Chronic and Acute Effects of Work-related Factors on Heart Rate Variability / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is one of the serious risk factors for heart diseases. We evaluated the acute and chronic effects of work-related factors on HRV. METHODS: The five-minute HRV of 85 male workers from an automobile assembly factory were measured at 9 A.M. (before-work) and at 5 P.M. (after-work). The workplace noise, temperature and physical workload levels were measured as work-related factors. We postulated that the HRV measured at beforework represents the chronic effects and the HRV measured at after-work represents the acute effects of work-related factors. We used generalized linear regression analysis with adjusting for the general characteristics and/or the morning HRV. RESULTS: The subjects exposed to noise or a hot environment showed increased HRV in the afternoon and decreased HRV in the morning. Machine oil and interpersonal conflict decreased the HRV in the morning, but other chemicals did not show any effect on the HRV. A physical workload decreased the HRV in both the morning and afternoon. CONCLUSION: The physical and chemical environment, psychosocial stress and a physical workload may affect the autonomic nerve system.

The Relationship between Work Ability and Job Stress Factors in Manufacturing Industries / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the association between work ability and job stress factors in three manufacturing industries. METHODS: The data were gathered from 705 workers of 3 manufacturing industries, from August 2007 to January 2008. A structured, self-reported questionnaire was used to access the demographic, socioeconomic and work related characteristics. Work ability and job stress factors were determined using two questionnaires: the work ability index (WAI) of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS), respectively. RESULTS: According to the logistic regression analysis results, WAI was related to job stress factors after adjustment for age, shift work, employment type and exercise. Of the eight subscales, job demand, interpersonal conflict, lack of reward, occupational climate and total score were significantly associated with WAI. In the analysis of each factory, interpersonal conflict, job insecurity and lack of reward were significantly associated with WAI in factory II, and organizational system, lack of reward and total score in factory III, but there was no significant association in factory I. CONCLUSIONS: Job stress factors were significantly associated with WAI in two of the three manufacturing industries. Further and more detailed study needs to be conducted to reduce the job stress and improve the work ability.

A Case of Chronic Renal Failure and Renal Cancer in a Worker Exposed to Lead / 대한산업의학회지

INTRODUCTION: Studies evaluating rats and mice have provided convincing evidence that renal adenoma and carcinoma are induced by oral doses of lead acetate and lead subacetate, as well as by parenteral doses of lead phosphate. In addition, at least 2 cases of kidney cancer associated with heavy exposure to lead have been reported. However, there is still not enough information to confirm or rule out an association between kidney cancer and exposure to lead. CASE REPORT: In this study, we describe a case of kidney cancer in 54-year-old male worker that was exposed to lead-stearate while employed in the polyvinyl chloride processing industry for 17 years. The patient presented with gout and hypertension. Further examination revealed proteinuria, glucose in the urine and elevated blood urea nitrogen/creatinine levels. Renal ultrasonography, renal computed tomography and renal biopsy revealed chronic renal failure and renal cell cancer. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the gout and chronic renal failure in this case was caused by chronic lead exposure. However, further study is required to determine if the renal cancer was induced by lead exposure.