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The Effect of Silica Dust on Ventilatory Function of Foundry Workers: Jung Wan Koo, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea-In order to study the exposure level of silica dust and the effects of silica dust on ventilatory function, respirable dust samples were collected with personal air samplers by means of NIOSH method 0500 in selected foundry operations, and ventilatory function tests were performed on 209 male foundry workers and 239 male control subjects. The average quartz concentrations of respirable dust were the highest in melting (0.079 Mg/M3) and followed by molding (0.051 mg/m3), finishing (0.041 mg/m3) and coremaking (0.023 mg/m3) in descending order. No significant differences in mean values for all ventilatory indices expressed as a percentage of the predicted value were demonstrated between smokers and nonsmokers in foundry workers and control subjects. Mean values for all ventilatory indices except FVC in foundry workers were significantly lower than those in control subjects. Mean values for FEV,%, MMF, FEF25, FEF50 and FEF75 expressed as a percentage of the predicted value tended to decrease with increasing cumulative dust exposure. In foundry workers, proportions of workers with low MMF, FEF50 and FEF75 were noticeably higher than those for other indices, and were significantly increased with increasing cumulative dust exposure. With the above considerations in mind, it suggested that increasing exposure to silica dust be associated with progressive deterioration in ventilatory function of an obstructive nature and that MMF, FEF50 and FEF75 be sensitive indices in the detection of early obstructive changes in air flow of workers exposed to silica dust. (J Occup Health 2000; 42:251-257)

Recent studies in Western countries have reported a significant association between glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and bone mineral density (BMD) in the absence of dialysis among the general population. However, there have been few studies regarding renal function and BMD among Korean or Asian subjects with moderate to severe (stage 3 or 4) chronic kidney disease (MS-CKD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between MS-CKD and BMD in the general Korean population. BMD, serum creatinine and other measures were obtained from 3,190 subjects (1,428 males and 1,762 females; the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). GFR was estimated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula, with adjustment for body surface area. After adjustment for all variables, multiple regression analysis showed that BMD in the femur neck, total femur and lumbar spine were positively associated with eGFR in both males and females. Additional analysis showed that MS-CKD was also significantly associated with osteoporosis in both males and females (odds ratio [OR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-4.20 in males; and OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.33-2.88 in females). Individuals with MS-CKD may be at higher risk of osteoporosis even among Asians.