Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Case Report

Three cases of congenital diseases in the children of female semiconductor workers at a company recognized by the Occupational Disease Adjudication Committee: Chandu Kim, Hoekyeong Seo, Jihyung Choi, Younghwa Choi, Yongjin Kim, Kyung-Eun Lee, Shinhee Ye; Ann Occup Environ Med 2025;37:e9. Published online April 23, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2025.37.e9

Abstract Abstract in Korean PDF: Background
In August 2021, three female semiconductor workers applied for occupational disease compensation due to congenital diseases diagnosed in their children: patient A (immunoglobulin A nephropathy, vesicoureteral reflux, renal agenesis), patient B (renal agenesis, esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula), and patient C (congenital megacolon). The Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute (OSHRI) initially assessed the relatedness of these conditions to occupational exposure as low. However, the Occupational Disease Adjudication Committee of the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service (KWCWS) overturned this assessment, officially recognizing these cases as occupational diseases in March 2024—the first such recognition in South Korea.
Case presentation
The mother of Patient A worked in optical processes for 9 years, the mother of patient B worked in diffusion processes for 10 years, and the mother of patient C worked in molding and inspection processes for 7 years. Their jobs involved exposure to benzene, organic solvents, pyrolysis products, ionizing radiation, and X-rays. All three women continued working during pregnancy, and none had a family history of related illnesses.
Conclusions
OSHRI estimated that the occupational exposure levels of these workers were low and noted insufficient reproductive research focused on congenital anomalies in the Korean semiconductor industry before 2010. However, KWCWS cited frequent miscarriages among female semiconductor workers as indirect evidence of an increased risk of congenital anomalies. KWCWS ultimately concluded that substantial evidence supports an association between occupational exposure and congenital diseases in the children of female semiconductor workers. This case series highlights a landmark recognition of occupational disease related to congenital anomalies in the semiconductor industry, emphasizing the need for further reproductive health research and improved worker protections.; 업무상질병판정위원회에서 업무상 질병으로 인정한 반도체 여성 노동자 자녀의 선천성 질환 사례 3건
배경
최근 3명의 여성 반도체 노동자가 자녀들의 선천성 질환에 대해 산업재해 질환 보상을 신청하였다: 노동자 자녀 A는 면역글로불린 A 신병증, 방광요관 역류, 무신장증을, 노동자 자녀 B는 무신장증 및 기관식도루를 동반한 식도 폐쇄증을, 그리고 노동자 자녀 C는 선천성 거대결장을 진단받았다. 산업안전보건연구원(OSHRI)은 반도체 산업에서의 직업적 노출과 이들 선천성 질환 간의 관련성이 낮다고 결론지었다. 그러나 근로복지공단(KWCWS)은 이 사례들을 직업병으로 인정하였다. 이에 본 연구는 2024년 3월 국내 최초로 직업병으로 인정된 여성 반도체 노동자 자녀의 선천성 질환 사례 3건을 보고하고자 한다.
증례
환자 A의 어머니는 9년 동안 광학 공정에서 근무했으며, 환자 B의 어머니는 10년 동안 확산 공정에서 근무하였다. 환자 C의 어머니는 7년 동안 성형 및 검사 공정에서 근무하였다. 이들의 업무는 벤젠, 유기 용제, 열분해 생성물, 이온화 방사선, X선 등에 노출되는 작업을 포함하고 있었다. 세 여성 모두 임신 중에도 계속 근무했으며, 관련 질환의 가족력은 없었다.
결론
산업안전보건연구원의 역학조사평가위원회는 세 노동자의 직업적 노출 평가 수준이 낮다고 평가했으며, 2010년 이전 한국 반도체 산업 내 생식 관련 연구가 부족하다고 판단하였다. 그러나 근로복지공단의 질병판정위원회는 여성 반도체 노동자들 사이에서 빈번히 보고된 유산이 자녀들에게 선천성 기형의 위험 증가를 간접적으로 입증하는 증거로 작용한다고 판단하였다. 근로복지공단 질병판정위원회는 여성 반도체 노동자의 직업적 노출과 자녀의 선천성 질환 사이의 연관성을 뒷받침하는 상당한 증거가 있다고 결론지었다. 이러한 사례 연구는 반도체 산업에서 선천성 기형과 관련된 직업병 인식의 중요한 전환점을 보여주며, 생식 건강 연구의 확대와 근로자 보호 강화를 위한 필요성을 강조한다.

