• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.240-247
• /
• 1994

To identify normal levels of ethanol, acetaldehyde and alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) activity in blood of Koreans, ethanol and acetaldehyde levels, activity of ADH in blood of Koreans, ethanol and acetaldehyde levels, activity of ADH in blood were measured in 97 subjects(male : 36, female : 61), 45 subjects(male : 21, female : 24) were not exposed to organic solvents and any other chemicals. Fifty two subjects(male : 15, female : 37) were exposed to organic solvents including toluene and xylene. The results were summerized as follows : 1. The blood ADH was not detected in exposed and non-exposed group. 2. The average blood ethanol level of non-exposed group was 0.0490 mg/dl, and exposed group was 0.0363 mg/dl. They were statistically significant(p<0.05). 3. The blood acetaldehyde levels in exposed group were significantly higher than that of non-exposed group was not statistically significant (p>0.05). 4. The average blood ethanol level of males in both groups was significantly higher than that of females, however, they were not statistically significant (p>0.05).

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.263-267
• /
• 2015

Significant changes in the past year have taken place in the world of work that are bringing new challenges with regard to employee safety and health. These changes have led to emerging psychosocial risks (PSRs) at work. The risks are primarily linked to how work is designed, organized, and managed, and to the economic and social frame of work. These factors have increased the level of work-related stress and can lead to serious deterioration in mental and physical health. In tackling PSRs, the European labor inspectorates can have an important role by enforcing preventive and/or corrective interventions in the content and context of work. However, to improve working conditions, unilateral interventions in the context and content of work are insufficient and require adopting a common strategy to tackle PSRs, based on a holistic approach. The implementation of a common strategy by the European Labor Inspectorate for tackling PSRs is restricted by the lack of a common legislative frame with regard to PSR evaluation and management, the different levels of labor inspectors' training, and the different levels of employees' and employers' health and safety culture.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.227-233
• /
• 2014

Background: The aims of this study were to determine hippuric acid levels in urine samples, airborne toluene levels, acute and chronic neurological symptoms, and to describe any correlation between urinary hippuric acid and airborne toluene. Methods: The hippuric acid concentration in the urine of 87 paint workers exposed to toluene at work (exposed group), and 87 nonexposed people (control group) was studied. Study participants were selected from similar factories in the same region. Urine samples were collected at the end of a shift and analyzed for hippuric acid by high performance liquid chromatography. Air samples for the estimation of toluene exposure were collected with diffusive personal samplers and the toluene quantified using gas-liquid chromatography. The two groups were also interviewed and observed about their work practices and health. Results: The median of the 87 airborne toluene levels was 55 ppm (range, 12-198 ppm). The median urinary hippuric acid level was 800 mg/g creatinine (range, 90-2547 mg/g creatinine). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between airborne toluene exposure and urine hippuric acid levels (r = 0.548, p < 0.01). Workers with acute symptoms had significantly higher hippuric acid levels than those who did not (p < 0.05). It was concluded that there was a significant correlation between toluene exposure, hippuric acid levels, and health (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There appears to be a significant correlation between workers exposure to toluene at work, their urine hippuric acid levels, and resulting symptoms of poor health. Improvements in working conditions and occupational health education are required at these workplaces. There was good correlation between urinary hippuric acid and airborne toluene levels.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.215-223
• /
• 2020

The objectives of the present study were to assess the oxidative stability of South Korean n-3 (omega-3 fatty acid) supplements carried out from 2018 to 2019 and evaluate the influence of product characteristics on oxidative safety. A total of 76 n-3 supplements were analysed for oxidation safety by four markers, including acid value (AV), primary oxidation (peroxide value, PV), secondary oxidation (p-anisidine value, pAV) and total oxidation value (TOTOX). Among the supplements tested, 5.3 %, 55.3 %, 28.9 % and 46.1 % exceeded the international voluntary recommended levels for AV, PV, pAV and TOTOX, respectively. Purity (%) of products, remainder of expiration date (suggested shelf life), package in press through package (PTP) and products with additives had statistically significant differences oxidation assessment levels (p < 0.05). In addition, n-3 group found in Algae oil had significantly lower AV levels than the group that did not, and product with Alaska pollack oil, had significantly higher pAV levels than without group (p < 0.05). The high oxidation status of South Korean n-3 products in the present study could not be considered a public health problem right now. However, the levels of oxidation may affect a lot the efficacy and safety of using n-3 supplements. Thus, current oxidation safety limits should be reestablished by regulatory bodies to ensure the safety and efficacy of n-3 supplements, so that the standards could be applied to the products available to consumers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.40-47
• /
• 1995

