Occupational diseases in Korea.
Korea has industrialized since the 1970s. Pneumoconiosis in coal miners was the most common occupational disease in the 1970s to 1980s. With the industrialization, the use of many chemicals have increased since the 1970s. As a consequence, there were outbreaks of occupational diseases caused by poisonous chemicals, such as heavy metal poisoning, solvent poisoning and occupational asthma in the late 1980s and early 1990s with civil movement for democracy. Many actions have been taken for prevention by the government, employers and employees or unions. In the 1990s most chemical related diseases and pneumoconiosis have rapidly decreased due to improving work environment. In the late 1990s, cerebro-cardiovascular diseases related to job stress or work overloads have abruptly increased especially after the economic crisis in 1998. After the year 2000, musculoskeletal disorders became a major problem especially in assembly lines in the manufacturing industry and they were expanded to the service industry. Mental diseases related to job stress have increased. Infectious diseases increased in health care workers and afforestation workers. Occupational cancers are increasing because of their long latency, although the use of carcinogenic substances are reduced, limited, and even banned.
Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Incheon, Korea.
Seong-Kyu
SK
Kang
Eun A
EA
Kim
D003032:Coal Mining; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016272:Occupational Health; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D017132:Workplace / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology
Neurotoxicology. 2005 Jun;26(3):351-9
15935207
Neurotoxicology. 2007 Mar;28(2):324-7
17374398
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1997;69(5):361-6
9192222
Epidemiology. 2005 Jan;16(1):106-13
15613953
J Korean Med Sci. 2006 Feb;21(1):58-62
16479066
J Korean Med Sci. 1996 Aug;11(4):314-8
8878799
Ind Health. 2002 Jul;40(3):286-9
12141379
J Korean Med Sci. 1998 Jun;13(3):275-80
9681805
Saf Health Work. 2010 Sep;1(1):61-8
22953164
Scand J Work Environ Health. 1996 Oct;22(5):387-91
8923614
Br J Ind Med. 1982 Aug;39(3):283-9
7093157
Neurotoxicology. 1999 Dec;20(6):901-7
10693971
Chem Biol Interact. 2005 May 30;153-154:65-74
15935801
Ind Health. 2008 Oct;46(5):448-54
18840934
J Korean Med Sci. 1998 Dec;13(6):645-51
9886174
Occup Environ Med. 2003 Aug;60(8):551-62
12883015
J Korean Med Sci. 1991 Mar;6(1):63-8
1888451
J Korean Med Sci. 2000 Aug;15(4):407-12
10983688
Ind Health. 2007 Apr;45(2):371-3
17485886
Neurotoxicology. 2007 Mar;28(2):257-62
16647136
Occup Environ Med. 1999 Jun;56(6):378-82
10474532