No abstract available.
Inflammation* ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Ozone*

To present a critique of the disaster management, the pre-disaster, disaster and post-disaster events surrounding the Ozone Disco fire, the worst land fire disaster in the Philippine history, that occurred on March 19, 1996 were retrieved and summarized from available and verifiable records. The disaster events were analyzed based on the principles of disaster management, particularly in the medical care of the casualties and the operational structures existing in the region at that time. The existing disaster plan of the hospital involved was included in the analysis. Conclusions were set to refocus interest in the disaster and provide basis for planning in disaster preparedness.

Humans ; Ozone ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the pulmonary function changes of ozone exposure in Corona and Slitter workers exposed to an ozone level ranging from 0.022~0.061 ppm. METHODS: Forty-two subjects were exposed for 8hrs to ozone every day. We perfomed pulmonary function testing immediately before and after work and self-administered, portable peak flow meter measurements were self-conducted by the workers over a 5-day (Monday to Friday) period. RESULTS: Ozone concentrations in the workplace ranging from 0.050~0.061 ppm at Corona and 0.022~0.023 ppm at Slitter in 2006. A small decrement in forced-vital capacity were observed among Corona workers from 93.9% to 91.3% (p=0.012) and also in employment duration below ten years. We found no significant differences in before and after FVC and FEV1 among Slitter workers. All daily (Monday to Friday) peak expiratory flow rates declined in magnitude after two days of ozone exposure, compared with first day exposure. CONCLUSION: We concluded that daily ozone exposure in the workplace slightly decreased pulmonary function and that PEFR variability is greatest on the 2nd day of ozone exposure.
Employment ; Ozone* ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Respiratory Function Tests

BACKGROUND: Ozone (03) induces airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness which are characteristic features of asthma. There have been few studies observing O3-induced increase in responsiveness of rat airway muscle. Objectives: The aims of this study were to develop an O3-induced nonallergic asthma model using rat tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) and to evaluate the role of airway epithelium on the modulation of muscle responsiveness. METHOD: Five groups of 20 male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were exposed to filtered air including 0.12, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 ppm 03 for 1 hour. Thirty minutes after the exposure, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and isometric contractile responses of the isolated tracheal ring segments to KCI, acetylcholine (ACh), and electrical field stimulation (EFS) were measured. RESULTS: The percent age of neutrophils was significantly higher and that of alveolar macro-phages in BAL fluid was significantly lower in 2.0 ppm O3-exposed rats than in the control. There were no significant differences in the maximal contractile responses of TSM to KC1, ACh, EFS and in the sensitivity to ACh (ACh-EC50) and EFS (EFS-EC50) between the control group and the ozone exposed group. ACh-EC50 and EFS-EC50 were correlated positively with the percent age of neutrophils and inversely with that of macrophages. Removal of epithelium significantly increased the sensitivity to ACh in O3-exposed group, but not in the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that O3 induces neutrophilic airway inflammation, but not an increased sensitivity of TSM to ACh or EFS in SD rats. However, O3-induced epithelial damage may be associated with increased muscle response.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Asthma ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Macrophages ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Neutrophils ; Ozone ; Rats* ; Trachea

OBJECTIVES: To explore the possible effect of an interaction between summertime heat waves and ozone on cardiopulmonary mortality during the 1994 heat wave in Korea. METHODS: The unusually hot summer of 1994 in Korea was defined as the heat wave in this study. We examined the associations of air pollutants with daily cardiopulmonary deaths between 1991-1995, considering the product term of the heat wave and each pollutant, weather and time trends. RESULTS: During the heat wave, while temperatures were uniformly higher than those of other summers, the within-heat-wave difference in mortality paralleled that in the regional ozone levels. In terms of the influence of the heat wave, the results of ozone were different to those of total suspended particles (TSP) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The ozone association (relative risk (RR) =1.036; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.018-1.054) was observed only under heat wave conditions, while the TSP (RR =1.006, 95% CI = 0.999-1.012) and the SO2 (RR =1.018, 95% CI = 1.011-1.024) associations were found under normal weather conditions (per interquartile increase of each pollutant; results of three pollutants model). The ozone association under heat wave was attributable to the statistical interaction between the heat wave and ozone. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the possibility of a biological synergy between the heat wave and ozone, one that is not evident between the heat wave and other major pollutants like particles or SO2.
Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution ; Hot Temperature* ; Infrared Rays* ; Korea* ; Mortality* ; Ozone* ; Sulfur Dioxide ; Weather

