OBJECTIVES: Acrylamide is a neurotoxin inducing central-peripheral distal axonopathy. The authors evaluated several neurologic tests to screen the early effect of occupational acrylamide exposure. METHODS: Fifty-two males working either in the production of acrylamide monomer or in the handling of acrylamide in Ulsan, Korea, were selected and subcategorized into the high-exposure group (n=10, mean age of 30. 4 years) and the low-exposure group (n=42, mean age of 28.9 years). Twenty-three males (mean age 29.4 years) from medical professionals and students were chosen as a non-exposed reference group. Symptom questionnaire, neurologic examination, electrodiagnostic test, vibrotactile threshold test, and Lanthony desaturated 15 panel test (LD-15D) were done. RESULTS: The high-exposure group showed more number of specific symptoms on questionnaire and more abnormal two point discrimination test. High-exposure group showed a significant difference in the median motor conduction velocity, peroneal nerve motor latency, sensory amplitude of median nerve action potential, and sensory latency of sural nerve. The vibrotactile threshold of the high-exposure group was significantly higher in both hands and feet than that of the low-exposure group and the reference group. Average color confusion index on the LD-15D was significantly higher in the high-exposure group (median 22.7, range 0-135.7) than in the reference group (median 2.4, range 0-33.2). CONCLUSIONS: The symptom questionnaire, vibrotactile threshold test, and color discrimination test are sensitive in detection of the early acrylamide-induced neuropathy, and the combination of these tests would further facilitate the effectiveness of the screening.
Acrylamide* ; Action Potentials ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Median Nerve ; Neurologic Examination ; Peroneal Nerve ; Questionnaires ; Sural Nerve ; Ulsan

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Manganese*

Three cases of lipomas associated with heavy talc deposits are reported in local inhabitants near a fiber glass factory. Pathologic and mineralogical analysis by polarizing microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis and X-ray diffraction of mass were done. Simultaneously, we performed an epidemiological survey and a mineralogical study of disposed fiber glass from waste site and ground water. All tumors consisted of mature fat tissue containing an abundant birefringent talc fibers and particles under polarized light. The concentrations of the fibers were 494.7, 6.7 and 50.7 million fibers per gram of dry tissue. The fibers were needlelike with rectangular fractured ends, up to 17 micrometer in length and 0.5 micrometer in diameter. EDX and X-ray diffraction analysis of the fibers showed that 71 to 100% of the fibers were magnesium silicate, talc. We also identified magnesium silicate fibers in the fiber glass from the waste site and in the ground water which were similar to talc fibers in lipomas,. We concluded that fibrous talc, a component of fiberglass waste, might be associated with the development of lipomas via unknown exposure route.
Environmental Exposure ; Foreign Bodies ; Glass ; Groundwater ; Lipoma* ; Magnesium ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated ; Silicates ; Talc* ; X-Ray Diffraction

An outbreak of dermatosis occurred in a livestock fodder factory at Kyongju in May 1994. Authors conducted a questionnaire survey on 60 workers in the factory and a dermatologist examined their skin lesion. Authors also collected mites and identified them. The obtained results were summarized as follows; 1. Twentyeight cases of dermatosis were identified with attack rate of 46.7%. Attack rate was not different by department, age, sex, educational level and employment duration. Attack rate was 67.5% in productive worker and 5.0% in clerical workers (p<0.01) but was not significantly different between departments among productive workers (p>0.05). 2. Three cases among 28 dermatosis cases and one subject among 32 non-cases had a history of same dermatosis last year. Only one of dermatosis cases had a history of dermatosis among family members. History of other skin lesion and allergy was very rare in both cases and non-cases. 3. Skin lesions of the cases were rice-sized erythematous papules or vesicles with a central biting point. Onset date of dermatosis was between May 1 and June 10. Duration was from one day to more than 30 days. Skin lesion was most frequent at the back(75.0%). and also observed at the arms(64.3%). abdomen(60.7%), legs(57.1%), chest(32.1%) and neck (25.0%). Skin lesion was aggravated while workers are sweeping the floor(35.7%), working at the workplace(21.4%) and in bed at night(28. 6%). 4. Total l,637 mites were collected and identified into 3 suborder, 7 families and 17 species. Dermafophagoides farinae was most frequent Nnd most of the species identified were blood sucking mites. Authors concluded that the outbreak of dermatosis was brought about by mite-bites and grain beetle parasitizing Acarophenax tribolii was the most suspected species. Further studies to identify the specific species causing dermatosis and route of import are needed.
Beetles ; Edible Grain ; Employment ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Livestock ; Mites* ; Neck ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Skin Diseases*

