• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2017

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the exposure of VOCs and effects of the chemicals on the nail technicians whose works in a nail shop. Methods: For four month from May to August in 2016, we measured twenty-two kinds of VOCs in ten nail shops and carried out health examinations on thirty-four workers in there. Results: The TVOC concentration in indoor air of nail shops is $0.487mg/m^3$ at a minimum and $33.236mg/m^3$ at a maximum where it consists of 70.5% of Ketones, 25.4% of Alcohols, 2.6% of Esters, 0.8% of Aldehydes and 0.7% of Aromatics. The VOCs concentration during nail art works shows an increase in average ratio 1.8 compared to the concentration of indoor air quality and also the concentration of Isopropanol rose with 3.2 of the highest ratio. The results of Spearman correlation between TVOC concentration in indoor air and environmental factor was like that has significance level of correlation(${\rho}$<0.05, r=0.682) in case of number of customers per day, but the other factors were not meaningful in correlation. Correlation between VOCs and medical check-up items was like that has positive significance level(${\rho}$<0.01, r=0.638) between isopropanol and GPT, but the others have not meaningful. The exposure level of VOCs was not exceed the criteria exposure level 1 of working environment measuring method which announced by labor ministry in all ten nail shop indoor air quality. Conclusions: In this study although it was not significant correlation between harmful substances and medical check-up items in the nail shop indoor air quality, it is necessary to do more ventilation and to install exhaust facilities because of existing high VOCs concentration in the nail shop indoor air.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.311-322
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• 2010

Objectives : Since the program about sodium lauryl sulfate that might cause oral dryness and taste change including oral tissue allergy was on the air, the ingredients of D.I.Y dentifrices without sodium lauryl sulfate have been sold in online shopping mall and ordinary people can make the dentifrices easily. But there have not been any reports about the effect of dental plaque removal and preference about D.I.Y dentifrices. Therefore, this study was designed as a pilot study which aimed to investigate the effect of dental plaque removal and prefernece about D.I.Y dentifrices. Methods : 6 subjects were collected to test the effect of dental plaque removal with D.I.Y dentifrices with written consent. They didn't brushed the teeth during 12 hours until the check-up time on the next day. The O'leary index was calculated in baseline, 1 minute, 2 minute, 3 minute after brusing with D.I.Y dentifrices and market dentifrices. The preference about D.I.Y dentifrices through self-administered questionnaire was surveyed in 51 subjects after using D.I.Y dentifrices. Results : 1. The market dentifrices could remove larger amount of dental plaque than D.I.Y dentifrices, but, it wasn't significant. 2. In feeling refreshment, the market dentifrices had more positive answers significantly. 3. In feeling taste change, the market dentifries had more duration of taste change significantly. 4. In feeling oral dryness, the market dentifrices had more duration of oral dryness after toothbrushing. but, it wasn't significant. 5. As a result about reviewing the dental journals about ingredients of D.I.Y dentirices, green tea, sodium carbonate, bamboo salt, propolis had each evidence. But, We could not find out the evidences of calculus adhesion by corn starch, preservative by napri, disinfectant of peppermint. Conclusions : Although we cannot find the difference of the effect of dental plaque removal between D.I.Y dentifrices and market dentifrices, and D.I.Y dentifrices have the merits of decrease of oral dryness and taste change, it was suggested to have another test about stability and safety of D.I.Y dentifrices for safety of the user of D.I.Y dentifrices.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Dental Administration
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of toothbrush bacterial growth, whether the dryness of the toothbrush head differs depending on the number of holes in the head, and to use these results as a reference for future toothbrush design. Two-millimeter holes were created on the head of the toothbrushes in groups of three, one, or zero holes. We made the solution with Streptococcus mutans, and the toothbrushes were placed in the solution and agitated. The toothbrushes were shaken to remove moisture and allowed to air-dry. The toothbrush heads were swabbed with saline and then placed in two inoculation groups. The first group was inoculated with a 102 dilution of the S. mutans culture and the second was inoculated with the original culture. After incubation, bacterial colony numbers were measured. The number of holes on the toothbrush head correlated with a decrease in number of cultured bacterial colonies. Our model of a toothbrush head with holes indicated that these holes in the toothbrush head were effective in reducing the level of microbial contamination and that a greater number of holes creates an improved toothbrush sanitation effect. The average number of colonies on the head of toothbrush by number of holes was high, followed by the number of holes 0, 1 and 3, and the average number of colony among toothbrush heads was same. The use of a toothbrush with holes between the toothbrush head indicates that it is effective in reducing the level of microbial contamination between the toothbrush head and toothbrush and the higher the number of holes, the better the effect.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2010

