Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Asbestos Exposure and Risk Assessment by ABS(Activity Based Sampling) for Former Asbestos Mining Areas in Korea

우리나라 일부 석면광산 지역에서 ABS를 이용한 석면노출 및 위해성 평가

  • Lee, Junhyeok (Hyundai Steel, Health Management Team) ;
  • Kim, Daejong (Dept. of Ophthalmic Optics, Kyungdong University) ;
  • Choi, Sungwon (Dept. of Prev. Med., College of Med., The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Kim, Hyunwook (Dept. of Prev. Med., College of Med., The Catholic University of Korea)
  • 이준혁 (현대제철 보건관리팀) ;
  • 김대종 (경동대학교 안경광학과) ;
  • 최성원 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김현욱 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실)
  • Received : 2014.08.06
  • Accepted : 2015.03.17
  • Published : 2015.03.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the exposure and risk assessment of residents near asbestos mines in Korea. Methods: To assess asbestos types and airborne concentrations, air monitoring was performed in the neighborhoods of Kwangcheon (KC) and Sinsuk (SS) mines, which were leading South Korean mines in the past. In addition, activity-based-sampling (ABS) of residents' particular activities were conducted in order to estimate the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risks (ELCRs) for the residents. Conclusions: The average concentration of airborne asbestos in KC was 0.0014 f/cc and 0.0015 f/cc by PCM and TEM, respectively. In SS it was equal at 0.0012 f/cc by PCM and TEM. No statistically significant difference was found in the average concentration of airborne asbestos between the two mines. The average asbestos concentration of ABS was 0.0048 f/cc (PCM) and 0.0042 f/cc (TEM) in KC, while it was 0.0137 f/cc (PCM) and 0.0125 f/cc (TEM) in SS. It was found that the average asbestos concentration of ABS in SS was statistically significantly higher than that of KC (p<0.01). The results of ELCRs by scenario in KC showed that the scenarios of bicycle, car, weed control, weed whacking, child playing in the dirt, and physical training fell within $1{\times}0^{-6}-1{\times}10^{-4}$, which is the acceptable range of ELCR. The scenarios of motorcycle, walker, digging, and field sweeping, however, exceeded the acceptable range. In SS, only the scenario of car fell within the acceptable range, while all of the other scenarios exceeded the acceptable range.

Keywords

References

  1. Addison J, Davies, LST, Robertson A, Willey RJ. The release of dispersed asbestos fibres from soils. Edinburgh: Institute of Occupational Medicine. 1998
  2. Camus M, Siemiatycki J, Meek B. Nonoccupational exposure to chrysotile asbestos and the risk of lung cancer. New England Journal of Medicine 1998;338:1565-1571 https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199805283382201
  3. Choi JK, Paek DM, Paik NW. The production, the use, the number of workers and exposure level of asbestos in korea. J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg 1998;8(2):242-253
  4. EPA. Airborne asbestos health assessment update. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development. Washington DC. EPA/600/8-84/003F. June 1986. cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=35551.
  5. EPA. Integrated risk information system(IRIS) file for asbestos(0371). 1988 www.epa.gov/IRIS.
  6. EPA. Risk assessment guidance for superfund. volume I. Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part A). December 1989. c www.epa.gov/oswerriskassessment/rags3adt/.
  7. EPA. Exposure factors handbook, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development. 1997 www.epa.gov/ncea/efh/.
  8. EPA. Amphibole mineral fibers in source materials in residential and commercial areas of libby pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health. Memorandum from Chris Weis to Paul Peronard. December 20, 2001. www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/libby/risksummary.html.
  9. EPA. El Dorado Hills, Naturally occurring asbestos multimedia exposure assessment. Preliminary Assessment and Site Inspection Report Interim Final. 2006 ww.epa.gov/region09/toxic/noa/eldorado/intro1.html.
  10. Geological research. Korea Resources Corporation 1981
  11. Hansen J, de Klerk N H, Musk A W, Hobbs M S T. Environmental exposure to crocidolite and mesothelioma. American Journal Respiratory Critical Care Medicine 1998;157:69-75 https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.157.1.96-11086
  12. Kim hw. Basic study for health influence investigation by asbestos exposures of neighborhoods resident such as asbestos factories and a mine. National Institute of Environmental Research 2009
  13. Kim, H. R. Current situation of asbestos hazard and it's human impact. Condition and measure for former asbestos mines. The 30th Environmental health Forum, Seoul. 2009;15-37
  14. Lou S, Liu X, Mu S, Tsai SP, Wen CP. Asbestos related diseases from environmental exposure to crocidolite in Da-yao, China. I. Review of exposure and epidemiological data. Occup Environ Med 2003;60:35-42 https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.60.1.35
  15. Metintas S, Metintas M, Ucgun I, Oner U. Malignant mesothelioma due to environmental exposure to asbestos: follow-up of a Turkish cohort living in a rural area. Occup Environ Lung Dis 2002;122(6):2224-2229
  16. Ministry of Environment(ME), Basic research for health impact assessment to asbestos exposure asbestos factories and mines surrounding residents. 2009
  17. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Method 7400 Asbestos and other fiber by PCM. 1994a
  18. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Method 7402 Asbestos by TEM. 1994b
  19. Sakia K, Hisanaga N, Kohyama N, Shibata E, Takeuchi Y. Airborne fiber concentration and size distribution of mineral fiber in area with serpentinite outcrops in aichi prefecture Japen. industrial health 2001;39:132-140 https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.39.132
  20. Scrutiny asbestos mine. Ministry of Environment 2010
  21. Shin, J. H. A Study on Risk Assessment and Management Plan of Abandoned Asbestos Mines in Korea. Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School, The University of Seoul. 2012
  22. The national labor research institute(NLRI), Survey report of working environment at several factories. 1984
  23. United States Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA), Standard Operating Procedures Activity Based Air Sampling for Asbestos. 2007
  24. Wagner, J. C. The discovery of the association between blue asbestos and mesotheliomas and the aftermath. British Journal Industrial Medicine 1991;48:399-403