• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.205-211
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• 2009

In this study, the membrane filter method was compared to the MPN method for the analysis of total coliforms from raw water using raw test waters and controls including 6 standard strains of coliforms, and the various factors were analyzed on the detection of general and fecal origin coliforms. The range of error rate for the detection of 5 standard strains using the membrane filter and the MPN methods was 0 to 6% and 45 to 133%, respectively. The error rate of the membrane filter method was lower than that of the MPN method. The membrane filter method (m-Endo) showed 10% (11 out of 111) of difference for the detection sensitivity of coliforms isolated from raw water compared to the MPN method (BGLB). The membrane filter method was less affected by the factors including temperature, turbidity, charcoals of powder form, contamination, and reverse pressure. In conclusion, the membrane filter method is a better method for the analysis of total coliforms from raw water than the MPN method, considering the accuracy of detection and the tolerance to various experimental factors.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.225-233
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• 2014

Objective: This study was performed in order to investigate the distribution of antibiotic resistant E. coli and water quality in waterscape facilities. Methods: Nine waterscape facilities were selected and classified into three types: ground, wall and general fountain. The items analyzed in this study were pH, turbidity, $KMnO_4$ consumption, total colony, total coliforms, fecal coliforms and E. coli. Additionally, an antibiotic resistance test on E. coli was performed. Results: There were no sampling sites that exceeded the permitted limits of water quality, but the concentration of pollutants was high at the beginning operation in June. Moreover, concentration of turbidity, $KMnO_4$ consumption and total colony were higher in ground fountains than in wall and general fountains. Five species of antibiotic resistant E. coli were detected from three sampling sites. Conclusions: The waterscape facilities were significantly contaminated with water microorganisms, especially total colony, total coliforms and fecal coliforms. Disinfection and filtration systems to remove pollutants should be installed for safe waterscape facilities.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2010

Efforts to evaluate water pollution using indicator microorganisms have been underway for decades, and driven by research on water purity control applications, water quality criteria are growing more and more strict. Furthermore, recent reports indicate that high concentrations of antibiotics are not absorbed, and are present in excrement from animals and humans dosed with unnecessarily high levels of antibiotics. This has emerged as very important issue from the standpoint of being an ecological and health hazard. In this study, water pollution was analyzed through physicochemical and microbiological means, and antibiotic resistance in indicator microorganisms was assessed. In physicochemical analysis, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)$_5$ and chemical oxygen demand (COD)$_{Mn}$ evaluation showed that pollution by organisms was highest at the G1 location with a high human population, and the DP location which has many livestock-containing households. The indicator organism levels at the G1 location were: Total Coliforms (1205 colony forming units (CFU)/100 ml), Fecal Coliforms (270 CFU/100 ml), Escherichia coli (253 CFU/100 ml) and Fecal Streptococci (210 CFU/100 ml), while for the DP location levels were: Total Coliforms (1480 CFU/100 ml), Fecal Coliforms (438 CFU/100 ml), E. coli (560 CFU/100 ml), and Fecal Streptococci (348 CFU/100 ml). Levels of fecal indicator microorganisms such as Fecal Coliforms, E. coli and Fecal Streptococci were high at all locations in the fall (the period after the rainy season), and the yearly distribution was similar between these organisms. If the number of livestock-containing households was high, almost all strains of E. coli (as distinct from the other indicator organisms) showed resistance to antibiotics, with the degree of resistance varying between areas. E. coli strains from the OY area in particular, which has a high population density, showed strong resistance to AM10 and Va30. While strong antibiotic resistance was observed overall at the DP and OY locations, no resistance was observed at the EB location.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of indicator organisms in essential sanitary ware in public restrooms. Methods: Twelve public restrooms were randomly selected. Samples at three locations (toilet seat, toilet flush handle/lever, and faucet handle) in the restrooms were collected with moistened-sterile cotton swabs and applied to media in order to determine aerobic colony count (ACC), total coliforms, and Escherichia coli. Results: Most of the samples taken in summer showed a higher level of ACC than those taken in winter (p<0.05). Female restrooms showed higher ACC levels on faucet handles and male restrooms on toilet flush handles/levers (p<0.05). Overall, faucet handles contained the greatest level of ACC, followed by toilet seats, whereas the least load was found on toilet flush handles/levers. The ACC level of samples in the restrooms in public parks, subway stations, and educational institutions varied. Total coliforms were identified in about 20% of toilet seats and faucet handles in male restrooms and faucet handles in female restrooms in summer. These locations were also the sites of positive results of E. coli isolation. Conclusions: The public restrooms were significantly more contaminated in summer than in winter. Overall, the most contaminated locations in the restrooms were toilet seats in male restrooms, and faucet handles in female restrooms. Poor hygienic status was indicated by the positive results of total coliforms and E. coli on samples from some sites. Therefore, sanitary control of restrooms should be improved. These results should be confirmed in a larger study that includes more public restrooms.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.517-521
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• 2007

