• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2015

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of occupational exposure to low dose organic solvents on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: Study design was retrospective cohort study subjected on 191 exposures and 118 controls working in a petrochemical manufacture company. The eight indicators related to CVD risk were followed up for five years from 2008 to 2012. The risk level was compared during the follow up years and subject's characteristics, and the change of risk level were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: At the start year 2008, the rate over cutoff value (ROCV) of BS (p<.001) and mean systolic BP (p=.017) were higher in organic solvent exposure group and the others showed no difference. And by the subject's characteristics, odds ratio of the ROCV of BS were higher in organic solvent exposure group and work shift group as 2.51 and 3.07. Comparing the results in 2012 to those of 2008, cardiovascular disease risk in organic solvent exposure group was about 1.5 times higher than that of in the control group. Conclusion: Gradual increase in the CVD risk was identified in organic solvent exposure group. However, the risk might be influenced by shift work and bad behaviors rather than organic solvent exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2005

In previous report, we presented that petroleum based solvents used in dry cleaning shop was almost similar to stoddard solvent defined by ACGIH and NIOSH, and the occupational exposure standard of stoddard solvent could be used in total exposure assessment of those solvents. The specific aim of the this study was to evaluate of the solvent exposure used in commercial dry cleaning shops by using occupational exposure standard of stoddard solvent. We conducted first survey of 8 self-employed dry cleaning shops and 5 factory type dry cleaning shops from July to August, and second survey of the same shops from October to November in 2002. The exposure concentration to the solvent during loading and unloading activity of vented dry cleaning machine was 489.2ppm(GM), 270.3ppm(GM), respectively, which was almost excursion limit(500ppm) of ACGIH, and exceed the ceiling limit(312ppm) of NIOSH. The time-weighted average (TWA) worker exposure to the solvent was 21.3ppm(GM) at self-employed shops, 20.7ppm(GM) at factory type shops on first survey, and 31.1ppm(GM), 33.7ppm(GM), respectively on second survey. The TWA exposure concentration of workers with spotting and cleaning machine operating job was 25.4ppm(GM), which was 2.9 times higher than the TWA exposure concentration, 8.8ppm(GM) of press workers. All TWA exposure concentrations was lower than OEL(100ppm) of stoddard solvent. We found that the most heavy exposure process at dry cleaning was loading, unloading process, and the vent of dry cleaning machine was the main emission source for workers exposure to petroleum based solvent.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.26-33
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• 2002

Ultimate objective of industrial hygiene is the prevention of health impairment that may result from exposure to chemicals at workplace. Workers in solvent thinner-using occupation environment may be highly exposed to VOCs (volatile organic compounds) because solvent thinner has been used extensively such as painting, spraying, degreasing, coating and so on in Korea. The purpose of this study was to recognize, evaluate, and propose the control methods of VOCs from solvent thinner-using workplace. Five target volatile organic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, and m-xylene) were monitored in H company of Shiwa Industrial Complex and analyzed in perosnal, occupational indoor and outdoor during working hours simultaneously. Engineering control such as local ventilation should be made in considering the long-term exposure, though measured VOCs concentration did not exceed the workplace exposure standards. In addition, air cleaning device should be installed in local ventilation because Shiwa Industrial Complex has had the serious ambient air pollution. Currently, environmental purification using $TiO_2$ photocatalyst have attracted a great deal of attention with increasing number of recent environmental problems. In this study, $TiO_2$ sol coated on the ceramic bead was prepared by sol-gel method and the photodegradation of target compounds was investigated in gas phase by the exposure to UV-A lamp(365nm) in a batch system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.1.1-2
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• 2002

