• International Journal of Safety
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2004

Some of the petroleum products contain benzene which is well known as a confirmed human carcinogen. For example, gasoline products contain benzene ranging up to several percents by weight. High exposures to the benzene and other organic solvents would be likely to occur during intermittent tasks and or processes rather than continuous jobs such as sampling, repair, inspection, and loading/unloading jobs. The work time for these jobs is various. However, most of work time is very short and the representative time interval is 15 minutes. Thus, it is preferable to do exposure assessment for 15 minute time weighted average which is known as a short time exposure level(STEL) by ACGIH rather than for 8-hours TWA. It is particularly significant to the exposure monitoring for benzene since it has been known that the exposure rate plays an important role to provoke the leukemia. Due to the large variations, a number of processes/tasks, the traditional sampling technique for organic solvents with the use of the charcoal and sampling pumps is not appropriate. Limited number of samples can be obtained due to the shortage of sampling pumps. Passive samplers can eliminate these limitations. However, low sampling rates resulted in collection of small amount of the target analysts in the passive samplers. This is originated the nature of passive samplers. Field applications were made with use of passive samplers to compare with the charcoal tube methods for 15 minutes. Gasoline loading processes to the tank lorry trucks at the loading stations in the petroleum products storage area. Good agreements between the results of passive samplers and those of the charcoal tubes were achieved. However, it was found that special cautions were necessary during the analysis at very low concentration levels.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 2011

Objectives: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is a colorless, water-miscible organic liquid with low viscosity at standard temperature and pressure. THF has been used as a solvent and a precursor for various syntheses of polymers. However, THF is known to irritate to the eyes, skin and mucus membranes. Overexposure by inhalation, ingestion or skin contact may produce nausea, dizziness, headaches, respiratory irritation and possible skin burns. The purpose of this study is to evaluate of the worker exposure and characteristics of workers in the workplaces that use or manufacture THF. Methods: Sixteen factories in Korea, which manufacture or use THF, were selected for this study and a total of 130 air samples including 104 time-weighted average (TWA) samples and 26 short-term exposure limit (STEL) samples, were collected. Air samples were collected with charcoal tube (100mg/50mg) and analyzed by gas chromatograph/flame ionization detector(GC/FID). Results: The TWA concentration of THF was 16.05ppm (GM) at PS script printing, 2.32ppm (GM) at PVC stabilizer, 1.03ppm (GM) at Lithium triethylborohydride, 0.63ppm (GM) at Polytetramethylene ether glycol(PTMEG), 0.42ppm (GM) at Manufacturing THF, 0.13ppm (GM) at Glue and 0.12ppm (GM) at synthetic rubber/resins. Two out of sampes for PS script printing exceeded 50ppm as 8-hour exposure limit of MOEL. The short term exposure to THF was 54.77ppm (GM) at PS script printing, 17.10ppm (GM) at PTMEG, 13.76ppm (GM) at Manufacturing THF, 2.86ppm (GM) at Lithium triethylborohydride, 0.87ppm (GM) at synthetic rubber/resins and 0.13ppm (GM) Glue. We found that the highest exposure process for both the TWA and STEL samples was PS script process. Two samples exceeded 100ppm as short term exposure limit of Ministry of Employment and Labor(MOEL). Conclusions: Characteristic of STEL concentration for THF is considerably different from TWA concentration in workplaces because workers could exposure high concentration of THF in a moment when they work irregularly schedule. So exposure controls for momentary works have to be prepared, and considered the skin absorption and inhale of THF.

• 월간산업보건
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• s.295
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• pp.11-14
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• 2012

Phenothiazine의 직업적 노출기준(TLV-TWA)은 $5mg/m^3$으로 권고되었다. TLV-TWA의 수준은 피부자극과 변색, 각막염 그리고 태양광에 직접 노출되었을 때 나타나는 광감작반응의 가능성을 최소화하기 위해 설정되었다. 고용량의 phenothiazine을 경구 투여하면 간과 신장이 손상되며 용혈성의 빈혈이 발생한다. Phenothiazine의 피부흡수에 의한 전신 독성이 증명되어 피부흡수 "Skin" 경고주석을 권고하였다. 감작제(SEN)와 발암성 경고주석 그리고 TLV-STEL을 설정하기에는 유용한 자료가 부족하다.

