• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.81-95
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• 1994

This study was performed in a diatomite factory where silicosis had been found at October, 1993. The major objectives were to evaluate worker exposure to diatomaceous earth and to present engineering control methods for workplace management. Total and respirable dust of diatomaceous earth were measured. Size distribution of dust was analyzed by applying the multiple diffraction method. Also crystalline silica in respirable dust samples was analyzed qualitatively by X-ray diffraction. The suitable Local Exhaust Ventilation systems for that factory were recommended. The results were as follows. The airborne total and respirable dust concentrations by exposure groups showed approximate normal distribution. The means of total dust exposures at flour maufacturing, fire brick grinding and packaging, ceramic raws packaging processes exceeded Korean and ACGIH standards, $10mg/m^3$. The means of total and respirable dust concentrations to high exposure groups were 6.8 and 3.9 times higher than those of low expousre groups, respectively. The size distribution of diatomaceous earth dust was lognormal with a median diameter of $7.07{\mu}m$(range, $0.10-60.0{\mu}m$) and with a geometric standard deviation of 1.43. The crystalline silica in respirable dust samples was identified to quartz and cristobalite and/or tridymite. Above results suggest that engineering controls and periodic environmental and medical surveillances will be important for preventing silicosis in the diatomite factory.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.328-334
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• 2009

There are various methods for welding fume control. These methods can be divided into local exhaust system, general ventilation system and integrated control system. With the general ventilation system, we should have a good prediction tool for testing various appropriate control options. But, until now there are not many studies about how to predict the welding fume concentrations. Especially, the prediction of welding fume concentration is not a very easy task because welding fume is the particulate matters. In this study, we tried to measure $CO_2$ concentrations and welding fume concentrations in a small single room with a small ventilation opening. Using commercially available CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software, we tried to predict $CO_2$ concentrations under the exactly same conditions. Then, we tried to compare the numerical $CO_2concentrations$ with the experimental results to know whether we could predict $CO_2$ concentrations. Then we tried to compare $CO_2$ concentrations with experimental welding fume concentrations to know whether we can use the numerical $CO_2concentrations$ to predict the welding fume concentration indirectly.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.446-452
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• 2014

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the exposure status of formaldehyde(FA) among the nurses in ambulatory care departments of university hospital. Methods: Two university hospitals were surveyed. The FA concentration in air were measured to target 62 nurses in 8 ambulatory care departments(89 samples). Air sampling and analysis of FA were carried out according to the OSHA Method ID-205. The survey was conducted with questionnaire asking about how to control FA and whether the nurses use the formaldehyde protectors or not. Results: FA was detected in all samples. The maximum concentration of FA was 0.258 ppm and the geometric mean was 0.023 ppm. There was no sample that exceeded any of exposure standards by OSHA-TWA whereas there were 54 samples(60.7%) that exceeded the standards by NOISH-TWA. Among 62 nurses handling FA, 13 nurses(21.0%) used the protective gloves while nobody used a gas mask. It was assessed that any of 8 common ambulatory care departments did not use a safety cabinet for FA in which local exhaust ventilation was fixed. Conclusions: Nurses in ambulatory care departments were exposed to FA. Therefore, the environment management of a workplace, the health management of a nurses, FA handling education and installing a FA cabinet with a local exhaust ventilation were needed because FA as a carcinogen was able to cause any cancer to a human body if it was emitted in air for long time.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.225-235
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• 2010

This study was aimed to assess the status of working environment, health care management status and cause of exposure in manufactories using dimethylformamide (DMF). For the purpose, airborne concentration of DMF in the workplaces and N-methylformamide (NMF) in worker's urine were measured with job type and process. In addition, management of local exhaust ventilation system (LEV) and personal protective equipment (PPE) was evaluated at 35 work places (107 workers) located in Busan and Gimhae area. Mean DMF concentrations in work places by job type and process were of high level measured in printing and record media reproduction (5.23 ppm) and flaking process (2.48 ppm). Workers in adhesive job were measured a large amount of urine NMF (21.59 mg/${\ell}$). 98.1% of DMF handling workers were provided respirators, but 67.3% of those workers used them. The main reasons for not using respirators were inconvenience and difficulty of breathing. Airborne concentrations of DMF were higher in the workplaces in which LEVs were working abnormally, but there was not statistically significant. In addition, the urine NMF levels were correlated with management of LEV within the workers who did not use the respirators (p<0.048). These results implied that LEV should be installed and maintained properly to protect the workers from the exposure to DMF. Management of PPE should be also necessary to protect the workers from chemical hazards.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2014

