The Sensitization Rates for Inhaled Allergens by Skin Prick Test among Some Farmers in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: Farmers are known to be exposed to a variety of allergens related to the work environment. This study was conducted to determine the sensitization rates as well as South Korea that they are sensitized to certain allergens farmers through the skin prick test. METHODS: By targeting a total of 1143 people living in the rural town of Gyeonggi Province, it was conducted a questionnaire containing demographic and occupational risk factors and underwent skin prick tests with 15 types of allergens(including positive and negative controls). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between occupational risk factors and skin prick test positivity. RESULTS: Except for the 30 people whose result is invalid, positive rate of the skin prick test was 18.6% in 1,113 people. The species of house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae was the highest at 8.7% and 8.6%. After adjusted by age, gender, smoking and education level, odds ratio of flower plant farmers is 4.467(95% CI: 2.094-9.527) and fruit farmer is 2.275(95% CI: 1.096-4.721). In addition, the rate of sensitization to grass pollen mixture of the flower plant farmers is significantly higher(15.9%, p<0.001) than other allergens. CONCLUSIONS: Even farmers, the rate of sensitization to allergens related to the general environment, such as house dust mite is relatively dominant. However, given the presence of potential cross-reactivity between the allergens or distribution showed that the unique aspects of allergen sensitization in the flower growers, occupational cause is not be completely ruled out.

Symptom Prevalence and Work-related Risk Factors of Acute Pesticide Poisoning among Korean Farmers in Gyeong-gi Province / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to measure the symptom prevalence of acute pesticide poisoning among farmers in Gyeong-gi province and to investigate the occupational risk factors. METHODS: The subjects were 663 farmers using pesticide directly or indirectly and the survey was performed during 2013. 7. 11 - 2014. 8. 27. The data were analyzed by SPSS 21.0. RESULTS: The prevalence of acute pesticide poisoning was 6.63% and dizziness was the most common symptom. Acute pesticide poisoning was related with 'days of pesticide use per year','lifetime pesticide application days', 'the number of pesticide mixture' and 'type of farming'. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to manage and educate the pesticide poisoning-vulnerable group more systematically. Afterward additional study is needed to investigate the farming safety behavior and delicate amount of pesticide exposure.

Compensation for Occupational Diseases by Chemical Agents in Korea

Investigation into the frequency of compensation for occupational diseases (ODs) caused by hazardous chemicals revealed an important opportunity for the improvement and further development of occupational health and safety systems in Korea. In response to concerns after outbreaks of disease due to chemical exposure, specific criteria for recognition of ODs were established and included in the Enforcement Decree of the Labor Standard Act (LSA) and the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (IACIA) on June 28, 2013. However, the original versions of the LSA and IACIA contain several limitations. First, the criteria was listed inconsistently according to the symptoms or signs of acute poisoning. Second, all newly recognized hazardous chemicals and chemicals recognized as hazardous by the International Labor Organization (ILO) were not included in the LSA and IACIA. Although recent amendments have addressed these shortcomings, future amendments should strive to include all chemicals listed by the ILO and continuously add newly discovered hazardous chemicals as they are introduced into the workplace.