• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.371-379
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• 2015

This study is purposed to seek the characteristics of both asbestos in accordance with acid and heat treatment for chrysotile and amosite used mainly as building materials. Results of acid treatment, the refractive index, the elongation sign, the extinction of acid-treated chrysotile were mostly similar to those of untreated chrysotile regardless of pH, elapsed time. But the characteristics of acid-treated chrysotile were different from those of untreated chrysotile after 8 weeks, at pH 1.2 acidic solution. When chrysotile treated with acid, weight ratio (%) of O and Mg fluctuated greatly in accordance with acid treatment unlike Si. But the change of constituents ratio (%) was small as time passed after acid treatment. The refractive index, the elongation sign and the extinction of acid-treated amosite were mostly similar to those of untreated amosite regardless of pH, elapsed time. When amosite was treated with acid, weight ratio (%) of Fe slightly increased. But in case of O, a contrary tendency was seen. Results of heat treatment, the higher the temperature, the more increased the refractive index of chrysotile. When chrysotile was heated for 10 minutes at $1,100^{\circ}C$, the elongation sign of chrysotile changed from positive(+) to negative(-). The extinction of chrysotile didn't change apparently in accordance with heat treatment. Also weight ratio (%) of O and Mg fluctuated greatly in accordance with heat treatment unlike Si. The higher the temperature, the more increased the refractive index of amosite. The elongation sign and the extinction of amosite didn't change apparently in accordance with heat treatment. Also weight ratio (%) of O and Fe fluctuated greatly in accordance with heat treatment. But weight ratio (%) of Si and Mg of heated amosite were mostly similar to those of untreated amosite regardless of temperature, heating time.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.288-296
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• 2009

We conducted validation for asbestos quality control (QC) samples made by the developed method which was presented in our published paper. The main results of the validation study are as follows. The pooled coefficient variations of analytical results in three different concentrations (low, medium, and high concentration) for amosite and chrysotile were less than 20 %, which met the sample homogenicity criteria of NIOSH. Also we confirmed the homogenicity of asbestos samples by using the relocatable field slide. To evaluate the field applicability of the developed asbestos QC samples, the field validation was performed with four proficient asbestos analysts by using the statistical methods of AIHA asbestos PAT program. All analytical results from four asbestos analysts were located in the acceptable range.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2001

To establish an accurate asbestos analysis method for workplace samples, chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite asbestos fibers were analyzed for their morphology, atomic content and electron diffraction patterns. The morphology of asbestos fiber was evaluated in $10,000{\times}$ magnification. The atomic contents was analyzed by X-ray analyzer (TEM-EDX). Asbestos fibers were further assessed using electron diffraction (ED) patterns to provide an additional criterion for classifying the asbestos fibers. Twenty asbestos fibers were initially randomly selected for morphological evaluation; based on an aspect ratio (length : diameter = 3:1). Then the fibers were determined for their EDX spectrums and ED patterns. Our results showed that only chrysotile fiber has a hollow tube structure to be distinguished from other asbestos fibers. Although asbestos fibers had similar morphology, they had different EDX spectrums and ED patterns. Our results on the atomic content of asbestos fibers were very similar to those of other researchers, but amosite and crocidolite had a little difference in atomic content compared with the results from other researchers. The difference may be due to the difference in equipment or asbestos sample selection. A study on asbestos samples from biological specimens to establish a criterion for determining occupational asbestos exposed diseases should be done in the near future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2014

Objectives: Chrysotile is mineralogically distinct from amphiboles, displaying a notably different chemical structure. The thin sheets that form chrysotile fiber lead to the ability of the lung/macrophage system to decompose the chrysotile fibers. This study was performed in order to compare the physicochemical characteristics of Korean asbestos with those of Canadian amphiboles. Materials: An acid solubility test for each test substance was done to compare pH 4.5 and pH 1.2 distilled water. Asbestos fibers which had been placed in acid solutions for five days, five weeks and weeks were analyzed with a transmission electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (TEM-EDS). Results: The composition element (Mg) of Korean chrysotile, Korean anthophyllite and Canadian amosite significantly decreased from 5 days and also decreased significantly after 5 weeks and 10 weeks. Only the composition (Mg) of Canadian crocidolite did not change under any conditions. From 5 days, the Mg of Korean chrysotile, Korean anthophyllite and Canadian amosite were significantly lower than before the acid treatment, but there were no changes over time or by the pH of the acid solutions. Particularly after 10 weeks, the composition (Mg) of Korean chrysotile in the pH 1.2 acid solution showed a rapid reduction of 15.86%. Conclusions: Korean chrysotile was very weak in an acid environment, beginning to show significant changes after 5 days. The Mg component rapidly decreased after 10 weeks in the pH 1.2 acid solution.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2003

Asbestos is composed of long thin fibers approximately diameter $0.02\mu\textrm{m}$ and flexibility, strength, electrical, thermal conditions. The most common asbestos are : Chrysotile(white), Crocidolite(Blue), Amosite(Brown). Asbestos was first introduced in the Korea in 1960 and installation of these products continue through the late 1970's and even the early 1980's. Bu-pyung basement stores in Korea were surveyed from September 25 to October 26, 2001. The purpose of this research was to evaluate worker-exposure to asbestos, comparing to the standards and to research notice of inhabitants about asbestos. Fifteen personal samples and six areas were collected using Gillian Air Sampler. Result of this research were as follows. 1. The most of asbestos exposure concentrations keeps to the criterion(OSHA(Occupational Safety and Health Adminisoation), NIOSH) but forty three percent of the Six samples exceeded the EPA (Environmental protection Agency) of 0.01 fibers/cc. 2. All of places compliced to the standards but there is no "Safe level" of asbestos exposure to the people. Especially people who are expose more frequently over a long time are more at risk.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.201-208
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• 2011

