• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.219-228
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• 2014

Objectives: The major objective of this study was to develop a tier 2 exposure model combining tier 1 exposure model estimates and worker monitoring data and suggesting narrower exposure ranges than tier 1 results. Methods: Bayesian statistics were used to develop a tier 2 exposure model as was done for the European Union (EU) tier 2 exposure models, for example Advanced REACH Tools (ART) and Stoffenmanager. Bayesian statistics required a prior and data to calculate the posterior results. In this model, tier 1 estimated serving as a prior and worker exposure monitoring data at the worksite of interest were entered as data. The calculation of Bayesian statistics requires integration over a range, which were performed using a Riemann sum algorithm. From the calculated exposure estimates, 95% range was extracted. These algorithm have been realized on Excel spreadsheet for convenience and easy access. Some fail-proof features such as locking the spreadsheet were added in order to prevent errors or miscalculations derived from careless usage of the file. Results: The tier 2 exposure model was successfully built on a separate Excel spreadsheet in the same file containing tier 1 exposure model. To utilize the model, exposure range needs to be estimated from tier 1 model and worker monitoring data, at least one input are required. Conclusions: The developed tier 2 exposure model can help industrial hygienists obtain a narrow range of worker exposure level to a chemical by reflecting a certain set of job characteristics.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.210-217
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• 2023

Background: N-nitrosamines are carcinogenic substances often found in rubber products. They are produced when certain additives of rubber products react with nitrite in saliva or air. Exposure assessment for the proper management and communication of N-nitrosamines in rubber balloons should be carried out. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of N-nitrosamines in rubber balloons in the South Korean market and assess exposure among Korean children. Methods: Forty eight rubber balloon products in the domestic market were purchased and a total of 68 balloons were analyzed for N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances. Chemical analysis was conducted by HPLC-MS/MS according to the method EN 71-12. For exposure assessment, an exposure algorithm and coefficients were obtained from previous studies. Results: Among the 68 rubber balloons, N-nitrosamines were detected in 18 (26.5%) with an average level of 60.77 ㎍/kg. N-Nitrosatable substances were detected in 44 products (64.7%) with an average level of 1353.33 ㎍/kg. As a result of the exposure evaluation, the exposure dose differed according to how exposure coefficients were applied. The median exposure (50th percentile) was higher in the age group of 6~12 years, and high exposure (95th percentile) was higher in the age group of 13~18. Conclusions: We evaluated the N-nitrosamines contained in rubber balloons purchased in the domestic market and assessed oral exposure among South Korean children. For integrated risk management of N-nitrosamines, further studies and discussion regarding exposure and risk assessment are required.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.290.1-290.1
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• 2016

Grapehen, a single atomic layer of graphite, has been in the spotlight and researched in vaious fields, because its fine mechanical, electrical properties, flexibility and transparence. Synthesis methods for large-area graphene such as chemical vaper deposition (CVD) and mechanical, chemical exfoliation have been reported. In particular, chemical exfoliation method receive attention due to low cost process. Chemical exfoliation method require reduction of graphene oxide in the process of exfoliation such as chemical reduction by strong reductant, thermal reduction on high temperature, and optical reduction via ultraviolet light exposure. Among these reduction methods, optical reduction is free from damage by strong reductant and high temperature. However, optical reduction is economically infeasible because the high cost of short-wavelength ultraviolet light sorce. In this paper, we make graphene-oxide and lanthanoid ion mixture aqueous solution which has highly optical absorbency in selective wevelength region. Sequentially, we synthesize reduced graphene oxide (RGO) using the solution and visible laser beam. Concretely, graphene oxide is made by modified hummer's method and mix with 1 ml each ultraviolet ray absorbent Gd3+ ion, Green laser absorbent Tb3+ ion, Red laser absorbent Eu3+ ion. After that, we revivify graphene oxide by laser exposure of 300 ~ 800 nm layser 1mW/cm2 +. We demonstrate reproducibility and repeatability of RGO through FT-IR, UV-VIS, Low temperature PL, SEM, XPS and electrical measurement.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.277-288
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• 2012

