• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.405-415
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study is to comprehensively summarize endotoxin levels reported in operations using metalworking fluids(MWFs). Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted of studies reporting endotoxin levels in processes using metalworking fluids. Keyword search terms included 'metalworking fluids', 'machining fluids', 'metalworking operation', 'machining operation' and 'endotoxin', which were used in combination. Results: A total of ten manuscripts were found to report on airborne endotoxin levels from metalworking operations in the automobile industry. Polycarbonate(PC), polyvinyl chloride(PVC) and mixed cellulose ester(MCE) were used to collect airborne endotoxin. Limulus Amebocyte Lysate was mainly used to quantify endotoxin amount. The levels of airborne endotoxin reviewed varied considerably, ranging from < $4EU/m^3$ to $790EU/m^3$, which was found to be far lower than those from cotton and potato processing plants, sawmills, and poultry farms. Several studies assumed that exposure to endotoxin could be a causative agent of respiratory diseases. Conclusions: Inhalation endotoxin exposure levels reported from metalworking operations were found to be lower than those from industries handling organic materials, even though it could be considered as a possible cause for several respiratory diseases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Industrial Safety Conference
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• 1999.06a
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• pp.271-276
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• 1999

미국을 비롯한 선진국들은 이미 휘발성 유기화합물(volatile organic compounds) 과 독성 중금속(toxic metals)을 비롯한 유해 대기오염물(hazardous air pollutants)에 대해 ATEOS (Airborne Toxic Element and Organic Species), TEAM(Total Exposure Assessment Measurement) 연구등의 대규모 연구를 통하여 인체에 미치는 영향이 가장 큰 물질군이 휘발성 유기화합물임을 밝혀낸 바 있다. (중략)

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2011

Objectives: This investigation is purposed to evaluate the airborne asbestos concentrations in the public buildings having asbestos containing materials(ACMs) in Seoul. Methods: The Seoul Metropolitan Government carried out an asbestos survey to the city-owned public buildings to identify the level of risk exposure, classified into low, moderate and high risk. To evaluate the airborne concentration of asbestos, 11 sampling sites in ten buildings based on the survey were selected. The air samples from the eleven sites were analyzed by Phase Contrast Microscopy(PCM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and compared the analytical results from the both. Results: 1. The airborne fiber concentrations by PCM were less than the detection limit($7f/mm^2$) in 9(82%) out of 11 sampling sites. The highest concentration was 0.0043 f/cc, but it was below the guideline value for indoor air quality(0.01 f/cc), proposed by the Ministry of Environment, Korea. 2. In two sampling sites, having moderate risk level, the chrysotile was identified and showed it's concentrations of 0.0102 s/cc and 0.0058 s/cc, less than $5{\mu}m$ lengths. 3. The ACMs identified in the two sampling sites were a packing material(65% of chrysotile) in mechanical area and a thermal system insulation(5% of chrysotile) in a boiler room. Having more possibility of asbestos emission in the mechanical area, it would be required to set up and carry out the asbestos management plan. Conclusions: Based on the result of this study, the airborne asbestos concentrations in the public buildings with ACMs were generally lower than the guideline value for indoor air quality. There are widespread concerns about the possible health risk resulting from the presence of airborne asbestos fibers in the public buildings. Most of the previous studies about airborne asbestos analysis in Korea were performed based on PCM method that asbestos and non-asbestos fibers are counted together. In the public and commercial buildings, having ACMs, it is suggested that the asbestos be analyzed by TEM method to identify asbestos due to concerns about asbestos exposure to workers and unspecified people.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.553-558
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• 2012

Airborne chlorides are transported to inland by sea wind to be attached to seashore concrete structure surface then penetrated into concrete structure members. Since the surface attached chloride amount are dependent on the amount of airborne chlorides, the prediction of distribution of airborne chlorides is important information in preventing chloride corrosion problems in seashore concrete structures. The prediction of surface chloride amount from airborne chlorides environment is extremely difficult than concrete directly in contact with seawater. In addition, their penetrating tendency is different from that of concrete immersed in seawater. In this study, properties of surface and penetrated chlorides under airborne chlorides environment are investigated. Concrete specimens were manufactured and exposed to marine environment for 3 years. The specimens were analyzed at the time durations of 1, 2, and 3 years to check surface chloride amount to penetrated chloride depth. The results revealed that there were certain differences according to surface roughness of concrete and with and without washing effect due to rainfalls. The evaluation results showed that penetrated chlorides depend on amount of airborne chlorides and duration of exposure. In addition, a notable tendency of having deeper chloride penetration and higher chloride content in concrete members under long-term exposure was observed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.96-101
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to conduct the field validation of alternative method(ETM method) by using non-carcinogenic, and less toxic solvents than NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) analytical method 5524 for measuring the airborne metalworking fluids in workplaces. We carried out the field validation test by using the exposure chamber, guaranteeing the air sampling homogeneously in a machining environment. The ETM mixed solvent presented the complete solubility of MWFs used in test field. Based on the field test data, the bias of the ETM method from reference method, NIOSH analytical method 5524, was from -7.0% to 5.1%. The overall uncertainty of the ETM nethod was 21.6%, which satisfied the NIOSH criteria for the sampling and analytical criteria.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.30-34
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• 1992

