• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.565-572
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• 1998

This study estimate the degree of contamination in the streamwater around the Sudokwon landfill site. It was sampled at 10 sites in Jan., Apr., Jul. and Oct., 1996. There were analyzed five kinds of toxic chemical material-CN, AES, PCB, As, Org-p, and four kinds of heavy metal-Pb, Hg, Cd, $C^{+6}$ The result are 1)The COD was generally increased to compare before landfall, 2) The Org-P and PCB were not detected at all points, 3) The concentrations of Pb, $C^{+6}$ and As were lower than the environmental criteria values, 4) The CN, Hg and Cd were over envirommental criteria values. and so emergent regulation is needed, 5) The effects of the streamwater contamination were not only the leachate of the landfall, but also the small factories and agricultural land around the landfill.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.277-284
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate and evaluate microbial contamination levels of leafy greens (perilla leaf and lettuce) and its distributing conditions at different seasons (Feb, May, Aug, and Nov of the year 2011) in order to provide insight into any potential health hazards associated with consumption of these commodities. Leafy greens were collected from a farm located in Geumsan, Chungnam and wholesale markets (WM) and traditional markets (TM) located in Suwon. At the same time, temperature and relative humidity fluctuations experienced by the leafy greens during distribution from the farm to the distribution center were measured by a data logger. The contamination levels of perilla leaf and lettuce were determined by analyzing total plate count. Coliform groups, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were determined. The contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliform groups and B. cereus in both vegetables sampled during May and August found to be higher than those sampled during February and November. E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes were not detected in the vegetables analyzed in this study. There were no significant trends between samples at WM and TM in the contamination levels. Relative humidity of vegetables distributed from the farm to the distribution center showed over 90% during distribution regardless of measured seasons. In the case of background microflora on leafy greens, the density was significantly increased at 20, 30 and $37^{\circ}C$ during storage of 24h. E. coli O157:H7 and B. cereus inoculated on the leaves also showed similar increases in the storage tests. The microbial contamination levels determined in this study may be used as the fundamental data for microbial risk assessment.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.178-182
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• 2002

This study was conducted to estimate the status of heavy metal contamination in agricultural products (n = 280), soils (n = 280), and irrigation waters (n = 48) in abandoned mines & normal farm lands (n = 8). The samples were digested with acids, then analyzed fur the contents of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and chrome (Cr) by an inductively coupled plasma spectrometer (ICP) and graphite- atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The contents of Hg were determined using a mercury analyzer. Abandoned mines had soils with higher contents of heavy metals except Cr and irrigation waters with higher heavy metals except Hg, compared to those of normal farmlands. The contents of heavy metals in agriculture products varied depending types of products. Agricultural products in abandoned mines generally showed with higher contents of heavy metals except Cu, compared to those of normal farmlands. There was no significant relationship in heavy metal contents between agricultural products and soils (p > 0.05). It is suggested that heavy metals of agricultural products and soils in abandoned mines should be continuously monitored.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.186-190
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• 1999

Isotope ratio ($^{15}N/^{14}N$) and nitrate-nitrogen concentration in groundwater were measured to investigate the effect of chemical fertilizer and livestock manure on temporal variations in nitrate-nitrogen concentration and to estimate the contribution of fertilizer and manure to groundwater contamination by nitrate. Four study wells from a rural area in Kyonggi province were selected. One well was located on an upper site from a livestock feedlot, and the others were situated at lower sites from the feedlot. The ${\delta}^{15}N$ values were analyzed by a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Micromass, VG Optima IRMS). Reproducibility of the method and precision of the mass spectrometer were below 1.0 and 0.1‰, respectively Even though study wells were located at the same area, nitrate-nitrogen concentrations and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values differed and fluctuated during the sampling period. The ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of well located at upper site from the feedlot were extremely variable (-1.48~20.80‰). The ranges of ${\delta}^{15}N$ value of three wells situated at lower sites from the feedlot were 11.83~20.73 (ave. 16.11), 8.90~11.73 (ave.11.01), and 5.29~12.73‰ (ave. 8.21‰) with increasing distance from the feedlot. The average values of contribution proportion of nitrogen derived from livestock manure to nitrate-nitrogen in groundwater were 79% for the well closet to the feedlot, 44% for the well most distant from the feedlot, and 56% for the well in between the two wells.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2014

