• 월간산업보건
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• s.379
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• pp.9-16
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• 2019

2-부톡시에탄올(2-butoxyethanol)에 대한 생물학적 노출지수 설정에 필요한 자료는 상당수 존재한다. 다양한 실험실 및 직업적 현장연구는 2-butoxyethanol에 노출된 후 소변에서 butoxyacetic acid의 배설을 조사하여 생물학적 노출지수를 구축할 데이터베이스를 제공하였다. 실험실 연구는 작업시간 동안보다는 짧은 시간을 노출시킨다. 휴식 중에 실시한 실험 자료들을 20ppm에 8시간 노출로 외삽하면 작업시작 종료 시점의 소변 중 butoxyacetic acid의 농도가 각각 192, 272, 190 mg/g creatinine이었다. 작업부하 30 watts와 50 watts의 연구 결과를 외삽하면 각각 304 butoxyacetic acid/g creatinine과 313 butoxyacetic acid/g creatinine이었다. 작업현장 연구는 소변을 가수분해시킨 후 총 butoxyacetic acid의 검출 범위가 광범위할 것으로 예상된다. 이러한 외삽의 결과는 일반적으로 1ppm 미만의 노출에서 나온 것이라는 점에 유의해야 한다. 피부 흡수의 가능성과 2-butoxyethanol의 상대적으로 낮은 휘발성을 감안할 때 현장 연구에서는 피부 경로가 흡입 연구보다 더 중요할 수 있다. 따라서 현장 조사는 휴식을 취한 자원봉사자를 대상으로 실시한 흡입 연구와 비교하면 소변 중 butoxyacetic acid 농도를 과대평가하는 경향이 있다. 활용 가능한 시뮬레이션 연구에서 휴식 시 2-butoxyethanol의 TLV-TWA 20ppm에 8시간 전신(흡입과 피부) 노출되는 경우 가수분해된 총 butoxyacetic acid가 210 mg/g creatinine이 예상되고 작업부하 50 watts에서는 373 mg/g creatinine이 예측된다. 50 watts의 작업량으로 20ppm에서 8시간 노출되는 경우 생물학적 노출지수(BEI)는 약 400 mg/g creatinine일 것이다. 그러나 생물학적 노출지수는 외삽에 대한 불확실성, 심각한 피부 노출 및 작업장 노출평가 자료의 부족을 반영하여 200 mg butoxyacetic acid/g creatinine으로 설정하였다. 인용한 자료들의 한계에도 불구하고 자원 봉사자 연구와 시뮬레이션 연구의 자료들이 일치성이 있었다. 연구에 따르면 butoxyacetic acid는 측정 가능한 양으로 존재하며 작업 교대 중에 검출될 수 있는 충분한 시간의 반감기를 가지고 있다. Sakai 등의 연구 자료와 일부 모델링 자료에서 노출농도가 높은 경우 주중에 약간의 축적 가능성을 보고하였지만 작업장에서 일반적으로 노출되는 농도 범위에서는 누적이 예상되지 않으며 작업 종료 후에 소변시료를 채취하는 것이 바람직하다. 대다수의 연구에서 소변 중 butoxyacetic acid 농도 수준의 개인 간 다양성을 보고하였다. 또한 대부분의 작업현장 연구에서는 2-butoxyethanol의 주변 환경 농도수준과 소변 중 butoxyacetic acid 수준에 유의한 상관관계를 발견하지 못하였다. 상호 연관성이 결여된 원인은 대부분 피부 노출의 영향으로 추정하였다. 개인 보호 장갑을 착용한 근로자들에게서는 유의한 상관관계가 발견되었다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2007

