• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.487-492
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• 2022

Objective: The exposure levels of disease-causing bacteria and germs were assessed on aircraft cleaning workers on multiple different aircrafts. Method: Five measuring points were selected depending on the aircraft types. Four aircraft cleaning agencies were selected for the test. Aircraft cleaning work was classified as intensive cleaning and general cleaning work. Ventilation in aircraft when sampling during the cleaning operation was categorized into forced ventilation and natural ventilation. The collection of airborne microorganisms was made through inertial impactors which were installed 1.5 meters above the bottom of the aircraft. The airborne bacteria and fungus growth badges were selected by Trytpic Soy Agar and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. Results: The average concentrations of bacteria in the air were higher in the order of small, medium, and large airplanes. Rainy days had higher concentrations inside and outside the aircraft as compared to those in sunny days. Regarding ventilation, concentrations in natural ventilation were higher than concentrations in forced ventilation. According to the type of work, the concentrations in the intensive cleaning groups (cleaning one plane a day) were lower than those of the ordinary cleaning groups (cleaning several planes per day). Conclusion: The concentration levels of airborne bacteria and fungi in the aircraft surveyed were lower than the indoor environmental standards of Korea (800 cfu/m³ and 500 cfu/m³). The average concentrations of bacteria in the air and fungi in the air were highest in small aircraft owned by Company D.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.638-645
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• 2019

Objectives: For the risk management of airborne fungal diseases, our aim was to evaluate airborne fungi and study the toxicity associated with fungal allergic diseases using fungal species native to Korea. Methods: Fungi were isolated from outdoor air samples collected from Seoul, Incheon, Cheonan, Gwangju, Ulsan, Busan, and Jeju and tested for their cytotoxicity potential and their ability to induce proliferation and secretion of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) in human mast cells (HMC-1). Results: More than 18 species of fungi were collected from outdoor air in Korea over one year, and the strains were identified and systematically analyzed. The results showed that the Cladosporium (59%) and Alternaria (22%) strains are the most common in outdoor air. Three of the collected strains (Fusarium, Trichoderma, and Penicillium) showed mild toxicity in cells involved in allergic inflammation, and twelve induced cell proliferation in HMC-1 cells. More importantly, many strains (Edgeworthia, Trametes, Emmia, Irpex, Talaromyces, Penicillium, Periconia, Epicocum, Bipolaris) induced the MDC protein in activated HMC-1 cells. Conclusion: Nineteen percent of the tested strains caused cytotoxicity in mast cell lines, whereas, most of the non-toxic strains contributed to cell activity. Among the tested strains, more than 80% increased the expression of MDC protein, which contributes to the severity of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and rhinitis. It is, in fact, one of the markers for these conditions. Therefore, airborne fungus could be considered as an important marker for environmental risk management for allergic diseases in Korea.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.757-763
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• 2020

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of airborne fungi in public transportation from autumnl 2016 to summer 2017. Methods: This study measured the concentrations of airborne fungi on six subway lines and intercity buses in Seoul. Results: The concentration of fungi in the air in public transportation was found to be lower than the standard (500 CFU/㎥) for vulnerable group facilities among public use facities. In summer, the concentration of airborne fungi was relatively higher than in autumn. The concentrations of airborne fungi in subway (252.0 CFU/㎥) and train (45.1 CFU/㎥) were high tendency during non-rush hours in summer, while intercity bus was hightendency during rush hours in summer (111.9 CFU/㎥). The major types of airborne fungi in public transportation were Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. Conclusions: The harmful airborne fungus were detected though they did not exceed the standard in all public transportation. As a result, further studies on the analysis of the distribution of airborne fungi by ventilation and the characterization of indoor environments are needed to propose effective management of airborne fungi in public transportation.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.125-136
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• 2019

Vitis vinifera is very susceptible to downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola). A number of authors have suggested different genetic populations of this fungus exist in Europe, each showing a different degree of virulence. Work performed to date indicates this diversity to be the result of different factors. In areas where gene flow is greater and recombination more frequent, the diversity of P. viticola appears to be wider. In vineyards isolated by geographic barriers, a race may become dominant and produce clonal epidemics driven by asexual reproduction. The aim of the present work was to identify the conditions that influence the genetic diversity of P. viticola populations in the vineyards of northwestern Spain, where the climatic conditions for the growth of this fungus are very good. Vineyards situated in a closed, narrow valley of the interior, in more open valleys, and on the coast were sampled and the populations of P. viticola detected were differentiated at the molecular level through the examination of microsatellite markers. The populations of P. viticola represented in primary and secondary infections were investigated in the same way. The concentration of airborne sporangia in the vegetative cycle was also examined, as was the virulence of the different P. viticola populations detected. The epidemiological characteristics of the fungus differed depending on the degree of isolation of the vineyard, the airborne spore concentration, and on whether the attack was primary or secondary. Strong isolation was associated with the appearance of dominant fungal races and, therefore, reduced populational diversity.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.39-52
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• 1982