We analyzed sytrene concentrations in air and in blood, mandelic acid in urine, and chromosome aberrations in peripheral lymphocytes of twenty one styrene-exposed workers in two reinforced plastic factories. In addition, in vitro testing for chromosome aberration was carried out. The dose-dependent clastogenicity of styrene was confirmed in the cultured Chinese hamster lung cell(CHL) with metabolic activation. The environmental styrene concentrations and urinary mandelic acid levels of analyzed subjects were different in two plants examined, but the exposure levels in most workers examined were lower than the permissible exposure levels. Chromosome aberrations of the styrene exposed workers showed no increase in the percentage of aberrant cells as compared with the control group. No correlation was found between the exposure levels and the frequencies of chromosome aberrations in workers.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.33-42
• /
• 2024

Executive safety leadership is essential to prevent accidents in the workplace. However, will safety be secured by emphasizing only executive safety leadership to workers? In this study, the impact of executive safety leadership on the workplace hazard level was analyzed by adding the supervisor's safety role as a mediating variable. This paper shows that executive safety leadership has no direct effect on workplace hazard levels. However, executive safety leadership was found to have a significant impact on the supervisor safety role, and the supervisor safety role was found to lower the hazard levels in the workplace. In summary, executive safety leadership was found to reduce the hazard levels in the workplace through the full mediating effect of the supervisor safety role. Based on these research results, this study seeks to present the following recommendations to the government and management: The government should ensure that a workplace safety and health system is established by strengthening the effects of other mediating factors, such as strengthening the role of supervisors who are actually responsible for workplace safety and health. Executives must grant supervisors actual authority and responsibility to properly perform their safety roles and establish personnel and performance evaluation systems.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.201-209
• /
• 2013

Background: The study was conducted to investigate the current status of the occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) in the construction industry and the effect of OHSMS on accident rates. Differences of awareness levels on safety issues among site general managers and occupational health and safety (OHS) managers are identified through surveys. Methods: The accident rates for the OHSMS-certified construction companies from 2006 to 2011, when the construction OHSMS became widely available, were analyzed to understand the effect of OHSMS on the work-related injury rates in the construction industry. The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency 18001 is the certification to these companies performing OHSMS in South Korea. The questionnaire was created to analyze the differences of OHSMS awareness between site general managers and OHS managers of construction companies. Results: The implementation of OHSMS among the top 100 construction companies in South Korea shows that the accident rate decreased by 67% and the fatal accident rate decreased by 10.3% during the period from 2006 to 2011. The survey in this study shows different OHSMS awareness levels between site general managers and OHS managers. The differences were motivation for developing OHSMS, external support needed for implementing OHSMS, problems and effectiveness of implementing OHSMS. Conclusion: Both work-related accident and fatal accident rates were found to be significantly reduced by implementing OHSMS in this study. The differences of OHSMS awareness between site general managers and OHS managers were identified through a survey. The effect of these differences on safety and other benefits warrants further research with proper data collection.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.227-234
• /
• 2022

