• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.174-183
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• 2021

Background: Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is a highly reactive chemical that causes sensitization and has also been associated with increased lung cancer. A risk assessment was conducted based on occupational epidemiologic estimates for several health outcomes. Methods: Exposure and outcome details were extracted from published studies and a NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation for new onset asthma, pulmonary function measurements, symptom prevalence, and mortality from lung cancer and respiratory disease. Summary exposure-response estimates were calculated taking into account relative precision and possible survivor selection effects. Attributable incidence of sensitization was estimated as were annual proportional losses of pulmonary function. Excess lifetime risks and benchmark doses were calculated. Results: Respiratory outcomes exhibited strong survivor bias. Asthma/sensitization exposure response decreased with increasing facility-average TDI air concentration as did TDI-associated pulmonary impairment. In a mortality cohort where mean employment duration was less than 1 year, survivor bias pre-empted estimation of lung cancer and respiratory disease exposure response. Conclusion: Controlling for survivor bias and assuming a linear dose-response with facility-average TDI concentrations, excess lifetime risks exceeding one per thousand occurred at about 2 ppt TDI for sensitization and respiratory impairment. Under alternate assumptions regarding stationary and cumulative effects, one per thousand excess risks were estimated at TDI concentrations of 10 - 30 ppt. The unexplained reported excess mortality from lung cancer and other lung diseases, if attributable to TDI or associated emissions, could represent a lifetime risk comparable to that of sensitization.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.220-225
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• 2017

Background: Benzene is a known occupational and environmental pollutant. Its urinary metabolite trans, trans-muconic acid (tt-MA) has been introduced by some environmental and occupational health regulatory associations as a biological index for the assessment of benzene exposure; however, recently, doubts have been raised about the specificity of tt-MA for low-level benzene exposures. In the present study, we investigated the association between urinary levels of tt-MA and inhalational exposure to benzene in different exposure groups. Methods: Benzene exposure was assessed by personal air sampling. Collected benzene on charcoal tube was extracted by carbon disulfide and determined by a gas chromatograph (gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector). Urinary tt-MA was extracted by a strong anion-exchange column and determined with high-performance liquid chromatography-UV. Results: Urinary levels of tt-MA in intensive benzene exposure groups (chemical workers and police officers) were significantly higher than other groups (urban and rural residents), but its levels in the last two groups with significant different exposure levels (mean = 0.081 ppm and 0.019 ppm, respectively) showed no significant difference (mean = $388{\mu}g/g$ creatinine and $282{\mu}g/g$, respectively; p < 0.05). Before work shift, urine samples of workers and police officers showed a high amount of tt-MA and its levels in rural residents' samples were not zero. Conclusion: Our results suggest that tt-MA may not be a reliable biomarker for monitoring low-level (below 0.5 ppm) benzene exposures.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to propose an indirect exposure assessment method using a questionnaire survey at a time when direct exposure assessment would be impossible after a chemical accident. Methods: About two weeks after an accident, a questionnaire survey was performed with 1,264 persons from the local community. Variables related to exposure were extracted from the survey contents, weighted and then graded for comparison with subjective symptoms in order to evaluate the extent of exposure. Survey items suitable for reflecting the previous exposure level during the accident were extracted, weighted and divided into quartile ranges. Subjective symptoms showed an increasing tendency with higher exposure level when compared with final exposure level (p<0.01). Results: For the relationship between the final exposure grade and subjective symptoms, as the exposure grade was increasing the rates complaining of symptom also showed an increasing tendency. However, when adjusted for demographic characteristics, there was a tendency for the eye irritation symptom to appear higher in women, and respiratory organ irritation appeared higher in smokers. Conclusions: When the problem of recall bias is considered, this study may not have completely unraveled exposure and the characteristics of the participants can affect subjective symptoms. Nevertheless, the exposure rating method of using a questionnaire showed a significant relationship with symptom level. It can be deemed that assessment of past exposure may be successfully evaluated by questionnaire in cases such as chemical accidents.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.110-122
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• 2006

