• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.248-255
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• 2010

Airborne nanoparticle concentrations in three metrics (particle surface area concentration, particle number concentration, and particle mass concentrations) were measured by task in a laboratory making carbon nanotubes (CNTs) films using three direct reading instruments. Because of the conducted other researcher's experiment before the tasks, airborne nanoparticle surface area and number concentrations are the highest at the first time conducted weighing and mixing by sonication task, respectively. Because of the mist generated during mixing by sonication, the highest airborne nanoparticle surface area and PM1 concentrations were measured in the task among the total. Nanoparticle surface area concentrations at the researchers' breathing zones had high correlation (r=0.93, p<0.01) with those measured at an area in the laboratory. This result indicates that nanoparticles generated during the experiment contaminated the whole room air. When the experiment performed all the fume hoods weren't operated and making CNTs films task were conducted in the out of the fume hoods. In conclusion, researchers performing making CNTs film experiments were exposed to airborne nanoparticles generated during the experiment without adequate controls. We recommend that adequate controls should be implemented so that workers' exposures to airborne nanoparticle are limited to minimum levels.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.709-717
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• 2015

Airborne bacteria from hog farms may have detrimental impacts on human health, particularly in terms of antibiotic resistance and pathogen zoonosis. Despite human health risks, very little is known about the composition and diversity of airborne bacteria from hog farms and hog-related spray fields. We used pyrosequencing analysis of 16S rRNA genes to compare airborne bacterial communities in a North Carolina hog farm and lagoon spray field. In addition, we isolated and identified antibiotic-resistant bacteria from both air samples. Based on 16S rRNA gene pyrosequence analysis, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla in airborne bacterial communities from both hog farm and spray field sites. Within the Firmicutes genera, Clostridium spp. were more abundant in the hog farm, whereas Staphylococcus spp. were higher in the spray field. The presence of opportunitic pathogens, including several Staphylococcus species and Propionibacterium acnes, was detected in both bioaerosol communities based on phylogenetic analysis. The isolation and identification of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from air samples also showed similar results with dominance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in both hog farm and spray field air. Thus, the existence of opportunistic pathogens and antibiotic resistant bacteria in airborne communities evidences potential health risks to farmers and other residents from swine bioaerosol exposure.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate exposure characteristics of lead using data from the domestic occupational exposure literature. Methods: Occupational airborne exposure data on lead reported in the domestic literature from 1981 to 2018 were collected and re-analyzed. The exposure levels in the data were expressed as an estimated arithmetic mean and a weighted arithmetic mean (WAM) of the number of samples. Lead exposure characteristics were analyzed by industry, process, and year. Results: From a total of 14 documents, 8,305 airborne lead measurements for 17 industries were identified, and the WAM concentration in eight industries exceeded the occupational exposure limit of 50 ㎍/m³. Three industries (battery manufacturing, lead smelting, and litharge manufacturing) accounted for 95% of the total data, and exposure trends could be confirmed over 10 years. Exposure levels continue to decrease in all three industries. Conclusions: Considering the distribution outlook of lead and lead compounds, the main management targets are lead storage battery manufacturing and secondary smelting for lead regeneration.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.58-73
