항공기 기내 청소노동자의 분진, 초미세먼지(PM2.5) 및 블랙카본 노출수준 평가 = Exposure Assessment of Dust, Ultra Fine Dust(Particulate Matter 2.5, PM2.5) and Black Carbon among Aircraft Cabin Cleaners

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Objectives: Aircraft cabin cleaning work is characterized by being performed within a limited time in a narrow and enclosed space. The objective of this study was to evaluate the exposure levels to dust, ultra fine dust(PM2.5) and black carbon(BC) among aircraft cabin cleaners.
Methods: Active personal air sampling for respirable dust(n=73) and BC(n=47) was conducted during quick transit cleaning(cabin general and vacuum-specific) and seat cover replacement and total dust and PM2.5 were area-air-sampled as well. Also, size distribution of particle was identified with the cleaning workers targeted. Dusts were collected with PVC filters using gravimetric analysis. The concentration of PM2.5 and the particle size distribution were measured with real-time direct reading portable equipment using light scattering analysis. The concentration of BC was measured by aethalometer(filter-based real-time light absorption analysis instrument).
Results: The geometric mean of respirable dust was the highest at vacuum cleaning as 74.4 ㎍/㎥, following by replacing seat covers as 49.3 ㎍/㎥ and cabin general cleaning as 47.8 ㎍/㎥ . The arithmetic mean of PM2.5 was 4.83 ~ 9.89 ㎍/㎥ inside the cabin, and 28.5~44.5 ㎍/㎥ outside the cabin(from bus and outdoor waiting space). From size distribution, PM2.5/PM10 ratio was 0.54 at quick transit cleaning and 0.41 at replacing seat covers. The average concentration of BC was 2~7 ㎍/㎥, showing a high correlation with the PM2.5 concentration.
Conclusions: The hazards concentration levels of aircraft cabin cleaners were very similar to those of roadside outdoor workers. As the main source of pollution is estimated to be diesel vehicles operating at airports, and it is necessary to replace older vehicles, strengthen pollutant emission control regulations, and introduce electric vehicles. In addition, it is necessary to provide as part of airport-inftastructure a stable standby waiting space for aircraft cabin cleaners and introduce a systematic safety and health management system for all workers in the aviation industry.