• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.27
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• pp.5.1-5.10
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of ingestion exposure of lead by particle sizes of crumb rubber in artificial turf filling material with consideration of bioavailability. Methods: This study estimated the ingestion exposure by particle sizes (more than 250 um or less than 250 um) focusing on recyclable ethylene propylene diene monomer crumb rubber being used as artificial turf filling. Analysis on crumb rubber was conducted using body ingestion exposure estimate method in which total content test method, acid extraction method and digestion extraction method are reflected. Bioavailability which is a calibrating factor was reflected in ingestion exposure estimate method and applied in exposure assessment and risk assessment. Two methods using acid extraction and digestion extraction concentration were compared and evaluated. Results: As a result of the ingestion exposure of crumb rubber material, the average lead exposure amount to the digestion extraction result among crumb rubber was calculated to be $1.56{\times}10^{-4}$ mg/kg-day for low grade elementary school students and $4.87{\times}10^{-5}$ mg/kg-day for middle and high school students in 250 um or less particle size, and that to the acid extraction result was higher than the digestion extraction result. Results of digestion extraction and acid extraction showed that the hazard quotient was estimated by about over 2 times more in particle size of lower than 250 um than in higher than 250 um. There was a case of an elementary school student in which the hazard quotient exceeded 0.1. Conclusions: Results of this study confirm that the exposure of lead ingestion and risk level increases as the particle size of crumb rubber gets smaller.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1085-1092
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• 2010

This paper describes the development of estimating equation for under 16 aged children's exposure to habitat's magnetic field for 24 hours by using particle swarm optimization(PSO) algorithm, which was carried out by using the measured database collected from the exposure survey to Korean habitat's magnetic field as to under 16 aged Korean students such as preschooler, children in elementary school, and children in middle school. Sex, age, residence type, size of habitation site, distance from power line, and power transmission voltage are used as the input data of estimating 24 hour's personal exposure to magnetic field. And distribution of 24 hour's personal exposure to magnetic field, exposure characteristic to magnetic field, and exposure characteristic to magnetic field according to special conditions, are analyzed for under 16 aged children.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.518-526
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• 2019

Background: Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly expanding new technology involving challenges to occupational health. Here, metal exposure in an AM facility with large-scale metallic component production was investigated during two consecutive years with preventive actions in between. Methods: Gravimetric analyzes measured airborne particle concentrations, and filters were analyzed for metal content. In addition, concentrations of airborne particles <300 nm were investigated. Particles from recycled powder were characterized. Biomonitoring of urine and dermal contamination among AM operators, office personnel, and welders was performed. Results: Total and inhalable dust levels were almost all below occupational exposure limits, but inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry showed that AM operators had a significant increase in cobalt exposure compared with welders. Airborne particle concentrations (<300 nm) showed transient peaks in the AM facility but were lower than those of the welding facility. Particle characterization of recycled powder showed fragmentation and condensates enriched in volatile metals. Biomonitoring showed a nonsignificant increase in the level of metals in urine in AM operators. Dermal cobalt and a trend for increasing urine metals during Workweek Year 1, but not in Year 2, indicated reduced exposure after preventive actions. Conclusion: Gravimetric analyses showed low total and inhalable dust exposure in AM operators. However, transient emission of smaller particles constitutes exposure risks. Preventive actions implemented by the company reduced the workers' metal exposure despite unchanged emissions of particles, indicating a need for careful design and regulation of the AM environments. It also emphasizes the need for relevant exposure markers and biomonitoring of health risks.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.377-383
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• 2019

