• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.587-601
• /
• 1997

This study had three purposes: (1) to investigate the enrichment levels and dispersion patterns of potentially toxic elements in the rock-soil-plant system; (2) to evaluate the uptake ratios of heavy metals from soils into plants and (3) to assess the chemical speciation of heavy metals in soils. Rock, surface soil and plant samples were collected in the Boeun area underlain by black shales of the Okchon Zone. These samples were analyzed for multi-elements using INAA, ICP-AES and AAS. The maximum abundance of U in black shales is 16 mg/kg and radioactivity counts up to 300 cpm. In particular, Mo, V, Ba, Cd, Pb and U are enriched in black shales. Most of soils derived from black shales show high concentrations of U, As, Mo, Ba, Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn and mean concentrations of As and Mo in soils (20 mg/kg of As and 6.6 mg/kg of Mo) are higher than the permissible level suggested by Kloke (1979). Enrichment index values of soils are calculated and higher than 1.0 in the black shale area with the highest value of 6.4. Mean concentration of Cd in plants is higher than those of Cu, Pb and Zn. The concentration of Cd in plant species decreases in the order of Chinese cabbage > red pepper > soybean=sesame > rice stalk > com > rice grain. The biological absorption coefficients (BAC) in plants are in the order of Cd > Zn=Cu > Pb, which suggests that Cd is more bioavailable to plants than Cu, Pb and Zn. From the results of sequential extraction analysis of soils, relatively high proportion of Cu, Pb and Zn are present as residual fractions whereas that of Cd as non-residual fractions. Cadmuim occurs predominantly as exchangeable/water-acid soluble phase in soils, and Cd is more mobile and bioavailable than Cu, Pb and Zn.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.253-268
• /
• 2015

This paper investigates the influence of various mix design parameters on the characteristics of concrete containing recycled coarse aggregates and Nano-Silica using Taguchi method. The present study adopts Water-cement ratio, Recycled Coarse Aggregate (%), Maximum cement content and Nano-Silica (%) as factors with each one having three different levels. Using the above mentioned control parameters with levels an Orthogonal Array (OA) matrix experiments of L9 (34) has selected and nine number of concrete mixes has been prepared. Compressive Strength, Split Tensile Strength, Flexural Tensile Strength, Modulus of Elasticity and Non-Destructive parameters are selected as responses. Experimental results are analyzed and the optimum level for each response is predicted. Analysis of 28 days CS depicts that NS (%) is the most significant factor among all factors. Analysis of the tensile strength results indicates that the effect of control factor W/C ratio is ranked one and then NS (%) is ranked two which suggests that W/C ratio and NS (%) have more influence as compared to other two factors. However, the factor that affects the modulus of elasticity most is found to be RCA (%). Finally, validation experiments have been carried out with the optimal mixture of concrete with Nano-Silica for the desired engineering properties of recycled aggregate concrete. Moreover, the comparative study of the predicted and experimental results concludes that errors between both experimental and predicted values are within the permissible limits. This present study highlights the application of Taguchi method as an efficient tool in determining the effects of constituent materials in mix proportioning of concrete.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.414-418
• /
• 2014

BACKGROUND: Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX), which are volatile aromatic hydrocarbons and main constituents of gasoline, are neuro-carcinogenic organic pollutants in soil and groundwater. Korea Ministry of Environment has established the maximum permissible level of BTEX in arable soil to 1, 20, 50 and 15 mg/kg, respectively. METHODS AND RESULTS: To understand an arable soil contamination by BTEX, we collected 92 samples from the arable lands around oil reservoir, and analyzed the BTEX residue using a GC-MS with head-space sampler. A linear correlation between BTEX concentration and peak areas was detected with coefficient correlations in the range of 0.9807-0.9995. The method LOQ of BTEX was 0.002, 0.014, 0.084, and 0.038 mg/kg, respectively. Recoveries of 0.5 mg/kg BTEX were found to be 73.7-96.9%. The precision was reliable since RSD percentage (0.7-7.5%) was below 30, which was the normal percent value. Also, BTEX in all samples were detected under the LOQ. CONCLUSION: These results showed that the investigated arable soils around airport and oil reservoir in Korea were not contaminated by oils.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.289-297
• /
• 1997