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate occupational symptoms and chemical exposures of nail salon technicians. Methods: Work-related symptoms of nail salon technicians in Daegu City were surveyed using a researcher-administered questionnaire, and responses were compared to those of non-exposed office workers as controls. Personal exposure level of airborne volatile organic compounds was also monitored using passive samplers. Results: A total of 159 subjects in 120 salons were interviewed. Average work-shift concentrations of 13 chemicals were measured for 50 workers from 30 salons using personal passive samplers. The most frequently reported respiratory or neurologic symptoms by nail shop technicians compared to controls were nose irritation (odds ratio [OR], 54.0; confidence interval [CI], 21.6 to 134.8), followed by headache (OR, 9.3; CI, 4.7 to 18), and throat irritation (OR, 4.3; CI, 2.2 to 8.5). For eyes and skin, 92% of respondents complained eye irritation (OR, 13.1; CI, 5.7 to 30.1). In musculoskeletal symptoms, workers reported pain or discomfort in shoulders (OR, 20.3; CI, 7.7 to 54) and neck (OR, 19.7; CI, 8.9 to 43.6). From personal measurements, the proportion of exceeding the Korean Occupational Exposure Limit was the highest for acetone with 64%, followed by toluene (50%), butyl acetate (46%), and methyl methacrylate (12%). However, the service was being provided without a proper ventilation system in most surveyed shops. Conclusions: Based on these findings, it is warranted to have appropriate local exhaust ventilation place to ensure adequate health protection of nail shop technicians as well as customers. At the same time, greater policy interests are warranted in nail care business to protect health of both workers and customers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.336-342
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• 2019

Introduction: An unexpected death was reported in a beginner immediately after starting the work at a plating factory. After the incident, air sampling was performed using a simulation of the situation as it had been at the time. Methods: To evaluate the airborne concentration of hydrogen cyanide, a total of six samples were collected: one personal sample, three area samples, and two background samples (office and outdoors). Hydrogen cyanide measurement was performed according to the standard sampling protocol recommended by the U.S. NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health). Results: The highest concentration of hydrogen cyanide was 0.938 ppm measured in a sample collected from the plating bath area with local exhaust ventilation. This value was approximately 20% of the ceiling occupational exposure limit. The personal sample showed a concentration of 0.135 ppm. Samples collected near the bath in which the incident occurred and a dehydrator showed hydrogen cyanide concentrations of 0.236 ppm and 0.101 ppm, respectively. Hydrogen cyanide was not detected in the background samples (office and outdoors). Conclusions: It is necessary to use proper ventilation systems and respirators in plating factories to prevent acute poisoning. Furthermore, it is important to educate and train new workers dealing with toxic substances.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.143-149
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to propose a management method to maintain the pleasant indoor air quality of the dental clinic by measuring and analyzing the indoor air quality of the dental clinic. The measurement was conducted in two rooms, a lobby where many residents stay in the reception room for waiting for medical treatment, and a VIP room where treatment activities are mainly performed. Measurement items are Temperature, Humidity, $CO_2$, CO, $NO_2$, $CH_2O$, VOC, $PM_{10}$ and measurement were taken on April 27, 2018. As a result of analyzing the temperature and humidity of the dental clinic, it was analyzed that the average indoor temperature was maintained at $25^{\circ}C$ and the humidity was kept at around 50%, maintaining proper indoor temperature and humidity environment. $CO_2$ was 855ppm in the VIP Room, which satisfied the maintenance standard. In the case of the lobby, it was analyzed to be 1,160ppm, which exceeded the maintenance standard and it is judged that the carbon dioxide generated by the respiration of the people staying in the lobby is the main reason. The mean concentration of formaldehyde in the VIP room was analyzed as $436{\mu}g/m^3$, exceeding the maintenance standard, and $2,100{\mu}g/m^3$ for the VOC exceeded the recommended standard. It was analyzed that the concentration was relatively higher due to the use of disinfectant and other drugs. The mean concentration of PM-10 in the lobby was analyzed as $65{\mu}g/m^3$ and it was analyzed that it satisfied the maintenance standard. To maintain a pleasant indoor air quality in a dental clinic it is necessary to minimize the effects of formaldehyde, VOC, $CO_2$ in the VIP rooms and lobby. For this purpose, the entire ventilation system and air purification system of the dental clinic should be installed. In case of the VIP room, local exhaust ventilation should be installed and workers should wear personal protective equipment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2022