Objective : This study was conducted to quantify chronic lead exposure from various media(ie. working environment, food, ambient air), and to certify the usefulness of exposure assessment using Monte-Carlo simulation in the fields of occupational health. Methods : Data were obtained from Korean Industrial Health Association, Korea Food and Drug Administration, and the Ministry of Environment. Then lead worker's exposure was estimated indirectly from various media and parameters (ie. volume inhaled, body weight, dietary intake, etc.). Uncertainty was analyzed by Monte Carlo simulation with Crystal Ball software. Exposure doses and hazard indices were simulated with various hypothetical scenarios including weekly working hours and respiratory protective equipment. Results : Without respiratory protective equipment, the total exposure dose per kilogram of body weight of lead workers was estimated as $5.45{\times}10^{-3}mg/kg/day$, and hazard index was estimated as 2.26, and exposure contributions were calculated as follows : working environment(82.42 %); foods(17.57 %); and ambient air(0.01 %). But, if working condition has changed - reduction of working hours and using respiratory protective equipment, the total exposure dose per kilogram of body weight was estimated between $1.34{\times}10^{-3}-1.49{\times}10^{-3}mg/kg/day$, and hazard index was estimated between 0.56 - 0.62. Conclusions : This study suggested that occurrence of hazardous impact(ie. increased blood pressure) through lifetime lead exposure would be expected, and that the Monte-Carlo simulation was useful for the fields of occupational health.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2003년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.31-34
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• 2003

The monitoring of genotoxic effect or oxidative DNA damage in workers exposed to hazardous materials is increasingly applied for hazard identification or risk assessment purposes in workplaces. The current generation of biomarkers has the potential to allow for the earlier detection of occupational disease, for the reduction of misclassification of exposure and outcome. (omitted)

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권8호
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• pp.1784-1791
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• 2020

The 14 MeV neutron generator facility is being developed by the Institute for Plasma Research India to conduct the lab scale experiments related to Indian breeding blanket system for ITER and DEMO. It will also be utilized for material testing, shielding experiments and development of fusion diagnostics. Occupational radiation exposure control is necessary for the all kind of nuclear facilities to get the operational licensing from governing authorities and nuclear regulatory bodies. In the same way, the radiation exposure for the 14 MeV neutron generator facility at the occupational worker area and accessible zones for general workers should be under the permissible limit of AERB India. The generator is designed for the yield of 10¹² n/s. The shielding assessment has been made to estimate the radiation dose during the operational time of the neutron generator. The facility has many utilities and constraints like ventilation ducts, accessible doors, accessibility of neutron generator components and to conduct the experiments which make the shielding assessment challenging to provide proper safety for occupational workers and the general public. The neutron and gamma dose rates have been estimated using the MCNP radiation transport code and ENDF -VII nuclear data libraries. The ICRP-74 fluence to dose conversion coefficients has been used for the assessment. The annual radiation exposure has been assessed by considering 500 h per year operational time. The provision of local shield near to neutron generator has been also evaluated to reduce the annual radiation doses. The comprehensive results of radiation shielding capability of neutron generator building and local shield design have been presented in the paper along with detailed maps of radiation field.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.19-26
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• 2005

