The Association between Psychosocial Stress and Type of Physical Activity in Middle Aged Adult: A Community-based Cohort Study / 대한스포츠의학회지

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to identify the associations between type of moderate-vigorous physical activities (MVPA) and psychological stress in South Korean, based on the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. The subjects of this study were 2,891 Korean men and women aged 40 to 69, who completed health examination from 2011 to 2012. @*Methods@#The type of MVPA was measured by using self-reported physical activity questionnaire. A high psychological stress was determined by scoring Psychological Well-being Index Short Form (≥ 27). Logistic regression analysis, adjusting other confounding factors, was conducted to identify the association of type of MVPA level with psychological stress (p＜ 0.05). @*Results@#Participants who leisure-related MVPA of ≥ 150 min/week was less likely have to high psychological stress than ＜ 150 min/week (odds ratio [OR], 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57–0.92). From the analysis of gender, leisure-related (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.35–0.72) and work-related (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41–0.97) MVPA of ≥ 150min/week were associated with low psychological stress in men, but women was not significantly associated. From the analysis of age, leisure-related MVPA of ≥ 150 min/week were associated with low psychological stress in middle age group (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.53–0.92), but elderly group was not significantly associated. Differences inpsychological stress OR according to type of MVPA time were observed about classification of occupations. @*Conclusion@#High level of leisure related physical activity were independently associated with reducing risk for psychological stress. Also, encouraged MVPA by gender, age, classification of occupations could help to improve psychological stress levels in middle-aged or older adults.

Workers' Exposure to Indium Compounds at the Electronics Industry in Republic of Korea

Objectives@#The aim of this study was to provide baseline data for the assessment of exposure to indium and to prevent adverse health effects among workers engaged in the electronics and related industries in Republic of Korea. @*Methods@#Total (n = 369) and respirable (n = 384) indium concentrations were monitored using personal air sampling in workers at the following 19 workplaces: six sputtering target manufacturing companies, four manufacturing companies of panel displays, two companies engaged in cleaning of sputtering components, two companies dedicated to the cleaning of sputtering target, and five indium recycling companies. @*Results@#The level of exposure to total indium ranged from 0.9 to 609.3 μg/m3 for the sputtering target companies; from 0.2 to 2,782.0 μg/m3 for the panel display companies and from 0.5 to 2,089.9 μg/m3 for the indium recycling companies. The level of exposure to respirable indium was in the range of 0.02 to 448.6 μg/m3 for the sputtering target companies; 0.01 to 419.5 μg/m3 for the panel display companies; and 0.5 to 436.3 μg/m3 for the indium recycling companies. The indium recycling companies had the most samples exceeding the exposure standard for indium, followed by sputtering target companies and panel display companies. @*Conclusions@#The main finding from this exposure assessment is that many workers who handle indium compounds in the electronics industry are exposed to indium levels that exceed the exposure standards for indium. Hence, it is necessary to continuously monitor the indium exposure of this workforce and take measures to reduce its exposure levels.

Workers' Exposure to Indium Compounds at the Electronics Industry in Republic of Korea

Objectives@#The aim of this study was to provide baseline data for the assessment of exposure to indium and to prevent adverse health effects among workers engaged in the electronics and related industries in Republic of Korea. @*Methods@#Total (n = 369) and respirable (n = 384) indium concentrations were monitored using personal air sampling in workers at the following 19 workplaces: six sputtering target manufacturing companies, four manufacturing companies of panel displays, two companies engaged in cleaning of sputtering components, two companies dedicated to the cleaning of sputtering target, and five indium recycling companies. @*Results@#The level of exposure to total indium ranged from 0.9 to 609.3 μg/m3 for the sputtering target companies; from 0.2 to 2,782.0 μg/m3 for the panel display companies and from 0.5 to 2,089.9 μg/m3 for the indium recycling companies. The level of exposure to respirable indium was in the range of 0.02 to 448.6 μg/m3 for the sputtering target companies; 0.01 to 419.5 μg/m3 for the panel display companies; and 0.5 to 436.3 μg/m3 for the indium recycling companies. The indium recycling companies had the most samples exceeding the exposure standard for indium, followed by sputtering target companies and panel display companies. @*Conclusions@#The main finding from this exposure assessment is that many workers who handle indium compounds in the electronics industry are exposed to indium levels that exceed the exposure standards for indium. Hence, it is necessary to continuously monitor the indium exposure of this workforce and take measures to reduce its exposure levels.

