• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.164-171
• /
• 2018

Background: In recent years, the interest in health and safety in the workplace has increased. Agriculture is one of the human work activities with the highest risk indexes. Studies on risk perception of agricultural workers are often referred to as specific risk factors (especially pesticides), but the risk perception plays an important role in preventing every kind of accident and occupational disease. Methods: The aim of this research is to test a new method for understanding the relation between risk perception among farmers and the main risk factors to which they are exposed. A secondary aim is to investigate the influence of training in risk perception in agriculture. The data collection was realized using a questionnaire designed to investigate the risk perception; the questionnaire was given to a sample of 119 agricultural workers in central Italy. Through the use of the "principal components analysis" it was possible to highlight and verify the latent dimensions underlying the collected data in comparison with scales of attitudes. Results: Results show that the highest percentage of strong negative attitude is among the people who have worked for more years, while farmers who have worked for fewer years have a marked positive attitude. Conclusion: The analysis of the questionnaires through the synthetic index method (Rizzi index) showed that agricultural workers involved, in particular the elderly workers, have a negative attitude towards safety; workers are hostile to safety measures if they have not attended special training courses.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.7
• /
• pp.1306-1315
• /
• 2017

DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethane) is one of the organic synthetic pesticides that has many negative effects for human health and the environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the synergistic effect of mixed cutures of white-rot fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus, and biosurfactant-producing bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis, on DDT biodegradation. Bacteria were added into the P. ostreatus culture (mycelial wet weight on average by 8.53 g) in concentrations of 1, 3, 5, and 10 ml ($1ml{\approx}1.25{\times}10^9$ bacteria cells/ml culture). DDT was degraded to approximately 19% by P. ostreatus during the 7-day incubation period. The principal result of this study was that the addition of 3 ml of P. aeruginosa into P. ostreatus culture gave the highest DDT degradation rate (approximately 86%) during the 7-day incubation period. This mixed culture combination of the fungus and bacteria also gave the best ratio of optimization of 1.91. DDD (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethane), DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethylene), and DDMU (1-chloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethylene) were detected as metabolic products from the DDT degradation by P. ostreatus and P. aeruginosa. The results of this study indicate that P. aeruginosa has a synergistic relationship with P. ostreatus and can be used to optimize the degradation of DDT by P. ostreatus.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.19 no.spc
• /
• pp.263-266
• /
• 2011

Crop protection strategies in organic horticulture aim to prevent insect pest and plant disease problems through utilization of non-chemical based control means. In order to develop a model for management of plant diseases and insects in organic cucumber cultivation, we compared efficacies between chemical pesticide spraying system and biological control means in semi-forcing and retarding cucumber cultivation during 2005 and 2006. Conventional chemical spray program using various chemical pesticides was applied 5 - 10 days intervals, while two different non-chemical pesticide application programs using two formulated biopesticides Topseed$^{TM}$ and Q-fect$^{TM}$, Suncho$^{TM}$, and Sangsungje$^{TM}$ (biocontrol agents 1) and using egg-yolk and cooking oil(EYCO), Bordeaux mixture, Suncho$^{TM}$, and Sangsungje$^{TM}$ (biocontrol agents 2) were applied 5 - 7 days intervals during entire cucumber cultivation period. Efficacy of both biocontrol agents programs was effective to comparable to conventional chemical pesitice spray program to control plant diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew as well as insect pests such as aphids and thrips which are known as major threats in cucumber organic cultivation. In this study, we established and evaluated an effective and economic crop protection strategy using various biological resources can be used to control plant diseases and pests simultaneously in organic cucumber cultivation field.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.29-41
• /
• 2008

This research was conducted to develop a technology transfer and farmer's extension of newly released technology of Bokto seeding method for crop and vegetable production based on the theory of Asian and Pacific Center for Transfer of Technology(APCTT). This technology has recently transferred to not only Korea but also other countries like North Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Russia and Africa(Cameroon, Sudan and South Africa) since 2005. It has known as a highly reduction of production cost in terms of labors, chemical fertilizer and pesticides as well as environmental friendly due to a deep and side banded placement of chemical fertilizer at basal application. In addition this technology was proven to a precision farming on sowing depth and mechanism of chemical application method and also highly resistant against disasters like typhoon, flooding, low temperature, drought and lodging due to silicate application. It has improved a constraints such as a poor seedling establishment, weed occurrence, lodging, low yield and poor grain and eating quality in the previous direct seeding methods but still have a problem in occurrence of weedy rice and ununiformed operation of wet or flooded soil condition. Also this technology has a limit in marketing and A/S system. Based on a theory of APCTT evaluation and analysis this technology may be more concentrated on establishment of a special cooperation team among researcher and scientists, extension workers, industry sections and governmental sectors in order to rapidly transfer this technology to farmer's field. Also there will be needed to operate a web site for this newly released technology to inform and exchange an idea, experiences and newly improved information. A feed back system might be operated in this technology as well to improve a technology under way on users' operation. Also user's manual will be internationally released and provided for farmer's instruction and training at field site.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.220-228
• /
• 2010

