• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.371-381
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• 2023

Evaluating the effectiveness of the radiation protection measures deployed at the Centralized Radioactive Waste Management Facility in Ghana is pivotal to guaranteeing the safety of personnel, public and the environment, thus the need for this study. Radiagem^TM 2000 was used in measuring the dose rate of the facility whilst the personal radiation exposure of the personnel from 2011 to 2022 was measured from the thermoluminescent dosimeter badges using Harshaw 6600 Plus Automated TLD Reader. The decay store containing scrap metals from dismantled disused sealed radioactive sources (DSRS), and low-level wastes measured the highest dose rate of 1.06 ± 0.92 µSv·h^-1. The range of the mean annual average personnel dose equivalent is 0.41-2.07 mSv. The annual effective doses are below the ICRP limit of 20 mSv. From the multivariate principal component analysis biplot, all the personal dose equivalent formed a cluster, and the cluster is mostly influenced by the radiological data from the outer wall surface of the facility where no DSRS are stored. The personal dose equivalents are not primarily due to the radiation exposures of staff during operations with DSRS at the facility but can be attributed to environmental radiation, thus the current radiation protection measures at the Facility can be deemed as effective.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.413-418
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• 2018

Cypress woods treated individually with boric acid (BA4), ammonium pentaborate (APB4), or BA4/APB4 additives were examined for combustion gases. Each of the specimens was painted with a 4 wt% solution of boron compounds three times. Dried at room temperature, the combustion gas was analyzed using a cone calorimeter (ISO 5660-1). Consequently, the second maximum oxygen consumption rate of the specimen treated with boron compounds was 0.1067 to 0.1246 g/s, which was 5.3 to 18.9%, respectively lower than that of the blank specimen. The specific extinction area of specimens treated with BA4 and APB4 was also 2.0 to 19.0% lower, respectively. However, treated with BA4/APB4 showed 21.2% higher than that of the blank specimen. The maximum carbon monoxide concentration of the specimens with boron compounds was reduced by 0 to 25%. It was estimated to be 1.6 to 2.2 times higher than the permissible exposure limits by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), indicating a fatal toxicity. The boron compounds were effective in reducing carbon monoxide, but didn't meet the OSHA limit. The boron compound inhibited the burning behavior of the cypress wood, which suppressed the second maximum oxygen consumption rate by 5.3 to 18.9% and the maximum carbon monoxide generation by 0 to 25%.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.181-191
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• 1991

The present study determined the overall noise level and the distribution of sound pressure level over audible frequency range of noise produced at various work sites. Work-related noise greater than 80dBA produced from 98 separate work sites at 37 manufacturing companies and machine shops were analysed for the overall sound level (dBA) and frequency distribution. In addition, to determine the possible hearing loss related to work site noise, a hearing test was also conducted on 1,374 workers in these work sites. The results of the study were as follows ; 1. Of the total 98 work sites, 57 work sites(58.2%) produced noise exceeding threshold limit value (${\geq}90dBA$) set by the Ministry 01 Labor. In terms of different manufacturing industries the proportion of work sites which exceeded 90dBA was the highest for the cut-stone products industry with 6/6 work sites and lowest for the commercial printing industry with 1/13 work sites. 2. The percentage of workers who were exposed to noise greater than 90dBA was 19.8% (1,040 workers) 01 the total 5,261 workers. In terms of different industries, cut-stone products industry had the most workers exposed to noise exceeding 90dBA with 82.8%, textile bleaching and dyeing industry was next at 30.6% followed by fabricated metal products industry with 27.9%, plastic products manufacturing industry had the lowest percentage of workers exposed to 90dBA exceeding noise with 4.5%. 3. There was a statistically significant correlation between the frequency of noise-induced hearing loss and the percentage of workers exposed to noise exceeding 90dBA (P<0.05). 4. The frequency analysis of noise produced at the 98 work sites revealed that 44 work sites (44.9%) had the maximum sound pressure level at high-frequencies greater than 2KHz. In addition, significantly higher sound pressure level was detected at the high-frequencies at 90dBA exceeding work sites as compared to below 90dBA work sites (P<0.01). 5. The differences in sound level meter's A-and C-weighted sound pressure levels were analysed by frequencies. Of the 28 work sites which showed 0-1 dB difference in the two weighted sound levels, 20 work sites (71.4%) had significantly higher sound pressure levels at high-frequencies greater than 2KHz (P<0.01). Furthermore, there was a tendency for higher sound pressure levels to occur in the high-frequency range as the differences in the two weighted sound levels decreased.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2008