Objectives: According to the compliance of the asbestos-related regulation, every building has to be inspected for asbestos presence before its abatement work. This study was performed for identifying the types and contents of asbestos in building bulk samples. Materials and Methods: Bulk samples were collected during the asbestos inspection in 2010. We grouped the bulk samples into the regulated asbestos containing materials(RACM), presumed asbestos containing materials(PACM), and construction products. Additionally, the types of asbestos in all bulk samples were identified by polarization microscopy(PLM). Results: The RACMs were from building, house, pipe and facility. The RACMs were found mainly building (72.1%) and house (93.7%). The contents of chrysotile in building, house and facility were 66.9% (1-90%), 89.7% (2-90%) and 11.0% (2-90%), respectively. PACMs were surfacing material, thermal system insulation (TSI), and miscellaneous material. The miscellaneous materials that showed a high detection rate (79.2%) were ceiling, roofing and wall materials. Among them, the roofing materials had high chrysotile content(9.7%, 2-21%), followed by wall (8.7%, 2-21%) and ceiling (3.4%, 1-17%). In the construction products, asbestos was found mainly in slate (92.6%, 2-21%), including chrysotile. The slate had high asbestos content (9.7%, 2-21%), followed by cement flat board (8.7%, 2-19%) and textile (3.4%, 1-17%) Conclusions: Utilizing these results, it would be contributed to construct a useful ACM database and prevent from asbestos exposure to workers in the asbestos abatement and maintenance works.

• 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.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2013

This study focused on a comprehensive and detailed interpretation for the springtime air quality influenced by both artificial (particulate matter (PM) and asbestos) and biological (pollen) sources in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. An intensive measurement of PM was conducted at four characteristic sites (i.e., a heavy traffic area, a residential area, an industrial area, and a desolate area) in the Fukuoka Prefecture during spring of 2007. Analysis of major ionic species in $PM_{2.5}$ was performed by an Ion Chromatography, and asbestos and pollen were identified by Scanning Electron Microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). $PM_{2.5}$ concentration ($65.3{\mu}gm^{-3}$) measured in an industrial area (site C) was extraordinarily high compared to those monitored in other areas; it greatly exceeded the Japan's $PM_{2.5}$ criteria (a daily average of $35{\mu}gm^{-3}$). NOAA's HYSPLIT dispersion model suggests that this high level of $PM_{2.5}$ monitored at site C is unlikely to affect the Asian continent. The ambient concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$-related anions ($NH_4{^+}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $SO_4{^{2-}}$) and their relative contributions to $PM_{2.5}$ were also investigated in four study areas. The concentrations of these major water-soluble ions exhibit not only strong spatial dependence but also different ratios to each other. Asbestos fiber (crocidolite and amosite) concentration values changed in the range of 2.5 to 14.4 f per liter of air. The number of pollen grains showed that Cedar ranked higher in concentration than other types of pollen, with the maximum concentration at site A.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.423-432
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate asbestos handling history of workers at automobile manufacturing plants in Korea. Methods: National regulations on asbestos and Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) database on the information of asbestos containing products were reviewed. We investigated asbestos related materials from one automobile manufacturing plant. Material safety data sheets(MSDS) collected in 2010, work environment monitoring results reported from 2000 to 2013, trade union reports and asbestos survey reports were reviewed. We also interviewed workers with long career and did walk-through survey. Results: The Ministry of Labor in Korea has permitted asbestos manufacturing since 1990. In 1997, the use of crocidolite and amosite asbestos were banned. In 2007, the Korean government announced a total ban on the manufacturing, importation and use of all kinds of asbestos, which took full effect in 2009. A total of 174 asbestos products information from KOSHA database was analyzed. Extruded cement panel for building, special brake for crane farm machinery, gasket, joint sheet and thermal insulator were produced until 2007. From automobile manufacturing plant survey, we confirmed that asbestos containing materials(ACM) such as gasket, heating induction materials have been used until 2011. Asbestos containing building materials(ACBM) such as bamlites, slate and ceiling tex were reported at 122 asbestos dismantling projects in 2014. Conclusion: Although the use of all kinds of asbestos were banned from 2009, ACMs and ACBMs installed before 2009 were still found at automobile manufacturing plant until 2011 and 2014 respectively. In particular, asbestos slates should be managed because most of slates had not been removed until 2014.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.5029-5037
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• 2015

The objective of this study is to investigate the distribution of asbestos containing materials and to evaluate risk assessment method in some schools, Korea. For the survey on ACM risk assessment, we used both EPA AHERA rule and ASTM rule. We investigated 100 schools between January and December in 2010. Detection rate of the ACM according to construction year showed that before 1980's, 1990's, 2000's, after 2000's buildings were 100%, 94.1%, 100% and 62.5%, respectively. Compared with school types, detection rate of the ACM in Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, High, Special Education schools were 100%, 97.1%, 92.9%, 100%, 80%, respectively. Ceiling textiles contained chrysolite/mixed amosite(2~8 %) and wall cement flat boards contained chrysolite(6~11 %). Also, gasket contained chrysolite(16~17 %), slate roof contained chrysolite(10~13 %). In this study, risk assessment EPA AHERA rule of ACM showed that all materials were "Pool" grade. And, ASTM rule risk assessment showed that all materials were "Q&M program" grade.