• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.407-414
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was performed to assess based on field investigation the distribution characteristics of airborne fungi in an area of Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Methods: Three sites, a living area, forest and traffic site, were selected for evaluation of monthly level of outdoor airborne fungi. An on-site survey was executed between January 2009 and December 2009. During the experimental period, air sampling was performed every month in the afternoon (2:00 pm-5:00 pm) using a cascade impactor. Results: Outdoor airborne fungi measured in Seoul, Korea over one year showed a concentration range from 850CFU $m^{-3}$ to 15,200CFU $m^{-3}$. The mean respirable fraction of outdoor airborne fungi was 67% compared to total concentration. Regardless of measurement site, there was no significant concentration difference in outdoor airborne fungi between periods of yellow dust and non-yellow dust (p>0.05). There was no significant correlation relationship between outdoor airborne fungi and atmospheric factors such as temperature and relative humidity. The predominant genera of airborne fungi identified were Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Paecilomyces and Penicillium. Conclusion: Monthly levels of outdoor airborne fungi were highest in April and November and lowest in August. In seasonal concentration distribution, the autumn showed the highest level of outdoor airborne fungi, followed by spring, summer and winter. In regional concentration distribution, the highest level of outdoor airborne fungi was generally found in the forest, followed by the living area and traffic site.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.274-281
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• 2010

The objectives of this study are (a) to investigate the distribution patterns and exposure concentrations of biological agents in sawmill industries and (b) to compare sampling methods of biological agents. The representative processes of 5 sawmills were selected to measure total airborne bacteria, fungi, endotoxin as well as dust. Airborne bacteria and fungi were measured with one stage impactor, six stage impactor and gelatin filteration methods. Endotoxin was collected with polycarbonate filters and analysed by kinetic chromogenic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate method. Geometric mean levels of airborne bacteria, fungi, endotoxin and dust were 1,864 CFU/$m^3$, 2,252 CFU/$m^3$, 31.5 EU/$m^3$ and 2.4 mg/$m^3$. The ratios of indoor/outdoor concentrations were 3.7 for bacteria, 4.1 for fungi, 3.3 for endotoxin and 9.7 for dust. The respiratory fractions of bacteria were 68.0, 50.9, 49.2 and 45.1% in band-saw, table-saw, rip-saw process and outdoor air. The respiratory fractions of fungi were 78.7, 90.8, 87.5 and 84.8% in band-saw, table-saw, rip-saw process and outdoor air, respectively. There was no significant differences in bacterial concentrations among single stage, six stage impaction and filteration methods. But, fungal concentrations measured with filtration methods were significantly higher than those with impaction methods. Geometric mean levels of airborne bacteria and fungi were higher than the OSHA guideline values of 1,000 CFU/$m^3$. The respiratory fractions of fungi were above 75%. The concentrations of biological agents were significantly different among culture-based sampling methods. In the exposure assessments of biological agents, further studies are needed for the comparisons of diverse sampling methods and the investigations of environmental factors.

• 한국균학회지
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.122-133
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• 2018

