• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2014

Background: The manufacture of paint involves a variety of processes that present with medical hazards. Safety initiatives are hence introduced to limit hazard exposures and promote workplace safety. This aim of this study is to assess the use of available control measures/initiatives in selected paint factories in Lagos West Senatorial District, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 400 randomly selected paint factory workers were involved in the study. A well-structured World Health Organization standard questionnaire was designed and distributed to the workers to elicit information on awareness to occupational hazards, use of personal protective devices, and commonly experienced adverse symptoms. Urine samples were obtained from 50 workers randomly selected from these 400 participants, and the concentrations of the heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, and chromium) were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: The results show that 72.5% of the respondents are aware of the hazards associated with their jobs; 30% have had formal training on hazards and safety measures; 40% do not use personal protective devices, and 90% of the respondents reported symptoms relating to hazard exposure. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in the mean heavy metal concentrations in the urine samples obtained from paint factory workers as compared with nonfactory workers. Conclusion: The need to develop effective frameworks that will initiate the integration and ensure implementation of safety regulations in paint factories is evident. Where these exist, there is a need to promote adherence to these practice guidelines.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Industrial Safety Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.303-308
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• 2001

Various organic solvents are most commonly using material in various factories, for examples, paint producting process and other industries, actually most of them are toxic materials, If many kinds of organic chemicals are concurrently exposed to workplace, toxidities can be influenced as additive effect or synergistic effect.(omitted)

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 2000

The purpose of this work was to document the conditions regarding organic solvent exposure to the workers in paint industry. Air concentrations of organic solvents were measured by passive personal samplers and analyzed by a gas chromatography. Urine samples for hippuric test were also taken from 330 workers who have worked at seven domestic factories for more than two years. Amongst 25 organic elements detected in the indoor environment of working places, toluene was the most common element, and methanol showed the highest mean concentration(18.2ppm). A few elements including methylethyl ketone and toluene partially exceeded the Korean Permissible Exposure Limit. A lack of environmental facilities such as exhaust ventilation, automatic cleaning system, and personal safety devices at present work plaus brings about various occupational diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.316-325
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• 2012

In this study, we suggested adequate control technology by analyzing emission process and main chemical of VOC/HAPs generated from four paint factories in Busan area. And we estimated whether Kapok fiber, which is a natural material, can be commercially used for an absorbent by testing adsorption ability. As a result of this sturdy, above 60% of VOC/HAPs was volatilized and dispersed inside the working place without conducting control system of facilities during manufacturing paints. Concentration profile of VOC/HAPs, which is volatile naturally outside the factories, is surveyed above 70% at Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene. And a result of evaluation of odor attribution level about the component whose Odor Threshold is known, it is estimated that major cause material of A, B, C factories is Toluene and that of D factory is m/p-Xylene. And that result presented design arguments such as facilities specifications, activated carbon filling volume, and replace cycle of activated carbon as control technology. Also, that result presented emission process improvement such as adsorption of central-controlled ventilation device, installation of inlet flenge, and potable cleaning process. The rate of pollutant adsorption of Kapok fiber, which is natural material, is indicated about 91.9%, 66.7%. That result validated the possibility as replacement of activated carbon.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.227-233
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• 2014

Background: The aims of this study were to determine hippuric acid levels in urine samples, airborne toluene levels, acute and chronic neurological symptoms, and to describe any correlation between urinary hippuric acid and airborne toluene. Methods: The hippuric acid concentration in the urine of 87 paint workers exposed to toluene at work (exposed group), and 87 nonexposed people (control group) was studied. Study participants were selected from similar factories in the same region. Urine samples were collected at the end of a shift and analyzed for hippuric acid by high performance liquid chromatography. Air samples for the estimation of toluene exposure were collected with diffusive personal samplers and the toluene quantified using gas-liquid chromatography. The two groups were also interviewed and observed about their work practices and health. Results: The median of the 87 airborne toluene levels was 55 ppm (range, 12-198 ppm). The median urinary hippuric acid level was 800 mg/g creatinine (range, 90-2547 mg/g creatinine). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between airborne toluene exposure and urine hippuric acid levels (r = 0.548, p < 0.01). Workers with acute symptoms had significantly higher hippuric acid levels than those who did not (p < 0.05). It was concluded that there was a significant correlation between toluene exposure, hippuric acid levels, and health (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There appears to be a significant correlation between workers exposure to toluene at work, their urine hippuric acid levels, and resulting symptoms of poor health. Improvements in working conditions and occupational health education are required at these workplaces. There was good correlation between urinary hippuric acid and airborne toluene levels.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.574-583
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• 2008

The results of HAPs emission data using TRI (Toxic Release Inventory), SODAM (Source Data Management system) were investigated and the emissions of 7 heavy metals from their sources and emission processes were also analyzed. Questionnaire for source data analysis as well as the stack sampling were carried out for 17 factories among 6 selected industrial types. The annual amount of emissions was estimated based on the measured concentration and flow rates. All sources were operated with high efficiency control devices and the concentration levels of all heavy metals were shown to be below 0.1 to of regulation standard. The highest emission source of heavy metals was steel manufacturing industry with the annual emission of 342.9 kg/yr and followed by hazardous waste incinerator, paint manufacturing, nonferrous metal manufacturing, rolling & press goods manufacturing and storage battery manufacturing. In the case of Hg, the emissions were quite significant from electric acros of steel manufacturing industry, although the concentration level was below the emission standard, showing the necessity of specific care for its management.

• 월간산업보건
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• s.8
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• pp.4-30
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• 1988

Examination of working environments was conducted to get more detailed data about harmful working environments and to make a contribution to more effective management. Study was carried out on 722 factories located in Taegu city and eight counties in Kyungpook Province, Korea, for a period of one year, from February 1 to December 30, 1986. The total number and proportion of workers exposed to harmful material was 37,697, 45.2% among 83,368 workers. The results according to exposed material were as follows: 1. In the case of noise, proportion of exceeding the 8-hour TLV was 59%, Included were nail-cutting in assembly metal manufacturing industry and weaving process in textile. 2. Dust in mill process of coal manufacturing industries exceeded the TLV of second class of dust at all parts and exceeded the TLV at 6% as a whole.: 3. The fields of industry lower than 70 lux of illumination were storage equipment of food, auto-winder of textile, painting of wood wares and coal mixing, and 44% of all cases was lower than standard. 4. As a result of temperature index investigation(WBGT), about 12% of all sujects exceeded limit value. Included parts were rolling machine and reducing room. 5. In the case of organic solvents, TLV was exceeded at about 8%, The parts exceeded TLV according to materials belonged to this category were as follows. 1) Toluene: adhesive work in assembly metal manufacturing 2) Xylene: printing and paint mixing in chemical manufacturing 3) Methyl ethytl ketone: paint mixing in all parts examined and coating machine partially in chemical manufacturing 4) Methyl isobutyl ketone: printing in chemical manufacturing 5) Acetone: vapor polishing in assembly metal manufacturing 6. Among specified chemical materials, the concentration of HC1 in the air in metal assembly manufacturing factory exceeded TLV. in one of three assembly metal manufacturing examined. Others, such as benzene, acetic acid, formic acid, sodium hydroxide, formalin, ammonia, copper, chromate etc. were lower than TLV in its indoor atmospheric concentration. As a whole, the proportion of exceeding TLV was about 0.8% 7. The concentrations of inorganic lead were lower than TLV in all parts examined. The results of this investigation show the fact that current management of working environments is not satisfactory, and so more active management is needed.