• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2012

Objectives: Asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) have increased globally over the decades, causing an economic burden and increased health care costs. It is difficult to predict the risk of development of ARDs and of respiratory disability among workers with a history of asbestos exposure. Blood based biomarkers have been reported as promising tools for the early detection of malignant mesothelioma. This study investigated whether serum soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) would reflect severity of disablement in compensable ARDs. Methods: SMRP levels were measured in a cohort of 514 asbestos-exposed subjects. Severity of ARDs was assessed by a Medical Authority comprising four specially qualified respiratory physicians. Severity of ARDs and SMRP levels were compared. Results: Mean (standard deviation) serum SMRP level in the population with compensable ARDs (n = 150) was 0.95 (0.65) nmol/L, and was positively associated with disability assessment (p = 0.01). Mean SMRP level in healthy asbestos-exposed subjects was significantly lower than those with pleural plaques (p < 0.0001) and in subjects with ARDs who received compensation (p < 0.01). Conclusion: This study indicates that serum SMRP levels correlate with severity of compensable ARDs. Serum SMRP could potentially be applied to monitor progress of ARDs. Further prospective work is needed to confirm the relationship between SMRP and disability assessment in this population.

• KSTLE International Journal
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.52-55
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• 2003

This study was conducted to estimate if the level of several chemical ingredients including alkanolamines or ethanolamines (EA) examined in the specific synthetic metalworking fluid (MWF) "A" can cause anti-microbial activity and health effect. Three water-based MWF products ("A", "B", and "C") were studied every week for two months (from June 1, 2002 to July 30, 2002). Chemical ingredients such as formaldehyde, boron, EA, and copper were examined. In the sump where MWF "A" was used, not only the total level of EA, monoethanolamine(MEA), diethanolamine(DEA) and triethanolamine(TEA), but also boron level were significantly higher than those of the other MWFs. ANOVA statistical tests indicated that levels of pH, alkalinity, boron, MEA, DEA and TEA in MWF "A" were significantly higher than those in other MWF types. Correlation tests also found that levels of pH, alkalinity, boron, MEA, DEA and TEA in MWF "A" are significantly correlated. We suggested the assumptions that excessive concentrations of EA, and borate at a high pH level, may cause anti-microbial resistance synergically. To demonstrate this assumption, additional study is needed to examine the relationship between the levels of microbes and excessive concentrations of EA, and borate at a high pH level.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.367-371
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• 2020

We evaluated the eating pattern, physical activity, and daytime sleepiness level in Chilean shift workers. Fifty, middle-aged adult health workers from a public hospital in Santiago, Chile, were included: a group undergoing shift work (shift workers, including at least one "night shift" and one "long day", n = 33), and day workers under traditional schedule (from 8:00 to 17:00h, n = 17). Body composition, physical activity, and daytime sleepiness levels, and diet characteristics (diet composition, meals' timing, and diet quality) were assessed. Despite similar total energy intake, shift worker showed lower carbohydrate (% of energy) and higher protein intake (both P < 0.01), decreased diet quality, an irregular eating pattern, and delayed meal timing (all P < 0.05). Physical activity and daytime sleepiness levels did not differ between groups. Findings from this first Chilean study in healthcare shift workers support the fact that meal timing and diet quality appear as critical factors for upcoming intervention studies in this group.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 2018

