• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.842-846
• /
• 2013

In 2012, the Korean Ministry of Environment (MOE) added 3 new water quality standards for the protection of human health; specifically, regarding 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, and hexachlorobenzene. In this study, we assimilated the water quality standards of these 3 substances from other countries, with respect to surface water quality standards for human health protection and drinking water standards. We subsequently investigated how these standard values were derived. 1,4-Dioxane is managed as an environmental standard for human health in Japan, and as a drinking water quality standard in WHO, New Zealand, and Japan with respect to both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects. In New York, the oncogenic effects of formaldehyde in drinking water intake is considered, whereas WHO, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan also assess the non-carcinogenic effects of formaldehyde when setting their standards. USEPA and New York have a water quality standard for human health protection with respect to hexachlorobenzene based on carcinogenic effects. This study focuses on deriving water quality standards for the 3 new substances, or obtaining baseline information to revise the values of existing substances in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.23-37
• /
• 2017

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the level of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among workers handling rust preventive oils. Methods : A total of 30 bulk samples and 54 personal air samples were collected using diffusive samplers at 22 workplaces handling rust preventive oils in Daegu and Gyongsangbuk-do Province from March to October 2013. We also investigated detailed information on the related work conditions, such as kinds of products, handling methods, local exhaustive ventilation systems, and the status of the wearing personal protective equipment. All bulk samples and air samples were analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify components to which workers potentially were exposed. Quantitative airborne concentrations of VOCs were confirmed using gas chromatography with flame ionized detectors. Results : In terms of qualitative analyses for the 30 bulk samples, we found carcinogenic, mutagenic and reproductive toxic(CMR) substances such as butane(carcinogenic Group 1A, mutagenic Group 1B), butoxy ethanol(carcinogenic Group 2), cumene (carcinogenic Group 2), ethyl benzene(carcinogenic Group 2), methyl isobutyl ketone(carcinogenic Group 2) and toluene (reproductive toxic, Group 2). As a result of full-shift based personal air samples, eight substances such as n-hexane, n-heptane, octane, nonane, decane, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene were detected. Among them, n-hexane and n-heptane were detected in all of 54 air samples with $13.13mg/m^3$ and $8.61mg/m^3$ of maximum concentration, respectively. The level of airborne concentration from all of samples were bellow the occupational exposure limit in Korea. Conclusions : Based on the results of this study, workers handling rust preventive oils could be exposed to CMR substances contained in rust preventive oils and n-hexane and n-heptane were found as the most frequent sources of VOC exposure.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2009

We conducted human risk assessment due to inhalation exposure to heavy metals emitted from incinerator. The process of health impact assessment(HIA) on incinerator is as follows: The first step is to presume and calculate the amount of heavy metals emitted using emission factor. The second step is to conduct an exposure assessment using the K-SCREEN model which is used for predicting the concentration in a conservative method. The last step is to carry out a risk assessment on carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic substances. This study revealed that rank of carcinogenic human risk was $Cr^{+6}$ > As > Ni > Cd, and values of human risk assessment on carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic substances is lower than the US criteria for risk assessment except $Cr^{+6}$. It is expected that the technique of HIA, especially human risk assessment on heavy metals, would be applied to the incinerator construction project. In addition, more systematic studies are needed to overcome some weak points and limits found in this study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.185-193
• /
• 2021

Objectives: Inhalation toxicity testing of chemical substances to identify carcinogenicity requires a long time and considerable cost, so the selection of test candidates is a very important aspect. This study was performed to determine optimal procedures for selecting carcinogenic inhalation toxicity test substances as conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute (OSHRI). Methods: At the beginning, a database was constructed containing complex information such as usage amount, hazard, carcinogenicity prediction, and testability in order to select chemicals requiring carcinogenicity testing. Selection of test substances was carried out with priority given to usage, carcinogenicity, and testability. Results: Chemicals used in large quantities in industrial fields and strongly suspected of carcinogenicity were winnowed down to 12 substances, and these substances were scheduled for future testing by OSHRI. Conclusions: For the stable and reliable operation of carcinogenicity tests as conducted by OSHRI, this study standardized the procedures for selecting carcinogenicity test substances and suggested the introduction of various carcinogenicity prediction techniques.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.91-102
• /
• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed in order to devise a procedure for supplementing the Special Management Materials in the Occupational Safety and Health Act and recommend candidate materials. The results are expected to be used as fundamental data for classification and criteria necessary to manage Special Management Materials in workplaces. Also, they are expected to be used as a basis for selecting target materials to nominate as additional Special Management Material. Methods: We investigated the selection standards for candidates and review ranges of data sources to nominate Special Management Materials. The substances classified as GHS(Globally Harmonized System of classification and labeling of chemicals) category 1A(known to have carcinogenic potential and reproductive toxicity for humans) or 1B(presumed to have carcinogenic potential and reproductive toxicity for humans) carcinogens and reproductive toxicants among the Controlled Hazardous Substances of the Regulation on Occupational Safety and Health Standards and substances with OELs(Occupational Exposure Limits) were inspected as the candidates for Special Management Materials. Conclusions: A seven-step procedure for selecting candidates to designate as Special Management Materials was suggested, including the setting of target chemicals for evaluation, classification of CMR(Carcinogens, Mutagens or Reproductive toxicants) by GHS classification and criteria, suggestion and selection of the candidates, and more. This study recommends 58 chemicals as qualified candidates to supplement the Special Management Materials.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.40-49
• /
• 2023

