Hearing Impairment due to Noise in the Kyung-In Industrial Area in Korea

No abstract available.

A Study on the knowledge and Attitude of Workers Concerning Occupational Health / 대한산업의학회지

To acquire more useful data for the improvement of industrial health servicies, the knowledge-attitude study was carried out by questionnaire on 264 workers in Incheon area from November, 1989 to March, 1990. The results of this study were as follows; 1. Almost half of workers responded that their health status in poor. 2. The Knowledge of respondents on occupational health showed considerable difference depending upon duration of work in their company. Genverally, the respondents with long duration of work tend to be higher in knowldedge score than those with short duration of work. 3. Most of the workers (82.6%) thought that creating better working environment and improvement of working condition would be most efficient way for protecting the workers' health. 4. Degree of labor union activity, duration of work, participation for labor union were revealed as major determinants of attitude for industrial health. 5. Most of workers (91.1%) responded that they would like to participate in health education program if available, and monthly education would be adequate for them. The contents of program which the workers preferred were early detection and treatment of occupational disease.

Health Impairment among Toluene exposed Workers / 예방의학회지

Subjective symptoms, counts of blood cells and liver function test were conducted on 198 male workers who were exposed to toluene in Kyungin area from September to November, 1986. According to level of urinary hippuric acid concentration, the total sample was classified into the high exposure group (concentration > or = 3g/l) and the low exposure group(concentration < 3g/l). The following findings were obtained by comparing the two group: 1) Contrary to the previous findings, the urinary hippuric acid concentration of toluene exposed workers showed bimodal distribution. It meant that the toluene exposed workers were mixed with the non-exposed or minimal exposed workers. 2) The high exposure group showed a lower level of leucocccytes counts (6,630+/-1,860/microliter) than the low exposure group (6,340+/-1,960/microliter). 3) The high exposure group showed a higher level of SGOT, SGPT and r-GTP than the low exposure group(P<0.05). 4) The high exposure group complained much more subjective symptoms (e.g. skin rash, loss of appetite, palpitation) than the low exposure group.

Study on Subjective Symptoms that was Complained by Organic Solvent Handling Workers / 예방의학회지

The subjective symptom and other responded relations for 69 male workers handling organic solvent in xxx a pharmacy as exposure group and 87 male workers in noise workshop were studied and analyzed. It was concluded as follows. 1. The age of both exposure group and control group with the subjective symptom indicated a negative correlation. 2. Drinking and smoking of the exposure group complained of the subjective symptom shown the negative correlation and the control group also shown the positive correlation. 3. The occupational experience of the exposure group complained of the subjective symptom indicated the negative correlation and the control group also indicated the positive correlation.

On the Health Status of Workers Using Vibrating Tools in Anthracite Mines

By implementing epoch-making policies of industrial promotion, the national economy has made a remarkable development. As a result of such economic growth, industrial accidents and occupational diseases have become a serious problem in Korean society. In the presidential order for the execution of the Korean labor standard law, neuritis and other diseases stemming from health impairments due to vibration in industrial processes are designated to be dealt with as vibration diseases. In the case of vibration disease, industrial accident compensation is not effectively paid. In order to investigate vibration hazards of rock-drill operators, the author studied subjective symptoms and did physical function tests on a total of 208 persons (vibration exposed group), who used rock-drills, and 115 persons (control group) who are not using rock-drills at anthracite mines. The results of physical function test are as follows. 1. There is no difference in smoking habits between the vibration exposure group and the control group. 2. In the use of their ear plugs, both the vibration exposed group and the control group showed a low tendency in using the ear plugs. 3. In the prevalence rate of white finger, the vibration exposed group reached 12.5 percent, but only 0.9 percent in the control group. Thus, both groups showed different rates in the initiation of their illness (p < 0.01). 4. The prevalence rate of finger numbness for the vibration exposed group was 23.1 percent, but only 9.6 percent in control group (p < 0.05). 5. In the prevalence rate of insomnia, the vibration exposed group had 22.6 percent and the control group 9.6 percent. Thus, the vibration exposure group showed a higher rate than the control group (p < 0.05). 6. In the vibration sense threshold, the vibration exposed group showed a statistically higher level than the control group (p < 0.01). 7. In the mean value of skin temperature, the control group was higher than the vibration exposed group (p < 0.05). 8. In the amount of perspiration, the exposed group measured higher than the control group (p < 0.01).

