The Association Between Blood Lead Levels and Coronary Artery Calcium Score Determined by Using Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography.

Background: Lead exposure is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a biomarker for diagnosing atherosclerotic CVD. This study investigated the association between blood lead level (BLL) and CAC using coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography.

Methods: This study enrolled 2,189 participants from the general population with no history or symptoms of CVD.

Obstructive sleep apnea risk and hearing impairment among occupational noise-exposed male workers.

This study aimed to investigate the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk and hearing impairment among workers exposed to occupational noise. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 607 healthy male workers at a tire-manufacturing factory. The subjects underwent audiometric testing, and their OSA risk was examined based on the STOP-Bang questionnaire.

The relationship between chronotypes and musculoskeletal problems in male automobile manufacturing workers.

Background: Previous studies have shown that morning types are less sensitive to pain. This study aimed to examine the relationship between chronotypes and musculoskeletal problems in workers with musculoskeletal burdens at work.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 119 male production workers from a large automobile manufacturing plant.

Seroprevalence of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella-zoster antibodies in new female nurses in the Republic of Korea.

Background: For health care workers, immune management plays an important role in the protection against infectious diseases. This study investigated the seroprevalence of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella-zoster in newly employed female nurses.

Methods: We conducted a survey on the seroprevalence of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella-zoster in newly employed female nurses at a university hospital from 2011 to 2019, before the nurses were given their department placements and duty start.

Associations between Blood Lead Levels and Coronary Artery Stenosis Measured Using Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography.

Background: Lead exposure is a risk factor for increased blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, even when blood lead levels (BLLs) are within the normal range.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between BLL and coronary artery stenosis (CAS) in asymptomatic adults using 128-slice dual-source coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography.

Methods: We analyzed medical records data from 2,193 adults (1,461 men and 732 women) who elected to complete a screening health examination, coronary CT angiography, and BLL measurement during 2011-2018 and had no history of CAS symptoms, cardiovascular disease, or occupational exposure to lead.

Collective exposure to lead from an approved natural product-derived drug in Korea.

Background: In Asian countries, including Korea, lead poisoning caused by traditional herbal medicines is often observed in the clinic. However, there have been no reports thus far of lead poisoning caused by drugs that were approved by the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Here, we describe seven patients who ingested a problematic natural product-derived drug (NPD).

Night shiftwork and prostate-specific antigen level in a tire manufacturing factory.

Background: Recent studies suggest that night shiftwork may increase the risk of prostate cancer and elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. The purpose of this study was to verify whether rotating night shiftwork affects serum PSA level.

Methods: This study included 3,195 male production workers who work in a large tire manufacturing factory.

The association between serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels and job-related stress among female nurses.

Background: Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is an endogenous steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland. DHEAS has been suggested to play a protective role against psychosocial stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between job-related stress and blood concentrations of DHEAS according to occupational stress factors among female nurses.

Blood lead level and infection in a healthy population: A cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether elevated blood lead level (BLL) is a risk factor for infection. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed on 2,625 subjects who visited a university hospital for general health examination. infection was detected using histologic examination with Giemsa staining, and BLLs were measured.

Acute radiation syndrome in a non-destructive testing worker: a case report.

Background: In Korea, there were repeated radiation exposure accidents among non-destructive testing workers. Most of the cases involved local injury, such as radiation burns or hematopoietic cancer. Herein, we report a case of acute radiation syndrome caused by short periods of high exposure to ionizing radiation.

Mercury poisoning in a fisherman working on a pelagic fishing vessel due to excessive tuna consumption.

Objective: To report the case of a fisherman who developed chronic mercury poisoning due to excessive consumption of tuna while working on a pelagic fishing vessel.

Case Report: A 48-year-old male deep-sea fisherman developed paresthesia and pain in both legs while working at sea. He continued working for over 4 months on a pelagic fishing vessel but was eventually unable to function normally as his condition deteriorated.

Insomnia and hearing impairment among occupational noise exposed male workers.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between insomnia and hearing impairment among workers exposed to occupational noise.

Methods: This study included 809 male workers exposed to occupational noise. The participants underwent audiometric testing, and their insomnia was examined based on the Insomnia Severity Index test.

Urinary arsenic species concentration in residents living near abandoned metal mines in South Korea.