Objectives: The handling of carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxic (CMR) materials in paint-related products used by automobile maintenance companies in Busan was investigated and its characteristics were analyzed. Methods: MSDS for paint-related chemical products used by automobile repair companies in Busan were collected and the manufacturers, product uses, names of chemical substances in each component, CAS numbers, content, and more were listed. Results: As a result of collecting MSDS on 4,800 kinds of products handled in the painting process of automobile repair companies in Busan and comparing them with the latest toxic information database, 60 out of a total of 438 substances were found as CMR materials. Seven carcinogens (1A), including quartz, benzene, formaldehyde, and hexavalent chromium, were present. Two reproductive toxic 1A substances were included: hexavalent chromium in paint pigments and lead. Conclusions: Most of the products (95.5%) were found to contain at least of one CMR component, so it was judged that a study on exposure assessment of CMR substances by automobile maintenance workers is needed in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Industrial Safety Conference
• /
• 1998.11a
• /
• pp.89-92
• /
• 1998

Tannins are complex polyphenolic substances present in plants. They may be classified as either hydrolysable or condensed tannins, and extracts of the latter type have displayed carcinogenic properties in animal studies (Hausen, 1981). The International Agency for Research on Cancer has determined that exposure to airborne wood dust, especially hardwood dust during furniture manufacture, is a cause of sino-nasal cancer, notably nasal adenocarcinoma. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.92-93
• /
• 2003

Chemoprevention refers to the use of agents to inhibit, reverse, or retard tumorigenesis. Numerous phytochemicals present in edible plants have been reported to interfere with a specific stage of the carcinogenic process. Some antioxidative and anti-inflammatory substances derived from dietary or medicinal plants exert chemopreventive properties by targeting intracellular signaling molecules or events.(omitted)

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.40-48
• /
• 2011

This study was intended to resolve problems caused by different classification criteria and management methods of carcinogenicity, which have made industrial safety & health institutions and business employers difficult to execute projects or to carry out occupational safety and health related works, and have affected how civic groups perceive carcinogens. The content of this study contained the comparison of management and categorization standards for carcinogens between Korea and other countries as well as the current carcinogenicity-related information supply status of each professional institution. Furthermore, this research examined the current state of supplying information on carcinogenicity among major institutional information supply according to the categorization standard for carcinogens by UN GHS, Ministry of Employment and Labor in Korea(KMoEL), and GHS MSDS provided by Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency(KOSHA). Now, professional agency provide 927 kinds of IARC, 237 kinds of NTP, 351 kinds of ACGIH and 1,006 kinds of EU ECHA information on carcinogenic agents. KMoEL provides carcinogenicity-related information of 58 chemical agents in accordance with the category of carcinogens guided by ACGIH. KOSHA offers 13,232 kinds of GHS MSDS information including 2,484 carcinogenic substances. Therefore, carcinogenicity-related information of chemical substances, which are not available on the existing GHS MSDS DB, should be updated for the future reference.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2011

The knowledge on the etiology of breast cancer has advanced substantially in recent years, and several etiological factors are now firmly established. However, very few new discoveries have been made in relation to occupational risk factors. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has evaluated over 900 different exposures or agents to-date to determine whether they are carcinogenic to humans. These evaluations are published as a series of Monographs (www.iarc.fr). For breast cancer the following substances have been classified as "carcinogenic to humans" (Group 1): alcoholic beverages, exposure to diethylstilbestrol, estrogen-progestogen contraceptives, estrogen-progestogen hormone replacement therapy and exposure to X-radiation and gamma-radiation (in special populations such as atomic bomb survivors, medical patients, and in-utero exposure). Ethylene oxide is also classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, although the evidence for carcinogenicity in epidemiologic studies, and specifically for the human breast, is limited. The classification "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A) includes estrogen hormone replacement therapy, tobacco smoking, and shift work involving circadian disruption, including work as a flight attendant. If the association between shift work and breast cancer, the most common female cancer, is confirmed, shift work could become the leading cause of occupational cancer in women.