Browse > Article

Evaluation of Air Contaminants Concentrations and Ventilation Systems in Governmental Agency and University Laboratories  

Ha, Ju-Hyun (Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Inje University)
Shin, Yong-Chul (Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Inje University)
Lee, Hyun-Seok (Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Inje University)
Paik, Samuel Y. (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)
Yi, Gwang-Yong (Occupational Safety & Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency)
Lee, Byeong-Ku (Busan Regional Center, Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene / v.20, no.1, 2010 , pp. 63-69 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study was conducted to compare the concentration of various air contaminants in nine different laboratories during routine activities. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) were sampled and analyzed using NIOSH Method 1500 and asbestos fibers were sampled and analyzed using NIOSH Method 9002 and 7400. Detectable levels of acetone, toluene and ethanol were found in all the laboratories and xylene and n-hexane were detected in eight of the nine laboratories. All the VOC concentrations were well below the Korean Ministry of Labor's Exposure Limit and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists' (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLVs). Total VOC concentrations at the university laboratories were significantly higher than those at governmental agency laboratories. Airborne fiber concentrations were below 0.01 fibers/cc, while the concentration of chrysotile was 2% in insulation materials sprayed on the ceiling of one laboratory. While all the governmental agency laboratories (n=4) had fume hoods, two out of the five university laboratories did not have fume hoods. The capture velocity of half of the fume hoods were below the maintenance standard(0.4 m/sec). In conclusion, the study suggests that the current controls in place at both university and government agency laboratories are not sufficient in limiting exposure to harmful chemicals to non-detectable levels, though they appear to be adequate in protecting workers to levels below applicable occupational exposure limits. The study also suggests that researchers working in university laboratories may be exposed to greater levels of contaminant than those working in government agency laboratories.
Keywords
Governmental agency and university laboratories; Concentration of various air contaminants; Fume hood;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 1  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists(ACGIH). Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents & Biological Exposure Indices. ACGIH, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2009.
2 Funes-Craviolo F, Zapata-Gaynon B, Kolmoin-Hedman Lambert B, Lindestein A. Chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchange in workers in chemical laboratories and a rotoprinting factory and in children of women laboratory workers. Lancet 1977;2:322-325
3 Kaukiainen A, Vehmas T, Rantala K, Nurmiren M, Martikainen R, Taskinen H. Results of common laboratory tests in solvent-exposed workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2004;77(1):39-46   DOI   ScienceOn
4 Kubale T; Hiratzka S; Henn S; Markey A; Daniels R; Utterback D; Waters K; Silver S: Robinson C; Macievic G; Lodwick J. A cohort mortality study of chemical laboratory workers at Department of Energy Nuclear Plants. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2008;51:656-667   DOI   ScienceOn
5 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH). NIOSH Method No. 1500. 1994. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/INIOSH/nmam/pdf/1500.pdf
6 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH). NIOSH Method No. 7400. 1994. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nmam/pdfs/7400.PDF
7 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH). NIOSH Method No. 9002. 1994. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/NIOSH/nman/pdfs/9002.pdf
8 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH). NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. 2009. Available http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npgsyn-a.html
9 Occupational Safety & Health Administration(OSHA). Occupational exposure to hazardous chemical in laboratories. Standards 29 CFR 1910. 1450. Regulation, 2006.
10 Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA). Occupational Safety & Health Standards 29 CFR 1910. 1000 TABLEZ-1, Z-22, OSHA, 2006.
11 Shaham J; Gurvich R; Kneshet Y. Cancer incidence among laboratory workers in biomedical research and routine laboratories in Israel. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2003;44:600-610   DOI   ScienceOn
12 노동부. 사무실 공기관리 지침. 노동부고시 제2006-65호, 2007
13 교육과학기술부. 연구실 안전환경 조성에 관한 법률. 법률 제7425호, 2009.
14 김두환, 이동경 이근원, 윤석준. 대학 및 실험실 안전관리 실태 및 대책. 한국산업안전공단, 2005
15 김명신. 일부 대학 화학실험실에서의 유기용매 노출에 관한 연구. 서울대학교 보건대학원 1998
16 노동부. 화학물질 및 물리적인자의 노출기준. 노동부고시 제2008-26호, 2008
17 류경남, 박정임, 박태주, 최민규, 이정학. 대학의 실험실 안전 보건관리체계 구축이 안전보건관리활동에 미치는 영향. 한국환경보건학회지 2005;31(5):365-371   과학기술학회마을
18 양대용, 유선종, 이근원. 실험실 안전관리 실태에 관한 고찰. 공업경영학회지 1995;18(35):53-53
19 유계묵, 노영만, 한진구, 원정일. 일부 산업보건관련 기관의 분석실험실 안전보건에 관한 실태와 대책. 한국산업위생학회지 2000;10(2): 150-164
20 이한주. 일부 대학 화학실험실의 안전보건 실태조사. 서울대학교보건대학원, 1996
21 한국산업안전공단 산업환기설비에 관한 기술지침. 2006
22 한국산업기술진흥협회. 산업기술주요통계요람, 2008-2009. 2009
23 환경부. 다중이용시설 등의 실내공기질 관리법, 시행규칙 별표2, 실내공기질유지기준, 2008