Work-related low back pain(below LBP) is one of the major cause of morbidity, disability, limitation of activity and economic loss. Therefore the work-related LBP is one of the major issue in the field of industrial safety and health. This study was performed for detecting the risk factors and proposing the effective control programs of work-related LBP. The subjects were male workers employed at the welding and metal factory. The data was collected by self-reported questionnaire, interview and checking abdomen muscular and grasping power for two days on October, 1993. The contents of questionnaire were as follow: the experience of LBP, general characteristics, physical characteristics, employment status, type of work and working environment. The number of cases was 104 with a history of work-related LBP, so the prevalence of work-related LBP was 35.0%, and the number of controls was 140 without any history of LBP. As a result, marital status, educational level, abdomen muscular power, tenure, category of job, satisfaction of job, working posture, satisfaction for table and chair and lifting materials showed a statistical significance between the case and control groups. 284 Lifting jobs were quantified by NIOSH lifting equation method and ergonomic computer modelling methods. There were no significant differences in the action limit and disc compression force between group with LBP and without LBP. But in the lifting frequency and cumulative disc compression force there were significant differences. Therefore work-related LBP should be prevented by the ergonomic and environmental control.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.10-18
• /
• 2010

To provide necessary information for future environmental monitoring of smelting and litharge making industries in Korea, environmental monitoring dataset of air lead concentration of 4 lead industries(1 primary smelting, 2 secondary smelting and 1 litharge making industry) were analyzed from 1994 to 2007. Data were compared using geometric mean and standard deviation with minimum and maximum values according to year of measurement, type of lead industries and type of operation of lead industries. The geometric mean and standard deviation of air concentration for a total of 1140 samples in all lead industries for overall 14 years were 70.7${\mu}g/m^3$ and 5.51 with minimum of 1${\mu}g/m^3$ and maximum of 9,185 ${\mu}g/m^3$. The overall geometric means of air concentration were above the permissible exposure levels(PEL) until year of 2001 and thereafter they were remained at the level of half of PEL. The geometric means of primary smelting, secondary smelting and litharge making industry for overall 14 years were 21.7${\mu}g/m^3$(number of samples: 353), 82.5${\mu}g/m^3$(number of samples: 357) and 164.2 ${\mu}g/m^3$(number of samples: 430) respectively. In primary smelting industry, the highest geometric mean air concentration was 35.4 ${\mu}g/m^3$ in the secondary smelting operation; followed by casting operation (24.9 ${\mu}g/m^3$) and melting operation (14.9 ${\mu}g/m^3$), respectively. On the other hand, in secondary smelting industries, the highest geometric mean air concentration was 125.4${\mu}g/m^3$ in melting operation; followed by casting operation (90.5${\mu}g/m^3$) and pre-treatment operation (43.4${\mu}g/m^3$), respectively. However, in litharge making industries, there were no significant differences of geometric mean air concentrations between litharge operation and stabilizer operation. The proportion of over PEL (50${\mu}g/m^3$) was highest in litharge industry and followed by secondary smelting industries. However The proportions of over PEL(${\mu}g./m^3.$) were decreased by the years of environmental monitoring. The significant reduction of mean air lead concentration since year of 2000 was observed due to more active environmental engineering control and new introduction of new operation in manufacturing process, but may be also influenced by non-engineering method such as reduction of operation hours or reduction of exposure time during actual environmental measurement by industrial hygienist according to more strict enforcement of occupational and safety law by the government.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.250-255
• /
• 2009

This study performed and evaluated the performance test in 40 general X-ray units among diagnostic X-ray units, which were being used in hospitals of gyeongsangnam-do gimhae-si through X-ray tube variable limiting device ability test, the light field and X-ray field alignment test and collimation and beam alignment test of diagnostic X-ray unit. The results are as followings: In a variable beam limiting device ability test, the result of maximum X-ray field test showed that 4(10%) of were incongruent while the result of minimum X-ray field test represented that 5(12.5%) of were incongruent. The result of the light field and X-ray field alignment test showed 23(57.5%) of were within 2% of maximum permissible level and the other 17(42.5%) units were misalignment. The result of beam alignment test represented that 11(27.5%) coincided and another 11(27.5%) within $0.5^{\circ}$ respectively, 10(25%) were $0.6^{\circ}-1.5^{\circ}$ intervals, 7(17.5%) were $1.6^{\circ}-3^{\circ}$ and 1(2.5%) were more than $3^{\circ}$.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.15-21
• /
• 2005