A case of acute organic solvent poisoning during epoxy coating

BACKGROUND: In the construction industry, maintaining health and safety of workers often challenging. Among the workers at construction sites, painters are at particular risk of respiratory diseases and neurotoxicity. However, in Korea there is weak enforcement of workers' health and safety practices in the construction industry in Korea. Poisonings frequently occur at (semi)closed construction sites. In this study, we report a case of acute organic solvent poisoning during construction site painting. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old man was found unconscious at a construction site and immediately transferred to the emergency room. The consciousness level was 'stupor state' and the body temperature was hypothermic, at 32 degrees (Celsius). There were no acute brain or cardiac lesions that would have accounted for the faintness. In addition, blood and urine tests did not indicate a cause of loss of consciousness. He had been painting epoxy to waterproof the basement floor before fainting. According to exposure simulation, the patient was overexposed to various organic solvents, such as approximately 316–624 ppm toluene during the work before fainting. Considering the ventilation status of the workplace and the status of no protection, it is considered that exposure through the respiratory tract was considerable. CONCLUSIONS: The patient in this case lost consciousness during the epoxy coating in a semi-enclosed space. It can be judged as a result of acute poisoning caused by organic solvent exposure and considered to be highly related to work environment.

The Association between Muscle Strength and Hyperuricemia in the Healthy Middle-aged Adult in Yangpyeong Province / 대한스포츠의학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of hyperuricemia in association with relative grip strength and leg strength in Korean Elderly. METHODS: We studied cross-sectional analysis with 1,894 rural adults (40–88 years old), who were surveyed for 7 years from 2007 to 2014. Grip strength was measured by using Takei grip strength dynamometer. Leg strength was measured by using Takei leg strength dynamometer. Hyperuricemia was defined by examining serum uric acid concentration (male ≥7 mg/dL, female ≥6 mg/dL). Logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the association of grip strength and leg strength with hyperuricemia (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Subjects who reported high level of relative grip strength had a significantly lower odds ratio (OR) of hyperuricemia than subjects who reported low level of relative grip strength (OR, 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16–0.84). When it comes to sex, subjects both high relative muscle strength are significantly lower multivariate-adjusted OR of hyperuricemia than subjects both low relative muscle strength in male (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.29–0.95) and female (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.26–0.95). Additionally, senior group (age ≥65 years), who have low relative grip strength and high relative leg strength, was only significantly associated with the prevalence of hyperuricemia (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.19–0.98). CONCLUSION: The relationship between hyperuricemia and relative grip strength may be mediated through decreased estimated glomerular filtration ratio. Therefore, muscle strength is important factor in prevention of renal vascular dysfunction which is a risk factor of hyperuricemia, and resistance exercise is needed to improve muscle strength.

Advanced Korean Industrial Safety and Health Policy with Risk Assessment

This article describes a systematic roadmap master plan for advanced industrial safety and health policy in Korea, with an emphasis on. Since Korean industries had first emergence of industrial safety and health policy in 1953, enormous efforts have been made on upgrading the relevant laws in order to reflect real situation of industrial work environment in accordance with rapid changes of Korean and global business over three decades. Nevertheless, current policy has major defects; too much techniques-based articles, diverged contents in less organization, combined enforcement and punishments and finally enforcing regulations full of commands and control. These deficiencies have make it difficult to accommodate changes of social, industrial and employment environment in customized fashion. The approach to the solution must be generic at the level of paradigm-shift rather than local modifications and enhancement. The basic idea is to establish a new system integrated with a risk assessment scheme, which encourages employers to apply to their work environment under comprehensive responsibility. The risk assessment scheme is designed to enable to inspect employers' compliances afterwards. A project comprises four yearly phases based on applying zones; initially designating and operating a specified risk zone, gradually expanding the special zones during a period of 3 years (2010-2012) and the final zone expanded to entire nation. In each phase, the intermediate version of the system is updated through a process of precise and unbiased validation in terms of its operability, feasibility and sustainability with building relevant infrastructures as needed.

Advanced Korean Industrial Safety and Health Policy with Risk Assessment

This article describes a systematic roadmap master plan for advanced industrial safety and health policy in Korea, with an emphasis on. Since Korean industries had first emergence of industrial safety and health policy in 1953, enormous efforts have been made on upgrading the relevant laws in order to reflect real situation of industrial work environment in accordance with rapid changes of Korean and global business over three decades. Nevertheless, current policy has major defects; too much techniques-based articles, diverged contents in less organization, combined enforcement and punishments and finally enforcing regulations full of commands and control. These deficiencies have make it difficult to accommodate changes of social, industrial and employment environment in customized fashion. The approach to the solution must be generic at the level of paradigm-shift rather than local modifications and enhancement. The basic idea is to establish a new system integrated with a risk assessment scheme, which encourages employers to apply to their work environment under comprehensive responsibility. The risk assessment scheme is designed to enable to inspect employers' compliances afterwards. A project comprises four yearly phases based on applying zones; initially designating and operating a specified risk zone, gradually expanding the special zones during a period of 3 years (2010-2012) and the final zone expanded to entire nation. In each phase, the intermediate version of the system is updated through a process of precise and unbiased validation in terms of its operability, feasibility and sustainability with building relevant infrastructures as needed.