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The Serum Alpha-antitrypsin Concentration of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Patients.

Bong Suk CHA ; Ho Keun CHUNG ; Jeong Pyo HONG

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.1990;2(1):34-43.

This study was performed to investigate associations between serum alpha(1)-antitrypsin(AAT) concentration and radiological categories of coal workers' pneumoconlosis(CWP), between AAT concentration and pulmonary complications such as tuberculosis and emphysema, and to study associations between AAT concentration and FEV(1.0)% in CWP patients, We classified 254 CWP patients in D Hospital into categories of small opacity profusion. And we selected 86 subjects by with or without emphysematous finding in each categories by proportional stratified sampling method. Semm AAT concentrations were quantkated by single radial immunodiffusion method, and the findings of chest radiographs were evaluated by radilogist. The results were as follows: 1. Serum AAT concentrations were not significantly different among groups of radiological categories of small opacities. 2. Complication of emphysema was associated with smoking habits sigmficantlyl(chi square=12.16, p<0,01). And AAT concentraLion was higher in smokers and ex-smokers than in non-smokers. Serum AAT concentration was significantly higher in the cases with emphysema than in the cdses without emphybema{p<0.01). 3. Serum AAT concentration of the group with active pulmonary tuberculosis was significantly higher than with inactive or without: pulmonary tuberculosis group(p<0.1). 4. Serum AAT concentration of the group with low FEV(1.0)% was significantly higher than with high or normal group(p<0.05).
Anthracosis ; Coal* ; Emphysema ; Humans ; Immunodiffusion ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

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Smoking Habit of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Patients: Their Relationship to the Findings of Chest Radiographs.

Jeong Pyo HONG ; Ho Keun CHUNG

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.1990;2(1):23-33.

No abstract available.
Coal* ; Humans ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Thorax*

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The Response Rate of Follow up Examination and Positive Predictive Value of Screening Items of Workers Aged 30 and Over.

Kyung Eun LEE ; Jae Yong PARK ; Byung Yeol CHUN

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.1990;2(1):13-22.

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Mass Screening*

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A Comparative Study of Ihe Hospital Charge of Long-term and Short-term inpatient in the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance System.

Kyung Jong LEE ; Young Hahn MOON ; Bong Suk CHA

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.1990;2(1):1-12.

The purpose of this study was to compare the hospital charges of long-term and those of short-term inpatients Insured by the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance System. This study analysed 1,597 medical bills of injured workers emitted to and discharged from all hospitals in Korea in the period between March 1, 1988 and May 30, 1989. The 308 workers hospitalized for more than 50 hospital days were classified as long-term inpatients, and the others as short-term inpatients. The sampling method employed was 25% systematic sampling. The results of this study were as follows; 1. The average length of stay for long-term inpatients was 95.1 days, and 20.7 days for short-term inpatients, 2. Long-term inpaiients' main diseases were multiple injury and fracture. Fracture of the lower extremities and feet prevailed, 3. Daily hospital charges were higher in the long-term inpatients than in the short-term inpatients. 4. Total charges decreased depending upon hospital grade in the order of general hospital, hospital, and clinic. Daily average hospital charges were the same regardless of hospital grade. 5. The proportions of long-term Inpatients admitted to general hospitals, hospitals, and clinics were 46.1%, 23.4%. and 30.5% respectively, and those of short-term patients were 33.2%, 24.1%, and 42.7% respectively. 6. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the length of hospital stay, hospital grade, treatment results and patient's age were the major determinants of hospital charges.
Accidents, Occupational* ; Compensation and Redress* ; Foot ; Hospital Charges* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Insurance* ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Lower Extremity ; Multiple Trauma

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Atypical Noise-induced Hearing Loss As a Workers'Impairment Criteria.

Kyoo Sang KIM ; Moon Suh PARK ; Seong Kyu KANG

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2002;14(3):334-345.

OBJECTIVES: The problem of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) was objectively and systematically investigated by diagnosing three workers who complained of tinnitus and hearing disturbance. METHODS: Atypical hearing loss is diagnosed as a work-related disease by using general medical methods, such as environmental survey, neurological examination, otoscopy, pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, otoacoustic emissions (OAE), auditory-evoked potentials, and interview on the history of past disease, family and occupation. RESULTS: Three results were found according to the work-related hearing loss as follows; (1) hearing loss that is caused by exposure to continuous noise of less than 85 dB(A) or impact noise of greater than 135 dB peak, (2) mixed hearing loss that has progressed due to noise with past otitis media, and (3) atypical hearing loss that showed remarkable differences between air and bone conduction due to tinnitus. CONCLUSIONS: The criteria for work-related hearing loss should be carefully investigated by considering exposure to impact noise, the effect of continuous noise on mixed hearing loss patients, and the hearing loss caused by tinnitus.
Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Audiometry, Speech ; Bone Conduction ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced* ; Humans ; Neurologic Examination ; Noise ; Occupations ; Otitis Media ; Otoscopy ; Tinnitus

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A Case of Reactive Dye Induced Asthma in an Exposed Worker near a Dye Factory.

