• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.1 s.88
• /
• pp.77-88
• /
• 2006

This study were conducted to investigate the microbial contamination level in 5 tomato farms in Western Gyeongnam. A total of 130 samples was examined for sanitary indicator bacteria, such as aerobic plate count (APC), coliforms, and Escherchia coli, and pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. APC and coliform count ranged $0\~6.62\;and\;0\~4.52 log_{10}\;CFU/(ml,\;g,\;100\;cm^2,\;hand)$, respectively, and $32.5\%$ were contaminated with E. coli. Especially, most of the samples from employees are high as above $4.0\;log_{10}\;CFU/(ml,\;g,\;100\;cm^2,\;hand)$ in APC. S. aureus, detected at $10.7\%$, was found in employees' hands, irrigation water, and hydroponic solution. whereas E. coli $O157:H7$, Salmonella spp, and L. monocytogenes were not detected. These results will provide fundamental microbiological information for introduction of good agricultural practice (GAP)system in tomato farms.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.545-549
• /
• 2014

Sparganosis is an infection with a parasitic tapeworm larva that occurs by eating infected foods or drinking contaminated water. The larvae can migrate to a tissue or muscle in the chest, abdominal wall, extremities, eyes, brain, urinary tract, pleura, pericardium, spinal canal, or scrotum. Herein, we report a 5-month old infant with scrotal sparganosis who was initially suspected to have a scrotal inflammatory mass with a history of applying raw frog meat into the umbilicus. Preoperative ultrasound examinations and computed tomography (CT) scanning misdiagnosed the mass as a scrotal teratoma. The scrotal mass was surgically removed, and the histopathology proved it to be scrotal sparganosis. This case displays the youngest patient ever reported with scrotal sparganosis, and the first description of CT characteristics of scrotal sparganosis. A detailed medical history is necessary for patients with scrotal masses suspected of sparganosis. In addition, ultrasound and CT examinations are helpful to rule out other causes of a scrotal mass.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.39-53
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of an experimental protective clothing material with regard to comfort and isolation from the hazardous heavy metals produced in municipal waste incineration. An analysis was conducted on the total concentrations of heavy metals in some parts such as surface, middle layer, and interior for the treated fabric, and the untreated one, and working clothes. We conclude that the processed fabric with charcoal for working clothes showed the least exposure to heavy metals of the three. Working clothes worn by workers during waste incineration were much more contaminated than the untreated and treated materials. The material of working clothes could be chosen according to the function with regard to its original chemical characteristics, which are the proper results of the dyeing process. The processed fabric material has high degrees of moisture regain, thermal insulation, water vapor penetration, and antibacterial function; consequently, it is much more comfortable to wear. The fabric material proposed in this research contributed much more to blocking heavy metal concentrations (such as Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn, Mn) than did the fabric of working clothes at present. Consequently, we strongly suggest that the material of working clothes be upgraded by adopting the above-mentioned charcoal-processed fabric. Materials of working clothes must be improved to increase comfort and prevent harmful gas, flying dust, and heavy metals from permeating the fabrics.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.67-71
• /
• 2004

Arsenic poisoning has three types of poisoning. First, acute arsenic poisoning is usually caused by oral intake of large amount of arsenic compound with purpose of homicide or suicide. Second, chronic arsenic poisoning is caused by inhalation of arsenic in the occupational setting or by long-term oral intake of arsenic-contaminated well water. Third, arsine poisoning occurs acutely when impurities of arsenic in non-ferrous metal react with acid. Clinical manifestation of acute arsenic poisoning is mainly gastrointestinal symptoms and cardiovascular collapse. Those of chronic poisoning are skin disorder and cancer. Arsine poisoning shows massive intravascular hemolysis and hemoglobinuria with acute renal failure. Exposure evaluation is done by analysis of arsenic in urine, blood, hair and nail. Species analysis of arsenic is very important to evaluate inorganic arsenic acid and mono methyl arsenic acid (MMA) separated from dimethyl arsenic acid (DMA) and trimethyl arsenic acid (TMA) which originate from sea weed and sea food. Treatment with dimercaprol (BAL) is effective in acute arsenic poisoning only.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.224-234
• /
• 2010

Four activated carbons were produced by two-stage process as followings; semi-carbonization of indigenous biomass waste, i.e. cotton stalks, followed by chemical activation with KOH under various activation temperatures and chemical ratios of KOH to semi-carbonized cotton stalks (CCS). The surface area, total pore volume and average pore diameter were evaluated by $N_2$-adsorption at 77 K. The surface morphology and oxygen functional groups were determined by SEM and FTIR, respectively. Batch equilibrium and kinetic studies were carried out by using a basic dye, methylene blue as a probe molecule to evaluate the adsorption capacity and mechanism over the produced carbons. The obtained activated carbon (CCS-1K800) exhibited highly microporous structure with high surface area of 950 $m^2/g$, total pore volume of 0.423 $cm^3/g$ and average pore diameter of 17.8 ${\AA}$. The isotherm data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm with monolayer adsorption capacity of 222 mg/g for CCS-1K800. The kinetic data obtained at different concentrations were analyzed using a pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion equations. The pseudo-second-order model fitted better for kinetic removal of MB dye. The results indicate that such laboratory carbons could be employed as low cost alternative to commercial carbons in wastewater treatment.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 1995.04a
• /
• pp.396-401
• /
• 1995