To assess possible risks from the consumption of drinking water from various sources, a survey of the microbiological quality of tap water, commercial bottled drinking water which is exploited from natural mineral water, and natural spring water was conducted. A total of 4 different brands of commercial bottled drinking water, and 4 types of spring water from different sources, and tap water from 4 private houses were tested for four index microorganisms, and the microbial quality changes of the water during the storage at room temperature or refrigerated temperature for 7 days. Aerobic plate counts of all of the initial water samples were still within 100 CFU/ml (drinking water standard of Korea). Total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and E. coli were not detected in all of the water samples at initial. However, aerobic plate counts of three types of spring water and three types of bottled drinking water stored at room temperature showed higher levels than the standards in 5 days. Total coliforms were detected in three types of spring water after one day's storage at room temperature, and in one type of bottled drinking water after 5 days' storage. These results indicate that some of the spring water surveyed are not safe to drink, and the spring water and bottled drinking water after opening the lid should not be stored at room temperature, if they are used for drinking.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2007

Difference of total coliforms (TC) survival time of mixed samples (effluent were mixed by seawater or freshwater) were examined in various conditions. The time taken to achieve a 90% reduction in the TC concentration ($T_{90}$) of effluent, high initial TC concentration and low initial TC concentration samples indicated 143.9, 121.9 and 89.6 hours at $25^{\circ}C$, respectively. At $4^{\circ}C$, log removal rate after 336 hours were 0.96, 1.04, and 1.30. TC survival time of effluent-inoculated seawater sample was longer than that of effluent-inoculated freshwater sample in laboratory. At outdoor condition, TC inactivation curves of effluent-inoculated seawater or freshwater samples showed similar patterns. And both of them were greatly influenced by climate condition. There was not enough evidence that TC survived longer in freshwater than sea water. It was unlikely that the salinity of sea water contributed to the inactivation process of TC.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.9-17
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• 2009

The microbiological examinations was conducted for the hygienic evaluation on ten Japanese restaurants during summer season in Gwangju, Korea. Total two hundreds swabbed samples using sponge were collected from the surface of facilities and utensils at restaurants. The number of total microorganism, coliform, E. coli, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and Listeria were measured. The results demonstrated that most swabbed samples were contaminated with microorganisms and coliforms. The degree of contamination depended on the sample sites. The severely contaminated sites were floor, trench, and working table for the fish and total counts of those samples were over $10^4$ CFU/100 $cm^2$. The coliforms were detected on the floor, trench, and wood cutting board over $10^3$ CFU/100 $cm^2$. Moreover, coliforms was detected on the towel, dish, and working place for fish and vegetables. The E. coli was detected on the floor and trench of several restaurants. The Staphylococcus spp. was detected on the cutting board, towel, floor and trench of several restaurants. The Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. were not detected all over the samples. From those results showed that sanitation management and disinfection were required on the Japanese restaurants.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2010

A Sanitary survey in an Important shellfish-growing area of Biin Bay in Seocheon-gun Korea, was conducted to evaluate bay conditions and compliance with the bacteriological criteria for areas designated for the production of shellfish for export. Seawater samples were collected monthly at 55 sampling stations established in the survey area from January 2006 to December 2008. Bacteriological water quality did not change in response to a small rainfall (10.0 mm), but it increased abruptly in response to rainfall to 62.5 mm The most probable number (MPN) value for total coliforms and fecal coliforms in 1, 980 seawater samples ranged from <1.8 to >1, 600 MPN/100mL and from <1.8 to 330 MPN/100mL, respectively. The geometric mean and estimated $90^{th}$ percentile value for total coliforms ranged from 2.0 to 10.3 MPN/100mL and from 7.0 to 42.6 MPN/100mL respectively. The geometric mean and estimated percentile value for fecal coliforms ranged from 1.8 to 4.0 MPN/100mL and from 1.9 to 18.3 MPN/100mL, respectively. Accordingly, the bacteriological water quality of Biin Bay met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) and Korea Shel1fish Sanitation Program(KSSP) criteria for areas designated for shellfish production for export in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.575-580
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• 2011

This study characterized water quality of groundwater and purified water used for drinking water in 30 schools in Gyeongsangbukdo Province. The results of the study showed that 43% of groundwater and 45% of purified water were not suitable for drinking. Among them, microbial contaminations were the most serious problem. In raw groundwater, the exceeding rates of total colony counts was the highest in August (53.6%). Purified water samples showed higher rate of exceeding drinking water standard for total colony counts while showing lower rate of exceeding drinking water standard for total coliforms and fecal coliforms in March and August. Overall, proper managements for microbial contaminations are required for both groundwater and purified water. Furthermore, special attention should toward students not to drink water when groundwater or purified water exceeds the drinking water quality standard.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.36-47
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• 2009

Microbial and related biochemical mass of composts are important for optimization of its process and end-products. This study was carried out to assess the specific microbial and related biochemical mass which could be used as an indicator for compost maturity during composting stages. The samples from five compost plants were collected at three stages (Initial, Thermophilic and Mature) and analyzed for total aerobic bacteria (TAB), Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Actinomycetes and fungi. Significantly, the coliforms and E.coli counts decreased during the thermophilic stage and were completely eliminated during mature stage. However, the other microbial mass were completely eliminated during mature stage. Which disclosed that Coliforms and E.coli communities can be used as compost maturity indicator. Interestingly, the microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen ratio (MBC/MBN) were decreased a little during the thermophilic stage due to the decreasing number of coliforms, Ecoli and fungi, while the ratio increased during the mature stage due to increasing fungal and aerobic bacterial counts. In addition the heavy metals were shown strong negative correlation with Actenomycetes. This study provides insight to the evaluation of compost maturity as well as the quality by the metal-microbial interactions.