• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 1997

For the purpose of acquiring microbial agents that can be utilized to billogically control the major airborne disease to apple trees, such as canker(Valsa ceratosperma), the effective microorgaisms were isolated, tested for antagonistic activity to the pathogen causing major disease to apple trees and identifed. Screening of more than 3, 000 species of microorganisms collected in nature for them antagonistic action to the pathogen, Valsa ceratosperma causing disease to apple tree resulted in selection of effective species. Out of the 11 species, one species designated as CAP141 demonstrated outstanding activity. The bacterial strain, CAP141 exerted antagonistic efficiency of 65% on Valsa ceratosperma. The CAP141 was identified as a bacterial strain to Bacillus subtilis based on morphology, culture conditions, and physio-biochemical characteristics.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.98-104
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine airborne bioaerosols such as bacteria and fungi in the kitchens of restaurants, and to assess the effects of thermal factors on the levels of the bioaerosols. Methods: Air samples were taken from kitchens of nine restaurants. An Anderson type air sampler was used for sampling and measurements. Petri dishes filled with a microbiological culture medium (trypticase soy agar for bacteria and Sabouraud dextrose agar for fungi) were used as the sampling surface. Results: The levels of bacterial aerosol measured were $10-10^3CFU/m^3$ and fungal aerosol $10-10^2CFU/m^3$, respectively The mean values of air temperature and relative humidity in the kitchens were $24.6^{\circ}C$ and 46.4%, respectively. Overall, the levels of bacterial aerosol varied by the restaurant type, and fungal aerosol by the business period (p < 0.05). The main effect of air temperature and interaction effect of air temperature and relative humidity onto the bacterial level were significant (p < 0.05), whereas the effects were not significant onto the fungal level. Conclusions: The results indicate a wide variation in the levels of bioaerosols among different kitchens. The observed differences in bioaerosol levels in the kitchens reflect different periods of use. The interactions of air temperature and relative humidity onto the bacterial level suggest that constant attention should be paid to avoid peaks of contamination during the summer season.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.355-361
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• 2009

This study evaluated the bacterial concentrations and affecting factors at the laboratories of a university in Seoul, Korea. Thirty-three samples of total airborne bacteria (TAB) and eighteen samples of gram negative bacteria (GNB) were collected from both microbiology laboratories (7) and chemistry laboratories (6). GM (GSD) of TAB and GNB concentrations were 194 (2.52) $cfu/m^3$, 24 (4.1) $cfu/m^3$, respectively. TAB concentrations in the chemical laboratories (GM (GSD): 193 (2.0) $cfu/m^3$) were not significantly different from those in microbial laboratories (GM (GSD): 202 (2.7) $cfu/m^3$, (p>0.05)). GM (GSD) of TAB concentrationsat the top of sink, the center of laboratory, and the front of ventilation ventilation device within laboratories, 182 (3.2) $cfu/m^3$, 217 (2.2) $cfu/m^3$, 176 (2.4) $cfu/m^3$, respectively, were not significantly different (p=0.48). Related factors were measured such as temperature, relative humidity, floor of laboratory, number of persons and laboratory area. TAB concentrations were significantly related to temperature (r=0.36, p<0.05), and the floor of laboratory and temperature were also significantly related (r=0.49, p<0.001). However, other factors such as relative humidity, number of persons and laboratory area did not show any significant relationship with TAB concentrations (p>0.05). TAB concentrations were affected significantly by cleaning frequency (p<0.001) and floor of laboratory (p<0.05). There was also a significant difference (p<0.01) between TAB indoor concentrations and TAB outdoor concentrations. However, other factors such as general ventilation did not affect TAB concentrations (p>0.05) in this study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 1991