Epoxy coated reinforcing steels (ECRs) were acquired from ten sources and coatings from each source were initially characterized in terms of defects, thickness, solvent extraction weight loss and hardness. Testing involved exposure in three aqueous solutions at elevated temperature (8$0^{\circ}C$) and in chloride-contaminated concrete slabs under outdoor exposure, It was found that the density and size of coating defects was the promary factor affecting ECR performance. The equivalent circuit analysis using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data indicated that the impedance response for well-performing ECR specimens showed no signs of active degradation at the interface although diffusional processes similar to those noted for poorly performing bars occurred here. Experimental results also indicated a relationship between corrosion behavior and bar source. Weight loss upon solvent extraction correlated with impedance reduction from hot water exposure. Coating defects during most of the tests, especially in high pH solutions containing chloride ions. ECRs with excessive coating defects, either initially present or ones which developed in service, performed poorly in every test category regardless of source. Forms of coating failure were extensive rusting at defects, blistering, wet adhesion loss, cathodic delamination, underfilm corrosion and coating cracks. These occurred sequentially or concurrently, depending on the condition of the ECR and nature of the environment

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.249-256
• /
• 2006

Diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome(D+ HUS) is induced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli(EHEC) and is characterized by the triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. The disease is usually transmitted by meat and water contaminated by excreta of domestic animals. We report a son and his mother with diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome that spread within the family.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2000.05a
• /
• pp.46-51
• /
• 2000

Environmental quality regulations are used to establish the maximum permissible concentrations of heavy metals before a site can be deemed to be polluted or contaminated. This paper compares the results obtained by 0.IN HCl extraction and acid extraction method(HNO$_3$+HClO$_4$.HCl). The leaching efficiency of 0.1N HCl extraction is directly proportional to the final pH of leachate, due to the different solubilities of the heavy metals at different pH values, The severe differences between 0.1N HCl-extractable and total metal contents result mainly from the buffering effect of carbonates, present in sediment. samples. Application of sequential extraction experiments to some sediments collected from gully pot in Seoul illustrates a much stronger scavenging effect by Fe and Mn-hydroxides, carbonates and organic phases. As deduced from both sequential extraction and leaching experiments, the relative mobility of heavy metals is found to be: Mn>Zn>>Co>Cd>>Cu>Pb>Cr>Fe, in spite of large differences in heavy metal content and localization. Changes in the physicochemical environments (such as acidification) caused by a traffic accident may result in the severe environmental pollution of heavy metals of surrounding area( surface water and rivers).

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2016

The removal of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) from groundwater using pure water, via pump and treat, is quite ineffective due to their low solubility and hydrophobicity. Therefore, the objectives of pilot tests were to select potentially suitable surfactants that solubilize tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) present as contaminants and to evaluate the optimal range of process parameters that can increase the removal efficiency in surfactant-enhanced soil flushing (SESF). Used experimental method for surfactant selection was batch experiments. The surfactant solution parameters for SESF pilot tests were surfactant solution concentration, surfactant solution pH, and the flow rate of surfactant solution in the SESF pilot system. Based on the batch experiments for surfactant selection, DOSL (an anionic surfactant) was selected as a suitable surfactant that solubilizes PCE and TCE present as contaminants. The highest recovery (95%) of the contaminants was obtained using a DOSL surfactant in the batch experiments. The pilot test results revealed that the optimum conditions were achieved with a surfactant solution concentration of 4% (v/v), a surfactant solution pH of 7.5, and a flow rate of 30 L/min of surfactant solution (Lee and Woo, 2015). The maximum removal of contaminants (89%) was obtained when optimum conditions were simultaneously met in pilot-scale SESF operations. These results confirm the viability of SESF for treating PCE and TCE-contaminated groundwater.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.1353-1358
• /
• 2005

A rapid and quantitative real-time PCR was developed to target the invasion A (invA) gene of Salmonella spp. We developed quantitative standard curves based on plasmids containing the invA gene. Based on these curves, we detected Salmonella spp. in artificially contaminated buffered peptone water (BPW) and milk samples. We were able to determine the invA gene copy number per ml of food samples, with the minimum detection limit of $4.1{\times}10^{3}$ copies/ml of BPW and $3.3{\times}10^{3}$ copies/ml of milk. When applied directly to detect and quantify Salmonella spp. in BPW and milk, the present real-time PCR assay was as sensitive as the plate count method; however, copy numbers were one to two logs higher than the colony-forming units obtained by the plate count methods. In the present work, the real-time PCR assay was shown to significantly reduce the total time necessary for the detection of Salmonella spp. in foods and to provide an important model for other foodborne pathogens.