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate BTEX exposure to gas station service attendants and the critical affect of benzene and MtBE airborne concentration. Methods : the degree of exposure to airborne BTEX and MtBE was examined in the service attendants at seven gas stations across the country during a summer season. The TWAs(time-weighted averages) of atmospheric concentration of substances in personal and area samples, were calculated. The component ratio of BTEX and MtBE in the samples of bulk gasoline from each station studied was also measured. Results : The airborne concentrations of BTEX and MtBE showed a lognormal distribution and The TWA concentrations of benzene in personal samples from each station were 0.089 ppm - 0.18 ppm, and those of toluene were 0.097 ppm - 0.2 ppm. The average TWA concentrations of xylene and ethyl benzene was 0.03 ppm and 0.001 ppm, respectively. The TWA concentrations of MtBE were 0.4 ppm - 1.3 ppm. The volume concentrations of MtBE, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene in the bulk gasoline samples were 3 - 7.4 %, 3 - 12 %, 0.64 % and 1.5 - 10 %, respectively. Conclusions : The benzene concentration was detected to exceed the ACGIH threshold benzene level of 0.5 ppm, in one of 74 personal and area samples. MtBE, a substitute for aromatic compounds such as benzene in gasoline, was found to bring about a greater chance of exposure to carcinogen, due to its high vapor pressure and carcinogenicity.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.89-94
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• 2015

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine characteristics of workers' exposures to airborne total and hexavalent chromium by job title in electroplating processes. Methods: Total Cr was determined through a modified method based on NIOSH Method 7024. Airborne hexavalent Cr, Cr(VI), was sampled and extracted according to NIOSH Method 7600 and analyzed at 520 nm using an ion chromatograph/visible detector. Results: The geometric mean(GM) of total Cr concentrations from all factories was $11.2{\mu}g/m^3$(GSD=4.9). The GM of Cr(VI) concentrations from all factories was $2.84{\mu}g/m$ (GSD=5.2), and the concentrations among factories were significantly different (p<0.05). The Cr(VI) levels were lower than total Cr levels. Total Cr exposure levels were highest among buffing workers ($21.6{\mu}g/m^3$), but Cr(VI) levels were highest among plating workers($4.15{\mu}g/m^3$). The concentrations of Cr(VI) and total Cr from plating tasks was highly correlated(r=0.91). Conclusions: In the electroplating industry, plating workers were mainly exposed to Cr(VI), but others were not. Oxidation-reduction states of Cr and job titles should be considered in the exposure or risk assessments of chrome electroplating factories.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.158-166
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between airborne total dust and man-made mineral fibers (MMMF), and to estimate total dust concentration to maintain below the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV$^{(R)}$) for the MMMF. The regression coefficients between airborne total dust concentrations and fiber concentrations determined in the industries producing glass fibers, rock wool. refractory ceramic and continuous filament glass fibers products were 0.41, 0.42, 0.20 and 0.19, respectively. The size characteristics of fibers as well as the amounts of contaminated non-fibrous dusts could affect the correlation intensities. When total dust and fiber exposure data were compared with the occupational exposure limits, there was a large gap between two evaluation results. The regression coefficient between total dust and fiber data was increased ($r^2=0.88$) in the process of insulation installation generating in the higher levels of glass or rock wool fibers. In this case, an estimated total dust concentration of glass wool or rock wool fibers complying with the ACGIH TLV (1 f/cc) was $1.7mg/m^3$. In conclusion, the total dust and fibers concentrations was highly correlated at the higher exposure levels so that total dust-monitoring data could be used to control simply and economically and to estimate worker's exposure to fibers.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.138-142
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• 2006

직업성 천식은 시안화물의 폭로에 의해 발생되는 것으로 알려져 있다. 남호주에 있는 가구산업에서는 일반적으로 목재판 위를 피복하기 위해 이중분사도포를 할 때 이소시안화물 도포제가 사용된다. 이 연구는 이와 관련 된 분야의 자료부족으로 관련 산업에서의 환경 및 피부와 안구폭로에 대한 모니터링을 위하여 수행되었다. 이 연구결과에 의하면 저압다량(HVLP)의 분사기 사용, 페인트 용액중의 저농도 경화제 및 전면 호흡보호구와 같은 적절한 보호구의 사용시에는 대기로부터 오염물질의 유입은 거의 없었고, 분사실 주변의 일반적인 작업범위에도 HDI 가 거의 감지되지 않았다. 페인트분사시의 일회용 장갑착용으로 피부폭로는 발견되지 않았으나, 칼라 모니터링에 의하면 장갑을 착용하지 않거나 청결하게 관리할 수 있는 공정이나 안전한 장소에 보관하지 않으면 작업장으로부터 피부폭로가 있었다. 페인트분사로부터 눈의 오염은 감지되지 않았고, 호흡기, 피부 및 안구에도 폭로되지 않았으며 유입과 가장 관련성이 있는 것은 작업형태이다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.215-221
