• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.86-90
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• 2014

Background: Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) was selected as a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to explore the accumulation level in the bodies of workers at rubber smoke sheet factories in southern Thailand. Methods: Spot urine samples were taken from four groups of workers from June 2006 to November 2007. The nonexposure or control groups included habitual cigarette smokers and nonsmokers. The other two groups were workers exposed to particle-bound PAHs from rubber wood smoke and they were nonsmokers. All spot urine samples were analyzed for 1-OHP and creatinine levels. Results: The mean${\pm}$standard deviation urinary 1-OHP in the control group of habitual smokers and the nonsmokers was $0.24{\pm}0.16{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine and not-detected to $0.14{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine, respectively. In the workers, the 1-OHP levels on workdays had no significant difference from the 1-OHP levels on the days off. The yearly average 1-OHP level was $0.76{\pm}0.41{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine whereas the average 1-OHP level during 10 consecutive workdays was $1.06{\pm}0.29{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The urinary 1-OHP levels of workers exposed to PAHs were high. The accumulation of 1-OHP in the body was not clear although the workers had long working hours with few days off during their working experience. Therefore, a regular day off schedule and rotation shift work during high productive RSS should be set for RSS workers.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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• pp.39.1-39.14
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• 2023

Background: Diseases affecting the lungs and airways contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. The problem in low- and middle-income countries appears to be exacerbated by a shift in global manufacturing base to these countries and inadequate enforcement of environmental and safety standards. In Ghana, the potential adverse effects on respiratory function associated with occupational wood dust exposure have not been thoroughly investigated. Methods: Sixty-four male sawmill workers and 64 non-woodworkers participated in this study. The concentration of wood dust exposure, prevalence and likelihood of association of respiratory symptoms with wood dust exposure and changes in pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters in association with wood dust exposure were determined from dust concentration measurements, symptoms questionnaire and lung function test parameters. Results: Sawmill workers were exposed to inhalable dust concentration of 3.09 ± 0.04 mg/m³ but did not use respirators and engaged in personal grooming habits that are known to increase dust inhalation. The sawmill operators also showed higher prevalence and likelihoods of association with respiratory symptoms, a significant cross-shift decline in some PFT parameters and a shift towards a restrictive pattern of lung dysfunction by end of daily shift. The before-shift PFT parameters of woodworkers were comparable to those of non-woodworkers, indicating a lack of chronic effects of wood dust exposure. Conclusions: Wood dust exposure at the study site was associated with acute respiratory symptoms and acute changes in some PFT parameters. This calls for institution and enforcement of workplace and environmental safety policies to minimise exposure at sawmill operating sites, and ultimately, decrease the burden of respiratory diseases.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.32-40
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• 2008

Methyl bromide has been used as a representative fumigant for quarantine, and several poisoning cases have occurred recently by this chemical in Korea. The purpose of this study is to evaluate workers' exposures to airborne methyl bromide in the importing and exporting plant products quarantine companies. Air samples were collected 400/200 mg Anasorb 747TM and were analyzed by gas chromatograph /flame ionization detector according to the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) Method PV2040. Geometric mean (GM) and arithmetic mean (AM) of total 27 workers' exposure concentrations to airborne methyl bromide were 1.12 ppm and 0.24 ppm, respectively. Two exposures(12.1 ppm and 12 ppm as 8hr-TWA) of total 27 workers' exposures exceeded the Korean standard (5 ppm) of Ministry Labor, while 4 exposures (15%) exceeded the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) (1 ppm) of American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Seven samples (11%) of total 63 short-term air samples exceeded the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) 20 ppm (Ceiling). The opening (management) task in wood fumigation by tent showed the highest short-term exposure concentrations (AM: 18.6 ppm, GM: 0.58 ppm, maximum: 340.7 ppm). The maximum level in treatment task of the same process was 2.01 ppm. Methyl bromide concentrations in opening operation was significantly higher than that in treatment operation (p<0.05). In conclusion, the GM of workers' 8hr-TWA exposures to airborne methyl chloride in the importing/exporting plant quarantine industry was estimated below the ACGIH TLV (1 ppm). However, opening task in the fumigation of wood being covered with tent or fumigation of pant products in container showed the levels exceeding ACGIH TLV (1 ppm), and opening task in the fumigation of wood being covered with tent showed the level exceeding the Korean standard of Ministry of Labor (5 ppm).

