A novel approach for unveiling co-occurrence patterns of UV filter mixtures in sunscreens: Prioritization for hazard and risk assessment.

In recent years, concerns regarding the toxicity of organic UV filters in sunscreen products have increased. While sunscreen products contain multiple UV filters in combination, current understanding on their co-occurrence patterns and mixture toxicities is still limited. This study utilized a public database, "Hwahae", and analyzed 2183 sunscreen products marketed in South Korea as of 2019, using an association rule mining (ARM) to elucidate their co-occurrence patterns.

Association of urinary levels of trace metals with type 2 diabetes and obesity in postmenopausal women in Korea: A community-based cohort study.

Several toxic metals have been associated with metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) in humans. However, knowledge regarding the influence of many trace elements, especially in combination with essential elements is limited. This study aims to address this research gap by investigating the associations of both non-essential and essential inorganic trace elements in urine with DM and obesity, employing a group of postmenopausal women (n = 851) from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) cohort.

Nationwide human biomonitoring strategy in Korea: Prioritization of novel contaminants using GC/TOF-MS with suspect and non-target screening.

According to global regulations on hazardous chemicals, numerous alternatives have been manufactured and used in various consumer products. Suspect and non-target analyses are advanced analytical techniques used for identifying novel contaminants. In the present study, suspect and non-target analytical approaches using a gas chromatography coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer were applied to identify novel contaminants in 40 pooled serum samples from a sub-population (n = 400) of the 2015-2017 national biomonitoring program.

Gender- and Age-Group Specific Association of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Exposure with Diabetes Mellitus: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015-2017.

Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has been reported as a potential risk factor for diabetes in adults. However, effect modifications by sex and age, especially among Asian populations, have seldom been investigated. In the present study, we assessed associations of major POPs exposure including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), with diabetes in Korean adults ( = 1,295), a subset of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 3 (2015-2017).

Distribution of urinary trace element exposure and dietary sources in women over 50 in an agricultural region- A community-based KoGES cohort study.

Background: There is a noticeable lack of information on the levels of both non-essential and essential trace elements in women aged over 50. The main objective of this study is to investigate trace element concentrations and explore the influence of sociodemographic factors and dietary sources of exposure in this demographic.

Methods: We analyzed 19 trace elements, including manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, molybdenum, chromium, nickel, arsenic, strontium, cadmium, tin, antimony, cesium, barium, tungsten, mercury, thallium, lead, and uranium, using ICP-MS and mercury analyzer.

Homemade weaning foods as a source of lead and mercury exposure in Korean infants - A dietary risk assessment study.

Lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are neurodevelopmental toxicants that pose risks to cognitive and behavioral health. Given early childhood's vulnerability to these metals, understanding their sources and pathways of exposure during infancy is crucial for public health. During the weaning process, infants may be exposed to metals through the baby food they consume.

Association between environmental chemical exposure and albumin-to-creatinine ratio is modified by hypertension status in women of reproductive age.

Chemicals have been identified as a potential risk factor of renal dysfunction. However, studies that consider both multiple chemicals and non-chemical risk factors, such as hypertension, are rare. In this study, we assessed the associations between exposure to several chemicals, including major metals, phthalates, and phenolic compounds, and the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR).

Association between environmental cadmium exposure and increased mortality in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2018).

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is toxic to human health and increases overall mortality. In this study, we investigated the association between Cd exposure and all-cause, cardiovascular (CVD), and cancer mortality in the general population and the mediating effect of smoking on these association.

Methods: We used data from U.

Effects of mercury exposure on fetal body burden and its association with infant growth.

Several studies have been conducted among South Korean to investigate effects of high blood mercury (Hg) levels. In this study fetal body burden of Hg in 344 pregnant women were estimated using a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model (PBPK) and its associative effects on the growth of infants were analyzed. The association between cord blood Hg and growth variables at birth was analyzed based on parameters such as the sex of the newborn, living area, maternal age group, gestation day, maternal body mass index .

Urinary paraben concentrations of adult women by fasting status: Comparison between Korea and the United States.

Personal care products (PCPs) are considered as a major source of paraben exposure; however, the dietary contribution is not well known. We compared the urinary levels of methyl-, ethyl-, and propyl-paraben (MeP, EtP, and PrP), and investigated their associations with fasting status and contacts with other potential exposure sources among Korea and the US adult women. A group of fasting, non-pregnant adult women (n = 469) was recruited from Seoul, Ansan/Incheon, and Jeju, Korea in 2015-2016, and their urine was measured for parabens.

Distribution of Korean safety and health professionals from the perspective of gender equality.

Background: Gender equality in the workplace remains a challenge. This study aimed to investigate the gender gap of human resources in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH) in Korea.

Methods: Several national statistical data that can confirm the gender distribution of personnel in the OSH sector were reviewed.

Workplace Violence Against Female Health Managers in the Male-Dominated Construction Industry.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate health managers' exposure to workplace violence (WPV) at construction sites and to review the statistical characteristics of experts in the safety and health fields using a gender-based analysis.

Methods: A preliminary survey of health managers at construction sites was conducted from March to April 2020 via the Health Managers Council in Construction Industry online community (https://band.us/band/62438722).

Free Cortisol Mediates Associations of Maternal Urinary Heavy Metals with Neonatal Anthropometric Measures: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Prenatal exposure to heavy metals is known to be associated with adverse birth outcomes and oxidative stress biomarkers. In this study, we examined whether maternal free cortisol or 8-Hydroxy-2-Deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) could mediate associations between maternal heavy metal exposure and birth outcomes. A total of 182 healthy pregnant women were recruited.

