Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.15269/JKSOEH.2022.32.4.302

Exposure of Carcinogens in Electronics Industries and Strategy for Control of Carcinogens: Using Work Environment Measurement Database (2013-2017) in Korea  

Mia, Son (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine.School of Medicine, Kangwon National University)
Jaewon, Yun (Seoul National University Hospital)
Yu Seoung, Hwang (Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Medicine.School of Medicine, Kangwon National University)
Mijin, Park (Wonjin Institute for Occupational & Environmental Health)
MinSeo, Choi (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine.School of Medicine, Kangwon National University)
Mi-Young, Lee (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute)
Domyung, Paek (Wonjin Institute for Occupational & Environmental Health, Green-Hospital, National Cancer Center)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene / v.32, no.4, 2022 , pp. 302-324 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate exposure to occupational carcinogens in the nationwide electronics industries and to establish a strategy for control of occupational carcinogens in South Korea. Methods: We evaluated occupational carcinogens as defined by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) using a nationwide work environment measurement database on the electronics industry in South Korea measured between 2013 and 2017 in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Results: The number of occupational carcinogens found in the electronics industry in South Korea were: 20 for IARC Group 1, 14 for Group 2A, and 30 for Group 2B. The occupational carcinogens (Group 1) most frequently exposed were strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulfuric acid (sulfuric acid), welding fumes, mineral oils (untreated or mildly treated), nickel compounds, silica dust, crystalline substances in the form of quartz or cristobalite, formaldehyde, arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds, chromium (VI) compounds, trichloroethylene, cadmium and cadmium compounds, vinyl chloride, ethylene oxide, wood dust, beryllium and beryllium compounds, 1,3 butadiene, benzene, and others. Among them, the carcinogens (Group 1) exceeding the acceptable standard were trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and ethylene oxide. The working environment measurement system as regulated by Occupational Safety and Health Act is not properly assessed and managed for occupational carcinogens in South Korea. A component analysis for all materials used should be set up to practically reduce occupational carcinogens. A ban on the use of occupational carcinogens and the development of alternative materials are needed. The occupational carcinogens below the acceptable standards should be carefully examined and a new standard for exposure needs to be established. Conclusions: The Occupational Safety and Health Act should be improved to identify and monitor occupational carcinogens at work sites. A strategy for occupational safety and health systems should be provided to give direction to workers' needs and right to know.
Keywords
Electronics industry; Occupational Safety and Health Act; work environment measurement system; workers' health and safety; occupational carcinogens;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 6  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Ha K, Kim SW, Phee YK, Lee N. Strengthening the occupational exposure limit for 1-bromopropane according to the results of epidemiological studies and exposure status. Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 2020:30(3):270-279. doi:10.15269/JKSOEH.2020.30.3.270   DOI
2 Ministry of Government. Legislation National Law Information Center. 2022. https://www.law.go.kr/
3 IARC 2022. https://monographs.iarc.who.int/agentsclassified-by-the-iarc/
4 Labotoday News. 2020.11.26. https://www.labortoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=167769)