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.283-294
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• 2023

Chemical characterization of vinegars obtained from Durian wood (Durio sp.) and their termicidal activity against Coptotermes curvignathus and antifungal activity against Schizophyllum commune were evaluated. The process of pyrolysis produced wood vinegars at three distinct temperature: 350℃, 400℃, and 450℃. To determine their effectiveness against fungal growth, the vinegars were tested using a Petri dish with 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0%, and 4.0% (v/v) against S. commune. In the experiment, termicidal activities were evaluated using a no-choice test for C. curvignathus with 3.0%, 6.0%, 9.0%, and 12.0% (v/v). The wood vinegar exhibited antitermitic activity to C. curvignathus workers in the no-choice experiment; For vinegar produced at 450℃, a 6% concentration was required to achieve 100% mortality against C. curvignathus. In addition, a 12% vinegar produced at 450℃ resulted in the lowest mass loss of treated filter paper, which was 20.00%. Furthermore, all the wood vinegars exhibited antifungal activities against S. commune at concentration of 2.0%. The dominant chemical components of wood vinegar produced at temperature of 350℃, 400℃, and 450℃ were 2-methoxy-phenol, 4-ethyl-2-methoxy-phenol, 4-ethyl-2-methoxy-phenol, 3.5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxytoluene, and creosol.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.616-642
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• 2021

일반인의 목재에 대한 인식개선은 목재이용 확대를 통한 목재문화 정착이라는 목표를 달성하기 위하여 필수적이다. 본 연구에서는 목재문화 활성화를 위한 전략마련을 위한 기초연구로 일반인의 목재문화 체험현황과 요구사항에 대하여 설문조사를 수행하였다. 조사항목은 목재문화 인식, 목재문화 이용현황, 목재문화에 대한 선호와 요구, 목재문화의 하위분야 인식, 목재문화 자원에 대한 인식, 목재이용 트렌드, 목재관련 생활환경 등 7가지로 분류하였으며, 조사결과를 목재와 문화체험에 대한 인식, 유형별 목재문화자원에 대한 인식, 생활환경과 목재이용 트렌드, 목재문화에 대한 선호와 요구의 4가지로 구분하였다. 본 연구에서는 4가지로 구분된 항목 중 일반인의 목재와 문화체험에 대한 인식을 분석하였다. 일반인은 목재와 목재문화에 대하여 재료, 문화유산, 친환경 등의 이미지를 갖고 있으나 2가지를 크게 구분하지는 않았다. 목재이용은 인간의 신체와 정신에 긍정적 영향을 미친다고 판단하고 있으나 목재의 활용이 산림을 파괴하는 것이라는 인식을 응답자의 45%가 갖고 있었다. 또한 목재와 관련된 직업은 기술자 또는 기능인이라는 인식을 갖고 있으며, 목재교육전문가와 같은 교육자로서의 인지도는 상대적으로 낮게 조사되었다. 목재문화와 관련된 주요사업에 대한 인지도는 응답자의 50%에 미치지 못하였다. 응답자의 30%가 목공체험을 포함한 목재교육에 참여한 경험이 있었으며 대부분 수공구를 이용한 경험이 있었다. 목재문화프로그램을 통해 제작하고 싶은 것은 가구류, 소품류, 건축물 등이 있었다. 목재문화체험장에 대하여 알고 있는지에 대해 응답자의 23%가 인지하고 있다고 응답하였으며 이들 중 방문경험이 있는 경우는 약 50%이었다. 목재교육 전문가에게 요구되는 역량으로는 목공기술에 대한 응답률이 73%로 제일 높게 측정되었다. 일반인의 목재에 대한 인식을 개선하기 위하여 현대인은 체험에서 교육적 요소보다 오락적 요소를 중요하게 생각한다는 점을 고려할 필요가 있다. 보다 많은 일반인에게 목재문화 체험의 기회를 제공하기 위하여 오락적 요소를 포함한 다양한 콘텐츠의 개발과 이에 대한 적극적인 홍보가 필요하다고 판단된다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.50-57
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• 2020

Objectives: Methyl bromide is a highly toxic substance that can cause systemic poisoning, neurotoxicity, pulmonary edema. Methyl bromide is a widespread fumigation agent used for import and export quarantine, but there is little data on exposure assessment of workers participating in such fumigation. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the exposure level of methyl bromide among workers and the concentration distribution of methyl bromide in the workplace during fumigation. Methods: For this study, one wood tent and one container fumigation area in Pusan, and one wood tent fumigation area in Incheon were investigated over three months from June 2001. Results: Methyl bromide exposure levels for container fumigation workers were from undetected to 1.86 ppm and from undetected to 2.28 ppm for tent fumigation workers as an 8 hr TWA. After opening the container door, the methyl bromide concentration in the container decreased rapidly over time, but the concentration remained over 1 ppm even after about one hour. The concentrations around the tent during its removal were highly affected by wind, but were detected in a range from undetected to 11.97 ppm. Conclusions: This study confirmed that both container and tent fumigation caused workers to exceed the exposure limit of 1 ppm as an 8 hour TWA. In particular, it could be confirmed that a situation exists in which the worker may be exposed to high concentrations of methyl bromide when opening the container or removing the tent due to the nature of the work. Therefore, it is very important to improve working methods and to wear appropriate personal protective equipment.

