• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.203-213
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• 2010

This study examined the wearing conditions of working clothes of shipbuilding industry workers according to the working environmental factors and working process features. It was also investigated the relationship between the wearing sense of working clothes and the overall comfort according to work processes. In the working process of shipbuilding industry, the process of fitting, welding, grinding and painting were chosen by considering work environmental factors, disaster types, hazardous materials, work process features, working clothes and safety equipments of each work categorized. The workers of fitting process usually wore the standard working clothes, while more than 60% of the workers of welding, grinding and painting wore the specialized protective clothes. The hazardous work environmental factors such as noise, heavy dust, high temperature and noxious fumes affected to the workers of fitting, welding and grinding. However, the workers of painting were greatly damaged by organic solvent. The dissatisfaction with the wearing performance of working clothes was highly shown in the sweat absorbency, moisture permeability and body protection. In respect of the correlation between the overall comfort and the wearing sense of working clothes, the satisfaction was decreased in orders of movement comfort> sensual comfort> physiological comfort.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.177-187
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• 1993

The exposure levels of mixed organic solvents for 66 exposed workers in six paint manufacturing plants were evaluated. In 66 exposed workers and 30 control subjects, we also determined the concentrations of toluene and xylene metabolites, hippuric acid, ($o^-$, $m^-$, and $p^-$)methylhippuric acid. The results were as follow ; 1. Seven organic compounds, which on averge accounted for approximately 90% of the identified mass in each painting plants air samples, were selected for quantification : methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, toluene, butyl acetate, ethyl benzene, ($o^-$, $m^-$, $p^-$)xylene. 2. The average mixed organic solvent exposure levels in 66 points with workplce were 3.8ppm of MEK, 12.2ppm of ethyl acetate, 4.0ppm of MIBK, 28.7ppm of toluene, 3.8ppm of butyl acetate, 10.2ppm of ethyl benzene, 14.6ppm of xylene, respectively. 3. For the total 66 points with workplace, the rate of them of which mixed solvents in air was exceeded th TLV of 1.0 were obtained for 23%(15/66 point). 4. The concentrations of hippuric acid in urine of exposed group and control were $0.94{\pm}0.65g/g$ of creatinine, $0.16{\pm}0.11g/g$ of creatinine, respectively. 5. There was a linear correlation between the end shift hippuric acid acid levels in urine and exposed toluene in air : y=0.02079X+494.2, r=0.6488, n=55 y:hippuric acid in urine(mg/g of creatinine), x:toluene levels in air(ppb) Toluene levels of 100ppm in air have been caculated to hippuric acid of 2.57g/g of creatinine in urine. 6. There was a linear correlation between the end shift methylhippuric acid acid levels in urine and exposed xylene in air : y=0.01664X+31.6, r=0.7264, n=55 y:methylhippuric acid in urine(mg/g of crea.), x:xylene levels in air(ppb) Xylene levels of 100ppm in air have been caculated to methylhippuric acid of 1.69g/g of creatinine in urine.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.365-374
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate whether long-term, low-level exposure to monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) induced insulin resistance. Methods: The subjects were 110 male workers who were occupationally exposed to styrene, toluene, and xylene. One hundred and ten age-matched male workers who had never been occupationally exposed to organic solvents were selected as a control group. Cytokines, which have played a key role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, and oxidative stress indices were measured. Assessment of exposure to MAHs was performed by measuring their ambient levels and their urinary metabolites in exposed workers, and the resulting parameters between the exposed group and non-exposed control groups were compared. Results: There was no significant difference in general characteristics and anthropometric parameters between the two groups; however, total cholesterol, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance levels were significantly higher in the exposed group. Phenylglyoxylic acid levels showed significant association with tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, total oxidative status, and oxidative stress index via multiple linear regression analysis. Further, there was a negative correlation between methylhippuric acid levels and total anti-oxidative capacity, and there was a significant relationship between MAHs exposure and fasting glucose levels, as found by multiple logistic regression analysis (odds ratio = 3.95, 95% confidence interval = 1.074-14.530). Conclusion: This study indicated that MAHs increase fasting glucose level and insulin resistance. Furthermore, these results suggested that absorbing the organic solvent itself and active metabolic intermediates can increase oxidative stress and cytokine levels, resulting in the changes in glucose metabolism and the induction of insulin resistance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.156-167
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• 2010