This study is conducted to evaluate the airborne concentration of mercury, as well as installation and efficiency of local exhaust ventilation system for 57 factories manufactured fluorescence lamps, mercury lamps and thermometers for July and August 1990. Results and conclusion are as fellows : 1) Mercury treatment factories are 32 among 57 ones, which are 18 fluorescence lamp manufacturing ones and 6 mercury lamp ones and 3 thermometer ones and 5 other ones. 2) Mean airborne concentrations of mercury for factories manufactured mercury lamps are 0.01 mg/ ㎥ in injection process and 0.0155mg/㎥ in exhaust process, and mean airborne concentration of mercury for factories manufactured thermometer are 0.023mg/㎥ in injection process and 0.012mg/㎥ in selection process. All of these airborne concentrations of mercury are lower than PEL(Permissible Exposure Limit ), 0.05mg/㎥. 3) Mean airborne concentrations of mercury for factories manufactured fluorescence lamps are 0.094mg/㎥ in injection process and 0.087mg/㎥ in exhaust process, and 0.052mg/㎥ in sealing process and 0.085mg/㎥ in other process, respectively. All of these air borne concentrations of mercury are exceeded to PEL. More than 60% among 32 factories manufactured mercury are exceeded to PEL. 4) Nine factories among 18 factories manufactured fluorestence lamps are equipped with local exhaust ventilation system, and 7 factories among 9 factories are required for the improvement of suction capacity and structure. Five factories among 14 factories manufactured mercury lamps and the other ones are equipped with local exhaust ventilation system, and 2 factories are required for the improvement of suction capacity and structure.

• 월간산업보건
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• s.242
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• pp.55-59
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• 2008

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.1 s.88
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• pp.36-45
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• 2006

The aim of this study is to examine size-based concentration and genera of airborne fungi distributed in public facilities such as hospital, kindergarten, day-care center and postpartum nurse center and to provide fundamental data in order to prevent respiratory diseases caused by exposure to airborne fungi. Culturable total and respirable concentrations of airborne fungi averaged to $382\;cfu/m^3\;and\;292\;cfu/m^3$ in hospital, $536\;cfu/m^3\;and\;347\;cfu/m^3$ in kindergarten, $334\;cfu/m^3\;and\;266\;cfu/m^3$ in day-care center, and $371\;cfu/m^3\;and\;289\;cfu/m^3$ in postpartum nurse center, respectively. The ratio of respirable to total concentration of airborne fungi in the investigated public facilities was ranged from $55\%\;to\;70\%$ but there was no significant difference among them (p>0.05). The mean I/O ratio of culturable total and respirable concentrations were 0.56 and 0.64 in hospital, 0.72 and 0.91 in kindergarten, 0.33 and 0.45 in day-care center, and 0.63 and 0.73 in postpartum nurse center, respectively. Indoor concentration of airborne fungi did not correlated significantly with indoor temperature and relative humidity (p>0.05) but had a significant positive correlation with $CO_2$ concentration (p<0.01) and surrounding condition (p<0.05). Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp., and Aspergillus spp. were estimated to over $95\%$ of total airborne fungi identified in the investigated public facilities.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 2023

Background: There is little information about the airborne hazardous agents released during the heat treatment when manufacturing a welding material. This study aimed to evaluate the airborne hazardous agents generated at welding material manufacturing sites through area sampling. Methods: concentration of airborne particles was measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer and optical particle sizer. Total suspended particles (TSP) and respirable dust samples were collected on polyvinyl chloride filters and weighed to measure the mass concentrations. Volatile organic compounds and heavy metals were analyzed using a gas chromatography mass spectrometer and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, respectively. Results: The average mass concentration of TSP was 683.1±677.4 ㎍/m³, with respirable dust accounting for 38.6% of the TSP. The average concentration of the airborne particles less than 10 ㎛ in diameter was 11.2-22.8×10⁴ particles/cm³, and the average number of the particles with a diameter of 10-100 nm was approximately 78-86% of the total measured particles (<10 ㎛). In the case of volatile organic compounds, the heat treatment process concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.05) during combustion than during cooling. The airborne heavy metal concentrations differed depending on the materials used for heat treatment. The content of heavy metals in the airborne particles was approximately 32.6%. Conclusions: Nanoparticle exposure increased as the number of particles in the air around the heat treatment process increases, and the ratio of heavy metals in dust generated after the heat treatment process is high, which may adversely affect workers' health.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.223-234
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• 2000

Objective - To evaluate the usefulness of chromium in erythrocytes as a biological marker of exposure to hexavalent chromium in chromate producers and chrome platers Methods - Blood and urine samples were ramdomly obtained from chromate producers (n=34) and chrome platers (n=35), and non-exposed workers (n=75), chromium level in erythrocytes and plasma, and urine were measured. Different chromium exposure workers were assessed through measurements of airborne hexavalent chromium concentrations using a personal air sampler. Linear associations between variables were evaluated with correlation analysis. Results - The chromate producers had mean chromium levels in erythrocytes five fold as higher than the chrome platers, and fifteen fold higher than non-exposed group. Among the chromium exposed workers, airborne hexavalent chromium was positively and strongly correlated with in erythrocytes (r=0.689, p<0.01), and erythrocytes chromium was inversely correlated with hematocrit (r=-0.441, p<0.01), hemoglobin (r=-0.465, p<0.01) and the number of red blood cells (r=-0.28, p<0.05). Conclusions - In conclusion, this study suggests that chromium in erythrocytes is a good indicator of the chromium body burden caused by exposure to hexavalent chromium.