Background and Purpose: In 2021, lung cancer in school food workers was first recognized as an occupational cancer. The classification of the carcinogenicity of cooking fumes by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was based on Chinese epidemiological data. This study aimed to determine the hazard levels of school cooking fumes in Korea. Materials and Methods: Based on public school cafeterias in one area, 25 locations were selected for the survey according to the number per school type, ventilation states, and environmental pre-assessments of cafeterias. Two inside cooking areas using a heat source and one outside cooking area were selected as control measurement points. Measurements of CO, CO₂, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), including benzene, formaldehyde, and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1, respectively), were taken. The concentrations and patterns of each substance in the kitchens were compared with the outdoor air quality. Result: Known carcinogens, such as the concentrations of PAHs, formaldehyde, TVOC (benzene), and particulate matter in school cooking fumes, were all detected at similar or slightly higher levels than those found outside. Additionally, substances were detected at relatively low concentrations compared to the Chinese cooking fumes reported in the literature. However, the short-term exposure to high concentrations of CO (or composite exposure with CO₂) and PM2.5 in this study were shown. Conclusion: The school cooking fumes in South Korea was a relatively less harmful than Chinese cooking fumes, however short-term, high exposure of toxic substances can cause a critical health effect.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.384-392
• /
• 2013

Objective: This study inspected incident cases, legal control levels, and GHS(Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals) classification results of strong acids such as hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid, which have been responsible for many recent chemical accidents. As a result, it is deemed necessary for legal control levels of these strong acids to be revised and GHS classification be managed nation-wide. Methods: This study inspected incident cases and legal control levels for strong acids such as hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid. The study analyzed and compared chemical information status and GHS classification results. Results: There were 76 domestic incidents involving strongly acidic hazardous materials over the five years between 2007 and 2011. They include 37 leakage incidents(46.7%) within a workplace, 30 leakage incidents(39.5%) during transportation, and nine leakage incidents(13.8%) following an explosion. The strongly acidic materials in question are defined and controlled as toxic chemicals according to the classes of Substances Requiring Preparation for Accidents, Managed Hazardous Substance, Hazardous Chemical(corrosive) as set forth under the Enforcement Decree of the Toxic Chemicals Control Act and Rules on Occupational Safety and Health Standards of Occupational Safety and Health Act. Among them, nitric acid is solely controlled as a class 6 hazardous material, oxidizing liquid, under the Hazardous Chemicals Control Act. The classification results of the EU ECHA(European Chemicals Agency) CLP(Commission Regulation(EC) No. 790/2009 of 10 August 2009, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation(EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures) and NIER (National Institute of Environmental Research) are almost identical for the three chemicals, with the exception of sulfuric acid. Much of the classification information of NITE (National Institute of Technology and Evaluation) and KOSHA(Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, KOSHA) is the same. NIER provides 12(41.4%) out of 29 classifications, as does KOSHA.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.122-134
• /
• 2011

Objectives: Seven cases of malignant lymphohematopoietic (LHP) disorder were claimed to have developed from occupational exposure at two plants of a semiconductor company from 2007 to 2010. This study evaluated the possibility of exposure to carcinogenic agents for the cases. Methods: Clinical courses were reviewed with assessing possible exposure to carcinogenic agents related to LHP cancers. Chemicals used at six major semiconductor companies in Korea were reviewed. Airborne monitoring for chemicals, including benzene, was conducted and the ionizing radiation dose was measured from 2008 to 2010. Results: The latency of seven cases (five leukemiae, a Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and an aplastic anemia) ranged from 16 months to 15 years and 5 months. Most chemical measurements were at levels of less than 10% of the Korean Occupational Exposure Limit value. No carcinogens related to LHP cancers were used or detected. Complete-shielded radiation-generating devices were used, but the ionizing radiation doses were 0.20-0.22 uSv/hr (background level: 0.21 ${\mu}Sv/hr$). Airborne benzene was detected at 0.31 ppb when the detection limit was lowered as low as possible. Ethylene oxide and formaldehyde were not found in the cases' processes, while these two were determined to be among the 263 chemicals in the list that was used at the six semiconductor companies at levels lower than 0.1%. Exposures occurring before 2002 could not be assessed because of the lack of information. Conclusion: Considering the possibility of exposure to carcinogenic agents, we could not find any convincing evidence for occupational exposure in all investigated cases. However, further study is needed because the semiconductor industry is a newly developing one.