Association between single-person household wage workers in South Korea and insomnia symptoms: the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS).

Background: The rise in single-person households is a global phenomenon with well-documented implications for both physical and mental well-being. However, there remains a scarcity of studies focusing specifically on the health impacts of single-person households on workers. This study aims to address this gap by comparing insomnia symptoms between single- and multi-person household workers, shedding light on the health implications of household composition.

The association of shift work and TyG index among male workers in a chemical plant of Korea: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Disturbance of circadian rhythms caused by shift work has adverse effects on insulin resistance. Many previous studies have confirmed that shift work and insulin resistance are related using homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance, one of the insulin resistance indicators. However, the triglycerides and glucose index (TyG index) has recently been studied as an insulin resistance indicator.

Occupational and Psychological Factors Associated With Burnout in Night Shift Nurses.

Objective: Providing inpatient nursing care inevitably involves night shift work. However, night shift work nurses often face psychiatric health problems such as burnout. If night shift work is an essential work type for nurses, it is necessary to select personnel suitable for night shift work or establish improvement measures such as psychiatric intervention through psychiatric evaluation.

Relationship between job stress and impaired fasting glucose in male steel industry workers: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between job stress and impaired fasting glycemia (IFG) of male workers in a manufacturing industry.

Methods: Data were collected from 5,886 male workers in a manufacturing industry who participated in the medical examination from June 19 to August 14, 2020 through self-reported questionnaires. The general characteristics of the subjects, shift work, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and job stress were included.

The association of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and kidney function in Korean adolescents using data from Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 4 (2018-2020): a cross-sectional study.

Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals widely used in various products in everyday life. Due to its unique strong binding force, the half-life of PFAS is very long, so bioaccumulation and toxicity to the human body are long-standing concerns. In particular, effects on kidney function have recently emerged and there are no studies on the effect of PFAS on kidney function through epidemiological investigations in Korea.

The Effect of Prior Mental Health on Persistent Physical Symptoms after Exposure to a Chemical Disaster.

A styrene monomer (SM) oil vapor leak occurred at a chemical plant in Seosan, South Korea on 17 May 2019. A bad odor developed, and many residents complained of various symptoms and visited nearby medical institutions. We analyzed the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients treated at local hospitals and clinics for symptoms related to SM exposure, and identified factors affecting symptom persistence in any organ.

The health effects of low blood lead level in oxidative stress as a marker, serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase level, in male steelworkers.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between lead exposure and serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGT) levels as an oxidative stress marker in male steelworkers.

Methods: Data were collected during the annual health examination of workers in 2020. A total of 1,654 steelworkers were selected, and the variables for adjustment included the workers' general characteristics, lifestyle, and occupational characteristics.

Correlation between shift work and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among male workers in the steel manufacturing company of Korea: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Circadian rhythm disturbance caused by shift work has adverse effects on the metabolic homeostasis of the liver. Disruption of the metabolic homeostasis of the liver causes fat accumulation in the liver. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between shift work and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among male workers in the steel manufacturing industry of Korea.

The acclimatization of Haenyeo to a cold environment and occupational characteristics evaluated by orexin and irisin levels.

Background: Haenyeo is a woman who has the job of collecting seafood in the Jeju Sea at an average temperature of 13°C-14°C. The purpose of this study was to examine the cold acclimatization and occupational characteristics of Haenyeo through biomarkers such as orexin and irisin related to heat generation in the body.

Methods: Twenty-one Haenyeo and 25 people with similar age, body type, and body mass index were selected as the control group (Control G).

Rheumatoid Arthritis in Silica-Exposed Workers.

Few studies have examined rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk and severity in Korean workers exposed to silica. We compared the hospitalization risk of RA between silica-exposed workers and the general Korean population. The study cohort consisted of male workers exposed to silica who had undergone at least one silica-associated special medical examination between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2004 ( = 149,948).

Hospital admissions due to endocrine diseases in Korean male firefighters.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between occupational exposure to various hazards and hospital admission due to endocrine diseases in Korean male firefighters.

Methods: From 2000 to 2008, former and current male firefighters registered in the Korean National Emergency Management Agency were investigated based on their hospitalized health insurance admission data for the same period. Admission data for endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases were obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.

Association between metabolic syndrome and shift work in chemical plant workers.

Background: The study aimed to determine the association between shift work and metabolic syndrome and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the shift and day work groups among workers working in chemical plants.

Methods: Based on medical examination data collected in February 2019, 3,794 workers working at a chemical plant in Korea were selected. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed by adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), drinking, exercise, smoking, employment period and organic compounds exposure.

