• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.371-380
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• 2022

Objectives: To ensure that employers handling petroleum compounds understand whether petroleum-based UVCB (unknown or variable composition, complex reaction products, or biological materials) substances contain hazardous substances and comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, petroleum-based UVCB substances were analyzed and the results from samples were compared with MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) contents. Methods: Twenty-one petroleum samples were analyzed using GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry), targeting ten volatile organic compounds regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Results: The target chemicals were detected in 13 out of 21 samples. All 13 samples were in the naphtha (low boiling point naphthas (gasolines)) group. There were also naphtha group samples containing 2% benzene. Some naphtha samples used as solvents contained about 1% benzene. Conclusions: This study shows that naphtha group petroleum substances contain hazardous chemicals in many cases. In particular, if benzene, n-hexane, and toluene with low occupational exposure limits are contained above the limit concentration. Such information should be delivered in the article on MSDS legal regulations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.578-586
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• 2014

Objectives: There is a requirement to establish the standard operating procedures(SOPs) for chronic inhalation/carcinogenicity testing, so we would like to set them appropriately. Methods and Results: We established SOPs according to guidelines from international organizations such as OECD, the US EPA, and relevant institutions in advanced countries. We also benchmarked other contract research organizations(CROs) in Korea. Conclusions: We created appropriate SOPs for chronic inhalation/carcinogenicity testing.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.206-211
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• 2001

This article describes identification and quantification of benzene in the casting process. Air samples around the casting process were taken by using personal air sampler attached charcoal tube and desorbed by carbon disulfide. The identification and quantitative analysis of benzene have been performed by GC-MS and GC-FID. Calibration range of standard solutions for benzene was prepared in range from 0.1 to 2 times of TLVs concentrations($1.4{\sim}28{\mu}g/1m{\ell}$ CS2) and the limit of detection was $0.11{\pm}0.002{\mu}g/1m{\ell}$ CS2. Benzene detected in airborne was ranged in 4.0ppb~104.7ppb.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.198-205
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• 2001

Many reactive dyes have been used in occupational settings without knowing their toxicity and health hazard information. To investigate the toxicity of reactive dye, C.I.No. Reactive Red 195 was exposed to male and female Sprague Dawley rats by inhalation for 28 days. The rats were exposed C.I.No. Reactive Red 195 for 6 hrs per day and 5days per week. The concentrations for the inhalation exposure were 0, 10, 40 and $160mg/m^3$. After 4 weeks of exposure, rats were examined for exposure related changes through pathology, blood biochemistry and hematology. There were no dose related changes including clinical signs, body weight and relative organ weight changes, hematological and biochemical and histopathological findings. The results indicate that no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 28 days inhalatrion toxicity test for C.I.No. Reactive Red 195 was $160mg/m^3$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.376-386
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• 2020

Objectives: This study identifies the trend of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease in lead or cadmium workers. It is also required to check the usefulness of follow-up management in lead or cadmium workers by reviewing the relevance between the results of follow-up management and the trend of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease. Methods: From 2009 to 2018, the results of the Ministry of Employment and Labor's special health-screening program for hazard agents for workers were used. The correlation between the ratio of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease of lead or cadmium workers and the ratio of those who observed were and underwent observed follow-up management was analyzed to confirm the usefulness of follow-up management. Results: Over the past decade, the average annual proportion of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease among lead workers has been on the decline. Among cadmium workers, it has generally shown a trend of increasing and decreasing. After the implementation of follow-up management, possible occupational disease in lead workers showed significant relevance to work prohibitions and restrictions, and probable occupational disease in lead workers showed significant relevance to the work prohibitions and restrictions, on-duty treatment, and boundary lines. However, there was no significant correlation between persons involved in cadmium workers. Conclusion: In this study, more active managements such as work ban and restrictions, on-duty treatment among follow-up management of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease of lead worker and observers are related to a decrease in the ratio of those who have been diagnosed with possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was designed to establish an accurate analytical method for asbestos in a biological sample for determining occupational asbestos-related diseases and relief of the health effects of environmental asbestos. Methods: Biological samples were obtained from lungs of rats following intratracheal instillation of asbestos(Chrysotile, anthophyllite) and were prepared according to digestion method(Wet digestion, high temperature ashing, low temperature ashing). The samples were then analyzed for asbestos fibers using a transmission electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Results: Low temperature plasma ashing removed more of the organic components and reduced fiber loss compared to the wet digestion method, making specimens so prepared more suitable for transmission electron microsocpy. Conclusions: The low temperature ashing technique is the most accurate method for analyzing asbestos in biological samples.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.155-161
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• 1998