• 월간산업보건
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• s.257
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• pp.13-16
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• 2009

펜타클로로나프탈렌(Pentachloronaphthalene)의 직업적 노출기준은 0.5 $mg/m^3$으로 권고하였으며 이 수준은 염화물 형태의 간 손상과 피부염의 가능성을 최소화하기 위한 것이다. 피부 흡수 경고는 동물실험에서 pentachloronaphthalene이 피부접촉 시 흡수가 용이하다는 자료를 근거로 권고하였다. 두 종류 이상의 염화나프탈렌에 노출되는 경우는 상가작용을 적용하여야 하며 감작제, 발암성, TLV-STEL에 대한 권고는 충분한 자료가 확보되지 않아 아직은 설정하지 않고 있다.

• 월간산업보건
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• s.280
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• pp.27-31
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• 2011

Vinyl chloride(염화비닐)에 대한 직업적 노출기준인 TLV-TWA를 1 ppm (2. 6 mg/$m^3$)으로 권고한 것은 간암의 가능성과 특히 간혈관육종을 최소화하기 위한 것이다. 염화비닐과 간암에 대한 명확한 사람들의 사례와 역학조사 결과를 근거로 사람에서의 확실한 발암성물질인 Al으로 분류하였다. 피부 (Skin), 감작제(SEN)의 경고주석과 TLV-STEL.을 권고하기에는 자료가 불충분하다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.80-90
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the correlation of urinary NMF concentration in workers exposed to DMF and concentration of DMF in the workplace. Samples were collected in workers exposed to high dose solvent in the synthetic leather factory by using silicagel tubes for 5-15 minutes, and were analyzed by GC. Geometric mean concentrations of DMF in the workplaces were 4.67 ppm in normal operation and 63.95 ppm in high exposure operation. The concentration of case uppers and machine cleaning process were more than 100 ppm in short time. The correlation of urinary NMF in workers and DMF in workplace was statistically significant in normal operation and high exposure operation. Correlation coefficient are 0.215(p<0.05) and 0.263(p<0.05). The result implied that STEL of DMF should be established in normal operation processes as well as high exposure operation processes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.45-57
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• 2015

Objectives: This study aims to compare the physicochemical characteristics, toxicological data with Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) of chemicals under the Occupational Safety and Health Act(OSHA) regulated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor of Korea. Methods: Information on chemicals which have OELs on physicochemical characteristics and toxicological data was collected using Material Safety Data Sheet(MSDS) from Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) and the Korea Information System for Chemical Safety Management(KISChem) in 2014. Statistical analyses including correlation and simple regression were performed to compare the OELs with chemical characteristics including molecular weight, boiling point, odor threshold, vapor pressure, vapor density, solubility and octanol-water partition coefficient(OWPC) and toxicological data such as median lethal dose($LD_{50}$) and median lethal concentration($LC_{50}$). Results: A total of 656 chemicals have OELs under OSHA in Korea. The numbers of chemicals which have eight-hour time weighted average(TWA) and short term exposure limits(STEL) are 618 and 190, respectively. TWA was significantly correlated with boiling point and STEL was only correlated with vapor pressure among physicochemical characteristics. Solubility and OWPC between "skin" and "no skin" substances which indicate skin penetration were not significantly different. Both $LD_{50}$ and $LC_{50}$ were correlated with TWA, while the $LC_{50}$ was not with STEL. As health indicators, health rating and Emergency Response Planning Guidelines(ERPG) rating as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association(NFPA) and American Industrial Hygiene Association(AIHA) were associated with OELs and reflect the chemical hazards. Conclusions: We found relationships between OEL and chemical information including physicochemical characteristics and toxicological data. The study has an important meaning for understanding present regulatory OELs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.134-145
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• 2015

