The purpose of this study was to compare performances of two analytical methods, the OSHA 42 and the NIOSH 5522, of quantifying total isocyanates in air. These methods were compared in terms of accuracy and precision and the detection limits using four(4) spiked samples in each of four(4) concentration levels which ranged from 0.25 to 2.0 times of the ACGIH TLV-TWA. In addition, two methods were used to as sess airborne concentrations of total isocyanates at the following processes including autobody spray painting, furniture spray painting, polyurethane foaming, urethane adhesion, UV coating, and pigment mixing. The results of this study showed that the NIOSH 5522 method was better than the OSHA 42 method in terms of accuracy, precis ion, and detection limit for quantifying airborne total isocyanates. It was also clear that the NIOSH method was capable of detecting not only monomeric but also non-monomeric isocyanates. The results of air concentrations of total isocyanates among processes studied indicate that some processes may exceed the recommended level of isocyanates. In addition, to evaluate toxicological effects of total isocyanates, it is recommended to consider additive effects of isocyanates present in mixtures.

Most breakthrough tests are conducted at higher concentration levels compared to those in the field of air-purifying respirator applications. For example, typical challenge concentrations for breakthrough tests agains tcarbon tetrachloride are ranged between 250-1000 ppm although applicable concentrations range for air-purifying cartridge is 5-50 ppm for carbon tetrachloride. However, no guarantee has been made that isotherms derived from the experiment at high challenge concentrations could estimate adsorption capacity at the lower concentration range where workers wear usually air-purifying respirators. Three models of adsorption isotherms (Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin/Radushkevich(D/R) isotherms) that have been commonly applied for respirator cartridge testing were evaluated. Adsorption capacity at each challenge concentration was calculated from the Reaction Kinetic equation fitted for the breakthrough data. These data were used for derivation of three isotherms. In general, the D/R isotherm has given the best agreement between estimated adsorption capacities and experimentally measured. If the challenge concentration of 100 ppm is included for derivation of models, Freundlich and D/R models could succes sfully produced good estimations for adsorption capacities at 50 ppm level. Estimated adsorption capacities by both models ranged in 94 - 109 % of the experimentally measured. However, Langmuir model gives underes timation in all cases.

The purposes of this study were to review current status and problems of national qualification sys tem in the field of industrial hygiene, focusing on the deficiencies in the regulatory system and the quality of individual professionals including the Industrial Hygiene Management Professional Engineer and the Industrial Hygiene Management Engineer, and to suggest new directions for the industrial hygiene qualification system. In addition, comparable systems adopted in other countires were reviewed.

This study was performed to evaluate the hand-arm vibration of the steel processing factory workers. Measurement, evaluation and as sessment were based on the International Standard(ISO 5349). The frequency weighted accelerations of the various hand-held tools and total exposure time were measured to assess the periods for the white finger symptom to occur. As a result, it was found that the air angle grinder and the air baby grinder are more harmful than other hand-held tools. It was also found that using various vibratory tools together is more harmful than using a single tool.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the toxic effects of iso-butylalcohol on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats which were treated 0, 333, 1,000 and 3,000 ppm for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 13 weeks by inhalation. Iso-butylalcohol did not induce any abnormal change in the viewpoint of clinical signs, feed consumption, ophthalmic test, urinalysis, hematology and blood biochemistry during and at the termination of the inhalation toxicity test. We did not find any abnormal findings in the gross and microscopic observations due to the inhalation of iso-butylalcohol. There was no alteration in relative organ weight owing to the inhalation of the iso-butylalcohol. In conclusion, concentration was 3,000 ppm in rats under the inhalation of 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 13 week. Iso-butylalcohol did not show any change in the clinical signs, feed consumption, ophthalmic test, urinalysis, hematology and blood biochemistry, together with no alteration in the gross and pathological findings.

A quantitative fit test, condensation nuclei counting (Portacount 8025, TSI), was performed concurrently with a banana oil (isoamyl acetate: IAA) qualitative fit test (MSA) to evaluate reliability on IAA QLFT and correlation between two methods. One brands of quarter mask (3M model 7500 medium) was prepared for QLFT with HEPA filter and gas & vapor removing media, i.e., combination cartridge. 110 subjects (65 male, 45 female) were fit tested QNFT and QLFT each three times. For a wearer combination having a FF<10, as determined by CNC QNFT, the point es timate (${\beta}$-error) of the probability of that combination not being rejected by the banana oil QLFT was found to be 0.0 with 95% confidence that this statistic is not expected to exceed 0.15. For a wearer combination having a FF<100, as determined by CNC QNFT, the point estimate of the probability of that combination not being rejected by the banana oil QLFT was found to be 0.07 with 95% confidence that this statistic is not expected to exceed 0.13. The uncertainty associated with each estimate, however, is large due to the small number of study subjects with inadequately fitting respirators.

