• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.441-449
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• 2023

Heavy metals, widely present in the environment, have become significant pollutants due to their excessive use in industries and technology. Their non-degradable nature poses a persistent environmental problem, leading to potential acute or chronic poisoning from prolonged exposure. Recent research has focused on separating heavy metals, particularly from industrial and mining sources. Industries such as metal plating, mining operations, tanning, wood and chipboard production, industrial paint and textile manufacturing, as well as oil refining, are major contributors of heavy metals in water sources. Therefore, removing heavy metals from water is crucial, especially for safe water supply in swimming and water sports. Iron oxide nanoparticles have proven to be highly effective adsorbents for water contaminants, and efforts have been made to enhance their efficiency and absorption capabilities through surface modifications. Nanoparticles synthesized using plant extracts can effectively bind with heavy metal ions by modifying the nanoparticle surface with plant components, thereby increasing the efficiency of heavy metal removal. This study focuses on removing lead from industrial wastewater using environmentally friendly, cost-effective iron nanoparticles synthesized with Genovese basil extract. The synthesis of nanoparticles is confirmed through analysis using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction, validating their spherical shape and nanometer-scale dimensions. The method used in this study has a low detection limit of 0.031 ppm for measuring lead concentration, making it suitable for ensuring water safety in swimming and water sports.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.336-344
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to collect occurrence data on aluminum in 12 type agricultural products and assess dietary exposure risk to the Korean population health for aluminum concentration in agricultural products.METHODS AND RESULTS: Aluminum analysis samples were performed using microwave device and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer. The LOD(Limit of Detection) for aluminum was 0.851 μg/kg, while the LOQ(Limit of Quantitation) was 2.838 μg/kg and recovery was 97.6% for aluminum. The average levels of aluminum in mg/kg were 0.526 for rice, 0.546 for Korean cabbage, 1.316 for corn, 6.207 for soybean, 0.549 for sweet potato, 0.257 for potato, 6.963 for spinach, 1.213 for carrot, 0.524 for garlic, 0.950 for radish, 1.015 for leek, and 3.511 for Welsh onion. The dietary exposures of aluminum through usual intake were polished rice 89.31 μg/day, Korean cabbage 33.14 μg/day, corn 0.66 μg/day, soybean 3.72 μg/day, sweet potato 6.86 μg/day, potato 4.96 μg/day, spinach 45.96 μg/day, carrot 6.79 μg/day, garlic 2.36 μ g/day, radish 7.32 μg/day, leek 2.23 μg/day and Welsh onion 43.89 μg/day, taking 0.57%, 0.21%, 0.00%, 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.03%, 0.04%, 0.04%, 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.01% and 0.28% of PTWI(2 mg/kg b.w./week), respectively.CONCLUSION: The levels of overall dietary exposure to aluminum for Korean population through intake of agricultural product was far below the recommended JECFA level, indicating of least possibility of risk.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.291-301
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Rice is one of the main sources for inorganic arsenic among the consumed crops in the world population's diet. Arsenic is classified into Group 1 as it is carcinogenic for humans, according to the IARC. This study was carried out to assess dietary exposure risk of inorganic arsenic in husked rice and polished rice to the Korean population health. METHODS AND RESULTS: Total arsenic was determined using microwave device and ICP-MS. Inorganic arsenic was determined by ICP-MS coupled with HPLC system. The HPLC-ICP-MS analysis was optimized based on the limit of detection, limit of quantitation, and recovery ratio to be $0.73-1.24{\mu}g/kg$, $2.41-4.09{\mu}g/kg$, and 96.5-98.9%, respectively. The inorganic arsenic concentrations of daily exposure (included in body weight) were $4.97{\times}10^{-3}$ (${\geq}20$ years old) $-1.36{\times}10^{-2}$ (${\leq}2$ years old) ${\mu}g/kg\;b.w./day$ (PTWI 0.23-0.63%) by the husked rice, and $1.39{\times}10^{-1}$ (${\geq}20$ years old) $-3.21{\times}10^{-1}$ (${\leq}2$ years old) ${\mu}g/kg\;b.w./day$ (PTWI 6.47-15.00%) by the polished rice. CONCLUSION: The levels of overall exposure to total and inorganic arsenic by the husked and polished rice were far lower than the recommended levels of The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), indicating of little possibility of risk.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2015

