The accident of humidifier disinfectants found in 2011 was one of the biggest man-made environmental disaster in South Korea. It was estimated that at least 5 million people was exposed and 5 hundreds of thousands people experienced health problems. However, the governmental countermeasures focused mainly on the differential diagnosis and compensations for the voluntary registered victims of 6,000 people. So, the epidemiologic studies to uncover the size of health problems were insufficient. We tried to estimate the correlation between humidifier disinfectants consumption with some target diseases (interstitial pulmonary diseases, asthma, etc.) in South Korea using the National Health Insurance Research Database Study.Claims data of 50 million people over 15 years (January 2002~September 2017) were reconstructed to extract episodes of care with target diseases diagnosis including residence district and SES. Relative risk estimates from age-period-cohort and difference in difference analysis were compared with humidifier disinfectant consumptions (1994~2011).In 282,114 interstitial pulmonary diseases patients, correlation coefficients between relative risk estimates of 'period effect' and humidifier disinfectant consumption were 0.942 in male and 0.930 in female with 1 year latent period assumption. Correlation coefficients between relative risk estimates of 'cohort effect' and humidifier disinfectant consumption were 0.854 in male and 0.797 in female. And, we found a specific rise and fall pattern among 2003~2011 birth cohorts.We could find high correlation and specific rise & fall patterns of health care episodes with humidifier disinfectant consumption using national total population cohort data. These kinds of big data system can make relatively objective epidemiologic evidences for environmental health problems.

Introduction According to 2011 annual report of national cancer registration program, age-standardised incidence of non-hodgkin lymphoma, leukaemia, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin lymphoma is 6.8, 5.0, 1.4, 0.5 per 1,00,000. Although incidence rate is low, social attention is increasing due to the fatality. While there has been many foreign studies on association between occupational risk factor and lymphatic, haematopoietic cancer, a study reflecting the domestic situation is insufficient. So we conducted case-control study using data from occupational cancer monitoring system to assess risk factor. Methods Cases were 384 leukaemia, 523 non-hodgkin lymphoma, 218 multiple myeloma patients reported from occupational cancer monitoring system from 2011 to 2014. Controls were selected randomly matched on age, sex, residence. All participants were interviewed for lifestyle habits, exposure or occupational history of group1, group2A carcinogen. Analysis was performed using chi-square test primarily, and logistic regression to adjust for smoking status. Results Analysing by chi-square test, excess risks were shown for exposure to benzene, formaldehyde, TCE, PAH in leukaemia, to benzene, formaldehyde, TCE in non-hodgkin lymphoma, to benzene, formaldehyde in multiple myeloma. Analysing by logistic regression to adjust for age, sex, smoking status, excess risk were shown for exposure to benzene, formaldehyde, pesticide in non-hodgkin lymphoma, to benzene in multiple myeloma. Other exposures were associated with lymphatic or haematopoietic cancer, but were not significant. Conclusion Increased risk of lymphatic or haematopoietic cancer were associated with some occupations and chemicals. But other exposures showed no statistically significant association due to insufficient number of samples. There is a need for sufficient number of samples to obtain additional association between exposure and cancer risk.

UNLABELLED:We conducted a comprehensive humidifier disinfectant exposure characterization for 374 subjects with lung disease who presumed their disease was related to humidifier disinfectant use (patient group) and for 303 of their family members (family group) for an ongoing epidemiological study. We visited the homes of the registered patients to investigate disinfectant use characteristics. Probability of exposure to disinfectants was determined from the questionnaire and supporting evidence from photographs demonstrating the use of humidifier disinfectant, disinfectant purchase receipts, any residual disinfectant, and the consistency of their statements. Exposure duration was estimated as cumulative disinfectant use hours from the questionnaire. Airborne disinfectant exposure intensity (μg/m(3)) was estimated based on the disinfectant volume (ml) and frequency added to the humidifier per day, disinfectant bulk level (μg/ml), the volume of the room (m(3)) with humidifier disinfectant, and the degree of ventilation. Overall, the distribution patterns of the intensity, duration, and cumulative exposure to humidifier disinfectants for the patient group were higher than those of the family group, especially for pregnant women and patients ≤6 years old. Further study is underway to evaluate the association between the disinfectant exposures estimated here with clinically diagnosed lung disease. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS:Retrospective exposure to household humidifier disinfectant as estimated here can be used to evaluate associations with clinically diagnosed lung disease due to the use of humidifier disinfectant in Korea. The framework, with modifications to account for dispersion and use patterns, can also be potentially adapted to assessment of other household chemical exposures.

