Impact of Solvent Exposure on the Occupational Hearing Loss / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was to evaluate the impacts of simultaneous exposure to noise and mixed solvents on workers'hearing threshold level (HTL) over five-year period. METHODS: The study was conducted by interview and annual audiometric test on workers in ship building industry from 1994 to 1998. The cases(workers who exposed to noise and mixed solvent simultaneously) were 43 male workers and controls (workers who exposed to nolle) were selected by matching method with regard to age, sex, carrier, and noise exposure level. To assess the impacts of solvent exposure on hearing threshold level, with considering other factors, general liner model was used. RESULTS: 1. The audiogram of all subjects showed typical sensorineural hearing loss pattern. The mean HTLe were increased at high frequency (4000HB and 8000Hz) for study period. 2. The HTLs of cases were more increased than those of controls at high frequencies (4000Hz and 8000Hz), but there was not statlstical significance. 3. The impact of age on the HTL was statistically significant at 250Hz and 500Hz (p(0.05), and the impact of noise on the HTL was statistically significant at 250Hz, 2000Hz and 4000Hz (p(0.05), but the impact solvent exposure on the HTL was not significant. 4. The changes in HTLs of cases were higher than those of controls at high frequency, there were not statistical significance at 4000Hz, but only at 8000Hz (p=0.087). 5. Statistical analysis of the general linear model implicated that the changes in HTL was impacted by noise exposure bevel significantly (p=0.031) and Impacted by solvent exposure weakly (p=0.087) at 8000Hz. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that workers who simultaneously exposed to noise and mixed solvent were at risk for more affected HTL than those exposed to noise exposure only, but we could not find definitive evidence. Further detailed studies must be made in large number of workers.

Risk Factors of Hypertension and The Effect of These Factors on Blood Pressure / 한국역학회지

This study was conducted to find out the risk factors of hypertension and the effect of thesefactors on blood pressure. The eighteen factors were collected on the subjects of 932 from November 1994 to January 1995 through questionnaire and laboratory test - those were age, sex, education level, body mass index(BMI), family history of hypertension (FHH), triglyceride (TG), blood sugar and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), etc. The status of blood pressure was classified by the classification of hypertension proposed by Joint National Committee of hypertension, USA. The prevalence of diastolic hypertension was 17.7% and the prevalence of systolic hypertension was 11.6 %. In the frequency analysis on the status of blood pressure, by age, education level, smoking habit, RM, BMI, FBS, LDH, TG, the prevalences were significantly different for both diastolic and systolic hypertension(p(0. 05). By stepwise logistic regression with dichotemization of blood pressure, the following odds ratios were significantly high (p, 0.05) - for diastolic hypertension, age 1.973, BMI 2. 106, FHH 2, 102, LDH 2. 773, TG 1.715, and for systolic hypertension, age 4.414, BMI 1.563, FHH 2.125, RM 0.487, LDH 3.814, TG 2. 707. By multiple regression analysis with blood pressure as dependent variable and these factors as independent variables, the regression equationswere diastolic hypertension =51.07+0.20.age+0.07 BMI+0.02.TG+0.02.LDH+3.22.FHH, and systolic hypertension = 88. 59+0.23.age+0.06.BMI+5.46.FHH-2.62.RM+0.03.LDH+0,03.TG By this study, the significant risk factors of hypertension were age, BMI, TG, family history of hypertension, LDH, and efficient control of hypertension would be expected through control of these factors.

Atmospheric Concentration of Heavy Metals of Pusan Area / 예방의학회지

This study was carried out to assess the present level of atmospheric metals. Five metals-lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, vanadium-were checked on the industrial(Sasang) and residental area(Daeshindong) in the city of Pusan sampling period was the year of 1986, 1990, and 1994, and the sampling time was 2 days of each site. As the result of comparison with the atmospheric standard of ASHRAE(1980) the average concentrations of lead was above the standard, the average concentrations of chromium was around the standard, and the average concentrations of cadmium and vanadium was below the standard. The average concentrations of manganese was above the standard of industrial environment. And the average concentrations of five metals was higher in the industrial area than the residental area The average concentrations of lead cadmium and chromium showed the increase tendency by the year, and the average concentrations of vanadium showed no change, and the average concentrations of manganese showed the decrease tendency. As a result of correlation analysis, lead and cadmium(r=0.31), vanadium and manganese(r=0.24), vanadium and chromium(r=0.19) showed significance.

Neuroendocrine Effects in Occupational Solvents Exposure / 대한산업의학회지

Long term occupational exposure to solvent mixtures may cause adverse effects to the central nervous system with neurobehavioral symptoms. And some organic solvents have been suggested to cause impairment of tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic activity and neurochemical mechanisms controlling pituitary secretion. For the purpose of assessing neuroendocrine effects in occupational solvents exposure, hormonal study settings (shoes-manufacturing industry & fishing products industry) and compared with nonexposed controls (33men, 85women). Male workers exposed to solvent mixtures had significantly lower plasma level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) than nonexposed male controls. While female workers exposed to solvent mixtures had significantly lower plasma levels of growth hormone (GH), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) than nonexposed female controls. The results of significant decrease in plasma concentrations of pituitary hormones (FSH, GH, and TSH) in workers exposed solvent mixtures indicate that occupational exposure to solvent mixtures may induce neuroendocrine effects through an effect on hypothalamic pituitary axis.