Relationship between long work hours and self-reported sleep disorders of non-shift daytime wage workers in South Korea: data from the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Background: Studies have investigated the relationship between long work hours and sleep disorders; however, they have focused on shift workers or specific workers who are at high risk of industrial accidents rather than wage workers in general. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of long work hours on sleep disorders among non-shift daytime wage workers.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Does Exposure of Lead and Cadmium Affect the Endometriosis?

This study aimed to investigate the effects of blood lead levels (BLLs) and lead and cadmium exposure on endometriosis (EM). The study cohort consisted of female workers who underwent a lead-associated special medical examination between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2004 ( = 26,542). The standard admission rate (SAR) and admission odds ratio (OR) for EM were calculated using the general population and noise-exposed groups, respectively, for the same period as the reference standards.

Rheumatoid arthritis in low-level toluene-exposed workers based on nationwide medical surveillance data in Korea.

Background: There is growing evidence that exposure to organic solvents can play a role in the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between RA and toluene exposure.

Methods: The study cohort consisted of Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency data from male workers exposed to toluene who had undergone a toluene-associated special medical examination at least once between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2004 (n = 148,870).

Relationship of spouses' weekly working hours and sleep problems in Korean wage workers: the 5th Korean working conditions survey.

Background: Sleep disorders are common and serious problems for mental health. This study investigated the relationship between spouses' weekly working hours (SWWH) and sleep problems by using the data from the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Methods: Data from 14,921 wage workers were used in the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Cancer mortality in Korean workers occupationally exposed to methanol: a cohort study.

Purpose: Recently, the international agency for research on cancer recommended that methanol should be recognized as a medium-priority, human cancer risk. Therefore, we performed an epidemiological study to evaluate the relationship between methanol exposure and the cancer mortality of Korean workers occupationally exposed to methanol.

Methods: The study cohort was composed of methanol-exposed 25,218 male workers, data on whom were available from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency; all participants underwent methanol-associated medical check-ups at least once between January 2000 and December 2004.

Psychometric properties of the 10-item Conner-Davidson resilience scale on toxic chemical-exposed workers in South Korea.

Background: Resilient individuals have a comprehensive ability to adapt to various life circumstances. Psychological resilience predicts an individual's physiological response to stress. The 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) is a widely used measure to quantify the level of self-perceived resilience.

Relationship between occupational injuries and the provision of safety and health information: data from the 4th Korean working conditions survey.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the provision of safety and health information (PSHI) and occupational injuries.

Methods: This study was based on data from the 4th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) (2014). The sample consisted of data from 24,527 wage workers and was divided into high-risk and low-risk groups, depending on the probability of occupational injury.

The association between blood lead levels and cardiovascular diseases among lead-exposed male workers.

Objective We prospectively evaluated the association between blood lead levels (BLL) and increases in hospital admissions for treatment of cardiovascular diseases among lead-exposed workers in Korea. Methods The study cohort was derived from Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency data, which included lead-exposed male workers who underwent lead-associated medical check-ups at least once between 2000 and 2004. The adjusted hospital admission hazard ratio (AHR) of cardiovascular diseases for each BLL grade (10-20 and ≥20 μg/dL) was compared with that of the reference grade (<10 μg/dL) using Cox's proportional hazard models.

Central nervous system diseases of organic solvents exposed workers based on nationwide medical surveillance-data in Korea.

Background: New light is being shed on the relationship between chronic neurotoxicity of the central nervous system (CNS) and exposure to low-level organic solvents (OS). However, there are few longitudinal studies with a large sample size.

Methods: A cohort of OS-exposed male workers was selected who had undergone an OS-associated specialized medical check-up at least once between 2000 and 2004 in Korea.

Biomarkers for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and serum liver enzymes.

Background: Limited evidence suggests that human liver toxicity is associated with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Methods: The association of urinary PAH metabolites with serum liver enzymes was tested among 288 workers at a petrochemical plant, using a general linear model (GLM) and multiple logistic regression.

Results: Urine 2-naphthol levels were positively correlated with serum AST after adjustment for covariates in GLM.

A survey on the status of hepatitis e virus infection among slaughterhouse workers in South Korea.

Objectives: The seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among high-risk groups overseas is high, but studies in these groups are rare in South Korea. We conducted the present study from April to November 2012 to obtain data on the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for HEV among slaughterhouse workers in South Korea.

Methods: Slaughterhouse workers from 80 workplaces nationwide were surveyed in South Korea in 2012.