Objectives: The safety of distributed masks has been widely investigated following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Although the unpleasant odor from masks is concerning, research on the toxicity of volatile organic compounds emitted from them is limited. Here, we aimed to quantify the VOCs emitted from masks and explore strategies for safe mask usage. Methods: The VOCs emitted from 15 masks in five categories were measured. Proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-TOF-MS, IONICON, Austria), which can rapidly and sensitively detect complex mixtures, was conducted. The test chamber connected to the equipment was comprised of uninterrupted acrylic and glass. PTR-TOF-MS data were analyzed using Tofware (PTR-MS Viewer 3.3, IONICON, Austria). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS ver. 20 to determine the highest, lowest, and average concentrations of the VOCs (IBM SPSS Inc., USA). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to compare the VOCs emitted from different masks. Results: A total of 25 VOCs were detected among the 15 masks. The peak concentrations of formaldehyde, acrolein, isoprene, and benzene were higher than the exposure standards (Ceiling). The average concentrations of these compounds differed significantly among the mask samples (p < 0.05). The VOC concentration decreased gradually after approximately one hour. Conclusions: Higher concentrations of VOCs were emitted from healthy, printed, and surgical masks compared to industrial masks. Further research is required to determine the factors affecting VOCs, such as mask material, temperature, and humidity. For safety, masks must be ventilated for at least an hour before usage.

Objectives: To protect researchers using chemicals, it is necessary to monitor whether the working environment is well managed through the performance evaluation of the local exhaust system in the research laboratory. These results need to be reflected in the work environment management policy of research laboratories in the future. Methods: By measuring the capture velocities of fume hoods and arm hoods, which are the most commonly used local exhaust systems in research laboratories in a domestic research institute, we tried to confirm the degree to which the actual capture velocity values and legal standards were satisfied. The capture velocities were measured using a hot wire wind speedometer (TSI 9565-P, USA, 2016 with all exhaust systems in operation in the laboratory. As for the measurement position for each local exhaust system, in the case of the fume hood, the wind speed in the center of the opening surface was measured after opening 50% of the door of the hood. For the arm hood the capture velocities were measured at a distance of 10 cm vertically from the opening surface of the hood Conclusions: The total number of arm hoods measured was 546, and the average capture velocity was 0.61 m/sec with an S.D of 0.49. Among them, 99 satisfied the capture velocity standard of 1m/sec, meaning only 18.1% of the total satisfied with the standard. The total number of fume hoods measured was 625, and the average control wind speed was 0.48 m/sec with an S.D. of 0.17. Among them, the number of fume hoods that satisfied the capture velocity standard of 0.4 m/sec was 518, meaning 82.9% of the total satisfied the standard. Therefore, research institutes that operate local exhaust systems to protect researchers from chemicals should further strengthen the capture velocity management of hoods, and government agencies need to reflect this in work environment management policies based on further evaluation results.

Objectives: Paints contain various types of metal substances. However, our review of MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) for paints found that their components were often kept secret or exact content information was otherwise not provided. We analyzed the metal elements in various inorganic pigment-based paints available in South Korea in this study and checked whether they contain hazardous metal substances as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Acts. We investigated issues of health hazard classification related to the metal elements. The study is intended to contribute to strengthening the management of hazardous substances by suggesting improvements to MSDS. Methods: We randomly selected 19 samples that were predicted to contain hazardous inorganic pigments after reviewing MSDS among paints currently in use. The samples were analyzed using XRF (X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry), ICP_OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy) and SP-ICP-MS (Single Particle-ICP-Mass Spectroscopy). Results: The most common elements in the samples were Al (aluminum), Fe (iron), Ti (titanium), Ca (calcium), and Si (silica). One sample contained more lead than allowed by the limits. There were ten samples that could potentially contain nanoforms, seven samples that contained titanium dioxide, and six samples that contained complex inorganic color pigments (CICPs). Conclusions: Inorganic pigments in paints should be evaluated for hazards separately from other metallic compounds and reflected in the MSDS because they have different characteristics than other metallic compounds. These include particle size, crystal structure, and complex substances. The results of this study can be helpful for determining whether a paint contains sufficient hazardous metal compounds to affect its classification, and it can be a guideline for improving MSDS through comparative review and rationalization with the manufacturer's MSDS. This would make it possible to contribute to the management of chemical substances in the workplace through the proper MSDS disclosure of paints.

Introduction: Acknowledging the global issue of diseases potentially caused by overwork, this study aims to develop an AI model to help workers understand the connection between cerebrocardiovascular diseases and their work environment. Materials and methods: The model was trained using medical and legal expertise along with data from the 2021 occupational disease adjudication certificate by the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance and Prevention Service. The Polyglot-ko-5.8B model, which is effective for processing Korean, was utilized. Model performance was evaluated through accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and F1-score metrics. Results: The model trained on a comprehensive dataset, including expert knowledge and actual case data, outperformed the others with respective accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and F1-scores of 0.91, 0.89, 0.84, and 0.87. However, it still had limitations in responding to certain scenarios. Discussion: The comprehensive model proved most effective in diagnosing work-related cerebrocardiovascular diseases, highlighting the significance of integrating actual case data in AI model development. Despite its efficacy, the model showed limitations in handling diverse cases and offering health management solutions. Conclusion: The study succeeded in creating an AI model to discern the link between work factors and cerebrocardiovascular diseases, showcasing the highest efficacy with the comprehensively trained model. Future enhancements towards a template-based approach and the development of a user-friendly chatbot webUI for workers are recommended to address the model's current limitations.

