• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.11-24
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• 2011

Working in a research laboratory means exposure to a wide range of hazardous substances. Several studies indicated that laboratory workers, especially working with chemicals, might have an increased risk of certain cancers. However, exposure assessment data in laboratory settings are scarce. This study was performed to examine several approaches for quantitatively assessing the exposure levels to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among workers in chemistry laboratories. The list of 10 target VOCs, including ethanol, acetone, 2-propanol, dichlormethane, tetrahydrofuran, benzene, toluene, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, was determined through self-administered questionnaire for six chemistry research laboratories in a university, a government-funded research institute, or private labs. From September to December 2008, 84 air samples were collected (15 area samples, 27 personal time weighted samples, 42 personal task-basis short-term samples). Real time monitors with photo ionization detector were placed during the sampling periods. In this study, benzene was observed exceeding the action levels, although all the results were below the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV). From the air sampling results, we concluded that (1) chemicals emitted during experiments could directly affect to neighbor office areas (2) chemical exposures in research laboratories showed a wide range of concentrations depending on research activities (3) area samples tended to underestimate the exposures relative to personal samples. Still, further investigation, is necessary for developing exposure assessment strategies specific to laboratories with unique exposure profiles.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.197-208
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• 2006

The hazards of chemicals can be classified using classification criteria that are based on physical, chemical and ecotoxicological endpoints. These criteria may be developed be iteratively, based on scientific or regulatory processes. A number of national and international schemes have been developed over the past 50 years, and some, such as the UN Dangerous Goods system or the EC system for hazardous substances, are in widespread use. However, the unnecessarily complicated multiplicity of existing hazard classifications created much unnecessary confusion at the user level, and a recommendation was made at the 1992 Rio Earth summit to develop a globally harmonized chemical hazard classification and compatible labelling system, including material safety data sheets and easily understandable symbols, that could be used for manufacture, transport, use and disposal of chemical substances. This became the globally harmonized system for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The developmental phase of the GHS is largely complete. Consistent criteria for categorizing chemicals according to their toxic, physical, chemical and ecological hazards are now available. Consistent hazard communication tools such as labelling and material safety data sheets are also close to finalizations. The next phase is implementation of the GHS. The Intergovernmental Forum for Chemical Safety recommends that all countries implement the GHS as soon as possible with a view to have the system fully operational by 2008. When the GHS is in place, the world will finally have one system for classification of chemical hazards.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.91-102
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• 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.

• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.63-70
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• 2016

The main point of this study is to find out duplicates and differences among various regulations from different organizations. Also, it focuses on creating a reasonably unified regulation system to standardize safety & environment management. In this study, I analyzed the commonalities and the differences of two systems which are typical korean Process Safety Management System and off-site Consequence Analysis. It is confirmed that there are 25 species of overlapped material of those two systems and assessment like handling material information, facilities lists, hazardous substances and list of machine power. Process safety report focuses on onsite workers and facility protect. On the other hand, off-site Consequence Analysis focuses on design, arrangement and management of handling facility from off-site influence. I found difference two system of Enforcement purposes and way. Contradiction of Harmful information of Chemicals Control Act and occupation safety and health acts from same material. To be specific, There are no unit rule of occupation safety and health acts. so it permit inch, psi etc. But Chemicals Control Act provides that m, Mpa units. Therefore, Each regulatory duplication of items for chemicals management, standardization is writing so that you can coordinate overlapping items in the measures the need to be presented.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.385-394
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• 2023

Objectives: Firefighters could be exposed to a range of toxic chemicals during firefighting. When tyre burns, various toxic chemicals including volatile organic compounds(VOCs) could be emitted. In this study, the researchers assessed the VOC exposure of firefighters during tyre fire suppression through biomonitoring. Methods: There was a big tyre fire on 12 March 2023. Of the responding firefighters, we recruited 14 participants to collect their urine after firefighting. One week later, researchers collected firefighters' urine again right after their off-duty period. We analyzed each metabolite of benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene in urine and compared their exposure level based on sampling time. Results: The detection rate for metabolite of benzene, toluene, styrene, and xylene in urine sampled at each time was 43%-64%, 100%, 86%-100%, and 100%, respectively. Except for the benzene, metabolite levels measured in urine after firefighting were similar to that from off-duty period. However, the median concentration of benzene metabolite in urine sampled after firefighting was three times higher compared to that from off-duty period(34.2 ㎍/g crea. and 10.9 ㎍/g crea., respectively.) The estimated airborne concentration of benzene calculated from metabolite level in urine was 0.16 ppm, which exceeded the recommended exposure level set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Conclusions: This study shows that firefighters could be exposed to the high level of VOCs including benzene during their firefighting especially at tyre fire. These results could be used as a valuable data to prove firefighters' exposure to hazardous chemicals during their duty.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.12-18
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• 2023

