OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to estimate the carcinogenic risks from the ingestion of some carcinogenic pesticides (CPs) in vegetables sampled at a local agricultural product market in Seoul. METHODS: After applying a hazard identification step, we selected four pesticides, such as DDT, dieldrin, folpet, and heptachlor epoxide, for this risk assessment. Concentrations of each pesticide were measured from randomly sampled vegetables. In order to estimate the human exposure levels, we combined the concentration of pesticides in the vegetables with consumption rate of those vegetables. Three scenarios were hypothesized for human exposure assessment. Scenario I was the most conservative which supposed the undetected CPs would be the detection limit values. Scenario II was assumed that the undetected CPs would be a half of the detection limit values, and finally scenario III merely considered only values greater than the detection limit values. We finally presented the estimated carcinogenic risks on the basis of the traditional risk assessment procedure suggested by U.S. EPA. RESULTS: Pesticides including DDT, dieldrin, folpet and heptachlor epoxide were detected in 9 samples (6%) in the range of 0.0006~0.09ppm. The daily intake levels of carcinogenic pesticides were estimated in the range of 0.0009~0.0079 microgram/day. As we expected, excess cancer risks based on scenario I was also the highest (1.1x10-8~ 5.5x10-5). CONCLUSIONS: We found that the estimated risks from the pesticides we investigated were not serious. We, however, propose that a continuos monitoring is needed to make sure for the protection of public health.
DDT ; Dieldrin ; Eating ; Heptachlor Epoxide ; Humans ; Korea* ; Limit of Detection ; Pesticides* ; Public Health ; Risk Assessment* ; Seoul ; Vegetables*

This study described methods to predict human health risk associated with exposure to environmental carciongens using animal bioassay data. Also, biological assumption for various dose-response models were reviewed. To illustrate the process of risk estimate using relevant dose-response models such as Log-normal, Mantel-Bryan, Weibull and Multistage model, we used four animal carcinogenesis bioassy data of chloroform and chloroform concentrations of tap water measured in large cities of korea from 1987 to 1995. As a result, in the case of using average concentration in exposure data and 95 % upper boud unit risk of Multistage model, excess cancer risk(RISK I) was about 1.9 x 10-6, in the case of using probability distribution of cumulative exposure data and unit risks, those risks(RISK II) which were simulated by Monte-Carlo analysis were about 2.4 x 10(-6) and 7.9 x 10(-5) at 50 and 95 percentile, respectively. Therefore risk estimated by Monte-Carlo analysis using probability distribution of input variables may be more conservative.
Animals ; Biological Assay ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinogens, Environmental* ; Chloroform ; Humans ; Korea ; Water

No abstract available.
Delivery of Health Care* ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Noise*

By implementing epoch-making policies for industrial promotion, the national economy has made a remarkable development. As a result of such economic growth, industrial accidents and occupational diseases have become a serious problem in Korean society. In the presidential order for the execution of the Korean Labor Standard Law, neuritis and other diseases stemming from health impairments due to vibrations in industrial processes are designated to be dealt with as vibration diseases. In the case of vibration disease, industrial accident compensation is not effectively paid. In order to investigate the vibration hazards of rock-drill operation, the authors studied the subjective symptoms and performed physical function tests on a total of 79 persons (vibration exposed group) who used rock-drills, and 39 persons (control group) who did not use rock-drills at anthracite mines. The results of the physical function test were as follows : 1. The right hand was more affected by white finger than the left hand. 2. Independent variables such as duration of rock-drill operation, age, drinking and smoking were identified as statistically significant factors for the occurrence of white finger. 3. In the pain sense threshold, the group with Raynaud's phenomenon showed a statistically higher level than that of the control group. 4. The skin temperature of the group with Raynaud's phenomenon was lower than that of the control group. The recovery time of skin temperature after cooling was delayed compared with the value of the control group.
Accidents, Occupational ; Coal* ; Compensation and Redress ; Drinking ; Economic Development ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Neuritis ; Occupational Diseases ; Skin Temperature* ; Skin* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vibration

To investigate the relationship between physical health of workers and industrial accidents, a case-control study was carried out using matched samples of 87 injured steel industry workers and 87 non-injured steel industry workers. One group of people who experienced industrial accidents more than two times were case, and the other group of people who matched the type of work and duration of employment were control. We surveyed questionnaire between July 20, 1988 and July 22, 1988. The results were as follows: 1. The average age of injured workers was 39 years, and non-injured workers was 38 years. Duration of employment of injured workers was 8.4 years and non-injured workers was 8 years. 2. Visual acuity under 1.0 were 24.4 percent in injured workers and 19.5 percent in non-injured workers. Hearing threshold over 40 dB were 77.1 percent in injured workers and 60.9 percent in non-injured workers. 3. As for the Fugamachi classification method, 22.9 percent of injured workers and 20.8 percent of non-injured workers were group III(suspected neurotics). 4. As for the item of CMI(Cornell Medical Index), injured workers were higher rates than non-injured workers in the item of C(cardiovascular system), M(inadequency), O(anxiety), P(sensitivity), Q(anger), and R(tension). 5. Especially, injured workers who had more than three times were higher in the item of C(cardiovascular system), M(inadequency), N(depression), P(sensitivity), Q(anger), R(tension) than non-injured workers.
Accidents, Occupational* ; Case-Control Studies ; Classification ; Employment ; Hearing ; Questionnaires ; Steel* ; Visual Acuity

A large number of studies have indicated associations between particulate air pollution and daily mortality. Daily measurements of total suspended particulates (TSP) by high volume air sampler were matched to daily death counts supplied by the National Statistics Office, Korea. All deaths, except deaths from accidents, occurred at Ulsan from 1 January 1991 to 31 December 1994 were considered in the poisson regression analysis. The multiple regression models were used to investigate a main effects of air particulate pollution controlling for SO2 levels, air temperature, relative humidity, seasonal variation, and calendar year. The results indicated that the effects of TSP, SO2, temperature, and relative humidity were not significantly associated with all cause mortality. It could, however, be emphasized that the size of the parameter estimate of TSP was very similar to that of previous studies. An increase in particulates of 100microgram/m4 was associated with a 3% increase in mortality. This relationship was observed at TSP levels well below the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 150microgram/m4 in Korea as well.
Air Pollution ; Humidity ; Korea* ; Mortality* ; Seasons ; Ulsan*