Association between ambient particulate matter levels and hypertension: results from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

Background: Recently, there has been increasing worldwide concern about outdoor air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM), which has been extensively researched for its harmful effects on the respiratory system. However, sufficient research on its effects on cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, remains lacking. In this study, we examine the associations between PM levels and hypertension and hypothesize that higher PM concentrations are associated with elevated blood pressure.

Predicted Cervical Cancer Prevention: Impact of National HPV Vaccination Program on Young Women in South Korea.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program of South Korea among its entire female population, particularly among younger age groups.

Materials And Methods: We first predicted the incidence of cervical cancer over the next 20 years (2021-2040) using the Nordpred package based on Møller's age-period-cohort model under several scenarios for the national HPV vaccination program. We calculated the potential impact fractions and proportional differences under the current national vaccination programs, and alternative scenarios using the no-vaccination assumption as a reference.

Environment-wide association study of elevated liver enzymes: results from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey 2018-2022.

Background: Environmental exposure is characterized by low concentration, chronic, and complex exposure. Traditional epidemiological studies show limitations in reflecting these characteristics since they usually focus on a single or very limited number of exposure factors at a time. In this study, we adopted the methodology of environment-wide association study (EWAS) to figure out the association of human liver function with various environmentally hazardous substances.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of cancer risks in relation to environmental waste incinerator emissions: a meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies.

Objectives: Various toxic substances can be generated from incinerators, exposing nearby residents, and epidemiological studies have shown wide variations in risk estimates for cancer risk in populations living close to incinerators.

Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a literature search and systematic review were conducted to identify studies conducted on general populations exposed to environmental incinerator emissions and cancer outcomes. Meta-analysis was performed according to the cancer types for which 2 or more studies were reported.

Influence of temperature and precipitation on the incidence of hepatitis A in Seoul, Republic of Korea: a time series analysis using distributed lag linear and non-linear model.

This study aimed to analyze the association between temperature and precipitation and the incidence of hepatitis A in Seoul, Korea, as meteorological factors may have different effects on specific diseases depending on the lifestyle in each region. Weekly cases of hepatitis A, weekly mean daily precipitation, and temperature data from 2016 to 2020 were analyzed. Quasi-Poisson-generalized linear models with time variable adjusted by spline function were used considering 0-6-week lags.

Association between physical hazardous agent exposure and mental health in the Korean working population: the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Background: Mental health problems are emerging issues in occupational safety and health, whereas the findings on the relationship between physical hazards and mental health are not consistent. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between physical hazard exposure and mental health outcomes including depression and anxiety.

Methods: We included 48,476 participants from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) in this study.

Association of Urinary Bisphenols Concentration with Asthma in Korean Adolescents: Data from the Third Korean National Environmental Health Survey.

The effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on asthma have been reported in various in vitro, animal, and human epidemiologic studies. However, epidemiological studies on the effects of bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), which are substitutes of BPA, on asthma are lacking. The purpose of this study was to identify the association between BPA, BPS, and BPF and asthma.

Association of phthalates and early menarche in Korean adolescent girls from Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015-2017.

Background: Phthalates are one of renowned endocrine-disrupting chemicals, although inconsistent results are present around their effect on onset of menarche. Our hypothesis is that pre-pubertal exposure to phthalates is associated with acceleration of menarche.

Methods: We analyzed a total of 236 middle school (7th to 9th grade) girls from Korean National Environmental Health Survey 20152017.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Developing Ischemic Heart Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study.

Although there are several case reports showing that carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning causes ischemic heart disease (IHD), no large-scale epidemiological studies have shown a significant association between the two. To investigate the association between CO poisoning and IHD, a nested case-control study of 28,113 patients who experienced CO poisoning and 28,113 controls matched by sex and age was performed using the nationwide health database of South Korea. Based on a conditional logistic regression, there was a significantly higher risk of IHD among the CO poisoning group than among the control group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.

Exposure to diesel engine exhausts and increase of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine among Male tank maintenance workers in the Republic of Korea Army.

This study was conducted to evaluate the exposure of diesel engine exhaust (DEE) and oxidative stress among tank maintenance workers in the Republic of Korea Army. Airborne concentrations of elemental carbon (EC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals were measured at two units. Urine analysis for 1-hydroxypyrene and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was performed for tank maintenance workers from one unit (n=17).

Future Incidence of Malignant Mesothelioma in South Korea: Updated Projection to 2038.

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a cancer that is largely caused by exposure to asbestos. Although asbestos is no longer used in South Korea, the incidence of MM continues to increase due to its long latent period. We aimed to update the previous prediction of MM incidence until 2038.

Environmental exposure to asbestos and the risk of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Asbestos is a carcinogen associated with lung cancer, but few studies have examined the increased risk of lung cancer due to environmental asbestos exposure. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between environmental asbestos exposure and lung cancer. We searched for articles on non-occupational or environmental asbestos exposure and lung cancer in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and Web of Science databases.

Incidence of Cancer and Asbestos-Related Diseases among Residents Living near Abandoned Asbestos Mines in South Korea: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using National Health Insurance Database.

The use of asbestos has been banned since 2009 in South Korea. However, there is still a risk of exposure to environmental asbestos originating from abandoned asbestos mines. We constructed a retrospective dynamic cohort using the National Health Insurance Database of South Korea.

Association Between Carbon Monoxide Intoxication and Incidence of Ischemic Stroke: A Retrospective Nested Case-Control Study in South Korea.

Objectives: Severe neurological sequelae occur in patients with carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication; however, whether the latter increases the long-term risk of developing ischemic stroke is unclear. We investigated the association between CO intoxication and ischemic stroke using data from the Korean National Health Information Database.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective, nested case-control study of 27,984 individuals treated for CO intoxication and 27,984 sex- and age-matched controls.

Association between Shift Work and Neurocognitive Function among Firefighters in South Korea: A Prospective Before-After Study.

: Recent research indicates that shift work is associated with neurocognitive function. However, studies that examine the association between shift work and neurocognitive function in firefighters have not yet been performed. We examined the effect of shift work on neurocognitive function in firefighters by measuring and comparing neurocognitive function before and after night shift.

Association between use of humidifier disinfectant and allergic rhinitis in Korean children: a cross-sectional study based on the eighth Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC).

Background: Rhinitis was the most frequently diagnosed disorder among users of humidifier disinfectants (HDs). The aim of our study was to investigate on the relationship between allergic rhinitis (AR) and HD uses.

Methods: Our study used the data from the eighth Panel Study on Korean Children; a total of 1,540 participants were enrolled.

Occupational exposure to formaldehyde and risk of lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Formaldehyde exposure is associated with nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia. Previously-described links between formaldehyde exposure and lung cancer have been weak and inconsistent. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate quantitatively the association between formaldehyde exposure and lung cancer.

Exposure to asbestos and the risk of colorectal cancer mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Asbestos exposure is associated with mesothelioma and cancer of the lung, larynx and ovary. However, the association between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer is controversial despite several systematic reviews of the literature, including a number of meta-analyses. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate quantitatively the association between exposure to asbestos and colorectal cancer.

Association between depression and cardiovascular disease risk in general population of Korea: results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2016.

Background: Depression is considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated with changes in individuals' health status that might influence CVD risk. However, most studies have scrutinized this relationship on a rather narrower and specific study population. By focusing on general population of Korea, we sought to inspect the association of depression with CVD risk and cardiovascular risk factors.

Association between shift work and hyperhomocysteinemia in male workers.

Background: Shift work is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Here, we sought to assess the relationship between shift work and plasma homocysteine levels. Determining the correlations between shift work and homocysteine levels may provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular diseases.