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the exposure level of hazardous chemical agents for dental technicians in Ulsan. Methods: We measured airborne total dusts and metals such as Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt, and Chromium in 10 dental laboratories by the NIOSH Methods 0500 and 7300, respectively. Methyl methacrylate (MMA), a key ingredient in acrylic resin, was also monitored using passive samplers for long-term sampling and Tenax tubes for short-term sampling. Results: Measured levels of all items were below 10% of the Korean exposure limit except for Nickel. The geometric mean concentration and geometric standard deviation of total dust, Nickel, and MMA were $0.14mg/m^3$ (2.16), $165.3{\mu}g/m^3$ (3.31), and 0.2 ppm (2.5) respectively. Airborne Nickel concentration of two dental laboratories exceeded the exposure limit ($1000{\mu}g/m^3$). The major emission sources of Nickel were metal trimming and casting processes. Conclusions: We found that Nickel, a carcinogen, should be controled most urgently to protect dental technicians.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.217-223
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate personal and area exposure of airborne nicotine during harvest and weaving tasks in tobacco farms. Methods: Nicotine was measured with NIOSH method 2551 and Passive sampler which was validated in previous papers for area and personal sampling. Results: The average (geometric mean) concentrations of nicotine with two different tasks in personal sample were 6.5 ${\mu}g/m^3$ (harvest), 32.6 ${\mu}g/m^3$ (weaving) and in area sample were 0.8 ${\mu}g/m^3$ (harvest), 57.2 ${\mu}g/m^3$ (weaving). There was significant difference in area sample between harvest and weaving task (p=0.000). Also, there was significant difference with personal sample (p=0.000). Conclusions: It was found that weaving task should be considered to be the first priority for reducing nicotine exposure.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.351-359
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to understand the characteristics of residents in industrial areas and factors affecting exposure to the Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs : Benzene, Toluene, Xylene) as well as to assess exposure levels according to house-type, and whether residents were indoors or outdoors. This research was designed to assess the differences in exposure levels to indoor, outdoor and personal VOCs in a case group and a control group across all areas, as well as in each different area, from May to October 2007, in. 110 residents of the G, Y and H industrial areas of the Jun-nam province. The geometric mea-levels of airborne benzene for the case group 1.31part per billion(ppb) indoor, 1.29 ppb outdoor, and 1.32 ppb for personal exposure were significantly higher than for the control group 0.99, 0.87 and 0.57 ppb, respectively. The geometric mean level for toluene personal exposure across the G, Y and H areas was 5.70 ppb for the case group and 6.31 ppb for the control group. While the outdoor level was 4.27 ppb for the case group and 5.06 ppb for the control group, The indoor level for the case group was 4.78 ppb, similar to that of the control group 4.69 ppb. The geometric mean levels for airborne xylene across the G, Y and H areas were 0.16 ppb(outdoor), 0.12 ppb(personal exposure) and 0.10 ppb(indoor) for the case group, and for the control group were 0.17(personal exposure) and 0.09 ppb(indoor and outdoor). The indoor/outdoor(I/O) ratio for case group is 1.19, while that of the control group is 1.15, indicating that the indoor level was higher than the outdoor level. The interrelationship differences among the three different types of levels in the air in the G, Y and H areas are statistically significant, except for the difference between the indoor and outdoor figures for xylene. In terms of the different types of houses and energy type uesd, the geometric mean level for airborne benzene, toluene and xylene for houses were 1.61, 5.39 and 0.12 ppb, respectively. while the figures for flats were 0.67, 3.32 and 0.05 ppb, respectively. Outdoors, the levels of benzene and toluene in flats were 0.71 and 2.62 ppb, respectively. and 1.58 and 5.35 ppb in houses. For personal exposure, the house levels of benzene, toluene and xylene were all higher than for flats. Houses using oil for heating have significantly higher levels than flats, which use gas for heating.