Korea's agricultural land is constantly being reduced. The reasons for this are due to the change of agricultural profitability and the policy conditions. The reduction of agricultural land in 2010 showed a decline trend by 14.4 % of paddy fields and 1.2% of uplands compared to areas from 2000. These reductions were mainly due to switch rice paddy fields into upland or greenhouse facility cultivation because of low profitability of rice products compared to farm products. In addition, the permit system of agricultural areas was relaxed in switching paddy fields and this accelerated the reduction of agricultural land. For this reason, more than 1% of agricultural land area has been reduced every year for last five years. Moreover, indiscreet fill and cover materials such as construction wastes were used in agricultural lands and caused land contamination which threatened foundation as sustainable agricultural lands. For these reasons, it is a desperate situation to conserve good agricultural lands. However, the standards of transported soils, filling soils and cutting soils in the Agricultural Land Act are qualitative and have a problem of causing complaints. Therefore, the following criteria (proposals) are proposed in the Agricultural Land Act; (1) Use the proper soils for crops (criterion), (2) Soil components and amounts should be proper as transported soils (range), and (3) Prohibiting usage of improper earth rocks or recycled aggregates in case of filling soils (kinds). The presented criteria (proposals) suggest following; (1) Use physio-chemically proper soils for crops (criterion), (2) In case of transported soils, i, exclude potential acid sulphate soils, ii, gravel content sould be less than 15%, and iii, Heavy metals and other contaminants should be less than the soil contamination warning limit from the Ministry of Environments, (3) In case of filling soils, 13 kinds of recycled wastes specified in the Wastes Control Act should not be used as filling soils, (4) Practice soil conservation technology in case of sloping areas, and (5) Follow proper fertilizer application standards for maturing paddy fields and uplands when cutting soils.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.433-438
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• 2008

Much of the increase in agricultural productivity over the past half century has been due to the control of the pests with synthetic pesticides. The use of these pesticides has caused environmental problems and public health concern. The guidelines of maximum residue levels of pesticides in agricultural products has been well documented but more careful monitoring of their residues is required. Pyrethorid class pesticides are dominant in modern agricultural industry but public health concerns have been recently considered. The major route of pesticide exposure is the diet and with improved surveillance of pyrethorid residues in agricultural products their exposure should be controlled and minimized. In suitable products with reduced matrix effects such as agricultural products, aqueous samples, fruits and vegetables the use of immunoassays for pyrethorid residue monitoring could satisfy this requirement. Immunoassays have several advantages, namely they are highly sensitive, selective and cost-effective and enable large-scale sample handling and analysis in the laboratory.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.63-66
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• 2003

This study applied a hydrogeological field survey and isotope investigation to identify source locations and delineate pathways of groundwater contamination by nitrogen compounds. The infiltration and recharge processes were analyzed with groundwater-level fluctuation data and oxygen-hydrogen stable isotope data. The groundwater flow pattern was investigated through groundwater flow modeling and spatial and temporal variation of oxygen isotope data. Based on the flow analysis and nitrogen isotope data, source types of nitrate contamination in groundwater are identified. Groundwater recharge largely occurs in spring and summer due to precipitation or irrigation water in rice fields. Based on oxygen isotope data and cross-correlation between precipitation and groundwater level changes, groundwater recharge was found to be mainly caused by irrigation in spring and by precipitation at other times. The groundwater flow velocity calculated by a time series of spatial correlations, 231 m/yr, is in good accordance with the linear velocity estimated from hydrogeologic data. Nitrate contamination sources are natural and fertilized soils as non-point sources, and septic and animal wastes as point sources. Seasonal loading and spatial distribution of nitrate sources are estimated by using oxygen and nitrogen isotopic data.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.437-442
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• 2014

