초록
Objectives: There have been many studies on exposure assessment of workers at companies using asbestos as a raw material and at sites of the removal of materials containing asbestos. However, no research has been carried out on the asbestos exposure of workers in industries involving asbestos-containing waste, such as workers at collection and transportation service companies, mid-treatment companies(solidification of asbestos-containing waste), and landfill sites. The objective of this study was to assess the asbestos exposure concentrations of workers in industries handling waste containing asbestos. Methods: For this study, we carried out field investigations at 15 companies: seven collection and transportation service companies, three mid-treatment companies, and five final treatment companies(landfill sites). We took both personal and area samples. Results: The range of asbestos exposure levels of workers handing asbestos-containing wastes at collection, mid-treatment, and landfill companies were 0.000 fibers/cc-0.009 fibers/cc, 0.000 fibers/cc-0.038 fibers/cc, and 0.000 fibers/cc-0.024 fibers/cc, respectively. Conclusions: The asbestos exposure levels of workers at mid-treatment companies were higher than those at collection and transportation companies and at final treatment companies. In the case of collection and transportation workers, the possibility of exposure to levels exceeding those found in the present study is not particularly high considering the characteristics of the work. However, in the case of intermediate or final disposal workers, it is considered that there is a possibility of exposure to levels above those found in this study.