Effect of Toluene on Phenol and S-phenylmercapturic Acid Excretion as Urinary Metabolites of Benzene in Rats / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to provide accurate exposure evaluation of workers in a biologicallymonitored state who were simultaneously exposed to benzene and toluene. For the purpose of this study, an animal experiment was conducted. METHODS: The following concentrations of solvents were administered orally to Sprague-Dawley rats : benzene at 2.26 mg/kg body weight (equivalent concentration to the 2.5 ppm, Threshold Limit Value-ShortTerm Exposure Limit, in the USA) and 9.02 mg/kg body weight (equivalent concentration to the 10 ppm, Threshold Limit Value-TimeWeighted Average in Korea), simultaneously with toluene at 106.42 mg/kg body weight (equivalent concentration to the 100 ppm, Threshold Limit Value-TimeWeighted RESULTS: The following results were obtained from the analysis of reading taken at 3hour intervals of S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA) and phenol concentration in urine metabolites of benzene after oral administration for 30 hours. 1. The concentrations of phenol and SPMA in urine were markedly decreased in the initial phase of the mixed group (both benzene and toluene administered group) as compared with the benzeneonly administered group, and the concentrations were slightly elevated. 2. The total excreted amounts of phenol and SPMA in urine decreased in the mixed group compared with the benzene-only group, and these decreases were more remarkable at the benzene administration concentration of 9.02 mg/kg than at 2.26 mg/kg. 3. The urinary excretions of phenol and SPMA were delayed in the case of the mixed group, and the extent of the delay was dependent on the amount of benzene administrat CONCLUSIONS: Benzene metabolism was suppressed by toluene, and hence the excretion of phenol and SPMA as urinary metabolites of benzene was delayed. This result will have applications in the interpretation of results from future biological monitoring of workers exposed to mixed solvents. We should not underestimate the importance of carefully interpreting the results of biological monitoring data when workers are exposed to mixed solvents. We should not underestimate the importance of carefully interpreting the results of biological monitoring data when workers are exposed to mixed benzene and toluene.

Lead Levels in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood / 대한산업의학회지

This study was conducted to evaluate the blood lead levels in 141 pregnant women who were not occupationally exposed to lead and their umbilical cord, arid to identify some differences in blood lead levels by living area. ; The subjects-were all delivered at St. Benedict Hospital in Pusan and the blood lead levels were measured by graphite furance atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The summarized results were as follows. 1. The geometric mean lead levels in maternal and cord blood were 8.0+/-1.8microgram/dl, 5.0+/-0.6lmicrogram/dl respectively. 2. Lead levels in maternal (8.7+/-1.7microgram/dl) and cord blood(5.4+/-0.7microgram/dl) of industrial area(n=24) were higher than residential area(n= 124) which were 7.9+/-1.7microgram/dl and 5.0+/-0.6microgram/dl respectively (p<0.05). 3. Maternal blood lead concentration was significantly correlated to cord blood lead concentration (r=0.6090, p<0.001), but other variables (maternal age, paternal smoking, birth weight, etc) were not correlated.

An analysis of contributing factors to financial status of regional health insurance / 예방의학회지

Finances of health insurance can be explained by factors determining benefit expense and premium collection. This study was conducted to analyze factors contributing to the financial status of rural health insurance. Nationwide 134 health insurance associations except the six pilot project counties were analyzed and obtained the followings. 1. In univariate analysis, statistically significant variables that explain 1) outpatient benefit expenditures include public health center utilization, proportion of pregnant women, premium and collection rate of premium 2) inpatient benefit expenditures include public health center utilization, proportion of old age, proportion of pregnant women, premium and collection rate of premium 3) profits include public health center utilization, proportion of old age, proportion of pregnant women and collection rate of premium. 2. In multiple regression analysis, statistically significant determinants in 1) outpatient benefit include premium and public health utilization 2) inpatient benefit include premium 3) profit include public health center utilization, premium and collection rate of premium.