Ultimate objective of industrial hygiene is the prevention of health impairment that may result from exposure to chemicals at workplaces. This implies the definition of permissible levels of exposure, that is, levels that according to the present status of knowledge are estimated to cause no adverse health effects during the lifetime of the workers, and the regular assessment of the possible health risk associated with exposure by comparing the current or the integrated exposure with the permissible exposure limits. Workers in solvent thinner-using occupation environment might be highly exposed to VOCs(volatile organic compounds) because solvent thinner has been used extensively such as painting, spraying, degreasing, coating and so on in Korea. The purpose of this study was to recognize, evaluate and propose the alternative control the VOCs from solvent thinner-using workplace.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.488-499
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the characterization of organics solvent exposure among painting workers in the shipbuilding painting process, especially for their daily variations(within worker variance). Methods: Charcoal passive dosimeters were worn throughout each work shift for 20 days for five painting workers from October 19 to November 26, 2015. A total of 100 samples were collected, analyzed and compared with statutory workplace environmental measurements. Results: The geometric mean(GM) and geometric standard deviation(GSD) of mixed organic solvent(six substances) exposure index(EI) for the 100 samples were 0.42 and 4.42 respectively. The median and range of GSD for within worker EI representing five workers' daily EI variation is 3.72 and 2.63 ~ 5.20, respectively, which is classified as a very large variation(GSD>3). We were able to divide the painting process into two similar exposure groups(SEGs), Touch-up and Spray. Spray painting workers were much more exposed to organic solvent than Touch-up painting workers(GM=0.71 vs. 0.19), but less variably (GSD=3.64 vs. 4.10). xylene is the substance to which the workers were most exposed(GM=16.19 ppm, GSD=4.36), and the exposure characteristics of six substances including xylene is similar to those of EI. Conclusions: The daily variation of organic solvent exposure in the shipbuilding painting process is so high that statutory Assessment of Reliability of Work Environment Monitoring needs to be conducted with statistically sufficient number of samples and evidence.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.257-267
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• 2004

Our study investigated the association between solvent exposure and acquired color vision loss using the Lanthony D-15 desaturated panel in petrochemical industry. Since neurotoxic effects associated with chronic solvent exposure, subjects with more than 6 months of exposure were included. Exposure assesment was estimated mean, maximum and cumulative 8hr TWA from individual 8-hour sampling. Exposure status were classified into two groups, occupationally exposed group to solvent and a non-exposed group. The results showed that CCI was positively related for age. According to the results of qualitative analysis, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of specific Type of dyschromatopsia the two examined group. However, the prevalence showed a higher proportion of dyschromatopsia to solvent exposure. It was affect with acquired dyschromatopsia(Type II, III and Complex) in exposed worker group(5.9%,7.86%,14.99%, respectively) than in the nonexposed group(6.16%,7.55%,13.71%, respectively). After each variable was adjusted for age, alcohol and tobacco consumption, a relationship between acquired dyschromatopsia and exposure showed an increase in the Odds ratio as compared to the nonexposed group at only left. The results showed that acquired dyschromatopsia was positively related to age (p<0.001). The results showed that solvent exposure, although not significant, could cause the acquired dyschromatopsia and visual system can serve important information on early neurotoxic effects in generally. Therefore, we need to concerns about eye health in workers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.48-58
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• 1995