BACKGROUND:Exposure to ambient air pollution and bronchiolitis are risk factors for asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of air pollution on the development of asthma in children with past episodes of bronchiolitis.METHODS:A prospective 2-year follow-up survey consisting of parental responses to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire, and allergy evaluations were conducted in 1743 children with a mean age of 6.8 years. Recent 5-year exposure to air pollution was estimated using a geographic information system.RESULTS:Higher exposure to ozone was associated with airway hyper-responsiveness (PC20  ≤ 16 mg/ml) at enrollment (odds ratio [OR] = 1.60, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 1.13-2.27) and with new episodes of wheezing during the 2-year period (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 0.96-3.83). Past episodes of bronchiolitis were associated with both current wheezing and physician-diagnosed asthma. When the two factors were combined, the prevalence of bronchial hyper-reactivity (OR = 2.96, 95% CI = 1.41-6.24) and new wheezing (OR = 4.17, 95% CI = 0.89-19.66) as well as current wheezing and physician-diagnosed asthma was even greater (P for trend <0.05 for all). In children with both risk factors, lung function was significantly decreased, with atopic children being particularly vulnerable.CONCLUSION:In children, the interaction between air pollution and past episodes of bronchiolitis resulted in a greater prevalence of asthma and pointed to an association with bronchial hyper-reactivity and decreased lung function. These results suggest mechanisms underlying the development of asthma.

INTRODUCTIONThis study examined trends of invasive uterine cervix cancer and carcinoma in situ (CIS) in terms of the incidence and mortality in Incheon over a twelve year period.METHODSUterine cervical cancer data were retrieved from the Incheon Cancer Registry (ICR) and Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) from 1997 to 2008. The time trends in age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) of invasive uterine cervix cancer patients and CIS were calculated and compared with the nation-wide cancer registry data for each year. Mortality/incidence (M/I) ratios according to age and the incidence of the pathologic subtype in Incheon each year were also examined, along with an international comparison.RESULTSA total of 3,096 cases of invasive cervical cancer and 2,079 cases of carcinoma in situ were analyzed from 1997 to 2008. The time trend incidence of the total ASR in uterine cervical cancer decreased from 25.7 in 1997 to 13.4 in 2008, but the incidence of CIS increased from 7.6 to 15.8 in same period. In invasive cancers, the age-specific incidence rates were highest in those in their sixties while patients in their forties showed highest CIS values. The mortality rate in ICR was 3.7 from 1998 to 2002. Compared to the other countries which have high risk factors for cervix cancer, the peak incidence zone was different in Incheon.CONCLUSIONThe ICR showed a decrease in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer that was similar to the nation-wide data. An early increase zone is a characteristic pattern in the age specific incidence curve. Early screening and a vaccination program should be activated for prevention of young age cervical cancer.

While the hole transport decreased in the mixed layer in the organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) with an Al:lithium quinolate (Liq) mixed layers in the electron transport layer (ETL), the electron injection increased the Al:Liq mixed layer. The enhancement of luminance efficiency in the OLEDs with an Al:Liq mixed layer in the ETL originated from the more balance between the electrons and the holes in the emitting layer due to the decrease in the hole injection and the increase in the electron injection resulting from the existence of the Al:Liq mixed layer.

