• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.271-277
• /
• 2020

Toxicities to many organs caused by humidifier disinfectants have been reported. Recently, humidifier disinfectants have been reported to cause cardiovascular, embryonic, and hepatic toxicities. This study was designed to investigate the toxic mechanism of humidifier disinfectants and compare toxicity in a cellular model and a zebrafish animal model. Because brain toxicity and skin toxicity have been less studied than other organs, we evaluated toxicity in a human dermal cell line and zebrafish under various concentrations of humidifier disinfectants that included polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate (PHMG), oligo-[2-(2-ethoxy)-ethoxyethyl-guanidinium-chloride] (PGH) and methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT). A human dermal fibroblast cell line was treated with disinfectants (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 16 mg L^-1) to compare their cytotoxicity. The fewest PHMG-treated cells survived (up to 33%), while 49% and 40% of the PGH- and CMIT/MIT-treated cells, respectively, survived. The quantification of oxidized species in the media revealed that the PHMG-treated cells had the highest MDA content of around 28 nM, while the PGH- and CMIT/MIT-treated cells had 13 and 21 nM MDA, respectively. As for brain toxicity, treatment of the zebrafish tank water with CMIT/MIT (final 40 mg L^-1) for 30 min resulted in a 17-fold higher production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than in the control. Treatment with PGH or PHMG (final 40 mg L^-1) resulted in 15- and 11-fold higher production, respectively. The humidifier disinfectants (PHMG, PGH, and CMIT/MIT) showed severe dermal cell toxicity and brain toxicity. These toxicities may be relevant factors in understanding why some children have language disorders, motor delays, and developmental delays from exposure to humidifier disinfectants.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.103-108
• /
• 1980

In order to elucidate the source of bacterial contamination during processing U. H. T. milk and to ensure its hygienic control, bacterial numbers were determined each step of the processes on the milks, water, tanks and pipe lines, and environments. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The viable numbers of mesophilic bacteria were $1.2{\sim}1.9{\times}10^7/ml$ of milk in the storage tank and in pipe line connected to the preheater. These were decreased to $7.0{\times}10cells{\sim}3.4{\times}10^2cells/ml$ after preheating and homogenization, and to $1.0{\times}10cells/ml$ after sterilization, then increased up to $1.2{\times}10^2cells/ml$ after packing. 2. The numbers of thermophilic bacteria were $5.0{\times}10cells{\sim}1.0{\times}10^2cells/ml$ of milk before preheating ; $3.0{\sim}5.0{\times}10cells/ml$ after homogenization ; none in the sterilizer and surge tank ; and $1.0{\sim}8.0{\times}10cells/ml$ after packing. 3. The levels of psychrophilic bacteria were $1.0{\sim}3.7{\times}10^6cells/ml$ of milk before preheating ; $1.0{\sim}4.0{\times}10cells/ml$ after homogenization ; $1.0{\times}10cells/ml$ after sterilization ; and $2.0{\times}10cells{\sim}2.5{\times}10^2cells/ml$ after packing. 4. No coliform bacteria were detected after sterilization, while the level before preheating was $2.1{\times}10^4cells{\sim}6.5{\times}10^5cells/ml$ of milk. 5. The level of mesophiles was $3.0{\times}10cells{\sim}7.4{\times}10^2cells$ in the environmental air, water supply, and unfilled packs and bottles ; that of thermophiles $1.0{\sim}3.0{\times}10cells$ in the air and water ; that of psychrophiles $1.0{\times}10cells{\sim}1.0{\times}10^2cells$ in the air, water, packs and bottles ; however no coliform was detected.

• Journal of Mushroom
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.210-215
• /
• 2021

For sterilization of microorganisms of the Listeria genus contaminating enoki mushroom, pilot mushroom grower equipped with air sterilization devices were developed. Sterilization experiments were performed using physical and chemical treatments. Internal temperature and humidity were controlled, maintaining 6.62℃±0.30 in the upper shelves, 6.46℃±0.24 in the middle shelves, and 6.48℃±0.25 in the lower shelves. Humidities were 79.97%±4.42, 79.43%±4.06, and 79.94±4.30%, respectively, with a temperature setting of 6.5℃, and a relative humidity of 75%. A suitable enoki mushroom cultivation stage for air sterilizer application was during the growth stage, with temperature in the 6.5~8.5℃ range, and humidity of 70~80%. At these same internal conditions, the ozone concentration in the mushroom cultivator was found to be 160 ppb during ion-cluster generator operation. After physical sterilization, the Listeria innocua survival rate was 0.1 to 0.9% using ion cluster sterilization, and 9.3 to 10.6% using UV air sterilization. The Listeria innocua survival rates on different materials were 9.3~10.6% on the metal specimen, and 9.9~16.2% on the plastic wrapper. The survival rate was particularly high on the rough side of the plastic wrapper. Ion cluster air sterilization is a labor-saving and effective method for suppressing the occurrence of Listeria bacteria on mushroom growers walls and shelves. For the plastic wrapper, chemical sterilization is more effective than physical sterilization.