Objectives: To protect individuals working at the site as well as the surrounding general population from a chemical accident, several emergency exposure guidance levels have been used to set a level of concern for certain chemicals. However, a level of concern has not been established for many substances that are frequently used or produced in large quantities in Korean workplaces. In the present study, we investigated the guidance levels for protecting populations from chemical exposure and the estimation of level of concern using acute inhalation and oral toxicity data. Methods: The number of chemicals to which emergency exposure guidance levels (e.g., ERPG-2, AEGL-2, PAC-2, and IDLH) can be applied were determined among 822 hazardous chemicals according to the 'Technical Guidelines for the Selection of Accident Scenarios (revised December 2016)'. The ERPG and AEGL values were compared across all three tiers for the 31 substances that appeared on both lists. We examined the degree of difference between the emergency exposure guidance levels and the estimates of level of concern calculated from acute inhalation or acute oral toxicity data. Results: Among the 822 hazardous chemicals, emergency exposure guidance levels can be applied to 359 substances, suggesting that the estimates of level of concern should be calculated using acute toxicity data for 56.3% of the hazardous chemicals. When comparing the concordance rates of ERPG and AEGL for 31 substances, the difference between the two criteria was generally small. However, about 40% of the substances have values diverging by more than three-fold in at least one tier. Such discrepancies may cause interpretation and communication problems in risk management. The emergency exposure guidance levels were similar to the estimates of level of concern calculated using acute inhalation toxicity data, but the differences were significant when using acute oral toxicity data. These results indicate that the level of concern derived from acute oral toxicity data may be insufficient to protect the population in some cases. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the development of standardized guidance values for emergency chemical exposure in the Korean population should be encouraged. It is also necessary to analyze acute toxicity data and fill the information gaps for substances that are important in Korean workplace situations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2010

Laboratory accidents have happened incidently. However, laboratory safety management has been out of concerns for a long time. At last, the Korean government established an act called Establishment of safe environment of laboratories in 2005. To support the act and to establish policies on laboratory safety management，a national-wide survey was conducted for the 74 research organizations sampled and their 201 laboratories. For the survey, a safety management checklist with 114 items grouped into 20 categories was developed By using this checklist, safety expert groups investigated the laboratories and evaluated them on the five-point Likert scale. A statistical analysis was conducted to compare the safety management status between different research organization types and between different research fields. The resultsmanaw that the universities are in significant lower level on safety institution and safety education than the public research organizations and theare poration research organizations. In terms of research field, chemistry/chemical engineering laboratories generallymanaw higher level compared with theaothers. Conversely, biology/life science laboratories marked low levels in a number of checklist items.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2008

In order to evaluate the magnetic field (MF) exposure level in residential areas near high voltage power lines, this research measured MF levels at 120 sites near high voltage transmission lines in the Busan region, Gwangju region, Daegu region and Changwon region from July to December, 2005, and compared and analyzed the efficiencies by measuring and applying the MF emission levels of underground cables and high voltage transmission lines. As a result of the investigation of the MF exposure level by the building usage, the average MF level of 17 locations at schools was $2.44{\pm}2.45mG;$ that of 10 locations at hospitals $6.21{\pm}12.39mG;$that of 76 locations at apartments $2.55{\pm}2.98mG;$ and that at kindergartens and infant houses $3.32{\pm}4.21mG$. MF exposure was analysed as a function of distance from the source and the MF levels directly below a source were $5.15{\pm}8.72mG$, those within 30 m were $3.10{\pm}3.32mG$, while those within 50 m were $2.45{\pm}2.38mG$, and within 100 m were $0.71{\pm}0.93mG$. In order to determine the difference of MF levels by the actual distance from high voltage transmission line within the same building, the evaluation of the floor position and the MF level has shown that the MF levels were highest in the order of roof, 4th floor, 3rd floor, 2nd floor and 1st floor. Comparison of MF emission intensity of underground cables and high voltage transmission lines, has shown that underground cables have an 86-94% of reduction ratio in MF compared to high voltage transmission lines, thus demonstrating higher efficiency.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.25-33
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• 2023

This study analyzed the factors affecting the effectiveness of the Chemical Hazard Risk Management (CHARM). A survey was conducted on 104 learners who participated in the Risk Assessment training course at Occupational Safety and Health Training Institute. Through a self-administered questionnaire, the effect of personal characteristics, corporate characteristics, and safety and health level of the company on the effectiveness of chemical risk assessment was investigated. As a result of statistical analysis, the safety and health level of the company had a positive (+) effect on the effectiveness of Chemical Hazard Risk Management(CHARM), but personal characteristics and corporate characteristics had no relation to it. This study can be used as basic data for further research related to chemical risk assessment in workplaces.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.235-244
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• 2007

By comparing the proteins from the workers exposed to styrene with the ones from controls, it may be possible to identify proteins that play a role in the occurrence and progress of occupational disease and thus to study the molecular mechanisms of occupational disease. In order to find the biomarkers for assessing the styrene effects early, before clinical symptoms develop and to understand the mechanisms of adverse health effects, we surveyed 134 employees, among whom 52 workers(30 male and 22 female) were chronically exposed to styrene in 10 glass-reinforced plastic boat manufacturing factories in Korea and 82 controls had never been occupationally exposed to hazardous chemicals including styrene. The age and drinking habits and serum biochemistry such as total protein, BUN and serum creatinine in both groups were significantly different. Exposed workers were divided into three groups according to exposure levels of styrene(G1, below 1/2 TLV; G2, 1/2 TLV to TLV; G3, above TLV). The mean concentration of airborne styrene in G1 group was $10.93{\pm}11.33ppm$, and those of urinary mandelic acid(MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid(PGA) were $0.17{\pm}0.21$ and $0.13{\pm}0.11g/g$ creatinine, respectively. The mean concentration of airborne styrene in G2 and G3 groups were $47.54{\pm}22.43$ and $65.33{\pm}33.47ppm$, respectively, and levels of urinary metabolites such as MA and PGA increased considerably as expected with the increase in exposure level of styrene. The airborne styrene concentration were significantly correlated to the urinary concentration of MA(r=0.784, p=0.000) and PGA(r=0.626, p<0.001). In the 2D electrophoresis, the concentration of five proteins including complement C3 precursor, alpha-1-antitrypsin(AAT), vitamin D binding protein precursor(DBP), alpha-1-B-glycoprotein(A1BG) and inter alpha trypsin inhibitor(ITI) heavy chain-related protein were significantly altered in workers exposed to styrene compared with controls. While expression of complement C3 precursor and AAT increased by exposure to styrene, expression of DBP, A1BG and ITI heavy chain-related protein decreased. These results suggest that the exposure of styrene might affects levels of plasma proteinase, carriers of endogenous substances and immune system. In particular, increasing of AAT with the increase in exposure level of styrene can explain the tissue damage and inflammation by the imbalance of proteinase/antiproteinase and decrease of DBP, A1BG and ITI heavy chain-related protein in workers exposed to styrene is associated with dysfunction and/or declination in immune system and signal transduction

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.214-223
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to provide basic data for development of health care programs for cleaners working in hospitals by analyzing job-related injuries among them and related factors. Methods: The study surveyed cleaners working in 6 general hospitals in D metropolitan city. The questionnaire was structurally designed to include items about job-related injuries, working conditions, health related characteristics. For the analysis of the collected data, the SPSS/WIN 21.0 software was used, and t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were conducted. Results: Factors that affect health damages were gender and income levels. Inadequate safety facilities and equipment, noise, and income levels were found to be the factors affecting accident injuries. Conclusion: In order to reduce the job-related injuries, efforts need to be made to improve working conditions to deal with inadequate safety facilities and equipment and control noise. To fulfill this need, not only employers of cleaners but also hospitals in which they work should make efforts to educate those cleaners who have little knowledge of health and medical care, and improve their working conditions.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.130-139
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tire manufacturing work environments extensively and to identify workers' exposure to hazardous substances in various work processes. Methods: Personal air sampling was conducted to measure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon disulfide, 1,3-butadiene, styrene, methyl isobutyl ketone, methylcyclohexane, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, and rubber fume in tire manufacturing plants using the National Institute for Occupational Safety Health Manual of Analytical Methods. Noise, carbon monoxide, and heat stress exposure were evaluated using direct reading instruments. Past concentrations of rubber fume were assessed using regression analysis of total particulate data from 2003 to 2007, after identifying the correlation between the concentration of total particulate and rubber fume. Results: Workers were exposed to rubber fume that exceeded 0.6 mg/$m^3$, the maximum exposure limit of the UK, in curing and production management processes. Forty-seven percent of workers were exposed to noise levels exceeding 85 dBA. Workers in the production management process were exposed to $28.1^{\circ}C$ (wet bulb globe temperature value, WBGT value) even when the outdoor atmosphere was $2.7^{\circ}C$ (WBGT value). Exposures to other substances were below the limit of detection or under a tenth of the threshold limit values given by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Conclusion: To better classify exposure groups and to improve work environments, examining closely at rubber fume components and temperature as risk indicators in tire manufacturing is recommended.