• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.1 s.41
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• pp.147-164
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• 1993

A study has been conducted on developing questionnaires to serve as on site diagnostic tools for the early detection of neuropsychiatric impairment among workers chronically exposed to low-level organic solvents. Two drafts of tentative questionnaires have been developed as follows; several question items were selected from questionnaires which were administered to workers exposed to organic solvents in previous studios and were grouped into each symptom category based on the presence of its association using Guttman scaling method, then these selected items were reviewed by neuropsychiatry specialists. The final draft of the questionnaire (total symptom score=36) was developed by selecting 33 question items which had more than a 0.88 Guttman coefficient of reproducibility in each symptom category from a pilot study in which these tentative questionnaires were administered to workers manufacturing soles. Three plants using organic solvents and one plant never using organic solvents as a control group were selected to test the reliability and validity of the developed questionnaires. The major organic solvent in the workplace environment detected by a personal air sampler and GC/MSD nab toluene. The concentration of toluene in air from the department using organic solvent was statistically different from that of the department never using organic solvent. The concentration of toluene from almost all of the workplace did not exceed the allowable level. There was no statistically significant difference between the concentration of urinary hippuric acid from the workers of the department using organic solvent and that of the department never using it. Total symptom score of the plant never using organic solvents was 9.8 and those of the three plants using organic solvents were 15.6, 14.7, and 13,7 respectively. In order to evaluate the validity of the questionnaires, the workers from two different departments of the plant in which usage of organic solvents are totally dofferemt were compared. The total symptom score was 17.8 for workers of the department using organic solvent and 13.5 for the department never using organic solvent and scores of each symptom group between exposure and non-exposure group also showed statistically significant difference. The finding that total symptom score of the exposure group increased as the duration of employment increased indirectly suggests the usefulness of the developed questionnaire to assess the health effects of chronic exposure to organic solvents. The correlation coefficient, which was calculated to evaluate the test-retest reliability, was 0.581 (p=0.001). The coefficient of Crohnbach which reflects the internal consistency of the questionnaire was 0.91. In conclusion, the reliabilty of the questionnaire was well maintained over the time lapse between the two administrations of the questionnaire and despite the seasonal difference.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 1986.12a
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• pp.523.2-523
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• 1986

The hydrolysis of olive oil was attempted with immobilized C. rugosa lipase in the reverse phase solvent system. (i.e. immobilized wet particles is dispersed in continuous phase olive oil or organic solvents containing olive oil). Sephadex LH-20 and LH-60 were used as the supports that can be used in organic solvents. The water content of wet particles of sephadex LH-20 and LH-60 were about 72% (w/w) and 85% (w/w), respectively Both swollen gels with 0.05M buffers adsorbed about 18% of lipase dissolved. They were easily dispersed in liquid olive oil or in organic solvents. The effects of organic solvents on the stability and catalytic activity of the lipase have been examined. The results revealed that isooctane is superior to the other solvents examined for enzymatic fat spliting in reverse phase system. Kinetics of enzymatic hydrolys of olive oil by immobilized lipase has been investigated in a batch reactor. Effects of pH and temperature on the lipase were studied. The substrate concentration was influenced positively on the thermal stability.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.329-332
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• 1998

Ingredients and concentrations of organic solvents in 7 kinds of adhesive sold on the domestic market were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. Vapor concentrations were also analysed to estimate inhalation concentratins when adhesives were abused to get high. Acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl cyclopenatane, cyclohexane and toluene were identified to be used in domstic adhesives as solvents. When organic solvents of adhesives were vaporized in the vial at the room temprature for 30 mins, concentrations of organic solvents in air were in the range of 5,000~140,000ppm. Among these solvents, toluene, known to have strong hallucination effect, showed 5,000~35,000 ppm. The putative concentration of toluene in case of glue sniffing was estimated to be about 5,000ppm in consideration of glue sniffing circumstances. Toluene was found in all adhesives in this study, even adhesives which toluene was not described in label.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.280-288
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• 2004