Recently, concerns regarding indoor air quality in offices have continued to increase. Thirty offices in five metropolitan commercial buildings were surveyed from February to April 2004. Sampling was performed during normal business hours. Thermal comfort factors such as temperature and relative humidity, carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (HCHO), respirable dust, $PM_{10}$ were sampled and analyzed to determine the mean, standard deviation, range, and correlation for each of those parameters. The data was then compared to office as standard of Ministry of Labor, and guideline applicable to the indoor environment. The results represented that the temperature was slightly higher than the standard of American Society of Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the relative humidity was lower that the standard of ASHRAE. The range of the 8-TWA concentration of $CO_2$ was 639 ~ 786 ppm, but 33.3% of the total thirty offices exceeded the 1000 ppm as ceiling concentration. The concentration of CO was less than 3 ppm, which was similar to that of offices in Japanese. The mean concentration of formaldehyde was 0.032 ppm, and only 2 % of total samples (193) exceeded the 0.1 ppm, standard of formaldehyde in office air. The concentration of respirable dust and $PM_{10}$ was not exceeded the standard of those parameters, $150{\mu}g/m^3$. The concentration of those parameters in the office air was statistically correlated.

• International Journal of Safety
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2004

Some of the petroleum products contain benzene which is well known as a confirmed human carcinogen. For example, gasoline products contain benzene ranging up to several percents by weight. High exposures to the benzene and other organic solvents would be likely to occur during intermittent tasks and or processes rather than continuous jobs such as sampling, repair, inspection, and loading/unloading jobs. The work time for these jobs is various. However, most of work time is very short and the representative time interval is 15 minutes. Thus, it is preferable to do exposure assessment for 15 minute time weighted average which is known as a short time exposure level(STEL) by ACGIH rather than for 8-hours TWA. It is particularly significant to the exposure monitoring for benzene since it has been known that the exposure rate plays an important role to provoke the leukemia. Due to the large variations, a number of processes/tasks, the traditional sampling technique for organic solvents with the use of the charcoal and sampling pumps is not appropriate. Limited number of samples can be obtained due to the shortage of sampling pumps. Passive samplers can eliminate these limitations. However, low sampling rates resulted in collection of small amount of the target analysts in the passive samplers. This is originated the nature of passive samplers. Field applications were made with use of passive samplers to compare with the charcoal tube methods for 15 minutes. Gasoline loading processes to the tank lorry trucks at the loading stations in the petroleum products storage area. Good agreements between the results of passive samplers and those of the charcoal tubes were achieved. However, it was found that special cautions were necessary during the analysis at very low concentration levels.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the noise exposures of firefighters according to their time-dependent activity patterns. Methods: Personal exposure levels were measured for six days and nights using noise dosimeters; three days and nights for on-duty tasks, the other days and nights for off-duty activities. Results: The total amount of time spent in the workplace was 13,677 min (67%), outside areas 4,833 min (23%), in transit 1,002 min (5%), and other indoor area 807 min (4%) during a working period. However, during off-days they spent 10,858 min (76%) at home, 1,382 min (10%) outdoors, 1,225 min (9%) other indoors, and 493 min (3%) in transit. As a result of individual exposure levels, TWA did not exceed 90 dBA of the occupational exposure limit for the majority of the firefighters, whereas the levels of Lmax were 119 dBA, which were higher than the noise levels of firefighters in USA. Sometimes during dispatching the levels of Lpeak exceeded the ACGIH exposure standard (140 dBC). The Leq levels in transit were higher than the levels in home and other indoors even though the activity time is short. Conclusions: This paper characterized the noise exposure patterns of firefighters in Korea. We suggest that special noise sources, including sirens and speaker phones, should be readjusted to reduce noise exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate employee exposures to waste anesthetic gases, such as enflurane and sevoflurane in operating rooms of general surgical, children's and dental clinics of a large hospital located in Seoul and to analyze factors affecting the concentrations of waste anesthetic gases. The results of the study are summarized below. 1. Based on results of personal and area samples for airborne enflurane, all of the employees investigated in this study were exposed to airborne enflurane concentrations below the ACGIH-threshold limit value (TLV) of 75 ppm. 2. However, based on results of personal samples for sevoflurane, employees of two (2) out of eleven (11) operating rooms were exposed to sevoflurane concentrations in excess of the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) of 2 ppm. A similar trend was found in the area samples. 3. To investigate the source of sevoflurane emissions, airborne sevoflurane concentrations were measured on an anesthesia machine, a drug cabinet and a desk. It was indicated that the geometric means were 0.93 ppm, 0.83 ppm and 0.72 ppm, respectively. 4. Factors affecting waste anesthetic gas concentrations were the age of anesthesia machine, the volume of operating room and the extent of ventilation (p<0.05). 5. It is recommended that the use of anesthesia equipments be properly controlled, the operating room be well ventilated, and the airborne concentrations of anesthetic gases be continuously monitored.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 1988

