Evaluation of mercury exposure level, clinical diagnosis and treatment for mercury intoxication

Mercury occurs in various chemical forms, and it is different to health effects according to chemical forms. In consideration of the point, the evaluation of the mercury exposure to human distinguished from occupational and environmental exposure. With strict to manage occupational exposure in factory, it is declined mercury intoxication cases by metallic and inorganic mercury inhalation to occupational exposure. It is increasing to importance in environmental exposure and public health. The focus on the health impact of exposure to mercury is more on chronic, low or moderate grade exposure—albeit a topic of great controversy—, not high concentration exposure by methylmercury, which caused Minamata disease. Recently, the issue of mercury toxicity according to the mercury exposure level, health effects as well as the determination of what mercury levels affect health are in the spotlight and under active discussion. Evaluating the health effects and Biomarker of mercury exposure and establishing diagnosis and treatment standards are very difficult. It can implement that evaluating mercury exposure level for diagnosis by a provocation test uses chelating agent and conducting to appropriate therapy according to the result. but, indications for the therapy of chelating agents with mercury exposure have not yet been fully established. The therapy to symptomatic patients with mercury poisoning is chelating agents, combination therapy with chelating agents, plasma exchange, hemodialysis, plasmapheresis. But the further evaluations are necessary for the effects and side effects with each therapy.

Factors Associated with Quality on Sleep of Subway Workers by Shift-Work / 대한산업의학회지

BACKGROUND: The sleep quality of subway drivers who work in the dark underground with an rotating shift system is generally poor, which can degrade the quality of a worker's life. This study examined the relationship between the sleep quality of subway worker and shift work by comparing three shift systems (rotating shift system, a three day shift system, and no-shift system). METHOD: Questionnaires including The short form of the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire (PSQI), the worker's age, gender, job type, accident, near miss and shift system were given to a total of 1010 workers. The results of 759 qualified questionnaires (75.15 %) were analyzed using the SPSS (ver 12.0) program. RESULT: The highest level of job stress was found among those working a rotating shift system followed by three shift system and no-shift system. The mean sleep quality score in the rotating shift workers was 5.1 (SD+/-3.2), which was greater than the sleep symptom score (5). 34.8% of rotating shift workers suffered from sleep symptoms. The sleep quality score by shift-work was significantly different. High job demand, strong external locus control, the experience of a near miss or an accident in the workplace during previous year has an adverse affect on the sleep quality. The sleep quality improved in case of a change into a no-shift system or a strong internal locus control. CONCLUSION: A rotating shift system is more harmful to the quality of sleep in subway workers than a 3 shift system or no-shift system. In addition, job stress, personality, near miss and the experience of an accident affect the sleep quality of subway workers.

Association Between Job-Stress and VDT Work, and Musculoskeletal Symptoms of Neck and Shoulder Among White-Collar Workers / 대한산업의학회지

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the association of job stress and working with video display terminal (VDT) to musculoskeletal symptoms of the neck-shoulder which were most common in white-collar workers. METHODS: From 122 workplaces, 1,790 white-collar workers with no trauma, and no history of musculoskeletal disease were selected for the study. The questionnaire survey included general characteristics, work related characteristics, Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and musculoskeletal symptoms. Multiple logistic regression, adjusted for age, smoking status, drinking habit, housekeeping, work time, job tenure, and work-load change, were used to evaluate the effects of job stress and VDT-work on the symptoms. RESULTS: The prevalence of neck-shoulder symptoms was overall 24.3% overall. The prevalence odds ratio of job demand (high/low) to neck-shoulder symptoms, adjusted for general and work-related factors, was 1.56 (95% confidence interval 1.12~2.17), and that of job strain (high strain/low strain) was 1.72 (1.07~2.79). However, VDT-work was not associated with neck-shoulder symptoms in the multiple logistic regression model. CONCLUSIONS: To prevent musculoskeletal disorders in white-collar workers, it is important to consider psychosocial factors such as job demand and job strain, as well as VDT-work.

Relationship of Burdened Work and Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Small-to-medium-sized Enterprises / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate relationship of burdened work and musculoskeletal symptoms in small-to-medium sized enterprises. METHOD: After a questionnaire survey was administered to 9,950 workers in 122 workplace, 7,626 workers(76.6%) were finally selected for the study analysis. Industrial hygienists visited 122 small-to-medium sized enterprises to investigate the presence of burdened works within the workplace. The selection of jobs with significant burden was based on the Ministry of Labor's recent notification in 11 types of job description associated with musculoskeletal disorders. The subjects of this study were then divided into three categories. 1) non-burdened white collar workers, 2) non-burdened blue collar workers, and 3) burdened workers (include some VDT workers). Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between burdened work and musculoskeletal symptoms. RESULTS: The burdened workers reported significantly more musculoskeletal symptoms than non-burdened white collar workers and non-burdened blue collar workers(OR:1.57, 95% CI: 1.314-1.875). There was no significant difference in reports of musculoskeletal symptoms between non-burdened white and blue collar workers. CONCLUSION: To prevent or diminish musculoskeletal disorders in small-to-medium sized enterprises, we need to better manage burdened works.