• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.371-380
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• 2022

Objectives: To ensure that employers handling petroleum compounds understand whether petroleum-based UVCB (unknown or variable composition, complex reaction products, or biological materials) substances contain hazardous substances and comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, petroleum-based UVCB substances were analyzed and the results from samples were compared with MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) contents. Methods: Twenty-one petroleum samples were analyzed using GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry), targeting ten volatile organic compounds regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Results: The target chemicals were detected in 13 out of 21 samples. All 13 samples were in the naphtha (low boiling point naphthas (gasolines)) group. There were also naphtha group samples containing 2% benzene. Some naphtha samples used as solvents contained about 1% benzene. Conclusions: This study shows that naphtha group petroleum substances contain hazardous chemicals in many cases. In particular, if benzene, n-hexane, and toluene with low occupational exposure limits are contained above the limit concentration. Such information should be delivered in the article on MSDS legal regulations.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.433-438
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• 2016

The current study evaluated the air quality of the smoking booth equipped with the air purification system consisting of photocatalysts and air filters by measuring the concentrations of hazardous substances of tobacco smoke such as CO, HCHO, $CH_3CHO$, PM10 and PM2.5. To enhance the removal efficiency of hazardous substances, an infrared ray was exposed to improve the reactivity of OH radical generated from the photocatalyst toward environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) gas phase hazardous materials. It was found that the smoking booth with the air purification system improved the removal efficiency of hazardous substances containing formaldehyde by 85.2% compared to that of the smoking booth without any purification systems. In addition, the removal efficiency of the fine dust after treatment was enhanced up to 89.4%.

• 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.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 2004

Although it is suggested that risk -based management plan is needed to manage air pollution effectively, we have no resources enough to evaluate all aspects of substances and set priorities. So we need to develop a logical and easy risk-based priority setting method. However, it if impossible that only one generic system that is consistent with all the use is developed. In this study, we proposed a human health risk based priority-setting method for hazardous air pollutants, and ranked priorities for this method. First of all, after investigating previous chemical ranking and scoring systems, we chose appropriate indicators and logics to goal of this study and made a chemical priority ranking method using these. As results, final scores in priority ranking method were derived for 25 substances, and ethylene oxide, acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride were included in high ranks. In addition, same substances were highly ranked when using default values like when using no default, but the scores of hydrofluoric acid and ryan and compounds were sensitive to default values. This study could be important that priorities were set including toxicity type and quality and local inherent exposure conditions and we can set area-specific management guidelines and survey plans as a screening tool.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.54-65
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• 2024

Background: There is growing international recognition of the need for improvements to national chemical management systems for hazardous chemicals. The European Union has recently introduced the concept of 'essential uses' as a new approach to the management hazardous chemicals by limiting their uses. Objectives: This paper examines the concept of essential uses in chemical management and how to apply it through a case study of essential use. This approach is distinct from the current chemical management system, but seeks to improve its potential benefits by effectively restricting or gradually decreasing the use of hazardous substances. Methods: The concept of essential uses was introduced by reviewing the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Cousins's three essentiality categories applied to PFAS, restriction options assessed in the PFAS restriction proposal under REACH, and the California Safer Consumer Products regulations prioritizing 6PPD in motor vehicle tires. Based on these essential uses concepts for PFAS and 6PPD, uses of benzene were classified in accordance with the essential uses approach for products using benzene in South Korea. Results: The essential use concept is able to manage the restriction and authorization of substances of concern through essential uses and non-essential uses and the feasible substitution of uses and substances. Conclusions: If the concept and methodology of essential uses are clearly established, they can be expected to shift the national chemical management paradigm from regulating substances to limiting uses under the existing substance management system.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.30 no.sup
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• pp.4.1-4.7
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• 2015