• 산업경영시스템학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.135-142
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• 2006

The package loading process of tile lumbering industry is an operation that after a pair of workers binds three or six lumber into a unit and cut the both ends of the lumber, carry and pack and load the weight cargo of 30-50kg. The package loading process causes lots of noise and wood dust when the lumber are cut and brings about the main cause of the musculoskeletal disorder when workers carry the heavy goods. Therefore, we developed the monolithic package loading equipment cutting both ends that is enable to improve the working method and environments of the existing package loading process. The noise and wood dust were reduced by developing the device and the main cause of shirking duties on working place was solved by preventing the musculoskeletal disorder and improving the working environments as excluding the work of carrying heavy goods.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.250-257
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• 2017

Background: Tasks involved in traditional charcoal production expose workers to various levels of charcoal dust and wood smoke. This study aimed to identify specific tasks influencing lung function and respiratory symptoms. Methods: Interviews, direct observation, and task/symptom checklists were used to collect data from 50 charcoal-production workers on 3 nonwork days followed by 11 workdays. The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured four times per day. Results: The PEFR was reduced and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms increased over the first 6-7 workdays. The PEFR increased until evening on nonwork days but not on workdays. Loading the kiln and collecting charcoal from within the kiln markedly reduced the PEFR and increased the odds of respiratory symptoms. Conclusion: Tasks involving entry into the kiln were strongly associated with a short-term drop in the PEFR and the occurrence of respiratory symptoms, suggesting a need for the use of protective equipment and/or the operation of an effective kiln ventilation system.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.145-157
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• 1999

Wood dust is created when machines are used to cut or shape wood materials. Industries of high risk of wood dust exposure are sawmills, dimension mills, furniture industries, and carpenters, etc. Health effects associated with wood dust exposure includes dermatitis, allergic respiratory effects and cancer. Health effects of wood dus t are mainly depend on the concentration, dust size and exposure time. This study were carried out to evaluate the concentration and particle size distribution of wood dust during working processes. The subjects of this study were 53 workers exposed to wood dust in 7 furniture factories and 5 musical instruments, and 5 sawmill factories. The average total wood dust concentrations measured by personal cascade impactor were $1.82{\pm}2.31mg/m^3$ in primary manufacture, $3.59{\pm}1.72mg/m^3$ in s econdary manufacture, $5.09{\pm}1.46mg/m^3$ in sanding operation. Mass median diameters of hardwoods dust were $3.36{\mu}m$ in primary manufacture, $4.25{\mu}m$ in secondary manufacture, $4.21{\mu}m$ in sanding operation. softwoods dust were $3.39{\mu}m$ in primary manufacture, $4.34{\mu}m$ in secondary manufacture. Particle size distributions showed a nearly the same pattern in each working processes. The sample concentration of all hardwood dust exceeded the Threshold Limit Value(TLV) and 20.8% of the softwood dust exceeded the Threshold Limit Value. The range of size distribution were $0.5-10{\mu}m$ in the soft and hardwood dust. The respirable dust of soft and hardwood took up 59% and above. Therefore new threshold limit value for wood dust should be needed in Korea. Also, it should be done for various studies on health effects related to occupational exposure of wood dust.

• 한국의류산업학회지
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.704-712
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• 2018

This study analyzed working postures using the Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS) to improve work clothes for construction workers. A video taken at a construction work site was stopped at regular intervals and the postures of relevant body parts proposed by OWAS was recorded. Additionally, based on analysis of the working postures code, the level of work action for each postures was classified from stage I to IV. General workers frequently straightened or bent forward at the waist, and used their legs to stand, bend, or walk. Wood workers moved extensively from the waist, keeping their legs relatively straight and their arms held below their shoulders, repeatedly tapping with a hammer weighing less than 10.0kg. Rebar bending workers mainly bent forward at the waist, with both legs bent or standing with one leg bent. Rebar transport and fixing workers walked with the waist straight, and occasionally one or both hands held above the shoulders. Their work also involved holding a hook, which weigh less than 10.0kg, in their hands, and the difficult task of lifting and placing long rebars, which weigh from 10.0 to 20.0kg or more. Concrete pouring workers bent or twisted their back to the side. Therefore, this study suggests that design goals should be different when developing workwear for each type of worker.