• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.584-590
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate quartz concentrations in airborne total and respirable dusts. Materials: Respirable dust samples were collected using a 10 mm aluminum cyclone equipped with a 37 mm$5{\mu}m$ pore size PVC filter. Total dust samples were collected with a three stage cassette from three work sections at earthwork sites located in the South Chungcheong-do Province area. Results: The geometric means of quartz concentrations were $0.008mg/m^3$ and $0.004mg/m^3$ in total dust and respirable dust, respectively. The geometric means of quartz contents analyzed by FTIR were 3.74% in total dust and 3.16% in respirable dust. The geometric mean of quartz concentrations and contents in secondary blasting operations were higher than those in other operations. Conclusions: Given that secondary blasting operations had higher quartz concentrations, there is a need to reduce respirable dust, such as through wet operations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.81-95
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• 1994

This study was performed in a diatomite factory where silicosis had been found at October, 1993. The major objectives were to evaluate worker exposure to diatomaceous earth and to present engineering control methods for workplace management. Total and respirable dust of diatomaceous earth were measured. Size distribution of dust was analyzed by applying the multiple diffraction method. Also crystalline silica in respirable dust samples was analyzed qualitatively by X-ray diffraction. The suitable Local Exhaust Ventilation systems for that factory were recommended. The results were as follows. The airborne total and respirable dust concentrations by exposure groups showed approximate normal distribution. The means of total dust exposures at flour maufacturing, fire brick grinding and packaging, ceramic raws packaging processes exceeded Korean and ACGIH standards, $10mg/m^3$. The means of total and respirable dust concentrations to high exposure groups were 6.8 and 3.9 times higher than those of low expousre groups, respectively. The size distribution of diatomaceous earth dust was lognormal with a median diameter of $7.07{\mu}m$(range, $0.10-60.0{\mu}m$) and with a geometric standard deviation of 1.43. The crystalline silica in respirable dust samples was identified to quartz and cristobalite and/or tridymite. Above results suggest that engineering controls and periodic environmental and medical surveillances will be important for preventing silicosis in the diatomite factory.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.264-270
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• 2010

Agricultural workers are often exposed to high levels of dust during field operations. A systematic exposure assessment of annual task-weighted exposure has not been thoroughly examined. The occupational dust exposure in two wine grape vineyards was measured. Exposure levels to total and respirable dust were determined for a 1-year cycle of work. An operation profile including the frequency of tasks was established. The means of total and respirable dust exposure were $1.08\;mg/m^3$ and $0.07\;mg/m^3$, respectively. Based on the exposure for each task and the task frequency, task-weighted mean exposures to total and respirable dust were estimated as $1.115\;mg/m^3$ and $0.079\;mg/m^3$, respectively. The task-weighted exposure was significantly represented by three operations and could be attributed to the exposure frequency rather than the exposure intensity of operations. The measurement of a few of the most frequent tasks may be an alternative method of estimating task-weighted exposure. Agricultural dust exposure can be significantly reduced by targeting those tasks most important to task-weighted dust exposure.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.386-392
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• 2009

This study was undertaken to compare the performance of three dust samplers for collecting cotton dust fibers. For this study, three dust samplers including Vertical Elutriator (VE), Total Dust Method (TDM) using 37 mm cassette, and the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampler were selected. A total of 6 cotton mills and 4 towel factories were investigated. When measured by VE, the GM for cotton dust was 0.19 $mg/m^3$ which was less than the current occupational exposure limit (OEL) 0.2 $mg/m^3$. But when measured by TDM and IOM at the same locations, the GMs were 0.37 and 0.63 $mg/m^3$, respectively. In Korea, most industrial hygienists have used the TDM for cotton dust measurements and the results were compared with either the TLV for cotton dust or the PNOC (particulates not otherwise classified) of 10 $mg/m^3$ for making decisions. The results of this study clearly showed that past cotton dust measurements and decisions made with such results were not correct. It needs to be noticed the related contents by using VE if it applies to the exposure limit, 0.2 $mg/m^3$, and needs to be revised the exposure limit by IOM. Also, if TDM is used, it requires to be studied and suggested to the new OEL.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.233-244
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• 1994

