• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.57-64
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• 2011

Objectives: Although phthalates like dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) are commonly used as plasticizers and their metabolites are especially suspected of reproductive toxicity, little is known about occupational exposure to those phthalates. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of measuring the metabolite concentrations of DBP and DEHP in serum and urine samples as an indicator of occupational exposure to those phthalates. Methods: Phthalate metabolites were analyzed by using column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results: We detected phthalate metabolites in serum and urine matrices at approximately 10-fold lower than the limit of detection of those metabolites in the same matrix by LC-MS/MS without column switching, which was sufficient to evaluate concentrations of phthalate metabolites for industrial workers and the general population. Conclusion: The accuracy and precision of the analytical method indicate that urinary metabolite determination can be a more acceptable biomarker for studying phthalate exposure and adverse health outcomes.

• Advances in environmental research
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.79-94
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• 2016

In order to evaluate the contamination and health risk, levels of six hazardous elements i.e., Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd and Pb in soils of 12 different land-uses were measured. The average concentration of Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, As and Cd in soils were 267, 239, 206, 195, 58 and 16 mg/kg, respectively. Levels of each metal exceeded the environmental action level for soils, which could pose significant risk to human. The metal concentrations were subsequently used to establish hazard indices (for adults and children) where the 5th and 95th percentile values were used to derive the hazard index through different exposure pathways (ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation). Considering the total exposure through each of the three pathways, the hazard index elucidates that there was a potency of non-cancer risk at most of the sites for both the adults and children. The findings of this study suggested that different land-use soils were severely contaminated with hazardous elements and attention is needed on the potential health risks to the exposed inhabitants.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.329-336
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• 2017

A review study was conducted to examine the adverse effects of styrene, styrene mixtures, or styrene and/or styrene mixtures and noise on the auditory system in humans employed in occupational settings. The search included peer-reviewed articles published in English language involving human volunteers spanning a 25-year period (1990-2015). Studies included peer review journals, caseecontrol studies, and case reports. Animal studies were excluded. An initial search identified 40 studies. After screening for inclusion, 13 studies were retrieved for full journal detail examination and review. As a whole, the results range from no to mild associations between styrene exposure and auditory dysfunction, noting relatively small sample sizes. However, four studies investigating styrene with other organic solvent mixtures and noise suggested combined exposures to both styrene organic solvent mixtures may be more ototoxic than exposure to noise alone. There is little literature examining the effect of styrene on auditory functioning in humans. Nonetheless, findings suggest public health professionals and policy makers should be made aware of the future research needs pertaining to hearing impairment and ototoxicity from styrene. It is recommended that chronic styrene-exposed individuals be routinely evaluated with a comprehensive audiological test battery to detect early signs of auditory dysfunction.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.270-277
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• 2023

Exposure to ionizing radiation induces free radicals in human nails. These free radicals generate a radiation-induced signal (RIS) in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Compared with the RIS of tooth enamel samples, that in human nails is more affected by moisture and heat, but has the advantages of being sensitive to radiation and easy to collect. The fingernail as a biological sample is applicable in retrospective dosimetry in cases of localized hand exposure accidents. In this study, the dosimetric characteristics of fingernails were analyzed in fingernail clippings collected from Korean donors. The dose response, fading of radiation-induced and mechanically induced signals, treatment method for evaluation of background signal, minimum detectable dose, and minimum detectable mass were investigated to propose a fingernail-EPR dosimetry protocol. In addition, to validate the practicality of the protocol, blind and field experiments were performed in the laboratory and a non-destructive testing facility. The relative biases in the dose assessment result of the blind and field experiments were 8.43% and 21.68% on average between the reference and reconstructed doses. The results of this study suggest that fingernail-EPR dosimetry can be a useful method for the application of retrospective dosimetry in cases of radiological accidents.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.14-22
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• 2024

This study established risk-based fluoride soil contamination standards according to the Korean Soil Contaminant Risk Assessment Guidelines (SRAG). Ten exposure scenarios were evaluated, broadly categorized into Scenario 1, which used the default parameters from the current SRAG, and Scenario 2, which used the latest exposure factors and bio-concentration factors. Fluoride soil standards corresponding to a total hazard index (HI) of 1.0 were determined for each scenario. For children in agricultural areas, the derived risk-based soil fluoride standard was 70 mg/kg for Scenario 1 and 27 mg/kg for Scenario 2. In industrial areas, the risk-based fluoride soil standard was 2200 mg/kg in Scenario 1 and 2300 mg/kg in Scenario 2. This study clearly demonstrated that the crop ingestion exposure pathway exerted predominent influence on the estimated human health risk standards. Additionally, using the Added Risk Approach and considering soil background concentrations, the total fluoride soil standards for residential areas ranged from 232 mg/kg to 444 mg/kg, while the standards for industrial areas ranged from 2405 mg/kg to 2674 mg/kg.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.500-502
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• 2002

