• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.28
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• pp.8.1-8.5
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• 2013

Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Korea for the last 30 years. Cancer patients' 5-year survival rate between 2005 and 2009 was 62.0%, representing a highly advanced standard of care, as much as developed countries in the EU and the US. The Korean government formulated its first 10-year plan for cancer control in 1996 and has been carrying out a second 10-year plan for cancer control since 2006. But despite the Korean government's efforts, the cancer burden in Korea continues to increase. Many separate laws have gone into effect concerning the management of carcinogen exposure. However, there are no integrated regulatory laws or management systems against carcinogen exposure in Korea. Dead zones remain where carcinogen exposure cannot be controlled properly in Korea. In this paper, we suggest the need to establish a national carcinogen list based on international harmonization as a prerequisite for a paradigm shift in cancer control policy from treatment to primary prevention.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.107-119
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to compare the carcinogen classification systems of developed countries or global organizations with domestic system under Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA). We selected the representative institutions which had carcinogen classification system such as International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), National Toxicological Program (NTP), Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA), American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and European Union (EU). We collected the carcinogen lists issued by 5 institutions, and merged by CAS number of each chemical with Microsoft Access 7.0. We found that confirmed human carcinogens, probable human carcinogens and possible human carcinogens were 34, 179, and 252, respectively. All of the institutions classified chemicals as 2 (NTP), 3 (EU) or 5 (IARC, ACGIH, US-EPA) categories based on the weight of scientific evidences for carcinogenicity and periodically updated the carcinogen list by regular procedure. However, a total of 90 chemicals could be classified as carcinogen under ISHA in Korea. There was no procedure or system which periodically update the carcinogen lists. In addition, the status of carcinogen classification according to regulation was confused. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the carcinogen classification and management system should be amended by consideration of systems of advanced institutions and the domestic regulation system.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.308-314
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• 2022

Background: Occupational cancer is a global health issue. The Korean CARcinogen EXposure (K-CAREX), a database of CARcinogen EXposure, was developed for the Korean labor force to estimate the number of workers exposed to carcinogens by industry. The present study aimed to estimate the intensity of exposure to carcinogens by industry, in order to supply complementary information about CARcinogen EXposure intensity to the K-CAREX. Methods: We used nationwide workplace monitoring data from 2014 to 2016 and selected target carcinogens based on the K-CAREX list. We computed the 95th percentile levels of measurements for each industry by carcinogens. Based on the 95th percentile level relative to the occupational exposure limit, we classified the CARcinogen EXposure intensity into five exposure ratings (1-5) for each industry. Results: The exposure ratings were estimated for 21 carcinogenic agents in each of the 228 minor industry groups. For example, 3,058 samples were measured for benzene in the manufacturing industry of basic chemicals. This industry was assigned a benzene exposure rating of 3. Conclusions: We evaluated the CARcinogen EXposure ratings across industries in Korean workers. The results will provide information on the exposure intensity to carcinogens for integration into the K-CAREX. Furthermore, it will aid in prioritizing control efforts and identifying industries of concern.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2019

Objectives: In this study, we investigated an assessment for exposure levels of hazardous substances to kids cafes that unregulated by law. Methods: Heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, pesticides and phthalate were measured at 20 kids cafes in Gyeonggi-do and Incheon. Samplings were conducted from April to July in 2018. Results: Heavy metals were detected over the standard mainly around the floor and walls in the 19 kids cafes. Pesticides were detected in 7 locations with chlorpyrifos, diazinon and cypermethrin, and showed the highest detection level of chlorpyrifos. The concentrations of DEHP in all kids cafes were exceeded with standard. The risk assessment results showed that HCHO as carcinogen had a safety level and DEHP as non-carcinogens had a safety level as assessed to be under than 0.1. Conclusions: Considering the exposure investigation results and the importance of child health protection, kids cafe should be included in the legal management list of children's activities zones.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.220-227
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• 2021

Fluoroimide is a fungicide and is also used as a pesticide for persimmons and potatoes. The established fluoroimide pesticide analysis method takes a long time to perform and uses benzene, a carcinogen. In addition, a lower limit of quantification is required due to enforcement of the Positive List System. Therefore, this study aimed to improve the analysis method for residual fluoroimide to resolve the problems associated with the current method. The analytical method was improved with reference to the increased stability of fluoroimide under acidic conditions. Fluoroimide was extracted under acidic conditions by hydrogen chloride (4 N) and acetic acid. MgSO₄ and NaCl were used with acetonitrile. C₁₈ (octadecylsilane) 500 mg and graphitized carbon black 40 mg were used in the purification process. The experiment was conducted with agricultural products (hulled rice, potato, soybean, mandarin, green pepper), and liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry was used for the instrumental analysis. Recovery of fluoroimide was 85.7-106.9% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 15.6%. This study reports an improved method for the analysis of fluoroimide that might contribute to safety by substituting the use of benzene, a harmful solvent. Furthermore, the use of QuEChERS increased the efficiency of the improved method. Finally, this research confirmed the precise limit of quantification and these results could be used to improve the analysis of other residual pesticides in agricultural products.