• 제목/요약/키워드: Geometric Mean (GM)

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국내 무기안료 제조 및 취급 공정에서의 공기 중 크롬산연 노출 평가 (Evaluation of Workers' Exposures to Airborne Lead chromate in the Producing and Using Industries)

  • 최호춘;안선희;이현석;김화성
    • 한국산업보건학회지
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    • 제18권4호
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    • pp.293-302
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    • 2008
  • Lead chromate is made by sodium dichromate and lead acetate, and has being used widely in the part of pigment, paints, inks, plastics and so on. Even though lead chromate has health hazards which like both lead and chromium, there are a few study about pigment workplaces using lead chromate in Korea. The purpose of this study is to evaluate workers' exposure levels and airborne lead and chromium concentration in the pigment workplaces using lead chromate. There are 20 workers in the total 5 workplaces. 10 workers(50%) have been exposed to lead and 3 workers(15%) have been exposed to chromium, which exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists(ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (Pb: $0.05\;mg/m^3$, Cr: $0.012\;mg/m^3$) and Korean Ministry of Labor's Standard. Geometric mean (GM) of airborne lead was highest in pigment ($0.0421\;mg/m^3$), paint ($0.0020\;mg/m^3$) and PVC coloring ($0.0007\;mg/m^3$), respectively(p<0.05). The result of airborne chromium concentration was paint ($0.0033\;mg/m^3$), paint ($0.0004\;mg/m^3$) and PVC coloring ($0.0003\;mg/m^3$). Also the lead and chromium concentration in the manual process is each 30 times and 10 times higher than the value in automatic process(p<0.01). In the classified process by detail, the concentration of airborne lead was $0.0638\;mg/m^3$ in grinding & packaging, mixture & after-measuring ($0.0436\;mg/m^3$), filtration & drying ($0.0402\;mg/m^3$), lead nitrate & dissolution($0.0129\;mg/m^3$), pigment commitment & mixture ($0.0013\;mg/m^3$) and dispersion & grinding ($0.0010\;mg/m^3$) (p<0.05). Moreover the concentration of a sample in weighting & packaging was $0.0023\;mg/m^3$. The concentration of lead in workers' blood was pigment (15.12 ug/dl), paint (4.74 ug/dl) and PVC coloring (2.50 ug/dl), and some samples have exceeded biological exposure limit. In conclusion, the depending on their work industry and process, workers have been exposed to the high lead chromate.

Characteristics of Occupational Exposure to Benzene during Turnaround in the Petrochemical Industries

  • Chung, Eun-Kyo;Shin, Jung-Ah;Lee, Byung-Kyu;Kwon, Ji-Woon;Lee, Na-Roo;Chung, Kwang-Jae;Lee, Jong-Han;Lee, In-Seop;Kang, Seong-Kyu;Jang, Jae-Kil
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • 제1권1호
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    • pp.51-60
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    • 2010
  • Objectives: The level of benzene exposure in the petrochemical industry during regular operation has been well established, but not in turnaround (TA), where high exposure may occur. In this study, the characteristics of occupational exposure to benzene during TA in the petrochemical companies were investigated in order to determine the best management strategies and improve the working environment. This was accomplished by evaluating the exposure level for the workers working in environments where benzene was being produced or used as an ingredient during the unit process. Methods: From 2003 to 2008, a total of 705 workers in three petrochemical companies in Korea were studied. Long- and short-term (< 1 hr) samples were taken during TAs. TA was classified into three stages: shut-down, maintenance and start-up. All works were classified into 12 occupation categories. Results: The long-term geometric mean (GM) benzene exposure level was 0.025 (5.82) ppm (0.005-42.120 ppm) and the short-term exposure concentration during TA was 0.020 (17.42) ppm (0.005-61.855 ppm). The proportions of TA samples exceeding the time-weighted average, occupational exposure level (TWA-OEL in Korea, 1 ppm) and the short-term exposure limit (STEL-OEL, 5 ppm) were 4.1% (20 samples of 488) and 6.0% (13 samples of 217), respectively. The results for the benzene exposure levels and the rates of exceeding the OEL were both statistically significant (p < 0.05). Among the 12 job categories of petrochemical workers, mechanical engineers, plumbers, welders, fieldman and scaffolding workers exhibited long-term samples that exceeded the OEL of benzene, and the rate of exceeding the OEL was statistically significant for the first two occupations (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the periodic work environment must be assessed during non-routine works such as TA.