To evaluate the effect of lead biomarkers including bone lead on neurobehavioral test in retired lead workers, 131 retired lead workers without any occupational exposure to organic solvent, mercury and arsenic were agreed to participate this study. For the control subjects 56 non-occupationally lead exposed subjects were recruited from same area of retired lead workers with consideration of demographic characteristics. The mean levels of blood and bone lead of retired lead workers were significantly higher than control group and there were significant correlation among other lead biomarkers. Compared with controls without occupational lead exposure, lead exposured subjects had worse performance on 10 tests out of 12 neurobehavioral tests, but only two tests(Purdue pegboard nondominant and both hand) showed statistical significance of differences. In multiple linear regression analysis of neurobehavioral tests with lead biomarkers and demographic and lifestyle variables, age was associated negatively with 11 neurobehavioral tests, whereas log-transformed ZPP was associated with Purdue pegboard(both hand) and Santa Ana manual dexterity(non-dominant hand). On the other hand, tibia lead was associated Pursuit aiming test(correct) and Purdue pegboard(dominant hand) and calcaneal lead was associated with Purdue pegboard(dominant hand). This study confirmed that among all relevant variables age was most significantly associated with the poor performance of neurobehavioral tests. The blood lead did not have any significant association with neurobehavioral tests, but tibia and calcaneal bone lead and blood ZPP showed significant association with a few tests even after more than mean 9 years from their retirements.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.9 no.1_2
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• pp.37-51
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• 1994

To evaluate the genotoxicities of workers exposed to glue and glue cleaning solution, ambient air monitoring of working place, animal study and human monitoring were carried out. By GC-MS analysis, air samples collected from shoesmaking plant were found to be toluene, xylene, cyclohexane, n-hexane, methyl ethyl ketone, trichloroethylene, butylacetate, isopropyl alcohol. Glue and glue cleaning solution from shoesmaking plant were applicated topically to the CD-1 mice. DNA was isolated from skin 24 hr following the application and analysed for DNA-adducts using the nuclease $P_1$version of $^{32}$P-postlabelling assay. RAL (Relative Adduct Labelling, adducts$10^8$ nucleotides) was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner in the glue cleaning solution treated mice skin. Peripheral blood DNA-adducts of workers exposed to glue and glue cleaning solution were also analysed by the same method, but there were not significant differences in the peripheral blood DNA-adducts level between exposed and control workers. In addition, glue cleaning solution from shoes factory was evaluated for mutagenicity in the Salmonella plate incorporation assay using strains TA 100 and TA 1535 in the presence and absence of Arochlor 1254-induced rat liver S$_{9}$. There was evident mutagenicity for cleaning solution in TA 100 regardless of $S_9$, but TA 1535 showed positive only in the absence of $S_9$when predicted by Stead model of mutagenicity prediction (p=0.0000). The urine concentrates from workers and controls were also assayed for mutagenicity towards strain TA 100 of Salmonella typhimurium in the presence of $S_9$ using Kado's microsuspension assay, but their mutagenic activities were not found to be significant. These data suggest that shoesmaking workers are exposed to genotoxic compounds and need to be monitored by testing the mutagenicity of human urines. However, $^{32}$P-postlabelling application requires further validation for the routine monitoring of human exposure.osure.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.136-145
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic slovents and noise on hearing loss. We selected organic solvents exposed group of 32 cases, noise exposed group of 31 cases, both noise and solvent exposed group of 31 cases, and control group of 53 cases and studied the relation between exposure level of noise and organic solvents and degree of hearing loss. The results were as follows. The subjects under investigation were exposed to noise and organic solvents under threshold limit values and the amount of urinary hippuric acid excretion were also under biological exposure indices. In case of noise, both noise and organic solvents exposed group and noise exposed group were more exposed than organic solvents exposed group(p<0.05). When urinary hippuric acid excretion were concerned, both noise iud organic solvents exposed group and organic solvents exposed group showed higher values than noise exposed group(p<0.05). In comparison of mean auditory threshold values by frequency, on the air conduction test, both noise and organic solvents exposed group showed significantly higher hearing loss than noise exposed group in 500Hz of right ear, 500 and 2000Hz of left ear(p<0.05). Forty-three cases among 147 subjects were regarded as hearing loss group and average age(42.6years) of hearing loss group was higher than normal groups average age of 38.0 years. Urinary hippuric acid excretions of hearing loss group were significantly higher than normal group(p<0.05). Thirty-eight percent(12cases) of noise exposed group, 40.6 $\%$(13cases) of organic solvents exposed group, 51.6 $\%$(16cases) of both noise and organic solvents exposed group, and 3.8 $\%$(2cases) of unexposed group were regarded as hearing losers. Exposed groups showed higher incidence of hearing loss than unexposed group but there were no significant differences among the exposed groups. The variables showing significant correlation with hearing loss were age and the amount of hippuric acid in urinary excretion. When age were adjusted for the purpose of seeing the effects of hearing losses due to organic solvent, urinary excretion of hippuric acids was the only variable with significant correlation with hearing loss (p<0.05). When odds ratio to hearing loss between control and exposed groups was considered, noise exposed group showed 6.1 times (95 $\%$ CI: 3.3-8.7), organic solvents exposed group showed 7.4 times (95 $\%$ CI: 3.5-14.6) and both noise and organic solvents exposed group showed 17.2 times(95% CI: 5.6-31.8) higher values than unexposed group(p<0.01). Above results suggest that health screening test of hearing loss is also needed in organic solvents exposed workers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.3 s.47
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• pp.487-504
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• 1994