The phenomenon of yellow sand (dust clouds) occurred in Korea during the spring of 1993 and 1994 is studied in detail. In total 6 cases including 15 days of yellow sand were observed in 1993 and the annual number of these events was found to increased. Examinations in this study include meteorological charts satellite imagery, pilot reports (PIREP) of Korea Air Force, and air concentrations of total suspended particulates(TSP). We present on estimation of total atmospheric loadings based on the observation and theory. According to the PIREP, in general the dust clouds travelled in the lower troposphere up to the level 5km. The visibility within the clouds was in the range of 3-8km The area covered by yellow sand in an event exceeded 0.4 M $\textrm{km}^2$ . According to trajectory analyses, dust clouds invaded Korea in April and May 1993 were landed in the sink area after 2~4 days travelling for 2,000~3,000km from a source region. Estimates of total atmospheric loadings of a dust cloud for April 23~24 in 1993 were 1.5 M ton. In addition, 7 dust storms were also reported in synoptic observations in NW China and Mongolia during the spring in 1994. The yellow sand was not reported with meteorological observations in Korea, however pilots reported significant dust clouds over the Yellow Sea on 8 and 13 April and 20 May 1994.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.212-225
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• 1995

This study was performed in a diatomite factory located at Pohang City, Kyeongsangbuk-Do. The major objectives were to evaluate sampling and analytical methods of diatomaceous earth dust. Concentrations of total and respirable diatomaceous earth dust were measured. Size distribution of dust was analyzed by a personal cascade impactor and the particle size analyzer which is an application of multiple diffraction method. Also crystalline silica in respirable and total dust samples was analyzed quantitatively by X-ray diffraction and Fourie Transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FTIR). The results were as follows: The airborne total and respirable dust concentrations, particle size distribution, and cristalline silica(quartz) concentrations showed approximately a log-normal distribution. The means of totaldust concentrations at flour maufacturing, fire brick grinding and packaging processes exceeded the Korean and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists standards, $10mg/m^3$. The size distribution of diatomaceous earth dust was log-normal and identified as the rspirable particle mass and thoracic particle mass. The crystalline silica in respirable and total dust samples was identified to quartz and contained about 10 % in those samples. Finally, it is necessary to study the applicability of multiple diffraction for particle size distribution to compare the ACGIH's size selective sampling with other materials containing crystalline silica. Also, advanced quantitative study to X-ray diffraction and FTIR methods shoud be carried out 10 verify general and specific characteristics for respirable crystalline silica.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.159-160
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• 2002

Soil dust particles transported from loess regions of the Asian continent, called Asian dust, highly influences the air quality of north-eastern Asia and the northern Pacific Ocean. The effects of these dust storms, on the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosol particles with different size, was investigated. Measurements of size distributions of total aerosol and major ion species were carried out on Jeju Island, Korea. (omitted)

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.347-358
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• 2013

The aerosol number concentration have measured with an aerodynamic particle sizer spectrometer(APS) at Gosan in Jeju Island, which is known as background area in Korea, from March 2010 to February 2011. The obtained results of asian dust events and non-asian dust period have been compared. The results show that the entire averaged aerosol number concentration from APS measurement during asian dust events and non-asian dust period are about 341 particles/$cm^3$ and 240 particles/$cm^3$, respectively. During asian dust events, the number concentration in small size ranges(${\leq}0.4{\mu}m$) are similar to non-asian dust period, however, those in large size ranges(${\geq}0.7{\mu}m$) are very higher than non-asian dust period. The contributions of the size resolved number concentration(23 channel in $0.25{\sim}10.0{\mu}m$) to total number concentration in that range are dramatically decreased with increased particle size. The contributions of smaller size ranges(${\leq}0.4{\mu}m$) during asian dust events are very low compared with non-asian dust period, on the other hand, those of larger size ranges(${\geq}0.4{\mu}m$) are higher than non-asian dust period. The number concentration in each size range are strongly correlated with the concentration in adjacent size range. And the total aerosol number concentration are depended on the number concentration in range of smaller than $0.58{\mu}m$ during non-asian dust period and asian dust events. On the other hand, $PM_{10}$ mass concentration has mainly affected with the number concentration in range of smaller than $1.0{\mu}m$ during non-asian dust period, however, during asian dust events, the mass concentration has mainly affected with the number concentration in range of $0.65{\sim}3.0{\mu}m$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 1996

