• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2013

Objectives: 21 sepiolite substances produced in China were investigated for the presence of asbestos in their materials. Materials and methods: In order to identify asbestos in sepiolite substances, test materials were analyzed using a transmission electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (TEM-EDS) for confirming their shape and components (atomic %). Results: Five of 21 sepiolte substances were asbestos-containing materials. Two chrysotile containing sepiolite proved to be asbestoscontaining materials, as did two chrysotile mixed with tremolite containing sepiolite. 16 sepiolite substances did not contain asbestos materials. Conclusions: When importing sepiolite substances, they must be analyzed to determine if there is asbestos in their materials.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2014

Objectives: Chrysotile is mineralogically distinct from amphiboles, displaying a notably different chemical structure. The thin sheets that form chrysotile fiber lead to the ability of the lung/macrophage system to decompose the chrysotile fibers. This study was performed in order to compare the physicochemical characteristics of Korean asbestos with those of Canadian amphiboles. Materials: An acid solubility test for each test substance was done to compare pH 4.5 and pH 1.2 distilled water. Asbestos fibers which had been placed in acid solutions for five days, five weeks and weeks were analyzed with a transmission electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (TEM-EDS). Results: The composition element (Mg) of Korean chrysotile, Korean anthophyllite and Canadian amosite significantly decreased from 5 days and also decreased significantly after 5 weeks and 10 weeks. Only the composition (Mg) of Canadian crocidolite did not change under any conditions. From 5 days, the Mg of Korean chrysotile, Korean anthophyllite and Canadian amosite were significantly lower than before the acid treatment, but there were no changes over time or by the pH of the acid solutions. Particularly after 10 weeks, the composition (Mg) of Korean chrysotile in the pH 1.2 acid solution showed a rapid reduction of 15.86%. Conclusions: Korean chrysotile was very weak in an acid environment, beginning to show significant changes after 5 days. The Mg component rapidly decreased after 10 weeks in the pH 1.2 acid solution.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2015

Objectives: To evaluate the biodurability of Korean Chrysotile(KC), the changes in fibers numbers and changes in the element composition of fibers from the lung of Sprague-Dawley rats instilled KC(average size $4.74{\mu}m$, $59,043{\times}10^6$ fibers/mg) was estimated. Methods: Rats were administered 1 mg KC(low group) or 2 mg KC(high group) by a single intratracheal instillation. At each time point(5 days, 5 weeks, 10 weeks), the numbers of KC fibers and the changes of element composition(atomic %) of KC fibers from the lung of the rats were analyzed with transmission electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Results: Over time, the number of fibers within the lungs of animals were reduced. The average length of the low and high group is significantly reduced from 5 days after administration. Over time, the fiber ratio of at least $5{\mu}m$ remaining in the lung tissue of the low concentration group was up but the high group was reduced. From day 5 after administration, the composition ratio(Mg) was significantly decreased in all groups. Conclusions: Size and composition of Korean Chrysotile in the lung tissue of rats was changed from 5 days.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.703-708
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• 1999

Silicides have been used extensively in ULSI logic device fabrication as contact materials for the active areas as well as the poly- Si gates. NiSi is a promising candidate for submicron device application due to less volume expansion, low formation temperature, little silicon consumption, and large stable processing temperature window. In this report, the microstructure of nickel silicides fabricated with a thermal evaporator has been investigated. We observed systematic transformation of Ni silicides of $Ni_2$Si, NiSi, $NiSi_2$, as annealing temperature increases. All the silicides have been identified by a X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The cross-sectional microstructure of silicides was examined by a transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with a energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS). The surface roughness of silicides was measured by scanning probe microscope(SPM). Although we observed thin oxide layer existed at the $Ni/NiSi_{x}$ interface, we fabricated successfully $550\AA$-thick planar Ni-monosilicide at the temperature range of$ 400~700^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was designed to establish an accurate analytical method for asbestos in a biological sample for determining occupational asbestos-related diseases and relief of the health effects of environmental asbestos. Methods: Biological samples were obtained from lungs of rats following intratracheal instillation of asbestos(Chrysotile, anthophyllite) and were prepared according to digestion method(Wet digestion, high temperature ashing, low temperature ashing). The samples were then analyzed for asbestos fibers using a transmission electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Results: Low temperature plasma ashing removed more of the organic components and reduced fiber loss compared to the wet digestion method, making specimens so prepared more suitable for transmission electron microsocpy. Conclusions: The low temperature ashing technique is the most accurate method for analyzing asbestos in biological samples.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.224-234
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• 2012

