• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 1994

This study was carried out to assess worker exposure to vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and to present control measures in the factories processing and producing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin. The conclusion remarks are as follows. Only two personal samples in the factory ("E") processing polyvinyl chloride resin were analysed to be 27.6 ppm and 12.6 ppm, respectively. But, these concentration exceed 1 ppm, Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) of OSHA. So, worker's exposure to VCM at "E" factory should be reevaluated. In "A", "B" and "C" factory producing polyvinyl chloride resin, the average worker's exposures to VCM were 0.12 ppm, 0.86 ppm and 1.23 ppm, respectivery. Worker exposure to VCM at distillation and dry process was higer than other processes at "A" factory. The average exposure concentration of worker at polymerization process of "B" and "C" factory was 1.23 ppm, and 1.46 ppm respcetively. These concentration exceed 1 ppm, Permissible Exposure Limits of OSHA. Control room of "B" and "C" factory had 0.91 ppm and 0.65 ppm of worker's exposure concentration respectively. "A" factory was evaluated to be "acceptable", but "B" and "C" factories were evaluated to be "not acceptable", by the workplace exposure assessment program of AIHA. Process other than bagging and control room of "A" factory was evaluated to "not acceptable". Immediate correction measures for preventing workers from exposure to VCM should be performed in the factories or process that were evaluated to be "not acceptable". After these control measures are taken, worker exposure to VCM must be reevaluated through personal air monitoring. Control measures presented by this study are complete sealing of connecting pipe lines, flanging, packing, bolting and nutting. Periodic leak test for leak parts is also required. And positive pressure facility should be constructed at control room of "B" and "C" factory. Fresh air through cleaner such as HEPA filter should be supplied to control room. In addition to these control measures, periodic personal monitoring for evaluating worker exposure to VCM should be performed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.358-367
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to review model algorithms and input parameters applied to some exposure models and to compare the simulated estimates using an exposure scenario from each model. Methods: A total of five exposure models which can estimate inhalation exposure were selected; the Korea Ministry of Environment(KMOE) exposure model, European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals Targeted Risk Assessment(ECETOC TRA), SprayExpo, and ConsExpo model. Algorithms and input parameters for exposure estimation were reviewed and the exposure scenario was used for comparing the modeled estimates. Results: Algorithms in each model commonly consist of the function combining physicochemical properties, use characteristics, user exposure factors, and environmental factors. The outputs including air concentration ($mg/m^3$) and inhaled dose(mg/kg/day) are estimated applying input parameters with the common factors to the algorithm. In particular, the input parameters needed to estimate are complicated among the models and models need more individual input parameters in addition to common factors. In case of CEM, it can be obtained more detailed exposure estimates separating user's breathing zone(near-field) and those at influencing zone(far-field) by two-box model. The modeled exposure estimates using the exposure scenario were similar between the models; they were ranged from 0.82 to $1.38mg/m^3$ for concentration and from 0.015 to 0.180 mg/kg/day for inhaled dose, respectively. Conclusions: Modeling technique can be used for a useful tool in the process of exposure assessment if the exposure data are scarce, but it is necessary to consider proper input parameters and exposure scenario which can affect the real exposure conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.373-377
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• 2005

The work of hairdressers includes washing, coloring, bleaching, permanent waving, conditioning, and cutting hair. Hairdressers are subjected to a number of physical and toxicological hazards. The toxicological hazards are those resulting from exposure to a wide range of chemicals and from chemicals are usually classified active processes. In this study, twenty beauty shops were selected to assess the exposure to indoor air pollutants such as VOCS and particulate matter($PM_{10}$) during one month from September 1 to September 30, 2003. Indoor air quality of beauty shops might be worse by vehicle emissions because the beauty shops were generally located near roadways. Personal exposures to VOCs and PM lo were related to indoor concentrations of beauty shops. According to the questionnaire, hairdressers complained of sore throat, eye irritation, and nervousness as physical symptoms. Conclusively, customers as well as workers in the beauty shops might be highly exposed to air pollutants from indoor sources and outdoor sources. Therefore, proper management methods should be taken to improve the indoor air quality in beauty shops.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.80-90
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• 2000