Dialkylated phthalates have been commonly used as plasticizers and a variety of applications. Phthalate diesters have been shown to be developmental and reproductive toxicants. It is very difficult to exactly estimate the dose of dialkylated phthalates taken up by the general population because of environmental contamination. Urinary metabolites of phthalates enabled to estimate internal exposure. The objective of this study was quantitative determination of phthalate metabolites by LC/MS/MS with on-line cleanup method to analyze phthalate metabolites in Korean children's urine. We employed LC/MS/MS with on-line enrichment and column-switching techniques for this biological monitoring. Metabolites determined were 4 primary metabolites; MEHP, MnBP, MiBP, MEP and 2 secondary metabolites of DEHP; 5-OH-MEHP), 5-oxo-MEHP. We analyzed children's urine from 30 boys and 30 girls. The method detection limit of phthalate metabolites were 0.03 ng/mL for MEP, 1.05 ng/mL for MBP, 0.22 ng/mL for MEHP, 0.15 ng/mL for 5-OHMEHP and 0.16 ng/mL for 5-oxo-MEHP, respectively. Switching Column LC/MS/MS was proven to be a useful tool to determine metabolites of phthalate diesters in human urine. The correlation among phthalate metabolites was very high and statistically significant, except MEP. The children's age (months) was negatively correlated to the concentration of phthalate metabolites. The geometric mean concentration of phthalate metabolites (mg/g creatinine) in children's urine were 25.5 for MEP, 130.3 for MnBP, 56.8 for MiBP, 19.5 for MEHP, 85.6 for 5-OH-MEHP and 83.1 for 5-oxo-MEHP, respectively. Levels of estimated daily intake of parent phthalate compounds (${\mu}g$/kg bw/day) were 0.8 for DEP, 5.0 for DnBP, 1.9 for DiBP and $8.9{\sim}14.2$ for DEHP, respectively. Estimated daily intake for DEP and DiBP were lower than those of other studies but the value for DEHP was higher than that of other study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2011

Objectives: This investigation is purposed to evaluate the airborne asbestos concentrations in the public buildings having asbestos containing materials(ACMs) in Seoul. Methods: The Seoul Metropolitan Government carried out an asbestos survey to the city-owned public buildings to identify the level of risk exposure, classified into low, moderate and high risk. To evaluate the airborne concentration of asbestos, 11 sampling sites in ten buildings based on the survey were selected. The air samples from the eleven sites were analyzed by Phase Contrast Microscopy(PCM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and compared the analytical results from the both. Results: 1. The airborne fiber concentrations by PCM were less than the detection limit($7f/mm^2$) in 9(82%) out of 11 sampling sites. The highest concentration was 0.0043 f/cc, but it was below the guideline value for indoor air quality(0.01 f/cc), proposed by the Ministry of Environment, Korea. 2. In two sampling sites, having moderate risk level, the chrysotile was identified and showed it's concentrations of 0.0102 s/cc and 0.0058 s/cc, less than $5{\mu}m$ lengths. 3. The ACMs identified in the two sampling sites were a packing material(65% of chrysotile) in mechanical area and a thermal system insulation(5% of chrysotile) in a boiler room. Having more possibility of asbestos emission in the mechanical area, it would be required to set up and carry out the asbestos management plan. Conclusions: Based on the result of this study, the airborne asbestos concentrations in the public buildings with ACMs were generally lower than the guideline value for indoor air quality. There are widespread concerns about the possible health risk resulting from the presence of airborne asbestos fibers in the public buildings. Most of the previous studies about airborne asbestos analysis in Korea were performed based on PCM method that asbestos and non-asbestos fibers are counted together. In the public and commercial buildings, having ACMs, it is suggested that the asbestos be analyzed by TEM method to identify asbestos due to concerns about asbestos exposure to workers and unspecified people.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.267-278
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• 2011

