OBJECTIVES To investigate the chronological subjective symptoms and related factors in ex-workers who were occupationally exposed to Carbon disulfide. METHODS One hundred and seventy-seven subjects (147 males and 30 females) were randomly selected among ex-workers and interviewed by well trained doctors, who filled out a structured questionnaire developed by authors on the subjective symptoms. The questionnaire was composed of symptoms in the head and neck, and those of the neuro-psychological, respiratory, endocrine, musculoskeletal, and reproductive systems. Other factors such as general and occupational characteristics including work department, work duration, duration since cessation of exposure, and compensation for occupational disease were also investigated. RESULTS The mean subject age was 55.4 years. The mean cumulative exposure index (CEI) was 38.96 +/- 31.18. CEI was significantly higher in the compensated group (47.61 +/- 32.51) than in the non-compensated group (26.81 +/- 24.75)(p=0.000). Symptom complaints were significantly higher in the compensated group in all organ systems, and their incidence increased gradually until 10 years after cessation of work, and then decreased. The mean duration for cessation of exposure at the time of compensation was 10.97 years. The significantly different factors between the compensated group and the non-compensated group were total cumulative exposure index and the time interval between the cessation of work and the time of compensation. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that total cumulative exposure index and the time interval between the cessation of work and the time of compensation may be important factors affecting the compensation for occupational disease. Therefore, further studies will be necessary.
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2. Only 3.6% of the total patients under the study felt the main symptoms of the cervicobrachial syndrome 36 months before this study, and then the number of patients increased gradually, but the incidence of the syndrome increased suddenly from 25.1% to 74.9% since the factory had elevated the height of the belt conveyer-worktables from 75.0cm to 87.7 cm 13 months before the study.
3. Although the higher percentage of the female workers felt the subjective symptoms including the pain at the neck and shoulder, the discomfort or pain at the back and the discomfort or pain at the wrist or the finger than male workers significantly (p<0.05). The male workers, however, showed more abnormal X-ray findings than the female workers significantly (p<0.05).
4. Between the prevalence of the cervicbbrachial syndrome and the number of actual workers occupied at the factory during last-24 months, a negative correlation (r=-0.508~r=-0.665) was observed.
5. The measured workplace environment of the studied factory (average temperature: 13.3 degrees C, average noise: 78.8 dB, average illumination: 241.4 Lux) was the poorer condition than the recommended level (17degrees C or more, lower than 75 dB and 400 Lux or more).
6. Neither items to check the cervicobrachial syndrome during the entrance and health maintenance examinations nor early treatment program for the syndrome were found, at the factory.
In conclusion, the primary cause of the cervicobrachial syndrome of the workers were considered due to their repeated monotonous motions on the neck, the shoulder, the arms and the hands for a long duration (2-3 years) with the uncomfortable working posture under the uncomfortable workplace environments, and the condition got aggravated due to the inappropriated health management program for its secondary prevention.
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In order to evaluate possible effects of lead exposure, lead absorption and subjective symptoms in the expressway tollgate workers, 147 workers who have benn working at 4 expressway tollgates werer studied. Study variables were blood lead(PbB), urine lead(PbU), delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine (ALAU), coproporphyrin in urine (CPU), zinc protoporphyrin in whole blood (ZPP), hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count and symtom index of lead exposure. Subjective symptoms, 16 items, were investigated by a physician's interview.
The results were as follows: 1. The most prevailing subjective symptom related to lead exposure were reported fatigue (41.5%), follow by abdominal discomfort (26.5%), loss of appetite (23.8%) and numbness (21.0%).
2. The mean air concentrations of lead at inside and outside of tollbooth were 6.8 (0.2~17.9) and 4.8 (0.2~17.5) microgram/m3, respectively.
3. The mean values of lead absorption indices (blood lead, urine lead, delta-aminolevulinic acid, coproporphyrin in urine and zinc protoporphyrin in blood) of workers were 19.99 (4.2~38.9) microgram/ dl, 29.82(6.3~68.6) microgram/l, 1.04(0.17~3.41) mg/l, 30.30(11.6~58.0) microgram/l and 10.51(1.0~31.0) microgram/l, respectively. And the mean values of hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cell count were 15.41 (10.2~18.9)g/dl, 45.88(33.9~54.7)%, 497.37(415~591)x10(4)/mm3, respectively.
4. The mean number of positive responses to subjective symptoms(16 items) was 2.08(13%) and tended to decrease with increasing work duration and age.
5. The number of positive responses of subjective symptoms did not show dose-response relationship with lead absorption indices.
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