Occupational Lung Cancer Surveillance in South Korea, 2006-2009

• Main Authors: Jong-Han Leem (Author), Hwan-Cheol Kim (Author), Jeong-Seon Ryu (Author), Jong Uk Won (Author), Jai Dong Moon (Author), Young-Chul Kim (Author), Sang Baek Koh (Author), Suk Joong Yong (Author), Soo Geun Kim (Author), Jae Yong Park (Author), Inah Kim (Author), Jung Il Kim (Author), Jung Won Kim (Author), Eui-cheol Lee (Author), Hyoung-Ryoul Kim (Author), Dae-Hwan Kim (Author), Dong Mug Kang (Author), Yun-Chul Hong (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Elsevier, 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Objectives: The lung cancer mortality in Korea has increased remarkably during the last 20 years, and has been the first leading cause of cancer-related deaths since 2000. The aim of the current study was to examine the time trends of occupational lung cancer and carcinogens exposure during the period 2006-2009 in South Korea, by assessing the proportion of occupational burden. Methods: We defined occupational lung cancer for surveillance, and developed a reporting protocol and reporting website for the surveillance of occupational lung cancer. The study patients were chosen from 9 participating university hospitals in the following 7 areas: Seoul, Incheon, Wonju, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan, and Gwangju. Results: The combined proportion of definite and probable occupational lung cancer among all lung cancers investigated in this study was 10.0%, 8.6%, 10.7%, and 15.8% in the years 2006 to 2009, respectively, with an average of 11.7% over the four-year study period. The main carcinogens were asbestos, crystalline silica, radon, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), diesel exhaust particles, chromium, and nickel. Conclusion: We estimated that about 11.7% of the incident lung cancer was preventable. This reveals the potential to considerably reduce lung cancer by intervention in occupational fields.

Item Description

2093-7911
10.5491/SHAW.2010.1.2.134