Kyoo Sang KIM ; Jung Won PARK ; Chein Soo HONG ; Seong Kyu KANG

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2002;14(3):326-333.

OBJECTIVES: Reactive dye (RD) induced bronchial asthma is a well known form of occupational asthma. We report a case of occupational asthma due to RD in an exposed worker near a dye factory. METHODS: To evaluate the work-relatedness of bronchial asthma, we examined all possibilities by considering the working environment and performing a personal clinical survey, such as interview on the previous history of allergic diseases, clinical and immunological investigation including skin prick tests, bronchoprovocation tests, and serial peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR). RESULTS: Occupational asthma of internal origin was excluded by the characteristics of asthma, absence of occupational allergens, and negative PEFR result in the worker's own workplace. However, specific IgE and skin prick tests with reactive dye allergens were all strongly positive. RD challenge test showed maximal 34 % fall of FEV1 at 10 minutes of exposure (PD2 0: 2.11 mg/ml). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that this case was an example of bronchial asthma by external occupational allergens. This case suggests that RD induced asthma may also occur in workers and inhabitants who have lived near a reactive dye manufacturing factory.
Allergens ; Asthma* ; Asthma, Occupational ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Skin

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Factors Associated With the Personal Protective Equipments(PPEs) Wearing of Workers in Small Scale Industries.

Yong Kyu KIM ; Hyun Joo KIM ; Soo Jin LEE ; Eun Chul JANG ; Sang Cheol RHO ; Jae Chul SONG

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2002;14(3):315-325.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with the wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in small scale industries. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, the data were obtained from self-administered questionnaires, a special health examination and the industrial hygiene records. The study included 230 workers in small-scale industries (the print industry and automobile repair shops), which were provided with a subsidiary occupational health program funded by government in 1998. The authors used the Precede-Proceed model. RESULTS: Among the subjects who were recommended to wear a PPE, 32.7% (35/107) wore the gas/vapor respirators, 43.9 % (101/230) wore the particulate respirators, and 44.3 % (102/230) wore hearing aids. Among them, 64.3 % (148/230) wore one of the above PPE. The wearing of PPE wearing was associated with knowledge (OR=2.34), the value of prevention (OR=3.46), social support (OR=2.78), the type of task (OR=2.18-4.47), and income level (OR=7.64). CONCLUSIONS: In small scale industries, the proportion workers wearing PPE was low. To increase this proportion, the reinforcing, enabling, and environmental factors as well as the predisposing factors need to be modified.
Automobiles ; Causality ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Financial Management ; Hearing Aids ; Humans ; Occupational Health ; Questionnaires ; Ventilators, Mechanical

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Relationship between Manufacturing Workers'Job Conditions and Stress.

Young A OH ; Myung Sun LEE ; Kyung Yong RHEE

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2002;14(3):301-314.

OBJECTIVES: In this study we performed an analysis of the stress associated with the working conditions of 6,764 workers based on 'A survey of healthy condition of workers on 1999'by the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency. The Purpose of this study was to provide basic data for health education and management for industrial workers'health promotion. METHODS: Collected data were analyzed using the t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis, using the SPSS 10.0 program. RESULTS: When the degrees of stress were analyzed according to demographic characteristics, females were found to have higher levels of stress than males (p<0.001). Furthermore, as age was lowered and as the work space became larger, the degrees of a stress were also found to be higher (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). When the degrees of stress were analyzed according to working conditions, longer working hours (p<0.001) and reduced break times (p<0.05), gave rise to higher degrees of stress. Also, as the work space was reduced in size and as the work intensity was augmented, the degrees of a stress were made higher (p<0.01). In terms of physical working conditions, humidity and a lack of sense of security resulted in higher degrees of stress (p<0.01). When the workers sense that their environment is noisy or dusty has poor lighting or ventilation or that the rest room and cafeteria facilities are inadequate, the degrees of stress are found to be higher. As regards the social environment, when the workers sensed that the degree of job demand or job control was higher or that the degree of social support was lower, the degrees of stress were increased (p<0.001). Among those factors which influenced physical stress in the stepwise multiple regression analysis, the primary factor was found to be the safety of the working place (5.1 %). Other factors which influenced physical stress were degree of job demand, age, work intensity, humidity, sexual discrimination, length of working hours, size of work space and the existence or not of a regular break time in this order. Total R2 due to these factors was 12%. Among those factors which influenced mental stress in the stepwise multiple regression analysis, the primary factor was the degree of job demand (4.8 %). Other factors which influenced mental stress were humidity, age, sexual discrimination, the degree of a job control, safety of the working place, degree of social support, a working site, size of the work space, quality of lighting, the existence or not of a regular break time and length of working hours in this order. Total R2 due to these factors was 13.1 %. CONCLUSIONS: The above results shows that working conditions are strongly related to stress. Furthermore, when both physical and social working conditions are continuously managed and improved, workers may not only reduce their levels of stress but also maximize their working efficiency.
Analysis of Variance ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Humidity ; Male ; Occupational Health ; Social Environment ; Social Work ; Ventilation

