• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2017

Compared to other occupations, there is a greater risk of exposure to radiation due to the use of radioisotopes in nuclear medicine for diagnostic evaluations and therapy. To consider ways to reduce exposure dose for those in nuclear medicine involved in injection work and elution work among radiation workers as well as for sanitation workers and trainees among frequent workers an investigation into exposure dose and situational analysis from changes in yearly exposure dose evaluations, changes in work environment and changes in forms of inspection were conducted. Exposure dose measurements were taken by using EPD MK2 worn during working hours for one injection worker, one elution worker, two sanitation workers, and one trainee at a general hospital in the Seoul area for three days from July 18th to 20th 2016. Radiation from radioisotopes which are a part of nuclear medicine can significantly affect not only radiation workers who deal with radioisotopes directly but also frequency works as well. According to this study the annual dose limit for elution workers and injection workers were considered safe as the amount of exposure was not large enough to have a significant effect. The limits of this study consist in the duration of this study and the quantity of participants. Also there was a limitation of the measurement device involving accumulated exposure, where the EPD MK2 cannot check the changes in exposure according to a particular activity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.88-94
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• 1998

Korea has been rapidly industrialized during the past 35 years. During this period, Korea has emphasized only production and workers health has been ignored. Workers are most frequently exposed to organic vapors, such as thinners. This study was performed to evaluate worker exposures to organic solvents by size and type of industry. Results are summarized below. Workers were exposed to mixtures of toluene, xylenes, trichloroethylene, n-hexane, acetone, methanol, n-butanol, n-butyl acetate, and MIBK. Considering additive effects of the compounds, exposure indices (EIs) were calculated. It was found that worker exposures to organic solvents were highest in small industries and lowest in large industries. During a day shift, the highest exposure was indicated 3 - 5 p.m. in the afternoon. Workers in small industries had potential exposures exceeding permissible exposure limits for organic solvents. Local exhuast systems were inappropriate and respiratory protective devices were not supplied to the workers in small industries. Neither program for safe use and storage of toxic materials nor program for respirators was found in any of the plants investigated. Based on the results of the study, workers of small scale industries should be considered first in industrial health.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.80-90
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was performed to propose a domestic occupational exposure limit(OEL) following a health hazard assessment, calculation of a non-carcinogenicity reference concentration worker($RfC_{worker}$) value, and examination of international agencies' exposure limits. It also recommends legal management within the Occupational Safety and Health Act for HCFC-123, which caused an acute hepatotoxicity incident. Methods: An acute hepatotoxicity incident due to the fire extinguishing agent HCFC-123 was investigated. Toxicological hazard and health hazard classifications were examined and a non-carcinogenicity $RfC_{worker}$ value was calculated for HCFC-123. An OEL and the necessity of legal management were recommended as well. Results and Conclusions: An OEL for HCFC-123 of 10 ppm($62.5mg/m^3$), which considered the $RfC_{worker}$ value, 5.56 ppm, produced in dose-response assessment and the exposure level of 19.1-20.9 ppm measured as an eight-hour TWA(time-weighted average) in the incident place, is recommended. HCFC-123 is urged to be included as a chemical requiring legal management in the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations. In addition, it is recommended that a peak exposure of ACGIH be adopted in the Notice of the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 1997

The objectives of this study were both 10 discuss the sampling method for airborne metalworking fluids(MWF)' mist and 10 suggest measures to minimize worker's exposure to carcinogen contained in metalworking fluids. In order to measure airborne MWF mist, it seems to be appropriate to use NIOSH Method #0500(filler weight) rather than NIOSH Method # 5026(analysis by FTIR). Because MWF mist on PVC filter evaporated and migrated during sampling, worker's exposure to MWF could be underestimated. So, when evaluating worker's exposure to MWF mist, other environmental conditions also must be considered. Enclosure and local exhaust ventilation system seems to he the most effective measure and must be constructed with process facility. In order to control worker exposure to carcinogens contained in MWF, distillation type and condition for crude oil, PAH concentration in MWF, and viscosity index of MWF must legally be described.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.43-57
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• 1996