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Original Article

Occupational disease issues in high-tech industries of South Korea: analysis of governmental data on the semiconductor and display industries: Chungsik Yoon, Jinjoo Chung, Jongran Lee, Kwonchul Ha, Joseph DiGangi, Jeong-Ok Kong; Ann Occup Environ Med 2025;37:e6. Published online March 24, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2025.37.e6

Abstract Abstract in Korean PDF: Background
This study analyzed occupational diseases compensated through the government system in the Korean electronics industry and observed changes in the rationale for compensation.
Methods
Data from the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service (KWCWS) from 2012 to 2023 were analyzed to examine occupational disease issues in South Korea's semiconductor and display industries.
Results
KWCWS received 174 occupational disease claims between 2012 and 2023, with 88 (50.6%) approved. The case of a 22-year-old semiconductor worker who died from leukemia has raised awareness and appears to be leading to more claims and higher approval rates. Cancer-related claims, particularly for breast and blood cancers, were the most common. Since 2018, the approval rate for occupational diseases has increased to 60%, which may have been influenced by the Supreme Court's Principle of Presumption of Occupational Diseases and the government’s reduction of the burden of proof. However, approval rates remain lower in small- and medium-sized enterprises (38.0%) compared to large corporations (55.6%), likely because of better documentation and unionization in the latter. The semiconductor industry had more claims and approvals than the LCD industry, primarily due to its longer operational history and greater chemical exposure.
Conclusions
In South Korea, the increasing approval rate of occupational diseases in the electronics industry from 2012 to 2023 appears to reflect changes in how causal relationships and occupational health policies have been implemented and this is likely due to stakeholder involvement and relevant legal decisions.; 반도체 및 디스플레이 산업의 정부자료 분석으로 본 한국 첨단 산업에서의 직업병 이슈
목적
본 연구는 한국 전자산업에서 산재보험 보상 승인된 직업병을 분석하고 보상 근거의 변화를 관찰하였다.
방법
2012년부터 2023년까지 근로복지공단의 데이터를 분석하여 한국의 반도체 및 디스플레이 산업에서 직업병의 신청과 승인을 연도별, 업종별, 규모별로 분석하였다.
결과
2012년부터 2023년까지 근로복지공단에 접수된 직업병 산재보상 신청은 174건이고 이 중 88건(51%)이 승인되었다. 2007년 한 반도체 노동자의 백혈병 사망을 계기로 직업병에 대한 인식이 높아져, 산재보상 신청 건수가 증가하고 승인률도 높아진 것으로 추정된다. 신청 상병은 암, 특히 유방암과 혈액암이 가장 많았다. 대법원이 직업병 추정 원칙을 판시하고 정부가 입증 부담을 완화한 것이 2018년 이후 직업병 승인률을 60%까지 증가하는데 기여하였다. 그러나 중소기업(38%)의 승인률은 대기업(56%)에 비해 여전히 낮은데, 이는 대기업에서 기록을 더 잘 보관하고 노조 조직률도 더 높은 것이 영향을 주었을 것이다. 반도체 산업은 LCD 산업보다 산재 신청 건수와 승인 건수가 더 많은데, 이는 반도체 산업의 역사가 더 길며 화학물질 노출이 더 크기 때문으로 추정된다.
결론
연구 기간 동안 전자업체에서의 대부분 직업병은 혈액암과 유방암과 같은 암이었고 직업병 산재 승인의 증가는 이해관계자의 참여와 사회 이슈화, 유연해진 법원 판결, 산재보험제도 등이 큰 영향을 미쳤을 것이다.

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Research Article

The relationship between spontaneous abortion and female workers in the semiconductor industry: Heechan Kim, Ho-Jang Kwon, Jeongbae Rhie, Sinye Lim, Yun-Dan Kang, Sang-Yong Eom, Hyungryul Lim, Jun-Pyo Myong, Sangchul Roh; Ann Occup Environ Med 2017;29:49. Published online October 9, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-017-0204-x

Abstract PDF

Background

This study investigated the relationship between job type and the risk for spontaneous abortion to assess the reproductive toxicity of female workers in the semiconductor industry.

Methods

A questionnaire survey was administered to current female workers of two semiconductor manufacturing plants in Korea. We included female workers who became pregnant at least 6 months after the start of their employment with the company. The pregnancy outcomes of 2,242 female workers who experienced 4,037 pregnancies were investigated. Personnel records were used to assign the subjects to one of three groups: fabrication process workers, packaging process workers, and clerical workers. To adjust for within-person correlations between pregnancies, a generalized estimating equation was used. The logistic regression analysis was limited to the first pregnancy after joining the company to satisfy the assumption of independence among pregnancies. Moreover, we stratified the analysis by time period (pregnancy in the years prior to 2008 vs. after 2009) to reflect differences in occupational exposure based on semiconductor production periods.