Foodborne illness due to the consumption of contaminated raw strawberries is a continuing food safety concern. This study investigated and evaluated contamination levels of bacteria on strawberries at farms stage to evaluate potential hazards associated with fresh strawberries. A total of 315 samples, 105 samples from 5 sampling sites (A to E) of 21 farms and 210 samples from 1 sampling site of 6 farms, was collected every month for four months and analyzed to enumerate aerobic bacterial counts, Coliforms/E. coli, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the prevalence study of five pathogens (S. aureus, E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes) was performed on each sample. Aerobic bacterial counts ranged from 0.48 to 6.36 Log CFU/g, with the highest bacterial cell counts recorded for D and E sites. Coliforms were detected in 71 samples (22.5%) with a minimum of 0.48 cfu/g and a maximum of more than 4 Log CFU/g. B. cereus was detected in 98 samples (31.1%) among total samples analyzed. S. aureus was detected in 2 samples with a minimum of 0.48 Log CFU/g and a maximum of 1.38 Log CFU/g. E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were not isolated from any of the samples. The microbial contamination levels of strawberries determined in this study may be used as the fundamental data for microbiological risk assessment.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.857-864
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• 2017

To establish good storage practices for hulled barley against mycotoxin contamination, we measured occurrence of fungi and mycotoxin in hulled barley grains under various storage conditions. Hulled barley grains collected from two places were stored in five different warehouses: 1) two without temperature control, 2) one with temperature controlled at $12^{\circ}C$, 3) a chamber set at $15^{\circ}C/65%$ relative humidity, and 4) one seed storage set at $10^{\circ}C$. The samples were stored for six month with temperature and relative humidity monitored regularly. Every stored samples were retrieved after 0, 1, 3, and 6 month to investigate fungal and mycotoxin contamination. From the stored grains, Fusarium, Epicoccum, Alternaria, and Drechslera spp. were frequently detected. In the warehouses without temperature control, Fusarium and Alternaria spp. constantly decreased, whereas Drechslera spp. increased along with storage period. In the other warehouses with temperature controlled, Fusarium spp. decreased slowly and more than 2.5 log CFU/g of Fusarium spp. were detected after 6 month storage. The level of nivalenol was maintained during 0-3 month but increased after 6 month storage. There was no difference in the nivalenol levels between the warehouses. Therefore reducing storage period less than 6 months could be more effective to control nivalenol contamination in hulled barley grains.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 2024

This study investigated the microbial contamination of agricultural, livestock, and marine ingredients in 55 meal kits distributed across Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Of the 55 meal kits, 48 contained agricultural ingredients, 43 contained livestock ingredients, and 16 contained marine ingredients. The detection rate of the total aerobic bacteria in the agricultural, livestock, and marine products was 100%. The average numbers of the total aerobic bacteria were 6.57 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g in the agricultural products, 4.60 log CFU/g in the livestock products, and 5.47 log CFU/g in the marine products. The coliform detection rates in the agricultural, livestock, and marine products were 81.25%, 69.77%, and 43.75%, respectively. The average numbers of coliforms were 2.83 log CFU/g in the agricultural products, 1.34 log CFU/g in the livestock products, and 1.12 log CFU/g in the marine products. Escherichia coli was detected in 13 livestock products (30.23%), with levels ranging from 0.70 to 2.36 log CFU/g. Contrastingly, E. coli was detected in only one marine product (6.25%) and was not detected in any agricultural products. The detection rates of fungi in agricultural, livestock, and marine products were 97.92%, 93.02%, and 93.75%, respectively. The average numbers of fungi were 3.82 log CFU/g for the agricultural products, 2.92 log CFU/g for the livestock products, and 2.82 log CFU/g for the marine products. The isolation rates of foodborne pathogens from the agricultural, livestock, and marine products were 35.42%, 37.21%, and 31.25%, respectively. Forty-five foodborne pathogens of seven species, including Bacillus cereus and Salmonella spp., were isolated from the raw materials of the agricultural, livestock, and marine products in 55 meal kits. To prevent foodborne diseases caused by meal kits, it is necessary to focus on washing, heating, and preventing cross-contamination during cooking.