• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.53-77
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• 2006

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was performed to provide harmonized guidelines on health and environmental classification criteria and its results of chemicals in Korea. Methods: Firstly, The history of GHS implementation in UN and Korea was reviewed. Secondly, the differences in classification criteria on health and environmental hazards among UN GHS and two Korean government agencies, Korea Ministry of Employment and Labour (KMoEL) and Korea Ministry of Environmental (KMoE). The classification results were compared between classifications of Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) based on KMoEL and classifications of Korea National Institute of Environmental Research (KNIER) based on KMoE. Finally, an inter-agency harmonization on the classification criteria and the results was suggested by comparing the classification results of 5 chemicals; Benzene, carbon disulfide, formaldehyde, toluene-2,4-diisocyanate, and trichloroethylene. Results: KMoEL and KMoE revised regulations on chemical management and published a Notices on GHS classification criteria according to UN GHS document. However, the hazard to the ozone layer contained in the latest edition of UN GHS document published in 2011 was not included yet. The differences in classifications of 5 chemicals between KOSHA and KNIER were 36.2% in health hazards and 23.4% in environmental hazards, respectively. In conclusion, we suggested that a new revision be needed to include newly contained hazard and inter-agency working party be organized to harmonize classification results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 2022

Objectives: This study was performed to suggest how to re-establish criterion for toxic substances under the Chemical Control Act (CCA) in South Korea by comparing the GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals) score and toxic properties. Methods: Toxic substances were classified into seven groups (Acute toxicity (1A), Chronic toxicity (2C), Environmental hazards (3E), Acute toxicity & chronic toxicity (4AC), Chronic toxicity & environmental hazards (5CE), Acute toxicity & environmental hazards (6AE), and Acute toxicity & chronic toxicity & environmental hazards (7ACE)) according to their toxic properties. The GHS score was calculated to sum up five toxicity indicators (health acute toxicity, health repeated toxicity, carcinogenicity, health other chronic toxicity and environmental hazards). Results: The GHS score of 7ACE was higher by 7 times that of 1A. 1A is the only group which has lower than the total GHS score. The highest score was 47, for sodium chromate (CAS no. 7775-11-3), which belongs to group 7ACE. This is classified as acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, germ cell mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, and acute and chronic environmental hazard. On the other hand, the lowest score was 2.75, which was assigned to 177 chemicals belonging to group 1A. When the health acute toxicity indicator was omitted from the toxic criterion, toxic substances could be divided into the sub-groups 'human chronic hazards group' (HCG) and 'environmental hazards group' (EG) according to their GHS score and properties. Conclusions: The proposed criterion for toxic substances is to establish sub-groups defined as HCG and EG for separate control and that the 1A group be moved to substances requiring preparation for accidents under the CCA.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1233-1242
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• 2007

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with chronic inflammation characterized by hyperplasia of synovial cells in affected joints, which might be mediated by the altered activation of Immune system, ultimately leading to the destruction of cartilage and bone. To examine effects of GHS on rheumatoid arthritis DBA/1J mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen to induced arthritis and then treated with GHS once a day for 7 weeks. Oral administration of GHS (200 mg/Kg) significantly suppressed the progression of CIA, which extend is comparable to that of methotrexate (MTX, 0.3 mg/Kg), a positive control. The severity of arthritis within the knee joints, which was evaluated by histological assessment of cartilage destruction and pannus formation, was also lowered by GHS. The production of TNF-and IL-6 in serum was significantly suppressed. The levels of IFN-g in the culture supernatant of splenocytes stimulated with CD3/CD28 or collagen were dramatically decreased, while those of IL-4 was increased. The levels of IgG and IgM RA factor were also decreased in the serum. FACS analysis indicated that B cells (in DLN), CD3+ T cells (in spleen, and paw joint), CD11b+Gr-1+ cells (in paw joint), CD3+CD49b(DX5) (in PBMC) were decreased and there was increased proportion of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+CD25+ T cells in DLN. In conclusion, our results demonstrates that GHS significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and this action was characterized by the decreased production of TNF-a, IL-6, and rheumatoid factors, and modulations of immune cell populations.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.201-207
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• 2011

The use of chemical products to enhance and improve life is a widespread worldwide practice. In spite of the benefits of these products, there is the potential of chemicals for adverse effects to people or the environment. The globally harmonized system (GHS) of classifying and labeling chemicals that was recommended by the United Nations in 2003, has been introduced globally since 2008. Compare to the classification criteria of agricultural formulations today, classification criteria of GHS is different partly. One pictogram is removed and 3 pictograms are introduced newly. The classification criteria of GHS will be changed preferentially and implemented gradationally to hazard products.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 2008

The use of chemical products to enhance and improve life is a widespread practice worldwide. But alongside the benefits of these products, there is also the potential for adverse effects to people or the environment. As a result, a number of countries or organizations have developed laws or regulations over the years that require information to be prepared and transmitted to those using chemicals, through labels or Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). While these existing laws or regulations are similar in many respects, their differences are significant enough to result in different labels or MSDS for the same product in different countries. Given the reality of the extensive global trade in chemicals, and the need to develop national programs to ensure their safe use, transport, and disposal, it was recognized that a Globally harmonization system of classification and labeling of chemicals(GHS) would provide the foundation for such programs. This study offered complementary details of GHS classification criteria adopted in Korea by analyzing the differences in chemical classification system between UN and Korea Ministry of Labor. Also it is proposed that mutual agreement of information DB used is required by comparing classification results of chemicals in Korea, Japan, and EU. We offered the lists of information sources useful for chemical classification.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 2011

