Employment Status and Lung Function Among Coal-Powered Electrical Plant Workers: A 5-Year Follow-up Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Coal-powered electrical plant workers are exposed to coal dust in the entire work process. In South Korea, the processes with relatively high exposure to hazardous substances are mainly conducted by subcontractor employees. The harmful substances may cause pneumoconiosis, lung cancer, as well as a decrease in lung function. However, few studies have investigated changes in lung function among plant workers. The current study hypothesizes that the lung function of workers would be reduced by dust exposure and these reductions differ by employment status.

Methods

This study was conducted on 1,108 workers in coal-powered electrical plants who underwent lung function tests as a special health check-up from 2013 to 2018. The study population was divided into three grou

SUBMITTER: Ryu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12708965 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature