실험실 근무자의 화학물질 노출과 건강 위험

변혜정,박정임,Byun, Hyae-Jeong,Park, Jeong-Im 한국환경보건학회 2010 한국환경보건학회지 Vol.36 No.6

Researchers who work in science and engineering R&D laboratories are commonly exposed to a wide range of chemical, biological and physical hazards. They also may adopt ergonomically poor postures for long periods of time. These factors may increase the risk of adverse health outcomes in laboratory workers. Recently, there were several fatal accidents in the laboratories in universities and research institutes in Korea. Consequently, the 'Laboratory Safety Act' was enacted in 2006. However, there are concerns about the health risk associated with chronic exposures to hazards, as the management measures provided in this Act are very limited, focusing primarily on accident prevention and compensation for lab work-related accidents. In this article, the methods for assessing exposure to chemicals in laboratory environments are discussed. Also, epidemiological studies examining the association between laboratory exposure and health effects, including cancer and reproductive toxicity are extensively reviewed. Finally, the possible roles of environmental health professionals in this area are suggested, along with a list of critical research needs for properly assessing laboratory workers' exposure and risk.

화학실험실의 휘발성유기화합물 노출에 대한 정량적 평가전략

변혜정 ( Hyae Jeong Byun ),류경남 ( Kyong Nam Ryu ),윤충식 ( Chung Sik Yoon ),박정임 ( Jeong Im Park ) 한국산업위생학회 2011 한국산업보건학회지 Vol.21 No.1

Working in a research laboratory means exposure to a wide range of hazardous substances. Several studies indicated that laboratory workers, especially working with chemicals, might have an increased risk of certain cancers. However, exposure assessment data in laboratory settings are scarce. This study was performed to examine several approaches for quantitatively assessing the exposure levels to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among workers in chemistry laboratories. The list of 10 target VOCs, including ethanol, acetone, 2-propanol, dichlormethane, tetrahydrofuran, benzene, toluene, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, was determined through selfadministered questionnaire for six chemistry research laboratories in a university, a government-funded research institute, or private labs. From September to December 2008, 84 air samples were collected (15 area samples, 27 personal time weighted samples, 42 personal task-basis short-term samples). Real time monitors with photo ionization detector were placed during the sampling periods. In this study, benzene was observed exceeding the action levels, although all the results were below the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV). From the air sampling results, we concluded that (1) chemicals emitted during experiments could directly affect to neighbor office areas (2) chemical exposures in research laboratories showed a wide range of concentrations depending on research activities (3) area samples tended to underestimate the exposures relative to personal samples. Still, further investigation, is necessary for developing exposure assessment strategies specific to laboratories with unique exposure profiles.

초등학생 가정을 대상으로 한 바이오에어로졸 노출과 아토피와의 연관성 평가

하진실,정혜정,변혜정,윤충식,김양호,오인보,이지호,하권철,Ha, Jin-Sil,Jung, Hea-Jung,Byun, Hyae-Jeong,Yoon, Chung-Sik,Kim, Yang-Ho,Oh, In-Bo,Lee, Ji-Ho,Ha, Kwon-Chul 한국환경보건학회 2011 한국환경보건학회지 Vol.37 No.6

Objectives: Exposure to bioaerosols in the indoor environment could be associated with a variety adverse health effects, including allergic disease such atopy. The objectives of this study were to assess children's exposure to bioaerosol in home indoor environments and to evaluate the association between atopy and bioaerosol, environmental, and social factors in Ulsan, Korea. Methods: Samples of viable airborne bacteria and fungi were collected by impaction onto agar plates using a Quick Take TM 30 and were counted as colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/$m^3$). Bioaerosols were identified using standard microbial techniques by differential stains and/or microscopy. The environmental factors and possible causes of atopy based on ISAAC (International Study of Allergy and Asthma in Childhood) were collected by questionnaire. Results: The bioaerosol concentrations in indoor environments showed log-normal distribution (p < 0.01). Geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) of airborne bacteria and fungi in homes were 189.0 (2.5), 346.1(2.0) CFU/$m^3$, respectively. Indoor fungal levels were significantly higher than those of bacteria (p < 0.001). The concentration of airborne bacteria exceeded the limit recommended by the Korean Ministry of Environment, 800 CFU/$m^3$, in three out of 92 samples (3.3%) from 52 homes. The means of indoor to outdoor ratio (I/O) for airborne bacteria and fungi were 8.15 and 1.13, respectively. The source of airborne bacteria was not outdoors but indoors. GM of airborne bacteria and fungi were 217.6, 291.8 CFU/$m^3$ in the case's home and 162.0, 415.2 CFU/$m^3$ in the control's home respectively. The difference in fungal distributions between case and control were significant (p = 0.004) and the odds ratio was 0.996 (p = 0.027). Atopy was significantly associated with type of house (odds ratio = 1.723, p = 0.047) and income (odds ratio = 1.891, p = 0.041). Some of the potential allergic fungal genera isolated in homes were Cladosporium spp., Botrytis spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., and Alternatia spp. Conclusions: These results suggest that there this should be either 'was little' meaning 'basically no significant association was found' or 'was a small negative' mean that an association was found but it was minor. It's a very improtant distinction. Association between airborne fungal concentrations and atopy and certain socioeconomic factors may affect the prevalence of childhood atopy.

