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

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

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

INTRODUCTION: There have been no reports of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by metal working fluids in Korea, despite their existence in other countries. Here, we report the first such case, along with an assessment of work-relatedness through exposure assessment. CASE REPORT: A 64-year old male patient visited the hospital with dyspnea after metal pipe cutting for about a year. He was diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis from the evidence of specific exposure history, clinical symptoms, and radiologic findings. The air exposure levels of the oil mist, endotoxin, total bacteria and fungus in the work environment was TWA(8-hr) 0.531 mg/m3, 6.33 EU/m3, 100 CFU/m3 and 75 CFU/m3, respectively. The concentrations of the endotoxin, total bacteria and fungus within the metal working fluid was 1.5x10(4) EU/mL, 4.6x10(5) CFU/mL and 1.8x10(5) CFU/mL, respectively. DISCUSSION: Although the patient did not receive a specific precipitating antibody test, the microbial concentration within the metal working fluid was higher than normal and similar to previous case reports, The oil mist level in the air exceeded the NIOSH REL and ACGIH NIC, and were similar or higher than previous cases. By excluding other causes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, we concluded that the disease developed from exposure to microbial antigens in the metal working fluid.
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic ; Bacteria ; Dyspnea ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Male ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.)

INTRODUCTION: There have been no reports of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by metal working fluids in Korea, despite their existence in other countries. Here, we report the first such case, along with an assessment of work-relatedness through exposure assessment. CASE REPORT: A 64-year old male patient visited the hospital with dyspnea after metal pipe cutting for about a year. He was diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis from the evidence of specific exposure history, clinical symptoms, and radiologic findings. The air exposure levels of the oil mist, endotoxin, total bacteria and fungus in the work environment was TWA(8-hr) 0.531 mg/m3, 6.33 EU/m3, 100 CFU/m3 and 75 CFU/m3, respectively. The concentrations of the endotoxin, total bacteria and fungus within the metal working fluid was 1.5x10(4) EU/mL, 4.6x10(5) CFU/mL and 1.8x10(5) CFU/mL, respectively. DISCUSSION: Although the patient did not receive a specific precipitating antibody test, the microbial concentration within the metal working fluid was higher than normal and similar to previous case reports, The oil mist level in the air exceeded the NIOSH REL and ACGIH NIC, and were similar or higher than previous cases. By excluding other causes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, we concluded that the disease developed from exposure to microbial antigens in the metal working fluid.
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic ; Bacteria ; Dyspnea ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Male ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.)