Background: Arsenic is a carcinogenic heavy metal that has a species-dependent health effects and abandoned metal mines are a source of significant arsenic exposure. Therefore, the aims of this study were to analyze urinary arsenic species and their concentration in residents living near abandoned metal mines and to monitor the environmental health effects of abandoned metal mines in Korea.

Methods: This study was performed in 2014 to assess urinary arsenic excretion patterns of residents living near abandoned metal mines in South Korea.

Comparison of anxiety and depression status between office and manufacturing job employees in a large manufacturing company: a cross sectional study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether type of work is associated with anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Additionally, we investigated the impact of number of working hours on anxiety and depression.

Methods: A total of 1774 workers participated and completed the HADS to determine their levels of anxiety and depression.

Occupational Lead Exposure from Indoor Firing Ranges in Korea.

Military personnel often use ammunitions that contain lead. The present study aimed to identify the risks for lead exposure and lead poisoning among workers at indoor firing ranges. A special health examination, including blood lead level (BLL) testing, was performed for all 120 workers at the indoor firing ranges of the Republic of Korea's Air Force, Navy, and Armed Forces Athletic Corps.

Coronary artery atherosclerosis associated with shift work in chemical plant workers by using coronary CT angiography.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether shift work is related to elevated risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) by determining the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and the presence of coronary artery stenosis by using coronary artery CT angiography (CCTA).

Methods: In this study, 110 male workers participated and underwent a CCTA examination for CAC scoring, which represents coronary artery plaque, and were evaluated for luminal stenosis. All of the participants were working in the same chemical plant, of whom 70 worked day shifts and 40 worked rotating shifts.

Changes in the mean hearing threshold levels in military aircraft maintenance conscripts.

Aircraft maintenance crews are constantly exposed to severe aircraft noise. The purpose of this study was to verify whether noise from aircraft adversely affects the hearing threshold levels (HTLs) of aircraft maintenance conscripts during their 2 years of mandatory military service. This study included 3,000 male aircraft maintenance conscripts who work in the military runway area.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Outbreak in the Basic Military Training Camp of the Republic of Korea Air Force.

Objectives: An outbreak of acute febrile illness occurred in the Republic of Korea Air Force boot camp from May to July 2011. An epidemiological investigation of the causative agent, which was of a highly infective nature, was conducted.

Methods: Throat swabs were carried out and a multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was performed to identify possible causative factors.

Serum prostate-specific antigen levels and type of work in tire manufacturing workers.

Objectives: This study measures serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in tire-manufacturing workers, and attempts to find occupational or non-occupational factors that related to their PSA levels.

Methods: A total of 1,958 healthy male workers (1,699 were production workers and 259 were office workers) took PSA measurement for analysis.

Results: After adjusting for age, body mass index, hypertension, regular exercise, alcohol drinking and smoking, which were significantly related to serum PSA levels or known related factors of serum PSA levels, the geometric mean PSA levels were significantly high in the office workers (p = 0.

Blood cadmium concentration of residents living near abandoned metal mines in Korea.

The purpose of this study was to investigate demographic and lifestyle variables and blood cadmium concentrations in residents living near abandoned metal mines in Korea. Blood cadmium concentrations were measured in 15,161 subjects living around abandoned metal mines (exposed group, n = 14,464) and compared with those living in designated control areas (control group, n = 697). A questionnaire was provided to all subjects to determine age, gender, mine working history, times of residence, smoking habits and dietary water type.

Blood levels of cadmium and lead in residents near abandoned metal mine areas in Korea.

We analyzed national data on blood lead levels (BLL) and blood cadmium levels (BCL) in residents living near 38 abandoned metal mining areas (n = 5,682, 18-96 years old) in Korea that were collected by the first Health Effect Surveillance for Residents in Abandoned Metal mines (HESRAM) from 2008 to 2011. The geometric mean BCL and BLL were 1.60 μg/L (95 % CI = 1.

Two cases of methemoglobinemia induced by the exposure to nitrobenzene and aniline.

Objective: To report two cases of methemoglobinemia induced by inhaled nitrobenzene and dermally absorbed aniline.

Methods: We have evaluated a 37-year-old male worker exposed to nitrobenzene by inhalation while conducting maintenance job of mononitrobenzene pump and a 25-year-old male worker exposed dermally to aniline while unloading.

Results: The first case is a 37-year-old male exposed to nitrobenzene.