Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
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Welder's Exposure to Airborne Hexavalent Chromium and Nickel during Arc Welding in a Shipyard

모 조선업체 아크 용접 작업자의 공기중 6가 크롬 및 니켈 노출에 관한 연구

  • Shin, Yong Chul (Industrial Health Research Institute, Korea Industrial Safety Corporation) ;
  • Yi, Gwang Yong (Industrial Health Research Institute, Korea Industrial Safety Corporation) ;
  • Lee, Na Roo (Industrial Health Research Institute, Korea Industrial Safety Corporation) ;
  • Oh, Se Min (Industrial Health Research Institute, Korea Industrial Safety Corporation) ;
  • Kang, Seong Kyu (Industrial Health Research Institute, Korea Industrial Safety Corporation) ;
  • Moon, Young Hahn (Industrial Health Research Institute, Korea Industrial Safety Corporation) ;
  • Lee, Ki Ra (Research Institute of Advanced Materials, Seoul National University)
  • 신용철 (한국산업안전공단 산업보건연구원) ;
  • 이광용 (한국산업안전공단 산업보건연구원) ;
  • 이나루 (한국산업안전공단 산업보건연구원) ;
  • 오세민 (한국산업안전공단 산업보건연구원) ;
  • 강성규 (한국산업안전공단 산업보건연구원) ;
  • 문영한 (한국산업안전공단 산업보건연구원) ;
  • 이기라 (서울대학교 신소재공동연구소)
  • Published : 1998.11.13
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate welders' exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and nickel (Ni) during welding operations in a Korean shipyard. The airborne Cr(VI) and Ni concentrations were measured during metal inert gas (MIG) welding on mild and stainless steel, and manual metal arc (MMA) welding on mild steel. The geometric mean (GM) of Cr(VI) concentrations inside the welding helmet during MIG welding on mild steel were $0.0018mg/m^3$ inside a ship section, and $0.0015-0.0026mg/m^3$ at the welding shops. All of the personal breathing zone air samples were below the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value ($TLV^{(R)}$) of $0.01mg/m^3$. Conversely, eighty-eight percent(21 of 24) of the personal breathing zone air samples exceeded the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended exposure limit of $0.001mg/m^3$. Ni was not detected on 20 of 23 air samples collected during MIG welding on mild steel. The three Ni samples above the limit of detection ranged from 0.015 to $0.044mg/m^3$. The GM of Cr(VI) concentrations during MMA welding on mild steel were $0.0013mg/m^3$, but Ni was not detected in the air samples during this operation. It is assumed that the airborne Cr(VI) and Ni during mild steel welding were derived from the base metals which contained about 0.03% Cr and 0.03% Ni. The GM of airborne total Cr, Cr(VI) and Ni concentrations during MIG welding on stainless steel were 4.02, 0.13 and $0.86mg/m^3$, respectively, and the levels of Cr(VI) and Ni were above the ACGIH-$TLV^{(R)}$. Cr(VI) comprised about 35.5% of the total chromium(Cr) from MIG welding on mild steel, and about 8.4% of total Cr from MIG welding on stainless steel. The ratios of Cr(VI) to total Cr were significantly different among welding shops. It was concluded that welders were exposed to high levels of Cr(VI) and Ni during welding on stainless steel, and were exposed to low levels of Cr(VI) even during welding on mild steel.

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