• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.4
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• pp.234-240
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• 2016

Transmission of tuberculosis (TB) is a recognized risk to patients and healthcare workers in healthcare settings. The literature review suggests that implementation of combination control measures reduces the risk of TB transmission. Guidelines suggest a three-level hierarchy of controls including administrative, environmental, and respiratory protection. Among environmental controls, installation of ventilation systems is a priority because ventilation reduces the number of infectious particles in the air. Natural ventilation is cost-effective but depends on climatic conditions. Supplemented intervention such as air-cleaning methods including high efficiency particulate air filtration and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation should be considered in areas where adequate ventilation is difficult to achieve. Personal protective equipment including particulate respirators provides additional benefit when administrative and environmental controls cannot assure protection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.395-402
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• 1988

Increasing success in the management of patients with severe respiratory failure by mechanical respirators has produced iatrogenic tracheal stenosis. And the surgical management of these lesions have provided a major field for tracheal reconstructive surgery. Recently we have experienced three cases of postintubation tracheal stenosis between December, 1985 and October, 1987 and successfully performed circumferential resection and end to end anastomosis of the trachea. The lesion of the first case which was located in the subcricoid level was resected about 2cm length with cervical incision. And the lesion of the second case located at the cuff site was also resected about 2.5cm length with cervical and median sternotomy incision. Also the lesion of the third case located at the stoma site was resected about 1.8cm length with cervical incision. The postoperative courses were uneventful but there was extubation difficulty in the third case because of stupor mentality and problem of secretion excretion. So we have observed the postoperative course after T-tube insertion.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.528-535
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• 2014

Objectives: This study compares the differences of fit factors before and after training on the N95 mask. The results will be utilized to suggest the need of providing effective training on respirator use. Methods: A total of 49 study subjects were tested, comprised of nurses from a general hospital and undergraduate nursing students from a medical school. Anthropometric measurements of face length and face width were compared with the NIOSH(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) panel. Fit factors(FF) were measured with TSI Portacount Pro+8038 before and after on-site training regarding the proper use of respirators. The FF pass/fail criterion was set at 100. Results: Two subjects(4.1 %) passed the fit test before training on use of the N95. However, 36(73.5%) of the 49 passed the test after training. Overall the FF(GM(GSD)) was 13.4(3.2) before training, but improved to 106.6(2.1) after training, which was statistically significant. These findings suggest the efficacy of educational intervention, and the performance of the direct on-site training proved to be better than that of the traditional educational methods. Conclusions: This study showed the effect of on-site training of the N95 respirator among health care workers(HCW). Therefore, providing effective training on the use of N95 for HCWs before their work assignments will greatly reduce exposure to harmful agents. It is recommended that fit testing be mandated to check for adequate protection being provided by the given respirators.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.212-221
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• 2013

Objectives: Asbestos fibers are accumulated in negative pressure unit (NPU) or vacuum cleaner in asbestos removal. Failure of operation or poor use performance of the NPU or vacuum cleaner causes asbestos fibers to spread in the air. Asbestos contractors should have an NPU fitted with a HEPA , vacuum cleaner, decontamination area, respirators, wetting equipment, and differential pressure manometer to register with the Ministry of Employment and Labor. There should be performance criteria of equipment used in asbestos removal. But there are none such criteria used in asbestos removal. This study was performed to investigate international or national performance criteria of equipment used in asbestos removal. Methods: Regulations, approved code of practice, guidance and national standards of the UK, USA and Korea were reviewed. A survey was done to investigate the requirements for equipment used in asbestos removal in Korea. Results: Air flow of NPUs used in Korea usually covers from$500m^3/h$ to over $3000m^3/h$. Some requirements for NPUs used in Korea were missing compared to the requirements of British standards for NPUs. All NPUs have different missing requirements. The UK also has separate British standard for leak tests for NPUs. Highly hazardous class vacuum cleaners should be used in asbestos removal in the UK. It has national standards on the operation of vacuum cleaners used in asbestos removal. There is only a certification system for less than 2.5kw rated voltage vacuum cleaners for home use in Korea. Powered (-assisted) respirators with mask are recommended in asbestos removal. Type 5 coveralls should be used in asbestos removal in the UK. There are international standards for requirements and leak tests of type 5 coveralls. A manometer for measuring differential pressure is needed in asbestos removal. The manometer's measuring range should cover less than ${\pm}125$ Pa and the gradation of manometer should be less than 2.5 Pa. The definition of decontamination area should be corrected. Installation of airlock and minimum area should be considered in decontamination area. Conclusions: Equipment should be used in asbestos removal proper performance and no leaks. There should be a certification system for equipment used in asbestos removal. This study can help to a certification system for equipment used in asbestos removal in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2013

