Carcinogen-DNA adduct analysis has potential for biomonitoring the earliest effects of exposure to many chemical carcinogens. They are the covalent reaction products of electrophiles and nucleophilic sites on DNA and the initial damage to DNA induced by many carcinogens. So many researchers begin to use them as biomarker for monitoring the earliest exposure of carcinogens and develop the effective analytical techniques about them. Randerath, Gupta and coworkers(1981, 1982) has also developed a $^{32}P$-postlabelling method as one among them. A major project for biomonitoring workers with carcinogen-DNA adducts is to develop non-invasive samples instead of tissues of target organs such as baldder and lung. This study use the exfoliated urothelial cells in urine for examine benzidine-DNA adducts. The content of exfoliated urothelial cells is not enough to significantly measure DNA content with spectrophotometer, and require the another way. So firstly washing the collected cells with PBS and 70% ethanol and centrifuge them for removing the crystals in urine, which block the isolation of DNA adducts. And then, measure the total nucleotide after $^{32}P$-postlabelling for calculating RAL. $[{\gamma}-^{32}P]ATP$ using for $^{32}P$-postlabelling, can synthesize with $[^{32}P]H_3PO_4$, and reagent and enzyme mixture (RM, EM), which is very economic in case of requiring a lot of them. Chromatography was composed of two steps. First step was to separate adduct ones from unadducted nucleotide, and secondary step was separate each adduct, which were performed with 4 kinds of solvents and different directions on TLC. With this procedure, we measure the DNA adducts in exfoliated urothelial cells of workers who were employed in benzidine and benzidine-dye company. RAL of adducts were $89.0{\times}10^7$ and $57.0{\times}10^7$ in them. In conclusion, we can significantly measure the DNA adduct in exfoliated urothelial cells by using the above $^{32}P$-postlabelling procedures, and use them to be biomonitoring workers who exposed carcinogens.

A stack must be designed to 1) reduce or eliminate rainfall or snowfall into a industrial exhaust system, 2) minimize a resistance to flow, 3) maximize the vertical dispersion of the contaminated air and 4) minimize maintenance. The weather cone stacks and the elbow-type stacks are very popular in Korea. But they add some resistance to the exhaust system resulting in reduction of air flow rate, but also deflect the noxious contaminants downward in undiluted form. To solve these problems, ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) suggested the vertical discharge stack with concentric space between the upper stack with larger diameter and the lower stack with smaller diameter. The preliminary test showed that the vertical discharge stacks did not have the good rainfall protection. The reversed cone were newly devised to satisfy the requirements for the good stack. Subsequently, the amount of rain being penetrated through the stacks was measured while the stacks were simultaneously and naturally exposed to rain in the same area outside. Test results indicate that none of the stacks tested completely exclude rain. The efficiency of rainfall protection and the pressure loss coefficient were compared. The temporary conclusion was reached to the point that the reversed cone stack is the best one. Further research is underway.

The practice of welding stainless steel is known to produce various valance states of chromium. $CO_2$ flux cored arc welding on stainless was performed in fume collection chamber. Content of total chromium and hexavalent chromium in fumes, content of hexavalent chromium in total chromium, solubility of hexavalent chromium were investigated. Content of total chromium in fumes increases from 2~3% to 7~9% as a function of input energy, but hexavalent chromium, less than 1.2% in fumes, is not related to input energy. Hexavalent chromium in fumes exists as solubles up to 90%. Content of total chromium in flux cored arc welding fumes and solubility of hexavalent chromium are similar to shielded metal arc welding fumes, but content of hexavalent chromium is similar to metal inert gas welding fumes. These characteristics are relevant to flux of wires and $CO_2$ shielding gas.

Results of environmental monitoring for 35 steel industry welders exposed to manganese and chromium fume were evaluated. Efficiency of respiratory protectors, welding face shields and local exhaust ventilation were also evaluated to establish more efficient preventive measures that can protect welders from occupational disease as related to welding fume. The results are as follows; 1. Total fume from $CO_2$ arc welding with mild steel occurred 1.5 to 2.2 times more than that from shielded metal arc welding. Chromium and nickel fume from welding with stainless steel occurred 27 to 59 times and 18 to 30 times, respectively, than those with mild steel. 2. Proportions of water-soluble chromium(VI) and insoluble chromium(VI) Compare to total chromium occurring from $CO_2$ arc welding with stainless steel were 10.5% and 8.7%, respectively, while those with mild steel were 57.1 to 63.2% and 31.6 to 38.1%, respectively. 3. The efficiencies of 4 types of respiratory protectors to reduce welding fume exposure were evaluated as 54.4 to 64.4%. 4. The reducing effect of head type welding face shield was 67.6%, and that of hand type welding face shield was 58.5%. The highest reducing effect was shown in air supply welding face shield as 99.2%, although it is not convenient to wear. 5. When welding face shield and respiratory protectors were worn together, the reducing efficiency increased to 79.0 to 87.5%. 6. When local exhaust ventilation was installed in workplace, the reducing efficiencies varied from 31.5 to 73.1% according to the types of welding.