순천 선암사는 산림과 계곡으로 둘러싸여 가파른 지형에 위치하고 있으며 평지보다 온 습도는 높고 바람의 세기가 약하여 생물 피해가 우려되는 곳이다. 이에 계절마다 진균상 조사를 통해 실내 외 공기질에 분포하는 진균의 농도와 다양성을 조사하였다. 외부 공기질에 분포하는 진균의 농도는 봄($276CFU/m^3$)에 가장 높았고, 가을($196CFU/m^3$), 여름($128CFU/m^3$), 겨울($24CFU/m^3$) 순으로 감소하였다. 가장 하단에 위치한 지장전은 여름철에 $337.4CFU/m^3$, 가장 상단에 위치한 원통전은 가을철에는 $333.4CFU/m^3$의 가장 높은 농도를 나타냈다. 실내 외 공기질에서 부유균 농도의 차이가 컸던 계절은 여름철이었으며 $128CFU/m^3$인 외부보다 실내 공기질에 최소 0.5배에서 최대 3배 정도의 많은 진균이 부유하고 있었다. 부유 진균이 가장 많이 수집된 계절은 봄철이었지만 다양성은 여름과 가을철 공기질에서 더 높았는데 여름에는 28속 45종, 가을에는 25속 47종의 진균이 확인되었다. 특히, 가을철에는 모든 조사 지점에서 부유 진균의 분포도가 가장 높았는데 그 중에서 자낭균이 86%를 차지하였고 Cladosporium속이 우점하였다. Penicillim속은16종이 검출되어 종다양성이 가장 높았고 야외보다는 여름과 가을, 겨울철의 실내 공기질에 주로 분포하였다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제39권5호
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• pp.438-446
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed in order to determine airborne fungi levels in homes and find related factors that may affect airborne fungi concentration. Methods: Fifty homes were study subjects for measuring airborne fungi. For sampling airborne fungi, the impaction method on agar plates was used and samples were counted as colony forming units per cubic meter of air ($CFU/m^3$). In addition, information regarding housing characteristics and atopic disease in each home were collected via questionnaire. Results: The geometric means (GM) of airborne fungi concentrations in fifty living rooms and bedrooms were 68.03 and 62.93 $CFU/m^3$, respectively. The GM of airborne fungi concentration in atopy homes was 78.42 $CFU/m^3$. This was higher than non-atopy homes' 54.34 $CFU/m^3$ (p-value=0.051). In the results of the multiple regression analysis, outdoor airborne fungal concentration proved a strong effective factor on indoor airborne fungal concentration. Also, construction year, floor area of house, indoor smoking and frequency of ventilation were factors that showed a significant association with indoor airborne fungi concentration. Conclusions: The results of this study show that some housing and living characteristics may affect the development and increase of airborne fungi. In addition, exposure to airborne fungi may be a risk factor for the prevalence of childhood atopic diseases.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.335-342
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• 2007

The objective of the study is to investigate the distribution patterns of airborne bacteria and fungi in the feedstuff manufacture factory. The mean levels of airborne bacteria and fungi in the feedstuff manufacture factory were $113({\pm}18)cfu/m^3$ and $89({\pm}5)cfu/m^3$ for pelleting process and $198({\pm}5)cfu/m^3$ and $124({\pm}12)cfu/m^3$ for powdering process, respectively. The percentage of respirable and total concentration of airborne bacteria and fungi in the feedstuff manufacture factory ranged from 60% to 90% and were higher in pelleting process than powdering process. The ratio of indoor and outdoor airborne microorganism exceeded 1.0 regardless of types of feedstuff manufacture process. Based on the result of the study, there would be an association between environmental factors such as relative humidity and carbon dioxide and airborne microorganism's bioactivity.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.101-109
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• 2006

The objective of this study is to provide fundamental data for pertinent management of indoor air quality through investigating the size-based characteristics of bioaerosol distributed in the general hospital. Measurement sites are main lobby, ICU, ward and laboratory and total five times were sampled with six-stage cascade impactor. Based on the result of this study, concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi were the highest in main lobby as followed by an order of ward, ICU and laboratory. Concentrations of airborne bacteria was generally higher than those of airborne fungi and the ratio of indoor and outdoor concentration of both exceeded 1.0 in all the measurement sites of the general hospital. The predominant genera of airborne bacteria identified in the general hospital were Staphylococcus spp.(50%), Micrococcus spp.(15-20%), Corynebacterium spp.(5-20%), and Bacillus spp.(5-15%). On the other hand, the predominant genera of airborne fungi identified in the general hospital were Cladosporium spp.(30%), Penicillium spp.(20-25%), Aspergillus spp.(15-20%), and Alternaria spp.(10-20%). In regard to size distribution of bioaerosol, the detection rate was generally highest on 5 stage($1.1-2.1{\mu}m$) for airborne bacteria and on 1 stage(>$7.0{\mu}m$) for airborne fungi. Cleanliness of facilities in the general hospital and condition of HVAC system should be monitored regularly to prevent indoor air contamination by airborne microorganisms.