ISEE-769 Objective: The environmental pollution has been associated with adverse birth outcome in many studies. Environmental health surveillance system will support for estimating the environmental health risk magnitude and environmental health policy making system. We tried to develop the geographical information system (GIS)-based environmental surveillance system of LBW. Materials and Methods: We obtained air pollution data of 7 Korean metro cities from the Ministry of Environment, meteorological data from the Korean Meteorological Administration, exposure assessment from the National Institute of Environmental Research, and birth data from the Korean National Statistical Office, 2003–2004. We used the generalized additive logistic regression model using individual birth data linkage to air pollution monitoring station data. Results: In 7 metro cities by districts using linear regression analysis, LBW risks were especially increased to 2.5% (95% CI = 0.2–4.9%) in Daegu, and 2.6% (95% CI = 0.3–4.9%) in Ulsan for PM10. In individual residents using logistic regression analysis, LBW risks were increased to 25% (95% CI = 2–53%) in Pusan, 20% (95% CI = 4–38%) in Daegu, and 19% (95% CI = 3–38%) in Ulsan for PM10. In individual residents with adjustment for demographic factor further using multiple logistic regression, LBW risks were increased to 24% (95% CI = 2–52%) in Pusan, 19% (95% CI = 4–37%) in Daegu, and 19% (95% CI = 3–38%) in Ulsan for PM10. Conclusions: Environmental health surveillance is systemic, ongoing collection, and analysis of data correlated to environmentally related disease and exposures and the timely dissemination of information to those who need to know about them in order to take action. GIS modeling is very important for this purpose, so we tried to develop the GIS-based environmental surveillance of low birth weight.

BexZn1−xO (0⩽x⩽0.28) alloy films were epitaxially grown by hybrid electron-beam deposition system. The crystal structure of the BexZn1−xO was investigated by X-ray diffraction pattern by varying the Be concentration. The crystal structure of the BexZn1−xO films was hexagonal within the variance of the Be component. Also, the phase separation within the BexZn1−xO alloy film was not observed. The photoluminescence emission peak of the BexZn1−xO films revealed the same pattern till the Be mole fraction increase up to x=0.11. When the Be mole fraction is larger than x>0.11, the Ex(A) of free exciton at 3.624 eV was only observed in the BexZn1−xO films. The band gap energy of the BexZn1−xO can be tailored from 3.30 eV (x=0) to 4.13 eV (x=0.28) by alloying ZnO with BeO. Throughout this band gap tuning, we may open the possibilities for fabricating ZnO-based ultraviolet light emitting diode utilizing the active layer comprised of ZnO/BexZn1−xO quantum well structure.

The contamination sources of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), such as industrial incinerators, can potentially change the blood levels and isomer patterns of PCDD/DFs in residents living near the incinerators. In this study, we estimated whether the blood levels and isomer patterns of PCDD/DFs in residents living near an incinerator were affected by its presence and investigated factors that characterize the risk of high exposure to PCDD/DFs in the area. We estimated the blood levels and homologue patterns of PCDD/DFs in a group of 40 residents living within 5 km of an industrial incinerator and in a group of 20 residents living 20 km away from an incinerator. We cannot assert that the operation of incinerator facilities was only cause of increased PCDD/DFs in these residents; however, the operation of incinerator facilities in agricultural areas increased PCDD/DF exposure to individuals. The group living next to the industrial incinerator especially represented the typical isomer pattern in which the proportions of OCDDs were lower and those of PCDFs higher than those in the other groups. The high-risk population with increased blood levels of PCDD/DFs included those who had lived longer in the contaminated area as well as those who frequently ate contaminated foods.

A wide-band gap oxide alloy, BeZnO, is proposed and studied in this letter. The BeZnO films were deposited on sapphire substrates by our hybrid beam deposition growth method. The value of the energy band gap of BeZnO can be efficiently engineered to vary from the ZnO band gap (3.4 eV) to that of BeO (10.6 eV). BeZnO can be used for fabricating films and heterostructures of ZnO-based electronic and photonic devices and for other applications. Changes in the measured energy band gap and lattice constant values with Be content are described for BeZnO alloys.