Factor Analysis on the Variables Related to Workers Occupationally Exposed to Mixtures of Organic Solvents / 예방의학회지

By using Factor analysis on the variables relating to the subjective symptoms of total 56 workers, who have exposed to mixture of organic solvents at the musical instrument manufacturing plant, as experimental group, and 70 workers, who worked in noisy working environment as control group, the study was performed. It was confirmed that the variables found in hematological figures, age specification, occupational history and physical examination have a influential factor on the subjective symptoms of both groups. It was explicated that the ratio of these to total Eigen Values showed 31.1 percent in experimental group and the control group revealed 37.7 percent.

A Study on the Physical and Mental Health Factors affecting Industrial Accidents / 예방의학회지

This study examined the physical and mental health factors affecting the industrial accidents of 142 injured and 1,212 uninjured workers in the shipbuilding industry from 1986 to 1988. The results acquired from the Todai Health Index (THI) and from analysis of the health examination were as follows: 1. Among the personal characteristics of the workers, the educational level of injured workers was significantly lower than that of the uninjured workers. 2. Among the physical characteristics, vision and R hrer Index of the injured workers were lower than those of the uninjured workers, and the difference was statistically significant. On the other hand, the differences in height, weight, hearing function, hematocrit, blood pressure, urine test, and X-ray findings were not statistically significant between the injured and uninjured workers. 3. The score of the THI questionnaire on the physical and mental health of the injured workers was higher than that of the uninjured workers, and the difference was statistically significant. 4. Form the THI score, the industrial workers had complained more about mental health than physical health and there was a statistically significant relation with the industrial accidents. 5. The relative risk expressed in terms of the odds ratio was 2.9 for poorer vision, 2.7 for a lower educational level, 2.2 for a higher THI score and 1.6 for overdrinking. 6. Educational level, vision, and the THI score were selected as significant factors influencing industrial accidents based on a log-linear model. According to the results of this model by logistic analysis, the odds ratio of industrial accidents was 1.8 for a lower educational level, 1.7 for poorer vision, and 1.6 for a higher THI score. 7. By event history analysis with the dependent variable as the duration of work at the time of the industrial accident, educational level, age, R hrer Index and THI score were the statistically significant variables selected, and the hazard rate of industrial accident occurrence was 0.24 for a lower educational level, 0.92 for age, 0.99 for a lower R hrer Index and 2.72 for a higher THI score. As we have seen, educational level and THI score were the most significant factors affecting the hazard rate of industrial accidents. Vision, R hrer Index, age, and drinking behavior were also statistically significant variables influencing industrial accidents. Therefore, in order to prevent industrial accidents, it is necessary to establish a health management plan for industry which can objectively evaluate not only the physical but also the mental health of the workers. If we use this type of study as a prospective study design, we can determine the relative risk of physical and mental health factors on industrial accidents. Furthermore, it is expected that this type of study will provide workers at high risk with more precise basic data for a health management plan for industrial accident prevention.

