Occupational Inhalation Health Risk Assessment of TCE Exposure in the Korean Manufacturing Industry

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the health risks to workers in the Korean manufacturing industries using trichloroethylene (TCE). In Republic of Korea, TCE has permissible exposure limits. In 2014, the permissible exposure limits were exceeded in two cases, necessitating a health risk assessment. The exposure value of TCE in the workplace was determined using Korea’s Workplace Environmental Monitoring Program (WEMP), and risk assessment was performed by applying a probabilistic distribution using a Monte Carlo simulation. When evaluating non-carcinogenic risks at the 50th percentile, all 20 industries had acceptable risk, and at the 95th percentile, 12 of the 20 industries had unacceptable risk. Following the cancer risk assessment, 17 out of 20 industries had unacceptable risks, and the 95th percentile of all industries had unacceptable risks. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of TCE were highest during metal fabrication. Based on these results, metal fabrication was chosen as an industry that should receive management priority in Korea. The findings of this study serve as a foundation for managing TCE among manufacturing workers.