Fume extracting welding gun is one of the promising options for reducing the welder's fume exposure. The performance of the gun was assessed on the basis of capture efficiency. Capture efficiencies were measured in a test chamber recommended by American Welding Society. The overall capture efficiency was turned out to be above 95%. But it did not include the effect of crossdraft existing in the real work environment because all experiments were conducted in a closed chamber. It thus needs more work in the future. In addition, the future directions for improving the pres ent commercial techniques of the gun were discussed.

This study evaluates the pretreatment for analysis of benzidine metabolites in urine by measuring the recovery rates according to the temperature and periods of storage of the urine. By the solid phas e extraction, the recovery rates of basic hydrolysis are benzidine 67.4 %, monoacetylbenzidine 105.1 %, and diacetylbenzidine 115.8 %, respectively. By the liquid extraction, the recovery rates of back-extraction into 0.1 M perchloric acid are benzidine 105.7%, monoacetylbenzidine 94.2 %, diacetylbenzidine 72.8 %, respectively. The difference of the recovery rates between the back-extraction into 0.1 M HCl and 0.1 M perchloic acid after basic hydrolysis are 101 % and 98.8 %, respectively. When the recovery rates of the urinary s amples of pH 3, pH 7, pH 12 at $25^{\circ}C$ and $-76^{\circ}C$ are compared for four weeks, there are no differences according to the temperature and the periods of storage. The above results show that the solid phase extraction and back-extraction by 0.1 M perchloric acid after basic hydrolys is are suitable for the analysis of benzidine metabolites. There are no difference of the recovery rates of the urinary samples stored at $25^{\circ}C$ and $-76^{\circ}C$ at pH 3, pH 7, pH 12, respectively for 28 days.

Hot-wire anemometers are most commonly used in measuring hood capture velocities due to their accuracy and convenience. But it was questionable that the anemometers being used in the field are accurate enough for the purpose of measurements. To answer this ques tion, a calibration wind tunnel was newly devised and tested. Subsequently, 53 hot-wire anemometers being currently used in the field were tested to evaluate the accuracy of anemometers. The average error was 16.93% while the average errors in the low (0.5~5m/s) and high (5~20m/s) velocity range were 17.40% and 16.45%, respectively. Most of anemometers underestimated the true velocities. It might be due to the contamination of hot-wire, resulting in the slow heat transfer between the sensor and air flow. Astonishingly, 16 of 53 anemometers were out of order due to the malfunctioning of zero adjustment control, power supply, display panel and sensor. It is desirable to calibrate periodically and clean the sensor after using in the dirty environment.

Hot-wire anemometers are most commonly used in measuring hood capture velocities due to their accuracy and convenience. But it was ques tionable whether they have an appropriate accuracy and they are well maintained. To answer these questions, as eries of survey and the performance test were performed. The average error turns out to be 16.93%. Many of them were out of order due to bad maintenance. They were not frequently calibrated even though the users of anemometers think the periodic calibration is necessary for maintaining the accuracy of anemometers. A possible efficient maintenance program was thus discussed.

The purposes of this study were to survey types of pretreatment methods adopted by industrial hygiene laboratories in Korea for extracting heavy metals in welding fume samples and to compare performances of two pretreatment methods, the acid extraction and the microwave digestion, in extracting heavy metals contained in the real workplace samples from various welding jobs including arc, argon, and carbon dioxide. A total of 25 analytical chemists in the industrial hygiene laboratories participating the quality control program directed by the Korea Industrial Safety Corporation were interviewed by telephone. For the purpose of comparing performance of extracting heavy metals from real workplace samples, a total of 53 welders from 21 workplaces located in Anyang, Uiwang, and Kunpo areas were sampled from the period of March 22, 1999 to April 20, 1999. It was found that the most frequently adopted method for samples from the quality control program was the acid extraction method(40%) followed by the NIOSH 7300 method(36%). The NIOSH method, however, was the dominant method(36%) for samples from workplace followed by the acid extraction method(28%). In this study, two extraction methods, the acid extraction and the microwave digestion, were compared in terms of recovery rate, accuracy, and precision for both manganese and chromium. Both methods produced comparable results for the samples prepared for the quality control program. In contrast, concentrations of two heavy metals determined from real workplace samples pretreated with the microwave digestion method were statis tically significantly higher, manganese(166%) and chromium (200%), than those of utilizing the acid extraction method. These findings were consistent regardless of types of welding techniques used. The results of this study clearly show the importance of verifying the analytical performances of extraction methods for heavy metals not only for the samples from the quality control program but also from the real world samples collected from welding jobs.

