• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2020

This study investigated the migration levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) from food contact articles (glassware, ceramics, enamelware, and earthenware) into a food stimulant (4% v/v, acetic acid). Migration tests were performed at 25℃ for 24 h and all analyses were performed using Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The method was validated by linearity of calibration curves, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), recovery, precision, and uncertainty. In glassware, the migration concentrations ranged from not-detected (N.D.) to 752.21 ㎍/L and N.D. to 1.99 ㎍/L for Pb and Cd, respectively. In ceramics, the migration concentrations ranged from N.D. to 1,955.86 ㎍/L, N.D. to 74.06 ㎍/L, and N.D. to 302.40 ㎍/L for Pb, Cd, and As, respectively. In enamelware, the migration concentrations ranged from N.D. to 4.48 ㎍/L, N.D. to 7.00 ㎍/L, and N.D. to 52.00 ㎍/L for Pb, Cd, and Sb, respectively. In earthenware, the migration concentrations ranged from N.D. to 13.68 ㎍/L, N.D. to 0.04 ㎍/L, and N.D. to 6.71 ㎍/L for Pb, Cd, and As, respectively. All results were below the migration limits of Korea standards and specifications for food utensils, containers, and packages.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.675-687
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• 2019

Objective: Methyl bromide (MB) fumigant has been shown to be fatal to human when was exposed. However, it were still used the significant amount in quarantine disinfection sites. The purposes of this study were to assess the MB exposure status and characteristics by fumigation-related workers and to provide supporting data for management plan. Methods: For this study, the three groups related to fumigation work were composed. A total of 107 workers were directly exposed, 20 field inspectors were indirect, and 20 general quarantines were not exposed. The urinary bromide ion concentrations in each group were analyzed by using HPLC/ICP-MS, and the working characteristics were identified using the structured questionnaire. Results: The urinary bromide ion concentration in the exposed group of fumigation workers was higher than the indirect and non-exposed groups. In the work characteristics of workers, there was a significant tendency to increase urinary bromide ion concentrations with higher fumigation work years (≤4 years: 2.84 (1.13-7.11) mg/g cr, >4-15 years: 5.36 (4.37-6.57) mg/g cr, >15-37 years: 6.69 (5.27-8.49) mg/g cr, p=0.034). In the comparison of the average number of working days per month, the more working days, the higher the urinary bromide ion concentration was statistically significant (≤12.5 days: 2.59 (1.19-5.65) mg/g cr, >12.5-19.25 days: 5.46 (4.62-6.44) mg/g cr, >19.25-27.25 days: 7.93 (5.93-10.59) mg/g cr, p=0.002). Conclusion: This study was the first nationwide survey including biological monitoring in workers exposed to methyl bromide. The results of this study were expected to be used as a reference for workers' health rights in relation to fumigation, prevention of addiction accidents, and safe management plan.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2003

The objective of this study is to investigate the physical and chemical properties for environmental assessment of water system affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) from coal mining activities in the Youngwol, Jungseon and Pyungchang areas in Korea. During November 2000 to July 2002, 6 times of water samples were collected season-ally from acid mine drainage and nearby streams at 13 coal mines in the study area. The physical and chemical properties including pH, Eh, TDS, salinity, bicarbonates and DO were measured in the field. Eighteen cations includ-ing Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn, and 6 anions including nitrates and sulfates were also analyzed by ICP-AES and If, respectively. Acid water from the Jungam coal mine has typical characteristics of AMD with very low pH(3∼4) and high TDS(1,000∼5,000 mg/1). Relatively high concentrations(mg/kg) of heavy meals, especially for Al(380), Fe(80), Mn(44) and Zn(8), were found in water samples from the Jungam coal mine area. Water samples from the Seojin, Sebang and Sungjin coal mines also contained over 50 mg/l of Al, >100 mg/1 of Fe and )10 mg/1 of Mn. In addition to anioins, over 1,000 mg/l of sulfate was found in several water samples. Seasonally, the concentrations of metals and sulfates varied; wet season samples were relatively higher in metals and sulfates than dry season samples. It is needed to establish the proper remediation and environmental monitoring of the AMD continuously.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.485-491
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• 2010