Brain Stem Auditory Evoked Potential and R-R interval Analysis of the Workers Exposed to Trichloroethylene / 대한산업의학회지

In order to evaluate the effects of trichloroethylene (TCE) on the central and autonomic nervous system, the brain stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and the electrocardiographic R-R interval variability (CV(rr)) were measured in three groups of workers (11) working in TCE degreasing process, workers (4) exposed to lead and two groups of workers (12) not exposed to any kinds of neurotoxicants. Two components of the CVrr reflecting parasympathetic activity (C-CV(rsa)) and sympathetic and parasympathetic activities (CCV(mwsa)) were examined. The TCE workers were exposed to TCE at the level of less than 1 hour per week while the degreasing material was changed. There were no differences in the latencies of BAEPS and CV(rr) and the components of the CV(rr) between control and TCE and lead groups. However, two lead workers had the blood lead level of less than 60 g/dl recommended as present biological guideline by the Ministry of Labor, showed the delayed latencies of V5 and I-V in BAEP. This results suggested that intermittent TCE erposure didn't affect the auditory nervous pathway and the autonomic nervous system, however, lead exposure might affect the central nervous system at the level of less than 60 g/dl in blood lead.

Study on Applicability of Predictive Equations of Subjective Symptoms of Workers Using Organic Solvents in Certain Factory / 예방의학회지

For the study of the applicability of predictive equation of subjective symptoms of workers using organic solvents, 67 male workers using organic solvents were selected. The predictive equation was quotated from previous Cheon's study. All the datas of necessary variables were gained. The predictive values and observed values were compared. The results were summarized as below; 1. The difference between predictive values and observed values were characteristically large. The coefficient of determination between the two values was 0.0024. 2. The R2 value of multiple stepwise regression equation derived from present study was 0.2827.

Effects of n-Hexane and Benzene on Tibial Nerve for Rats / 예방의학회지

n-Hexane and benezene are organic compounds which have been widely used as industrial solvents. However, they are also increasingly recognized as important pollutants in working environment. The purpose of this study is to analyze neurotoxicity of benzene and n-Hexane. In this study, tibial nerve of Sprague-Dawley rats were observed after exposing them to two different concentrations of these compounds (6000 ppm of n-Hexane and 2000 ppm of benezene) which were known to be the levels to cause subacute toxicity for the three different periods; two weeks, four weeks, and sex weeks. The following results were obtained from the analysis of variance, Duncan's multiple comparison test, and regression analysis: 1) Myelin sheath thickness of nerve fiber for two n-Hexane exposed groups (four weeks and six weeks) were both reduced compared with the control group and the benezene exposed group. 2) There were positive relationships between nerve fiber diameter and myelin sheath thickness for both exposed and control groups. 3) There were significant difference in myelin sheath thickness from equal diameter nerve fibers between benzene exposed group and control group, but the greater number of thin myelin sheath were observed for n-Hexane exposed group compared with control group. Thus, it is concluded that n-Hexane tends to reduce the rate of growth of nerve fiber more than the benzene and control group. While these results shed light on understanding the effects of benzene and n-Hexane, the duration of exposure was not long enough to apply these results to real working environments. In addition, to further understand the mechanism of nerve degeneration caused by organic solvents, both epidemiological and biochemical studies should accompanied by this kind of study.

A Study on the Concentration of Hippuric Acid in Urine of Workers Exposed to Toluene / 예방의학회지

The objective of this study is to examine the correlation between the tolylene concentration in the work environment of organic solvents and the concentration of hippuric acid in urine of workers exposed toluene, and to acquire the fundamental materials of workers' health care and to assist the assessment of the biological permissible exposure limit. The control groups are 72 workers who had never been exposed to toluene and the case groups are 101 workers who had been exposed to toluene. This study was conducted to examine the correlation between the concentration of toluene in work environment and workers' hippuric acid concentration, to investigate the complaint difference of subjective symptoms by means of questionnaire, between the case groups and control groups. The results and conclusions are as follows: 1) The highest mean concentration of toluene in the air is 544.13+/-7.75 ppm in the Printing Department of mixing organic solvents. The concentrations of the others are 463.27+/-5.24 ppm in Department of mixture for organic solvents, and 393.56+/-45.69 ppm in the Printing Department(1), and 248.38+/-45.16 ppm in the Printing Department(2), and 159.38+/-18.51 ppm in the Printing Department(3). 2) The highest mean concentration of hippuric acid in urine is 6034.84+/-1298.35 mg/l in the Printing Department with mixing organic solvents. The concentrations of the others are 4798.44+/-784.53 mg/l in Department of mixture of organic solvents, and 2883.06+/-701.90 mg/l in the Printing Department(1), and 1449.98+/-905.19 mg/l in the Printing Department(2), and 598.52+/-299.43 mg/l in the Printing Department(3). 3) As the toluene concentration in the work environment becomes higher, the concentration of hippuric acid in urine also becomes higher. It is found that the coefficient of correlation between toluene concentration and the concentration of hippuric acid are positive (r=0.868, Y=7.18X+349.57). 4) It is found that the case groups complain of much more subjective symptoms than the control groups.