A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the effects of chronic low-dose solvent on neurobehavioral performance of 118 male car painters. A control group of 113 workers matched for age was selected from different sections of the factory. The mean age and the mean duration of employment were 33 years and 6.7 years in both groups. Mean years of education were 11.4 years in car painters and 11.8 years in controls. Each worker completed a medical and occupational questionnaire and four tests of Swedish performance evaluation system. These included simple reaction time, symbol digit, digit span and finger tapping speed. Althougth the mean duration of employment was 6.7 years, comparison of mean performance showed a significantly poorer performance on simple reaction time (p<0.05), symbol digit(p<0.01) and digit span(p<0.05) in car painters. In univariate analysis, age and educational level contributed to poorer performance on symbol digit and digit span. Smoking appeared to slow finger tapping speed in car painters. Performance of four tests of car painters exposed to high level of solvent was poorer than that of car painters exposed to low level. In multiple regression models, controlling for age, alcohol, smoking and shift work, solvent exposure was found to be associated with performance of simple reaction time, symbol digit and digit span and exposure to high level of solvent was related to poorer performance of symbol digit and digit span.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.87-103
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• 1995

Since being granted permission for self-assessment of the work environment by the Department of Labor in 1992, POSCO's Industrial Hygiene Laboratory has participated in domestic and Foreign Quality Control Programs 8 times and has obtained remarkable results. It has made a lot of effort to be a proficient laboratory with the ability to observe and analyse environmental monitoring data. The summary of results is as follows: 1. POSCO's Industrial Hygiene Laboratory has received a "P(Proficient)" grade from the round 115 to round 119 of AIHA/NIOSH PAT Program for analysis of such metals as lead, cadmium, zinc, and chromium, and also has received a "P(Proficient)" grade from its round 119 of for organic solvent analysis, i,e,. Trichloroethylene(TCE), Carbon Tetr-achloride(CTC), 1,2-Dichloroethane(DCE), 1,1,1-Trichloroethane(MCM), Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), Chloroform(CFM), Benzene(BNZ), toluene(TOL), and O-xylene(OXY). 2. In the Quality Control Evaluation Program performed by the Industrial Health Research Institute,Korea Industrial Safety Corporation, POSCO has passed impressively in the3-metal analysis test for lead, cadmium, cupper, and in the 6 organic solvent analysis test for Benzene(BNZ), toluene(TOL), O-xylene(OXY), Trichloroethylene(TCE) and Methyl isobutyl keton(MIBK), n-Hexane with 2 standard deviations. These analytic techniques should be practically applied to various fields, and reliable results of environmental monitoring should be considered to improve the work environment and to keep workers from occupation related diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 1994

