A Health Risk Assessment of Workers Exposed to Organic Paint Solvents Used in the Korean Shipbuilding Industry

In the shipbuilding industry, during the painting process, workers are exposed to various substances in paint, including organic solvents that can adversely affect their health. Most workplace exposures to organic solvents involve mixtures of organic compounds. Therefore, in this study, the hazard q...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sue-Ji Seo, Sae-Mi Shin, Wonsuck Yoon, Sang-Hoon Byeon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Toxics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/903
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850238600757641216
author Sue-Ji Seo
Sae-Mi Shin
Wonsuck Yoon
Sang-Hoon Byeon
author_facet Sue-Ji Seo
Sae-Mi Shin
Wonsuck Yoon
Sang-Hoon Byeon
author_sort Sue-Ji Seo
collection DOAJ
description In the shipbuilding industry, during the painting process, workers are exposed to various substances in paint, including organic solvents that can adversely affect their health. Most workplace exposures to organic solvents involve mixtures of organic compounds. Therefore, in this study, the hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) were derived using data from the Workplace Environmental Monitoring Program in Korea for six organic solvents (xylene, n-butanol, ethylbenzene, isobutyl alcohol, toluene, and methylisobutyl ketone [MIBK]) commonly used in the steel shipbuilding industry. The non-carcinogenic risk was assessed using Monte Carlo simulations, and sensitivity analysis was performed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient with the R program. The HI for neurotoxicity and developmental toxicity exceeded 1 in the 25th and 75th percentile, respectively. According to the sensitivity analysis, the HI for neurotoxicity was correlated with the concentration of xylene and its exposure duration, whereas that for developmental toxicity was correlated with the concentration of ethylbenzene and MIBK and their exposure duration. This study investigated the health risks posed by organic solvents among workers involved in the painting process of shipbuilding. Additional research on percutaneous exposure to organic solvents and a detailed process analysis are needed.
format Article
id doaj-art-c2cbef3f80e84172aef54378e5f16e1b
institution OA Journals
issn 2305-6304
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Toxics
spelling doaj-art-c2cbef3f80e84172aef54378e5f16e1b2025-08-20T02:01:24ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-12-01121290310.3390/toxics12120903A Health Risk Assessment of Workers Exposed to Organic Paint Solvents Used in the Korean Shipbuilding IndustrySue-Ji Seo0Sae-Mi Shin1Wonsuck Yoon2Sang-Hoon Byeon3Health and Safety Convergence Science Introduction, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of KoreaResearch Institute of Health Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of KoreaAllergy and Immunology Center, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of KoreaHealth and Safety Convergence Science Introduction, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of KoreaIn the shipbuilding industry, during the painting process, workers are exposed to various substances in paint, including organic solvents that can adversely affect their health. Most workplace exposures to organic solvents involve mixtures of organic compounds. Therefore, in this study, the hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) were derived using data from the Workplace Environmental Monitoring Program in Korea for six organic solvents (xylene, n-butanol, ethylbenzene, isobutyl alcohol, toluene, and methylisobutyl ketone [MIBK]) commonly used in the steel shipbuilding industry. The non-carcinogenic risk was assessed using Monte Carlo simulations, and sensitivity analysis was performed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient with the R program. The HI for neurotoxicity and developmental toxicity exceeded 1 in the 25th and 75th percentile, respectively. According to the sensitivity analysis, the HI for neurotoxicity was correlated with the concentration of xylene and its exposure duration, whereas that for developmental toxicity was correlated with the concentration of ethylbenzene and MIBK and their exposure duration. This study investigated the health risks posed by organic solvents among workers involved in the painting process of shipbuilding. Additional research on percutaneous exposure to organic solvents and a detailed process analysis are needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/903risk assessmentpaintsolventoccupational exposuresensitivity analysis
spellingShingle Sue-Ji Seo
Sae-Mi Shin
Wonsuck Yoon
Sang-Hoon Byeon
A Health Risk Assessment of Workers Exposed to Organic Paint Solvents Used in the Korean Shipbuilding Industry
Toxics
risk assessment
paint
solvent
occupational exposure
sensitivity analysis
title A Health Risk Assessment of Workers Exposed to Organic Paint Solvents Used in the Korean Shipbuilding Industry
title_full A Health Risk Assessment of Workers Exposed to Organic Paint Solvents Used in the Korean Shipbuilding Industry
title_fullStr A Health Risk Assessment of Workers Exposed to Organic Paint Solvents Used in the Korean Shipbuilding Industry
title_full_unstemmed A Health Risk Assessment of Workers Exposed to Organic Paint Solvents Used in the Korean Shipbuilding Industry
title_short A Health Risk Assessment of Workers Exposed to Organic Paint Solvents Used in the Korean Shipbuilding Industry
title_sort health risk assessment of workers exposed to organic paint solvents used in the korean shipbuilding industry
topic risk assessment
paint
solvent
occupational exposure
sensitivity analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/903
work_keys_str_mv AT suejiseo ahealthriskassessmentofworkersexposedtoorganicpaintsolventsusedinthekoreanshipbuildingindustry
AT saemishin ahealthriskassessmentofworkersexposedtoorganicpaintsolventsusedinthekoreanshipbuildingindustry
AT wonsuckyoon ahealthriskassessmentofworkersexposedtoorganicpaintsolventsusedinthekoreanshipbuildingindustry
AT sanghoonbyeon ahealthriskassessmentofworkersexposedtoorganicpaintsolventsusedinthekoreanshipbuildingindustry
AT suejiseo healthriskassessmentofworkersexposedtoorganicpaintsolventsusedinthekoreanshipbuildingindustry
AT saemishin healthriskassessmentofworkersexposedtoorganicpaintsolventsusedinthekoreanshipbuildingindustry
AT wonsuckyoon healthriskassessmentofworkersexposedtoorganicpaintsolventsusedinthekoreanshipbuildingindustry
AT sanghoonbyeon healthriskassessmentofworkersexposedtoorganicpaintsolventsusedinthekoreanshipbuildingindustry