• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.221-237
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• 1991

This study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy and the precision of asbestos counting data produced by the Division of Industrial Health, School of Public Health, Seoul National Universitys (SNU). The study was performed from July 18 to October 4, 1991, and the results are summarized as follows. 1. Intracounter Relative Standard Deviations (Sr) in the category of 5-50.5 fibers as total fibers counted ranged from 0.27 to 0.37, which were greater than 0.10-0.17 which were reported by the NIOSH. The reasons are supposed to be as follows. First, inexperience of counters in asbestos fiber counting was considered to be a main reason. Second, poor quality of samples due to sampling and mounting error increased variation of counting. Third, fiber density of many samples were less than $100fibers/mm^2$. But Intracounter Relative Standard Deviations (Sr) in samples with >50.5 fibers ranged from 0.l6 to 0.20, approaching the value 01 NIOSH. 2. Intralaboratory Relative Standard Deviations (Sr) in categories of 5-20.5, >20.5-50.5 and >50.5 fibers were 0.54, 0.37 and 0.26, respectively. Intralaboratory Sr in samples with fiber density greater than $100fibers/mm^2$ was 0.26. This was similar to the values reported by other foreign experienced laboratories. 3. Comparing results of three counters, Counter C, a beginner, overestimated asbestos fiber concentrations. 4. Since our SNU laboratory has participated in two quality control programs, IOMA-F.R.I.C.A., U.K. and NIOSH PAT Program, U.S.A., this laboratory has been evaluated as " Rating 1" and "Proficient" laboratory, by IOM and NIOSH, respectively.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.396-416
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• 2021

Objectives: This study was conducted to analyze the trends of government R&D (R&D) projects related to laboratory safety over the past 20 years. Methods: We collected publications from various databases(DBs) with words such as laboratory(ies), lab(s), researcher(s), laboratory worker(s), safety, environment, hazard(s), risk(s), and so on. Selected publications were analyzed by the research funds and the number of projects according to the investment subject and research characteristics. Results: About 93% of the total R&D budget went to government policy projects, not scientific research. Second, from the perspective of 'safety management activities', most of the research is related to management and inspection at the organizational level. Issues that need to be discussed at the national level like policy governance are not included. Third, focusing on the 'safety management cycle', there were few studies related to 'prediction' or 'post-response'. Fourth, when an analysis framework combining the perspectives of 'safety management activities' and 'safety management cycle' is applied, most of the budget is spent on infrastructure such as digital management systems, whereas basic knowledge for prevention and production of evidence was very few. Conclusions: In order to prevent policy planning without policy evaluation, implementation without strategy, and evaluation without evidence, it is necessary to expand investment in empirical research on risks, research on the effectiveness of current application methods, and research on theory development. The government budget for laboratory safety-related projects should be managed separately from the R&D budget for scientific research. Although less than 5% of the budget allocated to scientific research is the total budget, an optical illusion occurs because both the project budget and the scientific research budget are counted as R&D budgets.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.14-17
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• 2024

Objectives: This is a case of air exposure assessment conducted after researchers complained of headaches and odor due to residual substances from fire extinguishing agents spread throughout the laboratory due to a malfunction of the fire extinguishing facility. Methods: A component analysis was conducted on the residual substances of a fire extinguishing agent spread in a laboratory using Py-GC-MS (pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry) at the research institute's own central equipment research center. As a result of the component analysis, several types of substances were detected. Among these, five types of substances subject to work environment measurement in the aromatic hydrocarbon series, which can affect headaches and odor, were selected as substances subject to exposure assessment in the air, and the measurement and analysis methods of the target substances were conducted in accordance with the KOSHA Guide for each substance. Conclusions: The measurement results showed that all 5 types of substances were not detected at locations A, B, and C. This is believed to be the result of the residual substances in the fire extinguishing agent being measured when approximately two months had elapsed after being exposed to the test bench, and the substances already exposed had volatilized and disappeared. In this survey, it is believed that the measurement process is more important than the measurement results.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.171-180
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• 1997

The objectives of this study were both 10 discuss the sampling method for airborne metalworking fluids(MWF)' mist and 10 suggest measures to minimize worker's exposure to carcinogen contained in metalworking fluids. In order to measure airborne MWF mist, it seems to be appropriate to use NIOSH Method #0500(filler weight) rather than NIOSH Method # 5026(analysis by FTIR). Because MWF mist on PVC filter evaporated and migrated during sampling, worker's exposure to MWF could be underestimated. So, when evaluating worker's exposure to MWF mist, other environmental conditions also must be considered. Enclosure and local exhaust ventilation system seems to he the most effective measure and must be constructed with process facility. In order to control worker exposure to carcinogens contained in MWF, distillation type and condition for crude oil, PAH concentration in MWF, and viscosity index of MWF must legally be described.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.164-173
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• 2012

Objectives: Epichlorohydrin is a material that has been predicted to have high volatility and strong toxicity and is used normally in working area. Therefore, the hazardous and dangerous level and the foreign management system about epichlorohydrin should be invested at home and abroad and through hazard assessment for occupational environment measurement and exposure status of industrial workers in domestic working area. Methods: To assess risk and to suggest Development and Adoption to prevent health damage of workers owing to the epichlorohydrin exposure, the hazardousness and dangerousness of epichlorohydrin and its practical examples and regulation level for domestic and abroad health impairment are researched on the base of various references. Results: The epichlorohydrin caused skin and mucus membrane irritation, respiratory paralysis, kidney and live damage under the influence of acute toxicity and in animal study, it was confirmed as a doubtful carcinogenic substance to trigger reducement of sperm number and reproduction ability, abnormal spermatogenesis, mutagen, increase of forestomach epithelium and occurrence of papilloma and so on, as well as it induced stimulus asthma and allergic contact dermatitis for exposure workers. Conclusions: Epichlorohydrin was found to occur allergic contact dermatitis, carcinogenesis doubt and reproduction toxicity and was verified as a material which would be established reinforcement of management level to care health of handlers, such as denotement dangerousness of skin absorption.

