• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.227-249
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• 2016

Arsenic and its compounds vary in their toxicity according to the chemical forms. Inorganic arsenic is more toxic and known as carcinogen. The provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of $15{\mu}g/kg$ b.w./week established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has been withdrawn, while the EFSA panel suggested $BMDL_{0.1}$ $0.3{\sim}8{\mu}g/kg\;b.w./day$ for cancers of the lung, skin and bladder, as well as skin lesions. Rice, seaweed and beverages are known as food being rich in inorganic arsenic. As(III) is the major form of inorganic arsenic in rice and anaerobic paddy soils, while most of inorganic arsenic in seaweed is present as As(V). The inorganic arsenic in food was extracted with solvent such as distilled water, methanol, nitric acid and so on in heat-assisted condition or at room temperature. Arsenic speciation analysis was based on ion-exchange chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. However, there has been no harmonized and standardized method for inorganic arsenic analysis internationally. The inorganic arsenic exposure from food has been estimated to range of $0.13{\sim}0.7{\mu}g/kg$ bw/day for European, American and Australian, and $0.22{\sim}5{\mu}g/kg$ bw/day for Asian. The maximum level (ML) for inorganic arsenic in food has established by EU, China, Australia and New Zealand, but are under review in Korea. Until now, several studies have conducted for reduction of inorganic arsenic in food. Inorganic arsenic levels in rice and seaweed were reduced by more polishing and washing, boiling and washing, respectively. Further research for international harmonization of analytical method, monitoring and risk assessment will be needed to strengthen safety management of inorganic arsenic of foods in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2006

Since the usage of tributyltin(TBT) has been banned, many chemicals including Sea-Nine 211, Cu-pyrithione, and Zn-pyrithione were developed to use as antifouling agents for ships and coastal structures. However, the toxicity of these antifouling chemicals have not been systematically evaluated in ecotoxicological and biological studies. In this study, we investigated the effect of four antifouling substances on survival of estuarine rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli and amphipod, Monocorophium acherusicum. Survival of S. schlegeli and M. acherusicum during the 96-h exposure period were used to estimate the median lethal concentrations(LC50s) of test chemicals for each test species. Among antifouling agents, Cu-pyrithione($56{\mu}g{\cdot}1^{-1}$;96-h LC50) was most toxic to S. schlegeli, followed by $TBT(73{\mu}g{\cdot}1^{-1}),\;Sea-Nine(184{\mu}g{\cdot}1^{-1})\;and\;Zn-pyrithione(l707{\mu}g{\cdot}1^{-1})$, while TBT($26{\mu}g{\cdot}1^{-1}$) was most toxic to M. acherusicum followed by Sea-Nine($49{\mu}g{\cdot}1^{-1}$), Cu-pyrithione($119{\mu}g{\cdot}1^{-1}$) and Zn-pyrithione($334{\mu}g{\cdot}1^{-1}$). Effect concentrations of the antifouling chemicals estimated in this study can be used when assessing the potential risks of these substances, of which usage is increasing in the coastal environment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.316-322
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Pesticides concentration was monitored in 50 agricultural lakes, and ecological risk for aquatic organism was assessed using risk quotient (RQ) and probabilistic methods. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pesticides concentrations detected in 50 agricultural lakes during peak season (June and September) were in the range of $0.17{\sim}0.99{\mu}g/L$. The RQ for algae and the other species was estimated to be 0.25 and below 0.01, indicating medium risk and no risk. Oxadiazon predominantly contributed to RQ value of 99% for algae, fishes, and amphibians. In terms of hazardous concentration at 5% of species ($HC_5$), ecological risk quotients (ERQ) for oxadiazon ranged from 0.18~0.33, showing a medium risk level. Overall, the concentrations of pesticides were much lower than $HC_5$), value. Probability of combined ecological risk for pesticides ranged from 1.82% to 2.41%. CONCLUSION(s): Combined ecological risk probability did not exceed the acceptable level of 5%, indicating no ecological risk for selected aquatic species. This study suggests that regular ecological risk assessment (ERA) will be required to protect and manage an agricultural lake. Not only ERA at screening level by comparing exposure with toxic effects for aquatic species also advanced ERA technique considering species in indigenous to Korea, chronic toxicity, pulse dose, fate, and environmental factors should be required.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.440-456
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• 2019

