• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.423-432
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate asbestos handling history of workers at automobile manufacturing plants in Korea. Methods: National regulations on asbestos and Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) database on the information of asbestos containing products were reviewed. We investigated asbestos related materials from one automobile manufacturing plant. Material safety data sheets(MSDS) collected in 2010, work environment monitoring results reported from 2000 to 2013, trade union reports and asbestos survey reports were reviewed. We also interviewed workers with long career and did walk-through survey. Results: The Ministry of Labor in Korea has permitted asbestos manufacturing since 1990. In 1997, the use of crocidolite and amosite asbestos were banned. In 2007, the Korean government announced a total ban on the manufacturing, importation and use of all kinds of asbestos, which took full effect in 2009. A total of 174 asbestos products information from KOSHA database was analyzed. Extruded cement panel for building, special brake for crane farm machinery, gasket, joint sheet and thermal insulator were produced until 2007. From automobile manufacturing plant survey, we confirmed that asbestos containing materials(ACM) such as gasket, heating induction materials have been used until 2011. Asbestos containing building materials(ACBM) such as bamlites, slate and ceiling tex were reported at 122 asbestos dismantling projects in 2014. Conclusion: Although the use of all kinds of asbestos were banned from 2009, ACMs and ACBMs installed before 2009 were still found at automobile manufacturing plant until 2011 and 2014 respectively. In particular, asbestos slates should be managed because most of slates had not been removed until 2014.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.110-115
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study is to survey for finding asbestos containing equipment at the laboratories using picture based questionnaire and polarized light microscopic analysis. Methods: This study was conducted from 2009 to 2010 at a university in Seoul. In 2009, picture based questionnaire was distributed to 100 laboratories during the regular laboratory air quality monitoring. In 2010, we emailed all professors of the same university who have laboratories to participate voluntarily this survey. For the laboratories consented to participate survey, picture based questionnaire was distributed and collected. Suspected asbestos containing material and apparatus were collected at the laboratories which replied they have suspected material and equipment. Collected samples were analyzed with polarized light microscope at the laboratory accredited by ministry of employment and labor in Korea. Results: Total of 18 out of 100 laboratories reported that they had suspected asbestos containing equipment in 2009. Twenty-three samples were collected and three samples (13%), one heating mantle and two pairs of insulation gloves, contained asbestos. Thirty four laboratories reported they had suspected asbestos containing material or equipment in 2010. Sixty samples were collected and four of them (6%), two pairs of insulation gloves, one packing rope in dry oven and, one pair of tongs, contained asbestos. All founded asbestos was chrysotile and the content of chrysotile was more than 90% for all equipment except heating mantle which has less than 1%. Conclusions: We confirmed that asbestos was still used at the laboratories though strict regulations on asbestos use in Korea. The method of picture based questionnaire invented in this study could be applied for asbestos survey to other research institute or university where there are many laboratories because of its simplicity and accessibility without huge man power, cost and time.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.135-143
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• 2018

Objectives: There have been many studies on exposure assessment of workers at companies using asbestos as a raw material and at sites of the removal of materials containing asbestos. However, no research has been carried out on the asbestos exposure of workers in industries involving asbestos-containing waste, such as workers at collection and transportation service companies, mid-treatment companies(solidification of asbestos-containing waste), and landfill sites. The objective of this study was to assess the asbestos exposure concentrations of workers in industries handling waste containing asbestos. Methods: For this study, we carried out field investigations at 15 companies: seven collection and transportation service companies, three mid-treatment companies, and five final treatment companies(landfill sites). We took both personal and area samples. Results: The range of asbestos exposure levels of workers handing asbestos-containing wastes at collection, mid-treatment, and landfill companies were 0.000 fibers/cc-0.009 fibers/cc, 0.000 fibers/cc-0.038 fibers/cc, and 0.000 fibers/cc-0.024 fibers/cc, respectively. Conclusions: The asbestos exposure levels of workers at mid-treatment companies were higher than those at collection and transportation companies and at final treatment companies. In the case of collection and transportation workers, the possibility of exposure to levels exceeding those found in the present study is not particularly high considering the characteristics of the work. However, in the case of intermediate or final disposal workers, it is considered that there is a possibility of exposure to levels above those found in this study.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.201-208
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• 2011

