• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2019

Objective: Significant concerns have been raised over chemical exposure and potential health risks such as increased cancer mortality among laboratory workers. The aim of this study was to investigate the overall exposure and unit task exposure levels of researchers in organic synthesis laboratories at universities. Methods: Seventy-seven personal Time-weighted average(TWA) samples and 139 task-based samples from four organic synthesis laboratories at two universities were collected over three days. The concentrations of acetone, chloroform, dichloromethane(DCM), diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, tetrahydrofuran(THF), benzene, toluene, and xylene were determined using the GC-FID. Results: The most frequently used chemicals in the laboratories were acetone, DCM, n-hexane, methanol, and THF. Carcinogens such as benzene, chloroform, and DCM were used in one or more laboratories. The TWA full-shift exposures of researchers to acetone was the highest(ND-59.3 ppm). Benzene was observed above the occupational exposure limit in 18-40% of the samples. The levels of exposure to organic solvents were statistically different by task(p<0.05), while washing task was the highest. Washing was not perceived as a part of the real lab tasks. Rather it was considered as simple dish-washing or experimental preparation and performed in an open sink where exposure to organic solvents was unavoidable. TWAs and task-based concentrations were compared by substance, which suggests that TWA-based assessment could not reflect short-term and high concentration exposures. Conclusions: Laboratory workers may be exposed to various organic solvents at levels of concern. TWA-based measurement alone cannot guarantee holistic exposure assessment among lab workers as their exposures are very dependent on their tasks. Further investigation and characterization for specific tasks and overall chronic exposures will help protect lab workers from unnecessary exposure to chemicals while they perform research.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.509-516
• /
• 2020

Background: Meta-analyses have shown firefighters to be at an increased risk of several cancer types. Occupational carcinogen exposure may explain these increased risks. This study aims to describe Norwegian fire departments' work conditions from 1950 until today, focusing on factors relevant for potential occupational carcinogen exposure. Methods: With the help of a reference group, we developed a questionnaire on topics related to occupational exposure to carcinogens for the period 1950-2018. Selected Norwegian fire departments provided department-specific responses. Results: Sixteen departments, providing fire services for 48% of the Norwegian population as of 2019 and mainly consisting of professional firefighters, responded to our questionnaire. The introduction of synthetic firefighting foams, more regular live fire training, the introduction of chemical diving, and a higher number of diesel-driven fire service vehicles were identified as changes thought to increase exposure to occupational carcinogens. Changes thought to decrease exposure included the switch from negative to positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatuses, the use of self-contained breathing apparatuses during all phases of firefighting, the use of ventilating fans during firefighting, increased attention to flammable materials used during live fire training, increased attention to handling and cleaning of turnout gear and other equipment, and installment of exhaust removal systems in apparatus bays. Conclusion: Norwegian fire departments' work conditions have seen several changes since 1950, and this could influence firefighters' occupational carcinogen exposure. A peak of carcinogen exposure may have occurred in the 1970s and 1980s before recent changes have reduced exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.19-33
• /
• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to systematically identify situations where exposure levels are expected to be high by structuring domestic lead measurement data according to exposure processes and activities. Methods: Occupational exposure data on lead was collected from the results of the Evaluation of Reliability of Working Environment Measurement conducted by the government from 2019 to 2020. Lead exposure characteristics were analyzed by PROC (process category) and activity. The Risk Characterization Ratios (RCRs) of five PROCs according to ventilation type and lead content were evaluated using the MEASE (Metal's EASE) model. Results: The exposure data on lead (n=250) was classified into 12 PROCs and 12 activities, with an average concentration of 0.040 mg/m³ and about 14% exceeding the occupational exposure limit of 0.05 mg/m³. Processes with high exposure levels were PROC 7 (industrial spraying), 23 (open processing and transfer operations of molten metal), 24 (mechanical treatment), 25 (welding), and 26 (handling of powder containing lead). The results of evaluating RCR for the five PROCs were greater than 1 or close to 1 even if local exhaust ventilation was used. Conclusions: There is a possibility that the concentration of exposure is high in the casting and tapping of molten metal containing lead, mechanical treatment such as fracturing and abrasion, handling of powder, spraying, battery manufacturing, and waste battery recycling processes. It is necessary to implement chemical management policies for workplaces with such processes.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.191-196
• /
• 2007