아토피 아동 가정내 집먼지 진드기 농도와 환경요인: 환자 대조군 연구

김성호,박동진,변혜정,이현수,오인보,심창선,김양호,윤충식,Kim, Sung-Ho,Park, Dong-Jin,Byun, Hyae-Jeong,Lee, Hyun-Soo,Oh, In-Bo,Sim, Chang-Sun,Kim, Yang-Ho,Yoon, Chung-Sik 한국환경보건학회 2012 한국환경보건학회지 Vol.38 No.3

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine house dust mite concentrations in living rooms and bedding materials in atopic case-control groups. Methods: Fifty four homes with children suffering atopic diseases as cases and fifty one homes without atopic diseases as controls were selected after diagnosis at three elementary schools in Ulsan City. Dust samples were collected from the living rooms and bedding materials in each home during summer and winter with a vacuum cleaner and analyzed for house dust mites using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Environmental factors and family history were surveyed during sampling. Results: Both species of house dust mite Dermatophagoides farina (Der f 1) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p 1) were found in all homes. Derf1 concentrations were much higher than Der P1 concentrations, both in atopic homes (1518.9 vs. 27.0 ng/g. dust, respectively) and non-atopic homes (810.8 vs. 44.3 ng/g. dust, respectively). Der f 1 concentrations were significantly higher in the atopic group than in the non-atopic group (atopic: 1518.9 ng/g.dust, non-atopic: 810.8 ng/g.dust, p = 0.035). However, total house dust mite Der p 1 concentrations were significantly higher in the non-atopic group than in the atopic group (atopic: 27.0 ng/g.dust, non-atopic: 44.3 ng/g.dust, p = 0.035). Multiple regression implied that mothers with family history of atopic diseases (OR = 4.79, 95% CI = 1.81-12.69), Der f 1 concentrations (OR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.07-2.81), and air freshener use (OR = 4.60, 95% CI = 1.72-12.34) had significant associations with atopic children. Conclusion: House dust mite Der f 1 concentrations were associated with atopic children. This study suggests that parents should reduce house dust mite Der f 1 concentrations through environmental controls.

반도체 웨이퍼 가공 공정 및 잠재적 유해인자에 대한 고찰

박동욱(Dong-Uk Park),변혜정(Hyae-Jeong Byun),최상준(Sang-Jun Choi),정지연(Jee-Yeon Jeong),윤충식(Chung-Sik Yoon),김치년(Chi-Nyon Kim),하권철(Kwon-Chul Ha),박두용(Doo-Yong Park) 대한직업환경의학회 2011 대한직업환경의학회지 Vol.23 No.3

산업안전보건분야에서 표준직업분류(Standard Occupational Classification, SOC) 활용 사례 고찰 및 향후 국내 도입 방안 제언

박동욱 ( Dong Uk Park ),최상준 ( Sang Jun Choi ),변혜정 ( Hyae Jeong Byun ),김양호 ( Yang Ho Kim ),김수근 ( Soo Geon Kim ),하권철 ( Kwon Chul Ha ),강태선 ( Tae Sun Kang ) 한국산업위생학회 2013 한국산업보건학회지 Vol.23 No.1

BBaacckkggrroouunndBBaacckkggrroouunnddss: Occupations are grouped on the basis of similarity in tasks and duties performed. Standard occupational classification (SOC) is a tool for organizing all professions into a clearly defined set of groups according to the tasks and duties undertaken in the respective jobs. OObbjjeeccttiivveess: The major objective of this study is to comprehensively review how a SOC system is used in occupational and safety fields such as surveillance, exposure monitoring, occupational epidemiological study, management of carcinogens and analysis of occupational accidents. MMeetthhooddss: We summarized the cases, policies and regulations used in SOC systems in advanced countries and as they appear in articles RReessuullttss: We found that SOC systems have been widely used in various areas of occupational safety and health in the US, the UK, Finland, and the EU. In general, it is highly common to use SOC in the analysis of occupational accidents and diseases and to identify factors causing those accidents. The SOC system is also used not only for surveillance of exposure to hazardous agents and occupational health, but to manage carcinogens. In order to adjust the effects of a particular job, SOC is used in the general population health area. The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) has never used or introduced an SOC system. There have been no cases of the application of a SOC system to either the occupational safety and health field or to health surveillance for the general population in Korea. CCoonncclluussiioonnss: We suggested a need to introduce an SOC system in several occupational safety and health activities, such as work environment measurement, analysis of occupational accidents, specific physical examination and surveillance systems, etc.