Split-type nylon/polyester microfiber and polyester microfiber fabrics possess drapeability, softness, bulkiness, and smoothness, so that they can be applied in various industrial fields. In particular, these fabrics are able to absorb various organic solvents, and can be used as clean room materials. To investigate the chemical affinity between solvents and the compositional materials of these fabrics, the contact angle of thermally pressed film fabrics was measured with different solvents. The thermally pressed nylon/polyester fabric films showed a chemical attraction to formamide. The sorption properties of the microfiber fabrics were investigated using a real time testing device, and these tests showed that the sorption behavior was more influenced by the structure of the fibrous assembly than by any chemical attraction. The effect of the fabric density, specific weight, and sample structure on the sorption capacity and rate was examined for various organic solvents. The sorption capacity was influenced by the density and the specific weight of the fibrous assembly, and knitted fabric showed a higher sorption capacity than woven fabric. However, the sorption rate was less affected in lower viscosity solvents. On applying Poiseuille's Law, the lower viscosity solvents showed higher initial sorption rates, and more easily penetrated into the fibrous assembly.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 1995

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of organic solvents on xenobiotic metabollzing enzyme system in vivo by meaas of experimental conditions i.e. (1) single group which was treated by benzene (B), toluene (T) and xylene (X), respectively, (2) combination group which was treated by mixture of benzene+toluene (BT), benzene+xylene (BX), and toluene+xylene (TX), respectively, (3) mixture group which was treated by benzene+ toluene+xylene mixture (M), and to interpreat the interaction between the organic solvents metabolizing enzymes. 1. The contents of cytochrome P-450 in liver microsomes were increased (p < 0.01) in organic solvents treated groups, and the contents of cytochrome P-450 were increased by following order of B < T < M < BT=BX < X < TX. 2. The activity of cytochrome P-450 dependent AHHase was significantly higher in organic solvents treated groups than in control group (p < 0.01), and the activity of AHHase was increased by following order of B < T < BT=BX=TX=xylene < M. 3. The activity of NADPH P-450 reductase was significantly higher in organic solvents treated groups than in control group (p < 0.01), and the order of M < combinated group < X < T

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to substitute water-based painting materials for the current solvent-based ones used in motor-repairing process to minimize the exposure of organic solvents to the painters. This study assessed the exposure of organic solvents to the painters using water-based and solvent-based painting materials and compared compositions, painting processes and the health hazards of the application of these alternative painting mate rials. The results of this study are as follows. 1. solvent-based painting materials used in motor-repairing process consist of various organic solvents, which consist primarily of toluene, xylene, ethyl benzene, ethyl methyl benzene, trimethyl benzene, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, 2-ethoxy ethanol, 2-ethoxy ethyl acetate and toluene-2,4-diisocianate and the others. These organic solvents are known as health-hazardous substances. But water-based painting materials are high-solid, low-solvent one sand consist of such two organic solvents as 2-butoxy ethanol and 2-heptanone and the others. 2. The painters us ing solvent-based painting mate rials in motor-repairing process are exposed to various organic solvents which consist of toluene, xylene, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, trimethyl benzene, 2-ethoxy ethanol, and 2-ethoxy ethyl acetate. But the painters using solvent-based ones are only exposed to 2-butoxy ethanol and 2-heptanone. 3. By using water-based painting materials in stead of solvent-based painting materials containing health-hazardous organic solvents, the exposure of such organic solvents in the painter's breathing zone can be largely prevented. 4. This study recommends water-based painting materials as substitutes for the current solvent-based ones used in motor-repairing process to minimize the exposure of organic solvents to the painters.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.372-379
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• 2023