5 Nongmin News. 2022.5.2. https://www.nongmin.com/news/NEWS/ECO/FRM/355028/view
6 Ministry of Employment and Labor 2022. https://www.moel.go.kr/local/tongyeong/news/notice/noticeView.do?bbs_seq=20220301700
7 Dae Myung Chemical. 2022. http://www.daemyungchem.co.kr/shop/board/view.php?id=story&no=74
8 IARC. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1-131. 2022. https://monographs.iarc.who.int/agents-classified-by-the-iarc/
9 IARC. Trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and some other chlorinated agents. Volume 106. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Lyon, France. 2014. C:/Users/user/Downloads/mono106.pdf
10 Kauppinen T, Toikkanen J, Pedersen D, Young R, Ahrens W et al. Occupational exposure to carcinogens in the European union. Occup Environ Med 2000;57(1):10-8. doi:10.1136/oem.57.1.10   DOI
11 Kauppinen T, Toikkanen J, Pukkala E. From cross-tabulations to multipurpose exposure information systems: a new job-exposure matrix. Am J Ind Med 1998;33(4):409-17. doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199804)33:4<409::aid-ajim12>3.0.co;2-2   DOI
12 Kim EA, Lee HE, Ryu HW, Park SH, Kang SK. Cases series of malignant lymphohematopoietic disorder in korean semiconductor industry. Saf Health Work 2011;2(2):122-34. doi:10.5491/SHAW   DOI
13 Kim KY. Survey on annual excess trend for permissible exposure limit of trichloroethylene. Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 2019:29(1):21-26. doi:10.15269/JKSOEH.2019.29.1.21   DOI
14 KOSHA. Formaldehyde. Report on the results of a survey on the distribution and use of chemicals. KOSHA report: 2008-00-000. 2008
15 Kim S, Yoon C, Ham S, Park J, Kwon O et al. Chemical use in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Int J Occup Environ Health 2018;24(3-4):109-118. doi:10.1080/10773525.2018. 1519957   DOI
16 Koh DH, Park JH, Lee SG, Kim HC, Choi S et al. Development of Korean carcinogen exposure: an initiative of the occupational carcinogen surveillance system in Korea. Ann Work Expo Health 2021;65(5):528-38. doi:10.1093/annweh/wxaa135   DOI
17 Korean standard industrial classification(KSIC). National Statistical Office Notice(2017.07.01.). 2017. https://www.data.go.kr/data/15049591/fileData.do
18 LaDou J, Bailar C. J. Cancer and reproductive risks in the semiconductor industry. Int J Occup Environ Health 2007;13(4):376-385. doi:10.1179/oeh.2007.13.4.376   DOI
19 Ledda C. Epidemiological research on occupational and environmental carcinogens. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021;18(5):2251. doi:10.3390/ijerph18052215   DOI
20 Loomis D, Guha N, Hall AL, Straif K. Identifying occupational carcinogens: An update from the IARC monographs. Occup Environ Med 2018;75(8):593-603. doi:10.1136/oemed-2017-104944   DOI
21 Nakano M, Omae K, Tanaka A, Hirata M. Possibility of lung cancer risk in indium-exposed workers: An 11-year multicenter cohort study. J Occup Health 2019;61(3):251-256. doi:10.1002/1348-9585.12050   DOI
22 Lash LH, Chiu WA, Guyton KZ, Rusyn I. Trichloroethylene biotransformation and its role in mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and target organ toxicity. Mutat Res Rev Mutat Res 2014;762:22-36. doi: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2014.04.003   DOI
23 Park DW, Ko DH, Kwak HS, Kim SB, Lee KH et al. KOSHA. A survey on the use of hazardous substances and classification of hazardous substances according to the changes in metal processing technology. KOSHA 2016-KOSHA-777. 2016
24 Lin CC, Wang JD, Hsieh GY, Chang YY, Chen PC. Increased risk of death with congenital anomalies in the offspring of male semiconductor workers. Int J Occup Environ Health 2008;14(2):112-116. doi:10.1179/oeh.2008.14.2.112   DOI
25 Nakano M, Omae K, Tanaka A, Hirata M. Possibility of lung cancer risk in indium-exposed workers: An 11-year multicenter cohort study. J Occup Health 2019;61(3):251-256. doi:10.1002/1348-9585.12050   DOI
26 Park D, Choi S, Lee S, Koh DH, Kim HR et al. Occupational characteristics of semiconductor workers with cancer and rare diseases registered with a Workers' Compensation Program in Korea. Safety and Health at Work 2019;10(3):347-354. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2019.03.003   DOI