Purpose : This study presents the usefulness assessment of secondary shield for the lens exposure dose reduction during radiation treatment of peripheral orbit. Materials and Methods : We accomplished IMRT treatment plan similar with a real one through the computed treatment planning system after CT simulation using human phantom. For the secondary shield, we used Pb plate (thickness 3mm, diameter 25mm) and 3 mm tungsten eye-shield block. And we compared lens dose using OSLD between on TPS and on simulation. Also, we irradiated 200 MU(6 MV, SPD(Source to Phantom Distance)=100 cm, $F{\cdot}S\;5{\times}5cm$) on a 5cm acrylic phantom using the secondary shielding material of same condition, 3mm Pb and tungsten eye-shield block. And we carried out the same experiment using 8cm Pb block to limit effect of leakage & transmitted radiation out of irradiation field. We attached OSLD with a 1cm away from the field at the side of phantom and applied a 3mm bolus equivalent to the thickness of eyelid. Results : Using human phantom, the Lens dose on IMRT treatment plan is 315.9cGy and the real measurement value is 216.7cGy. And after secondary shield using 3mm Pb plate and tungsten eye-shield block, each lens dose is 234.3, 224.1 cGy. The result of a experiment using acrylic phantom, each value is 5.24, 5.42 and 5.39 cGy in case of no block, 3mm Pb plate and tungsten eye-shield block. Applying O.S.B out of the field, each value is 1.79, 2.00 and 2.02 cGy in case of no block, 3mm Pb plate and tungsten eye-shield block. Conclusion : When secondary shielding material is used to protect critical organ while irradiating photon, high atomic number material (like metal) that is near by critical organ can be cause of dose increase according to treatment region and beam direction because head leakage and collimator & MLC transmitted radiation are exist even if it's out of the field. The attempt of secondary shield for the decrease of exposure dose was meaningful, but untested attempt can have a reverse effect. So, a preliminary inspection through Q.A must be necessary.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.303-314
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• 2004

Objectives: This study was carried out to assess exposure levels of organic dusts and ammonia in poultry farms in Korea. Methods: A total of six poultry farms were investigated. The farms were located in Namwon, Chonlabuk-do and in Kae-San, Chungchongbuk-do. This study consisted of a questionnaire and measuring organic dusts and ammonia. The questionnaire included the characteristics of the farms, work patterns and the tasks of the poultry farms. Results and Conclusions: The farmers raised the chickens 45 times a year and the average number of years in the poultry farm were eight years ranging from 2 to 12 years. They worked for seven days per week and the average hours spent caring the chickens are 6.3 hours per day. The duration of staying in the confinement buildings was 3.3 hours per day. The work time in summer was longest. The feed and the water supply systems were automatic and the control of ventilation windows used "winch curtain" was semiautomatic. They used mechanical ventilation system in winter and used dilution ventilation system in the other seasons. The geometric mean concentration of total and respirable dust sampled in the poultry confinement buildings was 4.0 mg/$m^3$and 0.9 mg/$m^3$ respectively. The ratio of respirable to total dusts range from 9 to 49 percent. There was no sample exceeding the criteria 10 mg/$m^3$ for total dust and 3 mg/$m^3$ for respirable dust in farms. The criteria have been recommended by Korean Ministry of Labor and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist. The personal respirable dusts measured during a circle work averaged geometric mean concentration 1.4 mg/$m^3$ Two personal samples were exceeded the threshold 3 mg/$m^3$. There was a positive relation between an index and the personal samples of respirable dusts($R^2$=0.98). The index is calculated by multipling the total number of chickens in the farm by the age of the chickens and then dividing by the volume of the confinement building. The geometric mean concentration of area and personal ammonia samples was 23.3 ppm and 22.2 ppm, respectively. Some of the ammonia samples, both area and personal samples, exceeded the short term exposure limit value 35 ppm.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.24-33
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• 2021

