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KMID : 0895420130230010035
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Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Enviromental Hygiene
2013 Volume.23 No. 1 p.35 ~ p.40
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Occupational Exposure to Airborne Asbestos Fibers in Serpentine Quarries and a Steel Mill
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Kwon Ji-Woon
Seo Hoe-Kyeong
Kim Kab-Bae
Chung Eun-Kyo
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Abstract
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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.
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KEYWORD
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asbestos, airborne fiber concentration, occupational exposure, serpentine quarry, steel mill
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