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate BTEX exposure to gas station service attendants and the critical affect of benzene and MtBE airborne concentration. Methods : the degree of exposure to airborne BTEX and MtBE was examined in the service attendants at seven gas stations across the country during a summer season. The TWAs(time-weighted averages) of atmospheric concentration of substances in personal and area samples, were calculated. The component ratio of BTEX and MtBE in the samples of bulk gasoline from each station studied was also measured. Results : The airborne concentrations of BTEX and MtBE showed a lognormal distribution and The TWA concentrations of benzene in personal samples from each station were 0.089 ppm - 0.18 ppm, and those of toluene were 0.097 ppm - 0.2 ppm. The average TWA concentrations of xylene and ethyl benzene was 0.03 ppm and 0.001 ppm, respectively. The TWA concentrations of MtBE were 0.4 ppm - 1.3 ppm. The volume concentrations of MtBE, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene in the bulk gasoline samples were 3 - 7.4 %, 3 - 12 %, 0.64 % and 1.5 - 10 %, respectively. Conclusions : The benzene concentration was detected to exceed the ACGIH threshold benzene level of 0.5 ppm, in one of 74 personal and area samples. MtBE, a substitute for aromatic compounds such as benzene in gasoline, was found to bring about a greater chance of exposure to carcinogen, due to its high vapor pressure and carcinogenicity.

This study was performed to evaluate the working conditions In construction workers through measurements of working environments and to improve the working conditions and to design the appropriate environmental and health management system. The results of measurement for working environments in construction work are as following: 1. The excess rate of noise and dust concentration in express highway construction, road construction, building construction and interior painting was 28.6% and 24.5% respectively. 2. The excess rate of mixed organic solvents concentration in interior painting was 39.3%. 3. The chain type bulldozer has the highest level of vibration; the excess rate was 85.7%, and among the vibration instruments, the level of left hand's vibration of all vibrators exceeded the criterion and in the case of drilling all the level of vibration exceeded the criterion in both hands. On the basis of the results in this research the environmental and health management system for construction workers must be considered. Therefore, it is necessary to be introduced the special medical examination and measurement of working environments in construction industry. In defining "the working place" of Article 39 of Enforcement regulations of industrial safety and health act, the word "indoors" should be deleted. Then the eligible industry for measurement of working environment must be extended. And it is also necessary for construction industry to be performed group health management service by agencies such as other manufacturing industry.

The purpose of this case study is to report a case of lung cancer with exposure to welding fumes of welders in Korea and to demonstrate the causal relationship with exposure to welding fumes, especially with nickel and hexavalent chromium. The case is 47 years old, and had been engaged in welding, gas cutting, grinding and gousing on mild, stainless steel and nickel steel for 11 years from 1982 to 1993, and have been engaged in cleaning steel rollers with a cleaning oil in the same work shop since 1993. The level of welding fume exceeded the occupational exposure limit of $5mg/m^3$ established by the Korean Ministry of Labor and American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Especially, detectable hexavalent chromium and nickel was generated during welding, gousing on stainless and nickel steel. However, there was no ventilation systems(local and dilution) and no personal protection. There is several evidence that the past (1983-1993) exposure would be higher than the present. In conclusion, the lung case could be associated with his task including welding, gousing, and this association could be attributed to carcinogenic potential of the nickel and chromium in the fume.

