• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.68-77
• /
• 1993

To evaluate efficiencies of the local exhaust systems installed in chromiun and nickel eletroplating tanks, specifications of each tank and general performances of the local exhaust systems were measured in 16 electroplating plants from July 3 to November 24, 1992. Airborne concentrations of total chromium, hexa-chromium and nickel were also measured, Most of the local exhaust systems installed in electroplating plants were inadequately designed. Average capture velocities of local exhaust systems in chromium and nickel tanks were 0.45 m/sec and 0.29 m/sec. Average slot velocities in chromium and nickel tanks were 7.30 m/sec and 2.87 m/sec repectively. Both average capture and solt velocities were in noncompliance with the standards recommened by American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Exhausted air volume was insufficient in all local exhaust systems surveyed. Worker exposure levels to total chromium, hexa-chromium and nickel were $43.0{\mu}g/m^3$, $1.7{\mu}g/m^3$ and $9.3{\mu}g/m^3$, which were below the Korean Standard and U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA) Permissible Exposure Limit(REL). However, Worker exposure level to hexa-chromium exceeded the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit(REL) of $1{\mu}g/m^3$. As the result of Scheffee's multiple comparions, worker exposure levels to all metals were significantly different between two groups by the management state of existing local exhaust systems (p<0.05). However, Difference between a group with local exhaust systems which were poorly managed and another group without local exhaust system was satatistically non-significant.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.320-328
• /
• 2004

A number of health hazards are generated in welding processes. In this paper, the characteristics of fumes and some other hazardous agents in welding are reviewed. Fumes in welding are generated by complex mechanism like physical ejection of particles, oxidation-enhanced vaporization, vaporization-condensation-oxidation, and spatter contribution. Fume generation rates could be described as a power function in a given process. Most of fume constituents was originated from consumables rather than base metal. The mass distribution for the welding fumes is unimodal and very small to penetrate respiratory system. So, almost fractions of fumes are classified into the respirable particulate mass. Total chromium contents in FCAW were similar to those from SMAW whereas hexavalent chromium concentrations in fume were similar to those produced from MIG welding fume. Hexavalent chromium was mostly soluble which was similar to the characteristic solubility of fume hexavalent chromium from SMAW.

• 월간산업보건
• /
• s.356
• /
• pp.16-25
• /
• 2017

Chromium exists at various valences, including elemental, trivalent, and hexavalent chromium, and undergoes reduction-oxidation reactions in the environment. Since hexavalent chromium is known as a human carcinogen, it is most important to evaluate the oxidationreduction characteristics of the hexavalent chromium species. Although hexavalent chromium can be reduced to trivalent state, the detailed information on this in workplace environments is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate hexavalent chromium reduction in time in various conditions. A pilot chrome plating operation was prepared and operated in a laboratory for this study. There was evidence that the hexavalent chromium was reduced by time after mist generation. The percentage ratio (with 95% confidence intervals in parentheses) of hexavalent chromium to total chromium was almost 100% (99.1 ; 102.3) immediately after mist generation, and was reduced to 87.4% (84.8 ; 89.9) at 1 hour and 81.0% (78.3 ; 83.5) at 2 hours, respectively. Another test indicated that hexavalent chromium collected on PVC filters was also reduced by time after sampling. Hexavalent chromium was reduced to 90.8% (88.2 ; 93.3) at 2 hours after sampling. It also was found that hexavalent chromium was reduced during storage in air. It is recommended that air samples of hexavalent chromium be protected against reduction during storage.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.45-57
• /
• 2000

