• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.187-198
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• 1996

The industrial use of MMMF(man-made mineral fibers), has been increasing, particularly since the banning of most asbestos products. Fibrous minerals can cause health abnormalities currently associated with occupational exposure to glass fiber. This study was conducted to evaluate health risks of glass fiber manufactory workers within the country. We examined questionaries, physical examination including auscultation, chest x-ray, pulmonary function test for 488 male workers, to go through their dermal itching symptoms and respiratory evaluation. we had the results as follows. 1. In 45% of the workers itching had been expressed at their entrance. At that time we was investigating, 18.5% had itching, and most of them complained it when they fall asleep and night. The Sequent itching site is waist and groin, upper and lower extremity in order, and it had been expressed mainly during summer and winter. 2. As the results of ventilatory functions test, 6.0% were obstructive type, 1.0% were restrictive type. So, glass fiber exposures should be controlled or elimination by protective devices in the workplace. 3. The means of FVC, $FEV_1,\;FEV_1%$ were in normal range. As the comparison of ventilatory functions by age groups, MMF was decreased significantly for the group, 50 years old and more than other groups. And the comparison by the serving periods at glass fiber producing factory, MMF was decreased for the workers had worked for $11\sim15$ years. Therefore, MMF be more sensitive index in the evaluation of ventilatory impairments caused by glass fiber workers.

• 한국산학기술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국산학기술학회 2010년도 춘계학술발표논문집 2부
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• pp.910-914
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• 2010

A collision between a barge and an oil tanker of Hebei Spirit caused the release of an estimated 12,547 tons of light crude oil into the Yellow Sea off the west coast of Taean-gun, Korea on December 7, 2007. This study was aimed to evaluate exposure conditions and acute health effects in soldiers participating in the Hebei Spirit oil spill cleanup activities and the association between these and the nature of the work and use of protection devices. The sample comprised 2,624 soldiers stratified by working area and number of working days. We divided working area into the coast of Taean-gun(highly polluted area) and other areas affected by Hebei Spirit oil spill. And we divided number of working days into 1-7 days, 8-14 days, 15-21 days and above 22 days. Data were obtained via a structured, self-administered questionnaire and included information on working area, type of working, number of working days, use of protective materials, and acute health effects. Acute health effects were classified into 5 groups: neurological, respiratory, dermatologic, ophthalmic and other symptoms. Data analysis was performed using unconditional logistic regression used to compute odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. On logistic regression analysis, working on the coast of Taean-gun was significantly associated with increased risk of acute health problems: headache, dizziness, nausea, general fatigue, insomnia, flushed face, sore throat, dry throat, runny nose, cough, sputum, skin irritation, sore eyes, injection of conjunctiva, tear, and low back pain. Furthermore soldiers working more than 21 days were significantly associated with increased risk of acute health problems: insomnia, flushed face, sore throat, runny nose, cough, sputum, tear, low back pain and fever. Accordingly, the exposure to the oil and the subsequent cleanup efforts were suggested to inflict acute health problems on soldiers participating in the Hebei Spirit oil spill cleanup activities.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.269-282
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• 2017

Objectives: Currently, masks against yellow dust and fine particulates are being certified with no consideration of facial dimensional variations among children and adults. The aims of this study were to develop masks against yellow dust and fine particulates for children in Korea and provide basic data to suggest new test methods for mask certification that consider the breathing capacity of children. Methods: A total of 730 study participants aged from six to 13 years old were recruited in the Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon region. This study used a 3D scanning instrument to obtain 16 facial anthropometric data points. Literature reviews, a comparison of breathing capacity between adults and children, and analysis of children's pulmonary physiological data were conducted in order to suggest new test standards for certifying children's masks against yellow dust and fine particulates. In addition, types of children's masks, choice of wearing a mask or not, and reasons for not wearing masks were surveyed. Results: Based on a clustering analysis of participants' facial dimensions, facial shapes were classified into three groups: small, medium, and large. The sizes of children's masks were subtracted by using 3D sketch techniques(Large: $121.25mm{\times}89.46mm$, Medium: $111.92mm{\times}78.55mm$, Small: $102.13mm{\times}72.87mm$). In certifying children's mask, flow rates of $60{\ell}/m$ for the filtering efficiency test and $20{\ell}/m$ for the breathing resistance test were recommended, since children's pulmonary physiological capacity is about 60-70% of adults' pulmonary capacity. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that three mask sizes for children would be sufficient and practical for providing protection against yellow dust and fine particulates. Revising current test methods for certifying respiratory protective devices for children is important, since children's pulmonary physiological capacity substantially differs from that of adults. Therefore, it is recommended that new test standards for certifying children's masks be promulgated in the near future.