The consumer products in the living environments include a variety of chemicals which could be harmful in the human health. The aim of this study was to assess the inhalation exposure and risk for cleaning workers who had used bleach in the university. A total of 81 cleaning workers took part in this study. Frequency and amount of cleaning bleach during working hours were investigated by questionnaire interviews. Exposure assessment was used by the exposure algorithm and exposure factors. Used cleaning bleaches were analyzed to identify the ingredients, and risk by exposure was assessed by separating as carcinogen and non-carcinogen substances. The results of chemical substances and the questionnaire were used to assess the exposure factors, and the inhalation doses were calculated through inhalation exposure algorithm. According to the questionnaires for the cleaning workers, frequence of cleaning bleach was 11.66 ± 7.21 times per month. And average usage time and amount per cleaning work were 30.78 ± 36.00 minute and 20099.53 ± 12998.60 mg, respectively. Risks for carcinogenic substances of formaldehyde, ethylbenzene, and chloroform were exceeded by 56.79%, 27.16%, and 82.72% as the reference value of 10−6, respectively.

The purpose of this study is to examine the exposure risk of thermal paper ingredients by analyzing skin permeation using an in vitro Franz cell. Thermal printer papers are usually used for receipt papers, and the skin of shop assistant is continuously exposed to hazardous ingredients of thermal papers. The skin permeation risk of thermal paper ingredients, including bisphenol A and toluene, was determined using an in vitro Franz diffusion cell method using hairless mouse full skin and human cadaver epidermis. Bisphenol A, a major component in each thermal paper, showed moderate skin penetration. Most skin absorption rates were similar in both hairless mouse full skin and human cadaver epidermis. The possible risk of exposure to toxic substances in thermal paper was confirmed from this study. These is results are expected to contribute to establishment of management regulations for thermal papers.

Six lab scale reactors were designed having the height of 1/20 scale of real burial site and each reactors contained aleachate collecting system. Cattle and pigs were buried in these reactors, and leachate was collected to determine theconcentration of antibiotics. Leachate samples were collected periodically over a period of 24 weeks along with the trendof temperature and decomposition degree. Sulfachloropyridazine was detected in the initial leachate (4 and 8 weekssamples) from the cattle 1 and cattle 2 reactors, as 56µg/L and 312µg/L respectively and thereafter it was not detectedin leachate (16~24 weeks samples). Most of the antibiotics concentration were detected higher in leachate released inbetween 4~8 weeks. However, sulfadimidine was detected throughout 24 weeks in cattle 1 reactor, with the range of2.2~17.5µg/L. As a result of comparison with different aqueous environment, improper management of carcass burialsites may result in both surface water and groundwater contamination. To protect public health and to prevent/minimizethe negative impacts of contamination by antibiotics, proper environmental monitoring of leachate before and after carcassdisposal is necessary.