• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2001.10a
• /
• pp.318.2-319
• /
• 2001

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.27 no.12
• /
• pp.2084-2086
• /
• 2006

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.883-886
• /
• 2007

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.285-293
• /
• 2015

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to ascertain the important factors for SMEs in managing the risks of chemicals and to suggest a government role in strengthening the responsibility of small and medium enterprises(SMEs) as employers. Methods: About 100 enterprises were surveyed in Incheon. A questionnaire for employers and walk-through surveys by occupational hygienists were performed at each enterprise. Results: The results showed that most employers thought chemicals were not hazardous but chemical management was needed. When employers determine how to manage chemicals, they rely heavily on personal experience and rather less on information from the government or experts. However, if employers think the chemicals are hazardous, they do more to manage the chemicals. Conclusions: When employers think chemicals are hazardous, risk assessment would be an effective tool to control chemical hazards in SMEs. Employers' position on chemical hazards is very important. Since the government is the initiator, it is the government who develops messages for SMEs, such as "Chemicals are hazardous and management can reduce the risk of chemicals." Governmental messages can play an invaluable role in strengthening the responsibility of SME employers to manage chemical hazards.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.419-429
• /
• 2016

Objectives: According to the new Chemical Control Act from the Korean Ministry of Environment (2014-259), workers handling hazardous chemicals should wear personal protective equipment (PPE). However the act simply states in basic phrases that every worker handling one or more of the 69 listed chemicals should wear PPE and does not consider the unique hazard characteristics of chemicals and work types. The main purpose of this study is to provide basic data to revise the act to suit particular work processes and situations. Methods: The hazard rank of the substances was classified based on hazardous characteristics such as LC50 and vapor pressure using matrix analysis. The workplace exposure risk of the substances was also determined through a matrix analysis based on the previously determined hazard ranks and the demands of manual handling together with the likelihood of accident frequency of the operation combined with the exposure of workers during spill accidents. Results: To meet the demands for developing subsequent guidelines for the risk-based application of PPE in hazardous workplaces, this study sorted the 69 listed chemicals into five hazardous categories based on their LC50 and vapor pressures, and also assigned exposure categories according to exposure vulnerability for various types of work which are frequently performed throughout the life cycle of the chemicals. Conclusion: In the next study, an exposure risk matrix will be produced using the hazard rank of chemicals and workplace exposure risk, and then PPE will be selected to suit the categories of the exposure risk matrix.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 1994.02a
• /
• pp.431-438
• /
• 1994

As currently conducted, standard rodent bioassays do not provide sufficient information to assess carcinogenic risk to humans at doses thousands of times below the maximum tolerated dose. Recent analyses indicate that measures of carcinogenic potency from these tests are restricted to a narrow range about the maximum tolerated dose and that information on shape of the dose-response is limited in experiments with only two doses and a control. Extrapolation from high to low doses should be based on an understanding of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis. We have postulated that administration of the maximum tolerated dose can increase mitogenesis which, in turn. increases rates of mutagenesis and, thus, carcinogenesis. The animal data are consistent with this mechanism, because about half of all chemicals tested are indeed rodent carcinogens, and about 40% of the positives are not detectably mutagenic. Thus, at low doses where cell killing does not occur, the hazards to humans of rodent carcinogens may be much lower than commonly assumed. In contrast, for high-dose exposures in the workplace, assessment of hazard requires comparatively little extrapolation. Nevertheless. permitted workplace exposures are sometimes close to the tumorigenic dose-rate in animal tests. Regulatory policy to prevent human cancer has primarily addressed synthetic chemicals, yet similar proportions of natural chemicals and synthetic chemicals test positive in rodent studies as expected from an understanding of toxicological defenses, and the vast proportion of human exposures are to natural chemicals. Thus, human exposures to rodent carcinogens are common. The natural chemicals are the control to evaluate regulatory strategies, and the possible hazards from synthetic chemicals should be compared to the possible hazards from natural chemicals. Qualitative extrapolation of the carcinogenic response between species has been investigated by comparing two closely related species: rats and mice. Overall predictive values provide moderate confidence in interspecies extrapolation; however, knowing that a chemical is positive at any site in one species gives only about a 50% chance that it will be positive at the same site in the other species.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.30 no.sup
• /
• pp.1.1-1.5
• /
• 2015

Objectives Despite the great contribution made by chemical substances to the development of modern civilization, their indiscriminate use has caused various kinds of damage to the global environment and human beings. Accordingly, the major developed countries and international society have tried to ensure the safe use of chemicals and a reduction in the use of hazardous chemicals through the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme and various international agreements. In this reason, we tried to introduce about Green Chemistry progress at the present in worldwide and Korea. Methods We checked and analyzed relative journals, reports using keyword as like Green Chemistry, alternative chemicals, eco-friendly etc. and major country's government homepage search. Results Green Chemistry theory, which argues for the reduction or removal of harmfulness in chemicals throughout their entire life-cycle, has been spreading, and major developed countries, such as the US and Denmark, have developed and operate programs to provide reliable chemical information to help replace hazardous chemicals. Korea has also been conducting studies as like eco-innovation project. Through this project the "Alternative Chemical Search program," has been developed, distributed, and operated since 2011 to provide reliable information to small and medium-sized businesses that have difficulties collecting information to ensure conformity to international regulations. The program provides information that includes the regulations of major countries and Korea, information on 340 alternative chemicals, 70 application cases, and 1:1 consulting. Conclusions The Alternative Chemical Search program is expected to contribute to the establishment of response systems for regulation of Korean small and medium-sized businesses, and it also will be used to provide basic data for Korean hazardous chemical regulation, together with the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances and the Chemical Control act, making it possible to establish an infrastructure for Green Chemistry in Korea and to increase national competitiveness.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.105-113
• /
• 2014