This study was designed to examine the effectiveness of an unused tunnel as a rice storage place. The physicochemical changes of rice grains were investigated during 8-months of storage in the tunnel located at Kyungnam province, Korea. Two kinds of tunnel stored rices, NP(rice grown with no pesticides) and LP(rice grown with less pesticides) were compared with $5^{\circ}C$ stored rice as a control. The peroxidase activities, as an index of freshness of rice grains, gradually decreased and NP appeared to be fresher than LP. Whiteness, grain wholeness, and chalkyness were less desirable for the tunnel stored rice than the control, with no significant difference of physicochemical properties, including the broken, damaged, colored rice, and contents of moisture, protein, and amylose. Palatability dropped below 70 in all three groups at later phase. The sensory evaluation showed that overall preference was slightly higher for the control but not significantly different from the other two groups. From all the evidences shown, unused tunnels may be an effective place for a long-term rice storage, since the average temperature inside the tunnel was maintained very constantly around $14.3^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity was optimal for rice storage, especially during spring and summer seasons.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.283-290
• /
• 2018

BACKGROUND: Pesticide residue analysis is an essential activity in order to establish the food safety of agricultural products. Analytical approaches to the food safety are required to meet internationally the guideline of Codex (Codex Alimentarius Commission, CAC/GL 40). In this study, we developed a liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) method to determine the herbicide clopyralid in food matrixes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clopyralid was extracted with aqueous acetonitrile containing formic acid and the extracts were mixed in a citrate buffer consisted of magnesium sulfate anhydrous, NaCl, sodium citrate dihydrate and disodium hydrogencitrate sesquihydrate followed by centrifugation. The supernatants were filtered through a nylon membrane filter and used for the analysis of clopyralid. The method was validated by accuracy and precision experiments on the samples fortified at 3 different levels of clopyralid. LC-MS/MS in positive mode was employed to quantitatively determine clopyralid in the food samples. Matrix-matched calibration curves were inearranged from 0.001 to 0.25 mg/kg with r2 > 0.994. The limits of detection and quantification were determined to be 0.001 and 0.01 mg/kg, respectively. There covery values of clopyralid for tified at 0.01 mg/kg in the control samples ranged from approximately 82 to 106% with relative standard deviations below 2 0%. CONCLUSION: The method developed in this study meets successfully the Codex guideline for pesticide residue analysis in food samples. This, the method could be applicable to determine pesticides in foods produced domestically and internationally.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.309-318
• /
• 2004

Acute toxicity test and chronic toxicity test were conducted with killifish (Oryzias latipes, Medaka) to evaluate toxicity effect of pesticides. Acute toxicity test was investigated mortality in 48 hours and 96 hours after treatment, chronic toxicity test was examined with the early life stage of 30 days after hatching be started embryos of Medaka. The test substances were two pesticides, Carbosulfan and Phenthoate, applied to the paddy rice plant and well-known to the high fish toxicity. As the result of acute toxicity test, median concentration $(LC_{50})$ at 96 hours in Medata was Carbosulfan 0.102 mg/L and Phenthoate 0.167 mg/L, and Fish early life stage toxicity test was conducted on basis of the result of acute toxicity test and concluded from the investigation of hatching success, period of hatching, survival post hatching, length and weight of surviving fishes and abnormal fish. The results of early life stage toxicity test were represented by no observed effect concentration (NOEC), lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) and maximum acceptable toxicant concentration (MATC). NOEC was Carbosulfan 0.0067ppm and Phenthoate 0.011ppm, LOEC of PCP-Na, Carbosulfan and Phenthoate were 0.017ppm and 0.029ppm, MATC of Carbosulfan and Phenthoate were 0.011ppm and 0.018ppm. These studies will be expected to supply more varied chronic toxicity effects at lower concentration than acute toxicity test. Therefore, evaluation data will be more realistic and the risk assessment of pesticide will be leveled up.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.248-254
• /
• 2012