Objectives: An objective of this study was to perform a risk assessment and social cost-benefit analysis for revising permissible exposure limits for seven substances: Nickel(Insoluble inorganic compounds), benzene, carbon disulfide, formaldehyde, cadmium(as compounds), trichloroethylene, touluene-2,4-diisocyanate. Materials and Methods: The research methods were divided into risk and hazard assessment and cost-benefit analysis. The risk and hazard assessment for the seven substances consists of four steps: An overview of GHS MSDS(1st), review of document of ACGIH's TLVs (2nd), comparison between international occupational exposure limits and domestic permissible exposure limits(3rd), and analysis of excess workplace and excess rate for occupational exposure limits based on previous work environment measurement data(4th). Total cost was estimated using cost of local exhaust ventilation, number of excess workplace and penalties for exceeding a permissible exposure limit. On the other hand, total benefit was calculated using the reduction rate of occupational disease, number of workplaces treating each substance and industrial accident compensation. Finally, the net benefit was calculated by subtracting total cost from total benefit. Results: All the substances investigated in this study were classified by CMR(Carcinogens, Mutagens or Reproductive toxicants) and their international occupational exposure limits were stricter than the domestic permissible exposure limits. As a result of excess rate analysis, trichloroethylene was the highest at 11%, whereas nickel was the lowest at 0.5%. The excess rates of all substances except for trichloroethylene were observed at less than 10%. Among the seven substances, the total cost was highest for trichloroethylene and lowest for carbon disulfide. The benefits for the seven substances were higher than costs estimated based on strengthening current permissible exposure limits. Thus, revising the permissible exposure limits of the seven substances was determined to be acceptable from a social perspective. Conclusions: The final revised permissible exposure limits suggested for the seven substances are as follows: $0.2mg/m^3$ for nickel, 0.5 ppm(TWA) and 2.5 ppm(STEL) for benzene, 1 ppm(TWA) for carbon disulfide, $0.01mg/m^3$(TWA) for cadmium, 10 ppm(TWA) and 25 ppm(STEL) for trichloroethylene, 0.3 ppm(TWA) for formaldehyde, and 0.005 ppm(TWA) and 0.02 ppm(STEL) for toluene diisocynate(isomers).

• 월간산업보건
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• s.268
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• pp.25-27
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• 2010

Pentane과 그것의 이성질체에 대한 TLV-TWA는 600 ppm($1770\;mg/m^3$)으로 권고하고 있다. 이 수치는 염증이나 혼수 마비 상태를 최소화하기 위해 설정되었다. 권고된 TLV는 마비 효과를 억제하기 위한 충분한 안전 범위를 제공해 준다. 그러나 매우 높은 농도에 만성적으로 노출되면 다발 신경성 홍반 수종증을 유발할 수 있다는 가능성은 헥산의 신경독성과 비교했을 때 pentane이 낮은 독성이라 하여도 무시할 수는 없다. 피부(skin), 감작제(SEN), 발암성, TLV-STEL에 대한 수치는 충분한 데이터가 확보되지 않아 현재는 권고하지 않고 있다.

• 월간산업보건
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• s.266
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• pp.10-12
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• 2010

Pentaerythritol에 대한 TLV-TWA로 10 mg/$m^3$이 권고되고 있으며, 이 수치는 망막이나 점막 염증 발생의 잠재성을 최소화하기 위해 설정되었다. Pentaerythritol은 모든 노출 경로에서 약한 독성을 유발하는 물질로 간주되고 있고, 작업환경이 정상적으로 관리되고 있으면 건강상의 큰 문제는 없는 것으로 알려져 있다. 일상적인 온도와 압력 조건 하에서 pentaerythritol의 증기 유해성은 거의 없다. 피부 (Skin), 감작제 (SEN), 발암성에 대한 경고주석과 TLV-STEL에 대한 기준은 유효한 자료가 충분히 제공되고 있지 않아 설정되지 않고 있다.