The controversy of the risk perception related to particulate matters becomes significant. Therefore, in order to understand the nature of the particulate matters, we gathered articles and comments in on-line community related to bicycling which is affected by exposure of the particulate matters. As a result, firstly, the government - led particulate matter policy was strengthened and segmented every period, butthe risk perception related to particulate matters in the bicycle community has become active and serious. Second, as a result of analyzing the perception change of outdoor activities related to particulate matters, bicycle users in community showed a tendency of outdoor activity depending on the degree of particulate matters ratherthan the weather. In addition, the level of the risk perception related to particulate matters has been moved from fears of serious threat in daily life and health, combined with the disregard of domestic particulate matter levels or mask performance. Ultimately, these risk perception related to particulate matters have led some of the bicycling that were mainly enjoyed outdoors to the indoor space. However, in comparison with outdoor bicycling enjoyed by various factors such as scenery, people, and weather, the monotonous indoor bicycling was converted into another type of indoor exercise such as fitness and yoga. In summary, it was derived from mistrust of excessive information or policy provided by the government or local governments. It is considered that environmental policy should be implemented after discussion of risk communication that can reduce the gap between public anxiety and concern so as to cope with the risk perception related to particulate matters. Therefore,this study should be provided as an academic basis for the effective communication direction when decision makers establish the policy related to particulate matters.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.518-527
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to define the toxic effects of diuron and irgarol, which are new-antifouling agents, on the fertilization rate and normal embryogenesis rate in the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. In addition, the study was intended to confirm the hindrance of development in sea urchins. The fertilization rate of H. pulcherrimus was not decreased by the tested concentrations. However, the normal embryogenesis rate was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The 50% effective concentrations (EC₅₀) of normal embryogenesis rate were 7.12 mg L^-1 and 2.31 mg L^-1, respectively. As the embryos developed into pluteus larvae, after 18 h of exposure to diuron and irgarol at EC₅₀, development of the early gastrula stage was delayed, and significant developmental delays were observed after 24 h. After this, continuous developmental delays were observed in the process leading to the early gastrular, gastrular, early pluteus, and pluteus stages. Therefore, the toxic effects of diuron and irgarol on sea urchins were attributed to the delay in the developmental processes in the early life stages. Diuron and irgarol are highly persistent in the environment and have known-well toxic effects on various marine organisms including invertebrates, as shown in this study. Therefore, it is urgent to establish an environmental protection strategy to prevent the pollution of and preserve the marine environment.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.727-736
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• 2022

Ice wedges are subsurface ice mass structures that formed mainly by freezing precipitation with airborne dust and surrounding soil particles flowed through the active layer into the cracks growing by repeating thermal contractions in the deeper permafrost layer over time. These ice masses characteristically contain high concentrations of solutes and solids. Because of their unique properties and distribution, the possibility of harnessing ice wedges as an alternative archive for reconstructing paleoclimate and paleoenvironment has been recently suggested despite limited studies. It is imperative to preserve the physicochemical properties of the ice wedge (e.g., solute concentration, mineral particles) without any potential alteration to use it as a proxy for reconstructing the paleo-information. Thawing the ice wedge samples is prerequisite for the assessment of their physicochemical properties, during which the paleo-information could be unintentionally altered by any methodological artifact. This study examined the effect of thawing conditions and procedures on the physicochemical properties of solutes and solid particles in ice wedge samples collected from Cyuie, East Siberia. Four different thawing conditions with varying temperatures (4 and 23℃) and oxygen exposures (oxic and anoxic) for the ice wedge sample treatment were examined. Ice wedge samples thawed at 4℃ under anoxic conditions, wherein biological activity and oxidation were kept to a minimum, were set as the standard thawing conditions to which the effects of temperature and oxygen were compared. The results indicate that temperature and oxygen exposure have negligible effects on the physicochemical characteristics of the solid particles. However, the chemical features of the solution (e.g., pH, electric conductivity, alkalinity, and concentration of major cations and trace elements) at 4℃ under oxic conditions were considerably altered, compared to those measured under the standard thawing conditions. This study shows that the thawing condition of ice wedge samples can affect their chemical features and thereby the geochemical information therein for the reconstruction of the paleoclimate and/or paleoenvironment.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.373-379
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• 2002