Objectives: It is necessary to apply quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) for the various chemicals with insufficient toxicity data that are used in the workplace, based on the precautionary principle. This study aims to find application plan of QSAR software tool for predicting health hazards such as genetic toxicity, and carcinogenicity for some chemicals used in the electronics industries. Methods: Toxicity prediction of 21 chemicals such as 5-aminotetrazole, ethyl lactate, digallium trioxide, etc. used in electronics industries was assessed by Toxicity Prediction by Komputer Assisted Technology (TOPKAT). In order to identify the suitability and reliability of carcinogenicity prediction, 25 chemicals such as 4-aminobiphenyl, ethylene oxide, etc. which are classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) were selected. Results: Among 21 chemicals, we obtained prediction results for 5 carcinogens, 8 non-carcinogens and 8 unpredictability chemicals. On the other hand, the carcinogenic potential of 5 carcinogens was found to be low by relevant research testing data and Oncologic TM tool. Seven of the 25 carcinogens (IARC Group 1) were wrongly predicted as non-carcinogens (false negative rate: 36.8%). We confirmed that the prediction error could be improved by combining genetic toxicity information such as mutagenicity. Conclusions: Some compounds, including inorganic chemicals and polymers, were still limited for applying toxicity prediction program. Carcinogenicity prediction may be further improved by conducting cross-validation of various toxicity prediction programs, or application of the theoretical molecular descriptors.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.143-150
• /
• 2017

A huge number of chemicals are produced and used in the world, and some of them can have negative effects on the reproductive health of workers. To date, most chemicals and work environments have not been studied for their potential to have damaging effects on the workers' reproductive system. Because of the lack of information, many workers may not be aware that such problems can be related to occupational exposures. Newly industrialized countries such as Republic of Korea have rapidly amassed chemicals and other toxicants that pose health hazards, especially to the reproductive systems of workers. This literature review provides an overview of peer-reviewed literature regarding the teratogenic impact and need for safe handling of chemicals. Literature searches were performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Search strategies were narrowed based on author expertise and 100 articles were chosen for detailed analysis. A total of 47 articles met prespecified inclusion criteria. The majority of papers contained studies that were descriptive in nature with respect to the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords: "reproductive and heath or hazard and/or workplace or workers or occupations." In the absence of complete information about the safe occupational handling of chemicals in Republic of Korea (other than a material safety data sheet), this review serves as a valuable reference for identifying and remedying potential gaps in relevant regulations. The review also proposes other public health actions including hazard surveillance and primary prevention activities such as reduction, substitution, ventilation, as well as protective equipment.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.10-19
• /
• 1984

The $3{\times}3{\times}30$ ($cm^3$) sized lumbers of Populus alba-grandulosa L. were treated with four fire-retardant solutions of ammonium sulfate, monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate and aluminium chloride for 1, 15, 30, and 60 minutes and 1, 3, and 7 days. Thereafter they were air-dried and burned at high temperature about $1,800^{\circ}C$ and for short time of five minutes. This study estimated the relationship between absorbed chemical amounts and rate of weight loss or residual bending strength of these burned lumbers. The results were as follows: 1) In absorption amount of fire-retardant chemicals, diammonium phosphate showed the largest, aluminium chloride the smallest, but monoammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate showed similar level. 2) The absorption amount of chemicals was decreased with the increase of specific gravity in the same species except aluminium chloride. 3) The rate of weight loss was decreased as the absorption amount of chemicals increased, especially monoammonium phosphate was most effective. 4) The MOR value of the residual bending strength was increased as the absorption amount of chemicals increased and especially monoammonium phosphate showed the most efficient effect. 5) Aluminium chloride showed more striking increase of MOR value of residual bending strength with the increase of absorption amount than any other chemical, therefore its MOR value was similar to the maximum MOR value of the most effective monoammonium phosphate. 6) The correlation between weight loss and MOR value of the residual bending strength was negative and aluminium chloride showed the most striking negative relation, but the others showed similar trends. 7) The correlation between work to proportional limit and absorption amount of chemicals was positive and the degree of increase in work to proportional limit was most in aluminium chloride, and the next, in monoammonium phosphate and diammonium phosphate in turn. 8) The correlation between work to maximum load and absorption amount of chemicals showed positive and diammonium phosphate revealed the best result and aluminium chloride showed better results than other two chemicals.