• 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.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.95-104
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• 1998

This Study was conducted at nine Histological Laboratories in the hospitals located in Seoul from August 20 to October 10, 1996. The main purpose of this study was to assess the TWA & STEL exposure to formaldehyde and to evaluate factors affecting formaldehyde concentration in Histological Laboratory. With evaluated factors, proper improvement strategy to minimize exposure was suggested. The results are summarized as follows ; 1. The TWA concentrations of the personal samples ranged from 0.02 to 3.86 ppm and that of one laboratory out of nine was exceeding 0.75 ppm, USA OSHA standard. The TWA concentrations of the area samples ranged from 0.08 ppm to 1.49 ppm and those of three laboratories out of nine were exceeding OSHA standard. 2. When measurement was conducted on the working tables. around Formaldehyde vessel, fixation container and storage cabinet, the geometric means of TWA concentrations were 0.62 ppm, 0.64 ppm. 0.58 ppm and 0.37 ppm respectively. 3. When overnight fixed specimens were examined, the STEL concentrations of personal samples ranged from 0.59 ppm to 5.01 ppm, those of three laboratories out of nine were exceeding 2 ppm, OSHA standard and the STEL concentrations of area samples ranged from 0.31 ppm to 3.08 ppm, those of four laboratories from nine were exceeding OSHA standard. 4. Factors affecting Formaldehyde exposure level were sanitation state of laboratory, volume of the room and opening state of fixation container & formaldehyde vessel(p<0.05).

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.99-108
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the regulatory systems for laboratory safety and health management between Korea and Germany and discuss the implications. Methods: Laboratory safety and health regulations for legal enforcement and relevant technical guidelines in Korea and Germany were reviewed. Results: Lab safety and health management is enforced by the Act on the Establishment of Safe Laboratory Environment in Korea. Most provisions focus on supervisory control, that is, the principal's liability is emphasized. In addition, there is a lack of laboratory-specific procedures for safety and health management in the act since it is stipulated that other relevant regulations apply to some technical contents. Non-compulsory technical guidelines for lab safety and health management are also provided by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) in order to enable researchers to follow safe procedures. There is no independent regulation for lab safety and health in Germany, and it is also governed by several regulations. The German Social Accident Insurance Institute provides technical guidelines on lab safety and health, and these contain more specific content to allow them to be followed more easily compared to the KOSHA guidelines. The most remarkable differences between the regulation of each country were contents of the risk assessment and specific protect measures from hazardous agents. Conclusions: Regulatory control is an essential way to prevent accidents, but it is more important to create an environment in which all stakeholders, including individual lab members, are allowed to participate actively in safety and health management activities.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Objective: Significant concerns have been raised over chemical exposure and potential health risks such as increased cancer mortality among laboratory workers. The aim of this study was to investigate the overall exposure and unit task exposure levels of researchers in organic synthesis laboratories at universities. Methods: Seventy-seven personal Time-weighted average(TWA) samples and 139 task-based samples from four organic synthesis laboratories at two universities were collected over three days. The concentrations of acetone, chloroform, dichloromethane(DCM), diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, tetrahydrofuran(THF), benzene, toluene, and xylene were determined using the GC-FID. Results: The most frequently used chemicals in the laboratories were acetone, DCM, n-hexane, methanol, and THF. Carcinogens such as benzene, chloroform, and DCM were used in one or more laboratories. The TWA full-shift exposures of researchers to acetone was the highest(ND-59.3 ppm). Benzene was observed above the occupational exposure limit in 18-40% of the samples. The levels of exposure to organic solvents were statistically different by task(p<0.05), while washing task was the highest. Washing was not perceived as a part of the real lab tasks. Rather it was considered as simple dish-washing or experimental preparation and performed in an open sink where exposure to organic solvents was unavoidable. TWAs and task-based concentrations were compared by substance, which suggests that TWA-based assessment could not reflect short-term and high concentration exposures. Conclusions: Laboratory workers may be exposed to various organic solvents at levels of concern. TWA-based measurement alone cannot guarantee holistic exposure assessment among lab workers as their exposures are very dependent on their tasks. Further investigation and characterization for specific tasks and overall chronic exposures will help protect lab workers from unnecessary exposure to chemicals while they perform research.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.163-171
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• 2022

Objectives: Fit performance may vary depending on the ambient aerosol number and ratio in respective test environment. Although several instrument can measure it, they differ with respect to the measurement principle and the range of ambient aerosols collected to calculate the fit factor. Methods: In this study, the fit performance between a condensation nuclei counter(CNC) and an optical particle counter(OPC) was compared according to ambient aerosol number concentration, and evaluated consistency. One type respirators(N95 masks) was worn by 50 participants PortaCount®(Pro+ 8038) and MT®(05U) were connected with one probe to one mask, and Fit Factors(FFs) were measured simultaneously. Results: The interclass correlation coefficient of the fit factor and ambient aerosol number, as measured by the two instrument, was 0.82 and 0.79, respectively, indicating a high consistency level. On the other hand there was a significant correlation between the successful test performance of the OPC instrument and the ambient aerosol number. Conclusions: The test was passed with the CNC and OPC instruments when the ambient aerosol number was 635-3,332 particles/cm³ and 368-1,976 particles/cm³, respectively. Thus, the ideal ambient aerosol number of particles differed between the two instrument.