A certified reference material (CRM) of KRISS 109-03-SSD was developed for the analysis of hazardous elements in soil. The target elements were As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn being regulated by the Soil Environment Conservation Act. Starting material was collected from tailing dump of an unworked tungsten mine at Sangdong (Gangwon-do, Korea). The starting material under-went through a series of fabricating process steps of screening, drying, grinding, sieving, blending, bottling, sterilization and was certified according to the ISO Guide 35. Isotope dilution-inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ID-ICP/MS) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) were used for the measurement. Homogeneity was tested according to ISO 13528 annex B. The certified values were determined using the results from two different methods or from two independent measurements using a method. Finally, certified values of seven elements of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc were determined. Mercury did not satisfied the criteria of homogeneity and the result would be provided for information only, together with iron and tungsten. It was also studied, the extractable fraction of elements by aqua regia according to the ISO 11466 protocol being frequently studied for the purpose of environmental monitoring. It was performed as a inter-laboratory study by 6 laboratories of a public institute and universities. Standard deviation among the laboratories was much bigger than the uncertainty of the certified value. The result of inter-laboratory study on the extractable fraction will be provided for information, only.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2012

This research was carried out as a survey on the contents of lead, cadmium, and arsenic in processed foods (milk, vegetable oil, and margarine) in Korea. The limits of quantification (LOQs) were Pb 0.3 ${\mu}g/kg$, Cd 0.15 ${\mu}g/kg$, and As 0.45 ${\mu}g/kg$ for milk and Pb 0.61 ${\mu}g/kg$, Cd 0.31 ${\mu}g/kg$, and As 0.91 ${\mu}g/kg$ for vegetable oil and margarine. The recoveries were 92.6-98.0% for Pb, 91.2-98.9% for Cd, and 97.9-104.7% for As. The average levels of Pb were 2.395 ${\mu}g/kg$ for milk, and 7.656 ${\mu}g/kg$ for vegetable oil. The average levels of Cd were 0.483 ${\mu}g/kg$ for milk, and 0.380 ${\mu}g/kg$ for vegetable oil, and levels of As were 0.781 ${\mu}g/kg$ for milk, and 1.241 ${\mu}g/kg$ for vegetable oil. The results of this study showed that Pb, Cd, and As contents in the whole samples were less than the maximum residual levels in the processed foods that were specified by the Codex standard.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.394-399
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• 2022

This study was conducted to estimate hazardous heavy metal content, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) in 120 collagen products currently marketed in Korea. Hg concentration was analyzed by a gold amalgamation method using a mercury analyzer, while concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As were analyzed by ICP-OES. The average Pb concentration was 0.097 mg/kg. For comparison, respective average concentrations were 0.108 mg/kg, 0.084 mg/kg, 0.131 mg/kg, and 0.149 mg/kg in functional health foods, other processed products, beverages, and fruit/vegetable processed products. The average concentration of Cd was 0.026 mg/kg. All products in which Cd was detected were functional health foods. The average concentration of As was 0.097 mg/kg, with respective average concentrations of 0.091 mg/kg, 0.133 mg/kg, and 0.086 mg/kg in functional health foods, other processed products, and fruit/vegetable processed products. The average Hg concentration was 0.0025 mg/kg, with respective average concentrations of 0.0012 mg/kg, 0.0028 mg/kg, 0.0013 mg/kg, and 0.0031 mg/kg in functional health foods, other processed products, fruit/vegetable processed products, and candies respectively. Heavy metal levels in beverages and candy products with set heavy metal standards were below the set standards. Even products without regulatory standards were found to be relatively safe compared with heavy metal standards set for domestic and foreign foods.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2022

Heavy metals can be intentionally or unintentionally introduced into plastic food utensils, containers, and packaging (PFUCP) as additives or contaminants, which can be ingested with food by humans. Here, seven-heavy metals (lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, antimony, copper, and manganese) with toxicity concerns were selected, and risk assessment was done by establishing their migration from 137 PFUCP products made of 16 materials distributed in Korea. Migration of heavy metals was examined by applying 4% acetic acid as a food simulant (70℃, 30 minutes) to the PFUCP products. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed for the analysis of migrated heavy metals, and the reliability of quantitative results was confirmed by checking linearity, LOD, LOQ, recovery, precision, and expanded uncertainty. As a result of monitoring, heavy metals were detected at a level of non-detection to 8.76 ± 11.87 ㎍/L and most of the heavy metals investigated were only detected at trace amounts of less than 1 ㎍/L on average. However, antimony migrated from PET products was significantly higher than other groups. Risk assessment revealed that all the heavy metals investigated were safe with a margin of exposure above 311. Collectively, we demonstrated that heavy metals migrated from PFUCP products distributed in Korea appear to be within the safe range.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.223-238
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• 2015