The crystalline properties of Be substituted ZnO(BeZnO) films deposited on c-Al2O3 substrates are studied. As Be concentration in BeZnO increases, the lattice parameters of BeZnO increases; the c-axis lattice is more sensitively shifted than the a-axis lattice. The energy band gap of the BeZnO films has been efficiently modulated from 3.38eV to 3.81eV by adding Be into ZnO. A linear dependency between band gap and lattice parameters is observed from BeZnO films. BeZnO alloys can be used for new ZnO-based devices based on double heterostructures, quantum wells, or superlattices made with ZnO and BeZnO.

P-687 Introduction: Environmental lead pollution has been considered one of the leading health problems. However, it is still unknown for the associations between lead exposure and liver injury. In this study, we determined the effect of blood lead on the levels of serum liver enzymes in adult women with environmental lead exposure. Methods: We recruited 504 healthy non-smoking women aged 33–79 years. Serum levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were determined. Whole blood lead levels determination was carried out by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: The geometric mean of blood lead concentrations was 3.3 μg/dl, and range was 0.5 to 12.9 μg/dl. Blood lead levels were significantly correlated with GGT (r=0.133, p=0.015), AST (r=0.172, p=0.002), and ALT (r=0.171, p=0.002). In multiple regression analysis after controlling for age, body mass index, and alcohol consumption, serum liver enzyme activity levels were significantly related to the blood lead levels. Regression coefficients of blood lead levels on GGT, AST, and ALT were 0.170 (p=0.028), 0.109 (p=0.008), and 0.170 (p=0.012), respectively. Discussion and Conclusions: These results suggest that environmental lead exposure can cause liver injury, even though the blood lead levels are low.

P-277 Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine the contribution of polymorphisms of the human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) gene to the risk of colorectal cancer. Methods: We conducted a case-control study with 209 histologically confirmed colorectal cancer patients and 209 age, sex-matched healthy controls in Korean population (i.e., 116 men and 93 women). Genotypes of the hOGG1 gene at codon 326 were analyzed by a polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods. Results: The frequency of hOGG1 Ser/Ser, Ser/Cys, and Cys/Cys genotypes was 22.5, 45.5, and 32.1% in colorectal cancer patients, and 18.2, 51.2, and 30.6% in the controls. There was no statistically significant difference in hOGG1 genotype distribution between patients and controls (p > 0.05). The alcohol intake (more than 80 g/week) was significant risk factor (OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.34–4.14), but smoking, dietary habits and exercises were not significant risk factor for colorectal cancer. While no significant risk for colorectal cancer from alcohol intake was observed in hOGG1 Cys/Cys carriers, increased risk for colorectal cancer was observed in drinkers who were hOGG1 Ser allele carriers (OR = 3.35, 95% CI = 1.61–6.95). Discussion and Conclusions: These results suggest that the hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism may not a major contributor to individual colorectal cancer susceptibility, but some evidence was found of genetic modification for the relationship between alcohol intake and colorectal cancer.