This paper was the design of aerosol generator for inhalation toxicology study of lead and evaluation with real time monitoring, and applied several engineering methodology to classical aerosol generator to cope with it's disadvantages. According to the testing conditions, source temperature 50℃ and inlet-duct band heater temperature 150℃, aerosol generation results for sodium chloride and lead acetate were as followings: CPM(Count Per Minute) for Sodium chloride that used for the testing material in aerosol generation and inhalation system was decreased in the 2nd and the 3rd hour's serial trials, but CVs(coefficient of variation) were maintained within 10%. CPMs for 5 and 2.5 gram of lead acetate that used for aerosol generation and inhalation exposure of lead showed similar results because of the sedimentation of lead acetate on piezoelectric crystal with time. For that reason, heating and mixing of nebulizing solution will be needed to generate lead aerosol with stable profile and maximum generation efficiency. Fluctuations of 10 and 5 gram lead acetate were low but 2.5gram was high. However, CVs for 10, 5, and 2.5gram lead acetate were within 10%. Considering the theoretical efficiencies for sodium chloride and lead acetate, 5gram sodium chloride and 2.5gram lead acetate were appropriate choice. Aerosol generation characteristics for two materials with 1 hour interval were different with respect to the fluctuation of CPM and the decrease to 10gram in it's material. For that reason, sodium chloride can not be used to estimate the aerosol generation and it's related parts for lead acetate. According to the testing conditions, source temperature 20, 50, 70℃, and inlet-duct band heater temperature 20, 50, 100, 150, 200℃, aerosol generation results for sodium chloride and lead acetate were as followings: Excluding inlet-duct band temperature 200℃, maximum CPM for sodium chloride was manifested in source temperature 70℃ with each inlet-duct band temperature conditions. We suggest that this condition was the optimum in the design of aerosol generator, inhalation system, and the testing. Maximum CPMs for 10, 5, and 2.5gram sodium chloride were from source temperature 70℃ and inlet-duct band temperature 20℃. Excluding inlet-duct band temperature 50, 200℃, maximum CPMs for lead acetate were indicated in source temperature 50℃ with each inlet-duct band temperature conditions. We suggest that this condition was the optimum in the design of aerosol generator, inhalation system, and the testing for lead inhalation study. Source and inlet-duct band temperatures for 10, 5, 2.5gram lead acetate were 50 and 100℃, 50 and 100℃, 50 and 150℃, respectively. In conclusion, considering above 2 paragraphs of results for aerosol generation, 5gram efficiencies for sodium chloride, lead acetate were higher than 2.5gram's. If inlet-duct band temperature was same, aerosol generation was increased with increase of source temperature. To get maximum aerosol generation will be the conditions that set the appropriate inlet-duel band temperature for each materials and increase the source temperature.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.1 s.56
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• pp.77-101
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• 1997

In September 1994, residents of Gozan-dong, Incheon City, made a petition to the government about their health problems which might be caused by previous glass fibre landfill nearby 'H' company. In february 1995, at regular academic meeting of occupational and environmental medicine, a research team of 'D' University presented that they had found glass fibres in groundwater of the area through their survey. They were suspicious of probable association between ingestion of groundwater contaminated with glass fibres and skin tumors among residents. A joint research team was formed and carried out the survey of environment concerning groundwater and its glass fibre existence, and health assessment of residents in the area and industrial workers of 'H' company during May to November, 1995. Analysis of groundwater flow system indicates that the flow lines from the glass fibre landfill pass through or terminate at the 6 houses around the landfill. This means that the groundwater of the 6 houses around the glass fibre landfill could be affected by some possible contaminants from the landfill, but the groundwater quality of the other houses was irrelevant to the landfill. The qualitative and qualitative analyses for glass fibres in 54 groundwater samples including those from the nearby 6 houses, were carried out using SEM equipped with EDS, resulting in no evidence for the presence of glass fibres in the waters. Major precipitates, formed in waters while boiling, were identified as calcium carbonates, in particulary, aragonites in needle form. The results of health assessments of 889 residents in Gozan-dong, participated in this study, showed statistically significant differences in past medical histories of skin tumor and respiratory disease between the exposed group (31 persons who inhabited in 6 houses around the landfill) and the control group, but no significant differences in past medical histories of other diseases, such as cancer mortality, current gastroscopic findings, current skin diseases and respiratory diseases, etc. Also, we could not prove any glass fibres in excised specimens of 9 skin tumors in both groups and there were no health problems possibly associated with glass fibres in employees of the 'H' company. After all, we could not authenticate the association, raised by prior investigators, between groundwater streams, assumedly contaminated with glass fibres or not, and specific disease morbidities or common disease/symptom prevalences. That is, we could not find any glass fibres in groundwater as the only exposure factor of this study hypothesis, and there were not enough certain evidences such as increasing disease prevalences, for examples, skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases etc, possibly related to glass fibre exposure, in exposed group. As a matter of course, the conditions for confirming causal association, for example, strength of the association, consistency of the association, specificity of the association, temporality of the association and dose-response relationship etc, have not been satisfied. In conclusion, we were not able to certify the hypothesis that contamination of groundwater with glass fibres might cause any hazardous health effects in residents who used it for drinking.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.1 s.60
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• pp.91-103
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• 1998