This study was carried out to estimate current status of dust concentrations in the factories producing non-metallic products in Korea. Data were gathered from the environmental monitoring reports by 40 workplace environmental monitoring institutes and the questionnaire designed for the study by the authors. A total of 1838 dust samples from 368 plants were obtained from the reports and were analyzed with no data modifications. But data on asbestos, rock wool, and welding fumes were excluded in this evaluation. The factories were classified into eight groups according to the standard industrial classification scheme in Korea. The results of this study were as follows; 1. The factories included were glass, non-refractory ceramic, refractory ceramic ware, structural non-refractory clay and ceramic, cement and lime, articles of concretes, and stone. Mean(geometric mean) concentrations of total dust samples ranged from $1.75(0.84)mg/m^3$ to $5.87(2.84)mg/m^3$. Statistically significantly higher dust concentrations were found in the cement and lime industries compared with other industries. 2. The non-compliance rates were 15.2% in glass and 20.6% in other non-metallic mineral products industries. Although all institutions surveyed utilized the identical sampling and classification scheme for dusts as specified in the current occupational exposure limits, wide discrepancies were found in collecting samples and classifying dusts. Further problems were discovered in classifying dusts. A dust sample collected could be classified into any of the three groups regardless of silica content. The results of this study showed that dust concentrations in the non-metallic products industries varied widely. Also discovered was classification errors of dust types among workplace monitoring institutes. These errors could adversely affect the results of exposure assessments and the true nature of dust hazards. Further, no institutions performed respirable dust sampling and analysis of crystalline silica. In order to correct these malpractices, current standards of occupational exposure limits should be revised and tight supervision by the Ministry of Labour be suggested.

Three major hospitals with over 500 beds located in and near Seoul were surveyed for airbone microorganisms from February 1, 1998 to February 18, 1998. The purpose of the study was to identify and quantify microbiological organisms circulating in the air of three different areas in the hospitals. For the study, a RCS air sampler was utilized equipped with two different collection media, the agar strip GK-A for bacteria and the agar strip HS for fungi. The areas investigated were the intensive care unit (ICU) in the Department of internal medicine, the Newborns room in the Department of Obstetrics, and the microbiology laboratory. The results were as follows; 1. The average numbers of general microbiological particles collected on the agar strip GK-A media were $205CFU/m^3$, $232CFU/m^3$, and $128CFU/m^3$ in each hospitals. The highest concentration of $387CFU/m^3$ was found in the ICU of A hospital at 15:00 during the day. Further analysis of the collected bioaerosols by gram staining, revealed that there were gram positive cocci (89.5%), gram positive bacilli (7.2%), gram negative bacilli (2.8%), and fungi (0.5%), in descending order of frequency. 2. Ten different genes were identified from the agar strip GK-A. The most frequently identified organisms were: the Coagulase negative staphylococcus (55.0%), Micrococcus (21.4%), Enterococcus species(10.4%), and Bacillus species (7.2%). A series of antibiotics susceptibility test were conducted against the aforementioned four(4) organisms. Ninety percent of coagulase negative stapylococcus were sensitive to Penicillins. Pathogenic microbes isolated include: Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter species, Klebsiella pneumonia, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Pseudomonas aeroginosa. 3 Although 56.8% of the microorganisms grown on the strip HS media for fungi could not be identified, some of them were successfully identified. The most frequently found fungi were Aspergillus (35.3%), Yeast or Molds (6.2%), and Penicillium (0.7%). Based on the results obtained from the study, it was concluded that some areas in the hospitals had abnormally high bioaerosol concentrations which could be attributed to human activity. Therefore, it is recommended that periodic assessments of indoor bioaerosols aiming to identify the possible sources should be conducted in order to maintain clean indoor environment in the hospitals.

To develop and evaluate formaldehyde measurement method using 2,4-dinitro-phenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH) coated sampler and gas chromatography, laboratory test and field test were conducted. Results of this study are as follows. Limit of detection(LOD) of measurement methods, HPLC-UVD, GC-NPD and GC-FID, is $0.008{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ $0.060{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, $0.472{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ respectively. Coefficiency of measurement methods, HPLC-UVD, GC-NPD and GC-FID, is 0.008, 0.009, 0.020 respectively. Desorption efficiency of sep-pak xposure aldehyde sampler and sorbent sample tube is 1.05(range : 0.99 - 1.12), 1.02(range : 0.99 - 1.06) respectively. Samples of sorbent sample tube and sep-pak xposure aldehyde sampler turned out to be stored at refrigerator, according to storage test results. Measurement methods of HPLC-UVD, GC-NPD, GC-FID, according to results of precision for the combined sampling and analytical procedure, became acceptable to OSHA evaluation standard. Field test using exposure chamber met the NIOSH overall uncertainty recommendation(less than 25%). Overall uncertainty of Sepak-HPLC(UVD), Tube-GC(NPD), Tube-GC(FID) is 11.0% - 17.0%. Consequently gas chromatography(GC-NPD, GC-FID) and high performance liquid chromatography(EPA TO-11) using 2,4-DNPH coated sampler for formaldehyde measurement turned out to be suitable to measure personal formaldehyde exposure at workplaces.