We report a case of a suspected acute hepatic dysfunction after general anesthesia with sevoflurane. A 71 year old female underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy under O2-N2O-sevoflurane anesthesia. She had no history of anesthesia, allergy, hypertension, diabetes or hepatitis. Four hours after surgery, she developed a conscious disturbance and became comatose. There was a marked increase in the serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time level, but the platelet and eosinophil counts were within the normal range. Her hepatic dysfunction improved after conservative therapy. She recovered gradually and was discharged after 24 days of hospitalization. Sevoflurane is believed to be the possible cause of the acute hepatic dysfunction in this case.
Aged ; Alanine Transaminase ; Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, General ; Appendectomy ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blood Platelets ; Coma ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Hepatitis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypertension ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Prothrombin Time ; Reference Values

Glass Fiber is manufactured from typical glass-making raw materials, silicon dioxide with various metals and other elements. There are three distinct types of commercial glass fiber products: glass wool, an entangled mass of interlocking fibers; continuous glass filament, a product with a more ordered arrangement of fibers; and special-purpose glass fiber, a small-diameter fiber (less than 3 um) . We report a case of glass fiber-induced health hazard due to continuous glass filament from fiber reinforced plastics (FRF) as car interior material. A 40 years old man complained a sudden onset of severe itching on whole body, especially neck and forearms while driving a new car. He also complained burning of eyes, sore throat and productive cough. We diagnosed the glass fiver-induced skin lesion by placing skin scraping on a slide glass and examining the specimen under a microscope. We found same fibers from the air samples in the car and from the material of the interior surface of the car by the microscopic examination. Therefore we confirmed that the patient's symptoms and signs were induced by glass fiber.
Adult ; Burns ; Cough ; Forearm ; Glass* ; Humans ; Metals ; Neck ; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated ; Pharyngitis ; Plastics ; Pruritus ; Silicon Dioxide ; Skin ; Wool

Fiberglass, as a substitute of asbestos, is used for more than 60 years as a insulator material. Health hazards including irritation of skin, mucosa and respiratory system associated with use of fiberglass is reported. Many studies on the fibrogenicity and carcinogenicity of fiberglass was conducted but evidence is not sufficient to confirm the carcinogenicity or fibrogenicity. Authors studied the health hazards among 152 inhabitants(71 men and 81 women) from 32 households living around the fiberglass factory which produced the fiberglass insulators and glasswool panels for 20 years. Questionnaire survey on household and persons, examination of underground water, pathologic examination of subcutaneous tumors and examination of fiberglass in tumor tissues were done. The results are as follows; 1. Fiberglass concentration of underground water sampled from 33 households in the study area was 13. 7-95. 9 fiber/cc with the diameter to length ratio more than 1:20. 2. Prevalence of dermatosis among study subjects was 23.0 % (35 cases). Prevalence was not associated with the distance from the factory nor duration of exposure. 3. There were 15 cases of subcutaneous tumor with prevalence of 9. 9 %. Age of subcutaneous tumor cases was all above 30 year-old except one cases, who was 5 year old child, who lived in the surveyed area since he was born. Prevalence of subcutaneous tumor was significantly high in area A(42.9 %) than area B(4.6 %, p<0.01). Prevalence of subcutaneous tumor was higher in long-term exposed inhabitants, but was not statistically significant. 4. Pathologic examination exhibits partly encapsulated fat tissue masses and cut surfaces were pale yellow with gritty sensation. The masses consist of mature fat cells showing variation in size and shape. On polarizing microscope, the peripheries of tumors include small irregular threads of doubly refractile material probably represent glass fibers in fibrocollagenous tissue. Concentration of fiberglass in tissue was 5.1-10.2 fiber/rag wet tissue in case 1, 25.8-184.9 fiber/mg wet tissue in case 2 and 40.8-126.5 fiber/mg wet tissue in case 3. Length of fiberglass was shorter than that in underground water. 5. Cases of malignant tumor among inhabitants since last 10 years were 4, 3 of whom was developed in a same household just near the factory. Diagnoses of malignancy cases were stomach cancer, stomach and esophageal cancer, oral cavity cancer, and stomach cancer with liver metastasis. On review examination of tissues of endoscopic biopsy specimen from a case of stomach cancer, there was adenocarcinoma with no evidence of fiberglass materials. Authors concluded there is evidences that fiberglass was strongly associated with the development of the health hazards including dermatosis and benign subcutaneous tumor. However, the association of fiberglass exposure with the development of malignant tumor was not clear, although strongly suggested. For the prevention of development of further health hazards, it is recommended that under ground water source should be closed and further experimental study to confirm the mechanism of the tumorigenesis and follow up survey on the inhabitants should be conducted.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adipocytes ; Adult ; Asbestos ; Biopsy ; Carcinogenesis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Family Characteristics ; Glass* ; Groundwater ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Mouth ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prevalence ; Respiratory System ; Sensation ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Surveys and Questionnaires