Results of environmental monitoring for 35 steel industry welders exposed to manganese and chromium fume were evaluated. Efficiency of respiratory protectors, welding face shields and local exhaust ventilation were also evaluated to establish more efficient preventive measures that can protect welders from occupational disease as related to welding fume. The results are as follows; 1. Total fume from $CO_2$ arc welding with mild steel occurred 1.5 to 2.2 times more than that from shielded metal arc welding. Chromium and nickel fume from welding with stainless steel occurred 27 to 59 times and 18 to 30 times, respectively, than those with mild steel. 2. Proportions of water-soluble chromium(VI) and insoluble chromium(VI) Compare to total chromium occurring from $CO_2$ arc welding with stainless steel were 10.5% and 8.7%, respectively, while those with mild steel were 57.1 to 63.2% and 31.6 to 38.1%, respectively. 3. The efficiencies of 4 types of respiratory protectors to reduce welding fume exposure were evaluated as 54.4 to 64.4%. 4. The reducing effect of head type welding face shield was 67.6%, and that of hand type welding face shield was 58.5%. The highest reducing effect was shown in air supply welding face shield as 99.2%, although it is not convenient to wear. 5. When welding face shield and respiratory protectors were worn together, the reducing efficiency increased to 79.0 to 87.5%. 6. When local exhaust ventilation was installed in workplace, the reducing efficiencies varied from 31.5 to 73.1% according to the types of welding.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.706-709
• /
• 2003

Chromium (Cr) plays an important role in body composition. Several human and animal studies of Cr supplementation have reported increases in lean body mass, often with concurrent decreases in body fat. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of supplemental Cr as chromium methionine (CrMet) on obesity index, body fat and serum lipids in rats. Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of nine rats. Rats received a AIN-76 semipetrified basal diet or high fat diet supplemented with 300 ppb CrCl$_3$and CrMet as well as no added dietary Cr (referred to as Control, HF, HFCr, and HFCrMet). After 6 weeks on the respective diets, animals were killed and analyzed for differences in serum lipid concentrations. Rats supplemented with CrMet had a slightly higher naso-anal length and final body weight was decreased. The lowest obesity index and body fat content were found in CrMet supplemented animals (p〈0,05). Supplemental CrMet decreased the total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol. The significant differences observed were total cholesterol concentration for CrMet supplementation. These indicate that supplemental Cr, as chromium methionine, resulted in a significant decrease of obesity index and body fat and influence serum lipid concentrations, possibly by decreasing the body fat.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.98-105
• /
• 2024

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the exposure level of airborne hexavalent chromium in the plating industry and the exposure level compared to domestic and international occupational exposure limits. Methods: A total 92 samples were collected from ten industrial plating sites. Hexavalent chromium samples were collected using a three-stage cassette equipped with a 37 mm, 5 ㎛ pore size PVC filter. The analysis was performed by ion chromatography. Results: The geometric mean of hexavalent chromium concentration in the plating industry was 0.052 ㎍/m², and it was found that the average exposure level was 0.8 times the South Korean exposure limit. When applying the US ACGIH TLV, however, the average concentration was more than twice as high. Conclusions: The South Korean exposure limit for hexavalent chromium needs to be strengthened due to significant differences in exposure levels according to domestic and international occupational exposure limits. Furthermore, respiratory and dermal sensitization should be labeled.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.10
• /
• pp.1414-1419
• /
• 2009

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of trivalent chromium from different sources on growth, carcass composition, and serum parameters in finishing pigs. Ninety-six crossbred pigs with an initial average body weight of 65.57${\pm}$1.05 kg were blocked by body weight and randomly assigned to four treatments with three replicates. Pigs were offered one of four diets including a control diet or the control diet supplemented with 200 ${\mu}g/kg$ chromium from either chromium chloride ($CrCl_{3}$), chromium picolinate (CrPic) or chromium nanocomposite (CrNano) for 40 days. After completion of the feeding trial, eight pigs from each treatment were selected to collect blood samples, and slaughtered to measure carcass composition. The results showed that supplemental chromium had no significant effect on growth performance, while CrNano increased carcass lean proportion and loin Longissimus muscle area (p<0.05), and decreased carcass fat proportion and 10th rib backfat depth (p<0.05). CrPic supplementation also resulted in lower fat proportion and larger Longissimus muscle area (p<0.05). The addition of Cr from CrNano or CrPic decreased serum glucose (p<0.05) and increased concentrations of total protein and free fat acid in serum (p<0.05). Serum urea nitrogen, triglyceride and cholesterol were decreased (p<0.05), and serum high density lipoprotein and lipase activity were increased (p<0.05) with the supplementation of CrNano. Serum insulin was decreased (p<0.05) by supplemental Cr from CrNano or CrPic, and serum insulin-like growth factor I was increased significantly in the CrNano treated group. These results suggest that chromium nanocomposite has higher efficacy on carcass composition in pigs compared to the traditional chromium sources.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.23 no.11
• /
• pp.1513-1518
• /
• 2002