This study was performed to find out the exposure level of mixed organic solvents, excretion of urinary hippuricacid and subjective symptoms according to the exposure of organic solvents of female workers who works on 5 shoes manufacturing industries in Taejon City from 24, september to 20, october 1993. The studied groups were divided into 3 groups that were consist of direct exposure group(48 workers), indirect exposure group(49 workers) and non-exposure group(68 workers) to the organic solvents. The exposure levels of toluene of direct exposure group which $89.86{\pm}56.20ppm$ had higher than that of indirect exposure group which had $40.23{\pm}47.21ppm$. In the exposure level of mixed organic solvent(R-value), direct exposure group was $2.84{\pm}1.53$ and exceeded approximatly 3 times the R-value. Whereas, indirect exposure group was not exceeded the R-value as $0.80{\pm}0.61$. In the excretion level of urinary hippuric acid, direct exposure group was $1.78{\pm}1.25g/l$, indirect exposure group was $1.22{\pm}0.93g/l$ and non-exposure group was $0.51{\pm}0.18g/l$ respectively. Therefore both direct exposure group and indirect exposure group were significantly higher than non-exposure group(P<0.01). In the correlation between toluene levels and urinary hippuric acid level, the direct exposure group had positive correlation(R=0.8309, P<0.01), also indirect exposure group had positive correlation(R=0.5859, P<0.05) and also in the correlation between the R value of mixed organic solvents and the urinary hippuric acid levels, the direct exposure group had positive correlation(R=0.4492, P<0.05), and indirect exposure group had ositive correlation(R=0.7911, P<0.01). In the complain rates of the worker's subjective symptoms at work, both direct exposure group and indirect exposure group were higher than non-exposure group(P<0.05, P<0.01). But the sujective symptoms of "floating sensation" of direct exposure group had significantly higher than indirect exposure group. In the percent of subjective symptoms complaints during the worker's daily life, both direct exposure group and indirect exposure group had generally more statistical significance than nonexposure group(P<0.01), direct exposure group had not statistical significant difference from indirect exposure group. As the results mentioned above, it has been analysed that the indirect at the adjacent manufaturing process are exposed to the considerable amount of solvent. Therefore, I think that there should be the betterment of surrounding through the complete working environment management to the occurrence source of the organic solvent, the changes of health management system to the indirect-exposed workers, and the systematic management of the special medical examination and the like.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.3 s.62
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• pp.404-413
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• 1998

This study was conducted in order to clarify the factors affecting the number of utilization to health center for the shipyard workers who have been work in exposed environment to solvent. At first the tendencies of the number of utilization to health conte. in accordance with cumulative exposure(CE), lifetime weighted average exposure(LWAE), one's place of duty, work contents, states of using safety apparatus, the degree of the knowledge on handling solvents, exposure year. 1). The increase in the cumulative exposure(CE) war significantly higher in the number of utilization to health center. The group with longer exposure year showed significantly higher number of utilization to health center(p<0.01). Considering the work contents such as power blasting, spray, mixing and touch-up, the group of touch-up showed higher number of utilization to health center and this difference was statistically significant(p<0.001). Those who were not using the safety apparatus, showed higher number of utilization to health center, which was statistically significant(p<0.05). The degree of the knowledge on handling the solvent had no relation with using health center. 2) The results conducted from this study by multiple regression analysis in clarifying the factors affecting the number of utilization to health center, CE, exposure year and using safety apparatus was significant factor in utilization of health center.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to substitute water-based painting materials for the current solvent-based ones used in motor-repairing process to minimize the exposure of organic solvents to the painters. This study assessed the exposure of organic solvents to the painters using water-based and solvent-based painting materials and compared compositions, painting processes and the health hazards of the application of these alternative painting mate rials. The results of this study are as follows. 1. solvent-based painting materials used in motor-repairing process consist of various organic solvents, which consist primarily of toluene, xylene, ethyl benzene, ethyl methyl benzene, trimethyl benzene, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, 2-ethoxy ethanol, 2-ethoxy ethyl acetate and toluene-2,4-diisocianate and the others. These organic solvents are known as health-hazardous substances. But water-based painting materials are high-solid, low-solvent one sand consist of such two organic solvents as 2-butoxy ethanol and 2-heptanone and the others. 2. The painters us ing solvent-based painting mate rials in motor-repairing process are exposed to various organic solvents which consist of toluene, xylene, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, trimethyl benzene, 2-ethoxy ethanol, and 2-ethoxy ethyl acetate. But the painters using solvent-based ones are only exposed to 2-butoxy ethanol and 2-heptanone. 3. By using water-based painting materials in stead of solvent-based painting materials containing health-hazardous organic solvents, the exposure of such organic solvents in the painter's breathing zone can be largely prevented. 4. This study recommends water-based painting materials as substitutes for the current solvent-based ones used in motor-repairing process to minimize the exposure of organic solvents to the painters.

• 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.