The NIOSH health hazard evaluation program (HHE program) was created in response to the mandate to determine the toxic effect and potential health hazard of workplace exposure, which is found in Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, A primary benefit of HHE program is its ability to provide current health hazard data to employers and employees, which assists them in identifying solutions to occupational health and safety problems in their workplaces, The HHE program also stimulates research in the development and review of sampling methods and diagnostic tests and may prompt additional exposure assesment efforts and toxicological and epidemiological studies. HHE projects also provide human exposure-toxicity data that are used to asses the validity of existing occupational health standards and to support criteria for new standards of recommendation, The HHE request is classified into four categories: 1) category 1: As a administratively invalid, 2) category 2: These are valid requests for which a site visit is not essential to an appropriate response, 3) Category 3 : These are valid requests for which a site visit is necessary for an adequate evaluation, 4) These are valid request which present a complex problem or an opportunity for research, To carry out HHE program one or methods of investigation might be used: 1) direct observation and evaluation of production processes and employee work practices 2) employees exposure level and air contamination level 3) medical test or physical examinations of employees 4) private, confidential interviews with employees 5) review of employer's record of injuries and illness, employee exposure data, medical tests and job histories. After investigation and analysing the data, NIOSH issues a final report, giving finding and recommendation.

Daily indoor and outdoor nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) concentration for 30 days were measured in 28 houses with questionnaire of housing characteristics in Brisbane, Australia. Using mass balance equation and regression analysis, penetration factors and source strength factors were calculated. The penetration factors of 27 houses except one house were between zero and 1, though penetration factor should be between zero and 1 by means of mass balance equation. Relationship between indoor and outdoor concentrations in each 27 house was calculated using regression analysis. According to the obtained linear regression equation, the slope means penetration factor and the intercept means source strength factor. Calculated mean and standard deviation of coefficients of determination ($R^2$) in electric and gas range houses were $0.70{\pm}0.13$ and $0.57{\pm}0.21$, respectively. The source strength factors were more than zero in 27 houses. Mean and standard deviation of slopes in electric and gas range houses were $0.65{\pm}0.18$ and $0.56{\pm}0.12$, respectively. Mean and standard deviation of intercepts in electric and gas range houses were $1.49{\pm}1.25$ and $5.77{\pm}3.55$, respectively. Air exchange rate and source strength were calculated from penetration factor and source strength factor, respectively. Geometric mean and standard deviation of calculated air exchange rates in 27 houses were $1.1/hr{\pm}1.5$. Presence of gas range was the most significant factor contributing to indoor $NO_2$ level in house characteristics (p=0.003). In gas range houses, source strengths ranged from 4.1 to $33.1cm^3/hr{\cdot}m^3$ with a mean $12.7cm^3/hr{\cdot}m^3$ and a standard deviation 9.8. The source strengths of gas range houses were significantly different from those of electric range houses by t-test (p<0.001)

Most of manufacturers try to produce the most efficient filter for respirators with the lowest breathing resistance. Filter performance depends on low penetration, i.e., high efficiency (%), and low pressure drop ($mmH_2O$). This study was performed to evaluate performance of respirator filters by quality factor ($q_F$) and suggest the direction for improvement of respirator filters of good quality in Korea. Two mechanical filters, S and K made in Korea, three filtering facepieces, S made in China, C made in Korea and M made in USA, which were widely used in the workplace, were selected and tested efficiency and pressure drop in accordance with flow rate, using with Automated Filter Tester Model 8110 (TSI, USA). The best quality factor within the same respirator filter categories was $0.0672cm^{-1}\;H_2O$ for mechanical filter S, $0.0698cm^{-1}\;H_2O$ for filtering facepiece M at flow rate of 32Lpm. Mechanical filter S would be the best suitable during heavy work since qulity factors decrease less sharply than any others as increased flow rates. It was necessary for mechanical filter S to lower pressure drop without increasing efficiency, but mechanical filter K should be increased efficiency and decreased pressure drop. While filtering facepiece M had the best quality performance of three ones, Sand C should get much higher efficiency and lower pressure for better performance.