In previous report, we presented that petroleum based solvents used in dry cleaning shop was almost similar to stoddard solvent defined by ACGIH and NIOSH, and the occupational exposure standard of stoddard solvent could be used in total exposure assessment of those solvents. The specific aim of the this study was to evaluate of the solvent exposure used in commercial dry cleaning shops by using occupational exposure standard of stoddard solvent. We conducted first survey of 8 self-employed dry cleaning shops and 5 factory type dry cleaning shops from July to August, and second survey of the same shops from October to November in 2002. The exposure concentration to the solvent during loading and unloading activity of vented dry cleaning machine was 489.2ppm(GM), 270.3ppm(GM), respectively, which was almost excursion limit(500ppm) of ACGIH, and exceed the ceiling limit(312ppm) of NIOSH. The time-weighted average (TWA) worker exposure to the solvent was 21.3ppm(GM) at self-employed shops, 20.7ppm(GM) at factory type shops on first survey, and 31.1ppm(GM), 33.7ppm(GM), respectively on second survey. The TWA exposure concentration of workers with spotting and cleaning machine operating job was 25.4ppm(GM), which was 2.9 times higher than the TWA exposure concentration, 8.8ppm(GM) of press workers. All TWA exposure concentrations was lower than OEL(100ppm) of stoddard solvent. We found that the most heavy exposure process at dry cleaning was loading, unloading process, and the vent of dry cleaning machine was the main emission source for workers exposure to petroleum based solvent.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.249-255
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide technical information about the management of occupational exposure limits(OELs) for substances with completely revised ACGIH TLVs. Methods: The history of ACGIH TLVs for aluminum compounds, the reason for the complete revision of the related ACGIH TLV in 2008, and OELs for them in respective countries were reviewed. In addition, the results of a 2019 work environment assessment for aluminum compounds in Korea were reviewed. Results: In 1979, the ACGIH set up the TLVs for aluminum compounds considering types of compounds such as metal dust, pyro powders, welding fumes, soluble salts, alkyls, and aluminum oxide. However, in 2008 the ACGIH withdrew the TLVs for all types of aluminum and its compounds and adopted new TLVs for aluminum metal and insoluble compounds. This can cause confusion in many countries in the management of exposure to aluminum compounds because they adopt or refer to the ACGIH TLVs. Conclusion: Although Korea is setting occupational exposure limits by referring to the ACGIH's TLVs, it is necessary to sufficiently review whether it is necessary to accept the TLVs as they are if a TLV is completely changed, like took place with the revision of aluminum compounds in 2008.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.100-106
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• 2012

Objectives: Diazinon is an insecticide which acts as a contact stomach and respiratory poison, and used throughout the world to control a wide range of sucking and chewing insects and mites on a range of crops. In this study, the airborne diazinon levels were measured for farmers, pest control operaters, landscapers, and agricultural chemicals sellers, and an assessment of the health risk to the workers was presented. The exposure scenario was based on the route of inhalation and skin absorption. The "OSHA Method No. 62" was used to sample and measure the airborne diazinon levels. The skin wipe method was applied to measure the level of the diazinone exposure through the skin. For the determination of exposure scenario, the exposure factors were surveyed for the daily average inhalation rate and the exposure period and frequency and time of diazinone as well as the body weight and lifetime of the workers. The median values of exposure frequency and exposure time were selected after evaluating the validity of those. Methods: The highest level of the diazinon exposure in the air was $107.21ug/m^3$ in farmers, followed by $93.53ug/m^3$ in landscapers, at $31.40ug/m^3$ in pest control operators, and $1.04ug/m^3$ in agricultural chemical seller. The amount of skin absorption was the highest in farmers at 63.39 ug/day, followed by landscapers at 10.47 ng/day, pest control operaters at 4.26 ng/day, and agricultural chemicals sellers at 0.34 ng/day. The hazardous indices calculated using toxicological reference value were 2.79 for pest control operaters, 0.41 for landscapers, 0.07 for agricultural chemicals sellers, and 0.06 for farmers. Conclusions: While the farmers were exposed to the high levels of diazinon through the air and skin, the pest control operaters, landscapers and agricultural chemicals sellers have more the diazinon hazards than the farmer based on the risk assessment in this study.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.73-79
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• 2011

The growing interest in nanotechnology has resulted in increasing concern and a number of published environmental and workplace measurements for assessing occupational exposure to engineered nanomaterials. However, the amount of previous exposure data remains limited. Furthermore the data available was collected with extensive variation in terms of exposure measurement strategy, which limits the ability to pool the data in the future. In response, this paper reviewed several pertinent issues related to exposure measurement strategy to suggest a harmonized measurement strategy which would make exposure data more useful in the future, e.g. correlation between exposure metrics, relationship between activity and exposure, task-based or shift-based assessment, background concentration, limitation of personal exposure monitoring and other determinants of exposure/modeling. An improved sampling strategy for nanomaterial exposure assessment should be considered in order to maximize the use of the data from various real time monitoring instruments.