Airborne dust and asbestos fiber concentrations were determined in subway stations located in Seoul area. Two stations, such as Eulchiro 4-Ka Station of Line #2, constructed during a period of 1980-1984 and Hyehwa Station of Line #4, opened in 1985, were selected. The results of the study are as follows. 1. Daily time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations of airborne dusts from 07:00 to 20:00 hours in Line #2 and Line #4 were 0.43$\pm$0.08 mg/m$^3$ and 0.37$\pm$0.12 mg/m$^3$, respectively. Thus, the dust levels in Line #2 were significantly higher than the levels in Line #4 (p < 0.05). 2. Dust levels in the morning (07:00-11:00 hours), noon (11:00-16:00 hours) and in the evening (16:00-20:00 hours) in Line #2 were 0.47$\pm$0.17 mg/m$^3$, 0.37$\pm$0.08 mg/m$^3$, and 0.46$\pm$0.07 mg/m$^3$ respectively. Thus, dust levels in the morning and evening (i.e., during rush hours) were significantly higher than levels in the noon (p < 0.02). However, there was no such difference in dust levels by time in Line #4. 3. Airborne total dust concentrations were well below the occupational health standard of 10 mg/m$^3$, however, the levels were exceeding the ambient air standard recommended by the Korean Environment Administration. 4. All of airborne asbestos fiber concentrations were equal to or below 0.005 fibers/cc. The levels are within both occupational health standards and U.S. EPA criteria. 5. A consideration should be given to the improvements of cleaning methods (such as use of vacuum cleaning instead of brushing) and the existing ventilation (such as more air change and filtration of supply air) for a reduction of dust levels. 6. It is recommended that routine monitoring of airborne dusts and asbestos fibers be conducted because more dusts and asbestos fibers can be produced in the air due to the deterioration of facilities by age and water damage in future.

• International Journal of Safety
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.14-17
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• 2005

Recycled polyol was obtained by glycolysis of MDI-based Polyurethane(PU) rigid foam. The chemical structure of the recycled pclyol was confirmed by GC(gas chromatography) and 1H-NMR. The recycled polyol throughout the glycolysis contained liquid polyol and methylenedianiline(MDA). MDA which could cause liver cancer is carcinogenic material. TWA(Time Weighted Average.) amount for MDA in MSDS(Material Safety Data Sheets) was confined less than 0.1 ppm. The melting temperature of MDA is $92^{\circ}C$, and boiling temperature is $398^{\circ}C$. During the gylcolysis most of MDA was dissolved in liquid polyol. The probability that MDA diffuses into the atmosphere is low but there could be an absorption of MDA into skin. Furthermore because MDA is amine compound, recycled polyol which contained MDA had a difficulty in reaction control of polyurethane. Therefore reduction of MDA amount was needed strongly. In this study the elimination of MDA were performed through deamination of the recycled polyol by glycidyl ether compounds. As glycolysis was proceeded, the amount of MDA was 9.8 wt % at early stage and increased up to 14.0 wt % after 8 hours reaction. It was found that 2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether which contains aliphatic moiety was very effective compound for eliminating the primary aromatic amine compound :md the optimal mole ratio of 2-ethylhexyl glycidyl ether to MAD was 3. The final polyol after deamination by 2-ethylhexyl glycidyl ether has an appropriate viscosity(less than 500 centi poise) for polyurethane reaction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.442-451
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to review the reduction methods for ammonia (NH₃) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) exposure in livestock. Methods: By reviewing domestic and international research reports from Korea and China, reducing ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in livestock pens was analyzed in terms of ventilation, deodorant, and feed additives. In addition, exposure limits in Korea and China were examined through a comparison between 'TLV-TWA and STEL under the Industrial Safety and Health Act in Korea' and 'Management Standards for Air of Livestock Pens in China'. Results and Discussion: In order to effectively control hazardous gases and odors in livestock pens, the enhancement of natural ventilation or the addition of ventilation fans at the pollution source are being examined. Deodorants are used as adsorbents or masking deodorants. Additives to feed were zeolite powder, FeSO₄·7H₂O, enzymes, and microbial preparations. Use of feed additives was low-cost and had significant effects compared to other methods. Zeolite was the most commonly used in feed additive in Chinese cases and proved to be low-cost and effective for reducing harmful gases. Enzyme preparations were shown to stimulate the growth of livestock, but were expensive. Conclusions: This study reviewed and examined domestic and international research papers in Korea and China for reducing ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations in livestock pens. More diverse research and the development of feed additives are needed.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.500-509
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• 2009