Objectives: 본 연구는 호흡보호구의 밀착도의 척도인 밀착계수 (FF)를 이용하여마스크에 마스크 커버를 씌웠을 때 호흡보호구의 밀착에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 평가하고자 하였다. Methods: 3개 회사의 호흡보호구 (1개 1/4형, 2개 반면형)를 선정하여25의 피검자 (남자 16, 여자 9)에게 마스크 커버를 씌우지 않은 마스크와 씌운 마스크를 착용하게 하고 정량적인 밀착도 검사 (QNFT)를 실시하여 밀착계수 (FF)를 측정하였다. 동일한 조건에서 각 피검자에게 3번의 QNFT를 실시였으므로 한 마스크 당 씌운 것 75회, 씌우지 않은 것 75회, 150회를 시행하여 비교하였고 3개 마스크에 총 450회를 시행하였다. Results: 마스크 A (반면형)는 예상과는 다르게 마스크 커버가 있는 경우가 없는 경우보다 FF값이 더 높게 나왔으며 (p<0.05), 마스크 B (1/4형)와 마스크 C (반면형)은 마스크 커버가 없는 경우가 있는 경우보다 FF가 높게 나왔다. 마스크 B는 마스크 커버와 관계없이 FF가 너무 낮아 밀착에 문제가 있다고 판단되었으며 반대로 마스크 C는 마스크 커버에 영향을 받았으나 FF가 매우 높게 나와 밀착에는 큰 문제가 없다고 판단되었다. Conclusions: 본 연구 결과는 마스크에 자신의 마스크 커버를 씌울 경우 밀착에 큰 영향은 없는 것으로 나타났으나 FF만 가지고 실험했기 때문에 제한적이며 실제 작업현장에서 밀착도에 영향을 주지 않는지를 결정하기 위해서는 작업장보호계수 (WPF)를 이용한 보다 많은 연구가 필요하다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.88-94
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• 1998

Korea has been rapidly industrialized during the past 35 years. During this period, Korea has emphasized only production and workers health has been ignored. Workers are most frequently exposed to organic vapors, such as thinners. This study was performed to evaluate worker exposures to organic solvents by size and type of industry. Results are summarized below. Workers were exposed to mixtures of toluene, xylenes, trichloroethylene, n-hexane, acetone, methanol, n-butanol, n-butyl acetate, and MIBK. Considering additive effects of the compounds, exposure indices (EIs) were calculated. It was found that worker exposures to organic solvents were highest in small industries and lowest in large industries. During a day shift, the highest exposure was indicated 3 - 5 p.m. in the afternoon. Workers in small industries had potential exposures exceeding permissible exposure limits for organic solvents. Local exhuast systems were inappropriate and respiratory protective devices were not supplied to the workers in small industries. Neither program for safe use and storage of toxic materials nor program for respirators was found in any of the plants investigated. Based on the results of the study, workers of small scale industries should be considered first in industrial health.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.79-89
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• 1999