• 보존과학회지
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.652-663
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• 2019

목조건축문화재의 생물피해 영향을 미치는 야외 부유곰팡이의 연중 변화와 일간 변화를 파악하기 위해서는 포집주기와 측정시간대의 충분한 반영이 필요하다. 본 연구는 2018년 8월부터 2019년 7월까지 1년간 국립문화재연구소 보존과학센터 옥상에서 에어샘플러와 Potato dextrose agar 배지를 이용하여 포집주기는 24절기, 포집시간대는 14시(낮)와 23시(밤)에 포집하였고, 기상요소를 1시간 단위로 수집하였으며, 부유곰팡이의 농도 조사 및 기상요소와의 상관성 분석을 진행하였다. 그 결과, 부유곰팡이 농도는 11월, 가을, 밤에 가장 높았고, 가을, 여름, 겨울, 봄 순으로 높았으며, 강우, 태풍, 황사/미세먼지에 따라 부유곰팡이 농도, 종류, 우점은 달랐다. 부유곰팡이 농도는 강수량, 강수일수, 상대습도와 강한 양의 선형 상관성이 나타났다. 부유곰팡이 농도는 영양원에 있어서는 죽은 식물체의 증가 시기, 기상요소에 있어서는 강우를 포함한 높은 상대습도 조건과 관련이 깊었다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.73-81
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• 1991

To assess biological air quality, concentrations of viable airborne microbes were determined in hospital home and outdoor air from August 25 to October 18, 1990. Bacteria, fungi and thermophilic bacteria were sampled using gravitational and suctional sampling method. In bacteria groups, the Staphylococcus spp. was identified by microscopic examination and biochemical tests. Results of the study are as follows. 1. Results using the gravitational sampling method indicated that average numbers of airborne microbes in hospital home and outdoor air were 21.5, 12.2 and 17.6 CFU/plate, respectively. These levels are well within an appropriate standard of 50 CFU/plate suggested by Endo. 2. Results using the suctional sampling method indicated that total airborne microbe concentrations in hospital, home and outdoor air were 1,998, 1,363 and $1,880CFU/m^3$, respectively. All of the results were within the recommended remedial action level, $10,000CFU/m^3$ of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists(ACGIH). 3. Concentration of thermophilic bacteria in hospital and outdoor air were 79 and $111CFU/m^3$, respectively. Thermophilic bacteria were not detected in the home air. These results were within the remedial action level, $500CFU/m^3$. 4. Concentrations of Gram negative bacilli in holpital home and outdoor air were 20.3, 23.6 and $16.8CFU/m^3$, respectively. all were within the remedial action level, $500CFU/m^3$, recommended by ACGIH. 5. Concentrations of Staphylococcus spp. in hospital, home and outdoor air were 34.8, 14.7, and $22.4CFU/m^3$. respectively. all were within the remedial action level, $75CFU/m^3$, recommended by ACGIH. The percentages of Staphylococcus spp. in total bacteria in hospital, home and outdoor air were 19.0, 10.2 and 14.5%, respectively.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.41-46
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to assess the level of fungi concentration in the university laboratories in Seoul, Korea, and to investigate factors contributing to these concentrations. The samples were taken from three spots in each laboratory; the top of sink, the center of laboratory, and the front of ventilation system, i.e fume hood at the chemical laboratory and clean bench/biosafety cabinet at the microbial laboratory. Air samples were collected using the single-stage Anderson sampler (Quick Take 30) at a flow rate of 28.3 l/min for 5 min on nutrient media in Petri-dishes located on the impactor. Fifty-two air samples were collected from 19 different laboratories (13 microbiology laboratories, 6 chemistry laboratories) in the university, and concentrations of airborne fungi showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between microbiology and chemistry laboratory, and also no significant difference at three locations (sink, center, front of ventilation system) in microbiology and chemistry laboratories. Average concentrations of fungi in 19 laboratories ranged from 7 to 459 cfu/$m^3$, with an overall Geometric Mean of 52 cfu/$m^3$. Airborne fungi concentrations of 6 samples (12 %) exceeded 150 cfu/$m^3$, the guideline of WHO. The ratios of Indoor/Outdoor for airborne fungi ranged from 0.2 to 4.8 (mean = 1.6). Related factors were measured such as relative humidity, temperature, and laboratory area. Temperature and laboratory area showed no significant relations to concentrations of airborne fungi except for relative humidity in the laboratory Concentrations of fungi were significant different (p<0.01) between rainy or cloudy and sunny. However, there was no significant difference between general ventilation and nongeneral ventilation.

• 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.