P-147 Introduction: Lead has been reported to induce a variety of diseases including cancer through the production of oxidative stress. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and r-glutamyl transpeptidase (r-GTP) are oxidative stress markers and zinc is a major antioxidant found in food. Therefore, we hypothesized that blood lead as a biomarker of environmental lead exposure increases the levels of MDA and r-GTP as oxidative stress indicators and dietary zinc intake protects against increases of MDA and r-GTP produced by blood lead. Methods: In this study, we measured the levels of lead and r-GTP in blood and MDA in urine to evaluate the effects of blood lead and dietary zinc intake on MDA and r-GTP levels in 387 non-occupationally exposed women drawn from Biological Monitoring for Environmental Surveillance (BIOMES). In addition, we calculated the zinc intake using the information obtained from dietary questionnaire including basic characteristics such as age and smoking history. Results: When effects of blood lead and dietary zinc intake on MDA and r-GTP levels were estimated separately, the MDA and r-GTP levels showed positive relationship with blood lead level (MDA, regression coefficient = 0.1729, P = 0.0016; and r-GTP, regression coefficient = 0.1544, P = 0.0782, respectively) and negative relationship with dietary zinc intake (MDA, regression coefficient = - 0.1151, P = 0.0395; and r-GTP, regression coefficient = −0.0498, P = 0.4976, respectively). These effects were also shown after being adjusted for age, smoking status, and alcohol consumption (lead and MDA, regression coefficient = 0.1536, P = 0.0091; lead and r-GTP, regression coefficient = 0.2002, P = 0.0299; zinc and MDA, regression coefficient = −0.1101, P = 0.0560; and zinc and r-GTP, regression coefficient = −0.0490, P = 0.5386, respectively). We made lead/zinc ratio as a new exposure indicator because of potential of lead and zinc competition and then estimated the effect of lead/zinc ratio on MDA and r-GTP levels. Lead/zinc ratio showed positive relationship with MDA and r-GTP levels (MDA, regression coefficient = 0.1390, P = 0.0003; and r-GTP, regression coefficient = 0.0959, P = 0.0913, respectively). This effect was also shown after being adjusted for age, smoking status, and alcohol consumption (MDA, regression coefficient = 0.1314, P = 0.0011; and r-GTP, regression coefficient = 0.1193, P = 0.0531, respectively). Discussion and Conclusions: Our results suggest that blood lead as a biomarker of environmental lead exposure and dietary zinc intake play a role on the regulation of the levels of MDA and r-GTP, oxidative stress indicators.

We report on the formation of ohmic contacts to As- doped ZnO layers using a Pt/indium tin oxide (ITO) scheme. The As- doped ZnO layer shows p-type conductivity with carrier concentrations of 5.12-9.74 x 10(16) cm(-3) when annealed at 25-400 degrees C for 1 min in nitrogen ambient. However, the ZnO layers exhibit n-type characteristics with carrier concentration ca. 10(18)-ca. 10(19) cm(-3) when annealed at 500-800 degrees C. The Pt/ITO contacts produce contact resistivities of 8.0x10(-4) - 3.5x10(-3) Omega cm(2) upon annealing at 300-600 degrees C. Possible ohmic formation mechanisms for the Pt/ITO contacts to the As- doped ZnO layers are described and discussed. (c) 2005 The Electrochemical Society.

Asthma is primarily an airways inflammatory disease, and the bronchial airways have been shown to be particularly susceptible to oxidant-induced tissue damage. Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether pulmonary inflammation in asthma is associated with exposure to environmental oxidants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Method. We assessed the exposure level of PAH and ETS by using urinary 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG) and cotinine. We estimated oxidative damage and inflammatory cytokine levels from 16 asthma patients and 16 patients in stable conditions 1 to 2 months later. Results. Our study showed that the levels of oxidative damage, as measured by malondialdehyde (MDA), were significantly increased (p = 0.006) during the asthma attacks. Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were both increased during the asthma attacks compared to the stable conditions at follow-up. Interleukin (IL-6) and IL-10 were especially increased significantly (p = 0.015 and p < 0.001, respectively). Correlations were observed between inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1 beta (p = 0.034). Conclusion. This study supports the results of in vitro studies that oxidative stress, specifically lipid peroxidation, contributes to the pathophysiology of asthma. Therefore, environmental interventions based on this better understanding are needed to significantly reduce oxidant stress and prevent or minimize the development of asthmatic symptoms.

Azodicarbonamide is a low molecular weight foaming agent for plastics and rubbers. Azodicarbonamide can elicit acute and chronic health related problems due to its potential for pulmonary and cutaneous sensitization. Some cases of occupational asthma associated with exposure to azodicarbonamide have been reported, of which only a few cases were confirmed by specific inhalation challenges. Here, the first case of occupational asthma due to azodicarbonamide in Korea, in which the diagnosis was confirmed by specific inhalation challenge, is reported.