• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.212-221
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• 2013

Objectives: Asbestos fibers are accumulated in negative pressure unit (NPU) or vacuum cleaner in asbestos removal. Failure of operation or poor use performance of the NPU or vacuum cleaner causes asbestos fibers to spread in the air. Asbestos contractors should have an NPU fitted with a HEPA , vacuum cleaner, decontamination area, respirators, wetting equipment, and differential pressure manometer to register with the Ministry of Employment and Labor. There should be performance criteria of equipment used in asbestos removal. But there are none such criteria used in asbestos removal. This study was performed to investigate international or national performance criteria of equipment used in asbestos removal. Methods: Regulations, approved code of practice, guidance and national standards of the UK, USA and Korea were reviewed. A survey was done to investigate the requirements for equipment used in asbestos removal in Korea. Results: Air flow of NPUs used in Korea usually covers from$500m^3/h$ to over $3000m^3/h$. Some requirements for NPUs used in Korea were missing compared to the requirements of British standards for NPUs. All NPUs have different missing requirements. The UK also has separate British standard for leak tests for NPUs. Highly hazardous class vacuum cleaners should be used in asbestos removal in the UK. It has national standards on the operation of vacuum cleaners used in asbestos removal. There is only a certification system for less than 2.5kw rated voltage vacuum cleaners for home use in Korea. Powered (-assisted) respirators with mask are recommended in asbestos removal. Type 5 coveralls should be used in asbestos removal in the UK. There are international standards for requirements and leak tests of type 5 coveralls. A manometer for measuring differential pressure is needed in asbestos removal. The manometer's measuring range should cover less than ${\pm}125$ Pa and the gradation of manometer should be less than 2.5 Pa. The definition of decontamination area should be corrected. Installation of airlock and minimum area should be considered in decontamination area. Conclusions: Equipment should be used in asbestos removal proper performance and no leaks. There should be a certification system for equipment used in asbestos removal. This study can help to a certification system for equipment used in asbestos removal in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.301-311
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• 2015

Objectives: Operators of overhead traveling crane in a ship assembly factory perform work to transmit large vessel blocks to an appropriate working process. Hazardous matters such as metal dusts, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, loud noise and fine particles are generated by variable working activities in the factory. The operators could be exposed to the hazardous matters during the work. In particular, welding fumes comprised of ultra fine particles and heavy metals is extremely hazardous for humans when exposing a pulmonary through respiratory pathway. Occupational lung diseases related to welding fumes are increasingly on an upward tendency. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess properly unknown occupational exposure to the welding fumes among the operators. Methods: This study intended to clearly determine an equivalence check whether or not chemical constituents and composition of the dusts, which existed in the driver's cab, matched up with generally known welding fumes. Furthermore, computational fluid dynamics program(CFD) was used to identify a ventilation assessment in respect of a contamination distribution of welding fumes in the air. The operators were investigated to assess personal exposure levels of welding fumes and respirable particulate. Results: The dust in an operation room were the same constituents and composition as welding fumes. Welding fumes, which caused by the welding in a floor of the factory, arose with an ascending air current up to a roof and then stayed for a long time. They were considered to be exposed to the welding fumes in the operation room. The personal exposure levels of welding fumes and respirable particulate were 0.159(n=8, range=0.073-0.410) $mg/m^3$ and 0.138(n=8, range=0.087-0.178) $mg/m^3$, respectively. They were lower than a threshold limit value level($5mg/m^3$) of welding fumes. Conclusions: These findings indicate that an occupational exposure to welding fumes can exist among the operators. Consequently, we need to be keeping the operators under a constant assessment in the operator process of overhead traveling crane.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 2011