Inorganic mercury in urine and airborne was determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Detailed sampling methods and analylical results are as follows : 1. 100~200ml of urine for each person was taken in 250 ml borosilicate bottle and $K_2S_2O_8$ (0.1g/100ml urine) was added to prevent bacterial contamination. About 1001 air of workingplace was absorbed in l0ml of absorbing solution. Urine samples and absorbing solution tubes were stored at $4^{\circ}C$. Dillution solution to prepare standard solution used deionized water (D.W) for urine and absorbing solution (A.S) for air. 2. 1n this procedure deteclion limit was 1ng/ml and mercury contents of blank reagent solution was 1~2ng/ml. 3. Calibration range was $0.02{\sim}0.1{\mu}g/ml$ and in this range r.s.d for each calibration curve in D.W and A.S and ${\pm}7.9%$ and ${\pm}3.7%$, respectively. 4. Repeatability (n=5 times, conc. $0.05{\mu}g/ml$) was ${\pm}5.8%$, in D.W. and ${\pm}4.4%$ in A.S, respectively. 5. Recovery for urine adding spiked concentration ($0.05{\mu}g/ml$) was about 90%. 6. Analytical result of samples was $1{\sim}139{\mu}g/l$ in urine and ${\sim}0.127mg/m^3$ in airborne.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.188-194
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• 2005

To assess microbiological indoor air quality in schools, concentrations of viable airborne microorganisms were monitored at classrooms and corridors of 3 middle or high schools in Ulsan. Airborne microorganisms were sampled at various situations during a semester (class-hour, lunchtime, after school) and during a vacation with an impaction-type air sampler. During the semester, the number of bacteria was the highest at lunchtime in corridor with an average of $1,111\;MPN/m^{3}$ and lowest at class-hour in corridor with an average of $132\;MPN/m^{3}$. During the vacation, the bacterial concentrations at classrooms and corridors were only $5{\%}$ and $27{\%}$ of the values during class-hours of the semester, respectively. Among the colonies tested, $60{\%}$ were identified as relatively harmless Micrococcus species and $12{\%}$ were Staphylococcus species. During the semester, the average values of fungal concentrations at each situation ranged from 105 to $213\;MPN/m^{3}$, and the values during the vacation were $32\;MPN/m^{3}$ at classrooms and $83\;MPN/m^{3}$ in corridors. Fungal genera such as Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus were identified from the colonies. The obtained data can be considered as a step to set a guideline for bioaerosols in indoor environment of schools.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.45-63
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• 2019

In view of the growing industrial use of Bacterial cellulose (BC), and taking into account that it might become airborne and be inhaled after industrial processing, assessing its potential pulmonary toxic effects assumes high relevance. In this work, the murine model was used to assess the effects of exposure to respirable BC nanofibrils (nBC), obtained by disintegration of BC produced by Komagataeibacter hansenii. Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages ($BMM{\Phi}$) were treated with different doses of nBC (0.02 and 0.2 mg/mL, respectively 1 and $10{\mu}g$ of fibrils) in absence or presence of 0.2% Carboxymethyl Cellulose (nBCMC). Furthermore, mice were instilled intratracheally with nBC or nBCMC at different concentrations and at different time-points and analyzed up to 6 months after treatments. Microcrystaline $Avicel-plus^{(R)}$ CM 2159, a plant-derived cellulose, was used for comparison. Markers of cellular damage (lactate dehydrogenase release and total protein) and oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxidase, reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase activity) as well presence of inflammatory cells were evaluated in brochoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids. Histological analysis of lungs, heart and liver tissues was also performed. BAL analysis showed that exposure to nBCMC or CMC did not induce major alterations in the assessed markers of cell damage, oxidative stress or inflammatory cell numbers in BAL fluid over time, even following cumulative treatments. $Avicel-plus^{(R)}$ CM 2159 significantly increased LDH release, detected 3 months after 4 weekly administrations. However, histological results revealed a chronic inflammatory response and tissue alterations, being hypertrophy of pulmonary arteries (observed 3 months after nBCMC treatment) of particular concern. These histological alterations remained after 6 months in animals treated with nBC, possibly due to foreign body reaction and the organism's inability to remove the fibers. Overall, despite being a safe and biocompatible biomaterial, BC-derived nanofibrils inhalation may lead to lung pathology and pose significant health risks.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.137-147
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• 1996

