In the determination of organic solvents in workplaces direct reading tube method have been in Korea for decades. But this method is less accurate and couldn't measure TWA (Time Weighted Average) for 8 hours. Authors tried to detect Toluene concentration in S factory by using charcoal tube according to NIOSH method. The concentration was 158.8ppm. We propose this charcoal tube method should be substituted to get accurate results and to protect employee in workplaces related with solvents.
Charcoal* ; Korea ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Solvents ; Toluene*

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate vinly chloride exposure in vinyl chloride and poly vinyl chloride manufacturing factories. The object of this study was compare two different type of air sampling method that of, NIOSH and OSHA recommended and Investigate quantitative correlation between level of vinyl chloride exposure and urinary thiodiglycolic acid excretion. METHODS: Air sampling was conducted by two method and sampling mediums were located at workers breathing zone in the same location. Sampling mediums were changed in 60 minute interval and sampling pumps were recalibrated at the same time. Urine was collected before and end of shift were stored frozen and determined by GC/FID analysis. RESULTS: In NIOSH method, time weighted average was 3.562 +/- 2.898 ppm and OSHA method time weighted average was 4.051 +/- 3.700 ppm. Concentration of urinary TdGA in before shift was 0.527 +/- 0.828 g/g creatinine and end of shift was 4.190 +/- 7.665 mg/g creatinine. Difference of urinary TdGA between end of shift to before shift was 3.662 +/- 7.865 mg/g creatinine. In NIOSH method, correlation coefficient between 8hour-time weighted average (8hrs-TWA) and urinary concentration of TdGA was r=0.666. and last period vinyl chloride level (6th-TWA) and urinary TdGA concentration was r=0.972. In OSHA method, correlation coefficient between last period vinyl chloride level (6th-TWA) and urinary concentration of TdGA was r=0.976 and this was highest value. CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference in NIOSH method and. OSHA method. A correlation were found between level of vinyl chloride exposure and urinary thiodiglycolic acid excretion. Also, vinyl chloride exposure had significantly effected on the urinary thiodiglycolic acid excretion.
Creatinine ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Respiration ; United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration ; Vinyl Chloride*

This paper provided a brief summary of the current strategic goals, activities, and impacts of the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) occupational injury research program. Three primary drivers (injury database, stakeholder input, and staff capacity) were used to define NIOSH research focuses to maximize relevance and impact of the NIOSH injury-prevention-research program. Injury data, strategic goals, program activities, and research impacts were presented with a focus on prevention of four leading causes of workplace injury and death in the US: motor vehicle incidents, falls, workplace violence, and machine and industrial vehicle incidents. This paper showcased selected priority goals, activities, and impacts of the NIOSH injury prevention program. The NIOSH contribution to the overall decrease in fatalities and injuries is reinforced by decreases in specific goal areas. There were also many intermediate outcomes that are on a direct path to preventing injuries, such as new safety regulations and standards, safer technology and products, and improved worker safety training. The outcomes serve as an excellent foundation to stimulate further research and worldwide partnership to address global workplace injury problems.
Motor Vehicles ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Occupational Health ; Occupational Injuries ; Social Control, Formal ; Violence

When conducting an exposure assessment, the primary goal of the industrial hygienist is to fully characterize the worker's exposure during a work shift to compare it with an occupational exposure limit. This applies regardless of the duration of the work activity as an activity that is relatively short in duration can still present exposure in excess of the occupational exposure limit even when normalized over an 8-hr shift. This goal, however, is often impeded by the specification of a minimum sample volume in the published sampling method, which may prevent the sample from being collected or submitted for analysis. Removing the specification of minimum sample volume (or adjusting it from a requirement to a recommendation), in contrast, allows for a broader assessment of jobs that consist of short-duration and high-exposure activities and also eliminates the unnecessary practice of running sampling pumps in clean air to collect a specified, minimum volume.
Methods ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health ; Running

Health Promotion ; methods ; Humans ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Occupational Health ; United States

Ergonomics ; Humans ; Lifting ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Occupational Health ; United States

This study is performed to evaluate usefulness of dermal measurement of benzidine and benzidine based dye as one of the occupational exposure assessment method for these compounds. We selected one benzidine manufacturing factory and one dye manufacturing factory in Incheon area. Eleven workers were for benzidine manufacturing factory and twenty four for dye. We analyzed relationships among air level, amount on skin and concentration of urinary metabolites for these compounds. Airborne levels of benzidine and dye were measured by NIOSH 5509, 5013 methods. Amount of these compounds on skin was measured with skin wipe method. Concentration of benzidine metabolites in urine was measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography after alkaline hydrolysis. The amount of benzidine on hand skin was 25.05( - 233.2) ng/ur, and the amount of the neck was 2.01 ( - 11.9) ng/cm2 in the benzidine dihydrochloride manufacturing factory. The amount of benzidine on hand and neck skin has positive correlation with concentration of urinary monoacetyl benzidine (r=0.644, p < 0.05) . The amount of benzidine based dye on hand skin was 55.75( - 457.7) ng/cm2, and the amount of the neck skin was 18( - 284.7) ng/cm in benzidine based dye manufacturing factory The amount of dye on hand and neck skin has positive correlation with concentration of urinary benzidine for dye workers (r=0.467, p < 0.05). When assessing the exposure of workers who deal with benzidine, the amount of benzidine on skin should be measured for an accurate exposure assessment.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Hand ; Hydrolysis ; Incheon ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Neck ; Occupational Exposure ; Skin