In vitro and in vivo studies have reported the induction of matrix metaloproteinase (MMP)-1 in the fibroblasts by ultraviolet (UV) A irradiation. We constructed the skin equivalent model using HaCaT cells as keratinocytes and human neonatal dennal fibroblasts as fibroblasts in the present study. The induction of MMP-l in the fibroblasts was confirmed immunohistochemically 6 hours after UVA irradiation using this model. This model was simply composed of human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. To our knowledge, there have been a few papers concerning the skin equivalent model in the field of photobiology. The effect of UVA exposure to fibroblasts through keratinocytes was examined using this model. The cross-talk can be examined between keratinocytes and fibroblasts. This model can be a useful tool in the field of photobiology.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.450-459
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• 2015

In this paper, the safety distances and maximum permissible power (MPP) of resonant wireless power transfer systems are defined and derived with regard to human exposure to electromagnetic field (EMF). The definition is based on the calculated induced current density and electric field in the standard human model located between the transmitting and receiving coil. In order to avoid the adverse health effects such as stimulation of nerve tissues, the induced current and electric field must not exceed the basic restriction values specified in EMF safety guidelines. The different combinations of diameters of the coils and the distance between the two coils are investigated and their effects are analyzed. Two versions of EMF safety guidelines (ICNIRP 1998 and ICNIRP 2010) are used as bases for safety distance calculation and the difference between the two guidelines are discussed.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1995년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.124-124
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• 1995

Cisplatinum is often effective in cancer treatment, but potent nephrotoxicity limits its clinical use. We have, therefore, developed new anticancer drugs that contain platinum. We have synthesized six new platinum compounds based on Figure 1. Drugs were initially administrated at 5${\times}$10$\^$-4/M with 48 hours exposure in monolayer cultures of primary rabbit proximal tubular cells and human renal cortical cells with the M.T.T. endpoint to measure toxicity. Drug concentrations of 10$\^$-3/M, 10$\^$-4/M, and 10$\^$-5/M with 72 hours exposure were used for human renal cortical tissues in 7 weeks histoculture with toxicity measured by the glucose-consumption endpoint. From these studies, we determined that the new platinum drugs have lower nephrotoxicity than cisplatinum. Drugs D, E, and H. have lower nephrotoxicity than the other new drugs. We are currently measuring the anticancer efficacy of drugs D, E, and H.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.95-103
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• 2012

Asbestos exposure has been known to contribute to several lung diseases named asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, but the disease-related molecular and cellular mechanisms are still largely unknown. To examine the effects of asbestos exposure in human bronchial epithelial cells at gene level, the global gene expression profile was analyzed following chrysotile treatment. The microarray results revealed differential gene expression in response to chrysotile treatment. The genes up- and down-regulated by chrysotile were mainly involved in processes including metabolism, signal transduction, transport, development, transcription, immune response, and other functions. The differential gene expression profiles could provide clues that might be used to understand the pathological mechanisms and therapeutic targets involved in chrysotile-related diseases.

• 대한가정학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.85-101
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• 1985

1. Nitrate and nitrite may contribute via nitrosation to the human exposure to N-nitroso compounds, especially nitrosamines, which are suspectd to be human carcinogens. 2. Since certain foods contain traces of nitrosamines, one should take the several points into consideration in evaluating the risk. 3. Nitrites, which can appear in the because of natural occurrence or deliberate addition, can react under the acidic conditions of the normal stomach with secondary amines to form nitrosamine. 4. Among the foods esamined, nitrate-nitrite treated meat products cooked bacon, and salted and dried fish are the main contributors of nitrosamines in our diet. 5. Consequently, in order to minimize human exposure to these chemicals, it is obviously essential to develop the alternative sources of nitrite in cured meat products. Thus the emphasis should be placed upon the most effective use of nitrite in curing with the use of acceptable inhibitors of nitrosation such as ascorbc acid or $\alpha$-tocopherol.