Diffusional sampling devices offer many advantages for measuring concentration levels of industrial contaminants than the conventional pump and charcoal tubes because they are lightweight, require no power, pump or tubing. This study designed to evaluate and compare the sampling performance of passive sampler to charcoal tube from mixed organic solvent workplace with 181 organic solvent using workers working in different concentration of organic solvents. All study workers kept both devices in their breathing zone simultaneuosly in the workplaces, and the sampling analytical results were compared with those of charcoal tube. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The concentrations of toluene and xylene measured by passive sampler were slightly higher than those of charcoal tube, but there were no significant statistical differences between two methods. 2. The concentrations of MEK and cyclo-hexanone measured by passive sampler in low exposure workplace (below 0.20 of MEK TLV levels and 0.1 of cyclo-hexanone TLV levels) were about 2 times higher than that of charcoal tube sampling. While, absorption efficiency of passive sampler was reduced according to increasing concentration measurements of MEK and cyclo-hexanone in air. 3. The ratios of concentrations of toluene, xylene, MEK and cyc1o-hexanone measured by passive sampler over those measured by charcoal tube were 1.11, 1.07, 1.63 and 3.65 respectively. 4. The percentages of concentration of passive samplers within 0.75 and 1.25 of charcoal tube value as a reference value of 1.0 were 57% in toluene, 74% in xylene, 34% in MEK and 32% in cyclo-hexanone respectively. 5. The correlation coefficients of toluene, xylene, MEK and cyclo-hexanone between passive sampler and charcoal tube sampler were 0.963, 0.957, 0.943 and 0.562 with statistical significance.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.130-140
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• 1999

Objectives: This study was carried out to estimate the magnitude of skin disease related to occupation and to find out the characteristics of it. Methods: We collected and analyzed the cases of occupational skin disease reported by surveillance system composed of doctors and nurses in 150 enterprises with dispensary or attacked hospital and physicians in 92 specific health examination institutes and 150 dermatologists from May to November, 1998. Results: Among members of surveillance system, 66 enterprises and 47 specific health examination institutes and 55 dermatologists reported 571 cases of occupational skin disease in 512 workers. Excepting 81 cases reported by dermatologists, We analyzed 490 cases reported by enterprises and specific health examination institutes. Among 490 cases, contact dermatitis was most common(368 cases, 75.1%) and the second was hyper or hypopigmentation(36 cases, 7.3%). When we analyzed the characteristics of workers with occupational contact dermatitis, male workers were 281 (79.2%) and female were 74(20.8%). 165 workers(64.5%) had chronic skin disease with repeated cure and relapse. 245 workers(72.5%) answered positively that their coworkers had similar skin disease. 27 workers(8.7%) experienced absence due to contact dermatitis related to occupation. To analyze the type of industries of workers with occupational contact dermatitis, automobile and trailer manufacturing industry was most common(105 cases, 29.6%) and the second was manufacturing industry for image, sound and communication equipment(55 cases, 15.5%). Organic solvent(183 cases, 46.7%) was the most common treating material of workers with contact dermatitis and the second was various kinds of chemicals(59cases, 15.1%). Conclusions: This is the first study using nationwide surveillance system to collect data of occupational skin disease. We found that many workers had skin disease related to occupation and characteristics of occupational skin disease were chronic and clustering. Therefore, we had to establish counterplan to manage occupational skin disease and to operate surveillance system to identify trends of occupational skin disease, continuously.