In this study, the effect of surface modification of polymethylmethacry-late[PMMA]by grafting of poly[ethylene glycol][PEG]on cell adhesion was investigated. PMMA surface was treated with ozone and then PEG-acry-late[PEGA]was graft-polymerized. Ozone treatment of the surface was car-ried out at room temperature by applying constant flow of oxygen[4.5liter/min]and 1 bar pressure. After ozone treatment, PMMA was immersed immediately in 20 wt%aq. PEG-acrylate solutions in glass ampoules. After degassing, the ampoule was sealed and kept at 60 degrees C for 24 hours to complete the graft polymerization. PMMA surface grafted with PEG revealed the enhanced oxygen content at ESCA analysis and the decreased dynamic receding contact angles. The adhesion of keratocytes onto modified PMMA was investigated. Keratocytes[4 x105cells/milliliter ]were layered on each PMMA discs which were glued to the bottom of 24-well culture plates, and cultured in a CO2 incubator for 24 hours. The adherent cells onto the surfaces were harvested by trypsinization and counted. The mean numbers of keratocytes on untreated PMMA, PEG-grafted PMMA with 1hour ozone treatment and PEG-grafted PMMA with 2 hour were 72.5 x104 and 6.5 x104 and 7.6 x104cells respectively, and there was a significant statistical difference [p=0.002], irrespective of ozone treatment period. This result suggests that surface modification of PMMA using PEG grafting may reduce etroprosthetic membrane formation of artificial cornea.
Cell Adhesion ; Cornea ; Glass ; Incubators ; Membranes ; Oxygen ; Ozone ; Polymerization* ; Polymers* ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Transplants ; Trypsin

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet light induces sunburn, ageing of the skin, pigmentation and even promotes skin cancers. As there has been a recent decrease in the ozone layer surrounding the earth, increasing attention has been given to the effects of ultraviolet light on the skin. Through human epidermis, ultraviolet light is reflected, scattered, absorbed or transmitted. In caucacians, the rate of transmitted ultraviolet light A from the epidermis to the dermis is 50% and the rate of transmitted ultraviolet light B is below 10%. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the transmittance of UVA and UVB on Korean normal epidermis. METHODS: Pure epidermis was obtained from normal human epidermis by suction of blisters in 12 patients with vitiligo. All specimens were irradiated respectively with UVA and UVB and the amount of transmitted energy was measured. RESULTS: 1. The transmittance of UVA energy density by normal epidermis was 47.7+11.2% of irradiated UVA energy. 2. The transmittance of UVB energy density by normal epidermis was 32.4+3.4% of irradiated UVB energy. CONCLUSION: UVA energy transmission through normal epidermis of Korean is less than those of Caucacians but UVB energy transmission through nor mal epidermis of Korean is more than those of Caucacians. It is suggested that this could be an important basic data to study for photoaging and photoprotection in Korean population.
Blister ; Dermis ; Epidermis* ; Humans* ; Pigmentation ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Stratospheric Ozone ; Suction ; Sunburn ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Vitiligo

Several studies have reported the associations between airborne particles and/or ozone and respiratory diseases. This study examined whether such an association could be seen in Seoul, one of the greatest city in Korea. We compiled daily records of hospital visits in Seoul from November 1, 1995 to October 31, 1996. The daily averages of ozone and particle matter whose diameter is 10 micrometer or less(PM10) from all monitoring stations were computed. Daily respiratory hospital visits were regressed on temperature, humidity, day of weak indicators, seasonal variation indicators, and air pollution. Each pollutant was first examined individually and then two pollutant models were fitted. RESULTS : Both PM10 and Ozone were associated with increased risk of respiratory hospital visits. The relative risk of respiratory hospital visits for 50 microgram/m3 increase in PM10(lagged 2 days) was 1.11(95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.18). The PM10 associations was insensitive to alternative methods of control for weather, including exclusion of extreme temperature days and control for temperature on another day. The ozone results were more sensitive to the approach for weather control. The relative risk of respiratory hospital visits for 0.01 ppm increase in O3 was 1.08(95% confidence interval 1.00-1.17). The magnitude of the PM10 effect in Seoul, where SO2 was essential present, was similar to that reported in the Europe and United states. In conclusion, The consistency of investigations of the health effects of air pollution suggest that attention should be paid to the control of air pollution.
Air Pollution* ; Europe ; Humidity ; Korea ; Ozone ; Seasons ; Seoul* ; United States ; Weather

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of paracetic acid (PAA) and ozone disinfection on the tensile bond strength (TBS) of silicone-based resilient liners to acrylic resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty dumbbell shaped heat-polymerized acrylic resins were prepared. From the mid segment of the specimens, 3 mm of acrylic were grinded off and separated parts were reattached by resilient liners. The specimens were divided into 2 control (control1, control7) and 4 test groups of PAA and ozone disinfection (PAA1, PAA7, ozone1 and ozone7; n=10). While control groups were immersed in distilled water for 10 min (control1) and 7 days (control7), test groups were subjected to PAA (16 g/L) or ozone rich water (4 mg/L) for 1 cycle (10 min for PAA and 60 min for ozone) per day for 7 days prior to tensile tests. Measurements of the TBS were analyzed using 3-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test. RESULTS: Adhesive strength of Mollosil decreased significantly by application of ozone disinfection. PAA disinfection had no negative effect on the TBS values of Mollosil and Molloplast B to acrylic resin. Single application of ozone disinfection did not have any negative effect on TBS values of Molloplast B, but prolonged exposure to ozone decreased its adhesive strength. CONCLUSION: The adhesion of resilient liners to acrylic was not adversely affected by PAA disinfection. Immersion in ozonated water significantly decreased TBS of Mollosil. Prolonged exposure to ozone negatively affects adhesion of Molloplast B to denture base materials.
Acrylic Resins ; Adhesives ; Denture Bases ; Disinfection* ; Immersion ; Ozone* ; Peracetic Acid ; Water