Under experimental conditions, UVB radiation, a type of ultra violet radiation, has shown to .elate with the occurrence of skin erythema (sun-burn) in human and skin cancer in experimental animal. Cumulative exposure to UVB is also believed to be at least partly responsible for the 'aging' process of the skin in human. It has also been observed to have an effect of altering DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). UVB radiation is both an initiator and a promoter of non-melanoma skin cancer. Meta-analysis is a new discipline that critically reviews and statistically combines the results of previous researches. A recent review of meta-analysis in the field of public health emphasized its growing importance. Using a meta-analysis in this study, we explored more reliable dose-response relationships between UVB radiation and skin cancer incidence. We estimated skin cancer incidence using measured UVB radiation dose at a local area of Seoul (Shin chou-dong). The studies showing the dose-response relationships between UVB radiation and non-melanoma skin cancer incidence were searched and selected for a meta-analysis. The data for 7 reported epidemiological studies of three counties (USA, England, Australia) were pooled to estimated the risk. We estimated rate of incidence change of skin cancer using pooled data by meta-analysis method, and exponential and power models. Using either model, the regression coefficients for UVB did not differ significantly by gender and age. In each analysis of variance, non-melanoma skin cancer incidence after removing the gender and age and UVB effects was significant (p>0.01). The coefficients for UVB dose were estimated $2.07\times10^{-6}$ by the exponential model and 2.49 by the power model. At a local area of Seoul (Shinchon-Dong), BAF value were estimated 1.90 and 2.51 by the exponential and power model, respectively. The estimated BAP value were increased statistical power than that of primary studies that using a meta-analysis method.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.280-287
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• 2003

To assess the risk of pesticides on earthworm, the acute toxicities of 10 pesticides were investigated and their toxicity exposure ratios(TERs) were calculated. As the TERs of paraquat dichloride and pendimethalin were more than 100, their risks were rated negligible. Risk of benfuracarb, cadusafos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, endosulfan, isazofos and parathion which have TERs of $10\sim100$ were rated low. However, risk of imidacloprid and phorate which have TER of less than 10 were estimated highly to need a reproduction study. Earthworms were exposed to twenty two pesticides including dazomet 98% GR having PECs of more than $5mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ in artificial soil at standard and double dose for 14 days. All the earthworms exposed to dazomet 98% GR and metam-sodium 25% SL were died to show their high risk, while no serious adverse effects were observed in the soil treated with 15 pesticides, calcite 95% WP, calcium polysulfide 36% CF, chlorothalonil 75% WP, daminozide 85% WP, dichlonil 6.7% GR, etridiazole 25% EC, fosetyl-Al 80% WP, glyphosate 41 % SL, hymexazol 30% SL, iprodione 50% WP, machine oil 95% EC, mancozeb 75% WP, propineb 70% WP, terbuthylazine 80% WP and triazophos 40% EC. In case of thiophanate-methyl 70% WP, copper hydroxide 77% WP, dimethoate 46% EC, tolclofos-methyl 50% WP and propamocarb hydrochloride 67% SL, any effect did not show clearly, suggesting an additional subchronic toxicity study. The risk of thiophanate-methyl 70% WP to earthworm was estimated high, considering its subchronic effect, while effects of copper hydroxide 77% WP, dimethoate 46% EC, tolclofos-methyl 50% WP and propamocarb hydrochloride 67% SL to earthworms were negligible, considering no adverse effects in subchronic tests.