Indoor air differs from outdoor atmosphere since it contains chemical and physical contaminants from building materials. This study deals with the biological effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from synthetic fiber carpet materials. One group of Tradescantia inflorescence was exposed to VOCs from the carpet sample in the environmental test chamber, while the other inflorescence group was exposed to a TO-14 standard gas mixture (1 ppm) for comparison. After the exposure, VOCs from the carpet were analysed by the desorber/GC/MS method, and micronuclei in the pollen mother cells of Tradescantia were scored under a microscope $({\times}400)$ to evaluate the genotocixicity induced by the exposure to VOCs. The chemical analysis confirmed that a total of 12 VOCs were released from the carpet materials, among which stylene $(71.9{\mu}g\;m^{-3})$ and toluene $(49.6{\mu}g\;m^{-3})$ were in the highest concentration. Twenty four hours of exposure to VOCs from the carpet in the environmental test chamber resulted in a micronucleus frequency as high as $7.73{\pm}0.75MCN$ per 100 tetrads, which was similar to that induced after exposure to the TO-14 standard gas mixture (1 ppm) for 4 hours. Meanwhile, two hours of exposure to the standard gas mixture did not cause a significant increase in the genotoxicity compared to the spontaneous micronucleus frequency. This result indicates that exposure for a long time to the air contaminated with VOCs from the carpet materials causes a genotoxic effect. The biological-chemical combination analyses in the study proved to be an effective tool for monitoring the indoor air contaminants.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.87-98
• /
• 2005

Human exposure to nano-sized particles (NSP) has increased over the last century with anthropogenic sources, and the rapid development of nanotechnology becomes an another source of such exposure. Information regarding the safety of nanotechnology and its product, nanoparticles, is urgently needed when assuming exposure through inhalation, oral intake, and penetration across skin is ever increasing as growing nanotechnology rapidly. The recent advancement of biokinetic studies with NSP and newer epidemiologic and toxicologic studies with ultrafine particles can be the basis for the nanotoxicology. Some concepts of nanotoxicology can be known from the results of these results. Specific small size of NSP, when inhaled, facilitates deposition by difusional mechanism in all regions of the respiratory tract and uptake into cells, ranscytosis across epithelial and endothelial cells into the blood and lymph circulation to reach target sites. Translocation along axons and dendrites of neuron makes an access to CNS and ganglia. These biokinetics are dependent on NSP surface chemistry. Risk assessments of NSP include appropriate and relevant doses/concentration selections, the increase effects in the organism and the benefits of possible desirable effects. An interdisciplinary team approach is desirable for nanotoxicology research and an appropriate risk assessment.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.1183-1189
• /
• 2012

The KOrea Insecticide Exposure Model (KOIEM) was developed to facilitate ecological risk-based management of Korean insecticides. KOIEM, applied as a multimedia fate model, evaluates water, soil, air, and vegetation compartments based on three water-body types (streams, ditches, and ponds). Deltamethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, was used to evaluate and create the model parameters. After exposure of both the stream and the ditch to deltamethrin, the KOIEM-predicted concentrations and the observed levels were in agreement. The model was also evaluated using the accuracy factor (AF), which was 4.32 and 0.35 for the stream and ditch, respectively. Ecological risk assessment was also performed to evaluate the application of KOIEM for four popular South Korean insecticides (cypermethrin, deltamethrin, diazinon, and permethrin). Despite the insecticides having low PECs in water, their risk quotients were typically above 1.0. Thus, KOIEM modification would be required in further studies to account for spatial variation.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.81-85
• /
• 2018

