• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.139-152
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• 2009

According to the third study on the distribution of chemical substances carried out by the Department of Environment in 2006, there were a total of 900 chemical substances whose respective annual usage amount exceeded 1,000 tons and, among them, 90 substances belonged to the 168 hazardous substances requiring management(53.6%). The work-related illnesses caused by hazardous substances requiring management in Korea between $1992{\sim}2005$ can be classified into four groups depending on the type of the chemical substances. These four groups are 23 organic substances including benzene, 12 metals including lead, 3 acids and bases including hydrogen chloride, and 6 gaseous substances including carbon monoxide. These hazardous substances requiring management were again classified depending on the threshold limit values. The chemicals whose TLV was lower than or equal to 0.005 ppm included 4 organic substances including methylene bisphenyl isocyanate and toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI). The chemicals whose TLV was larger than 51 ppm included 22 organic substances including diethyl ether and 1,2-dichloroethylene. When we classified these hazardous substances requiring management according to the categories of GHS health hazards, we found that isobutyl acetate and magnesium oxide didn't belong to the 13 health hazard categories. Among the substances whose TLV is set and whose annual usage amount is more than 0.1 million ton, we recommended 12 chemical species including 4,4'-Methylenedianiline as new hazardous substances requiring management. All the recommended substances were found to be hazardous when we classified their health hazards.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.57-72
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• 2016

There are more than 30,000 chemical substances handled in domestic university laboratories. Among them, hazardous materials are selected and managed as designated substances by the standards of 19 Ministries and 16 Acts. However, domestic safety-related laws and regulations are used to manage industrial risk factors based on industrial activities. In case of installing a university chemical laboratory in accordance with the installation standards applicable to general workplaces. It is not suitable to use as a laboratory installation standard that can be applied to a chemical laboratory installed at a university such as a problem occurs in applying to a university using a small quantity of dangerous substances in a small amount. In order to establish the laboratory structure and facility standards that are appropriate for the laboratory characteristics and apply systematic laboratory safety, the National Security Administration shall apply the special handling standard of chemical experiment to places where handling less than 30 times the designated quantity of chemical substances for chemical experiments. On August 2, 2016, the regulations for the enforcement of the Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act and the standards for the structure and facilities of the university chemical laboratory were enacted. In this study, we investigated the domestic chemical substances laws and regulations to determine the chemical substances that are over-regulated in the relevant laws, and define them as substances against accidents. The management criteria for the substances were analyzed. The R value for the designation of the designated quantity by the concept of the space in the management standard was calculated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2017

Chemical accidents occur by a variety of causes and aspects. Accident preparedness substances (APS) are defined by toxic chemicals highly likely to cause accidents due to their high acute toxicity, explosiveness or likely to cause severe damage where a chemical accident occurs among the chemicals. APS is designated and announced by Presidential Decree. However, chemical accidents occurred for recent 7 years were arisen mainly from non-accident preparedness substances, and only 24 species were included as chemical accident trigger among total 69 APS. In addition, APS were designated in 2014 and the list has not been updated since then although it needs to be amended in several aspects. Accordingly, this study analyzes the necessity of modification of APS management, and presents improved plans.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.179-182
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• 2023

The Chemical Substances Control Act has been legislated to counter the risks posed by chemical substances to public health and the environment, but a number of small- and large-scaled incidents related to hazardous chemicals continue to occur every year. The Korean Ministry of Environment takes legal responsibility for prevention, preparedness, and response to nationwide chemical accidents under the Chemical Substances Control Act. The determination of chemical accidents that occur during hazardous chemical handling processes is based on the Article 2 (Definitions) of the law and the administrative criteria for judgement of chemical accidents. However, there are certain ambiguities in the scientific basis for determining chemical accidents under the current regulations. Whether or not a chemical accident has a direct influence on penalties and administrative measures for a workplace where an accident occurred, it is necessary to find reasonable criteria for determining chemical accident based on legal and scientific evidence.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.63-70
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• 2014

There has been an increase in fire/explosion accidents caused by chemical substances used in new small/medium sized construction, reconstruction, or extension sites. There is vast room for improvement, especially in safety training, safety inspection, and selection of countermeasures because training, technicality, and management systems regarding fire/explosion risks in small/medium sized construction sites are very immature in most cases. The purpose of this study is to propose a differentiated technical, educational, and management application plan for preventative management of fire/explosion accidents caused by chemical substances used in small/medium sized construction sites.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.465-473
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• 2019