Personal exposure relies on characteristics of time activity patterns of the population of concern as human activities impact the timing, location, and level of personal exposure. The information about time spent in microenvironments plays a critical role for personal exposure to air pollutants. It is useful to determine the precise times of the day that the subjects are in certain locations or engaging in specific activities because exposure to some air pollutants can depend on temporal trends. This study investigated time activity pattern for workers of Korean population over 19 years old with 8,778 workers in weekday. The residential indoor times were 12 hours. Time activity was different by gender and the mean times stayed at home in weekday were 12.9 hours in female and 11.42 hours in male, respectively. The major factors on residential indoor time and workplace time were age, monthly income, occupation and industry type, work position, education, and gender. Considering shorter than those in other countries, Korean workers spent less time at home after the working hours. Determinants of time activity pattern need to be taken into account in exposure assessment, epidemiological analyses, exposure simulations, as well as in the development of preventive strategies. Since there are substantial difference of Korean worker activity pattern, this information can be critical for exposure assessment in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2010

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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.117-127
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• 1991

The exposure level of chromium and nickel for chrome and nickel plating workers were evaluated. Chromium and nickel concentrations in serum from 82 exposed workers and 66 controls, who were not exposed occupationally to metals, were analyzed by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results were as follows : 1. The recovery percent of chromium and nickel concentrations in personal air samples were 95-108.2%, 88.0-107.7%, precisions (C.V., %) were 2.7-3.1%, 2.1-4.4%. respectively. 2. The recovery percent of chromium and nickel concentrations in serum were 93.6-106.4%, 91.3-107.9% and precisions (C.V. %) were 1.1-7.6%, 2.4-5.4% respectively. 3. The exposure level of chromium and nickel concentrations in the place of preparation process were $2.0{\pm}2.00{\mu}g/m^3$, chromplating were $35.7{\pm}53.07{\mu}g/m^3$, $2.8{\pm}3.42{\mu}g/m^3$, nickelplating were $4.6.0{\pm}5.8{\mu}g/m^3$, $18.62{\pm}4.41{\mu}g/m^3$, and covering were $2.9{\pm}2.02{\mu}g/m^3$, $1.1{\pm}0.47{\mu}g/m^3$ respectively. There were significant difference of concentrations for chromium and nickel in workplaces by groups statistically. 4. Chromium concentrations in serum of exposed group and control were $0.68{\pm}0.399{\mu}g/l$, $1.41{\pm}0.748{\mu}g/l$, respectively. There were significant difference of concentrations for chromium and nickel in serum by groups statistically. 5. Chromium and nickel concentrations in serum of exposed group were not significant by workplaces.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.166-175
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• 2005

Health effects associated with metal working fluid (MWF) exposures include dermatitis, respiratory disease, hypersensitive pneumonitis, and asthma. Frequently, occupational exposures to MWFs are controlled by ventilating an enclosure with an air cleaning unit that includes a fan preceded by various kinds of filtration. There are several kinds of air cleaning units used in machining centers. But the associated troubles have hindered from efficiently using these devices. The main problem is the relatively short period of filter replacement. The reason is that the air cleaning units usually do not have the de-oiling systems, thus leading the earlier clogging of filters and reducing the flow rate of hood. Thus, the first stage of study was conducted to overcome this problem by developing the new oil mist collector equipped with the easy de-oiling system. The principle of de-oiling is that the centrifugal force generated by spinning the drum covered by filter fabric separates oils from the filter fabric. It would be very similar to the spin-dry laundry. By adopting this de-oiling technique, the problems associated with the conventional oil mist collectors could be solved. Several tests/analyses were performed to make the lab-scale oil mist collector. The collection efficiencies and the de-oiling efficiencies of commercially available filter fabrics were tested. Subsequently, the endurance test were conducted by observing SEM photos of filter fabrics and measuring tensile strength/expansion coefficient after spinning the filter drum for 20 minutes at the different rotation speeds. By doing these experiments, the most appropriate filter fabric and rotation speed/duration were selected. Finally, the new oil mist collector was designed. In the near future, this device must be tested in the real machining center.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.334-341
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• 2016