The objectives are to compare the airborne asbestos concentrations resulted from mitering of abestos cement roof sheets by a high-speed motor and a hand saw, and to monitor whether other workers near the test sites are vulnerable to the fibers exceeding the occupational exposure limit. Four test cases were carried out and altogether 7 personal and 4 area air samples were collected. The NIOSH method 7400 was employed for the air samplings and analysis. Using the phase contrast microscopy, fiber counting was conducted under Rule A. The study showed that the fiber concentration medians for personal air samples gathered from the two tools were 4.11 fibers/cc (ranged: 1.33-12.41 fibers/cc) and 0.13 fibers/cc (ranged: 0.01-5.00 fibers/cc) respectively. The median for the area samples was 0.59 fibers/cc (ranged: 0.14-3.32 fibers/cc). Comparing each study case, the concentration level caused by the high-speed motor saw was more than twice that of the hand saw. According to the area samples, the workers nearby the test site are at risk from high exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos ; Hand ; Humans ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Occupational Exposure ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds

Purpose of this study is to find out proper means of estimating the urinary mercury excretion the normal individuals. Whole void volume was collected every 2 hours beginning from 6 o'clock in the morning until 6 o'clock next morning. Mercury excretion in each urine specimen was measured by NIOSH recommended dithizone colorimetric method (Method No. : P & CAM 145). Urinary concentration of mercury was adjusted by two means : specific gravity of 1.024 and a gram of creatinine excretion per liter of urine comparing the data with the unadjusted ones. Mercury excretion in 24-hour urine specimen was calculated by adding the amounts measured with the hourly collected specimens of each individual. Statistical analysis of the urinary mercury excretion revealed the following results : 1. Frequency distribution curve of mercury excreted in urine of hourly specimens was best fitted to power function expressed in the form of y=ax(b), Adjustment of the urinary mercury concentration by creatinine excretion was shown to be superior (y=1674x(-1.52)), r(2)=0.95) over nonadjustment(y=2702x(-1.57)), r(2)=0.92) and adjustment by specific gravity of 1.024(y=4535x(-1.66), r(2)=0.93). 2. Both log-transformed mercury excretion in hourly voided specimens and mercury excretion itself in 24 hour specimens showed the normal distributions. 3. The frequency distribution of mercury adjusting the urinary concentration of mercury by creatinine excretion was best fitted to a theoretical normal distribution with the sample means and excretion was best fitted to a theoretical normal distribution with the sample means and standard deviation than those unadjusted or adjusted with specific gravity of 1,024. 4. Average urinary mercury excretions in 24-hour urine specimen in an individual were as follows : a) Unadjusted urinary mercury excretions. mean and standard deviation :18.6+/-13.68 microgramHg/liter. median : 16.0 microgramHg/liter. range : 0.0-55.10 microgramHg/liter. b) Adjusted with specific gravity. mean : 20.7+/-11.76 microgramHg/liter x 0.024/(S.G.-1.000). median : 20.7 microgramHg/liter x 0.024/(S.G.-1.000). range : 0.0-52.9 microgramHg/liter x 0.024/(S.G.-1.000). c) Adjuested with creatinine excretion. mean and standard deviation : 10.5+/-6.98 microgramHg/g creatinine/liter. median : 9.4 microgramHg/g creatinine/liter. range : 0.0-26.7 microgramHg/g creatinine/liter. 5. No statistically significant differences were found between means calculated from 24-hour urine specimens and those from hourly specimens transformed into logarithmic values. (P<0.05).
Creatinine ; Dithizone ; Gravitation ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Specific Gravity

This study explored the health hazard of those exposed to methylene chloride by assessing its atmospheric concentration when a tear gas mixture was aerially dispersed. The concentration of methylene chloride ranged from 311.1-980.3 ppm (geometric mean, 555.8 ppm), 30 seconds after the dispersion started. However, the concentration fell rapidly to below 10 ppm after dispersion was completed. The concentration during the dispersion did not surpass the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 'immediately dangerous to life or health' value of 2,300 ppm, but did exceed the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists excursion limit of 250 ppm. Since methylene chloride is highly volatile (vapor pressure, 349 mmHg at 20degrees C), the postdispersion atmospheric concentration can rise instantaneously. Moreover, the o-chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile formulation of tear gas (CS gas) is an acute upper respiratory tract irritant. Therefore, tear gas mixtures should be handled with delicate care.
Methylene Chloride ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; o-Chlorobenzylidenemalonitrile ; Respiratory System ; Tear Gases