Objectives: People using pedestrian walkways within tunnels may be exposed to environmental hazards that can have adverse effects on their health. This study aimed to measure changes in the levels of particulate matter (PM10), black carbon (BC), and noise after the installation of safety walls on pedestrian walkways within tunnels. Methods: Measurements were taken at the entrances on both sides of a tunnel and at the central point, both before and after the installation of pedestrian safety walls. Additionally, measurements were conducted by distinguishing between non-rush hour and rush hour periods to account for variations in the number of vehicles using the tunnel. A SidePak was used for PM10 measurements, an aethalometer for BC, and a sound level meter for noise. Results: PM10 showed the highest concentrations at the center of the tunnel at both pre- and post-installation of safety walls, as well as during rush hour periods. After the installation, the concentration at the center was 31.09 ± 14.02 ㎍/m³ (19.44 ± 8.02% increase). During rush hour, BC concentration reached 2.28 ± 1.55 ㎍/m³, indicating a 26.71 ± 13.19% increase compared to non-rush hour. As for noise, installation of safety walls reduced noise levels about 3 - 6 dB (8.10 ± 3.31% decrease). Conclusions: It was confirmed that installing safety walls on pedestrian walkways within the tunnel can reduce noise levels. However, the interior of a tunnel is a poorly ventilated environment, and exposure levels vary depending on the length of the tunnel. Therefore, the development of safety measures related to this issue is warranted, and further research on harmful substances within the tunnel should be conducted.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the current status of work environment measurement (WEM) for carcinogenic, mutagenic, reproductive toxic substances and to identify their high-risk industries for hazard surveillance and risk assessment. Methods: WEM Data from 37 specially managed CMR substances (2018-2022), the high-risk industries were identified by using estimated 95th percentile levels (X_0.95) of measurements compared with the occupational exposure limit (OEL). Results: The substances most frequently measured were nickel (insoluble), followed by sulfuric acid, lead, chromium (VI), formaldehyde, phenol, dimethylformamide and benzene. The industries with highest number of measurement samples for special management substances were plating of metals, followed by hospitals, general repair services of motor vehicles, building of ships, manufacture of synthetic resin and other plastic materials, manufacture of finished medicaments. Out of the 37 special management substances studied, 22 had a non-detection rate of over 90%. The rate of samples exceeding the OEL was less than 1% for all substances. The substance with the highest number of samples exceeding the OEL was trichloroethylene, which also had the highest average concentration compared to exposure limit. The substances with the highest percentage of industries which (X_0.95) exceeding OEL was formaldehyde followed by sulfuric acid, trichloroethylene, lead, I-bromopropane etc. Conclusions: This study identified high-risk industries of CMR sunstances, highlighting the need for prioritizing these industries in hazards surveillance and risk assessment.

Objectives: A collective of workers in the company's cafeteria encountered symptoms such as stinging and watering in and around the eyes, a sensation of sand in the eyes, erythema, swelling, and peeling of the skin on the face and neck. The objective of this study is to pinpoint the causes of these symptoms and propose preventive measures. Methods: Following preliminary on-site investigations, worker interviews, and literature research, it was determined that the most probable cause of the symptoms was ultraviolet rays emitted from a UV sterilizer. Consequently, the study measured and assessed the effective amount of ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sterilizer. Results: When operating with the curtain-type door of the ultraviolet sterilizer open, it was observed to surpass the 0.1 μW/cm2 8-hour work exposure standard recommended by ACGIH TLV in most kitchen workspaces. The evaluation of the maximum allowable exposure time based on the distance from the ultraviolet sterilizer indicated only 4.2 seconds at a distance of 0.2 m with the curtain door open, and merely 1.7 minutes at a distance of 1 m. Conclusions: This study confirmed that the symptoms among restaurant workers emerged immediately after the installation of the ultraviolet sterilizer, and these symptoms were consistent with those associated with exposure to ultraviolet rays. Furthermore, the assessment revealed that the exposure level to ultraviolet rays could be exceeded established exposure standards. It was recommended that the existing ultraviolet sterilizer be replaced with one featuring a glass door, and facility improvements should be made, such as implementing an automatic mechanism to turn off the ultraviolet lamp when the door is opened.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to establish a method for the production of standard samples of crystalline silica and to assess its feasibility for the future application in non-mandatory quality control. Methods: We dispersed crystalline silica in 2-propanol to prepare a 1 mg/mL dispersion solution. Between 50-200 uL of the dispersion solution was taken with a pipette, injected onto PVC filters, air-dried, and used as samples. The variation and homogeneity of the quartz concentrations were confirmed by FTIR analysis. Analytical proficiency testing was conducted across 30 voluntary participants. Results: The coefficient of variation was lower for samples prepared using supernatant (settled for 16 hours) compared to those made with dispersion solution. The contamination level after using the pipette tip one to five times was 8.13-9.89% of the solution's concentration. Homogeneity was confirmed within the concentration of 0.0223-0.0431 mg/mL, but it was not at the higher concentration of 0.0553 mg/mL. In the analytical proficiency testing, the coefficient of variation for each level ranged from 24.6% to 28.3%, with a compliance rate of 90.0% to 96.7%. Conclusions: This study was conducted to produce standard samples of crystalline silica. The homogeneity of the samples was confirmed at low concentrations. However, further investigations on the applicability of wider range of concentrations are needed.