BACKGROUND: In order to elucidate residual characteristics of difenoconazole and thiamethoxam by treatment to sweet persimmons for one year and to generate the data for the maximum residue limit (MRL) establishment for those pesticides in or on sweet persimmon. METHODS AND RESULTS: Systemic fungicide difenoconazole WP (10% a.i.) and systemic insecticide thiamethoxam WG (10% a.i.) were sprayed onto 12~25-years-old sweet persimmons according to its preharvest interval (PHI), respectively, and then fresh sweet persimmons were harvested at 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 days after treatment from pesticide-sprayed plots at each 3 sites. The analytical methods were evaluated to limit of quantification, linearity, specificity, reproducibility and recoveries. The crop samples were extracted with acetone and performed dichloromethane partition process. The extracted samples of difenoconazole were analyzed by GC-ECD and the thiamethoxam extracted samples were analyzed by HPLC with good sensitivity and selectivity of the method. The average recoveries of difenoconazole ranged from 87.5 to 99.5% with the percentage of coefficient variation in the range 4.1~7.6% at three different spiking levels(0.02, 0.2 and 2.0 mg/kg). And the average recoveries of thiamethoxam and clothianidin ranged from 88.8 to 98.9% and 83.2 to 96.6% with the percentage of coefficient variation in the range 3.6~5.0% and 3.8~9.4% at three different spiking levels(0.02, 0.2 and 2.0 mg/kg), respectively. The residue amounts ranges of difenoconazole were 0.2~0.56 mg/kg and the residue amount was decreased below the MRL level, 1.0 mg/kg, after 1 day harvest. The residue amounts ranges of thiamethoxam were 0.08~0.28 mg/kg and the residue amount was decreased below the MRL level, 0.5 mg/kg, after 1 day harvest. And the residue amount of clothianidin was below then 0.03 mg/kg for only one test site of 14 and 28 day samples. CONCLUSION: As a result, the residual amounts of difenoconazole and thiamethoxam were not exceeded the MRL of established criteria for sweet persimmon. The biological half-lives of difenoconazole and thiamethoxam were 13.6, 19.4, 16.3 and 10.0, 15.3, 14.0 days at each three test sites, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.264-271
• /
• 2015

Stink bugs do damage on various crops including upland crops and tree fruits. Especially, yellow-brown stink bug (Halyomorpha halys ($St{\aa}l$)) and brown-winged green (Plautia stali) are severely damaged on apple orchard. Using seven insecticides - dinotefuran WP, etofenprox WP, chlorpyrifos WP, cabaryl WP, chlothianidin SC, flonicamid WG, and bifenthrin WG - registered on apple, contact and residual toxicities were tested on both male and female of P. stali and H. halys that preferred apple fruit. Contact toxicity of dinotefuran WP was excellent on male P. stali 48 hours after treatment (HAT) with 96.7% and significant on male Halyomorpha halys 48 HAT with 74.5% but the others had low effect. Contact toxicity on these stink bugs were higher in male than female. All insecticides except flonicamid, residual effects were all effective on both male and female of P. stali, while chlorpyrifos and bifenthrin were showed higher residual toxicity on both male and female of H. halys in laboratory condition. Two insecticides, chlorpyrifos and bifenthrin, were selected for the field test. Bifenthrin have a high residual effect on P. stali until 5 days after treatment, but have a low residual toxicity on H. halys in the field test. Chlorpyrifos showed higher residual toxicity in the laboratory, however, showed low residual efficacy on two species stink bug onto the field.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.109-123
• /
• 2014

Kaloula borealis is the species of Amphibia which belongs to Kaloula genus and it is the only species inhabiting in Korea. The population size and habitat of Kaloula borealis have been significantly decreased on a national scale due to the diversified developments and the uses of agricultural pesticides. Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment has designated and managed them as the class II of endangered species, in accordance with "Endangered Species Protection and Management Act"; however, a particular study focused on the ecological restoration of Kaloula borealis is desperately needed to prevent their extinction. This study was conducted to propose the HSI (Habit Suitability Index) of Kaloula borealis based on literature survey on ecology and habitats of Kaloula borealis, as well as their HSI. Factors to be investigated in HSI include: space, feed, cover, water(breeding) and threatening factors and the variables of each factor were also proposed. The distance from wetland, grassland, farm, stream and rice paddy, as well as the altitude of spawning pond were proposed as the variables of space, whereas the bed structure of forest and low-rise grassland were proposed as the variables of feeding. The variables of water (breeding) include the area of permanent and temporary wetlands, coverage of emerged pants (ratio of open water), water depth, water temperature, water quality, pH level, etc., whereas the presence of predator, distance from street and pollutants were proposed as the variables of threatening factor. The sub-standards by HSI factor of Kaloula borealis have been drawn from in-depth consultation with experts and based on this, the final HSI of Kaloula borealis was developed.