Wood dust is created when machines are used to cut or shape wood materials. Industries of high risk of wood dust exposure are sawmills, dimension mills, furniture industries, and carpenters, etc. Health effects associated with wood dust exposure includes dermatitis, allergic respiratory effects and cancer. Health effects of wood dus t are mainly depend on the concentration, dust size and exposure time. This study were carried out to evaluate the concentration and particle size distribution of wood dust during working processes. The subjects of this study were 53 workers exposed to wood dust in 7 furniture factories and 5 musical instruments, and 5 sawmill factories. The average total wood dust concentrations measured by personal cascade impactor were $1.82{\pm}2.31mg/m^3$ in primary manufacture, $3.59{\pm}1.72mg/m^3$ in s econdary manufacture, $5.09{\pm}1.46mg/m^3$ in sanding operation. Mass median diameters of hardwoods dust were $3.36{\mu}m$ in primary manufacture, $4.25{\mu}m$ in secondary manufacture, $4.21{\mu}m$ in sanding operation. softwoods dust were $3.39{\mu}m$ in primary manufacture, $4.34{\mu}m$ in secondary manufacture. Particle size distributions showed a nearly the same pattern in each working processes. The sample concentration of all hardwood dust exceeded the Threshold Limit Value(TLV) and 20.8% of the softwood dust exceeded the Threshold Limit Value. The range of size distribution were $0.5-10{\mu}m$ in the soft and hardwood dust. The respirable dust of soft and hardwood took up 59% and above. Therefore new threshold limit value for wood dust should be needed in Korea. Also, it should be done for various studies on health effects related to occupational exposure of wood dust.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between airborne total dust and man-made mineral fibers (MMMF), and to estimate total dust concentration to maintain below the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV$^{(R)}$) for the MMMF. The regression coefficients between airborne total dust concentrations and fiber concentrations determined in the industries producing glass fibers, rock wool. refractory ceramic and continuous filament glass fibers products were 0.41, 0.42, 0.20 and 0.19, respectively. The size characteristics of fibers as well as the amounts of contaminated non-fibrous dusts could affect the correlation intensities. When total dust and fiber exposure data were compared with the occupational exposure limits, there was a large gap between two evaluation results. The regression coefficient between total dust and fiber data was increased ($r^2=0.88$) in the process of insulation installation generating in the higher levels of glass or rock wool fibers. In this case, an estimated total dust concentration of glass wool or rock wool fibers complying with the ACGIH TLV (1 f/cc) was $1.7mg/m^3$. In conclusion, the total dust and fibers concentrations was highly correlated at the higher exposure levels so that total dust-monitoring data could be used to control simply and economically and to estimate worker's exposure to fibers.

A new analytical procedure for the measurement of monomeric isocyanates and total isocyanate group in workplaces has been investigated. The method described herd involves derivatization of the isocyanate sample upon collection with the reagent 9-anthracenylmethyl 1-piperazinecarboxylate (PAC). Laboratory investigations have demonstrated that excess PAC reagent can be satisfactorily removed from PAC-derivatized monomeric isocyanates-a requirement for the success f the analytical procedure. After removal of excess PAC reagent, the PAC derivatives of butyl isocyanate, phenyl isocyanate, HDI, MDI, and TDI were reacted with sodium thiomethoxide to convert them all to 9-anthracenylmethyl methyl sulfide (AMMS). Total isocyanate group was determined by HPLC analysis and quantification of the single AMMS peak. This circumvents many of the disadvantages associated with current HPLC methods. There were no longer problems associated with quantifying late-eluting peaks and analysis times were very short. A single detector was used for quantification because a standard of the analyte existed and the retention time could be determined. Because all species were converted to a single analyte, the problem of variability of response factors among different species was averted. Finally, there were no complex chromatograms to interpret. Monomers of other individual species were measured by analysis of the sample before the individual species were converted to AMMS. The favorable performance of PAC warrants its further study as a reagent for the determination of total isocyanate group in air.