27 Rusyn I, Chiu WA, Lash LH, Kromhout H, Hansen J et al. Trichloroethylene: Mechanistic, epidemiologic and other supporting evidence of carcinogenic hazard. Pharmacol Ther 2014;141(1):55-68. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2013.08.004   DOI
28 Siemiatycki J. Future Etiologic research in occupational cancer. Environ Health Perspect 1995;103(Suppl 8):209-15. doi:10.1289/ehp.95103s8209   DOI
29 Siemiatycki J, Richardson L, Straif K, Latreille B, Lakhani R et al. Listing occupational carcinogens. Environ Health Perspect 2004;112(15):1447-59. doi:10.1289/ehp.7047   DOI
30 Son M, Paek D, Park MJ, Lee WK, Lim YH et al. Survey on the health management of electronics industry and preparation of measures to protect workers-centered semiconductor manufacturing. Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Research Report 2018 (2018-OSHRI-823)
31 Tsao YC, Fan HY, Luo JJ, Case reports of indium lung disease in Taiwan, Journal of the Formosan Medical Association 2021;120(2) 893-898. doi:10.1016/j.jfma.2020.08.009   DOI
32 Sritharan J, Luo Y, Harris MA. Trends in participation rates in case-control studies of occupational risk factors 1991-2017. Occup Environ Med 2020;77(10):659-65. doi:10.1136/oemed-2019-106200   DOI
33 Stayner LT, Collins JJ, Guo YL, Heederik D, Kogevinas M et al. Challenges and opportunities for occupational epidemiology in the twenty-first century. Curr Environ Health Rep 2017;4(3):319-24. doi:10.1007/s40572-017-0154-z   DOI
34 Takala J. Eliminating occupational cancer. Ind Health 2015;53(4):307-9. doi: 10.2486/indhealth.53-307   DOI
35 Tsao YC, Fan HY, John Luo JC. Case reports of indium lung disease in Taiwan, Journal of the Formosan Medical Association. J Formos Med Assoc 2021;120(2):893-898. doi:10.1016/j.jfma.2020.08.009   DOI
36 Yang JS, Lee JH, Choi SB, Kim UC, Kim YK, et al. 2006. A study on the exposure evaluation of carcinogenic substances by water-soluble metal processing additives-focusing on nitro compounds. KOSHA 2006-OSHRI-73-761. 2016
37 Yoon C, Kim SW, Park D, Jung J, Choi S et al. Hazards in semiconductor industry. Korea National Open University Press, 2020. ISBN 978-89-2 0-03857-095510
38 Yoon C, Kim S, Park D, Choi Y, Jo J et al. Chemical use and associated health concerns in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Saf Health Work 2020;11(4):500-508. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2020.04.005   DOI
39 Watterson A, LaDou J. Health and safety executive inspection of U.K. semiconductor manufacturers. Int J Occup Environ Health 2003;9(4):392-396. doi:10.1179/oeh.2003.9.4.392   DOI
40 Wilson MP, Schwarzman MR. Toward a new U.S. chemicals policy: rebuilding the foundation to advance new science, green chemistry, and environmental health. Environ Health Perspect 2009;117(8):1202-9. doi:10.1289/ehp.0800404   DOI
41 Cherrie JW, Van Tongeren M, Semple S. Exposure to occupational carcinogens in great Britain. Ann Occup Hyg 2007;51(8):653-64. doi:10.1093/annhyg/mem049   DOI
42 Chiu KH, Wu BZ, Chang CC, Sree U, Lo JG. Distribution of volatile organic compounds over a semiconductor industrial park in Taiwan. Environ Sci Technol 2005;39(4):973-83. doi:10.1021/es049110m   DOI
43 Choi CH. Fabrication of high purity silica from diatomaceous earth and quantitative analysis of trace impurities. Hanyang University. Masters Thesis. 2012
44 Dumitrescu E, Karunaratne DP, Babu SV, Wallace KN, Andreescu S. Interaction, transformation and toxicity assessment of particles and additives used in the semiconducting industry. Chemosphere 2018;192:178-185. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere   DOI
45 Elkin ER, Su AL, Kilburn BA, Bakulski KM, Armant DR et al. Toxicity assessments of selected trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene metabolites in three in vitro human placental models. Reprod Toxicol 2022;109:109-120. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox   DOI