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KMID : 1039220150250010058
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Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
2015 Volume.25 No. 1 p.58 ~ p.71
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Study on the Chemical Management ? 2. Comparison of Classification and Health Index of Chemicals Regulated by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of the Employment and Labor
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Kim Sun-Ju
Yoon Chung-Sik
Ham Seung-Hon
Park Ji-Hoon
Kim Song-Ha
Kim Yu-Na
Lee Ji-Eun
Lee Sang-Ah
Park Dong-Uk
Lee Kwon-Seob
Ha Kwon-Chul
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Abstract
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Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the classification system of chemical substances in the Occupational Safety and Health Act(OSHA) and Chemical Substances Control Act(CSCA) and to compare several health indices (i.e., Time Weighted Average (TWA), Lethal Dose (LD50), and Lethal Concentration (LC50) of chemical substances by categories in each law.
Methods: The chemicals regulated by each law were classified by the specific categories provided in the respective law; seven categories for OSHA (chemicals with OELs, chemicals prohibited from manufacturing, etc., chemicals requiring approval, chemicals kept below permissible limits, chemicals requiring workplace monitoring, chemicals requiring special management, and chemicals requiring special heath diagnosis) and five categories from the CSCA(poisonous substances, permitted substances, restricted substances, prohibited substances, and substances requiring preparation for accidents). Information on physicochemical properties, health indices including CMR characteristics, LD50 and LD50 were searched from the homepages of the Korean Occupational and Safety Agency and the National Institute of Environmental Research, etc. Statistical analysis was conducted for comparison between TWA and health index for each category.
Results: The number of chemicals based on CAS numbers was different from the numbers of series of chemicals listed in each law because of repeat listings due to different names (e.g., glycol monoethylether vs. 2-ethoxy ethanol) and rouping of different chemicals under the same serial number(i.e., five different benzidine-related chemicals were categorized under one serial number(06-4-13) as prohibited substances under the CSCA). A total of 722 chemicals and 995 chemicals were listed at the OSHA and its sub-regulations and CSCA and its sub-regulations, respectively. Among these, 36.8% based on OSHA chemicals and 26.7% based on CSCA chemicals were regulated simultaneously through both laws.
The correlation coefficients between TWA and LC50 and between TWA and LD50, were 0.641 and 0.506, respectively. The
geometric mean values of TWA calculated by each category in both laws have no tendency according to category. The patterns of cumulative graph for TWA, LD50, LC50 were similar to the chemicals regulated by OHSA and CCSA, but their median values were lower for CCSA regulated chemicals than OSHA regulated chemicals. The GM of carcinogenic chemicals under the OSHA was significantly lower than non-CMR chemicals(2.21 mg/m3 vs 5.69 mg/m3, p=0.006), while there was no significant difference in CSCA chemicals(0.85 mg/m3 vs 1.04 mg/m3, p=0.448). LC50 showed no significant difference between carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxic chemicals and non-CMR chemicals in both laws’ regulated chemicals, while there was a difference between carcinogens and non-CMR chemicals in LD50 of the CSCA.
Conclusions: This study found that there was no specific tendency or significant difference in health indicessuch TWA, LD50 and LC50 in subcategories of chemicals as classified by the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the Ministry of Environment. Considering the background and the purpose of each law, collaboration for harmonization in chemical categorizing and regulation is necessary.
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KEYWORD
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Chemical substances management, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chemical Substances Control Act, TWA, acute toxicity, CMR, toxicity
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