• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the problems of using asbestos for dental technicians. Samples for analysing were sampled by personal sampler in 40 sampling points of 10 dental laboratories in Daegu city from December 2010 to January 2011 and counted with phase contrast microscopy. The results were as follows: 1. Asbestos concentration(geometric mean) of 40 sampling points in 10 dental laboratories was 0.0061 f/cc and it was under recommended industrial and indoor air standard, but the concentration of asbestos in only two dental laboratories was over indoor recommended standard. 2. The concentration of asbestos in processing room and burnout room was 0.0099 f/cc and 0.0037 f/cc, respectively. 3. The mean concentration(GM) of asbestos by kinds of casting ring liners was 0.0159 f/cc in dental laboratories using industrial asbestos, 0.0104 f/cc in them using asbestos containing ring liners, and 0.0026 f/cc in them using non-asbestos ring liners. Casting ring liners using in dental laboratories should be substituted with non-asbestos liners, because most of dental laboratories were using asbestos containing ring liners and a few of them showed higher concentration than recommended standard.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.28-38
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the perceived problems of and suggest improvement measures for asbestos abatement companies in support of asbestos-related systems and policies. Methods: For this study a questionnaire was prepared consisting of current work (two questions), the contribution and necessity of a risk assessment system for asbestos abatement (two questions), and problems with and improvement measures for systems and policies (nine questions). The questionnaires were sent to 2,170 asbestos abatement companies and were returned by 83 companies (return rate = 3.8%). We conducted frequency analysis, ANOVA, and a Chi-squared test at the 5% significance level. Results: Asbestos abatement companies expressed difficulties with complying with wet work (43% of unenrolled managers), negative pressure enclosure (36% of all respondents), and installation and use of decontamination units (26% of all respondents) as stipulated in the relevant regulations. In addition, 43% of the respondents expressed concerns that the expertise of the company was not considered during bidding for asbestos abatement and hoped that an advantage (e.g., bid point) would be given to the upper grades for asbestos risk assessment (38%). Asbestos abatement companies generally rented and used negative pressure devices (including negative pressure recording devices) and suggested that periodic calibration (32%) is needed to ensure the performance of the rented equipment. Finally, the respondents asked for clear definitions for three situations specified in the Occupational Safety and Health Acts: (1) temporarily leaving the asbestos abatement workplace; (2) tasks with less airborne asbestos; and (3) physically breaking or cutting using a machine. Conclusions: The problems and improvement measures identified in this study of asbestos abatement companies can be utilized as fundamental information for the improvement of the systems and policies for safe asbestos abatement.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.307-320
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• 2009

This study was conducted not only to review airborne asbestos levels reported in workplaces in Korea, but also to analyze their levels according to various characteristics All asbestos concentration reported as either geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) or ranges were transformed to arithmetic mean to estimate exposure level. In addition, weighted arithmetic means (WAMs) were calculated to weigh asbestos levels based on the different number of samples. Differences of asbestos levels among several characteristics such as industry type, decade, operation and sampling and analytical methods were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The number of articles studying asbestos levels from workplaces was found to be 9 including two report types. Five of those were reported prior to 1990s and rest of them after 1990s. Only several industries such as asbestos textile, asbestos cement, brake-lining repair shops were studied, while various industries using asbestos or asbestos containing materials (ACMs) were not studied. ANOVA found that asbestos exposure levels (WAM = 5.26f/cc) reported from textile industry were significantly higher than those from other industries (cement = 0.63f/cc, brake-lining = 0.2f/cc - 0.47f/cc) (p < 0.0001). Average exposure levels studied prior to the 1990s (3.13f/cc) were found to be significantly higher than that (0.86f/cc) after the 1990s (p<0.0001). All WAMs reported until the 1994 were found to be higher than the current occupational exposure limits (0.1f/cc). This study recommends that retrospective exposure to asbestos based on various industry types and operations should be assessed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the number and influence factors of asbestos fibers in the air of farmhouses with asbestos cement slate roofing, as well as in rainwater per unit area of the asbestos cement slate roofing. Methods: At a distance of 1 m from the end of asbestos cement slate roofing in 20 farmhouses, the asbestos fiber in the air was collected three times on a clear day downwind from the prevailing wind. Rainwater falling from the slate roofing was collected four times with a 1.05-m rainwater pipe on a rainy day at the 20 farmhouses, filtered with a MCE filter, and analyzed with a phase contrast microscope. Results: The geometric mean of the number of asbestos fibers in the air of farmhouses with slate roofing was 0.11 fiber/L, and no samples exceeded the recommended standard of 10 fiber/L. As a result of multiple regression analysis, a factor which gave a significant influence to the asbestos fiber content in the air was the gross area of slate roofing at the target farmhouses. The number of asbestos fibers included in rainwater collected per 1 m2 of slate roofing was 1,753 fiber/$L{\cdot}m2$. As a result of multiple regression analysis, the number of asbestos fibers contained in rainwater per 1 m2 of slate showed a significantly higher tendency as the year of slate roofing installation at the target farmhouses receded. Conclusions: It was confirmed for the first time in Korea that asbestos from asbestos cement slate roofing scatters into the air.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.4
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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.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.927-937
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• 2015