To characterize worker's exposure to glass fibers, to find the correlation between airborne total dust concentrations and fiber concentrations and to recommend an appropriate evaluation method for worker's exposure to fibrous dusts in glass wool industry, we carried out this study. Average respirable fiber levels at five factories were 0.013-0.056 f/cc, and fairly below the OSHA PEL, 1 f/cc. A factory showed the lowest airborne fiber level, 0.013 f/cc, which was different significantly from those of other factories of which average fiber concentration was 0.046 f/cc. The cutting and grinding operations of insulation products resulted in higher airborne fiber cocentrations than any other processes(p<0.05). To characterize airborne fiber dimension, fiber length and diamter were determined using phase contrast microscope. The geometric means of airborne fiber lengths were $42-105 \mu m$. One factory had airborne fibers whose length distribution(GM = $105 \mu m$) was different from those of other factories(GM = $42-50 \mu m$). The percentages of respirable fibers less thinner than 3 gm were 38.9-90.9% at four factories, and two factories of them had the higher percentages than others. The findings explain for variation of airborne fiber diameters between factories. On the other hand, between the processes were the difference of fiber-length distributions observed. The cutting and grinding operations showed shorter fiber-length distributions than the fiber forming one. However, fiber-diameter distributions or respirable fiber contents were similar in all processes. The airborne fiber concentrations and the dust concentrations had relatively weak correlation(r=0.25), thus number of fibers couldn't be expected reliably from dust amount. Fiber count is appropriate for assessing accurate exposures and health effects caused by fibrous dusts including glass fibers. Ministry of Labor have established occupational exposure limit to glass fibers as nuisiance dust, but should establish it on the basis of respirable fiber concentration to provide adequate protection for worker's health

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.295-303
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• 2021

Objective: Paint manufacturing industry workers are exposed to various lung cancer carcinogenic substances including hexavalent chromium and crystalline silica. Studies have been conducted on lung cancer in Paint manufacturing industry workers and the concentration of hexavalent chromium in paint industry; however, the concentration of crystalline silica and hexavalent chromium and cases of lung cancer in a single Paint factory has never been reported in Korea. Methods: To determine whether the cancer was related to his work environment, we assessed the level of exposure to carcinogens during pouring and mixing talc and pigment. In addition, a mask fit test was performed for the worker. Results: Analysis of talc and silica bulk powder materials showed that crystalline silica (quartz) was 5% in talc and 100% in silica. The green and yellow pigments contained 87% and 92% of lead chromate, respectively. Our quantitative analysis of pigment powder samples showed that the hexavalent chromium contents quantified in the green and yellow pigment samples were 87% and 92%, respectively. In order to estimate his exposure level of hexavalent chromium, we measured a personal exposure level of hexavalent chromium for a worker in accordance with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health #7605 method. The results showed that the worker was exposed to the high level of hexavalent chromium (0.033 mg m-3). In addition, the talc powder also contained 5% quartz, and the worker's exposure level to respirable quartz exceeded OEL. As a result of the respiratory protection fit test for workers, the overall Fit Factor was '15' when wearing a second-grade mask and '25' when wearing a first-grade mask, significantly lower than the US Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) pass value of "100". Conclusion: Workers who pouring and mixing powder materials such as talc or colored pigments in paint manufacturing company may be exposed to high concentrations of carcinogenic substances. These findings indicate that it is necessary to local ventilation system inspection, safety and health education for employers and workers, and periodically monitoring and manage the working environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2013