Objectives: A great number of hazardous agents can be emitted from various types of art-creation in a fine arts college, but little data on exposure assessment has been published. A variety of processes encompassing toxic or non-toxic materials, tools, and components are involved in a sculptor work at a fine art college. The aim of this study was to assess exposure levels to particulates and noise during sculpture classes in a college of fine arts. Methods: Students in sculpture classes participated in this study. Mass, number, and surface area concentrations of particulates, noise level, temperature and relative humidity were monitored by both personal and area sampling during the tasks of metal, wood, and stone sculpting. Results: The number and surface concentration of particulates was the highest in the task of wood sculpting, followed by metal and stone work. The mass concentration of particulates was the highest in stone sculpting (personal GM 3.0 mg/$m^3$, GSD 3.0), followed by wood (personal GM 1.5 mg/$m^3$, GSD 1.8) and metal work (personal GM 0.95 mg/$m^3$, GSD 1.51) in that order. Occupational exposure limits (OEL) for particulates depends on the type of particulate. For wood dust, 86% (six subjects) of the personal samples and all area samples exceeded the Korean OEL for wood dust (1 mg/$m^3$), while 20% (two subjects) among stone sculpting students were exposed above the Korean OEL (10 mg/$m^3$). In contrast, metal sculpting did not exceed the OEL (5 mg/$m^3$). For noise level, metal sculpting students (Leq 95.1 dB(A) in the morning, 85.3 dB(A) in the afternoon) were exposed the most, followed by stone sculpting (88.3 dB(A)), and wood sculpting (84.8 dB(A)) in that order. Compared with the 90 dB(A) of the Korean OEL and 85 dB(A) of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists' threshold limit value (ACGIH-TLV) for noise, 100% of the subjects (five subjects) and area samples during metal sculpting in the morning session exceeded both OELs, but only three subjects (60%) exceeded the ACGIH-TLV in the afternoon session. For stone sculpting, 50% (one subject) and 100% (two subjects) exceeded the Korean OEL and ACGIH-TLV, respectively, but the area sample did not exceed either OEL. During wood sculpting, two subjects (40%) exceeded ACGIH TLV. Conclusions: This work evaluated the sculptors' exposure to particulate matter and noise in fine art college, and revealed a poor working environment for the participating students. Effective measures should be supplemented by the administration of colleges.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.314-328
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• 1997

A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to low-dose solvent on neurobehavioral performance of 48 male workers exposed to organic solvents. A control group of 50 workers was selected from same factories. Each worker completed a medical and occupational questionnaire and four tests of Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery. These included Benton visual retention test, digit symbol, digit span, and pursuit aiming. Comparison of mean performance showed a significantly poorer performance on digit symbol, digit span, and pursuit aiming. In univariate analysis, age contributed to poor performance on Benton visual retention test and educational level was found to reduce the performance on symbol digit in both groups. Amount of alcohol intake was found to reduce the performance on digit symbol and smoking appeared to slow pursuit aiming in the exposure group. In multiple regression analysis, controlling for age, educational level, alcohol, and smoking, Solvent exposure was found to be associated with performance of digit span, and number of correct dot of pursuit aiming. Age on Benton visual retention, educational level on digit symbol, arid smoking on pursuit aiming were found to be a significant factors on each test items. This study suggest that short-term memory, and perception can be affected easily by chronic exposure of organic solvents which air concentration levels were under the Threshold Limit Value.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.314-323
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• 2006

This study was conducted to identify ingredients of thinners and to confirm reliability of material safety data sheets (MSDS) of thinners for public and workers' health. The 41 thinner products were collected from paint shops located in Busan and Gyeongnam province. The 12 thinner products among them were identified using product MSDS. GC-MSD was used to analyze 41 kinds of thinners qualitatively and quantitatively. The 12 products MSDS were compared with thinner's component through qualitative analysis to confirm MSDS. Chemical ingredients, such as Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene etc., of thinners were analysed in quantity. The 41 thinner products contained 17 disclosed specific, trade name, or generically described chemical solvent ingredients. These 17 ingredients came under 6 classes: alcohols, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, glycol ethers, ketones, and mixtures. These 17 ingredients were important in the view of industrial hygiene and had occupational exposure limit in the ambient, such as toluene, xylene, acetone, nonane, EGEE, heptane, cumene, MIBK, indene, tri-methyl benzene, etc, were found in 41 kinds of thinners. Aromatic hydrocarbons were the most identified ingredient in thinners. Especially, the benzene, which induces leukemia, was found in 4 kinds of thinners. The content rates of benzene in thinners were 0.25~1.18%. The benzene in enamel thinner, which were 0.39~0.72%, was highest from chemical classification. The contents of toluene, which was found from 27 kinds of thinners, were 5.35~64.16%, which were highest in sobu thinner as 58.80%. Xylene was found from 22 kinds of thinners and contents of xylene were 4.61~72.42%. Acrylic thinner's contents of xylene were 12.06~51.05%, which was most high. It was found that contents of benzene were increased and frequency of detection was decreased through comparison with other study. The MSDS possession rate of paint shops was low as 29.27%. So it did not provide information with public or workers. Mean of agreement rate between MSDS and components of thinners through qualitative analysis was 42.01% and it has wide range from 8.3% to 75%. There are many deficiencies in MSDS about component of thinners. In some case of sample, expecially, despite containing benzene, information was not written it on MSDS.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.303-314
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• 2004

