OBJECTIVETo describe the incidence, development and death of pneumoconiosis reported in Hebei from 2001 to 2012 and investigate the epidemiological trends and characteristics of pneumoconiosis to provide basic data for formulating the guidelines and policies for control of pneumoconiosis.

METHODSThe Hebei database of new cases of pneumoconiosis reposed from 2001 to 2012 were subjected to systematic arrangement. Clean data and descriptive analysis using SPSS 17.0. The statistical indices included number of new and death pneumoconiosis cases in each year.

RESULTSFrom 2001 to 2012 a total of 4558 new cases of pneumoconiosis were reported. The situation was same to coal-workers' pneumoconiosis and silicosis. (2) The pneumoconiosis cases were distributed mainly in the city of Tang Shan, Cheng De, Zhang Jia Kou and Han Dan (88.24%). (3) Most cases were centerred in coal industry, metallurgical industry, nonferrous metals industry, architectural material industry and light industry. (4) The mean age of onset in new cases was shorted each year for silicosis, coal-workers' pneumoconiosis, potter pneumoconiosis and electric welder pneumoconiosis, especially for 2010 to 2012 (9 years). (5) The work types of these cases mainly included drilling (26.72%), mining as the main work (6.67%), hybrid coal mine work (6.95%), molding worker (5.24%) and berterring worker (4.82%). (6) The new cases of pneumoconiosis reposed from 2001 to 2012 were diagnosissed I (3415, 74.92%), II (782, 17.16%), III (361, 7.92%). (7) The death cases of pneumoconiosis reposed from 2001 to 2012 were 1182, most of them were distributed mainly in the city of Tang Shan, Cheng De, Zhang Jia Kou and Han Dan (88.24%).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of pneumoconiosis is still high: the new cases of pneumoconiosis is still rising. The mean age of onset in new cases was shorted each year. The new cases of pneumoconiosis reposed from 2001 to 2012 were diagnosed II was above 25%. The prevention and control of pneumoconiosis should be enhanced in key industries and for people engaging in key regions, industries, types of work according to the epidemiological characteristics of pneumoconiosis. Most cases were centerred in coal-workers' pneumoconiosis and silicosis.

Anthracosis ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Coal Industry ; Humans ; Incidence ; Metallurgy ; Mining ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; Silicosis ; epidemiology

Korea has industrialized since the 1970s. Pneumoconiosis in coal miners was the most common occupational disease in the 1970s to 1980s. With the industrialization, the use of many chemicals have increased since the 1970s. As a consequence, there were outbreaks of occupational diseases caused by poisonous chemicals, such as heavy metal poisoning, solvent poisoning and occupational asthma in the late 1980s and early 1990s with civil movement for democracy. Many actions have been taken for prevention by the government, employers and employees or unions. In the 1990s most chemical related diseases and pneumoconiosis have rapidly decreased due to improving work environment. In the late 1990s, cerebro-cardiovascular diseases related to job stress or work overloads have abruptly increased especially after the economic crisis in 1998. After the year 2000, musculoskeletal disorders became a major problem especially in assembly lines in the manufacturing industry and they were expanded to the service industry. Mental diseases related to job stress have increased. Infectious diseases increased in health care workers and afforestation workers. Occupational cancers are increasing because of their long latency, although the use of carcinogenic substances are reduced, limited, and even banned.
Coal Mining ; Employment ; Humans ; Industry ; *Occupational Diseases/economics/epidemiology/psychology ; Occupational Health ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Stress, Psychological/economics/epidemiology/psychology ; Workplace/economics/psychology

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) is a prolific free floating aquatic macrohpyte found in tropical and subtropical parts of the earth. The effects of pollutants from textile wastewater on the anatomy of the plant were studied. Water hyacinth exhibits hydrophytic adaptations which include reduced epidermis cells lacking cuticle in most cases, presence of large air spaces (7 approximately 50 microm), reduced vascular tissue and absorbing structures. Textile waste significantly affected the size of root cells. The presence of raphide crystals was noted in parenchyma cells of various organs in treated plants.
Eichhornia ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Industrial Waste ; Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; Rhizome ; anatomy & histology ; Textile Industry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical

Due to rapid industrialization and economic development, the occupational diseases have appeared as one of the social problems in Korea. Up until now little has been known about the prevalence rate, predisposing factor and symptomatology the occupational disease due to localized vibration in Korea. The researcher intends to investigate the prevalence rate and affecting factors of the occupational disease due to localized vibration among rock-drillers in the anthracite mines. A total of 135 rock-drillers were interviewed and examined from May 15th to 31th, 1980. The results were revealed as follows; 1. The prevalence rate of the vibration syndrome among rock-drillers was 12.6%. 2. The latent period of the vibration syndrome was 6.8% years. 3. The prevalence rate of the vibration syndrome was not significantly different between smokers and non-smokers. 4. With the increase of total vibration exposure time, the prevalence rate of the vibration syndrome increased also. 5. The average vibration sensation threshold was high (6.4dB) in stage 1 of the vibration syndrome and low (-0.6dB) in stage 0. 6. The average pain sensation threshold was high (4.4g) in stage 1 of the vibration syndrome and low (2.5g) in stage 0.
Causality ; Coal* ; Economic Development ; Korea ; Mining* ; Occupational Diseases ; Prevalence* ; Sensation ; Social Problems ; Vibration* ; Industrial Development

The average incidence/case/year of Ha Bac nitrate and chemical factory during two years (2002-2003) was 1.38 incidence/case/year (2002) and 1.63 incidence/case/year (2003). The diseases were high incidence as follows: odonto-maxial-facial disease, ear-nose-throat disease. Workers with I health level and II health level were the highest: 70.33% (2002) and 65.05% (2003). The rate of workers with III health level were very high and tend to increase, remained the rate of workers with V health level.
Health ; Nitrates ; Chemical Industry

Bio-based fiber is environment friendly, reproducible, easily biodegradable. Therefore, rapid development of bio-based fiber industry is an obvious in progress to replace petrochemical resources, develop sustainable economy, build resource saving and environment friendly society. This article describes the current development of bio-based fiber industry, analyzes existing problems, indicates the trends and objectives of bio-based fiber materials technology innovation and recommends developing bio-based fibers industry of our country.
Biotechnology ; Chemical Industry

The objective of this study was to describe the occupational accidents and distribution of accidents in different groups. This is a cross sectional study in which the interview with structured questionnaire was used to collect information on occupational accidents and distribution of accidents among 2525 workers in different groups. Our results indicated that the occupational accident prevalence was 4% in 10 year period among workers of heavy, light and chemical industries. The occupational accident rate was highest in the heavy and chemical industry and the workers who worked longer in the industry have lower occupational accident prevalence.
Accidents, Occupational ; Metallurgy ; Chemical Industry

The development of new drugs and medical devices has been attributed to constant innovation, and the medical device industry in particular is growing faster than the drug industry. The medical device market in Korea is growing, with an average annual growth rate of 12.6% from 2006 to 2008. The production amount of medical devices categorized as Class 3 or Class 4 increased more rapidly than Class 1 or Class 2 with an increase in portion size. Clinical trials are a crucial process through which the safety and efficacy of medical devices is evaluated prior to allowing them to be used by the public. Recently, the approval rate of clinical trials for medical devices by the Korea Food & Drug Administration has increased, indicating that clinical trials that could be scientifically feasible and ethically justified were planned. To satisfy the increasing need for high quality clinical trials, a total of 6 medical device clinical trial center consortia have been designated by the Ministry of Health & Welfare as of July 2010. Medical devices take significantly less time to get to the market compared to drugs and there is much need for innovation. Therefore, the clinical trial market for new medical devices is expected to grow faster than previously forecast.
Drug Industry ; Korea

No abstract available.
Drug Industry* ; Prescriptions*

No abstract available.
Drug Industry* ; Prescriptions*