자동차 제조업체 조립공정 근로자의 국소진동 노출 수준 및 작업환경 만족도 평가 (Evaluation of Hand-Arm Vibration Exposure Level and Work Environment Satisfaction of Workers in Automobile Manufacturer Assembly Process)

  • 박성현;강모열;김승원;최상준
    • 한국산업보건학회지
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    • 제33권2호
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    • pp.103-114
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    • 2023
  • Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure levels due to the use of power hand tools and to evaluate the determinants in the automobile assembly process. Methods: The exposure level to HAV was evaluated for 30 work lines in five assembly processes (body, engine, chassis, door, and design) that use air-powered tools and battery-powered tools and operate in circulation for two hours. The 2-hr equivalent energy vibration acceleration, A (2), of the task was measured. The 8-hr equivalent energy vibration acceleration, A (8), was estimated in consideration of the number of tasks that can be performed per day by each process. In addition, a survey on the working environment was conducted with workers exposed to vibration. Results: The geometric mean of the HAV exposure level, A (2), for a total of 30 tasks was 2.51 m/s2, and one case was 10.30 m/s2, exceeding TLV (2hr). The HAV exposure level of A (8) was evaluated from 1.03 m/s2 to 5.36 m/s2. A (2) showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.01) for each process, and the chassis process (GM=3.90 m/s2) was the highest. The larger the tool size and the longer the tool length, the higher was the vibration acceleration when using a battery-powered tool than an air-powered tool (P<0.01). Battery-powered tool users showed higher dissatisfaction on all items than did air-powered tool users. Conclusions: As a result of this study, it is necessary to implement a program to reduce the HAV exposure levels.

화학물질 관리 연구-2. 환경부와 고용노동부의 관리 화학물질의 구분, 노출기준 및 독성 지표 등의 특성 비교 (Study on the Chemical Management - 2. Comparison of Classification and Health Index of Chemicals Regulated by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of the Employment and Labor)

  • 김선주;윤충식;함승헌;박지훈;김송하;김유나;이지은;이상아;박동욱;이권섭;하권철
    • 한국산업보건학회지
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    • 제25권1호
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    • pp.58-71
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    • 2015
  • Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the classification system of chemical substances in the Occupational Safety and Health Act(OSHA) and Chemical Substances Control Act(CSCA) and to compare several health indices (i.e., Time Weighted Average (TWA), Lethal Dose ($LD_{50}$), and Lethal Concentration ($LC_{50}$) of chemical substances by categories in each law. Methods: The chemicals regulated by each law were classified by the specific categories provided in the respective law; seven categories for OSHA (chemicals with OELs, chemicals prohibited from manufacturing, etc., chemicals requiring approval, chemicals kept below permissible limits, chemicals requiring workplace monitoring, chemicals requiring special management, and chemicals requiring special heath diagnosis) and five categories from the CSCA(poisonous substances, permitted substances, restricted substances, prohibited substances, and substances requiring preparation for accidents). Information on physicochemical properties, health indices including CMR characteristics, $LD_{50}$ and $LD_{50}$ were searched from the homepages of the Korean Occupational and Safety Agency and the National Institute of Environmental Research, etc. Statistical analysis was conducted for comparison between TWA and health index for each category. Results: The number of chemicals based on CAS numbers was different from the numbers of series of chemicals listed in each law because of repeat listings due to different names (e.g., glycol monoethylether vs. 2-ethoxy ethanol) and grouping of different chemicals under the same serial number(i.e., five different benzidine-related chemicals were categorized under one serial number(06-4-13) as prohibited substances under the CSCA). A total of 722 chemicals and 995 chemicals were listed at the OSHA and its sub-regulations and CSCA and its sub-regulations, respectively. Among these, 36.8% based on OSHA chemicals and 26.7% based on CSCA chemicals were regulated simultaneously through both laws. The correlation coefficients between TWA and $LC_{50}$ and between TWA and $LD_{50}$, were 0.641 and 0.506, respectively. The geometric mean values of TWA calculated by each category in both laws have no tendency according to category. The patterns of cumulative graph for TWA, $LD_{50}$, $LC_{50}$ were similar to the chemicals regulated by OHSA and CCSA, but their median values were lower for CCSA regulated chemicals than OSHA regulated chemicals. The GM of carcinogenic chemicals under the OSHA was significantly lower than non-CMR chemicals($2.21mg/m^3$ vs $5.69mg/m^3$, p=0.006), while there was no significant difference in CSCA chemicals($0.85mg/m^3$ vs $1.04mg/m^3$, p=0.448). $LC_{50}$ showed no significant difference between carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxic chemicals and non-CMR chemicals in both laws' regulated chemicals, while there was a difference between carcinogens and non-CMR chemicals in $LD_{50}$ of the CSCA. Conclusions: This study found that there was no specific tendency or significant difference in health indicessuch TWA, $LD_{50}$ and $LC_{50}$ in subcategories of chemicals as classified by the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the Ministry of Environment. Considering the background and the purpose of each law, collaboration for harmonization in chemical categorizing and regulation is necessary.

