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

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
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Evaluation of Lead Exposure Characteristics by Process Category and Activity

작업공정 및 활동에 따른 국내 작업장 납 노출특성 평가

  • Dohee Lee (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute(OSHRI), Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA)) ;
  • Naroo Lee (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute(OSHRI), Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA))
  • 이도희 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 이나루 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원)
  • Received : 2022.10.25
  • Accepted : 2023.03.09
  • Published : 2023.03.31
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Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to systematically identify situations where exposure levels are expected to be high by structuring domestic lead measurement data according to exposure processes and activities. Methods: Occupational exposure data on lead was collected from the results of the Evaluation of Reliability of Working Environment Measurement conducted by the government from 2019 to 2020. Lead exposure characteristics were analyzed by PROC (process category) and activity. The Risk Characterization Ratios (RCRs) of five PROCs according to ventilation type and lead content were evaluated using the MEASE (Metal's EASE) model. Results: The exposure data on lead (n=250) was classified into 12 PROCs and 12 activities, with an average concentration of 0.040 mg/m3 and about 14% exceeding the occupational exposure limit of 0.05 mg/m3. Processes with high exposure levels were PROC 7 (industrial spraying), 23 (open processing and transfer operations of molten metal), 24 (mechanical treatment), 25 (welding), and 26 (handling of powder containing lead). The results of evaluating RCR for the five PROCs were greater than 1 or close to 1 even if local exhaust ventilation was used. Conclusions: There is a possibility that the concentration of exposure is high in the casting and tapping of molten metal containing lead, mechanical treatment such as fracturing and abrasion, handling of powder, spraying, battery manufacturing, and waste battery recycling processes. It is necessary to implement chemical management policies for workplaces with such processes.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 논문은 2021년도 한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원에서 수행한 연구과제를 기반으로 작성되었음.

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