• Toxicological Research
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.137-141
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• 2011

This study was conducted to assess the exposure risk through inhalation to baby powder for babies and adults under simulated conditions. Baby powder was applied to a baby doll and the amount of baby powder consumed per application was estimated. The airborne exposure to baby powder during application was then evaluated by sampling the airborne baby powder near the breathing zones of both the baby doll and the person applying the powder (the applicator). The average amount of baby powder consumed was 100 mg/application, and the average exposure concentration of airborne baby powder for the applicator and baby doll was 0.00527 mg/$m^3$ (range 0.00157~0.01579 mg/$m^3$) and 0.02207 mg/$m^3$ (range 0.00780~0.04173 mg/$m^3$), respectively. When compared with the Occupational Exposure Limit of 2 mg/$m^3$ set by the Korean Ministry of Labor and the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 2 mg/$m^3$ set by the ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists), the exposure concentrations were much lower. Next, the exposure to asbestos-containing baby powder was estimated and the exposure risk was assessed based on the lung asbestos contents in normal humans. As a result, the estimated lung asbestos content resulting from exposure to asbestos-containing baby powder was found to be much lower than that of a normal Korean with no asbestos-related occupational history.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.193-201
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate employee exposures to waste anesthetic gases, such as enflurane and sevoflurane in operating rooms of general surgical, children's and dental clinics of a large hospital located in Seoul and to analyze factors affecting the concentrations of waste anesthetic gases. The results of the study are summarized below. 1. Based on results of personal and area samples for airborne enflurane, all of the employees investigated in this study were exposed to airborne enflurane concentrations below the ACGIH-threshold limit value (TLV) of 75 ppm. 2. However, based on results of personal samples for sevoflurane, employees of two (2) out of eleven (11) operating rooms were exposed to sevoflurane concentrations in excess of the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) of 2 ppm. A similar trend was found in the area samples. 3. To investigate the source of sevoflurane emissions, airborne sevoflurane concentrations were measured on an anesthesia machine, a drug cabinet and a desk. It was indicated that the geometric means were 0.93 ppm, 0.83 ppm and 0.72 ppm, respectively. 4. Factors affecting waste anesthetic gas concentrations were the age of anesthesia machine, the volume of operating room and the extent of ventilation (p<0.05). 5. It is recommended that the use of anesthesia equipments be properly controlled, the operating room be well ventilated, and the airborne concentrations of anesthetic gases be continuously monitored.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.454-465
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in asbestos exposure among asbestos-handling industries from 2000 to 2005. Methods: The data included the number of industries and workers exposed, concentrations of asbestos and the amount exceeded, and the type and size of industry by year. These data were collected by 46 regional employment and labor offices in Korea using work environment monitoring reports. A total of 1,481 samples from 284 industries were extracted from the reports and were analyzed with no data modification. Results: The means of asbestos concentration decreased from $0.84f/cm^3$ to $0.03f/cm^3$ during the period 2000-2005. Among the total of 1,481 samples, 11 samples(0.7%) exceeded the KOEL, and 178 samples(12.0%) were ACGIH TLV. The insulating paper product manufacturing industry was found to have the highest level of asbestos, followed by the fireproofing manufacturing industry, brake lining products manufacturing industry, commutator products manufacturing industries, and construction materials manufacturing industry. The number of asbestos handling industries decreased from 48 industries with 1,155 employees to 37 industries during the period of 2000 to 2005, but the number of asbestos workers expanded to the point that 1,182 employees could be found in 2005. Conclusion: Based on these results, the strengthening of the KOEL and new regulations turned out to help reduce asbestos exposure levels. This study recommends that retrospective exposure to asbestos based on various industry types should be assessed.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.21-28
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• 2000

Various man-made mineral fibers(MMMF) including refractory ceramic fiber(RCF) have been used widely in industries as insulation materials. The effect of fibrous dust on human health depends on fiber size, concentration (exposure level), and durability in biological system. Therefore, these parameters should be determined to evaluate accurately the potential risk of fibers on human health. The purpose of this study was to characterize the size of airborne fiber and the workers＇ exposure to airborne fibers in refractory ceramic fiber manufacturing and processing factories. Airborne fibers were collected on 25-mm mixed cellulose ester membrane filters at personal breathing zones, and analyzed by A and B counting rules of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) Method # 7400. The average ratios of the fiber density by B rule to the fiber density by A rule was 0.84. This result indicates that the proportion of respirable fibers (<3 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ diameter) in air samples was high. The average diameter and length of airborne fibers were 1.05${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and 35${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, respectively. The average fiber concentrations (GM) of all personal samples was 0.26f/cc, and the average concentration was highest at blanket cutting and packing processes. The fifty seven percent of personal air samples was exceeded the proposed American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists(ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value(TLV), i.e. 0.2 f/cc. It was concluded that the RCF industrial workers had the higher potential health risk due to small fiber diameter, long fiber length, and high exposure level to the airborne fibers.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.224-239
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• 1994