Objectives: A variety of industries handling hazardous chemicals emit odorous substances. Based on the emission characteristics of major odor substances from the results of hazardous chemical substance emissions, we will define basic data for improving the management methods of odorous substances. Methods: A survey of hazardous pollutant emissions for 2010-2016 was conducted through the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register homepage. Eight kinds of designated odor substances (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, acetaldehyde, styrene, toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone) provided the study subjects. The status of chemical accidents for the target substances was analyzed using the Chemistry Safety Clearing-house system. Results: From 2010 to 2016, it was found that more than 30% of businesses that emitted odorous substances accounted for more than 50% of the total emissions of the eight substances. Emissions of xylene, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, and ammonia were found, in that order, and they made up more than 90% of the total emitted. By region, about 70% of odorous substances were emitted in the top-four regions: Gyeongsangnam-do Province, Ulsan, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Jeollanam-do Province. Conclusion: Recently, the amount of chemical emissions has been continuously increasing, including those that can cause odor. Odorous substances can be a serious risk to the lives of local residents. Systematic research is needed for the health protection of residents.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes among the nine kinds of reduction chemical substances in Korea over the period of 2008-2017. We will define basic data for improving the management methods for reducing chemical substances. Methods: A survey of hazardous pollutant emissions for 2008-2017 was conducted through the pollutant Release and Transfer Register homepage. Nine kinds of designated reduction chemical substances (Benzene, Vinyl chloride, Trichloro ethylene, 1,3-butadiene, Dichloro methane, Tetrachloro ethylene, N,N-dimethylformamide, Acrylo nitrile, and Chloroform) provided the study subjects. The emission of hazardous chemicals and health effects used the National Health Statistics and Integrated Chemicals Information System (ICIS) as a reference. Results: Hazardous pollutant emissions increased by 1.2 times over the past decade, and nine types of reduction chemical substances increased by 1.6 times. By region, the emissions of reduction chemical substances over the last 10 years were in the order of Chungbuk, Gyeonggi, and Gyeongbuk. Emissions of Dichloro methane was the highest in Chungbuk and Gyeongbuk. N,N-dimethylformamide was the highest in Gyeonggi. Carcinogen pollutant emissions showed a tendency to increase continuously. In addition, group 1 carcinogen emissions showed a tendency to decrease. Conclusion: In the last decade, the amount of hazardous chemical emissions has been continuously increasing. Hazardous chemical emissions require facility improvement for continuous emissions reduction. More research on reduction of emissions is needed.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.54-65
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• 2024

Background: There is growing international recognition of the need for improvements to national chemical management systems for hazardous chemicals. The European Union has recently introduced the concept of 'essential uses' as a new approach to the management hazardous chemicals by limiting their uses. Objectives: This paper examines the concept of essential uses in chemical management and how to apply it through a case study of essential use. This approach is distinct from the current chemical management system, but seeks to improve its potential benefits by effectively restricting or gradually decreasing the use of hazardous substances. Methods: The concept of essential uses was introduced by reviewing the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Cousins's three essentiality categories applied to PFAS, restriction options assessed in the PFAS restriction proposal under REACH, and the California Safer Consumer Products regulations prioritizing 6PPD in motor vehicle tires. Based on these essential uses concepts for PFAS and 6PPD, uses of benzene were classified in accordance with the essential uses approach for products using benzene in South Korea. Results: The essential use concept is able to manage the restriction and authorization of substances of concern through essential uses and non-essential uses and the feasible substitution of uses and substances. Conclusions: If the concept and methodology of essential uses are clearly established, they can be expected to shift the national chemical management paradigm from regulating substances to limiting uses under the existing substance management system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.179-207
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• 2000

Hazardous organic solvents management as prescribed by presidential decree in Korea is reviewed. The status of import, manufacture, and circulation of organic solvents was investigated. Problems inherent in the management of organic solvents in the electroplating, metal degreasing, and dry cleaning industries were discussed. The chemical substance management system in Korea was compared to those of foreign organizations. A walk-through check list was developed and then used to assess the actual conditions and potential hazards of chemical substances in these industries. The questionnaire could be used to develop a chemical management system and protect workers from hazardous substances. Based on the results of the site survey, MSDSs were not integrated appropriately into the workers education and were not readily accessible to employees. In the case of the dry cleaning industry, the new dry cleaning solvent used as a substitute includes a lot of potentially hazardous organic solvents. This research is preliminary. It is recommended that a national survey be performed to better identify the current situation. Because chemical substances are regulated by thirteen laws in seven executive branches, management systems often overlap, resulting in ineffective control. Using the above results, a model for managing chemical substances was developed. This will more efficiently provide MSDS information to workers covered by the presidential decree and allow the construction of a management system database for better cooperation with the executive branches in Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.79-86
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• 2021

Purpose : This study was conducted to provide fundamental data to prepare for countermeasure to protect health of workers in the dental clinics from hazardous chemical substance, and to assess effecting factors on management of Material Safety Date Sheet(MSDS) and handling of hazardous chemical substance among workers in dental clinics. Methods : This study was carried out a survey with structured self-administered questionnaire which was consisted of 7 questions about the management of MSDS, 9 questions about recognition and practice of hazardous chemical substances in dental clinics, and 7 questions about general characteristics. Total subjects of this study were 204 adult who workers in dental clinics located in Busan and Gyeng-nam province area. The collected data were analysed using the SPSS statistical package program (ver. 23.0). Results : The factor that positively affected factor on recognition and practice of hazardous chemical substances in dental clinics has experience that has been institutional health-care accreditation. The factor that positively affected the management of MSDS has experience that has been institutional health-care accreditation. Conclusion : It is necessary to prepare countermeasures such as campaign and education on cognition of general chemical substances, and also the author concern that it should be perform the education on handling of hazardous chemical substances in dental clinics for more effecting management of MSDS. In order to improve the management of MSDS and improve the awareness and safety of chemicals, it is necessary to encourage the implementation of the institutional health-care accreditation system or prepare guidelines for the management of MSDS.