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KMID : 1039220160260020159
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Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
2016 Volume.26 No. 2 p.159 ~ p.169
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Generating Characteristics of VOCs in a Commercial Laundry Shop and the Effects on the Health of Workers
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Park Ok-Hyun
Lee Kyoung-Seok
Min Kyoung-Woo
Jo Gwang-Woon
Yoon Kwan-Ju
Jeong Won-Sam
Cho Young-Kwan
Kim Eun-Sun
Yang Jin-Seok
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Abstract
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Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the generating characteristics of VOCs and the exposure effect to
chemicals among laundry workers and to identify the current status of occupational safety and health through health check-ups.
Methods: During the six-month period from April to September 2015, this study quantitatively measured seven VOCs in ten
laundries and carried out health examinations on 35 workers.
Results: Comparing the monitoring results for the ten laundries, they were classified into three groups by ventilation system, dry-cleaning and size of shop. The average concentration of toluene, chlorobenzene, xylene, ethylbenzene, benzene, styrene and TCE were 23.9, 15.6, 5.5, 2.8, 0.9, 0.3 and 1.3 ㎍/m3, respectively. During dry-cleaning, VOC concentrations were 1.3-8.9 times higher than usual. On the other hand, at night the concentrations of toluene, chlorobenzene, xylene, ethylbenzene, benzene, styrene and TCE were 64.3, 41.5, 12.2, 6.3, 1.1, 1.2 and 6.6 ㎍/m3, respectively. The health checkup results for the 35 workers showed that 13 workers were diagnosed as normal, while 22 workers were diagnosed as requiring continuous monitoring or re-checkup of liver and hematogenous functions.
Conclusions: Although the results of exposure evaluation to VOCs did not exceed reference value and items had a low correlation with health checkup items, it is necessary to improve indoor air quality due to VOC volatilization from clothes.
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KEYWORD
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dry-cleaning, indoor air quality, laundry, personal exposure, VOCs
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