The Cytogenetic Effects of Benzene and Toluene on Bone Marrow Cells in Rats

Benzene and toluene have been widely employed as industrial solvents in Korea. However, they have recently been identified as cytogenetic toxic agents. This study is to observe the cytogenetic toxicities of benzene and toluene singularly and combined. The following concentrations of solvents were administered twice intraperitoneally to Sprague-Dawley rats: low concentration (11mg/Kg benzene and 108.75mg/Kg toluene), middle concentration (220mg/Kg benzene and (217.5mg/Kg toluene), and high concentration (440mg/Kg benzene and 435mg/Kg toluene). A low concentration represents the short term exposure limit of industrial workers. To examine the cytogenetic effects of the above solvents, the micronucleus test and the metaphase analysis were conducted followed by a statistical analysis based on non-parametric methods such as the Kruskal-Wallis multi sample test and the distribution free multiple comparison test A low concentration of benzene did not produce significant changes, however the two higher concentration of benzene showed clear signs of cytogenetic toxicities of bone marrow cells (i.e., the micronucleus occurrence rate and the chromosomal aberration rate were increased and the polychromatic erythrocyte percentage was decreased). While a low concentration of toluene produced no significant changes, the two higher concentrations of toluene showed similar signs of cytogenetic toxicities to bone marrow cells but to a somewhat lesser degree than benzene. When benzene and toluene were administered simultaneously at the two higher concentrations in order to observe their combined effects, all three signs of cytogenetic toxicities of bone marrow cells were decreased to a greater degree than the administration of benzene only. However, there were no significant reduction in the cytogenetic toxicities when benzene and toluene were simultaneously administered at low concentration. The above results showed that higher concentration of benzene and toluene displayed cytogenetic toxicities but showed competitive inhibition when they were administered simultaneously. However, there were no significant changes at low concentrations.

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

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.

Changes of Forced Vital Capacity and Forced Expiratory Volume in one second of hospitalized Pneumoconiosis Patients / 예방의학회지

Forced vital capacities (FVC's) and forced expiratory volumes in one second (FEV1.0's) of 26 pneumoconiosis patients were checked at admission and were followed up for 10 months through hospitalization. FVC's and FEV1.0's were slightly improved in 10 months after admission. The improvement of FVC's was statistically significant. In the group of large opacities in chest radiographs, FVC's and FEV1.0's were lower than those values in small opacity group at admission but improved more progressively. Similar finding was noted in the group of emphysema; those values were lower at admission but improved more progressively than those of non-emphysema group.

