A Study on Worker Exposure to Asbestos Fibers During Automobile Maintenance

自動車整備業 從事者의 石綿粉塵 暴露에 관한 조사연구

This study was performed to evaluate the worker exposure to asbestos fibers in automobile repair shop and brake lining store from August 11 to October 21, 1988. In addition, the exposure of general population near the brake lining store was also evaluated. Results of this study were as follows. 1. Worker exposure level to asbestos fibers in automobile repair shop was 0.1 fibers/cc, well below the Korean standard of 2 fibers/cc, and a half of the U.S. standard of 0.2 fibers/cc. 2. Average worker exposure level to asbestos fibers in brake lining store was 0.35 fibers/cc, which was within the Korean standard of 2 fibers/cc, but exceeded the U.S. standard of 0.2 fibers/cc. 3. Worker exposure levels during the removal of brake dust with the compressed air blowing and the dry brushing were approximately 4 fibers/cc and 0.2 fibers/cc, respectively. During grinding of brake linings with sand paper, asbestos exposure level was 0.3 fibers/cc. 4. Ambient asbestos concentrations outside the brake lining store were 0.1 fibers/cc at the distance of 3-4 m, and 0.01 fibers/cc at the distance of 30 m.