To determine the effect of air pollutants in Taejon City, we used medical insurance claim data for asthma and the data monitored from telemetry system of Ministry of Environment for air pollutants and meteorological factors. From November 1st, 1997 to October 31th, 1998, 95,629 asthma patients were covered by medical insurance at Taejon City. Subjects were composed of 49,563 males (51.8%) and 46.336 females(48.2%), and among the subjects, the proportion under 15 years old was 62.8% of the total. During the study period, daily mean concentrations of each air pollutants-So2, No2, CO, O3 and TSP-were 9.8 ppb, 17.6 ppm, 1.414 pp, 17.3 ppb and 60.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥, respectively, which were lower than each of the environmental recommended exposure levels, Through the simple correlation analysis between each air pollutants and meteorological factors, O3 was positively correlated with temperature, but negatively with relative humidity. TSP, SO2, NO2, CO were negatively correlated with meteorological factors, and these air pollutants except O3 were positively correlated with each other, O3 was correlated with TSP positively but the others negatively. Estimating relative risks of each air pollutant with the baseline general additive model, daily mean concentrations of TSP(Lag 0, 1, 4, 5day) were significantly associated with the increase of the asthma admission. Two age subgroups, under 15 and 15~54 have shown various association of all air pollutants concentration with the asthma admission. However, in case of over 54 age subgroup, only TSP(Lag 0 day) among all air pollutants was associated with the asthma admission. Each of ambient outdoor pollutant concentrations in Taejon City are significantly associated with the admission of asthma patients even though all concentrations in Taejon City are significantly associated with the admission of asthma patients even though all concentrations were much lower than the environmental recommended exposure levels. Therefore, continuous effort lowering air pollutant concentration and introducing an active environmental conservation policy should be implanted for preventing hazardous health effects. Considering major proportion of asthma admissions, high susceptibility and less confounding factors among the age subgroup under 15 will be a useful target population for assessing such health effect monitoring.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.402-410
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the air quality surrounding an indoor swimming pool, to estimate the cancer risk based on the airborne exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs), and to examine the ventilation efficiency by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Chlorine and THMs were measured poolside, and in the staff room and reception area. The indoor swimming pool was modeled using the Airpak program, with ventilation drawings and actual survey data. Temperature, flow and mean age of the air were analyzed. Levels of chlorine poolside, and in the staff room, and reception area were $203\;{\mu}g/m^3$, $5\;{\mu}g/m^3$, and $10\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. Chloroform was the dominant THM in all sampling sites and mean concentrations were $16.30\;{\mu}g/m^3$, $0.51\;{\mu}g/m^3$, and $0.06\;{\mu}g/m^3$ poolside, in the staff room and reception area, respectively. Bromodichloromethane and Dibromochloromethane levels were respectively estimated as $10.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $1.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$ poolside, $1.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $0.1\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in the staff room, and were not detected in the reception area. The cancer risks from inhalation exposure to THMs were estimated between $3.37{\times}10^{-7}$ and $1.84{\times}10^{-5}$. A short circulation phenomenon was observed from the supply air vents to the exhaust air vents located in the ceiling. A high temperature layer was formed within one meter of the ceiling, and a low temperature layer was formed under this layer due to the low velocity and high temperature of the supply air, and the improper locations of the supply air vents and exhaust air vents. The stagnation was evident at the above adult pool and the mean age of the air was 22 minutes. Disinfection by-products in the indoor swimming pool were present in higher concentrations than in the outdoor air. In order to increase the removal of pollutants, adjustment was required of the supply air volume and the supply/exhaust position.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.532-538
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• 2020

Objectives: The study evaluated correlations among monthly PM_2.5, PM₁₀, Cd, Pb concentrations and the number of Asian dust days. Methods: Based on data from 'The annual report on air quality in Korea from 1999 to 2017', concentrations of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, Cd, Pb, and the number of Asian dust days were recalculated to mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum. Correlation coefficients were calculated among PM_2.5, PM₁₀, Cd, Pb, and Asian dust days. Results: Asian dust days were correlated only with PM₁₀ among the four factors of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, Cd, and Pb. The four factors of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, Cd, and Pb were very significantly correlated with each other (p<0.01). Their correlation coefficients for PM₁₀ were 0.800 for PM_2.5, 0.823 for Cd, and 0.892 for Pb. PM_2.5 was also correlated strongly with Cd (0.845) and Pb (0.830). Cd had a correlation with Pb of 0.971. The maximums of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and Pb were shown to exceed the atmospheric environmental standard of Korea, which necessitates national continuous exposure control. Based on exposure data, Asian dust days were thought to be an exposure factor for Cd and Pb. Conclusion: Asian dust might be a factor in Cd and Pb exposure. National exposure controls are required for exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, Cd, and Pb.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2011