Sex, menopause, and age differences in the associations of persistent organic pollutants with thyroid hormones, thyroxine-binding globulin, and peripheral deiodinase activity: A cross-sectional study of the general Korean adult population.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can disrupt the thyroid hormone system in humans. We assessed the associations of several POPs with serum thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone, and investigated the modulating effects of sex, menopausal status, and age on these associations, in a subgroup of the adult population (n = 1250) from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey. PCB105 and PCB118 were negatively associated with total T4 in premenopausal females and males aged <50, whereas the associations were insignificant in other groups.

Within- and between-person variability of urinary phthalate metabolites and bisphenol analogues over seven days: Considerations of biomonitoring study design.

Urine was used as a part of a human biomonitoring study based on the excretion kinetics of less-persistent contaminants, such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). Despite the advantages of being non-invasive and easy to collect, urine can show a large variability of concentrations of phthalate metabolites and BPA within a person depending on sampling time. Therefore, it is essential to assess the variability of urinary concentrations for comprehensive sampling design in the context of exposure and risk assessments.

Characteristics of COVID-19 infection clusters occurring among workers in several Asia-Pacific countries.

The types of workplaces and occupations with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) clusters vary between countries and periods. We aimed to characterize major occupational groups with mass outbreaks of COVID-19 infections in several Asia-Pacific countries. Data on the major occupations or workplaces reporting COVID-19 cases in workplaces from January 2020 to July 2021 was collected from industrial hygiene professionals in nine countries.

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds is associated with a risk of obesity and diabetes mellitus among Korean adults: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015-2017.

Environmental pollutants have been known to increase the risks of not only respiratory and cardiovascular disease but also metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene and toluene are major constituents of environmental pollution. In the present study, we employed the population of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 3 conducted between 2015 and 2017, and assessed the associations of urinary biomarkers for PAHs and VOCs exposure with obesity and DM.

Overview of Legal Measures for Managing Workplace COVID-19 Infection Risk in Several Asia-Pacific Countries.

Background: Despite the lack of official COVID-19 statistics, various workplaces and occupations have been at the center of COVID-19 outbreaks. We aimed to compare legal measures and governance established for managing COVID-19 infection risks at workplaces in nine Asia and Pacific countries and to recommend key administrative measures.

Methods: We collected information on legal measures and governance from both general citizens and workers regarding infection risks such as COVID-19 from industrial hygiene professionals in nine countries (Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand) using a structured questionnaire.

Lead, mercury, and cadmium exposures are associated with obesity but not with diabetes mellitus: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015-2017.

Background: Associations of heavy metal exposures with obesity and obesity-related traits have been suggested, while those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are often inconsistent.

Methods: This study included 3787 adults aged ≥19 years who participated in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey 2015-2017, and investigated the association of toxic heavy metals with metabolic diseases. Lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) were measured either in urine (uHg, uCd) or total blood (bPb, bHg).

Association of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals with thyroid hormones in general adult population and potential mechanisms.

Air pollution and fuel emissions are the common sources of human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. Several studies have suggested potential associations between PAHs/heavy metals and thyroid hormones, however, reports have been inconsistent. In this study, we employed a subpopulation of the adults (n = 1254) who participated in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey 2015-2017, and investigated the association of PAHs and major heavy metals with thyroid hormones, and explored the underlying mechanisms of thyroid disruption.

Associations of urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites, bisphenol A, and parabens with obesity and diabetes mellitus in a Korean adult population: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015-2017.

Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) have been suspected as risk factors for obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) among humans. However, associations between phthalates and environmental phenols are often inconsistent across different populations. In this study, we recruited the adult population (n = 3782) of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015-2017 (Cycle 3) and assessed the associations between urinary biomarkers of phthalate, BPA, and paraben exposure with obesity and DM.

Exposure to phthalates and bisphenol analogues among childbearing-aged women in Korea: Influencing factors and potential health risks.

Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), widely applied in industrial and consumer products, can affect hormones associated with the human reproductive system. Because the incidence of reproductive diseases is increasing, a comprehensive exposure assessment of phthalates and bisphenol analogues (BPs) is required for childbearing-aged women. Phthalate metabolites and BPs were measured in urine samples collected from 509 childbearing-aged women (20-48 years) in Korea to investigate their current exposure status, profiles, influencing factors, and potential health risks.

Lead and mercury levels in repeatedly collected urine samples of young children: A longitudinal biomonitoring study.

Early life exposures to lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) were reported to be associated with various adverse health outcomes. However, limited data was available for urinary Pb and Hg levels in young children and the proportion of children at risk by age, as well as inter- and intra-subject variations of urinary Pb and Hg levels. Therefore, we collected total 491 urine samples from 241 children by urine collection at birth and at intervals of 3 months until 27 months of age for each child (at 10 monitoring time points), measured urinary Pb and Hg levels, and then evaluated the proportion of children at risk by age and the intra-class correlation (ICC) of the urinary Pb and Hg levels.

Dietary contribution to body burden of bisphenol A and bisphenol S among mother-children pairs.

Due to the health concerns over bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS) has been used as an alternative in greater quantity. Diet is considered as the major source of exposure to bisphenols; however, its contribution to the total body burden has not been fully understood. In the present study, a 3-day dietary intervention was carried out for a group of mother and child(ren) pairs (37 families, 93 subjects), and contribution of the dietary factors to body burden of both bisphenols was investigated.

Thyroxine-binding globulin, peripheral deiodinase activity, and thyroid autoantibody status in association of phthalates and phenolic compounds with thyroid hormones in adult population.

Exposure to consumer chemicals such as phthalates and phenolic compounds has been associated with thyroid hormone disruption in humans. However, information related to factors that may influence such associations, e.g.