The photovoltaic modules installed in the actual field are affected by various external environments and the electrical performance output value is generally lowered compared to initial output value. The most of photovoltaic modules consists of low iron glass, encapsulant (EVA), back sheet, frame and junction box assembly based on the solar cells. In this paper, the characteristics of encapsulant which is an important constituent material of photovoltaic module were verified by maximum power determination, electro luminescence images, yellowness index measurement, and gel content measurement after ultraviolet (UV) irradiation exposure. The most commonly installed 72 cells crystalline photovoltaic modules were tested after various UV exposure of 0, 15, 30, and $60kWh/m^2$ and compared with the reference module. After UV exposure of $15kWh/m^2$, which is the current international test condition, a small amount of change was observed in yellowness index and electroluminescence, while a gell content rapidly increased. At a cumulative dose of $60kWh/m^2$, which will be a new international test condition in the near future, however, the yellowness index increased sharply and showed the greatest output power drop.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.265-270
• /
• 2018

This study was to measure the exposure of diesel vehicle drivers to elemental carbon (EC) as an indicator of diesel particulate matter (DPM) emitted from diesel vehicles in an underground coal mine over 3 years as per NIOSH Method 5040. Our study results (range $10{\mu}g/m^3-377{\mu}g/m^3$ for the loader drivers, $19{\mu}g/m^3-162{\mu}g/m^3$ for the SMV drivers) were similar or less than previous study results (range $5{\mu}g/m^3-2,200{\mu}g/m^3$) for normal mine operations. From this study results, it appeared that the exposures decreased in the second and the third year. It is thought that the reasons for the decreased personal DPM (EC) exposures over the 3 years were related to the following recommendations; more frequent monitoring and maintenance of the diesel vehicles and their DPM filtration systems, more consistent monitoring of the mine's ventilation system and changes of work practices such as minimizing the opening of diesel vehicle windows. An educational program on adverse health effects of exposure to DPM and use of respiratory protection (P2 respirators) also assisted in minimizing driver exposure to DPM.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.199-204
• /
• 2016

The dependence of cell survival on exposure dose and the duration of the liquid-holding recovery (LHR) was obtained for diploid yeast cells irradiated with ionizing radiation of different linear energy transfer (LET) and recovering from radiation damage without and with various concentrations of cisplatin - the most widely used anticancer drug. The ability of yeast cells to recover from radiation damage was less effective after cell exposure to high-LET radiation, when cells were irradiated without drug. The increase in cisplatin concentration resulted in the disappearance of this difference whereas the fraction of irreversible damage was permanently enlarged independently of radiation quality. The probability of cell recovery was shown to be constant for various conditions of irradiation and recovery. A new mechanism of cisplatin action was suggested according with which the inhibition of cell recovery after exposure to ionizing radiations was completely explained by the production of irreversible damage.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.403-415
• /
• 2021

Background: This study aimed to assess the possibility of benzene exposure in workers of a Korean semiconductor manufacturing company by reviewing the issued patents. Methods: A systematic patent search was conducted with the Google "Advanced Patent Search" engine using the keywords "semiconductor" and "benzene" combined with all of the words accessed on January 24, 2016. Results: As a result of the search, we reviewed 75 patent documents filed by a Korean semiconductor manufacturing company from 1994 to 2010. From 22 patents, we found that benzene could have been used as one of the carbon sources in chemical vapor deposition for capacitor; as diamond-like carbon for solar cell, graphene formation, or etching for transition metal thin film; and as a solvent for dielectric film, silicon oxide layer, nanomaterials, photoresist, rise for immersion lithography, electrophotography, and quantum dot ink. Conclusion: Considering the date of patent filing, it is possible that workers in the chemical vapor deposition, immersion lithography, and graphene formation processes could be exposed to benzene from 1996 to 2010.