mi-Ra Yoon
Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.2015; 25(3): 355. CrossRef
Cement dust and environmental diseases
Jong-Han Leem
Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2012; 55(3): 230. CrossRef

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Original Article

Health Care Utilization and Its Determinants of Workers with Non-occupational Diseases: Chang Hyun Han, Sin Kam, Jae Yong Park; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1995;7(2):282-294. Published online October 31, 1995; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1995.7.2.282

Abstract PDF

This study was conducted to analyse medical facilities utilization based on predisposing factors, enabling factors and need factors, and effect of these factors on medieal facilities utilization, by applying Anderson's medical care service behavioral model as the most well known medical demand model to 163 available for interview among 246 workers who, as the result of health examination in 1994, were evaluated as the non occupational diseases. The results of this study were summarized as follows. Among variables of predisposing factors, knowledge for disease showed significant relations with the medical utilization, other variables of predisposing factors, such as sex, age, marital status, educational level, number of family members, type of occupation, attitude toward the disease, were not related with the medical utilization. The medical utilization was not related with variables of enabling factors. Among variables of need factors, medical advice of health personnel was significant variable for medical utilization. With multiple logistic regression analysis, the significant variables haying an effect on the medical facllities utilization were the type of occupation and knowledge for the disease among predisposing factors, ana seriousness for the disease and medical advice of health personnel among need factors. In case of the production job, the medical facilitles utilization was higher for the persons with more knowledge for disease and experience of medical treatment guidance. The number of non-occupational diseases detected, but untreated person was 76 (46.6%) of total subjects, mainly because the non-occupational diseases seemed to be a slight disease (55.3%). On consideration of above findings, health education for workers and adequate medical advice by health personnel would be needed for health management of workers with non occupational diseases.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Effectiveness of workers’ general health examination in Korea by health examination period and compliance: retrospective cohort study using nationwide data
Huisu Eom, Jun-Pyo Myong, Eun-A Kim, Bohwa Choi, Soon Woo Park, Young Joong Kang
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2017;[Epub] CrossRef

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