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KMID : 1039220150250010089
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Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
2015 Volume.25 No. 1 p.89 ~ p.94
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Worker Exposure Assessment on Airborne Total Chromium and Hexavalent Chromium by Process in Electroplating Factories
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Yi Gwang-Yong
Kim Boo-Wook
Shin Yong-Chul
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Abstract
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Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine characteristics of workers’ exposures to airborne total and hexavalent chromium by job title in electroplating processes.
Methods: Total Cr was determined through a modified method based on NIOSH Method 7024. Airborne hexavalent Cr, Cr (VI), was sampled and extracted according to NIOSH Method 7600 and analyzed at 520 nm using an ion chromatograph/visible detector.
Results: The geometric mean(GM) of total Cr concentrations from all factories was 11.2 ㎍/m3(GSD=4.9). The GM of Cr(VI)
concentrations from all factories was 2.84 ㎍/m (GSD=5.2), and the concentrations among factories were significantly different (p<0.05). The Cr(VI) levels were lower than total Cr levels. Total Cr exposure levels were highest among buffing workers (21.6 ㎍/m3), but Cr(VI) levels were highest among plating workers(4.15 ㎍/m3). The concentrations of Cr(VI) and total Cr from plating tasks was highly correlated(r=0.91).
Conclusions: In the electroplating industry, plating workers were mainly exposed to Cr(VI), but others were not. Oxidation-reduction states of Cr and job titles should be considered in the exposure or risk assessments of chrome electroplating factories.
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KEYWORD
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electroplating, exposure, hexavalent chromium, risk assessment
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