This study investigated exposure to air pollutants in rooms in low-income houses at Shomolu (R1), Mafoluku (R2) and Mushin (R3) in Lagos state. The concentrations of most measured exceeded limits of Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for indoor air quality. Air quality index (AQI) in rooms studied was unhealthy for sensitive people in terms of CO, unhealthy in terms of $SO_2$ and very unhealthy in terms of $NO_2$ while moderate air quality was obtained in terms of $PM_{10}$ in most rooms. High concentrations of carbontetrachloride, formaldehyde and xylene measured could have been responsible for some of the health complaints of the occupants. Factor analysis shows that cooking with kerosene, use of gasoline generator and insecticide were the major contributors to indoor air pollution in these rooms. Therefore, there is need to urgently tackle poverty as all affected by these pollutants were poor who live in substandard houses without kitchens.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.53-59
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• 2016

Considering the chemical reaction between concrete which is the raw material of the dike bottoms and hazardous chemicals, some chemicals can have negative effects on the impermeability of concrete dike bottoms. The impermeable standards for the concrete bottom of dikes have been made in the recent study, but the previous study was based on the exposure test to crude oil which is not corrosive and not related to the chemical reaction. It can be concluded that the test of crude oil can't represent all kinds of hazardous chemicals, especially highly corrosive chemicals. Meanwhile, this study has conducted the exposure test to nitric acid that is strongly corrosive and very hazardous. The results have showed that nitric acid has been penetrated at the maximum penetration depth of 2.9 cm for 7 days and the impermeable standards are better than the germany standard. Through this study with severe chemical, the scientific basis on the installation standards of all dike bottoms which are generally used in the industry has been obtained.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.208-218
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• 2014

Objectives: The major objective of this study was to develop and validate a tier 1 exposure model utilizing worker exposure monitoring data and characteristics of worker activities routinely performed at construction sites, in order to estimate worker exposures without sampling. Methods: The Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals(REACH) system of the European Union(EU) allows the usage of exposure models for anticipating chemical exposure of manufacturing workers and consumers. Several exposure models have been developed such as Advanced REACH Tools(ART). The ART model is based on structured subjective assessment model. Using the same framework, a tier 1 exposure model has been developed. Worker activities at construction sites have been analyzed and modifying factors have been assigned for each activity. Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) accrued work exposure monitoring data for the last 10 years, which were retrieved and converted into exposure scores. A separate set of sampling data were collected to validate the developed exposure model. These algorithm have been realized on Excel spreadsheet for convenience and easy access. Results: The correlation coefficient of the developed model between exposure scores and monitoring data was 0.36, which is smaller than those of EU models(0.6~0.7). One of the main reasons explaining the discrepancy is poor description on worker activities in KOSHA database. Conclusions: The developed tier 1 exposure model can help industrial hygienists judge whether or not air sampling is required or not.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.173-177
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• 2020

Background: Indoor air dampness microbiota (DM) is a big health hazard. Sufficient evidence exists that exposure to DM causes new asthma or exacerbation, dyspnea, infections of upper airways and allergic alveolitis. Less convincing evidence has yet been published for extrapulmonary manifestations of dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome). Methods: We investigated the prevalence of extrapulmonary in addition to respiratory symptoms with a questionnaire in a cohort of nurses and midwives (n = 90) exposed to DM in a Helsinki Obstetric Hospital. The corresponding prevalence was compared with an unexposed cohort (n = 45). Particular interest was put on neurological symptoms and multiple chemical sensitivity. Results: The results show that respiratory symptoms were more common among participants of the study vs. control cohort, that is, 80 vs 29%, respectively (risk ratio [RR]: 2.56, p < 0.001). Symptoms of the central or peripheral nervous system were also more common in study vs. control cohort: 81 vs 11% (RR: 6.63, p < 0.001). Fatigue was reported in 77 vs. 24%, (RR: 3.05, p < 0.001) and multiple chemical sensitivity in 40 vs. 9%, (RR: 3.44, p = 0.01), the so-called "brain fog", was prevalent in 62 vs 11% (RR: 4.94, p < 0.001), arrhythmias were reported in 57 vs. 2.4% (RR: 19.75, p < 0.001) and musculoskeletal pain in 51 vs 22% (RR: 2.02, p = 0.02) among participants of the study vs. control cohort, respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate that the exposure to DM is associated with a plethora of extrapulmonary symptoms. Presented data corroborate our recent reports on the health effects of moist and mold exposure in a workplace.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.431-439
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• 2021

