Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
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Exposure to Ozone and TVOCs during Shipyard Welding and the Adequacy of RPE

조선소 용접작업 중 오존 및 TVOCs의 노출평가와 사용 호흡보호구의 적합성

  • Received : 2018.05.11
  • Accepted : 2018.06.18
  • Published : 2018.06.30
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Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the exposure to ozone and total volatile organic compounds(TVOCs) generated during welding work at a shipyard and recommend respiratory protective equipment(RPE) adequate against these hazards. Method: Ozone was collected for about 30 minutes at two-minutes intervals using a direct reading instrument, specifically an ozone analyzer(Serinus 10, Ecotech, Australia). TVOCs were collected for about 30 minutes at three-minute intervals using a portable GC (Alpha 115, Synspec BV, the Netherlands), and were determined simultaneously by area sampling at the welding plume closest to the welder's breathing zone. The total measurements were 162 for ozone($CO_2$ welding 47, TIG 60, stick 55), and 136 for TVOCs($CO_2$ 65, TIG 50, stick 21). Based on these measurements, a literature survey was conducted to assess the adequacy of RPE. Results: Relative to Korean OEL, measurements above STEL 0.2 ppm were 23.4% for $CO_2$, 63.3% for TIG and 14.5% for stick welding. There were significant differences(p=<0.0001) among welding types. Compared with ACGIH peak exposure of 0.4 ppm for ozone, which is not applied in Korea, $CO_2$ welding exceeded it by 10.6%, TIG by 40.0% and stick by 7.3%. Although it was not feasible to compare them directly since there are no Korean OEL, TVOCs had very high levels similar to the concentrations before moving into a new apartment and about 10-20 times the indoor air quality recommendations for some individual measurements. Conclusions: As ozone removal RPE has been recommended in welding environments for a long time(Lunau, 1967), this fact was demonstrated based on the results of the on-site work environment measurements(ozone and TVOCs). In conclusion, for all welding at a shipyard, gas/vapor and particulate combination RPE are recommended. If this is not possible, it should at least be present for TIG welding.

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