A Comparison on the Characteristics of Benzene Exposure between the Coal chemical and Petrochemical refining method during Turnaround

석유 및 석탄화학의 대보수작업중 벤젠노출 특성 비교

  • Chung, Eun-Kyo (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Yu, Gye-Muk (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Shin, Jung-Ah (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Kwon, Ji-Woon (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Park, Hyun-Hee (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Chung, Kwang-Jae (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Lee, Jong-Han (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Lee, In-Seop (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Kang, Seong-Kyu (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Ryu, Hyang-Woo (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Kim, Young-Sun (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Lee, Byung-Kyu (Busan regional hdqrs, KOSHA) ;
  • Jang, Jae-Kil (Industrial Safety Training Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Kim, Won (Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health) ;
  • Kim, Jung-Man (Dong-A University)
  • 정은교 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 유계묵 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 신정아 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 권지운 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 박현희 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 정광재 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • ;
  • 이인섭 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 강성규 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 류향우 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 김영선 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 이병규 (한국산업안전보건공단 부산지역본부) ;
  • 장재길 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건교육원) ;
  • 김원 (원진노동환경건강연구소) ;
  • 김정만 (동아대학교 의과대학)
  • Received : 2010.04.29
  • Accepted : 2010.07.02
  • Published : 2010.09.30

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the benzene exposure levels in coal chemical and petrochemical refining industries during BTX turnaround (TA) processes where benzene was being produced. Three companies producing benzene were selected, one coal chemical and two petrochemical industries. TA processes were classified into three stages: shut down, maintenance, and start up. Data was analyzed by classifying the refining method into 2 groups (Petrochemistry, Coal chemistry) for 823 workers. Comparing the data from petrochemical industries with data from a coal chemical refining industry, while benzene concentration levels of long-term samples during TA were not statistically different (p> 0.05), those levels of short-term samples were significantly different (p< 0.001). About 4.79 % of data in petrochemical industries exceed the occupational exposure limits (OELs) of benzene, 1 ppm. In a coal refining methods, about 15.7% exceeded the benzene OELs. The benzene concentrations in maintenance and start up stage of TA for petrochemical refineries were higher than those in a coal chemical refinery (p <0.01). These findings suggest that the coal chemical refining site requires more stringent work practice controls compare to petrochemical refining sites during TA processes. Personal protective equipments including organic respirators should be used by TA workers to protect them from benzene overexposure.

Keywords

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