Objectives: To assess the hazard of Korea chrysotile and anthophylite, fibers were analyzed for their physicochemical properties by transmission electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (TEM-EDS). Methods: To evaluate the biopersistence of 2 domestic asbestos, Sprague-Dawely rats were exposed to 2 mg asbestos by intratracheal instillation. Each asbestos (chrysotile ; $8,814,244{\times}10^6$ fibers/mg, average size $0.08{\mu}m{\times}4.39{\mu}m$, anthophyllite ; $5,182{\times}10^6$ fibers/mg, average size $0.95{\mu}m{\times}7.29{\mu}m$) were evaluated after a single intratracheal instillation. At times from 1 week to 4 weeks after exposure, the numbers of asbestos fivers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and in the lung were calculated. Results: Anthophyllite fivers continuously have retained for 4 weeks but chrysotile fivers were rarely found at 4 weeks after exposure in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Chrysotile fivers at 4 weeks after treatment were not observed but anthophyllite was easily observed in the lung with phase contrast microscopy. According to electron microscopic observation of asbestos in the lung, within 1 week after the administration of chrysotile fivers were decreased rapidly but anthophyllite fivers were very little change for 4 weeks. When chrysotile fivers have been lost Fe in 1 week, there were no significant changes in anthophyllite fivers in the lung. Conclusions: These findings indicate that after a long time exposure to chrysotile, asbestos bodies can not be found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.263-273
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• 2010

Occupational exposure to wollastonite can occur during its mining, processing and using. Wollastonite was analyzed for its physicochemical properties by transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Wollastonite fibers were 3.3${\mu}m$ in diameter(av.) and were 30.5${\mu}m$ in length(av.). The atomic composition of wollastonite was Si 56.41% and Ca 43.59%. Respiratory toxicity of wollastonite has been studied in term sequential in Sprague-Dawely rats. UICC chrysotile (average diameter 0.03${\mu}m$, average length 2.93${\mu}m$) was applied as the positive control. The effects of 2mg wollastonite on respiratory system and pathological changes were evaluated after 1, 4, 8, 12 weeks instilled into rat lungs. Inflammation response broke out from 1 week after instilled with wollastonite and the pathological examination further showed increased legions of granulomatous inflammation after 4 weeks, but decreased granulomatous inflammation after 8 weeks, whereas chrysotile induced progressive interstitial granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis as a function of time.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the pulmonary toxicity of Korean Chrysotile(KC), the lung function and the number of fibers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of Sprague-Dawley rats instilled with KC were estimated. Materials: Rats were administered 1 mg KC by a single intratracheal instillation. At each time point(5 days, 5 weeks, 10 weeks), the lung function of the rats was analyzed by pressure transducer and the amount of asbestos in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the rats was calculated by transmission electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Results: The lung function of the rats at 5 days after instillation of KC was confirmed to be degraded. However, after 5 weeks the test groups showed a tendency to recover lung function. Still, after 10 weeks the lung function of the test groups had not recovered completely. The number of fibers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the rats instilled with KC rapidly decreased. At 5 weeks the number of fibers had reduced to approximately 1/2 of that found at 5 days. Over time, at 10 weeks it had rapidly decreased to 1/100 that found at 5 days. Conclusions: Korean chrysotile fibers rapidly decreased in the lungs of rats, but the lung function of rats instilled KC does had not completely recovered by 10 weeks.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 2010

Pulmonary toxicity of talc containing tremolite asbestos (TCT) has been studied in term sequential in Sprague-Dawely rats. UICC chrysotile(average diameter 0.03${\mu}m$, average length 2.93${\mu}m$) was applied as the positive control. TCT was analyzed for its physicochemical properties by transmission electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer(TEM-EDS). The effects of 2mg TCT(talc average diameter 9.7${\pm}$8.4${\mu}m$; tremolite average diameter 1.6${\pm}$1.6${\mu}m$, average length 10.8${\pm}$7.0${\mu}m$) on pathological changes were evaluated after 1, 8 weeks instilled into rat lungs. 2mg Chrysotile continuously affected lung pathological changes. Inflammation and granuloma response broke out from 1 week after instilled with chrysotile and the pathological examination further showed increased legions of lung after 8 weeks. But TCT did not showed lung pathological changes. The biopersistence of TCT and chrysotile was evaluated by TEM- EDS. Whereas chrysotile continuously have retained to 8 weeks instilled into rat lungs, talc of TCT showed statistically significant decrease of diameter from 1 weeks and statistically significant change in Si atomic % compositions at 8 weeks instilled into rat lungs. Physicochemical properties of tremolite of TCT were not affected until 8 weeks instilled into rat lungs. This study showed that the durability of TCT in the lungs is much weaker than chrysotile.