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KMID : 0353019680050020199
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Korean Journal of Public Health
1968 Volume.5 No. 2 p.199 ~ p.205
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A Survey on the Concentration of Formaldehyde in the Atmosphere of the Textile Store
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Abstract
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This survey was conducted to determine the concentrations of formaldehyde (HCHO) in the atmosphere of the textile stores during the period of 1 Aug., 1968∼30 Sept., 1968 and another survey was carried out to find out the health conditions of the subjects who worked in the textile stores during this period.
From the results of these studies, the following conclusions were obtained:
1. The average daily concentrations of HCHO in the atmosphere of the textile stores the synthetic fabrices stores without ventilators showed the highest (7.9ppm), and it was the lowest (0.9ppm) at the cotton fabrics stores. All other stores which did not deal with textiles was shown an average daily reading of 0.6 ppm.
2. The variations in the concentrations of HCHO with relation to the time of day were the highest from 3 to 4 o´clock in the afternoon, and were the lowest from 9 to 10 o´clock which was right after the stores were opened in the morning.
3. Almost 100% of subjects who answered the questionnaire reported symptoms of formaldehyde irritation. The highest rate (88.5%) of complaints of general symptoms was among women who worked in the synthetic fabrics stores and the lowest(52.9%) among men working in the clothing stores.
4. The percent of irritating symptoms which were reported as "sick at present" were as follow : 70.4%(the highest frequency rate) reported by women who worked in the synthetic fabrics stores and 12.6% (the lowest frequency rate) reported by men working in the general goods stores.
The frequency rates of the general symptoms were as follow: 48.4% reported by women who worked in the synthetic fabrics stores and 12.6% reported by men working in the clothing stores.
5. The incubation period of the irritating symptoms of women who worked in the synthetic fabrics stores was the shortest, with 1.5 years and the longest, with 3.2 years to men who worked in the clothing stores.
The incubation period of the general symptoms were almost same to all the subjects, between the periods 3∼4 years.
6. In the atmosphere of the textile markets, the concentrations of formaldehyde were the highest at the synthetic fabrics stores.
The concentrations of formaldehyde were considerably over the maximum allowable concentration (M.A.C. : 5 ppm) in the atmosphere of all the synthetic fabrics stores and most of the silk fabrics stores.
The relative rise in prevalence with the increased concentration of HCHO was more pronounced for the irritating symptoms and general symptoms.
The incubation periods were relatively short at the textile stores which were under the high concentrations of formaldehyde.
Under the same circumstances, women were more sensitive to HCHO than men.
7. For the prevention of the injurious effects resulting from exposures to HCHO, it is essential that its concentration in the atmospheric air of the textile stores be kept below 5 ppm, and that the formaldehyde-type resins should not be used in the manufacture of textiles.
All synthetic fabrics should be sold in the synthetic fabrics stores only and the temperature in the air of the synthetic fabrics stores be kept 17∼20℃. The contaminated atmospheric air of the textile stores should be exchanged with fresh air.
All workers working in the textile stores should be taken periodic medical examination and all persons showing sign of irritation should be exclued from further exposure until these conditions being arrested completely.
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