To estimate the manganese (Mn, below) exposure of workers in the ferromanganese manufacture factory and to evaluate its health effects, airborne, blood and urine Mn concentration measurements, questionnaire and other neurologic examinations were performed on 80 Mn-handing productive male workers (exposed group), 47 non-Mn-handling productive male workers (internal control group) and 144 productive male workers in other factory (external control group). The results obtained were as follows; The highest airborne Mn fume concentration among the work process was found at charging (0.42 mg/m3), and ferromanganese crushing process (1.14 mg/m3) was the highest in Mn dust. However all of them were below threshold limit value. Mean Mn concentrations in blood and urine of crushing workers were higher than those of other part workers. Among all of them, workers whose urine Mn concentration were exceed normal reference level (10 microgram/l) were 31 (18.5%). There was statistically significant correlation between airborne and urine Mn concentration (r=0.60), and so between airborne and blood Mn concentration (r=0.49), while there was no statistically significant correlation between blood and urine Mn concentration. Mean Mn concentration in airborne (0.60 mg/m3), urine (6.92 microgram/l) and blood (3.16 microgram/dl) in exposed group were significantly higher than those of control groups (p<0.01). Clinical symptoms such as excessive sweating, hypoesthesia, libido change, anosmia, decreased visual acuity and difficulty in writing showed higher positive rate in exposed group. Positive rate of clinical signs such as eye blinking and masked face in exposed group was higher than external control group. However clinical and laboratory findings such as blood pressure, blood chemistry, grip strength in exposed group were not statistically different from those of control groups. The results suggested that further studies were followed to evaluate the workers whose blood Mn concentration were below normal reference level but urine Mn concentrations above normal reference level, and to establish the questionnaire and the diagnostic tools to detect the Mn poisoning workers early.
Blinking ; Blood Pressure ; Chemistry ; Dust ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Libido ; Male ; Manganese* ; Masks ; Neurologic Examination ; Olfaction Disorders ; Poisoning ; Questionnaires ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Visual Acuity ; Writing

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the risk factors of the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and the impact of the wrist ratio on the prevalence of CTS in workers on repetitive work over a long term. METHODS: Study subjects consisted of 45 male and 16 female workers in a company that produces soundproof material in Gyeongju. We conducted a physical examination, a self-reported questionnaire survey and a nerve conduction study. CTS cases were defined as those subjects that had a positive finding in both the nerve conduction study and the physical examination done by a doctor specializing in rehabilitation medicine. RESULTS: Prevalence of CTS among the study subjects was 26.2/100 persons. The prevalence of CTS was positively associated with increasing age (p<0.01, using the chi-square test for trend) and female gender (OR=6.98, 95% CI=1.66-31.0), but was negatively associated with the educational level (p<0.01 by the chi-square for trend). Workers in the production area had a higher prevalence of CTS compared to those in the clerical area (OR=10.8 in the frame manufacturing process, OR=32.2 in the vacuum molding process). Patients with CTS had a narrower mean wrist width and a shorter mean hand and palm length, compared to those that had no disease (p<0.01 by the Student's t-test). The number of subjects who had a wrist ratio of 0.74 or more was significantly higher in cases of CTS (OR=4.0, 95% CI=1.01-16.3). However, a multiple logistic regression analysis showed only that the type of work was a significant variable after adjusting for the other variables. CONCLUSIONS: The wrist ratio, a surrogate of carpal tunnel configuration, can represent individual susceptibility to CTS. However this study shows that the use of the wrist ratio for predicting CTS risk is not adequate. The development of a new carpal tunnel configuration index based on more direct measurements of the tunnel shape will provide a better predictor of individual susceptibility to CTS.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Female ; Fungi ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hand ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Neural Conduction ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Risk Factors* ; Vacuum ; Wrist*

