Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
권호 표지

Occupational Exposure to Airborne Asbestos Fibers in Serpentine Quarries and a Steel Mill

사문석 채석장과 제철소 내 사문석 취급 근로자의 공기 중 석면 노출 평가

  • Kwon, Jiwoon (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency) ;
  • Seo, Hoe-Kyeong (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency) ;
  • Kim, Kab Bae (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency) ;
  • Chung, Eun Kyo (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency)
  • 권지운 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 서회경 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 김갑배 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 정은교 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원)
  • Published : 2013.03.31
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Abstract

Objectives: Asbestos contents of crushed serpentine rocks and airborne fiber concentrations of workers were determined at two serpentine quarries and a steel mill. Methods: Bulk samples of uncrushed and crushed serpentine rocks were collected and analyzed by PLM and TEM. Airborne asbestos samples were collected from the breathing zone of workers and the vicinity of working area and analyzed by PCM and TEM. Results: Chrysotile was identified with antigorite, lizardite and non-asbestiform actinolite in bulk samples. The arithmetic means of chrysotile contents in crushed serpentines were 0.11, 0.01, 0.42%(W/W) by quarry A, quarry B and a steel mill, respectively. The asbestos concentrations of all personal samples were less than 0.1 f/cc which is the permissible exposure limit of workers in Korea. The arithmetic means of airborne asbestos concentrations were 0.017 f/cc and 0.009 f/cc in personal samples collected from two serpentine quarries. The asbestos concentrations of all personal samples collected from a steel mill were less than LODs by PCM analysis but asbestos was detected in area samples by TEM. By the job tasks of serpentine quarries, crusher/separator operation generated the highest exposure to airborne asbestos. Conclusions: Although chrysotile contents in crushed serpentines of quarries were less the permissible level, the highest exposure of workers in serpentine quarries reached up to 76% of the permissible level of airborne asbestos. There were also possibilities of occupational exposure to airborne asbestos in a steel mill. The present exposure study should encourage further survey and occupational control of quarries producing serpentine or other types of asbestos-bearing rocks.

Keywords

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