This study reviewed on the occupational health status of female workers in China, where the half of female population are workers in occupational settings and realizes the importance of occupational health among them, to establish the occupational health management system in Korea as Korean female workers have been increasing for the last few decades. Results of the study were as follows. 1. The proportion of female workers in total workers have increased from 7.5% in 1949 up to 37.6% in 1990. As for the distribution of female workers by industry, manufacturing part has the highest proportion of female workers in total and out of total female workers, the rank was health social welfare (53.2%), community personal service(45.4%) and agriculture forestry fishing(44.1%). 2. The system of occupational health management for female workers was related to superior organization well by administrative district & work place and professionals were distributed to one per ten thousand persons or more, depending on each region's conditions. 3. The regulations of occupational health management for female workers are defined in a variety of fields. Considering the physiological characteristics of female workers, government has tried to minimize the loss due to menstruation, pregnancy, delivery and lactation and has let them have vacations, guaranteeing the health facilities at the same time. Also government has defined the scope of prohibited work to protect legal right of them.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide technical information about the management of occupational exposure limits(OELs) for substances with completely revised ACGIH TLVs. Methods: The history of ACGIH TLVs for aluminum compounds, the reason for the complete revision of the related ACGIH TLV in 2008, and OELs for them in respective countries were reviewed. In addition, the results of a 2019 work environment assessment for aluminum compounds in Korea were reviewed. Results: In 1979, the ACGIH set up the TLVs for aluminum compounds considering types of compounds such as metal dust, pyro powders, welding fumes, soluble salts, alkyls, and aluminum oxide. However, in 2008 the ACGIH withdrew the TLVs for all types of aluminum and its compounds and adopted new TLVs for aluminum metal and insoluble compounds. This can cause confusion in many countries in the management of exposure to aluminum compounds because they adopt or refer to the ACGIH TLVs. Conclusion: Although Korea is setting occupational exposure limits by referring to the ACGIH's TLVs, it is necessary to sufficiently review whether it is necessary to accept the TLVs as they are if a TLV is completely changed, like took place with the revision of aluminum compounds in 2008.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2012

Object: The aim of this study is to suggest a list of priority chemicals for the Hazard & Risk Evaluation of Chemicals (HREC) controlled by the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA). Method: Screening assessment was done for 642 chemicals whose exposure threshold limit values were set by the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL). Hazard data were collected from Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency (KOSHA) and/or other toxicity database. Exposure data were obtained from KOSHA internal database. The hazard and exposure scores of chemicals were listed by order of priority in accordance with GHS classification and exposure index data. Result: From the result of screening risk assessment for 642 chemicals, we extracted a list of 13 priority chemicals for HREC performed by the ISHA. A priority list of 27 chemicals which have carcinogen, mutagen and/or reproductive toxicity but not controlled by the ISHA was suggested for additional evaluation as "chemicals for special management".

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.416-424
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• 2018

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the numbers of employees occupationally exposed to noise according to their industry and size. Methods: A Delphi panel consisting of 15 occupational health experts estimated the exposure prevalence of noise in workplace. Data on Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance provided from Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute were combined to produce the exposure population. Results: In Korea, 16.0% of employees, 2,539,890 out of 15,838,926, was estimated to exposed to noise occupationally. The rate was 32.7% and 10.3% in manufacturing sector and non-manufacturing sector, respectively. The highest rate, 52.5%, was found in manufacturing industries of wood and of products of wood and cork(except furniture) and of other transport equipment. Sorted by their size of business, the rate was higher as the number of employee was larger in manufacturing sector. Conclusions: Compared to the same rate estimated in the US, 17.2%, the result of this study seems to be in a resonable range.