Nosocomial infection is important in the management of the nursing care and has been found to be related with the airborne microbes contamination. The purpose of this study is to identify the differences of the airborne microbes between hospitals, nursing units, days and times and to identify the difference in the types of microorganisms between hospitals, nursing units, days and times. This study was conducted from May 25, to July 10, 1981, according to R. Koch's methods for quantative samplings of airborne microbes and the results of this study were reviewed in a statistical method. The following conclusions were obtained: 1. There was a significant difference in the types of airborne microbes between 8 hospitals (F=5.0491, p<0.01) 2. There was a significant difference in the types of airborne microbes between surgical, medical, nursery, 1.C.U., operating theatre and outpatient nursing unit. (F=2.1764, p<0.05) 3. There was not a significant difference in the types of airborne microbes between Monday, Thursday and Saturday (F= 1.6365, p>0.05) 4. There was a significant difference in the types of airborne microbes between AM 7 : 00, AM 11：00 and PM 3 : 00. (F=7.2951, p<0.01) 5. 4061 colonies were divided into more 48 types and the classification was as follows. gram positive cocci (2024 colonies) 49.3% gram positive bacillus (1211 colonies) 29.8% gram negative bacillus (577 colonies) 14.2% fungus(200colonies) 4.9% gram negative cocci (41 colonies) 1.0% other's(8 colonies) 0.3% 6. There was a significant difference of airborne microbes between 8 hospitals. (F=7.7943, P<0.01) 7. There was not a significant difference of airborne microbes between 6 nursing units. (F= 1.8461, P>0.05) outpatient nursing unit : 12.6 colonies surgical nursing unit. 10.4 colonies Medical nursing unit : 9.8 colonies nursery nursing unit : 9.4 colonies operating theatre nursing unit：8.2 colonies Intensive care nursing unit : 7.8 colonies 8. There was not a significant difference of airborne microbes between Monday, Thursday and Saturday. (F=1.4371, p>0.05). Saturday : 11.0 colonies Monday : 9.1 colonies Thursday : 9.1 colonies 9. There was a significant difference of airborne microbes between A. M. 7 ; 00, A. M. 11 : 00 and P .M. 3：00 (F=7.6658, p<0.05) P. M. 3 : 00 : 12.2 colonies A. M. 11 : 00 : 10.0 colonies A. M. 7 : 00 : 7.1 colonies.

• 설비공학논문집
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.291-298
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of multizone simulation that enables to grasp of details about microbial contaminant problem in an multistoried apartment. We used actual indoor test data to figure up microbial contaminant level as initial value for the multizone simulation and estimated the various effects of indoor occupant infected with germs such as bacteria and fungus and the performance of air sterilization by using multizone simulation in substitute for infeasible experimental approach. The results show that natural ventilation make ourselves generally useful for removing indoor microbial contaminants. The results also show that the performance of air sterilization reach the maximum in the case of using mechanical ventilation and UVGI air sterilizer. The conclusion is that this multizone simulation is useful tool for actual design method for immune building systems.

• 환경위생공학
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• 제20권4호통권58호
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• pp.21-30
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• 2005