Passive samplers have been used for many years for the sampling of organic vapors in work environment atmospheres. Currently, all passive samplers used in domestic occupational monitoring are foreign products. This study was performed to evaluate variable parameters for the development of passive organic samplers, which include the geometry of the device and diffusive length for the sampler design. Four prototype diffusive lengths; A-1(4.5 mm), A-2(7.0 mm), A-3(9.5 mm), A-4(12.0 mm) were tested for adsorption performances to a chemical mixture (benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene, and n-hexane) according to the US-OSHA's evaluation protocol. A dynamic vapor exposure chamber developed and verified by related research was used for this study. The results of study are as follows. The results in terms of sampling rate and recommended sampling time test indicate that the most suitable model was A-3 (9.5 mm diffusive lengths on both sides) for passive sampler design in time weighted average (TWA) assessment. Sampling rates of this A-3 model were 45.8, 41.5, 41.4, and 40.3 ml/min for benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene, and n-hexane, respectively. The A-3 models were tested on reverse diffusion and conditions of low humidity air (35% RH) and low concentrations (0.2 times of TLV). These conditions had no affect on the diffusion capacity of samplers. In conclusion, the most suitable design parameters of passive sampler are: 1) Geometry and structure - 25 mm diameter and 490 $mm^2$ cross sectional area of diffusion face with cylindrical form of two-sided opposite diffusion direction; 2) Diffusive length - 9.5 mm in both faces; 3) Amount of adsorbent - 300 mg of coconut shell charcoal; 4) Wind screen - using nylon net filters (11 ${\mu}m$ pore size).

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1996

The variation in the enzyme activities of human liver usually represents the particular physiological conditions of each individuals. Thus, we investigated the variation in the activities of SOD, HR and LPO of (1) non-exposed workers (56 subjects), and (2) exposed workers to DMF (43 subjects) in synthetic leather process. Serum levels of enzyme activities of exposed workers (AST:$30.26{\pm}20.041$U/L, ALT:$32.72{\pm}23.393$U/L, GGT:$28.47{\pm}18.635$ U/L, ALP:$81.77{\pm}34.879$ U/L)were slightly higher than those in nonexposed workers (AST:$24.00{\pm}9.441$ U/L, ALT:$23.89{\pm}18.305$U/L, GGT:$21.95{\pm}17.970$U/L, ALP:$70.84{\pm}24.678$U/L), but only the level of ALT was statistically significant (p< 0.05). Serum levels of LDH, TRF and CHOL in non-exposed workers were slightly higher than those of exposed workers. However, they were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Serum levels of HR and LPO of the exposed workers appeared to be reduced, but not those of the non-exposed workers. The SOD activities of exposed workers were also slightly higher than those of non-exposed workers, but the results were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The level of HR was increased with age, but the SOD level was not. These results suggest that the intermittent exposure to DMF at time-weighted average (TWA) level (10 ppm/$m^3$) has affected on the activities of enzymes such as AST, ALT, TRF, but not on the generation of HR, activity of SOD. However, if high dose of DMF was used, there would be severe effects for the generation of HR and LPO.