There is now a growing concern about the possible toxicity of heavy metals in cosmetics. Heavy metals can be used as cosmetic ingredients or may be present as low level impurities in some of the raw materials. Chromium derivatives are used as pigments in cosmetics. Chromium is essential and toxic trace elements. Chromium may cause skin allergy. However, the regulations related to cosmetic products give no limit values for Chromium. Hexavalent chromium is significantly more toxic than trivalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium may present a carcinogenic risk at high concentrations. Therefore, it is important to consider oxidation state of chromium when analyze chromium. The purpose of this study is to determine the concentrations of water-soluble trivalent and hexavalent chromium in samples of makeup products, and to assess the safety of cosmetics on the basis of animal sensitization tests using guinea pig. The present study of chromium in 48 makeup products of 12 manufacturers provides a basis for assessing safety of makeup products. Water-soluble hexavalent chromium was not detected in any product. Water-soluble trivalent chromium was detected in only 9 eye shadows out of 48 makeup products, and could not be quantified 3 out of 9 eye shadows. The highest level of water-soluble trivalent chromium was about 10 mg/kg in spite of 90,000 mg/kg of total chromium. The results of animal sensitization tests show that 200 mg/kg of trivalent chromium and 5 mg/kg of hexavalent chromium have no harmful effect. No cross-reaction among these metals was found. Accordingly, the concentrations of water-soluble chromium in makeup products seemed to be safe. The overall results indicate that chromium in cosmetics probably have no significant toxicological effects. However, It is necessary to set guidelines on the maximum permissible concentration of water-soluble chromium in cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.126-132
• /
• 1981

Rice grains harvested from paddy fields around industrial areas of Kyongin, Iri, and Jeonju were taken and analysed the contents of heavy metals which were considered to be accumulated in those rice grains. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was applied for analysis of heavy metals such as copper(Cu), zinc(Zn), lead(Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in unpolished rice grains. The content of Cu in rice grains harvested from Iri was the lowest, 2.94 ppm, while those from Seo-Myon, Shiheung-Gun was the highest, 3.65 ppm. The contents of Zn and Pb in rice grains were ranged 20.56~27.21 ppm and 0.38~0.53 ppm, respectively. Cd content were exceptionally lower than the regulated level, 1.0 ppm. The content of this metal detected in rice grains from Seo-Myon was the highest, 0.509 ppm, but those of other areas were much lower, ranged 0.040~0.136 ppm. The present concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Pb in rice grains were also lower than the expected level and below the maximum permissible concentrations.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.100-105
• /
• 1972

This experiment was conducted to investigate the combined effects of radiation and antiseptics on the keeping qualities of pork sausage, which was treated with potassium sorbate and AF-2(2-(-2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-acrylamide), and then followed by gamma radiation of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 Mrad. Amounts of treated antiseptics were a quarter, half, and full levels of their maximum permissible concentration. Irradiated and unirradiated sausages were stored for 50 days at $5^{\circ}C\;and\;25^{\circ}C$, and their changes in rancidity, volatile basic nitrogen, bacterial counts, pH, and sensory analysis were examined during the storage period. The results obtained are as follows: 1) Preservative effects of antiseptics were manifested at cold storage; antiseptics treatment of a quarter-level and unirradiation following low-temperature storage showed the same good keeping qualities as the combined treatment of full-level antiseptics and radiation of 0.25 Mrad following high-temperature storage. 2) There did not appear to recognize irradiation-odor, while color and odor were deteriorated intensively by storage temperature. Sausage irradiated with 0.75 Mrad has shown slightly noticeable off-odor at the end of storage at $25^{\circ}C$. 3) The most suitable radiation dose was considered to be 0.5 Mrad, which could extend the storage life about $2{\sim}3$ times longer than untreated.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.107-111
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Radiation is one of the most important sources of free radical (such as reactive oxygen species) production, which plays an essential role in the etiology of over hundred diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate some immune parameters and hematological indices in healthy workers of the Radiology Department, University Hospital of Mashhad, Iran. Methods: The study was performed on 50 healthy workers: 30 radiology staff as the case group and 20 laboratory workers as the control group. The radiation dose received by the radiology staff participating in the study was less than the annual maximum permissible level, 50 millisievert. Hematological parameters, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production were studied in both groups. Results: Among healthy radiology workers, the hematological indices did not differ statistically; however, their proliferation indices and $IFN-{\gamma}$ levels showed significant increases in parallel with decreases in the IL-4 levels as compared to controls. The immune system of workers exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation was found to be shifted from a Type 2 to a Type 1 response to promote cellular immunity. Conclusion: Based on our data, exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation may decrease the prevalence, frequency, and recurrence of various cancers and infectious diseases because of an increase in Th1-cell-based response, thus leading to more protection of the human body against tumor cells and foreign agents and possibly increased longevity. However, due to high rate of fluoroscopy use for interventional radiology, we suggest continuing research projects on radiation protection and hazards to prevent irreversible damage. As a recommendation, in future studies, radiology staff with a weakened immunity due to high radiation exposure should be considered as good choices to be treated using acupuncture techniques because acupuncture has been demonstrated to enhance the function and the number of immune cells.