For the purpose of acquiring microbial agents that can be utilized to biologically control the major airborne diseases to apple trees, such as canker(Botryosphaeria dothidea), bitter rot(Glomerella cingulata), alternaria leaf spot(Alternaria mali), root rot(rosellinia necatrix), canker(Valsa ceratosperma) and gray mold rot(Botrytis cinerea), the effective microorgaisms were isolated, tested for antagonistic activity to the pathogens causing major diseases to apple trees and identifed. Screening of more than 5,000 species of microorganisms collected in nature for them antagonistic action to the pathogens causing 5 major diseases to apple trees resulted in selection of effective species. Out of the 11 species, one species designated as CAP134 demonstrated outstanding activity. The bacterial strain, CAP134 exerted antagonistic efficiency of 57% on an isolated strain and 40% on a donated strain of Botryosphaeria dothidea., 52% on an isolated strain and 46% on a purchased strain of Alternaria mali, 60% on Valsa ceratosperma 25% on Glomerella cingulata, and 64% Rosellinia necatrix. The CAP134 was identified as a bacterial strain to Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 based on morephology, culture conditions, and physio-biochemical characteristics.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.446-450
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• 2013

The ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum is a major causal agent for Fusarium head blight in cereals and produces mycotoxins such as trichothecenes and zearalenone. Isolation of the fungal strains from air or cereals can be hampered by various other airborne fungal pathogens and saprophytic fungi. In this study, we developed a selective medium specific to F. graminearum using toxoflavin produced by the bacterial pathogen Burkholderia glumae. F. graminearum was resistant to toxoflavin, while other fungi were sensitive to this toxin. Supplementing toxoflavin into medium enhanced the isolation of F. graminearum from rice grains by suppressing the growth of saprophytic fungal species. In addition, a medium with or without toxoflavin exposed to wheat fields for 1 h had 84% or 25%, respectively, of colonies identified as F. graminearum. This selection medium provides an efficient tool for isolating F. graminearum, and can be adopted by research groups working on genetics and disease forecasting.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2003

To assess microbiological indoor air quality in kindergartens, concentrations of viable airborne microorganisms were seasonally determined at three kindergartens in Ulsan from April, 2002 to January, 2003. Sampling was performed with an impaction-type air sampler and three different media. The numbers of bacteria grown on Staphylococcus medium were between 84 and 4,150 MPN/m3 with an average of 827 MPN/m3, and those on standard method agar ranged from 50 to 2,636 MPN/m3 with an average of 580 MPN/m3. The bacterial concentrations were highest in summer, followed by fall, spring, and winter, and were significantly correlated with indoor temperature. Among the colonies, 45.6~61.0% were observed as Gram-positive cocci and 8.5~20.6% were Gramnegative rods. Micrococcus species were the dominant organisms. The numbers of fungi ranged from 0 to 1,888 MPN/m3(661 MPN/m3 average) based on colony counts with dichloran rose bengal chloramphenicol agar. On average, the fungal concentrations were highest in summer and lowest in winter. Penicillium species and Aspergillus species were identified from the colonies. The obtained data can be utilized as a step to set a guideline for bioaerosols in indoor environment of schools.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.628-634
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• 2008

In recent years, cross-contamination has become one of the noticeable issues in dental clinic. Two major routes of contamination are the direct-contamination through blood and oral secretion and the indirect-contamination through dental office equipments. Especially, air-contamination through air-floating pollutant in a confined space like hospital, and also contamination through aerosol ejected from high-speed handpiece in a dental office was interested. The purpose of this study was to understand risk of bacterial infection through aerosol from handpiece in a dental office, which will help the practitioner with prevention of contamination during dental treatment. The main findings are as follows. 1. In a comparative test, the group using handpiece has higher bacterial number than the group not using handpiece with significant statistical difference(P<0.01). 2. The group using handpiece with rubber dam has lower bacterial number than the group using handpiecewithout rubber dam with significant statistical difference(P<0.01). 3. Comparing the group using drainage water with the group using distilled water as a handpiece water source results in 22.4 cfu and 17.0 cfu respectively but the difference is no statistically significant(P>0.05). 4. Measuring cfu at 0.5m and 1.5m distance, 0.5m distance showed higher bacterial number with statistical significance(P<0.01). 5. Classification of bacterial types showed the largest bacterial number came from gram-positive micrococcus(73.9%), and gram-negative micrococcus, gram-negative bacillus, and gram-positive bacillus follow in descending order.