Objectives: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is a colorless, water-miscible organic liquid with low viscosity at standard temperature and pressure. THF has been used as a solvent and a precursor for various syntheses of polymers. However, THF is known to irritate to the eyes, skin and mucus membranes. Overexposure by inhalation, ingestion or skin contact may produce nausea, dizziness, headaches, respiratory irritation and possible skin burns. The purpose of this study is to evaluate of the worker exposure and characteristics of workers in the workplaces that use or manufacture THF. Methods: Sixteen factories in Korea, which manufacture or use THF, were selected for this study and a total of 130 air samples including 104 time-weighted average (TWA) samples and 26 short-term exposure limit (STEL) samples, were collected. Air samples were collected with charcoal tube (100mg/50mg) and analyzed by gas chromatograph/flame ionization detector(GC/FID). Results: The TWA concentration of THF was 16.05ppm (GM) at PS script printing, 2.32ppm (GM) at PVC stabilizer, 1.03ppm (GM) at Lithium triethylborohydride, 0.63ppm (GM) at Polytetramethylene ether glycol(PTMEG), 0.42ppm (GM) at Manufacturing THF, 0.13ppm (GM) at Glue and 0.12ppm (GM) at synthetic rubber/resins. Two out of sampes for PS script printing exceeded 50ppm as 8-hour exposure limit of MOEL. The short term exposure to THF was 54.77ppm (GM) at PS script printing, 17.10ppm (GM) at PTMEG, 13.76ppm (GM) at Manufacturing THF, 2.86ppm (GM) at Lithium triethylborohydride, 0.87ppm (GM) at synthetic rubber/resins and 0.13ppm (GM) Glue. We found that the highest exposure process for both the TWA and STEL samples was PS script process. Two samples exceeded 100ppm as short term exposure limit of Ministry of Employment and Labor(MOEL). Conclusions: Characteristic of STEL concentration for THF is considerably different from TWA concentration in workplaces because workers could exposure high concentration of THF in a moment when they work irregularly schedule. So exposure controls for momentary works have to be prepared, and considered the skin absorption and inhale of THF.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2001

