Son Hong Phan , M.D, M.Ph.

Project
A Study on Silicosis Risk in Vietnamese Refractory Brick Workers

Refractory brick manufacturing releases large amounts of crystalline silica dust into the work environment due to the use of silica containing materials such as kaolin clay and rock in their manufacture. Workers in this industry are potentially exposed to silica dust and consequently are at high risk for development of silicosis. This study is proposed to achieve the overall goal of identifying job categories that are sensitive indicators of risk for pneumoconiosis.
The specific aims of the study are (1) to characterize the respiratory health effects of silica exposure to workers with chest radiography, respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function by job category; (2) to identify which job task profiles best predict the presence of pulmonary fibrosis in Vietnamese refractory brick workers.

About Dr. Phan
I am now working for the Vietnam Administration of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health (MOH) at the Division of Occupational Health and Injury Prevention. I graduated from Hanoi Medical School major in general medicine. I have worked at the Department of Occupational Diseases, Vietnam National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health (NIOEH) in Hanoi for 10 years before moving to MOH. Occupational Respiratory Diseases have become my major field since I have worked for NIOEH. My activities are related to studies on this field and silicosis is still one of my major interests.

Training/Education
MPH Student, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7236, USA
Graduated: 2006

2002: Fogarty Scholarship. Supported in getting MPH on Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. University of Washington.

2001: Fogarty Scholarship. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Washington. Supported the training in clinical occupational medicine.

1999: Fogarty Scholarship. Environmental Health, University of Washington. Supported the training in respiratory effects of air pollution.

1998: Fogarty Scholarship, Harborview Medical Center.
Supported the training in the use of Geographical Information System (GIS).

1997: Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA) Scholarship, University of Occupational and Environmental Health (UOEH), Kitakyushu, Japan.

1988-1994: Medical Student
Hanoi Medical School, Vietnam
School Year: 1989-1995
Speciality: General Practitioner

Publications/Presentations
Lan TN, Son PH, Trung le V, Tu NT, Keifer M, Barnhart S. Distribution of silica exposed-workers by province and industry in Vietnam. Int J Occup Environ Health. 2003 Apr-Jun; 9(2):128-133.

Nga NN, Chai SK, Binh TT, Redding G, Takaro T, Checkoway H, Son PH, Van DK, Keifer M, Trung le V. ISAAC-based asthma and atopic symptoms among Hanoi school children. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2003 Aug; 14(4):272-279.

Chien VC, Chai SK, Hai DN, Takaro T, Checkoway H, Keifer M, Son PH, Trung le V, Barnhart S. Pneumoconiosis among workers in a Vietnamses refractory brick facility. Am J Ind Med. 2002 Nov; 42(5):397-402.

Hai DN, Chai SK, Chien VC, Keifer M, Takaro T, Yu J, Son PH, Trung leV, Barnhart S. An occupational risk survey of a refractory brick company in Hanoi , Vietnam. Int J Occup Environ Health. 2001 Jul-Sep;7(3):195-200.

Adding a new Occupational Disease to The List of Compensated Occupational Diseases in Vietnam: Studying on Occupational Asthma in Vietnamese Workers. Presented at the National Conference on Occupational and Environmental Health, Hanoi, Vietnam, 2001.

Using GIS to identify silicosis risks among exposed workers in Vietnam. Presented at the International Conference on Occupational and Environmental Health (ICOH), Singapore, 2000.

Ongoing Projects in Vietnam in collaboration with the University of Washington funded by the Fogarty International Center and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Presented at the Annual Meeting of International Training and Research Program in Environmental and Occupational Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. June 1999.