Objectives: Exposure to fine particles in urban air has been associated with a number of negative health effects. High levels of fine particles have been detected at underground stations in big cities. We investigated the exposure conditions in four occupational groups in the Stockholm underground train system to identify high-exposed groups and study variations in exposure. Methods: $PM_1$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were measured during three full work shifts on 44 underground workers. Fluctuations in exposure were monitored by a real-time particle monitoring instrument, pDR, DataRAM. Qualitative analysis of particle content was performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Nitrogen dioxide was measured using passive monitors. Results: For all underground workers, the geometric mean (GM) of $PM_1$ was $18{\mu}g/m^3$ and of $PM_{2.5}$ was $37{\mu}g/m^3$. The particle exposure was highest for cleaners/platform workers, and the GM of $PM_1$ was $31.6{\mu}g/m^3$ [geometric standard deviation (GSD), 1.6] and of $PM_{2.5}$ was $76.5{\mu}g/m^3$ (GSD, 1.3); the particle exposure was lowest for ticket sellers, and the GM of $PM_1$ was $4.9{\mu}g/m^3$ (GSD, 2.1) and of $PM_{2.5}$ was $9.3{\mu}g/m^3$ (GSD, 1.5). The $PM_1$ and $PM_{2.5}$ levels were five times higher in the underground system than at the street level, and the particles in the underground had high iron content. The train driver's nitrogen dioxide exposure level was $64.1{\mu}g/m^3$ (GSD, 1.5). Conclusions: Cleaners and other platform workers were statistically significantly more exposed to particles than train drivers or ticket sellers. Particle concentrations ($PM_{2.5}$) in the Stockholm underground system were within the same range as in the New York underground system but were much lower than in several older underground systems around the world.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.203-215
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• 2010

This study is an overview of toxicities and measurement techniques of ultrafine particles (UFPs), and their exposure controls. UFPs are ubiquitous in many working situations. Exposure to UFPs is possibly causing adverse health symptoms including cardio-respiratory disease to humans. In order to measure exposure levels of airborne UFPs, there are current available measurement guidelines, instruments and other techniques (i.e. contour mapping, control banding). However, these risk assessment techniques including measurement techniques, controls and guidelines are dependent on background levels, metrics (e.g. size, mass, number, surface area, composition), environmental conditions and controls. There are no standardized measurement methods available and no generic and specific occupational exposure standards for UFPs. It is thought that there needs to be more effort to develop Regulations and Exposure Standards for generic UFPs should be based on more exposure data, health surveys, toxicological data and epidemiological data. A carefully considered hierarchy of controls can also reduce the maximum amount of airborne UFPs being emitted from diverse sources in industries.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.205-213
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• 2015

The objective of the current study was to assess the comparative risk associated with exposure to particulate matter (PM) while commuting via different public transport modes in Fukuoka, Japan. For the given routes and measuring days, a trip-maker carried a lightweight portable bag loaded the real-time measurement devices which take simultaneous measurement for size-fractioned particle number concentration, $PM_{2.5}$ mass concentration, and total suspended particle (TSP) collection. The results of the present study have shown significant differences between public transports as commuting modes in Fukuoka. The PM exposure levels on subway platform and inside subway train were overwhelmingly higher than those of other points on commuting route. The relative ratio between modes (i.e., the ratio of $PM_{2.5}$ inside subway to that inside bus) provides an idea for choosing a right commuting mode for our health. This study clearly provided evidence of the extremely high levels of iron exposure by subway uses compared to bus uses. The result of theoretically reconstructed mass concentration of $PM_{2.0-0.3}$ collected on subway platform suggests that the PM of underground subway will be associated with PM both generated in subway system and inleakaged from outdoor environment.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

In this work, we evaluated the characteristics of flow field and uniformity of the nose-only exposure chambers for the inhalation toxicity test. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling was carried out to demonstrate uniformity of the nose-only exposure chambers. Because it is very important in the inhalation toxicity experiments that test materials are distributed uniformly to each holder of the chamber. The test was done with these 3 types of chamber with different form to develop inhalation toxicity evaluation system, easy-to-operate system among exposure chamber used for evaluating inhalation toxicity of environmental chemical mixtures. Through CFD interpretation, nose-only exposure chamber was made with the selection of the optimal conditions. For its evaluation, one type of fragrance was selected and measured particle size distribution of each port. The gene becoming luminous to green fluorescence was combined with GPT-SPE, a type of tGFP vector, to be inhaled to the mouse. Based on this, luminous intensity was checked. As a result, total particle number concentration of each port had average value of $3.17{\times}10^6{\sharp}/cm^3$ and range of the highest and lowest concentration value was approximately ${\pm}4.8%$. Autopsy of lung tissues of mouse showed that it had clearly better delivery of gene compared to the control group.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.225-236
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• 2016

Objectives: Nanomaterials have been used in various fields. As use of nanoproducts is increasing, workers dealing with nanomaterials are also gradually increasing. Exposure assessments for nanomaterials have been carried out for protection of worker's health in workplace. Exposure studies were mainly focused on manufacturing processes, but these studies on after-treatment processes such as refinement, weighing, and packing were insufficient. So, we investigated exposure characteristics of particles during after-treatment processes of $Al_2O_3$ fibers and Ni powders. Methods: Mass-production of Ni powder process was carried out in enclosed capture-type canopy hood. In a developing stage, $Al_2O_3$ was handled with a local ventilation unit. Exposure characteristics of particles were investigated for $Al_2O_3$ fiber and Ni powder processes during the periods of 10:00 to 16:00, 20 May 2014 and 13:00 to 16:00, 21 May 2014, respectively. Three real-time aerosol instruments were utilized in exposure assessment. A scanning mobility particle sizer(SMPS, nanoscan, model 3910, TSI) and an optical particle counter(OPC, portable aerosol spectrometer, model 1.109, Grimm) were used to determine the particle size distribution in the size range of 10-420 nm and $0.25-32{\mu}m$, respectively. In addition, a nanoparticle aerosol monitor(NAM, model 9000, TSI) was used to measure lung-deposited nanoparticle surface area. Membrane filters(isopore membrane filter, pore size of 100 nm) were also used for air sampling for the FE-SEM(model S-5000H, Hitachi) analysis using a personal sampling pump(model GilAir Plus by 2.5 L/min, Gilian). Conclusions: For Ni powder after-treatment process, only 27% increase in particle concentration was found during the process. However, for $Al_2O_3$ fiber after-treatment process, significant exposure(1.56-3.34 times) was observed during the process.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2016

Background: Shipbuilding involves intensive welding activities, and welders are exposed to a variety of metal fumes, including manganese, that may be associated with neurological impairments. This study aimed to characterize total and size-fractionated manganese exposure resulting from welding operations in shipbuilding work areas. Methods: In this study, we characterized manganese-containing particulates with an emphasis on total mass (n = 86, closed-face 37-mm cassette samplers) and particle size-selective mass concentrations (n = 86, 8-stage cascade impactor samplers), particle size distributions, and a comparison of exposure levels determined using personal cassette and impactor samplers. Results: Our results suggest that 67.4% of all samples were above the current American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists manganese threshold limit value of $100{\mu}g/m^3$ as inhalable mass. Furthermore, most of the particles containing manganese in the welding process were of the size of respirable particulates, and 90.7% of all samples exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit value of $20{\mu}g/m^3$ for respirable manganese. Conclusion: The concentrations measured with the two sampler types (cassette: total mass; impactor: inhalable mass) were significantly correlated (r = 0.964, p < 0.001), but the total concentration obtained using cassette samplers was lower than the inhalable concentration of impactor samplers.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.113-121
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• 2011

The aerosol nanoparticles are suspected to be exposed to workers in nanomaterial manufacturing facilities. However, the exposure assessment method has not been established. One of important issues is to characterize background level of nanoparticles in workplaces. In this study, intensive aerosol measurements were made at a $TiO_2$ manufacturing laboratory for five consecutive days in May of 2010. The $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were manufactured by the thermal-condensation process in a heated tube furnace. The particle number size distribution was measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer every 5 min, in order to detect particles ranging from 14.5 to 664 nm in diameter. Total particle number concentration shows a severe diurnal variation irrespective of manufacturing process, which was governed by nanoparticles smaller than 50 nm in diameter. During the background monitoring periods, significant peak concentrations were observed between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. due to the infiltration of secondary aerosol particles formed by photochemical smog. Although significant increase in nanoparticle concentration was also observed during the manufacturing process twice among three times, these particle peak concentrations were lower than those observed during the background measurement. It is suggested that the investigation of background particle contamination is needed prior to conducting main exposure assessment in nanomaterial manufacturing workplaces or laboratories.