A quantitative fit test, condensation nuclei counting (Portacount 8025, TSI), was performed concurrently with a banana oil (isoamyl acetate: IAA) qualitative fit test (MSA) to evaluate reliability on IAA QLFT and correlation between two methods. One brands of quarter mask (3M model 7500 medium) was prepared for QLFT with HEPA filter and gas & vapor removing media, i.e., combination cartridge. 110 subjects (65 male, 45 female) were fit tested QNFT and QLFT each three times. For a wearer combination having a FF<10, as determined by CNC QNFT, the point es timate (${\beta}$-error) of the probability of that combination not being rejected by the banana oil QLFT was found to be 0.0 with 95% confidence that this statistic is not expected to exceed 0.15. For a wearer combination having a FF<100, as determined by CNC QNFT, the point estimate of the probability of that combination not being rejected by the banana oil QLFT was found to be 0.07 with 95% confidence that this statistic is not expected to exceed 0.13. The uncertainty associated with each estimate, however, is large due to the small number of study subjects with inadequately fitting respirators.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.19-31
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• 1999

Most breakthrough tests are conducted at higher concentration levels compared to those in the field of air-purifying respirator applications. For example, typical challenge concentrations for breakthrough tests agains tcarbon tetrachloride are ranged between 250-1000 ppm although applicable concentrations range for air-purifying cartridge is 5-50 ppm for carbon tetrachloride. However, no guarantee has been made that isotherms derived from the experiment at high challenge concentrations could estimate adsorption capacity at the lower concentration range where workers wear usually air-purifying respirators. Three models of adsorption isotherms (Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin/Radushkevich(D/R) isotherms) that have been commonly applied for respirator cartridge testing were evaluated. Adsorption capacity at each challenge concentration was calculated from the Reaction Kinetic equation fitted for the breakthrough data. These data were used for derivation of three isotherms. In general, the D/R isotherm has given the best agreement between estimated adsorption capacities and experimentally measured. If the challenge concentration of 100 ppm is included for derivation of models, Freundlich and D/R models could succes sfully produced good estimations for adsorption capacities at 50 ppm level. Estimated adsorption capacities by both models ranged in 94 - 109 % of the experimentally measured. However, Langmuir model gives underes timation in all cases.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.1134-1138
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• 2008

Electret filter media are used in general ventilation filters, disposable respirators, vehicle cabin filters, vacuum cleaners and room air cleaners. There are basic mechanisms of interception, inertial impaction, diffusion, gravitational settling, electrostatic attraction by which an aerosol particle can be deposited onto a fiber in a filter. The ability of fine particle removal strongly depends on the electrostatic forces between particles and polarized fibers. Thus, the stability of the fiber polarization is a major factor in the reliability of electret filters. In this study, electrical properties and filtration performance of electrospun filter media are quantitatively investigated. Electrical properties of electrospun filters have been studied on surface charge potential and surface charge density. Also the filtration performance of the electret filters are evaluated on collection efficiency. Electrospun filters show same collection efficiency with low pressure drop compare to commercialized HEPA filters. Surface charge potential and surface charge density of electrospun filters are increased with increasing applied voltage. Also collection efficiency of electrospun filters is increased with increasing surface charge potential and surface charge density.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.265-270
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• 2018

This study was to measure the exposure of diesel vehicle drivers to elemental carbon (EC) as an indicator of diesel particulate matter (DPM) emitted from diesel vehicles in an underground coal mine over 3 years as per NIOSH Method 5040. Our study results (range $10{\mu}g/m^3-377{\mu}g/m^3$ for the loader drivers, $19{\mu}g/m^3-162{\mu}g/m^3$ for the SMV drivers) were similar or less than previous study results (range $5{\mu}g/m^3-2,200{\mu}g/m^3$) for normal mine operations. From this study results, it appeared that the exposures decreased in the second and the third year. It is thought that the reasons for the decreased personal DPM (EC) exposures over the 3 years were related to the following recommendations; more frequent monitoring and maintenance of the diesel vehicles and their DPM filtration systems, more consistent monitoring of the mine's ventilation system and changes of work practices such as minimizing the opening of diesel vehicle windows. An educational program on adverse health effects of exposure to DPM and use of respiratory protection (P2 respirators) also assisted in minimizing driver exposure to DPM.