Passive samplers have been used for personal, indoor, and outdoor air monitoring of VOCs at ppb concentrations in community and office environments. The path length of modified passive sampler was shortened, so it was intended to increase an uptake rate. The performance of the modified 3M 3500 organic vapor monitor(OVM) as a tool for assessing exposures to toxic air pollutants in nonoccupational community environments was evaluated using combined controlled test atmospheres of six selected target volatile organic compounds(VOCs): benzene, methyl tert-butyl ether(MTBE), chloroform, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, tetrachloroethylene, and toluene. The experiments were conducted by exposing the dosimeters to concentrations of $50{\sim}100{\mu}g/m^3$ on six face velocity(0.00, 0.02, 0.06, 0.12, 0.20, 0.30 m/sec) for 24 hours. If the uptake rate was increased, that means that we could use the passive sampler more effectively. The uptake rates were increased linearly according to reduce the path length. Although the diffusion path length was shortened, the change of uptake rate was within ${\pm}25%$ of theoretical value, indicating that the modified passive sampler(TM) can be effectively used over the range of concentrations and environmental conditions tested with a 24-h sampling period if the face velocities were over 0.12 m/s for 6 components of VOCs. But when the face velocities were less than 0.12 m/s, uptake rates were reduced more than expected values. So, the passive sampler with the shortened path length should be used at indoor or outdoor environment where the face velocity should be over about 0.10 m/s. If the path length was shortened more, the uptake rate was more effected by starvation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.164-168
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was aimed at the examination of the lead exposure status of smelting process workers in steelmaking using scrap iron. Methods: The study was conducted from July to September 2012 by means of measurements taken during the smelting process, with 45 minutes set for a one-time smelting work cycle when it comes to personal air sample and area air sample. As such, daily work hours were classified into 360 minutes for measurement. The analysis of lead concentration was conducted using AAs based on the NIOSH 7300 method. Results: In the case of the personal specimens that were subjected to periodical measurement 45 minutes per one session during the smelting process, 40 out of 42 specimens measured were found to contain lead, with an average concentration level of $0.028mg/m^3$ (Max: $0.182mg/m^3$, Min: $0.005mg/m^3$, TWA-more than 50%: 4 out of 6 units). In the case of regional specimens, lead was detected in 45 out of 48 specimens measured, with an average concentration level of $0.037mg/m^3$ (Max: $0.220mg/m^3$, Min: $0.007mg/m^3$ ). In the case of regional specimens subjected to measurement using a day as the work cycle, lead was detected in 15 out of 15 specimens measured, with an average concentration level of $0.049mg/m^3$ (Max: $0.478mg/m^3$, Min: $0.005mg/m^3$ ). Conclusions: It concluded that smelting process workers in steelmaking are exposed to lead because scrap iron is used as a raw material. It is thus necessary to introduce legal management to prevent occupation-related disease in smelting process workers in steelmaking.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.124-139
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate monoacetylbenzidine(MABZ) and benzidine(BZ) hemoglobin adducts among workers who worked at benzidine based dye manufacturing company, and exposed by benzidine and benzidine based dye. The hemoglobin adducts were compared with work environment assessment result for evaluating the usefulness of biological monitoring. The mean BZ hemoglobin adducts among the first synthesis worker's hemoglobin adducts were $40.69{\mu}gBZ/g$ Hb and those of dry and packing workers were $22.14{\mu}gBZ/g$ Hb. The mean of MABZ hemoglobin adducts among 1st synthesis workers were $255.84{\mu}gMABZ/g$ Hb, dispersion worker's hemoglobin adducts were $76.17{\mu}gMABZ/g$ Hb and synthesis worker's hemoglogin adducts were $28.66{\mu}gMABZ/g$ Hb. Work environment assessment results during past 3 years were $0.0065mg/m^3$ and $0.5659mg/m^3$ of benzidine based dye concentration in ambient air of drying and packing only. Dye producing process was categorized by the possibility of exposure to benzidine and benzidine based dye. BZ and MABZ hemoglobin adducts were $19.55{\mu}gBZ/g$ Hb, $119.80{\mu}gMABZ/g$ Hb among workers who exposed by benzidine dihydrochloride and $16.32{\mu}gBZ/g$ Hb, $316.56{\mu}gMABZ/g$ Hb among workers who exposed by benzidine based dye. BZ hemoglobin adducts were not detected among control group and MABZ hemoglobin adducts were $5.33{\mu}gMABZ/g$ Hb. The differences between control and other exposed group was statistically significant. But there was no statistically significant differences between benzidine dihydrochloride exposed process and benzidine based dye exposed group. BZ and MABZ hemoglobin adducts were $2.23{\mu}gBZ/g$ Hb, $76.17{\mu}gMABZ/g$ Hb and $3.46{\mu}gBZ/g$ Hb, $21.33{\mu}gMABZ/g$ Hb. So hemoglobin adducts of MABZ were 5 ~ 30 time higher than those of BZ(P<0.003). Above results indicate that work environment assessment didn't detected benzidine and benzidine based dye in ambient air but biological monitoring detected those of hemoglobin adducts. Two group's hemoglobin adducts exposed benzidine dihydrochloride and benzidine based dye were high level but wasn't statistically significant and those were not detected in control group.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to assess the level of fungi concentration in the university laboratories in Seoul, Korea, and to investigate factors contributing to these concentrations. The samples were taken from three spots in each laboratory; the top of sink, the center of laboratory, and the front of ventilation system, i.e fume hood at the chemical laboratory and clean bench/biosafety cabinet at the microbial laboratory. Air samples were collected using the single-stage Anderson sampler (Quick Take 30) at a flow rate of 28.3 l/min for 5 min on nutrient media in Petri-dishes located on the impactor. Fifty-two air samples were collected from 19 different laboratories (13 microbiology laboratories, 6 chemistry laboratories) in the university, and concentrations of airborne fungi showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between microbiology and chemistry laboratory, and also no significant difference at three locations (sink, center, front of ventilation system) in microbiology and chemistry laboratories. Average concentrations of fungi in 19 laboratories ranged from 7 to 459 cfu/$m^3$, with an overall Geometric Mean of 52 cfu/$m^3$. Airborne fungi concentrations of 6 samples (12 %) exceeded 150 cfu/$m^3$, the guideline of WHO. The ratios of Indoor/Outdoor for airborne fungi ranged from 0.2 to 4.8 (mean = 1.6). Related factors were measured such as relative humidity, temperature, and laboratory area. Temperature and laboratory area showed no significant relations to concentrations of airborne fungi except for relative humidity in the laboratory Concentrations of fungi were significant different (p<0.01) between rainy or cloudy and sunny. However, there was no significant difference between general ventilation and nongeneral ventilation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2013

