Chemical Exposure Assessment in Traditional Korean Pottery Workplaces

IF 3.2 3区医学 Q1 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Safety and Health at Work Pub Date : 2025-12-01 Epub Date: 2025-08-28 DOI:10.1016/j.shaw.2025.08.004

Jongsu Kim , Sungyo Jung , Taehong Kwon , Gitaek Oh , Boowook Kim , Chungsik Yoon

{"title":"Chemical Exposure Assessment in Traditional Korean Pottery Workplaces","authors":"Jongsu Kim , Sungyo Jung , Taehong Kwon , Gitaek Oh , Boowook Kim , Chungsik Yoon","doi":"10.1016/j.shaw.2025.08.004","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study assessed occupational exposure to airborne hazardous substances—including total particulate matter (TPM), respirable suspended particles (RSPs), respirable crystalline silica (RCS), carbon monoxide (CO), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs)—in traditional Korean pottery workplaces.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Measurements were conducted in three representative settings: a small studio, a college facility, and an outdoor climbing kiln. Task-based sampling was performed for TPM, RSP, and RCS, while real-time monitoring captured temporal variations in nanoparticles, CO, and TVOCs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>TPM and RSP levels did not exceed the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold-limit values (TLVs), but RCS exceeded the TLV of 25 μg/m<sup>3</sup> in 5 out of 96 samples (5.2%), all during shaping or trimming in the pottery wheel room of the college workplace. Nanoparticles accounted for 78.9 ± 10.2% of the total particle number concentrations (PNCs), with high emissions during active kiln operation. CO and TVOC concentrations peaked during bisque and glaze firings, especially in the climbing kiln, although CO did not exceed the TLV of 25 ppm. Kiln type and task type significantly influenced particulate exposure levels, with pottery wheeling and climbing kiln use showing the highest concentrations. Peephole closure during firing and the use of exhaust ventilation in spray booths notably reduced emissions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These findings highlight the need for targeted control strategies, particularly in indoor studios and shaping/trimming areas, to reduce exposure to fine particles and gases in artisanal pottery production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56149,"journal":{"name":"Safety and Health at Work","volume":"16 4","pages":"Pages 446-453"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Safety and Health at Work","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791125000629","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/8/28 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

This study assessed occupational exposure to airborne hazardous substances—including total particulate matter (TPM), respirable suspended particles (RSPs), respirable crystalline silica (RCS), carbon monoxide (CO), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs)—in traditional Korean pottery workplaces.

Methods

Measurements were conducted in three representative settings: a small studio, a college facility, and an outdoor climbing kiln. Task-based sampling was performed for TPM, RSP, and RCS, while real-time monitoring captured temporal variations in nanoparticles, CO, and TVOCs.

Results

TPM and RSP levels did not exceed the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold-limit values (TLVs), but RCS exceeded the TLV of 25 μg/m³ in 5 out of 96 samples (5.2%), all during shaping or trimming in the pottery wheel room of the college workplace. Nanoparticles accounted for 78.9 ± 10.2% of the total particle number concentrations (PNCs), with high emissions during active kiln operation. CO and TVOC concentrations peaked during bisque and glaze firings, especially in the climbing kiln, although CO did not exceed the TLV of 25 ppm. Kiln type and task type significantly influenced particulate exposure levels, with pottery wheeling and climbing kiln use showing the highest concentrations. Peephole closure during firing and the use of exhaust ventilation in spray booths notably reduced emissions.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the need for targeted control strategies, particularly in indoor studios and shaping/trimming areas, to reduce exposure to fine particles and gases in artisanal pottery production.

查看原文本刊更多论文

韩国传统制陶车间化学物质暴露评价

本研究评估了韩国传统制陶车间对空气中有害物质的职业暴露，包括总颗粒物（TPM）、可吸入悬浮颗粒（RSPs）、可吸入结晶二氧化硅（RCS）、一氧化碳（CO）和总挥发性有机化合物（TVOCs）。方法在三个具有代表性的环境中进行测量：一个小型工作室，一个大学设施和一个室外攀爬窑。对TPM、RSP和RCS进行基于任务的采样，同时实时监测纳米颗粒、CO和TVOCs的时间变化。结果96份样品中有5份（5.2%）的RCS含量超过25 μg/m3，均为高校工作场所陶轮室成型或修整过程中样品中stpm和RSP含量均未超过美国政府工业卫生学家会议（ACGIH）的阈值。纳米颗粒占总颗粒数浓度（pnc）的78.9±10.2%，在活性窑运行时具有较高的排放量。CO和TVOC浓度在浓汤和釉料烧制期间达到峰值，特别是在爬升窑，尽管CO没有超过25ppm的TLV。窑类型和任务类型显著影响颗粒暴露水平，其中陶器轮窑和爬窑的使用显示出最高的浓度。在烧制过程中关闭窥视孔，并在喷淋室中使用排气通风，显著减少了排放。这些发现强调了有针对性的控制策略的必要性，特别是在室内工作室和成型/修剪区域，以减少手工陶器生产中细颗粒和气体的暴露。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Safety and Health at Work Social Sciences-Safety Research

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

5.70%

发文量

1080

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Safety and Health at Work (SH@W) is an international, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal published quarterly in English beginning in 2010. The journal is aimed at providing grounds for the exchange of ideas and data developed through research experience in the broad field of occupational health and safety. Articles may deal with scientific research to improve workers'' health and safety by eliminating occupational accidents and diseases, pursuing a better working life, and creating a safe and comfortable working environment. The journal focuses primarily on original articles across the whole scope of occupational health and safety, but also welcomes up-to-date review papers and short communications and commentaries on urgent issues and case studies on unique epidemiological survey, methods of accident investigation, and analysis. High priority will be given to articles on occupational epidemiology, medicine, hygiene, toxicology, nursing and health services, work safety, ergonomics, work organization, engineering of safety (mechanical, electrical, chemical, and construction), safety management and policy, and studies related to economic evaluation and its social policy and organizational aspects. Its abbreviated title is Saf Health Work.