Abstract
For twelve solvent thinners, evaporation rates of components were investigated and models to estimate the actual concentration have been evaluated. Also, the current ACGIH TLVs (Threshold Limit Values) for the concentration of organic mixtures have been adjusted. The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. Airborne concentrations of solvent thinner components were related to their respective vapor pressure (r=0.96). On the other hand, there was no significant relation between the concentrations in the air of the thinner compounds and the original amount in liquid form. 2. Airborne concentrations of each chemical were estimated by temperature at $8.5{\pm}1$, $16.7{\pm}1$ and $31.5{\pm}2^{\circ}C$ with an air velocity of 1.5 m/s. The concentrations were increased by increasing temperature (p<0.05). The percentage of concentrations were proportionate to their respective percentage of vapor pressure. Among the chemicals studied, n-butyl acetate, n-butyl alcohol, m-xylene, p-xylene and o-xylene showed a clear relationship to temperature. 3. Airborne concentration of each chemical was estimated by air velocity at 0.05, 1.50 and 2.50 m/s, with a constant temperature at $17{\pm}2^{\circ}C$. The concentrations were increased by increasing air velocity (p<0.05). The percentage of concentrations were proportionate to their respective percentage of vapor pressure. Among the chemicals studied, n-butyl alcohol, m-xylene and p-xylene showed a clear relationship to velocity. 4. In estimating the concentrations of solvent thinners by temperature and air velocity, ACGIH TLVs for mixtures tended to be larger than the values obtained by ACGIH exposure index. It shows that ACGIH TLVs for mixtures are not adequate for evaluating the airborne concentration of thinners and other organic mixtures. 5. The evaporation rate of the thinners were compared to the theoretical equations of Hummel, Braun and Mackay. The Hummel and Braun methods were close to exposure index but Makay's showed an underestimated value. In order to see the accuracy of each three models, the SSE (Error Sum of Squares) calculated for Hummel's was 1.73, being the closest to the actual values. 6. Present ACGIH TLVs for mixtures are not appropriate evaluate industrial environments. In this study, a correction of TLVs using vapor pressure of respective components was suggested. In order to evaluate the corrected TLVs a paired t-test was performed. There was no significant difference between the exposure index and the concentration over suggested TLVs (p>0.05). Thus, this corrected TLVs seem appropriate in order to evaluate actual industrial workplaces organic chemical concentration in the air.
(School of Public Health, Seoul National University)