본 연구는 저농도로 장기간(10년 이상) 작업장에서 사용하는 다양한 화학물질에 노출된 작업환경측정 근로자의 체내 부하를 평가하는 것이다. 노출군은 작업환경측정 업무를 수행하는 남자 및 여자 근로자 16명이며, 대조군은 동일 회사 동료 중 작업환경측정을 수행하지 않는 근로자 10명으로서 총 26명을 연구 대상으로 하였다. 다양한 화학물질 노출에 대한 체내 지표는 간-담도 기능에 12개 지표, 신기능에 4개 지표, 혈액 및 순환기능에 16개 지표를 사용하였다. 간-담도 기능에서는 혈청 GPT, ϒ-GTP, 총 빌리루빈, 신기능에서는 크레아티닌과 요산, 혈액 및 순환기능에서는 중성지방, 적혈구수, 혈소판수, 헤모글로빈과 헤마토크릿 지표에서 노출군과 대조군이 유의한 차이를 나타내었다. 다양한 화학물질에 10년 이상 장기간 저농도로 노출되는 작업환경측정 근로자의 경우 간-담도 기능, 신기능 및 혈액 및 순환 기능 지표에 유의한 변화가 나타날 수 있다. 서로 다른 유해 화학 물질에 10년이상 장기간에 걸쳐 저농도 노출이 발생하더라도 작업환경측정 작업근로자들의 건강에 유해요인으로 작용할 수 있다.

Objectives: To investigate the work environment measurement (WEM) status and concentration levels of substances with short-term exposure limits (STEL) among special management substances. Methods: Data from the past 5 years of WEM for 6 substances (1,2-dichloropropane (1,2-DCP), 1,3-butadiene, benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE) and sulfuric acid) were analyzed. The number of samples and concentration level of STEL and 8-hour TWA (time weighted average) were compared. Results: The number of STEL measurement for 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and sulfuric acid was less than 1% of the number of TWA measurement samples, while TCE, 1,2-DCP, and PCE, which are mainly used for cleaning metals, were relatively high, at 16.1%, 5.6%, and 2.2%, respectively. When comparing the concentrations of STEL with TWA on the same STEL measured workers (STEL-matched TWA), STEL concentrations were 2.8, 3.1, 2.6, 2.6 and 40.5 times higher than TWA as 1,2-DCP, benzene, TCE, PCE, and sulfuric acid. When comparing the concentration of STEL-matched TWA with the total TWA, STEL-matched TWA was 3.4, 8, 1.4, 2.0, 8.6 and 0.7 times higher for 1,2-DCP, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, TCE, PCE, and sulfuric acid, respectively. Conclusions: This study found that the workers performing irregular tasks may be exposed to higher concentrations of hazardous substances than regular workers. It is necessary to strengthen short-term exposure measurement, even for substances which STEL have not been set.

Objective: This was to develop headforms for the labor population, based on a three-dimensional(3D) face dimensions data base(DB) and a principal component analysis(PCA) fit test panel, in selection, use and maintenance of respirators in Korea. Methods: This study was part of a two-year-project initiated in 2021. The study was designed and conducted in line with ISO 16976-2 while subjects were those employed in the development of the PCA fit test panel. The approaches included literature review; examination on conformity of the 3D face dimensions DB; and development of headforms representing the labor population. The mean data were used in order to construct each model of the headforms through a way of 3D modeling and 3D printing technology. Results: A total of 2,752 subjects were determined. Five models of headforms(small, medium, large, long-narrow, short-wide) were completely constructed for the labor population. For example, means of the 10 face dimensions for medium headform model were: minimum frontal breadth 106 mm, face width 136 mm, jaw width 127 mm, face length 111 mm, interpupillary distance 69 mm, head breadth 164 mm, nose protrusion 12 mm, nose breadth 34 mm, nasal root breadth 35 mm, and nose length 50 mm. Conclusions: Five models of headforms were newly constructed using the study data. It is likely desirable that the constructed headforms, together with the 3D face dimensions DB as well as the PCA fit test panel, can be utilized more effectively in selection, use and maintenance of respirators for users including the labor population.