Occupational dermatosis is one of the most prevalent occupational disorders. However, the extent of the occupational dermatoses including incidences and prevalencies of each disease entity, and etiologic materials are not yet well stated in Korea. Authors reviewed the literatures on the statistic data and reports on the occupational dermatoses, and surveyed on the occupational dermatoses in two factories, and surveyed the physicians responsible to the occupational dermatoses with formed questionnaire. The results are as follows; 1. Among medical journals published since 1964, there were 31 articles on the occupational dermatoses. Of 31 articles, 18 were case reports and all others were review articles. Of 18 case reports, 9 were epidemiologic survey. The Workers' Periodic Health Examinations revealed that prevalence of the occupational dermatoses was highest(4.36 per 10,000 workers) in 1974, but number of the cases reported were decreased sharply since 1978 with some tendency to increase since 1987. There were 2,240 reported cases of occupational dermatoses between 1966 and 1992, which is 1.90% of all the reported occupational diseases. Skin infection and injuries due to chemicals were most frequent and there were 6 cases of skin cancer. 2. In an epidemiological survey on the dermatoses among 995 workers in a metal product manufacturing factory and 225 workers with acne, 130 workers with scar, 123 workers with deformity of toe nails. Scars, photosensitivity dermatitis, deformity of finger and toe nails, and acne were more prevalent in the metal product manufacturing factory(p<0.05). In the metal product manufacturing factory, workers treating organic solvents and oils had more dermatoses than those without treating the materials(p<0.05). On the skin patch performed on 16 workers in the metal product manufacturing factory, there were 8 cases of irritation dermatitis and 5 cases of contact dermatitis. Prevalence of contact dermatitis in the metal product manufacturing factory was 1.3%. 3. On the questionnaire survey, 34 dermatologists, 29 doctors of preventive medicine, and 22 family physician replied. The proportion of occupational etiology among all dermatoses assumed by the physicians were below 9%, and the most important occupational dermatosis in Korea was contact dermatitis. Main etiologic materials related to the occupational dermatosis were organic solvent, acid and alkali, and metals. The reason for the scarcity of report of occupational dermatoses were difficulty in diagnosis and physician's ignorance of the occupational etiology. They replied that to prevent the occupational dermatosis in the workplace, the use of protective devices was most important, and development of diagnostic criteria on the occupational dermatoses is urgent. Above results shows us that there is many workers with occupational dermatoses, but they are mostly unreported. Measures to prevent and manage the occupational dermatoses are not satisfactory at present. Hence, authors suggest measures for the precises diagnosis, report and prevention of the occupational dermatoses. a. Dernatikigustm orevebtuve physician, and industrial hygienist should work as a team to examine the high risk group and establish the preventive measures. b. Disease entities, diagnostic criteria of occupational dermatoses should be listed, criteria for the compensation and job fitting at recruitment should be established, and manual for the proper treatment and effective prevention of each occupational dermatosis should be developed. c. Patch test antigens against each occupational category should be developed and it should be available to any physicians responsible. d. To facilitate the diagnosis of occupational dermatoses by the doctors responsible for the Workers' Periodic Health Examination, development of standardized questionnaire, education on the techniques of the patch test, and cooperation with the dermatologist in diagnosis of occupational dermatoses is essential.
Acne Vulgaris ; Alkalies ; Cicatrix ; Compensation and Redress ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Fingers ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Metals ; Occupational Diseases ; Oils ; Patch Tests ; Physicians, Family ; Prevalence ; Preventive Medicine ; Protective Devices ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Skin Diseases* ; Skin Neoplasms ; Solvents ; Toes