Objectives: Endotoxins in dust generated in occupational settings is known to contribute to the occurrence of respiratory illness among workers. The relationship between the level of endotoxins in total dust or respirable particulates collected from swine farms and immunological markers related with respiratory allergy was evaluated among swine husbandry workers. Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from ten workers at ten swine farms at Gyeonggi province, Korea. Peripheral mononuclear cells were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin for 48 hours. The levels of various cytokines produced at culture supernatants were determined using a commercially available ELISA kit. The concentration of particulate matter($PM_{10}$) in the indoor air of the swine farms was evaluated using a PVC membrane filter and mini volume air sampler, and endotoxin levels in the dust were measured by Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Kinetic QCL method. Results: Levels of endotoxins in the total dust were categorized into high(geometric mean: $109.35EU/m^3$) and low concentrations (geometric mean: $0.95EU/m^3$) for five swine farms. Interleukin-4 levels were higher in the high endotoxin group than in the low endotoxin group, while interferon-${\gamma}$ levels were lower in the high endotoxin group than in the low endotoxin group. The ratio (interferon-${\gamma}$ to interleukin-4), indicating immunologic skewedness against allergic reactivities, was lower in the high endotoxin group($1.15{\pm}0.60$) than the low endotoxin group($3.09{\pm}2.38$). In addition, the level of interleukin-13, another cytokine contributing to the occurrence of allergic responses, was significantly higher in the at the high endotoxin group($1.12{\pm}0.37ng/m{\ell}$) than in the low endotoxin group($0.37{\pm}0.04ng/m{\ell}$). Hematologic assessment showed significantly lower cellularity in the number of total leukocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils in the high endotoxin group than in the low endotoxin group. Conclusions: Even though a sufficient number of swine workers and farms were not investigated, this study generlly suggests that the immunological function of swine farm workers exposed to high levels of endotoxin could be modulated toward allergic reactivities.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 1994

This study was carried out to assess worker exposure to vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and to present control measures in the factories processing and producing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin. The conclusion remarks are as follows. Only two personal samples in the factory ("E") processing polyvinyl chloride resin were analysed to be 27.6 ppm and 12.6 ppm, respectively. But, these concentration exceed 1 ppm, Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) of OSHA. So, worker's exposure to VCM at "E" factory should be reevaluated. In "A", "B" and "C" factory producing polyvinyl chloride resin, the average worker's exposures to VCM were 0.12 ppm, 0.86 ppm and 1.23 ppm, respectivery. Worker exposure to VCM at distillation and dry process was higer than other processes at "A" factory. The average exposure concentration of worker at polymerization process of "B" and "C" factory was 1.23 ppm, and 1.46 ppm respcetively. These concentration exceed 1 ppm, Permissible Exposure Limits of OSHA. Control room of "B" and "C" factory had 0.91 ppm and 0.65 ppm of worker's exposure concentration respectively. "A" factory was evaluated to be "acceptable", but "B" and "C" factories were evaluated to be "not acceptable", by the workplace exposure assessment program of AIHA. Process other than bagging and control room of "A" factory was evaluated to "not acceptable". Immediate correction measures for preventing workers from exposure to VCM should be performed in the factories or process that were evaluated to be "not acceptable". After these control measures are taken, worker exposure to VCM must be reevaluated through personal air monitoring. Control measures presented by this study are complete sealing of connecting pipe lines, flanging, packing, bolting and nutting. Periodic leak test for leak parts is also required. And positive pressure facility should be constructed at control room of "B" and "C" factory. Fresh air through cleaner such as HEPA filter should be supplied to control room. In addition to these control measures, periodic personal monitoring for evaluating worker exposure to VCM should be performed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.168-179
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• 1994

In some ceramic industries, worker exposure to dust, crystalline free silica and lead were determined and evaluated. The conclusions are as follows. 1. Crystalline silica in bulk samples was 10.5 % in sanitary ware industry, 9.4 % in tile industry, and 2.1 % in ceramic insulator industry respectively. The free silica content of air filter sample was 8.03 % in table ware industry, 5.59 % in sanitary ware industry, and 1.32 % in ceramic insulator industry. Because silica content in ceramic dust is relatively high, it is should be considered silica as important factor in evaluating for ceramic industry. 2. The silica contents in dust from tile, sanitary ware and table ware industries are above 5%, it should be classified as "Type" 2 dust. 3. The airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica was $27.9{\mu}g/m^3$ in a sanitary ware factory and $5.8{\mu}g/m^3$ in a ceramic insualtor factory. Three of ten samples sampled the above factories were exceeded the occupational exposure levels, $100{\mu}g/m^3$. 4. Geometric mean(GM) of total dust in 11 factories was $1.00mg/m^3$ and GM of respirable dust concentration in 5 factories was $0.33mg/m^3$. Sanitary ware industry had the highest concentration of total dust, $1.62mg/m^3$ and of respirable dust, $0.88mg/m^3$. 5. Average lead concentration in air was $0.05mg/m^3$ in glazing process of 2 factories manufacturing table ware. Five of ten sample(50%) were exceeded $0.05mg/m^3$. Therefore lead exposure in pottery industry should be considered as important problem.