This study was performed to estimate total dust concentrations and particle size distribution of wood dust in the furniture and sawmill industries. To compare total wood dust concentrations, two samplers recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists and by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health were used. Concentration data were analyzed by paired-t tests using the SAS program and two parameters of the particle size distributions were determined by histogram. The results were as follows: 1. Particle size distributions showed a unimodal pattern in cutting and a bimodal in sanding operations. Mass median aerodynamic diameters(MMAD) were $17.35{\mu}m$ in cutting, and $1.39{\mu}m$ for small mode and $18.89{\mu}m$ for large mode in sanding operations. The proportions of particle size larger than $9.8{\mu}m$ estimated by the impactor were 61.16 % in cutting and 62.33 % in sanding operations, respectively. 2. The average personal total dust concentrations measured by IPM sampler were $17.12mg/m^3$ (GSD=1.45) from indoor samples, $2.97mg/m^3$(GSD=1.90) from outdoor samples in cutting, and $8.01mg/m^3$(GSD=1.58) from sanding operation. And those of by 37 mm closed-face cassette were $9.12mg/m^3$(GSD=1.46), $1.06mg/m^3$(GSD=1.99) from cutting, and $3.32mg/m^3$(GSD=2.16) from sanding operations. 3. The average area total dust concentrations measured by IPM sampler were $1.88mg/m^3$(GSD=2.04) from indoor cutting, $4.76mg/m^3$(GSD=2.83) from indoor sanding operations. And those of by 37mm closed-face cassette were $0.49mg/m^3$(GSD=2.34) from cutting, and $1.32mg/m^3$(GSD=3.03) from sanding operations. 4. The ratio of personal total dust concentrations measured by 37 mm closed-face cassette to those by IPM sampler were 35.7 %, 53.3 % from cutting, and 41.4 % from sanding operations. 5. The ratio of area total dust concentrations measured by 37 mm closed-face cassette to those by IPM sampler were 26.1 % from cutting, and 27.7 % from sanding operations. 6. A statistically significant difference of total dust concentrations between the 37 mm closed-face cassette and the IPM sampler was found.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.284-290
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• 2023

Objectives: Work environment assessments were conducted to investigate epidemiologically several cases of lung cancer and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) among workers in domestic quarries. Methods: We visited three quarries in South Korea where an epidemiological investigation was requested and measured total dust, respirable dust, and crystalline silica on rock drilling workers (4 people) and rock chipping workers (13 people). Measurement and analysis were conducted according to NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health) method 0500, NIOSH method 0600 for respirable dust, and NIOSH method 7500 for crystalline silica. Results: Among rock drilling workers the AMs (arithmetic mean) of total dust concentrations, respirable dust concentrations, and crystalline silica concentrations were 3.462 mg/m³ (range: 0.764~6.085 mg/m³), 0.613 mg/m³ (range: 0.153~1.251 mg/m³), and 0.105 mg/m³ (range: 0.012~0.228 mg/m³), respectively. Among rock chipping workers, the AMs of total dust concentrations, respirable dust concentrations, and crystalline silica concentrations were 2.446 mg/m³ (range: 0.156~8.494 mg/m³), 0.488 mg/m³ (range: 0.028~1.536 mg/m³), and 0.099 mg/m³ (range: 0.004~0.274 mg/m³), respectively. Conclusions: Although it cannot be said that the dust concentrations were high for both rock drilling workers and rock chipping workers, the concentrations of crystalline silica were found to be high. If such work is performed for a long period of time, diseases such as lung cancer and COPD may occur, so the work environment needs to be improved.