Kinetic studies on the water-gas shift reaction catalyzed by magnetite/chromium oxide and copper/zinc oxide were carried out by using an in situ photoacoustic spectroscopic technique. The reactions were performed in a closed-circulation reactor system using a differential photoacoustic cell at total pressure of 40 Torr in the temperature range of 100 to $350^{\circ}C.$ The CO2 photoacoustic signal varying with the concentration of CO2 during the catalytic reaction was recorded as a function of time. The time-resolved photoacoustic spectra obtained for the initial reaction stage provided precise data of CO2 formation rate. The apparent activation energies determined from the initial rates were 74.7 kJ/mol for the magnetite/chromium oxide catalyst and 50.9 kJ/mol for the copper/zinc oxide catalyst. To determine the reaction orders, partial pressures of CO(g) and H2O(g) in the reaction mixture were varied at a constant total pressure of 40 Torr with N2 buffer gas. For the magnetite/chromium oxide catalyst, the reaction orders with respect to CO and H2O were determined to be 0.93 and 0.18, respectively. For the copper/zinc oxide catalyst, the reaction orders with respect to CO and H2O were determined to be 0.79 and 0, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.124-130
• /
• 2018

Paralichthys olivaceus (mean length, $13.3{\pm}1.6cm$; mean weight, $25.6{\pm}3.7g$) were exposed to waterborne hexavalent chromium at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, and $2.0mg\;L^{-1}$) for 10 days. Hematological parameters such as hemoglobin and hematocrit of P. olivaceus were significantly decreased after waterborne chromium exposure. There were no significant alterations in inorganic plasma components, calcium, or magnesium after waterborne chromium exposure. Organic plasma components such as glucose and cholesterol levels were significantly increased after exposure to chromium at concentration over $1.0mg\;L^{-1}$. However, significant change in total protein was not observed. Enzymatic plasma components such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were significantly increased after chromium exposure. Results of this study indicate that waterborne chromium exposure can cause significant alterations in hematological parameters and plasma components of P. olivaceus. Such changes in parameters could be used as reliable indicators for toxic effects of waterborne chromium exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.110-126
• /
• 1993

Worker exposures to total chromium, hexavalent chromium (VI), sulfuric acid and alkaline dust at electroplating operations and worker exposures to trichloroethylene (TCE) and methyl chloroform (MCM) at degreasing operations in eleven small industrial plants were evaluated. Appropriate local exhaust ventilation systems for both operations were designed and recommended. Results of the study are summarized as follows ; 1. Out of 134 measurements for airborne hexavalent chromium concentrations, seven were exceeding the Korean occupational health standard of $50{\mu}g/m^3$ and 45 were exceeding the NIOSH standard of $1{\mu}g/m^3$. With an exception of one measurement, concentrations of total chromium were below the Korean standard of $500{\mu}g/m^3$. 2. Worker exposures to chromium were closely related to the existing control methods at the electroplating operations. Local exhaust systems, partial coverage of the tank surface, and antifoaming agents on liquid surface were adopted as control methods. 3. With an exception of one sample, airborne concentrations of sulfuric acid and alkaline dusts were below the applicable occupational heatlth standards. 4. Three plants indicated that airborne concentrations of TCE and MCM were exceeding the Korean standards. Other plants showed lower concentrations than the standards. It should be noted that generally, the activities and workloads on the day of surveys were less than normal. 5. Since the most existing ventilation systems did not satisfy the ACGIH criteria, the ventilation systems should be improved. Some examples for designing appropriate ventilation systems are presented.