우리나라의 석면 생산과 사용 및 근로자 수와 노출농도의 변화 (The Production, the Use, the Number of Workers and Exposure Level of Asbestos in Korea)

  • 최정근;백도명;백남원
    • 한국산업보건학회지
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    • 제8권2호
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    • pp.242-253
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    • 1998
  • 우리나라에서 석면생산은 약 60년 전 부터 시작되었으며 총 생산량은 약 145,000톤이었다. 이들의 대부분은 백석면이었으며 일부 토면과 산피(Sepiolite)였다. 충남 광천지방의 석면광산은 백석면이고 홍성지방의 석면은 토면이었다. 석면의 사용은 슬레이트 생산으로부터 시작하였으며, 일제시대부터 약 55년, 석면방직과 석면마찰제 생산이 27년 전부터 시작되었다. 석면의 수입량은 1976년부터 1995년까지 약 122만 톤이 수입되었으나 1976년 이전의 수입량까지 포함한다면 이보다 많을 것으로 판단된다. 석면의 수입은 급격한 증가가 없이 꾸준히 증가하는 추세이며 년간 약 8만9천 톤이 수입된다. 이들의 대부분은 석면건축자재인 슬레이트, 석면판 등의 생산과 석면마찰제의 생산에 사용되고 있다. 석면의 노출농도는 꾸준히 감소하고 있으나 일부 근로자에서는 석면관련 질환의 발생이 염려되는 수준이었다. 석면방직업의 경우 1987년 최고 45.7 fibers/cc까지 달하였으나 1984년 6.7 fibers/cc이었으며, 96년 석면방직업에서 1.87 fibers/cc으로 감소하고 있으나 허용기준을 초과하고 있었다. 브레이크라이닝 제조 사업장에서는 1984년 1.70 fibers/cc, 1966년에는 0.55 fibers/cc로 감소하고 있으나 극히 일부의 근로자에서는 허용기준을 초과하고 있었다. 따라서 석면관련 질환의 발생은 석면방직업과 석면마찰제 사업장에 국한될 것으로 보인다. 석면사업장은 1993년 118개이며 총 취급근로자 수는 6,636명이었을 것으로 추산되었다. 사업장수와 취급근로자수의 증가가 둔화되었다고는 하나 꾸준히 증가하고 있다. 이중 10년 이상 근무한 근로자는 1,860명이며 20년 이상 근무한 근로자도 561명에 달하고 있어 건강장해가 발생하기에 충분하다고 판단된다. 따라서 폐암이나 중피종암 등이 밝혀지지 않은 것이지 없는 것은 아닐 것으로 추측되었다.

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