This study was carried out to analyze the exposure concentrations of welding fume in operating room established or not, local exhaust ventilation system for the containers, and parts of automobile manufacturing companies located in Onsan
Industrial
Complex and Ulsan, Korea. Three Piece cassette holder apparatus with glass fiber filter and auto electric balance were used for determination of the level of welding fumes.
When the local exhaust ventilation system was not equipped, the concentration of welding fume was 5.51±3.86mg/㎥ in the respiratory zone and 1.85±0.96mg/㎥ in the room area. Whereas it was equipped, 1.78±1.53mg/㎥ in respiratory zone and
0.80±0.28mg/㎥ in the room area (p<0.01).
The welding fume levels of operating room according to the capture velocity were 3.10±1.90mg/㎥ by less than 0.5m/sec in velocity, 1.41±0.70mg/㎥ by 0.50-0.99m/sec, and 0.66±1.86mg/㎥ by more than 1m/sec (p<0.01).
The welding fume levels in the respiratory zone were 6.09±3.42mg/㎥ when the local ventilation was not operated, but 2.83±1.69mg/㎥ when it was operated (p<0.01). Conclusively, the reduction rate of the welding fume level was average
53.92±8.24%.
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