This study was performed to identify and quantify the asbestos fibers released from two types of asbestos-cement slate roofs. One is a plant roof installed in 1987 which contained 15% chrysotile, and the other is a residential roof installed before 1983 which contained 12% chrysotile. The concentrations of asbestos fibers in air surrounding asbestos-cement slate roofs and in the falling water harvested from the same roofs on rainy days ranged from 0.0012 to 0.0018 f/mL and from 1,764 f/L to 10,584 f/L, respectively. The concentration of inorganic fibers in the soil around asbestos-cement slate roofs was from 217 to 348 f/g. With the above results, the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) for the risk assessment of the asbestos fibers released from asbestos-cement slate based on US EPA IRIS (Integrated risk information system) model is within 5.5E-06 ~ 6.5E-06 levels which indicates that the levels do not exceed "the acceptable risk(1.0E-05)" recommended by WHO. The asbestos concentration in air, drained rainfall and soil around the plant slate roof was higher than that around residential slate roof, but the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) from residential slate was higher than that from plant slate. This suggested that the enclose and encapsulation of residential roofs have priority in removal policy to minimize the exposure risk.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.718-726
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• 2007

There are many varieties of asbestos: chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophylite. These are widely used in construction materials, brake lining, textile, and so on. Even though non-asbestos fibers such as glassfiber and rockwool have manufactured because asbestos causes asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, etc., some bad effects of non-asbestos have been also reported. PCM (phase contrast microscopy) and PLM (polarized light microscopy) have been used to qualitatively analyze asbestoses. These techniques have serious drawbacks when identifying and separating various asbestoses. Recently scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) has been known as an useful tool to analyze airborne particle since it provides physical and chemical information simultaneously. The purpose of the study was to classify both asbestos and non-asbestos fibers and finally to develop their source profiles by using the SEM/EDX. The source profiles characterized by 6 different types of asbestos fibers and 2 types of non-asbestos fibers had been developed by analyzing a total of 380 fibers. Analytical parameters used in this study were length, width, aspect ratio, and shape as physical information, and Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Cu as chemical information. All the parameters were intensively reviewed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.217-225
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality management systems of domestic asbestos survey and monitoring service providers and the relationships with the number of licenses or designations and sales performances. Methods: Data on quality management systems were collected by assessors who were assigned by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) during a pilot evaluation program for designated asbestos survey and monitoring service providers in 2016 using evaluation criteria developed by KOSHA. Basic characteristics, evaluated scores, and sales performance were gathered and statistically analyzed. Results: The median and arithmetic mean of the total scores were 0.64 and 0.66. Evaluation fields that scored highly with the highest percentages were sales performance, installation and availability of equipment, compliance with the mandatory minimum number of airborne samples, laboratory independence, and results of proficiency analytical testing, in that order. Evaluation fields that received low marks with the highest percentages were the training of personnel, blank field samples, calibration of flow rates, preliminary check and visual inspection of the work area prior to the clearance test, and review and approval of final reports, in that order. Comparison of normalized scores between service providers registered for asbestos and other tasks and those designated for only asbestos showed significant differences in their evaluated scores. Sales performance did not show a positive correlation with evaluated scores. Conclusions: The quality management systems of domestic asbestos survey and monitoring service providers were poor. High scores were recorded mostly in evaluation fields related to regulatory requirements. Low scores were recorded mostly in evaluation fields related to documentation and recordkeeping. Considering the low influence of quality on sales performance, the government needs to evaluate the quality management of asbestos survey and monitoring service providers and provide the results to public in order to address their low levels of quality management.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.484-491
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• 2014