For this study, we surveyed concentrations of 8 mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, ochratoxin A, fumonisin B1, B2 and zearalenone) in agricultural products used for food and medicine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and conducted a risk assessment. Samples were collected at the Yangnyeong Market in Seoul, Korea, between January and November 2019. Mycotoxins were extracted from these samples by adding 0.1% formic acid in 50% acetonitrile and cleaned up by using an ISOLUTE Myco cartridge. The method was validated by assessing its matrix effects, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), recovery and precision using four representative matrices. Matrix-matched standard calibration was used for quantification and the calibration curves of all analytes showed good linearity (r2>0.9999). LODs and LOQs were in the range of 0.02-0.11 ㎍/kg and 0.06-0.26 ㎍/kg, respectively. Sample recoveries were from 81.2 to 118.7% and relative standard deviations lower than 8.90%. The method developed in this study was applied to analyze a total of 187 samples, and aflatoxin B1 was detected at the range of 1.18-7.29 ㎍/kg (below the maximum allowable limit set by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, MFDS), whereas aflatoxin B2, G1 and G2 were not detected. Mycotoxins that are not regulated presently in Korea were also detected: fumonisin (0.84-14.25 ㎍/kg), ochratoxin A (0.76-17.42 ㎍/kg), and zearalenone (1.73-15.96 ㎍/kg). Risk assessment was evaluated by using estimated daily intake (EDI) and specific guideline values. These results indicate that the overall exposure level of Koreans to mycotoxins due to the intake of agricultural products used for food and medicine is unlikely to be a major risk factor for their health.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.224-238
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• 2008

The aim of this study is to confirm the physicochemical property and hazard of thinner (012), which is a diluent of enamel paint used for floor coating for waterproofing and oil painting for the outer wall. The literatures of physicochemical property and hazard of thinner were surveyed and its physicochemical property were evaluated. And then, the inhalation toxicity of thinner affecting the central nervous system and reproductive organs in rats were examined by subchronic (6 h./day. 5 days/ week for 13 weeks) inhalation test. 1) According to the 13-week subchronic inhalation test, there were no significant changes in clinical test and body weight. However, a significant evidence of toxicity was observed in the hematological test and organ weight such as heart, kidney, liver and brain (p<0.01) in the 200 ppm and 1,000 ppm exposure groups in a dose response manner. In the histopathology analysis, there were no significant evidence of toxicity. Therefore, thinner was not classified as an organ targeted toxic agent. In case of Harmfulness, it could be classified as a chronic toxic agent 3($500 ppm/4hr, rat). 2) The reproductive toxicity such as extension of the period of estrous cycle, reduction of serum estradiol concentration and increase of frequency of the abnormal sperm was observed in the 1,000 ppm exposed animals. 3) The result of the physicochemical property of the test material showed that the specific gravity was 0.793, boiling point $155.8^{\circ}C$, steam pressure 2.1 kPa, ignition point $34.5^{\circ}C$, and spontaneous ignition point $280^{\circ}C$. The endothermic and exothermic values were 371.4 J/g and 159.1 J/g. respectively. The explosion limit was 214 mg/l. These data showed that thinner could be classified as an explosion agent level 1.2 and ignitive liquid agent 3 ($23-60^{\circ}C$) according to the notification No. 2008-1 of the Labor Ministry, "Classifying Standard of Chemical Materials."