본 연구는 1993년 10월부터 1994년 3월 사이에 PCE를 세정제로 사용하는 세탁소중 충청권에 있는 23개소의 세탁소 작업자 30명을 폭로군으로, 모대학교 사무직원 42명을 비폭로군으로 하여 자각증상을 조사하였고, 세탁소 작업자의 PCE 폭로농도 및 작업장 기중농도를 측정하였다. 혈액과 뇨를 채취하여 혈액학적, 임상화학적 검사 및 뇨단백, 뇨당을 검사함으로써 PCE 폭로정도에 따른 관련성을 분석하여 다음과 같이 결과를 요약하고, 세탁소의 작업장 환경을 양호하게 관리하기 위한 몇가지 방안을 제안하고자 한다. 1. 폭로군이 비폭로군에 비해 조사항목 대부분에서 높은 자각증상 호소율을 나타냈으며, 특히 호흡기계, 심혈관계, 소화기계, 신경정신계에서 높은 자각증상을 호소했다. 개인폭로농도와 자각증상 호소율은 상호 관련성이 없었다. 2. 1일 8시간 작업시 PCE의 허용농도는 우리나라의 경우 50.0ppm, ACGIH에서는 25.0ppm으로 권장하고 있다. 조사대상 세탁소 형태별로 작업자의 PCE폭로농도는 체인본부가 16.85ppm, 일반 세탁소가 8.83ppm, 셀프-서비스점이 3.07ppm으로 나타났다. 전체적으로 세탁소 작업자의 PCE 폭로농도는 25.0ppm 이하가 19개소(82.6%)였으며, 25.0ppm 이상 측정된 세탁소는 4개소(17.4%)였고, 50.0ppm을 넘는 세탁소는 한 곳도 없었다. 이상의 결과에서 측정대상 세탁소의 작업환경 관리가 비교적 양호함을 알 수 있다. 3. PCE 기기의 가동횟수가 증가할수록 또한 작업량(세탁량)이 많아질수록 PCE 폭로정도는 증가하였다. 또 개방형 PCE 기기를 사용하는 작업자의 폭로농도는 6.18ppm, 밀폐형은 11.48ppm으로 나타났으나, 밀폐형을 사용하는 세탁소의 경우 개방형보다 작업량이 2-3배 정도 많았으며, 이 결과는 기기의 형태보다 작업량과 관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 4. 혈액학적 검사에서는 WBC, RBC, Hgb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PLT 모두 정상으로 나타났으며, 혈액의 임상화학적 검사에서도 간기능, 신장기능 진단에 이용되는 GOT, GPT, ALP, U-A 및 LDH가 정상으로 나타났다. 5. 뇨단백 및 뇨당 검사에서는 대부분 정상이었고, 3명의 뇨단백이 30mg/dl 이하로 약간 배출되었으며, 뇨당은 3명이 100mg/dl 이하, 2명이 100-250mg/dl로 약간 높게 배출하였다. 이상의 결과에서 PCE 폭로군은 비폭로군보다 신체의 여러부분에 대해 높은 자각증상 호소율을 나타냈다. 조사대상 세탁소의 작업환경은 비교적 양호하게 관리되고 있었으며, 혈액학적 및 임상화학적 검사는 직업성으로 인해 이상이 유발되었다고 평가할만한 사실은 관찰되지 않았다. 그러나 세탁소에서는 PCE뿐만 아니라 얼룩을 제거하기 위하여 여러 종류의 유기용제를 사용하기 때문에 작업자들은 항상 위해한 환경 인자에 노출되고 있다고 사료되므로, 작업장 환경을 보다 쾌적하게 관리하기 위해서는 PCE의 기계적 누출을 조사하고, 의류의 충분한 건조, 적절하고 합리적인 환풍기의 가동 및 개인보호구 착용 등에 관심을 기울여야 할 것이다.