The $PM_{2.1}$ was collected by LVCI (low volume cascade impactor) during Group-A Period (September 1990 to December 2012) and the $PM_{2.5}$ was collected by HVAS (high volume air sampler) during Group-B Period (September 2009 to April 2012) at Kyung Hee University, Global Campus located on the boarder of Yongin and Suwon. The 8 water-soluble ions ($Na^+$, $NH_4{^+}$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, $ NO_3{^-}$, and $SO_4{^{2-}}$) were analyzed by IC, and the 14 inorganic elements (Al, Mn, Si, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, V, Cd, Ba, Zn, Ti, Ag) were analyzed by XRF and ICP-AES after performing proper pre-treatments of each sample filter. The average total mass fractions of $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$+ to $PM_{2.5}$ samples during Group-B Period were 0.39 in normal days, 0.44 in haze days, and 0.27 in Asian dust days, respectively; however, the average total mass fractions of Al, Fe, and Si to $PM_{2.5}$ mass were 0.043 in normal days, 0.021 in haze days, and 0.036 in Asian dust days, respectively. Especially the concentration of Pb was significantly decreased during Group-B Period rather than during Group-A Period, while Cr and Ni was increased during Group-B Period. In this study, we intensively compared the annual and seasonal patterns of major chemical species among normal days, haze days, and Asian dust days. Further we developed mass fraction profiles by collecting episode cases of haze days and Asian dust days, which were consisting of 22 chemical species. Those profiles are considered to be useful when applying various receptor models and establishing air quality management plans near future.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2016

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to survey the levels of heavy metals in perennial root vegetables and to assess dietary exposure and risk to the Korean population health.METHODS AND RESULTS: Perennial root vegetables (n=214) including Panax ginseng C.A mayer, Woodcultivated ginseng, Codonopsis lanceolata, and Platycodon granditloum were collected from markets or harvested from farmhouse in Korea. Lead(Pb), cadmium(Cd) and arsenic (As) analysis were performed with microwave device and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Limit of detection for heavy metals were 0.010~0.050 μg/kg, while limit of quantitation were 0.035~0.175 μg/kg. The recovery results were in the range of 76~102%. The average contents of heavy metals in perennial root vegetables were in the range of Pb 0.013(Panax ginseng C.A Mayer)~0.070 (Wood-cultivated ginseng) mg/kg, Cd 0.009(Panax ginseng C.A Mayer)~0.034(Codonopsis lanceolata) mg/kg, and As 0.002(Panax ginseng C.A Mayer)~0.004(Plafycodon grandiflorum) mg/kg, respectively. For risk assessment, daily intakes of heave metals were estimated and risk indices were calculated in comparison with reference dose. The dietary exposures of heavy metals through usual intake were Pb 0.070 μg/day, Cd 0.041 μg/day and As 0.008 μg/day, taking 0.03%, 0.08% and 0.0003% as risk indices, respectively.CONCLUSION: The risk level for Korean population exposed to heavy metals through intake of perennial root vegetables was far low, indicating of little possibility of concern.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2012

The human exposure of lead has usually detected the amount of lead in the whole blood, however, this method has a shortcoming to give the information on the short-term exposure to lead. In that sense, it is desirable to estimates the level of lead in plasma to draw the chronic bio-marker of lead exposure even though it is difficult to measure lead of several ng/L. An inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method was developed for determining lead in plasma as the chronic bio-marker of lead of workers. To minimize the contamination of lead from the environment, we constructed class 1,000 clean room and compared the amount of floating dust before and after the operation of the clean room. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of lead in fetal bovine serum were 4.3 ng/L and 12.2 ng/L by NIOSH method (statistical calculation method) and 7.0 ng/L and 22.1 ng/L by signal/noise ratio, respectively. The accuracy was in a range of 92.3-101.3%, and the precision of the assay was less than 4% in the samples spiked in the concentration of 20 ng/L and 2,000 ng/L. The method was simple, reproducible and sensitive enough to permit reliable analysis of lead to the ng/L level in plasma and/or serum. The method was also useful for the biological monitoring of chronic exposure to lead.