Asbestos exposure among Seoul metropolitan subway workers during renovation of subway air-conditioning systems.
Air quality in underground spaces has seldom been evaluated in Korea. Accordingly, the current study recently evaluated asbestos exposure among Seoul metropolitan subway workers during the renovation of the subway's air-conditioning system. To identify possible routes of asbestos exposure, suspected sources, including gaskets, ceiling boards, ceiling materials, and dust settled inside ducts, were all sampled. Personal air samples were also taken to evaluate any asbestos exposure during the renovation. The asbestos fibers found in the samples were analyzed using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX). Twelve out of eighteen bulk samples contained asbestos, the majority of which was chrysotile fibers. Asbestos was detected in 9 out of 72 personal air samples and the level ranged from 0.003 to 0.02 fibers/cm(3). While asbestos levels were below Korean occupational limit of 2 fibers/cm(3), they were still detectable and therefore further monitoring would be appropriate.
Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, 104-8 Munji-dong, Yuseong-gu, 305-380 Daejeon, South Korea. u1670916@chollian.net
Il Je
IJ
Yu
Chan Young
CY
Yoo
Yong Hyun
YH
Chung
Jeong Hee
JH
Han
Sook Young
SY
Yhang
Gye Mook
GM
Yu
Kyung Seuk
KS
Song
D000389:Air Conditioning; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis*; D003252:Construction Materials; D004391:Dust; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D014186:Transportation; D014505:Urban Population
D002273:Carcinogens; D004391:Dust; D001194:Asbestos