This study was intended to resolve problems caused by different classification criteria and management methods of carcinogenicity, which have made industrial safety & health institutions and business employers difficult to execute projects or to carry out occupational safety and health related works, and have affected how civic groups perceive carcinogens. The content of this study contained the comparison of management and categorization standards for carcinogens between Korea and other countries as well as the current carcinogenicity-related information supply status of each professional institution. Furthermore, this research examined the current state of supplying information on carcinogenicity among major institutional information supply according to the categorization standard for carcinogens by UN GHS, Ministry of Employment and Labor in Korea(KMoEL), and GHS MSDS provided by Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency(KOSHA). Now, professional agency provide 927 kinds of IARC, 237 kinds of NTP, 351 kinds of ACGIH and 1,006 kinds of EU ECHA information on carcinogenic agents. KMoEL provides carcinogenicity-related information of 58 chemical agents in accordance with the category of carcinogens guided by ACGIH. KOSHA offers 13,232 kinds of GHS MSDS information including 2,484 carcinogenic substances. Therefore, carcinogenicity-related information of chemical substances, which are not available on the existing GHS MSDS DB, should be updated for the future reference.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.9-17
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• 2022

Qualifying quantities (upper tier (UT) and lower tier (LT)) are designated for the regulation of toxic substances. In this study, we aimed to establish systematic criteria for the qualifying quantities by comparing the South of Korea chemical control act with the European Seveso III Directive (Seveso III). In Seveso III, qualifying quantities are defined as "hazard categories" applying GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals), and LTR (lower-tier requirements) and UTR (upper-tier requirements) are determined. The Pro HC (proposed hazard categories) were relevant to the GHS classification of toxic substances and were compared with the currently regulated qualifying quantities. Furthermore, we estimated the Pro LTR (proposed lower-tier requirements) and Pro UTR (proposed upper-tier requirements) corresponding to each Pro HC. Consequently, it was supposed that LT and UT were selected based on GHS like those of Seveso III. Therefore, designation criteria for qualifying quantities should be established by setting the Pro HC such as in Seveso III, rather than designating the qualifying quantities of toxic substances by itself individually. In addition, qualifying quantities should not be delegated to GHS classifications (H302, H341, H411) that do not meet the criteria for the designation of toxic substances, and the corresponding substances should be excluded from classification as toxic substances. This study provides insights into the selection of hazard categories and criteria for qualifying quantities of toxic substances.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.384-392
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• 2013

Objective: This study inspected incident cases, legal control levels, and GHS(Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals) classification results of strong acids such as hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid, which have been responsible for many recent chemical accidents. As a result, it is deemed necessary for legal control levels of these strong acids to be revised and GHS classification be managed nation-wide. Methods: This study inspected incident cases and legal control levels for strong acids such as hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid. The study analyzed and compared chemical information status and GHS classification results. Results: There were 76 domestic incidents involving strongly acidic hazardous materials over the five years between 2007 and 2011. They include 37 leakage incidents(46.7%) within a workplace, 30 leakage incidents(39.5%) during transportation, and nine leakage incidents(13.8%) following an explosion. The strongly acidic materials in question are defined and controlled as toxic chemicals according to the classes of Substances Requiring Preparation for Accidents, Managed Hazardous Substance, Hazardous Chemical(corrosive) as set forth under the Enforcement Decree of the Toxic Chemicals Control Act and Rules on Occupational Safety and Health Standards of Occupational Safety and Health Act. Among them, nitric acid is solely controlled as a class 6 hazardous material, oxidizing liquid, under the Hazardous Chemicals Control Act. The classification results of the EU ECHA(European Chemicals Agency) CLP(Commission Regulation(EC) No. 790/2009 of 10 August 2009, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation(EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures) and NIER (National Institute of Environmental Research) are almost identical for the three chemicals, with the exception of sulfuric acid. Much of the classification information of NITE (National Institute of Technology and Evaluation) and KOSHA(Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, KOSHA) is the same. NIER provides 12(41.4%) out of 29 classifications, as does KOSHA.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.42-50
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• 2013

With the rapid change of industry and the development of science and technology, more than 100,000 industrial chemicals are being used and 2,000 new materials are developed every year. Chemical products have had favorable influence on our daily life and contributed very much to the prosper of human culture. But some materials are inherently poisonous and dangerous. Korea ranks as the number 7 in world's chemical products market and the chemical sector is contributing to the economic revival through importing and exporting of the products. With the increasing domestic as well as international interests about REACH and GHS, the need for the effective and efficient chemical material management system is getting bigger and bigger. In this research, we compare the criteria in UN GHS and Safety Control of Dangerous Substances Act of Korea for the development of global standard test methods and the classification and labelling for the chemicals, and suggest an advancement plan for the introduction of the GHS in a building block approach. In addition, providing the harmonized information about chemical hazards is suggested for the elimination of international trade barriers for chemical industries.