Objectives: An image processing program for asbestos fibers analyzing the gradient components and partial linearity was developed in order to accurately segment fibers. The objectives were to increase the accuracy of counting through the formulation of the size and shape of fibers and to guarantee robust fiber detection in noisy backgrounds. Methods: We utilized samples mixed with sand and sepiolite, which has a similar structure to asbestos. Sample concentrations of 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3%(w/w) were prepared. The sand used was homogenized after being sieved to less than $180{\mu}m$. Airborne samples were collected on MCE filters by utilizing a personal pump with 2 L/min flow rate for 30 minutes. We used the NIOSH 7400 method for pre-treating and counting the fibers on the filters. The results of the NIOSH 7400 method were compared with those of the image processing program. Results: The performance of the developed algorithm, when compared with the target images acquired by PCM, showed that the detection rate was on average 88.67%. The main causes of non-detection were missing fibers with a low degree of contrast and overlapping of faint and thin fibers. Also, some duplicate countings occurred for fibers with breaks in the middle due to overlapping particles. Conclusions: An image detection algorithm that could increase the accuracy of fiber counting was developed by considering the direction of the edge to extract images of fibers. It showed comparable results to PCM analysis and could be used to count fibers through real-time tracking by modeling a branch point to graph. This algorithm can be utilized to measure the concentrations of asbestos in real-time if a suitable optical design is developed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.245-256
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• 2017

Objectives: The present study is aimed at performing real-time measurement of fibrous materials using an F-1 fiber monitor, investigating the correlations between the measurements and environmental conditions, and assessing the feasibility of the use of the monitor in actual exposure assessments based on the accuracy and reliability of the device. Methods: Asbestos specimens with a fixed asbestos content were dispersed in a chamber and collected with a particle measuring test device. Measurements obtained by the existing PCM method, and with the F-1 fiber monitor were compared. In addition, concentrations of asbestos fibers obtained by the PCM method, the TEM method, and the F-1 fiber monitor were compared with that of specific ABS scenarios in NOA regions. Correlations of asbestos contents in soil and weather conditions with each method of measurement were analyzed. Results: Laboratory results showed that levels of asbestos fibers measured with each method increased as fiber contents in soil increased. In the accuracy and reproducibility assessment, no significant differences were found between the different methods of measurement. On-site assessment results showed positive correlations among the methods, and these correlations were less significant compared with what was shown by the laboratory results. Levels of asbestos fibers increased as asbestos contents in soil increased, and as temperature increased. Levels of asbestos fibers decreased as humidity increased, and wind speed did not significantly affect the extent to which asbestos fibers were scattered. Conclusions: While it would be premature to replace existing methods with the use of F-1 fiber monitors in real sites based on the results of this study, the monitor may be useful in the screening of the sites, which assesses hazard levels in different regions. Replacement of existing methods with the use of F-1 fiber monitors may be possible after the limitations identified in this study are overcome, and additional assessment data are obtained and reviewed under different conditions to confirm the reliability of the monitor in future research. Obtained assessment results may be used as basic data for the assessment of asbestos hazard in NOA regions.