Working in a research laboratory means exposure to a wide range of hazardous substances. Several studies indicated that laboratory workers, especially working with chemicals, might have an increased risk of certain cancers. However, exposure assessment data in laboratory settings are scarce. This study was performed to examine several approaches for quantitatively assessing the exposure levels to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among workers in chemistry laboratories. The list of 10 target VOCs, including ethanol, acetone, 2-propanol, dichlormethane, tetrahydrofuran, benzene, toluene, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, was determined through self-administered questionnaire for six chemistry research laboratories in a university, a government-funded research institute, or private labs. From September to December 2008, 84 air samples were collected (15 area samples, 27 personal time weighted samples, 42 personal task-basis short-term samples). Real time monitors with photo ionization detector were placed during the sampling periods. In this study, benzene was observed exceeding the action levels, although all the results were below the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV). From the air sampling results, we concluded that (1) chemicals emitted during experiments could directly affect to neighbor office areas (2) chemical exposures in research laboratories showed a wide range of concentrations depending on research activities (3) area samples tended to underestimate the exposures relative to personal samples. Still, further investigation, is necessary for developing exposure assessment strategies specific to laboratories with unique exposure profiles.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.457-468
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• 2016

Traffic-related air pollutants and particulates from diesel exhaust cause for increasing respiratory health problem. Recent epidemiologic studies have reported adverse effects of urban air pollution on various aspects of respiratory health. Bus or truck terminal workers have high probability of exposure to diesel exhaust particle than general office worker. This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between pulmonary function of people who working at the high-density area of diesel vehicles and pulmonary function of people who working at general office in Seoul. So, this study explored the effects on people with exposure to diesel traffic or exposure to diesel traffic, through the pulmonary function test (PFT). There were significant difference in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) between high-exposure group and control. High-exposure to diesel particle were increased risk of reduction in pulmonary function in this study. These results provide the necessity additional research that manage people who working at the high-density area of diesel vehicles.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1013-1021
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• 2017

Exposure to Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) potentially causes adverse health effects (e.g. respiratory symptoms, lung cancer). Due to a lack of data on Elemental Carbon (EC) exposure levels in underground copper ore mining (unlike other underground mining industries such as non-metallic and coal mining), this case study aims to provide individual miners' EC exposure levels, and information on their work practices including use of personal protective equipment. EC measurement was carried out during different work activities (i.e. drilling, driving a loader, plant fitting, plant operation, driving a Specialized Mining Vehicle (SMV)) as per NIOSH Method 5040. The copper miners were working 10 h/day and 5 days/week. This study found that the most significant exposures to EC were reported from driving a loader (range $0.02-0.42mg/m^3$). Even though there were control systems (i.e. water tanks and DPM filters) on the diesel vehicles, around 49.5% of the results were over the adjusted recommendable exposure limit ($0.078mg/m^3$). This was probably due to: (1) driver's frequently getting in and out of the diesel vehicles and opening the windows of the diesel vehicles, and (2) inappropriate maintenance of the diesel vehicles and the DPM control systems. The use of the P2 type respirator provided was less than 19.2%. However, there was no significant difference between the day shift results and the night shift results. In order to prevent or minimize exposure to EC in the copper ore mine, it is recommended that the miners are educated in the need to wear the appropriate respirator provided during their work shifts, and to maintain the diesel engine and emission control systems on a regular basis. Consideration should be given to a specific examination of the diesel vehicles' air-conditioning filters and the air ventilation system to control excessive airborne contaminants in the underground copper mine.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 1995

The number of motor vehicles in Korea has increased to about 4 million, and the exhaust gases of these vehicles have become a more threatening factor to public health. Traffic policemen are one of the highest health risk groups since they work on roadsides where they are exposed to high levels of air pollutants. The health effects on them due to air pollution were determined by measuring personal carbon monoxide(CO) exposure and carboxyhemoglobin(COHb) level in blood. Thirty-one traffic policemen in Seoul volunteered to be subjects of the study. In October 1992, personal CO exposure was measured by a CO passive sampler. The subjects wore the CO passive sampler for 8 hours while on duty. The exposed samples were analyzed by gas chromatography. Blood samples from each subject were collected just after the exposure sampling, and were analyzed within 3 hours of blood collection by a CO-oximeter. The activities of the subjects were recorded by the subject in 30 minute intervals using an activity log sheet containing location and time spent. Personal CO exposure were ranged between 0.1 and 14.5ppm, eith an average of 5.9ppm. Carboxyhemoglobin levels ranged from 1.1% to 6.9%, with an average of 3.6%. policemen on duty outdoors had significantly higher CO exposures and COHb levels than policemen on duty indoors(p<0.01). Personal CO exposure and COHb were positively correlated, although the coefficient was not significant. The relationship between CO level and COHb level was confounded by smoking status. Among smokers, COHb level was significantly higher as CO exposure and hours worked outdoors increased.