Human Health Factors and Traffic Accidents among Taxi Drivers in the Seoul Area / 예방의학회지

The present status of the traffic accident rate in Korea shows that it is the highest in the world with a continuously increasing trend. Human factors account for 90% of the causes of traffic accidents. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine some human factors related to traffic accidents by studying the relationship between health status and traffic accidents. To accomplish this purpose, all taxi companies located in the Seoul area were divided in three groups according to the number of taxi possessed, then some companies in each group were randomly selected for study, and a total of 222 drivers in those selected companies were questioned and examined from April 15 to April 22, 1989. Seventy drivers among 222 had experienced a traffic accident. A chi-square test was performed on the data, then, factor analysis and discriminant analysis were executed with the following results: 1. The drivers complaining of gastroenteric symptoms numbered 110(49.5%), which was the major symptom among all drivers complaining of poor health. 2. In the primary analysis, variables related to traffic accidents were divided into general, occupational, and health characteristics. Drivers having no traffic accident experience and drivers having that experience were subjected to question about age, educational level, residential status, monthly average income, working hours and days, degree of satisfaction with their profession and homelife, degree of worry about health. degree of fatigue, medication, drunken driving, and illness, but there were no statistical significances. 3. In the factor analysis, the 8 health variables which causes traffic accidents were classified into 3 common factors which were perceived health factor, sleeping and drunken driving, and visual acuity and smoking factor. Perceived health was the factor which contributed most to explaining accidents. 4. In the discriminant analysis, a correct prediction rate of 68.0% was obtained in the factors of all the characteristics. 5. Degree of satisfaction with their homelife and educational and economic factor in the general characteristics, degree of satisfaction with their profession in the occupational characteristics, and sleeping and drunken driving in the health characteristics were selected as statistically significant factors to discriminant the traffic accident. 6. Among the factors of the general, occupational, and health characteristics, degree of satisfaction with their homelife, driving experience, family factor, perceived factor were selected as the statistically significant factors.

Health hazard of workers potentially exposed to trichloroethylene in the Inchon area / 대한산업의학회지

No abstract available.

Effects of workers' health status to the recognition about their work environment / 대한산업의학회지

No abstract available.

Changes of the Blood Pressure and the Rulse Rate of the Rat after the Noise Exposure / 예방의학회지

The vascular reaction such as the indirect blood pressure and the pulse rate of the tail to the noise were examined in 8 naive Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes. The sounds used in the experiment were 1KHz and 4 KHz, 95dB pure tone generated by Nagashima Audiometry. The indirect blood pressure and the pulse rate were checked at the rat tail by Polygraph at 5 minutes interval. The results were as follows: 1. The blood pressure and the pulse rate increased maximally 5 minutes after the exposure to both sounds. 2. The blood pressure and the pulse rate returned normal range within 20 minutes after the exposure of both sounds. 3. The increment of the blood pressure and the pulse rate was greater after the sound of 4KHz than after that of 1 KHz, but it wasn't statistically significant.

Health Hazards of Plating Workers / 대한산업의학회지

Chromic acid has widely been used for decorative chromium plating, hard chromium plating, and surface treatment of raw materials. However, its strong oxidizing action has been found to cause corrosion of mucous membranes and skin, such as the nasal septum, conjunctiva, face, and hand skin. Excessive exposure to chmmic acid has frequently caused ulceration and perforation of a nasal septum. These ulcerations are painless and confined to the cartilaginous portion at the lower anterior part of the septum known as Kisselbach's or Little's area. This study was undertaken to investigate the general characteristics, actual conditions of the working environment and the prevalence rate of nasal septal perforation due to inhalation of chromic acid mist in workers employed at plating industries. This study was conducted on 627 workers who were exposed to chromic acid from July to November 1988. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The mean age of workers with septal perforation was 26 years and the mean working duration was 84 months. 2. The prevalence rates of nasal septal perforation and ulceration of mucosa of the plating workers were 31.7% and 10.5% respectively. 3. The significant variables related with occurrence of nasal septal perforation were age of workers, working duration, kinds of plating, efficiency of local ventilation and performance of health examinations. From the above results, occurrences of nasal septal perforation in plating workers were affected by the duration of chromium exposed work and state of the working environment. Prevention of occupationsl diseases fri plating workers will be accomplished by implementation of an industrial health care system which includes thorough health checkups for workers and regular environmental monitoring.

The study of health care standards of noise induced hearing loss / 대한산업의학회지

No abstract available.