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Dong-wook Lee 3 Articles
Association between humidifier disinfectant use duration and lung cancer development in Korea
Sungchan Kang, Jeong-In Hwang, Su Hwan Kim, Hyungryul Lim, Dong-wook Lee, Woojoo Lee, Jong Hun Kim, Sol Yu, Jungyun Lim, Younghee Kim, Kyoung-Nam Kim
Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025023.   Published online May 2, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025023
  • 4,189 View
  • 124 Download
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDFSupplementary Material
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to assess the association between the duration of humidifier disinfectant use and lung cancer development.
METHODS
We analyzed data from 3,605 applicants registered for compensation from the Korean government due to health conditions related to humidifier disinfectant exposure. Among these individuals, 121 were diagnosed with lung cancer at least 4 years after their initial exposure (through December 2021). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for lung cancer incidence were estimated according to the duration of disinfectant use using Cox proportional hazards models.
RESULTS
Compared with <5 months of use, the HRs for lung cancer were 1.81 (95% CI, 0.41 to 7.97) for 5-14 months, 2.45 (95% CI, 0.58 to 10.41) for 15-29 months, and 4.61 (95% CI, 1.12 to 18.91) for ≥30 months. Using never smokers with <15 months of use as the reference category, the HRs were 2.97 (95% CI, 1.34 to 6.56) for never smokers with ≥15 months of use, 2.73 (95% CI, 0.94 to 7.95) for current or former smokers with <15 months of use, and 4.74 (95% CI, 1.94 to 11.61) for current or former smokers with ≥15 months of use.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides some of the first robust epidemiological evidence that prolonged humidifier disinfectant use contributes to lung cancer development. Future studies—particularly those including unexposed populations—are needed to confirm these findings.
Summary
Korean summary
* 장기간의 가습기 살균제 사용과 폐암 발생의 위험 간에는 정량적 연관성을 발견할 수 있었습니다. * 가습기살균제를 30개월 이상 사용했다고 응답한 사람들은, 가습기살균제를 5개월 미만 사용했다고 응답한 사람들과 비교하여 폐암 발생 위험이 4배 높았습니다.
Key Message
* There is a quantitative association between prolonged humidifier disinfectants use and the risk of lung cancer incidence. * Individuals reported they used humidifier disinfectants for more than 30 months had more than four times higher risk of lung cancer than those of individuals who reported they used humidifier disinfectants for less than five months.
Mortality burden attributable to long-term exposure to fine particulate matter among older adults in Korea
Jongmin Oh, Jisun Myung, Changwoo Han, Hyun-Joo Bae, Soontae Kim, Yun-Chul Hong, Dong-Wook Lee, Youn-Hee Lim
Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025028.   Published online May 28, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025028
  • 2,828 View
  • 94 Download
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDFSupplementary Material
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to evaluate the association between long-term exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) and cause-specific mortality among older adults in Korea, providing insights into the evolving public health burden in an aging society.
METHODS
We analyzed national insurance claims data spanning 2010-2019. Modeled PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations were assigned to participants according to their residential districts. We employed time-varying Cox proportional hazard models, using age as the time scale, adjusted for potential confounders. Six cause-specific mortalities were considered: ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), lung cancer (LC), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Annual excess deaths attributable to long-term PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure were calculated.
RESULTS
A total of 5,360,032 older adults were followed from 2010 to 2019. Hazard ratios (HRs) per 10 μg/m3 increase in 12-month PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration were as follows: IHD, 1.068 (95% CI, 1.040 to 1.097); stroke, 1.023 (95% CI, 1.003 to 1.043); ALRI, 1.050 (95% CI, 1.026 to 1.076); COPD, 1.114 (95% CI, 1.072 to 1.157); T2DM, 1.046 (95% CI, 1.007 to 1.086); and LC, 0.972 (95% CI, 0.948 to 0.996). Excess deaths attributable to long-term PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure were estimated at 4,888 (95% CI, 2,304 to 7,323) in 2010 and 5,179 (95% CI, 2,585 to 7,648) in 2019.
CONCLUSIONS
Although PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels in Korea have shown a declining trend over the past decade, mortality among older adults associated with long-term PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure has not significantly decreased, likely due to the rapid aging of the population.