Objectives: Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an essential means for protecting workers against hazardous agents or risks that threaten their safety and health. Governmental organizations related to safety and health in the workplace regulate the PPE rules to protect workers and to minimize damage from hazardous agents. This study discussed current PPE rules overseen by the Korea Ministry of Environment and explores future perspectives on the matter. Methods: This study was based on a review of PPE regulations with which every stakeholder should comply in the workplace. Both South Korean regulations enforced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Environment and cases from other countries were reviewed. Results: Regulations related to the PPE required for handling chemical substances in the workplace are enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Enforcement Decree, Enforcement Rules, and Notification of Protective Equipment Certification under the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The Ministry of Environment also regulates the PPE standards for 97 substances requiring preparation for accidents and adjustment of work conditions, but a recent amendment (partially amended on September 30, 2022) loosened some unreasonable or excessive provisions. It requires workers simply to carry or otherwise keep PPE handy instead of wearing it for some tasks in which hazardous chemicals are not handled directly. Conclusions: It is important to regularly review provisions that need to be improved or supplemented to help all stakeholders. Considerations should be also made to build a reasonable regulatory system that can induce more mature safety management in each workplace.

• 한국수자원학회논문집
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.141-154
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• 2020

우리나라에서 일어나는 하천 내 유해화학물질 유입사고 발생건수는 매년 증가하는 추세를 보이고 있다. 이에 대응하기 위해 국가차원의 수질오염 사고대응체계를 구축하여 사고방재를 위한 체계적인 절차를 수립하였으나, 우리나라의 사고대응체계는 해외의 수질모형을 차용하고 있기 때문에 모형의 매개변수 입력 및 검보정에 어려움이 있다. 이에 따라 본 연구는 하천에 유출된 유해화학물질의 거동을 분석하기 위한 수심 평균 2차원 하천수질모형을 개발하고, 유해화학물질의 특성을 고려한 유의반응항 판별을 통해 효율적 모의수행을 위한 기법을 제시하였다. 수심 평균 2차원 하천수질모형인 CTM-2D에 흡·탈착, 휘발 반응을 재현할 수 있는 반응항을 추가하고, 이를 검증하기 위해 해석해와 수치해를 비교한 결과 0.1% 미만의 오차를 보여 모형의 타당성을 입증하였다. 또한 낙동강-금호강 합류부에 수질오염사고 가상시나리오를 구성하여 개발된 모형을 적용하였으며, 민감도 분석 기반 유의반응 판단을 통해 효율적 수질모의를 수행할 수 있었다.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.347-355
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• 2002

As concerns on the effects of soil contamination on human health have grown, more efforts have been made to quantify the effects. One of such efforts is the development of risk assessment methodology. The fundamental objectives of this approach is to investigate the alternative options that reduce the risk of hazardous chemicals results from environmental pollution, which will eventually lead to an accomplishment of removement of identified toxicants in polluted environment. The U.S. EPA Risk Assessment guidance for the superfund (RAGS) provides a methods for assessing the health risk of contaminated soils and determining the preliminary remediation goals (PRGs). Using this approach, we assessed the health risk and preliminary remediation goals of petroleum contaminated site in Kyounggi province.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.88-94
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• 1985

Food irradiation is increasingly recognized as the sole viable alternative to traditional method of food preservation in terms of reducing the overall quantity of spoiled food, reducing energy used in food storage, and reducing reliance on chemicals known to be hazardous but currently required for disinfestation. Irradiation with ionizing radiation can be applied in the fields of sprout inhibition, disinfestation of insects, sterilization, delay of ripening, and improvement of organoleptic properties in food. In order to back up the commercialization of food irradiation in Korea, this review not only dealt with the international background for food irradiation and wholesomeness of irradiated food, but also evaluated economic feasibility of irradiated food, irradiation facilities, and domestic status of food irradiation studies.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.49-53
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• 2016

The goal of this study is to analyze accidents occurred at experimental laboratory and to suggest hierarchical taxonomy applicable to prepare countermeasures reducing the experimental laboratory accidents. Recent 5 years accidents were analyzed and classified according to their primary cause, facility or human. Then in case of facility, the accidents were further classified whether they can be fixed by organization or by individual. In case of human factor, they were classified into physical, chemical, or biological to prepare precise measures. Depending on the adequacy of appropriate practice, several measures were suggested such as; whether to improve training of laboratory workers, or to improve training the system, or to improve or prepare practice substantially. A new taxonomy for laboratory accident was suggested complying other governmental agencies' classification such as KOSHA and KGS. Additionally, two kinds of possibilities were suggested such as possibility of major accident and possibility of disaster which can be defined as laboratory accident causing large scale of harmful consequence to residential area or environment by fire, explosion and/or toxic release of hazardous chemicals and/or microbiology.