Objectives: This study was carried out to assess exposure levels of organic dusts and ammonia in poultry farms in Korea. Methods: A total of six poultry farms were investigated. The farms were located in Namwon, Chonlabuk-do and in Kae-San, Chungchongbuk-do. This study consisted of a questionnaire and measuring organic dusts and ammonia. The questionnaire included the characteristics of the farms, work patterns and the tasks of the poultry farms. Results and Conclusions: The farmers raised the chickens 45 times a year and the average number of years in the poultry farm were eight years ranging from 2 to 12 years. They worked for seven days per week and the average hours spent caring the chickens are 6.3 hours per day. The duration of staying in the confinement buildings was 3.3 hours per day. The work time in summer was longest. The feed and the water supply systems were automatic and the control of ventilation windows used "winch curtain" was semiautomatic. They used mechanical ventilation system in winter and used dilution ventilation system in the other seasons. The geometric mean concentration of total and respirable dust sampled in the poultry confinement buildings was 4.0 mg/$m^3$and 0.9 mg/$m^3$ respectively. The ratio of respirable to total dusts range from 9 to 49 percent. There was no sample exceeding the criteria 10 mg/$m^3$ for total dust and 3 mg/$m^3$ for respirable dust in farms. The criteria have been recommended by Korean Ministry of Labor and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist. The personal respirable dusts measured during a circle work averaged geometric mean concentration 1.4 mg/$m^3$ Two personal samples were exceeded the threshold 3 mg/$m^3$. There was a positive relation between an index and the personal samples of respirable dusts($R^2$=0.98). The index is calculated by multipling the total number of chickens in the farm by the age of the chickens and then dividing by the volume of the confinement building. The geometric mean concentration of area and personal ammonia samples was 23.3 ppm and 22.2 ppm, respectively. Some of the ammonia samples, both area and personal samples, exceeded the short term exposure limit value 35 ppm.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.518-527
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• 2014

Objectives: The adverse health effects attributed to exposure to radon have been well known over the world. However, the efforts for prevention and mitigation of radon have not been taken in Korea so far. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation methods applied for various types of houses and public buildings with high level of radon. Methods: Based on the results of "National Radon Survey" performed by the National Institute of Environmental Research(NIER) in 2010-2012, we selected 30 candidate buildings consisting of 20 houses and 10 public buildings with greater than $148Bq/m^3$ of radon level. We measured the concentration of radon in 30 buildings, using E-PERMs and RAD-7 during January to March of 2013. More than five E-PERMs and one RAD-7 per house were installed for seven days. Ten houses and five public buildings were finally chosen to be mitigated after mainly considering the level of radon and the location of buildings nationwide. Three mitigation methods such as Sealing, two types of Active Ventilation(window-shaped and wall-typed ventilations), and Active Soil Depressurization(ASD) were applied, and the concentrations of radon were measured before and after mitigation, respectively. To evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation methods, reduction rates of radon were calculated and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test was performed. Results: The mean concentration of 15 buildings just before radon mitigation was $297.8Bq/m^3$, and most of the buildings were located in Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, and Daegu areas(73.3%), and built in 1959-1998. The level of radon decreased from 48% to 90% and kept the below recommendation limit of $148Bq/m^3$ after installation of radon mitigation. Among mitigation methods applied, the reduction rate(58.7-90.4%) of radon attributed to ASD was the greatest than that of other methods, followed by Active Ventilation(48.4-78.4%) and Sealing(<22%). The effectiveness of radon reduction by window-shaped Active Ventilation(63.2-75.2%) was relatively better than that of wall-typed Active Ventilation(48.4-54.3%). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that ASD could be more effective for radon mitigation. Moreover, our findings would be background information in future for making the strategy for radon mitigation nationwide, as well as for developing Korean-version of mitigation techniques according to types of dwellings in Korea.