Hazardous organic solvents management as prescribed by presidential decree in Korea is reviewed. The status of import, manufacture, and circulation of organic solvents was investigated. Problems inherent in the management of organic solvents in the electroplating, metal degreasing, and dry cleaning industries were discussed. The chemical substance management system in Korea was compared to those of foreign organizations. A walk-through check list was developed and then used to assess the actual conditions and potential hazards of chemical substances in these industries. The questionnaire could be used to develop a chemical management system and protect workers from hazardous substances. Based on the results of the site survey, MSDSs were not integrated appropriately into the workers education and were not readily accessible to employees. In the case of the dry cleaning industry, the new dry cleaning solvent used as a substitute includes a lot of potentially hazardous organic solvents. This research is preliminary. It is recommended that a national survey be performed to better identify the current situation. Because chemical substances are regulated by thirteen laws in seven executive branches, management systems often overlap, resulting in ineffective control. Using the above results, a model for managing chemical substances was developed. This will more efficiently provide MSDS information to workers covered by the presidential decree and allow the construction of a management system database for better cooperation with the executive branches in Korea.

This study was conducted to supplement limit of previous study, The objectives of this study were to select optimal conditions of high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) operation for detecting urinary 2-thiothiazolicline-4-carboxylic acid(TTCA) and thiocarbamide simultaneously, and to evaluate recovery rates for various liquid-liquid extration method of these metabolites, The results are as follows : 1. The urinary TTCA and thiocarbamide were separate sharply when flow rate is $0.7m{\ell}/min$, using a series $C_8$ and $C_{18}$ column, 50 mM $KH_2PO_4$ : acetonitrile (93.5 : 6.5) and pH 3.5 as a mobile phase. The retention time was TTCA, $12.07{\pm}0.11$(mean${\pm}$SD, n=06), thiocarbamide, $7.85{\pm}0.01$ (mean${\pm}$SD, n=6), respectively. The calibration curve for TTCA and thiocarbamide was linear within the range 0.05 to $30{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. 2. By the liquid-liquid extration, butanol extration with $(NH_4)_2$ as a salting-out reagent was used as a simultaneous extration method for these metabolites in acid state, and recovery rates of this method are urinary TTCA, $49.6{\pm}17.7$ (mean${\pm}$SD, n=16), thiocarbamide, $43,9{\pm}5.50$ (mean${\pm}$SD, n=16), respectively 3. The precision(pooled coefficients of variation for 4 concentration) of the urinary thiocarbamide analysis was 0.03754 by butanol liquid-liquid extraction with $(NH_4)_2$ as a salting-out reagent, and TTCA was 0.04082 by ethyl acetate liquid-liquid extration with $(NH_4)_2$ as a salting out reagent The above results show that the butanol liquid-liquid extraction with $(NH_4)_2$ as a salting-out reagent in acid state, and using a series $C_8$ and $C_{18}$ column, 50 mM $KH_2PO_4$ : acetonitrile (93.5 : 6.5) and pH 3.5 as a mobile phase are suitable for the analysis of urinary TTCA and thiocarbamide simultaneously. The detection limit of TTCA and thiocarbamide was about $0.17{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, $0.07{\mu}g/m{\ell}$.

Objective - To evaluate the usefulness of chromium in erythrocytes as a biological marker of exposure to hexavalent chromium in chromate producers and chrome platers Methods - Blood and urine samples were ramdomly obtained from chromate producers (n=34) and chrome platers (n=35), and non-exposed workers (n=75), chromium level in erythrocytes and plasma, and urine were measured. Different chromium exposure workers were assessed through measurements of airborne hexavalent chromium concentrations using a personal air sampler. Linear associations between variables were evaluated with correlation analysis. Results - The chromate producers had mean chromium levels in erythrocytes five fold as higher than the chrome platers, and fifteen fold higher than non-exposed group. Among the chromium exposed workers, airborne hexavalent chromium was positively and strongly correlated with in erythrocytes (r=0.689, p<0.01), and erythrocytes chromium was inversely correlated with hematocrit (r=-0.441, p<0.01), hemoglobin (r=-0.465, p<0.01) and the number of red blood cells (r=-0.28, p<0.05). Conclusions - In conclusion, this study suggests that chromium in erythrocytes is a good indicator of the chromium body burden caused by exposure to hexavalent chromium.