Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
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MCS/IEI Prevalence Rate of Workers Around an Accidental Release of Hydrogen Fluoride in Gumi Industrial Complex

구미공단 불화수소 누출사고 주변 지역 근로자들의 화학물질과민증 유병률

  • Han, Hye-Ji (Department of Occupational Health, Catholic University of Daegu) ;
  • Woo, Kuck-Hyeun (Environmental Health Center for Hazardous Gas Exposure, Gumi Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Sung-Yong (Environmental Health Center for Hazardous Gas Exposure, Gumi Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Jeon, Byoung-Hak (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University) ;
  • Choi, Sangjun (Department of Occupational Health, Catholic University of Daegu)
  • 한혜지 (대구가톨릭대학교 산업보건학과) ;
  • 우극현 (순천향대학교 구미병원 환경보건센터) ;
  • 최성용 (순천향대학교 구미병원 환경보건센터) ;
  • 전병학 (성균관대학교 사회의학교실) ;
  • 최상준 (대구가톨릭대학교 산업보건학과)
  • Received : 2015.10.12
  • Accepted : 2015.12.20
  • Published : 2015.12.31
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Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence rate of multiple chemical sensitivity/idiopathic environmental intolerance(MCS/IEI) among workers in the Gumi industrial complex around the region of accidental release of hydrogen fluoride in 2012. Materials: We evaluated MCS/IEI using the Korean version of the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory(QEESI). A total of 535 workers at six manufacturing companies in the Gumi industrial complex were investigated using self-administered questionnaires from February to March 2015. After exclusion of incompletely answered questionnaires, 271 were analyzed. Results: The prevalence rate and proved positive rate of MCS/IEI were 5.9%(16 out of 271) and 3.7%(10 out of 271), respectively. The scores of chemical intolerance, other intolerance, symptom severity and life impact were significantly higher(p<0.05) in females than those of males. In terms of masking index scores, males showed significantly higher(p=0.003) than female. The self-reported MCS/IEI prevalence rate, 7.7%, of workers exposed to hydrogen fluoride in 2012 was higher than no-exposure group(5.6%), but not statistically significant(p=0.815). Conclusions: Although the prevalence rate of MCS/IEI symptoms of workers exposed to hydrogen fluoride gas in 2012 was not significantly higher than no-exposure group, it is necessary to conduct follow-up study on the exposure group of hydrogen fluoride.

Keywords

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