Objectives: According to the compliance of the asbestos-related regulation, every building has to be inspected for asbestos presence before its abatement work. This study was performed for identifying the types and contents of asbestos in building bulk samples. Materials and Methods: Bulk samples were collected during the asbestos inspection in 2010. We grouped the bulk samples into the regulated asbestos containing materials(RACM), presumed asbestos containing materials(PACM), and construction products. Additionally, the types of asbestos in all bulk samples were identified by polarization microscopy(PLM). Results: The RACMs were from building, house, pipe and facility. The RACMs were found mainly building (72.1%) and house (93.7%). The contents of chrysotile in building, house and facility were 66.9% (1-90%), 89.7% (2-90%) and 11.0% (2-90%), respectively. PACMs were surfacing material, thermal system insulation (TSI), and miscellaneous material. The miscellaneous materials that showed a high detection rate (79.2%) were ceiling, roofing and wall materials. Among them, the roofing materials had high chrysotile content(9.7%, 2-21%), followed by wall (8.7%, 2-21%) and ceiling (3.4%, 1-17%). In the construction products, asbestos was found mainly in slate (92.6%, 2-21%), including chrysotile. The slate had high asbestos content (9.7%, 2-21%), followed by cement flat board (8.7%, 2-19%) and textile (3.4%, 1-17%) Conclusions: Utilizing these results, it would be contributed to construct a useful ACM database and prevent from asbestos exposure to workers in the asbestos abatement and maintenance works.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제35권5호
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• pp.426-432
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• 2009

Asbestos is a commercial term of natural occurring silicated minerals and forms long, thin fibers. Chrysotile, the serpentine asbestos, accounts for most use in commercial use. Asbestos is well known health hazard material and it is proved that inhalation of asbestos fibers leads to increased risk of developing several diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis. In these days, people most at risk for exposure are maintenance and construction workers and general citizens who are working on and close to the work area at which asbestos containing material is disturbing. Non asbestiform, though its chemical composition is same with regulated asbestos, is known to be less hazardous than asbestiform. Exposure guideline, 0.01 f/ml, is not safe level in terms of health risk. It is reasonable to take preventable action when asbestos is suspicious. In Korea, it is necessary to clarify the concept between hazard and risk, to differentiate asbestiform from non asbestiform, to make regulations for compensation for asbestos related patients, to manage future exposure for general citizens.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.139-146
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to confirm the optimal processing conditions of the asbestos stabilizer by considering various actual environments at the time of stabilization treatment of the ceiling materials containing asbestos with asbestos stabilizer. Methods: The anti-scattering performances of the asbestos stabilizer were confirmed by considering the method and quantity of the asbestos stabilizer treated, comparing the loss weight by measuring the weight of ceiling materials prior to and after having treated 30, 50, 100, 200, and 400 of stabilizer using the brush and spray. The effects of backside dust and steel frame structure on the performances of the stabilizer was also confirmed by comparing samples with and without the dust on the rear surface removed by wiping the ceiling material specimens and the blinding treatment simulated by using tape. Results: The asbestos stabilization treatment using the brush method in comparison with the use of a spray has reduced stabilizer loss, resulting in better anti-scattering performance. In addition, the stabilizer loss is increased with increasing treatment quantity; as a result, treating a larger quantity of stabilizer does not improve the performance. For the conditions related to ceiling materials, the anti-scattering performance is enhanced by removing the backside dust and spreading the stabilizer evenly on the masking portion by steel frame structures. Conclusions: Based on these results, it is determined that the appropriate choice of the tool used for the treatment of the asbestos stabilizer and the appropriate quantity of asbestos stabilizer were needed at the time of actual stabilization processing of the ceiling materials containing asbestos. Moreover, this study confirmed that preliminary processing and verification of the structure at which the ceiling materials are installed can enhance the effectiveness of prevention of the scattering of asbestos into the air.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.82-88
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• 2015

Objectives: This study is designed to analyze the penetration performance into ceiling materials containing asbestos of scattering prevention agents and investigate the change in penetration depth and viscosity according to the dilution rate of anti-scattering agents diluted with distilled water. Methods: Five different types of scattering prevention agents were spread on plate-type asbestos ceiling materials. The penetration depth of each coated ceiling material was measured by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, based on X-ray fluorescence (XRF) results of the non-coated ceiling materials. Test equipment installed the ceiling materials and 60 minutes were collected at a flow rate of $10{\ell}/min$ at a filter of 25 mm. Results: An EDS analysis of the cross-section of ceiling materials constructed with a scattering prevention agent revealed that potassium is detected in the process of penetrating hardener solidification and this element could be an indicator for infiltration. When anti-scattering agents with different viscosities were constructed and the penetration depth was analyzed by potassium detection assessment using EDS, the depth results with viscosities of 5.0, 2.5, and 1.9 cP were 98.5, 103, and $147{\mu}m$, respectively. Penetration performance improved with decrease in viscosity. Conclusions: For asbestos ceiling materials, it is concluded that a higher dilution rate of the scattering prevention agent leads to lower viscosity, and hence a deeper penetration depth from $156{\mu}m$ to 3 mm. The asbestos anti-scattering properties according to the penetration depth will be confirmed through further study.