Background: Laundry workers are known to be exposed to organic solvents in various works including dry cleaning. Long-term exposure to organic solvents may cause adverse health effects among laundry workers. Objectives: To investigate the association between exposure to organic solvents and symptom of headache or eyestrain among laundry workers. Methods: The subjects were total 267 laundry workers who participated in the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS). Responses to exposure to 'inhalation of vapor from organic solvent' was categorized into two (non-exposed: rarely or absolutely not exposed during working hours; exposed: ≥1/4 working hours) or three (non-exposed; low exposure: 1/4 of the working hours; high exposure: ≥1/2 working hours) groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between exposure to organic solvents and symptom of headache or eyestrain in the last 12 months among laundry workers. Odds ratios (ORs) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for experience of the symptom of headache or eyestrain with adjustment for age, sex, education, workplace size (by the number of workers), working hours per week, and current working period (year). Results: The proportions of exposure groups, i.e., non-exposed, low exposure, and high exposure, were 80.4%, 11.1%, and 8.5%, respectively. The proportion of those who had symptom of headache or eyestrain in the last 12 months was 18.7%. There was a significant association between exposure to organic solvents and experience of headache or eyestrain (OR=3.2, 95% CI=1.4~7.4). And, the proportion of those who experienced symptom of headache or eyestrain tended to increase significantly as the level of exposure to organic solvents increased (P_trend=0.002). Conclusions: Our results suggest that exposure to organic solvents are associated with symptom of headache or eystrain among laundry workers in Korea. However, further studies with more relevant design is needed to replicate the association.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1040-1044
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• 1999

A micro porous PTFE membrane desolvator (MMD) was built and evaluated for the on-line removal of organic solvents to facilitate the determination of trace metal contaminants in the solvents by ICP-AES. Three organic solvents, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), methanol, and dimethy sulfoxide (DMSO) were studied. The MMD reduced organic solvent concentration in the sample aerosol stream by 82% to 89%, as indicated by monitoring C(I) emission. Net signal intensity of Fe, Al, and Cu was increasing with higher organic solvent concentration, with the rate of increase being solvent dependent. The signal intensities for Mg and Pb followed the trend with the C(I) signal. Changing the sweep gas flow rate affected the optimum signal intensity. Wine samples were analyzed by the method of standard addition. The concentrations of B, Al, and Mg were determined with a relative precision of less than 2.3%.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.270-279
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• 2009

In order to check a necessity of health control for the laborers who are in use of mixed organic solvents in the printing industries, this study evaluated the use status of mixed organic solvents, health subjective symptoms on the exposure of the solvents, health hazard for each kind of printings for the employees who work for the printing industries located in Seoul and Gyeonggi. The study analyzed 228 sites and 311 people responded of the total 250 sites surveyed from March to September 2007, and obtained the following results; 1) Estimating the exposure of the mixed organic solvents, the study found that estimation of mixture(EM) was different for each kind of printings at a level of significance, excessiveness of EM was 7.5%, the highest, for gravure printing, 5.6% for screen printing, 4.7% for master printing, 2.9% for offset printing. 2) As to the mean scores of health subjective symptoms for each kind of printings, workers in screen printing showed high scores in every subjective symptom, of which symptom of central nervous system was 3.75, the highest, and the difference was statistically at a level of significance(p<0.01). 3) Results of the hazard analysis for carcinogens and non-carcinogens contained in the mixed organic solvents exposed to the workers showed that cancer risk of offset printing workers was $7.8{\times}10^{-9}$ for benzene, the mean cancer risk was $2.02.{\times}10^{-8}$ from Monte-Carlo simulation, and both risks did not exceed the US EPA permissible standard of $1{\times}10^{-6}$. The total hazard indices of the non-carcinogens estimated was 3.523, the highest, for gravure printing, 2.381 for master printing, 1.125 for screen printing, respectively, and all exceeded 1.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2012

In the screening process of organic solvent tolerant bacteria showing good growth in media containing several kinds of organic solvents, one strain was isolated and identified as Bacillus sp. BCNU 5006. The strain was able to tolerate many organic solvents including benzene, toluene, xylene, octane, dodecane, butanol and ethylbenzene. Likewise, it could also utilize these solvents as the sole source of carbon with significant enzyme production. The lipolytic enzyme stability of Bacillus sp. BCNU 5006 was studied in the presence of several kinds of solvents at a 25% (v/v) concentration. The highest enzyme stability was observed in the presence of octane (107%), followed by ethylbenzene (88%), decane (86%), and chloroform (85%). Especially, BCNU 5006 lipase was determined to be more stable than immobilized enzyme (Novozyme 435) in the presence of octane, chloroform and xylene. This organic solvent tolerant Bacillus sp. BCNU 5006 could be expected as a potential bioremediation agent and biocatalyst for biodegradation and provide on organic-solvent-based enzymatic synthetic method in industrial chemical processes.