title: Epidemiologic characteristics of compensated occupational lung cancers among Korean workers.
abstract: An understanding of the characteristics of occupational lung cancer is important to establish policies that prevent carcinogen exposure and to compensate workers exposed to lung carcinogens. This study analyzed the characteristics of occupational lung cancers in workers who were compensated under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Law between 1994 and 2011. A total of 179 occupational lung cancers were compensated. The main carcinogenic exposure was asbestos, followed by crystalline silica and hexavalent chromium. The mean exposure duration and latency were 19.8 and 23.2 yr. The most common industry was manufacturing, followed by construction and transportation. The most common occupation was maintenance and repair, followed by foundry work, welding, painting, and spinning or weaving. Although asbestos was predominant carcinogen, the proportion of these cases was relatively low compared to other developed countries. Proper surveillance system is needed to monitor occupational lung cancer and improve prevention measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon-Soon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0039-069X
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Sook
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6897-8289
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity; D002857:Chromium / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity; D012907:Smoking; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D002857:Chromium; D001194:Asbestos; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: Asbestos; Chromium Hexavalent Ion; Crystalline Silica; Lung Neoplasms; Workers' Compensation