Results

The risk for spontaneous abortion in female semiconductor workers was not significantly higher for fabrication and packaging process workers than for clerical workers. However, when we stratified by time period, the odds ratio for spontaneous abortion was significantly higher for packaging process workers who became pregnant prior to 2008 when compared with clerical workers (odds ratio: 2.21; 95% confidence interval: 1.01–4.81).

Conclusions

When examining the pregnancies of female semiconductor workers that occurred prior to 2008, packaging process workers showed a significantly higher risk for spontaneous abortions than did clerical workers. The two semiconductor production periods in our study (prior to 2008 vs. after 2009) had different automated processes, chemical exposure levels, and working environments. Thus, the conditions prior to 2008 may have increased the risk for spontaneous abortions in packaging process workers in the semiconductor industry.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s40557-017-0204-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Research Article

Assessment of Arsenic Exposure by Measurement of Urinary Speciated Inorganic Arsenic Metabolites in Workers in a Semiconductor Manufacturing Plant: Kiwhan Byun, Yong Lim Won, Yang In Hwang, Dong-Hee Koh, Hosub Im, Eun-A Kim; Ann Occup Environ Med 2013;25:21. Published online October 11, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2052-4374-25-21

Abstract PDF

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the exposure to arsenic in preventive maintenance (PM) engineers in a semiconductor industry by detecting speciated inorganic arsenic metabolites in the urine.

Methods

The exposed group included 8 PM engineers from the clean process area and 13 PM engineers from the ion implantation process area; the non-exposed group consisted of 14 office workers from another company who were not occupationally exposed to arsenic. A spot urine specimen was collected from each participant for the detection and measurement of speciated inorganic arsenic metabolites. Metabolites were separated by high performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma spectrometry-mass spectrometry.

Results

Urinary arsenic metabolite concentrations were 1.73 g/L, 0.76 g/L, 3.45 g/L, 43.65 g/L, and 51.32 g/L for trivalent arsenic (As³⁺), pentavalent arsenic (As⁵⁺), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and total inorganic arsenic metabolites (As³⁺ + As⁵⁺ + MMA + DMA), respectively, in clean process PM engineers. In ion implantation process PM engineers, the concentrations were 1.74 g/L, 0.39 g/L, 3.08 g/L, 23.17 g/L, 28.92 g/L for As³⁺, As⁵⁺, MMA, DMA, and total inorganic arsenic metabolites, respectively. Levels of urinary As³⁺, As⁵⁺, MMA, and total inorganic arsenic metabolites in clean process PM engineers were significantly higher than that in the non-exposed group. Urinary As³⁺ and As⁵⁺ levels in ion implantation process PM engineers were significantly higher than that in non-exposed group.

Conclusion

Levels of urinary arsenic metabolites in PM engineers from the clean process and ion implantation process areas were higher than that in office workers. For a complete assessment of arsenic exposure in the semiconductor industry, further studies are needed.

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Original Article

Review on Potential Risk Factors in Wafer Fabrication Process of Semiconductor Industry: Dong Uk Park, Hyae Jeong Byun, Sang Jun Choi, Jee Yeon Jeong, Chung Sik Yoon, Chi Nyon Kim, Kwon Chul Ha, Doo Yong Park; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011;23(3):333-342. Published online September 30, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2011.23.3.333

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
To associate work in the semiconductor industry, including silicon wafer fabrication, with cancer risks or mortality and other adverse health effects, the operation of wafer fabrication should initially be understood. A detailed study on the fabrication operation allows retrospective exposure to be assessed and wafer fabrication workers to be classified into similar exposure groups. Therefore, the objective of this study was to comprehensively review silicon wafer fabrication operations and related hazardous materials and agents.
METHODS
The literatures related to semiconductor industry processes were reviewed from an occupational health viewpoint based on wafer manufacturing, wafer fabrication and packaging. The focus was especially related to the hazardous materials used in wafer fabrication industries.
RESULTS
During the fabrication of silicon wafers, many toxic chemicals, a strong electric field and hazardous equipment are used. The process allows the integration of a three-dimensional array of electric circuits onto a silicon wafer substrate. Wafers are sliced from single crystal silicon and subject to a series of steps during the fabrication process, which alternatively adds and then selectively removes materials in layers from the surface of the wafer to create different parts of the completed integrated circuit. There are four major steps in this process; patterning, junction formation, thin film and metallization.
CONCLUSIONS
In order to associate exposure to the hazard agents generated during wafer fabrication operations with adverse health effects the details of the operation should be completely studied, which will be helpful in both exposure assessments and epidemiological studies.

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