This research was performed to measure the concentration distribution of bioaerosol in apartment houses in the region of Chungnam (Chunan, Asan) for 1 month, December, 2004. The results are as follows. 1. By using SDA method, the average concentration of total microbe and fungus in the air inside and outside apartment house below 4 years are $69,42cfu/m^3\;and\;15.66cfu/m^3$, while apartment house over 4 years, $214.58cfu/m^3\;and\;216.43cfu/m^3$, respectively With gravitational sedimentation method, the average concentration of total microbe and fungus of apartmenthouse below 4 years are $100.63cfu/m^3\;and\;22.83cfu/m^3$, while apartment house over 4 years, $216.43cfu/m^3\;and\;70.000cfu/m^3$, respectively. 2. The I/O ratio of floating germ of apartment house below 4 years and over 4 years are 2.87 and 5.12 for total microbe, and 3.32 and 8.28 for fungus, respectively. The I/O ratio of falling germ of apartment house below 4 years and over 4 years are 1.55 and 2.81 for total microbe, and 2.85 and 4.08 for fungus, respectively. The apartment house below 4 years shows a low I/O ratio in all cases. 3. The difference in concentration of microbe between inside master bedroom and living room of apartment house below 4 years is $13.183cfu/m^3$, total microbe, and $4.787cfu/m^3$, fungus, while, apartment house over 4 years, $43.531cfu/m^3$, total microbe, and $21.932cfu/m^3$, fungus. The measured differences are statistically significant. 4. Air sampler was used to verify the difference in concentration of microbe with the age of apartment house. The difference in concentration of total microbe and fungus for outside apartment house below 4 years and over 4 years are $49.82cfu/m^3$ and $3.78cfu/m^3$, respectively. The difference of inside living room shows $160.23cfu/m^3$ for total microbe and $28.01cfu/m^3$ for fungus, and the difference of inside master bedroom shows $225.43cfu/m^3$ for total microbe and $56.73cfu/m^3$ for fungus. The differences are statistically significant. The difference in concentration of outside apartment house below 4 years and years 4 years are $34.66cfu/m^3$, total microbe, and $15.66cfu/m^3$, fungus, while inside apartment house below 4 years and over 4 years, $196.93cfu/m^3,\;and\;78.67cfu/m^3$, respectively. The measured differences are statistically significant.

• 한국환경보건학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경보건학회 2005년도 Proceedings of KSEH.Minamata Forum
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• pp.83-84
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• 2005

This research was performed to measure the concentration distribution of Bioaero sol in apartment houses in the region of Chungnam (Chunan, Asan) for 1 month, December, 2004. The results are as follows.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.282-289
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• 2022

Background: Airborne fungi are ubiquitous in the air and exposure to an airborne fungus can be a significant risk factor. The composition of fungi has been potentially important for human health, especially for respiratory diseases like asthma and atopic dermatitis. Therefore, we attempted to ascertain what kind of airborne fungi affect human health at a nationwide level. Objectives: This study was carried out to provide information on indoor fungi distribution at multi-use facilities throughout South Korea. Methods: We classified our data by region and public facility after collection, cultivation, and identification via the sequencing of the ITS (internal transcribed spacer) region. We investigated whether or not the proliferation of HaCaT cells was affected by the identified airborne fungi. Results: In our data, the most isolated airborne fungi by region were Penicillium spp (Seoul, Daegu), Periconia sp (Gyeonggi-do), Iprex sp (Gangwon-do), Phanerochaete sp (Busan), Bjerkandera sp (Gwangju), and Aspergillus sp (Jeju-do). In the public facilities, the most detected fungi were Cladosporium sp (public transport), Penicillium sp (apartment house, retail market, financial institution, karaoke room), Bjerokandera sp (underground parking lot, public toilet, medical institution), Periconia sp (retail store), and Fusarium sp (general restaurant). Next, we selected twenty airborne fungi to examine their cytotoxicity and proliferation of human skin cells. In this experiment, the proliferation of the cells was influenced by most of the identified fungi. In case of the cytotoxicity test, most genera except for Rhodotorula sp and Moesziomyces sp showed cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells. Conclusions: The distribution of mold in the indoor air in multi-use facilities in South Korea differs from region to region, and this is an indicator that should be considered in future health impact studies. In addition, as a result of culturing about 20 types of bacteria dominant in indoor air, it was found that most (90%) inhibit the growth of skin cells, which can be harmful to health. An in-depth study of the health effects of floating fungi is needed.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.25-30
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• 1982

The incidence of hospital infection has been seriously increased in the general hospital in recent years. This study was performed on hospital air and materials in a General Hospital in Seoul from June to December in 1980. The results were as follows: 1. Air sampling was done in multiple strategic areas by exposing standard petridishes for 5 minutes. There was a significant difference of airborne microbe between places. ($F._{99}$ = 3.2, p < 0.01). 2. The mean colony count was 8.6$\pm$6.2 colonies / plate / 5 minutes. 3. Gram stains of colony in air sampling were Gram (+) cocci 66.5%. Gram (+) rod 18.4%, Gram (-) cocci 1.3%, Gram (-) rod 8.7% Fungus 4.5%. 4. For the evaluation of sterilization of steam sterilizer and ethylene oxide gas sterilizer, biological monitoring were done by commercial spore strip. Positive culture was obtained in 2 out of 41 tests on 3 steam sterilizers, and in 3 out of 13 tests on ethylene oxide gas sterilizer. 5. Product sampling and culture were done for 2 kinds of disinfectants and 30 sets of various operation package or dressing materials. Positive culture was obtained in one disinfectants.