Summary
Korean summary
2010–2019년 동안 대한민국 노인 536만 명 대상의 후향적 코호트 연구를 수행하였다. 장기적인 초미세먼지(PM2.5) 노출은 허혈성 심질환, 뇌졸중, 하기도 감염, 만성폐쇄성폐질환, 제2형 당뇨병으로 인한 사망 위험 증가와 관련성이 있었다. 연간 PM2.5 농도는 감소했으나, 고령화로 인해 PM2.5에 기인한 초과 사망은 2010년 4,888명에서 2019년 5,179명으로 증가하였다. 대기질 개선에도 불구하고 고령화로 인해 PM2.5로 인한 사망 부담은 여전히 중요한 공중보건 문제이다.
Key Message
A retrospective cohort of 5.36 million older adults was followed from 2010 to 2019 in Korea. Long-term PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased mortality from IHD, stroke, ALRI, COPD, and T2DM. Although annual PM2.5 concentrations declined, excess deaths rose from 4,888 in 2010 to 5,179 in 2019, largely driven by population aging. Despite improvements in air quality, the PM2.5-related mortality burden remains a significant public health concern due to population aging.
The association between occupational stress level and health-related productivity loss among Korean employees
Jonghee Chung, Jin-Hyo Kim, Jae Yoon Lee, Hee Seok Kang, Dong-wook Lee, Yun-Chul Hong, Mo-Yeol Kang
Epidemiol Health. 2023;45:e2023009.   Published online December 28, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2023009
  • 14,678 View
  • 349 Download
  • 4 Web of Science
  • 5 Crossref
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Occupational stress management is particularly important for successful business operations, since occupational stress adversely affects workers’ health, eventually lowering their productivity. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the correlation between occupational stress and health-related productivity loss (HRPL) among Korean workers.
METHODS
In 2021, 1,078 workers participated in a web-based questionnaire survey. HRPL was measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, and occupational stress was measured using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form. The occupational stress level was divided into tertiles (low, intermediate, and high), and the low occupational stress group was used as the reference group. Using a generalised linear model, differences in labour productivity loss according to the level of occupational stress were tested after adjusting for demographic characteristics such as age, gender, education level, household income, occupation, and underlying medical conditions.
RESULTS
Non-parametric regression analysis of HRPL according to occupational stress showed a direct association between occupational stress and HRPL. A statistically significant difference was observed in HRPL between participants with intermediate and high occupational stress and those with low occupational stress.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results support the hypothesis that high occupational stress is associated with decreased labour productivity.
Summary
Korean summary
직무스트레스가 건강에 미치는 영향은 잘 알려져 있으나, 노동생산성에 대해 분석한 결과는 그동안 부족하였다. 한국 노동자 1078명을 분석한 결과, 직무스트레스가 낮은 군에 비해서 중등도이거나 높은 경우, 결근이나 프리젠티즘과 같은 건강관련 노동생산성 손실이 약 20%p 정도 높은 것으로 분석되었다.
Key Message
As a result of analyzing 1078 Korean workers, it was revealed that health-related labor productivity losses such as absenteeism and presenteeism were about 20%p higher when occupational stress was moderate or high compared to the low occupational stress group.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Occupational stress(KOSS®19): scale development and validation in the Korean context
    Hansoo Song, Hyoung Ryoul Kim, Inah Kim, Jin-Ha Yoon, Sang-Baek Koh, Sung-Soo Oh, Hee-Tae Kang, Da-Yee Jeung, Dae-Sung Hyun, Chunhui Suh, Sei-Jin Chang
    Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2025; 37: e12.     CrossRef
  • Impact of Medical Technologist’s Working Environment on Health Problems: Using Data from the 6th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
    Taewon JUNG, Miran LEE, Sang-ha KIM, Sunghyun KIM, Young-Kwon KIM
    Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science.2025; 57(2): 189.     CrossRef
  • Association between work from home and health-related productivity loss among Korean employees
    Hyo Jeong Kim, Dong Wook Lee, Jaesung Choi, Yun-Chul Hong, Mo-Yeol Kang
    Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • The association between salivary IL-6 and poor sleep quality assessed using Apple watches in stressed workers in Japan
    Akihiro Koreki, Mitsuhiro Sado, Yasue Mitsukura, Hisateru Tachimori, Anna Kubota, Yoshiaki Kanamori, Manae Uchibori, Shiyori Usune, Akira Ninomiya, Ryutaro Shirahama, Akihiro Fujimoto, Kanako Inabe, Hiroaki Miyata, Masaru Mimura
    Scientific Reports.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • The association of emotional labor and workplace violence with health-related productivity loss
    Heejoo Ko, Dohwan Kim, Seong-Sik Cho, Dong-Wook Lee, Jaesung Choi, Minseok Kim, Min Young Park, Mo-Yeol Kang
    Journal of Occupational Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
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