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Hyeong Su KIM ; Soung Hoon CHANG ; Jae Wook CHOI ; Kun Sei LEE ; Cheong Sik KIM ; Jun Young LEE ; Ji Young OH

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2002;14(3):288-300.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost, with a focus on forecasting the expenditure on industrial accident compensation insurance, arising from workrelated cerebrovascular and cardiac disease. METHODS: We used a total of 4,480 work-related cerebrovascular and cardiac disease data points, collected between 1995 and 2000, based on the year of occurrence, and which had been approved by industrial accident compensation insurance. Firstly, we calculated the number of approved cases per 100,000 workers benefiting from industrial accident compensation insurance between 1995 and 2000. We then forecasted the numbers of work-related cases of cerebrovascular and cardiac disease for the period from 2001 through 2005 using a linear regression equation. Secondly, we analysed the expenditure on industrial accident compensation insurance due to work-related cerebrovascular and cardiac disease, and estimated the expenditure per capita for the former period. Thirdly, we estimated the expenditure on industrial accident compensation insurance due to work-related cerebrovascular and cardiac disease for the latter period based on the cohort of occurrence year. RESULTS: Approved cases per 100,000 workers for work-related cerebrovascular and cardiac disease were 3.36 in 1995 and 13.16 in 2000. It is expected that the approved cases would be 1,336 (95 % CI 1,211-1,460) in 2001 and 1,769 (95 % CI 1,610-1,931) in 2005, based on the year of occurrence. The mean expenditure per capita was estimated to be 75 million won, which comprised of 19 million won for medical care benefits and 56 million won for other benefits. It was anticipated that the claims for the 2001 cohort would be 107.9 billion won and 192.4 billion won for the 2005 cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of the economic burden of work-related cerebrovascular and cardiac disease is substantial. From an economic perspective, this study proves the importance and need for the management of work-related cerebrovascular and cardiac disease.
Accidents, Occupational ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Cohort Studies ; Compensation and Redress ; Forecasting ; Health Expenditures ; Heart Diseases* ; Insurance ; Linear Models ; Workers' Compensation

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The Effects of Job Stress on the Autonomic Nerve Activity of Workers in Manufacturing Industry.

Ki Jung YOON ; Mi Na HA ; Jai Young KIM ; Sang Yun LEE ; Hyoung June IM ; Ae Sun SHIN ; Seung Sik HWANG ; Jeong Soo KIM ; Dae Hee KANG ; Soo Hun CHO

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2002;14(3):280-287.

OBJECTIVE: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the relationships between autonomic nerve activity (i.e., heart rate variability and urinary catecholamines) and job stress. METHODS: The study was conducted on 134 workers from a company producing consumer goods (i.e., diaper, paper towel) located in Cheonan, Korea. Job stress was assessed by Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Autonomic function was assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) and urinary catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine). Urine samplings, and measurings of HRV, were repeated three times for each shift. Information on demographic characteristics, previous job histories, past medical history, smoking and drinking were also collected. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed in any HRV and urinary catecholamines among the four groups, which were categorized by the Job Strain Model. When data were stratified by work duration, low field HRV was borderline significantly higher in the high strain group in individuals with a shorter work duration (<48.5 months, N=28, p-value of 0.92 by analysis of variance). CONCLUSIONS: Neither HRV nor urinary catecholamines are significantly associated with job stress, as assessed by the Karasek's JCQ. However, HRV seems to be a potential physiological indicator of job stress only in the workers with a shorter work duration.
Autonomic Pathways* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Catecholamines ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drinking ; Heart Rate ; Korea ; Norepinephrine ; Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking

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