Objectives: This study is aimed at examining radon exposure in offices and the factors that can influence the concentrations. Methods: Indoor radon concentrations in a total of 30 places were measured from January 18 to 21, 2016, targeting six buildings in Seoul with different completion years. The measurement was conducted according to the radon measurement guidelines for indoor air suggested by the Ministry of Environment. Results: As a result of comparing each average concentration, underground area concentration was $42.850{\pm}22.501Bq/m^3$, and that of the ground floors was $27.850{\pm}12.232Bq/m^3$, which was lower than the concentration in the underground areas and statistically significant (p=0.045). As a result of comparing the concentration according to whether or not outside air entered, the average concentration for ventilated areas was $24.876{\pm}11.833Bq/m^3$, and the average concentration for enclosed areas was $47.892{\pm}19.375Bq/m^3$. The concentration in ventilated areas was lower at a statistically significant level (p=0.001). Finally, as a result of the multiple regression analysis for evaluating the factors influencing radon concentration, only ventilation was significant (p=0.007). Conclusions: As a result of measuring radon in office buildings, there was no place that exceeding the recommended standard of the US EPA, but the concentration in poorly ventilated areas was measured to be high. An effort to manage radon concentration and reduce it through the improvement of ventilation systems, repeated measurement is necessary in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 1996

Fourteen(14) large commercial buildings located in Seoul with friable sprayed-on surface insulation material on ceiling were investigated for fiber types in bulk material and for airborne fiber concentrations in buildings by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in order to compare the results with those by polarized light microscopy (PLM) and phase contrast microscopy (PCM). The results were as follows: 1. Chrysotile asbestos was found in one bulk sample out of total 14 bulk samples collected. Glass fiber and mineral wool were the two major constituents of the bulk samples. 2. The Na-Mg-Si-Ca-Fe-Al ratios of the EDX spectra which were normalized with the Si peak were 0-1.0-10-8.3-4.0-4.0 in mineral wool and 0-5-10-21-0-0 in chrysotile asbestos, respectively. 3. Airborne fiber concentrations were log-normalcy distributed and the geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) fiber concentrations by TEM in the underground parking lots and inside buildings were 0.0048 f/cc(1.93) and 0.0040 f/cc(2.27), respectively with no statistical difference. In the outdoor ambient air, statistically significantly lower concentration of 0.0018 f/cc(2.04) was measured. 4. The TEM/PCM ratios of airborne fiber concentrations ranged 0.5 - 2.0 for 80 % of airborne samples analyzed, end the regression equation between TEM and PCM was PCM=-0.2724+1.1355(TEM) with the coefficient of determination $R^2=0.52$. The results of this study confirmed that the sprayed-on surface insulation material found in some commercial buildings may possibly be contaminated with asbestos fiber. Since statistically significant relationship of fiber concentrations measured by PCM and TEM inside buildings and ambient air was found, previous results by PCM in ambient air could be used to estimate the ambient fiber concentrations in knowing the ratio of TEM/PCM.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.419-426
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aims to develop an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) guide for the safe cleaning of contaminated machinery, equipment, and parts used in the electronics manufacturing process. Methods: A literature review, field investigations, and discussions were conducted. An initial draft of an OSH guide was developed and reviewed by experts with significant experience in maintenance work in the electronics manufacturing process in order to refine the guide. Results: Workers involved in cleaning processes with chemicals, solvents, and abrasive blasting can face exposure to a wide range of chemicals, abrasives, and noise. Identifying potential risks associated with each cleaning technique was an essential first step toward enhancing safety measures. The OSH guide comprises approximately eleven to twelve sections spanning 20-25 pages. It includes engineering and administrative protocols systematically organized to address the necessary actions before, during, and after cleaning tasks, depending on the technique. It is recommended that airline respirator masks be used in conjunction with an air purification system to ensure adherence to air quality standard "D" for atmosphere level. The use of an oil-free air compressor is advised, preferably a stationary model that does not rely on fuel sources like diesel. Conclusions: This OSH guide is designed to protect workers involved in maintenance activity in the electronics industry and aligns with global standards, such as those from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Semiconductor Equipment and Material International, ensuring a higher level of safety and compliance.