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http://dx.doi.org/10.15269/JKSOEH.2019.29.3.271

Exposure Assessment of Crystalline Silica in Diatomite Powder Handling Workplace with Acute Silicosis  

Kim, Boowook (Institute of Occupation and Environment, Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service)
Kim, Daeho (Institute of Occupation and Environment, Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service)
Kim, Hyoung-Ryoul (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea)
Choi, Byung-Soon (Institute of Occupation and Environment, Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene / v.29, no.3, 2019 , pp. 271-277 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives: A 46-year-old woman who had worked on cleaning stainless steel containers with Initially unknown powders died from acute silicosis. To determine whether the acute silicosis was related to his work environment, we conducted exposure assessment the level of exposure to respirable crystalline silica(RCS) during cleaning stainless steel containers with unknown powders. Methods: The exposure assessment of RCS were undertaken according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) method 7500. The components of the unknown powder were analyzed using X-ray Diffraction. Results: The unknown powder was found to be natural diatomaceous earth, which contained 12% and 9% quartz and cristobalite, respectively, crystalline silica. In the case of cleaning stainless steel containers with diatomaceous earth powder, the primary measurement resulted in 1.3 times higher occupational exposure limit of MOEL(in sum of quartz and cristobalite concentration) and 3.9 times higher in secondary measurement. The workbench was equipped with a local exhaust system, but because there was no hood at the end of the duct, the wind speed at the opening of the duct was 12 m/sec, whereas the controlled wind speed at the working position was only 0.3 m/sec below the legal standard. Conclusions: There is an urgent need to install the hood, conduct safety and health education for employers and workers, and periodically monitoring and manage the working environment.
Keywords
acute silicosis; crystalline silica; diatomite powder; exposure assessment; workplace;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 1  (Citation Analysis)
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