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Background and Purpose: In 2021, lung cancer in school food workers was first recognized as an occupational cancer. The classification of the carcinogenicity of cooking fumes by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was based on Chinese epidemiological data. This study aimed to determine the hazard levels of school cooking fumes in Korea. Materials and Methods: Based on public school cafeterias in one area, 25 locations were selected for the survey according to the number per school type, ventilation states, and environmental pre-assessments of cafeterias. Two inside cooking areas using a heat source and one outside cooking area were selected as control measurement points. Measurements of CO, CO2, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), including benzene, formaldehyde, and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1, respectively), were taken. The concentrations and patterns of each substance in the kitchens were compared with the outdoor air quality. Result: Known carcinogens, such as the concentrations of PAHs, formaldehyde, TVOC (benzene), and particulate matter in school cooking fumes, were all detected at similar or slightly higher levels than those found outside. Additionally, substances were detected at relatively low concentrations compared to the Chinese cooking fumes reported in the literature. However, the short-term exposure to high concentrations of CO (or composite exposure with CO2) and PM2.5 in this study were shown. Conclusion: The school cooking fumes in South Korea was a relatively less harmful than Chinese cooking fumes, however short-term, high exposure of toxic substances can cause a critical health effect.
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BACKGROUND: The Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute (OSHRI) of the Korea had not recognized gastrointestinal cancer as work-related disease during their evaluation. However, in 2018 OSHRI recognized gastric and rectal cancers as work-related disease in asbestos-exposed workers. We present 2 such cases along supportive evidence of causation. CASE PRESENTATION: Patient A: A 57-year-old man had worked for about 40 years since 1978 as an oxygen cutter at workplaces that dismantle ships, buildings, boilers, and thermal power plants. In November 2016, endoscopy and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of advanced gastric cancer, for which he underwent subtotal gastrectomy and chemotherapy; however, he later died of the cancer. Patient B: A 71-year-old man had worked in shipbuilding and repair workplaces for approximately 49 years, being employed in pipe laying, asbestos insulation installation, grinding, and other ship repair work. In 2003, he was diagnosed of rectal cancer by abdominal computed tomography. He accordingly underwent surgical removal of the cancer. Based on the occupational history of the 2 patients and our review of the relevant literature addressing the occupational environment, we concluded that both patients had continuous exposure to high levels of asbestos while performing their jobs for 40 and 49 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both patients had a history of smoking and drinking (non-occupational personal risk factors). However, the possibility of an increased risk of gastric and rectal cancers from asbestos exposure cannot be excluded. Therefore, we considered that occupational exposure to asbestos had contributed to the cancer diagnosis in these cases. Workers exposed to asbestos should be made aware of the possibility of gastric or rectal cancer, and should undergo monitoring and medical examinations. Appropriate compensation for gastric and rectal cancers that occur in workers exposed to asbestos are anticipated in future.
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To evaluate the effect of occupational exposure to manganese (Mn) on serum prolactin (PRL) and the interrelationship among other hypophyseal-pituitary hormones, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 251 welders and 100 age-matched, office workers. We analyzed serum PRL, dopamine (DA), thyroid stimulating hormone releasing hormone (TRH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (TST) and measured current airborne Mn concentration in the welders. Cumulative exposure index (CEI) of airborne Mn was calculated. CEI and the present Mn level of the welders were 1.4+/-1.1mg/m3 year (range: 0.0-4.9) and 0.4+/-3.84 mg/m3 (range: 0.0-3.8), respectively. TRH, FSH and LH were higher in welders (5.08 pg/ml, 7.40 and 4.91 mIU/ml, respectively) than in office workers (3.91 pg/ml, 6.15 and 4.00 mIU/ml, respectively) (p<0.05). DA was decreased and TRH was increased significantly with increasing CEI. DA increased up to CEI 2.0mg/m3 year or mean Mn level up to 0.2mg/m3, then decreased. PRL showed increasing tendency above the CEI and mean Mn level at which DA started to decrease. PRL was positively associated with DA in the office workers. However, such a normal feedback control of DA on PRL was not observed in the welders. Structural equation model (SEM) analysis showed that CEI was positively related to TRH and negatively related to DA. TRH increased PRL. PRL increased LH and perhaps FSH, and on the other hand, decreased TST. These results showed that Mn suppresses the inhibitory feedback control of DA on the hypophyseal-pituitary axis. In conclusion, we postulate that suppressed dopaminergic inhibitory function on the hypophyseal-pituitary axis might be the mechanism for the increased PRL exhibited in the welders.