• 광물과 암석
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.407-417
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• 2020

국내 폐슬레이트 발생량은 매년 증가 추세로 지정매립장 용량이 한계에 다다르고 있어 슬레이트를 대용량으로 안전하고 저렴하게 처리함과 동시에 재활용할 수 있는 방법이 필요하다. 이에 대한 대안으로 시멘트 소성로를 이용한 폐슬레이트 열처리 방법을 들 수 있다. 이 연구에서는 플라즈마를 이용하여 시멘트 소성로의 고온 환경을 모사할 수 있는 중간 규모(pilot scale)의 장치를 개발하고 이를 이용하여 폐슬레이트 내석면의 비활성화 및 시멘트 원료로의 재활용 가능성을 확인하고자 하였다. 중간규모 실험 장치는 플라즈마 토치를 이용하여 실제 소성로와 동일한 조건을 가지도록 1/50로 축소·제작하였다. 실험조건은 시멘트 소성로의 소성 시간과 동일하게 20분간 200-2,000℃까지 100℃ 간격으로 온도를 상승시키며 폐슬레이트의 비활성화 실험을 실시하였다. 플라즈마 고온반응기를 이용하여 열처리한 폐슬레이트의 XRD, PLM, TEM-EDS 분석결과, 1,500℃ 이상의 온도에서 슬레이트 내 백석면이 고토감람석으로 광물 상전이가 일어나 비활성화되고 시멘트 구성 광물인 라나이트(Ca2SiO4)가 형성됨을 확인하였다. 이 연구 결과는 추후 시멘트 소성로를 이용하여 대용량의 슬레이트를 경제적이고 안전하게 처리함과 동시에 시멘트 원료로 재활용할 수 있는 방안에 대한 기초자료로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.35-42
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• 2018

Objectives:본 연구의 목적은 석면함유물질의 사용 특성을 조사하고, "환경부고시 제2016-230호 석면건축물의 위해성 평가 방법"을 적용하여 위해성평가를 실시하였다. Methods:서울 및 경인지역에 위치한 건축물 100개소를 선정하였으며, 지역의 구분은 서울 29개, 인천 20개, 경기 51개이다. 건축연도는 1970년대 3개, 1980년대 11개, 1990년대 42개, 2000년대 44개로 구분하여 조사하였다. 고형시료의 분석은 고효율 필터가 부착된 후드 내에서 입체현미경을 이용하여 전처리 과정을 거쳐 편광현미경으로 분석하였으며, 분석결과가 함유율 1% 초과인 경우에 석면함유물질(Asbestos-Containing Materials, ACMs)을 석면으로 규정하였다. 석면건축자재의 위해성 평가 방법 및 기준은 "환경부고시 제2016-230호 석면건축물의 위해성 평가 방법"을 참고하여 석면함유물질에 노출된 위해성 등급은 세 가지 단계(높음, 중간, 낮음)로 평가하였다. Results: 건축물 100개소 중 30개소, 고형시료 416개 중 36개(8.6%)에서 석면함유물질이 있는 것으로 나타났다. 1990년대에 지어진 건축물 42개 중 18개에서 석면이 높은 비율로 검출되었으며, 2000년대에 지어진 건물 44개 중 7개에서 가장 낮은 비율로 검출되었다. "환경부고시 제2016-230호 석면건축물의 위해성 평가 방법"에 따라 평가를 실시한 결과, 2개 건축자재의 위해성평가 등급은 "중간"으로 나타났으며, 28개의 건축자재는 "낮음" 으로 나타났다. Conclusion: 석면은 정부에 의해 규제되고 있어 적극적으로 관리를 하여야 하고, 다양한 상황에서 얻은 데이터가 뒷받침하는 석면 노출 위해성 평가방법을 도입하여 시행이 필요할 것이다. 개인이 소유하고 있는 건물의 경우 건축주가 석면 노출의 위해성을 인지하고 있어야 할 것이다.

• 한국건설순환자원학회논문집
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.83-90
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• 2010

As a reinforced fabric, asbestos has been utilized as a fire-resistant material as it has a superior flexural stiffness and heat resistance up to $1500^{\circ}C$. However, due to its harmfulness, its use has been prohibited recently and the even the installed asbestos materials are being repaired or supplemented if there is a concern about flying. Asbestos is mainly used for construction panels as a reinforced fabric and coating materials to ensure the fire-resistance of steel frames. Asbestos was used as fire-resistant materials for steel frames until 1991 and then prohibited as Act on Industrial Safety and Health limits the concentration of asbestos in the air. Classified as a designated waste according to Act on Waste Control, asbestos must be buried if there is no possibility of flying (panel-type materials) or cement-solidified and then buried if there is a possibility of flying (spray coating material) In general, it is required that a new waste landfill include a certain landfill facility for designated waste, but in reality there is an absolute storage of landfill facilities for designated waste as they only install facilities of the size required by the regulations. This could result in the 2nd environmental pollution as they cannot process asbestos wastes which will be generated in large volume in the future. This study explores a method that melts asbestos wastes at $700^{\circ}C$ rather than cement-solidifying the waste asbestos from construction sites, especially asbestos-containing spray coating. The study results showed that there was no change in the composition and shape even though asbestos wastes was melted at $1300^{\circ}C$, but there was a change for the specimen which was process in advance for low temperature melting and then melt at $900^{\circ}C$.