Objectives Approximately 2000 phase-in substances are subject to registration according to the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances (K-REACH), and the expected testing cost is 2.06 trillion Korean won assuming all the test data required for registration are acquired. The extent to which these enormous test costs can be reduced depends on the availability of existing data that can be used to meet the requirements of the K-REACH we examined the current availability of test data that can be used for chemical substance registration. Methods We analyzed the possibility of utilizing the existing test data obtained from 16 reference databases for 369 of 518 kinds of phase-in substances subject to registration that were reported in last October 2014. Results The physical and chemical properties were available for 57.1% of substances, whereas data regarding human hazards and environmental hazards were available at considerably lower rates, 8.5% and 11.8%, respectively. Conclusions Physical and chemical properties were available for a fairly high proportion, whereas human hazards and environmental hazards were reported for considerably fewer substances.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.276-286
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• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the contents characteristics of hazardous oil wastes and wastes of liquid fuels from different industrial process. In order to establish a hazardous waste list, samples of various industrial discharge have been analyzed for 16 non-regulated inorganic hazardous substances (i.e., Cu, Pb, Cd, CN, Hg, As, T-Cr, $Cr^{6+}$, Sb, Ni, F, V, Ba, Zn, Be, Se). In more detail, hazardous waste samples including waste hydraulic oils, waste engine, gear and lubricating oils, waste insulating and heat transmission oils, bilge oils, oil/water separator contents processing were collected from 37 workplaces and analyzed. We observed that the most of the inorganic substances exceeded the proposed criteria in many samples. Especially the concentration of Sb in heat transmission oil, bilge oil and gear & lubricating oils were ranged from 6 to 419 mg/kg whereas the proposed criteria is 50 mg/kg. The assessment result of hazardous waste in Korea according to the EWC showed that the out of 24 processes, 16 belongs to absolute entry and 8 belongs to mirror entry. In conclusion, we expect the outcome of this study to align the classification system of hazardous waste management in South Korea with international legislations, and consequently contribute to reduce environmental pollution as well as health risks by toxic wastes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.spc
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• pp.44-49
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• 2022

It is necessary to establish a marine environment management system in Korea for hazardous noxious substances (HNS) effluent from marine industrial facilities because the Marine Environment Management Act primarily focuses on pollution control from vessels and offshore man-made structures. In this study, we investigated the effluent guidelines of foreign cases focusing on the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), which provides detailed information on the action levels and establishing principles for the industrial wastewater discharge of HNS. Based on the review, we also considered appropriate options for establishing new guidelines for Korea.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2012

To prepare measures for practical policy utilization and the control of heavy metals, hazard control related institutions by country, present states of control by country, and present states of control by heavy metals were examined. Hazard control cases by heavy metals in various countries were compared and analyzed. In certain countries (e.g., the U.S., the U.K., and Japan), hazardous substances found in foods (e.g., arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury) are controlled. In addition, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) recommends calculating the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of individual heavy metals instead of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) to compare their pollution levels considering their toxicity accumulated in the human body. In Korea, exposure assessments have been conducted, and in other countries, hazardous substances are controlled by various governing bodies. As such, in Korea and other countries, diverse food heavy metal monitoring and human body exposure assessments are conducted, and reducing measures are prepared accordingly. To reduce the danger of hazardous substances, many countries provide leaflets and guidelines, develop hazardous heavy metal intake recommendations, and take necessary actions. Hazard control case analyses can assist in securing consumer safety by establishing systematic and reliable hazard control methods.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.394-404
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• 2020

Objectives: The aims of this study are to derive the characteristics of diesel exhaust gas emissions generated during vehicle checking in the garage of fire stations and of the related improvement plans for proper air quality management. Methods: The researcher measured changes in the air quality inside garages according to the operating conditions of the exhaust facility and before and after vehicle checking at three fire stations. Results: During the checking of fire engines, a large volume of hazardous substances exceeding management standards were generated, and improvement of the discharge facilities was required for proper air quality management. Conclusions: It is necessary to study the hazard evaluation of firefighters' exposure to exhaust gas, to operate exhaust gas ventilation facilities, and to prepare technical standards for proper indoor air quality management.