This research work aims to investigate the effect of the aerobic bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the mechanical and electrochemical properties of the 316L stainless steel and α-brass. These properties of both the alloys were determined after 7 days of exposure to the controlled and inoculated media at 37℃. The microstructural and electrochemical test results revealed the deleterious effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. After exposure to the inoculated medium, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed the larger pitting and formation of relatively dense biofilm on α-brass compared to 316L stainless steel. The tensile strength and hardness of 316L stainless steel were slightly affected after exposure to the controlled and inoculated media. After exposure to the controlled medium and inoculated media, the tensile strength of the α-brass was least affected but a significant decrease in the hardness (from 165 HV to 124 HV) was observed due to the severe attack induced by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Similarly, the open-circuit potential of the 316L stainless steel in the inoculated medium was measured to be less active (-410 mV vs Ag/AgCl) than α-brass (-550 mV vs Ag/AgCl). In the inoculated medium, potentiodynamic polarization curves confirmed the severe attack of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on α-brass (7.15 × 10^-2 mm/year) compared to 316L stainless steel which registered a corrosion rate of 5.14 × 10^-4 mm/year.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.502-516
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate occupational exposure to chemical and health status of foreign workers in Korea. Methods: The data were collected from survey of general characteristics, job-related characteristics, work environment-related characteristics of 180 foreign workers who have been working at manufacturing industries in Korea in 2022. The data were analyzed using Rex. Results: Among the 180 participants, men accounted for more than women by 71.7% (129 people). Most of them are Vietnamese or Filipino and most of them graduated from high school. 116 of all participants are exposed to chemicals at work. The most prevalence rate of subject's health problems were backache (61.0%), headache (53.9%), fatigue (68.0%). Controlling for age, the number of physical health problems experienced in the last year was associated with BMI (r=0.184, p=0.049), and the number of mental health problems experienced in the past year (r=0.056, p<0.001) and all showed significant positive (+) correlations. The number of chemical products handled under age control showed a significant negative (-) correlation with working hours (r=0.207, p=0.027) and BMI (r=0.214, p=0.022) and showed a significant positive (+) correlation. Conclusions: The results of this study provided the latest update on the health status of foreign workers in Korea. It is also the first survey to attempt to assess the exposure of foreign workers to chemicals.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.432-445
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• 2021

Background: The European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals' Targeted Risk Assessment (ECETOC TRA) tool has been recognized by EU REACH as a preferred approach for calculating worker health risks from chemicals. Objectives: The applicability of the ECETOC TRA to occupational exposure estimation from industrial uses of methanol was studied by inputting surveyed and varied parameters for TRA estimation as well as through comparison with measured data. Methods: Information on uses of methanol was collected from seven working environment monitoring reports along with the measured exposure data. Input parameters for TRA estimation such as operating conditions (OCs), risk management measures (RMMs) and process categories (PROCs) were surveyed. To compare with measured exposures, parameters from the surveyed conditions of ventilation but no use of respiratory protection were applied. Results: PROCs 4, 5, 8a, 10, and 15 were assigned to ten uses of methanol. The uses include as a solvent for manufacturing sun cream, surfactants, dyestuffs, films and adhesives. Methanol was also used as a component in a release agent, hardening media and mold wash for cast products as well as a component of hard-coating solution and a viscosity-controlling agent for manufacturing glass lenses. PROC 8a and PROC 10 of a cast product manufacturer without LEV (local exhaust ventilation) and general ventilation as well as no respiratory protection resulted in the highest exposure to methanol. Assuming the identical worst OCs and RMMs for all uses, exposures from PROC 5, 8a, and 10 were the same and the highest followed by PROC 4 and 15. The estimation resulted in higher exposures in nine uses except one use where measured exposure approximated exposures without RMMs. Conclusions: The role of ECETOC TRA as a conservative exposure assessment tool was confirmed by comparison with measured data. Moreover, it can guide which RMMs should be applied for the safe use of methanol.