Objectives: Fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer which is one of the material extrusion (MEX) technologies is an additive manufacturing (AM) process. 3D printers have been distributed widely in Korea, particularly in school and office, even at home. Several studies have shown that nanoparticles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were emitted from an FDM 3D printing process. The objective of this study was to identify types of chemicals possibly emitted from FDM 3D printing materials such as PLA (polylactic acid), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), nylon, PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol), PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), PC (polycarbonate) filaments. Methods: 19 FDM 3D printing filaments which have been distributed in Korea were selected and analyzed VOCs emitted of 3D printing materials by headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (headspace GC-MS). Subsamples were put into a vial and heated up to 200℃ (500 rpm) during 20 minutes before analyzing FDM 3D printing filaments. Results: In the case of PLA filament, lactide and methyl methacrylate, the monomer components of one, were detected, and the volume ratio ranged 27~93%, 0.5~37% respectively. In the case of ABS filaments, styrene (50.5~59.1%), the monomer components of one, was detected. Several VOCs among acetaldehyde, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, etc were detected from each FDM 3D printing filaments. Conclusions: Several VOCs, semi-VOCs were emitted from FDM 3D printing filaments in this study and previous studies. Users were possibly exposed to ones so that we strongly believe that we recommend to install the ventilation system such as a local exhaust ventilation (LEV) when they operate the FDM 3D printers in a workplace.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.19-33
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to systematically identify situations where exposure levels are expected to be high by structuring domestic lead measurement data according to exposure processes and activities. Methods: Occupational exposure data on lead was collected from the results of the Evaluation of Reliability of Working Environment Measurement conducted by the government from 2019 to 2020. Lead exposure characteristics were analyzed by PROC (process category) and activity. The Risk Characterization Ratios (RCRs) of five PROCs according to ventilation type and lead content were evaluated using the MEASE (Metal's EASE) model. Results: The exposure data on lead (n=250) was classified into 12 PROCs and 12 activities, with an average concentration of 0.040 mg/m³ and about 14% exceeding the occupational exposure limit of 0.05 mg/m³. Processes with high exposure levels were PROC 7 (industrial spraying), 23 (open processing and transfer operations of molten metal), 24 (mechanical treatment), 25 (welding), and 26 (handling of powder containing lead). The results of evaluating RCR for the five PROCs were greater than 1 or close to 1 even if local exhaust ventilation was used. Conclusions: There is a possibility that the concentration of exposure is high in the casting and tapping of molten metal containing lead, mechanical treatment such as fracturing and abrasion, handling of powder, spraying, battery manufacturing, and waste battery recycling processes. It is necessary to implement chemical management policies for workplaces with such processes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.98-108
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• 2000

Controlling the over-exposure of welding fumes is not an easy problem because neither general nor local exhaust ventilation systems could be successfully applied. A jet air supplying welding mask was development to reduce the exposure level of welding fumes. The jet airs tream pushes the welding fumes away from the breathing zone by using the frictional characteristic of jet. Laboratory experiments were conducted to optimize the efficiency of controlling welding fumes. Thereafter, its performance was tested in a laboratory and an industrial field. The efficiencies of reducing the welding fume exposure were about 90% and 80% in a laboratory and an industrial field, respectively. Additionally, it resulted in elimination of heat inside the mask and enhancement of clear visuality.