Development of Korean CARcinogen EXposure: An Initiative of the Occupational Carcinogen Surveillance System in Korea

Abstract

Objective To prevent occupational cancers, carcinogen exposure surveillance systems have been developed in many countries. This study aimed to develop a carcinogen exposure database specific to South Korea. Methods Twenty known human carcinogens were selected for this study. The International Standard Classification of Industry was used for a classification scheme of industries. Three nationwide occupational exposure databases, the Work Environment Measurement Database, the Special Health Examination Database, and the Work Environment Condition Survey, were used to calculate reference exposure prevalence estimates by carcinogen and industry. Then, 37 professional industrial hygienists with at least 19 years of field experience provided their own exposure prevalence estimates, after reviewing the abovementioned reference estimates derived from three data sources. The median value of the experts’ estimates was used as the final exposure prevalence. Finally, the number of exposed workers was computed by multiplying the final exposure prevalence by the number of workers extracted from the 2010 national census data by carcinogen and industry. Results The exposure prevalence and the number of exposed workers were calculated according to 20 carcinogen and 228 minor industrial groups, assuming year 2010 circumstances. The largest population was exposed to welding fumes (326 822 workers), followed by ultraviolet radiation (238 937 workers), ionizing radiation (168 712 workers), and mineral oil mist (146 798 workers). Conclusions Our results provide critical data on carcinogen exposure for the prevention of occupational cancers.

Development of Korean CARcinogen EXposure: Assessment of the Exposure Intensity of Carcinogens by Industry

“…In this study, we estimated the exposure intensity of 21 carcinogenic agents across 228 minor industries using a nationwide exposure measurement database using a previously tested intensity indicator for exposure intensity development [ 22 ]. The results will provide information on the exposure intensity of carcinogens as a complement to the previously developed K-CAREX [ 13 ].…”

“…We assessed the exposure intensity for 21 carcinogenic agents selected, based on the K-CAREX carcinogens list [ 13 ]. Workers are exposed to arsenic in many industries, including the “basic precious and non-metal (242)” industries [ 24 ].…”

“…Based on the K-CAREX list, we selected 21 carcinogenic agents [ 13 ]. We added mists from three strong inorganic acids (hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and hydrofluoric acid) besides sulfuric acid because they may share a similar carcinogenic mechanism (i.e., low pH) as that of sulfuric acid [ 17 , 18 ].…”

“…The Korean CAREX (K-CAREX) was recently developed [ 13 ], wherein it estimated the exposure prevalence and the number of exposed workers for 20 carcinogens across 228 minor industry groups by referring to three nationwide occupational exposure databases and eliciting the judgment of 37 industrial hygiene experts, targeting the circumstances in 2010.…”

Estimate of Occupational Exposure to Carcinogens among Migrant Workers in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…An Australian study estimated that 40.3% of current workers are exposed to carcinogens at workplaces and that 1.4% of all cancers reported in Australia were somehow attributable to occupational carcinogens [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 27 ], while previous studies have estimated a higher attributable fraction [ 21 ]. A recent study in Korea estimated the prevalence of carcinogenic workplace exposures and found welding fumes, ultraviolet radiation, ionizing radiation and mineral oils to be the most frequent hazards [ 28 ]. However, very few of these studies estimated exposures to workplace carcinogens among migrant workers.…”