Objectives: Skin exposure to diisocyanates may be an important risk factor for respiratory sensitization to leading asthma. However little is known about the extent of worker's diisocyanates skin exposure and the effectiveness of personal protective equipments in polyurethane foam manufacturing companies. This study provides data on diisocyanates skin exposure, surface diisiocyantes contamination of foams and the effectiveness of personal protective gloves in five polyurethane foam manufacturing companies. Materials and methods Colorimetric SWYPE pads are used for the determination of diisocyanates on surfaces of workers skin and polyurethanes foams. Results: The forearms, necks and faces of workers in polyurethane foam manufacturing companies were found to be contaminated with diisocyanates. Heavy contamination with uncured diisocyanates at large block foams surfaces were found. Personal gloves of workers for skin protection showed significant penetrations by diisocyanates. Conclusions: We found that all workers in polyurethane foam manufacturing companies could be exposed to diisocyanates by skin exposure. Also further researches which would better quantify skin exposure are needed.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to assess respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure levels in workers who collect and dispose used coal briquette ash (CBA) in sanitation companies that are subcontracted by one medium-sized local government on the collection of municipal household waste (MHW), and to analyze the quartz content in CBA. When the CBA powder that undergone specialized pretreatment in several steps were subjected to mineral identification and quantitative analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD), it was found that quartz represented 18%, and in addition, mullite, and plagioclase were included. For two CBA collectors, samples were collected by the personal sampling evaluation method. After respirable dust was collected in accordance with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 7500 method, the concentration of quartz was analyzed using XRD. Meanwhile, a portable real-time dust monitor (Sidepak AM520, TSI Inc., USA) was also used to observe the dust exposure level for each time zone and job task. The RCS exposure level of one worker was as high as 0.024 mg/㎥, which was the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLV) level. The other worker also exhibited a concentration of 0.013 mg/㎥, which was more than half of TLV. The Sidepak results revealed that the work of collecting CBA and loading it onto a vehicle was hardly exposed to the dust of a significant level. It was found, however, that the work of transferring the collected CBA to a container through a conveyor belt was exposed to a very high average respirable dust concentration of 2.238 mg/㎥. The results of this study confirmed that quartz, which is crystalline silica and a carcinogen, is contained in CBA, one of municipal household waste (MHW), in high concentration. It was also confirmed that workers are exposed to high RCS concentrations while transferring collected CBA into a container. Although each local government in South Korea handles CBA in different ways, it is imperative to investigate the CBA exposure level of sanitation workers and improve their working conditions.

• Proceeding of Spring/Autumn Annual Conference of KHA
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.322-327
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• 2006

In our previous research, office workers are relatively frequent in self-reported symptoms suggestive of MCS/IEI compare to construction worker who highly exposed to VOCs compounds. However in that research, the subjects were too small to say it clearly. Based on that research results, self reported symptom surveys to 110 office workers and personal exposure concentration measurement were conducted to 13 of people. VOCs exposure levels were measured within office, house and other places during a week by Passive Sampling Method. In this study, it was found that the number of office workers who met the operational criteria of MCS/IEI was 23.6% similar to 24.5% of previous result, and average of TVOC concentration was appeared high state by order of office, house, and personal exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.488-499
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the characterization of organics solvent exposure among painting workers in the shipbuilding painting process, especially for their daily variations(within worker variance). Methods: Charcoal passive dosimeters were worn throughout each work shift for 20 days for five painting workers from October 19 to November 26, 2015. A total of 100 samples were collected, analyzed and compared with statutory workplace environmental measurements. Results: The geometric mean(GM) and geometric standard deviation(GSD) of mixed organic solvent(six substances) exposure index(EI) for the 100 samples were 0.42 and 4.42 respectively. The median and range of GSD for within worker EI representing five workers' daily EI variation is 3.72 and 2.63 ~ 5.20, respectively, which is classified as a very large variation(GSD>3). We were able to divide the painting process into two similar exposure groups(SEGs), Touch-up and Spray. Spray painting workers were much more exposed to organic solvent than Touch-up painting workers(GM=0.71 vs. 0.19), but less variably (GSD=3.64 vs. 4.10). xylene is the substance to which the workers were most exposed(GM=16.19 ppm, GSD=4.36), and the exposure characteristics of six substances including xylene is similar to those of EI. Conclusions: The daily variation of organic solvent exposure in the shipbuilding painting process is so high that statutory Assessment of Reliability of Work Environment Monitoring needs to be conducted with statistically sufficient number of samples and evidence.