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.518-527
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• 2014

Objectives: The adverse health effects attributed to exposure to radon have been well known over the world. However, the efforts for prevention and mitigation of radon have not been taken in Korea so far. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation methods applied for various types of houses and public buildings with high level of radon. Methods: Based on the results of "National Radon Survey" performed by the National Institute of Environmental Research(NIER) in 2010-2012, we selected 30 candidate buildings consisting of 20 houses and 10 public buildings with greater than $148Bq/m^3$ of radon level. We measured the concentration of radon in 30 buildings, using E-PERMs and RAD-7 during January to March of 2013. More than five E-PERMs and one RAD-7 per house were installed for seven days. Ten houses and five public buildings were finally chosen to be mitigated after mainly considering the level of radon and the location of buildings nationwide. Three mitigation methods such as Sealing, two types of Active Ventilation(window-shaped and wall-typed ventilations), and Active Soil Depressurization(ASD) were applied, and the concentrations of radon were measured before and after mitigation, respectively. To evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation methods, reduction rates of radon were calculated and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test was performed. Results: The mean concentration of 15 buildings just before radon mitigation was $297.8Bq/m^3$, and most of the buildings were located in Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, and Daegu areas(73.3%), and built in 1959-1998. The level of radon decreased from 48% to 90% and kept the below recommendation limit of $148Bq/m^3$ after installation of radon mitigation. Among mitigation methods applied, the reduction rate(58.7-90.4%) of radon attributed to ASD was the greatest than that of other methods, followed by Active Ventilation(48.4-78.4%) and Sealing(<22%). The effectiveness of radon reduction by window-shaped Active Ventilation(63.2-75.2%) was relatively better than that of wall-typed Active Ventilation(48.4-54.3%). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that ASD could be more effective for radon mitigation. Moreover, our findings would be background information in future for making the strategy for radon mitigation nationwide, as well as for developing Korean-version of mitigation techniques according to types of dwellings in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.415-419
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• 2019

Fipronil is an insecticide that belongs to the N-phenylpytazole and has been used mainly for an insect pest control. However, it is known that acute poisoning of the human body causes various symptoms such as dizziness, muscle weakness, dyspnea, skin irritation, and increased heart rate. Lately, eggs containing fipronil have been distributed and toxic problems are spreading around the world. In this study, we tried to develop analytical methods to evaluate the exposure of fipronil and fipronil sulfone in animal serum samples. The differences according to mobile phase and the results of liquid - liquid extraction and solid phase extraction pretreatment method were compared. Distilled water (A) and acetonitrile (B) were selected for the mobile phase, and the pretreatment method was determined by solid phase extraction. As a result of the method validation, the intra-day / inter-day accuracies were 82.2~114.1% and the precisions were less than 20%. The detection limit was 0.027 ng/ml for fipronil and 0.087 ng/ml for fipronil sulfone. The linearity obtained was satisfying, with a coefficient of determination (r²) higher than 0.99. The concentrations in some animal sera were determined using the methods of analysis for fipronil and fipronil sulfone in animal sera developed in this study. Using the method developed in this study, it could be used as an analytical method for human bio-monitoring of fipronil and fipronil sulfone as well as animal serum.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2017

BACKGROUND:This study was conducted to investigate residual organochlorine pesticides (ROCPs) in agricultural soils and crops. Agricultural soil samples and crop samples were collected from 93 cities and counties. METHODS AND RESULTS: Extraction and clean-up for the quantitative analysis of ROCPs were conducted by the modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method. Recovery and limit of detection (LOD) of ROCPs in agriculturalsoils and crops were 76.5-103.0 and 75.2-93.2%, 0.01-0.08 and $0.10-0.15{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. Detected ROCPs in agricultural soils were ${\alpha}$-endosulfan, ${\beta}$-endosulfan, and endosulfan sulfate, the residue were 2.0-12.0, 1.2-53.1, and $2.2-329.8{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. But these pesticides in all green perilla leaf and green pepper samples were not detected. CONCLUSION: These results showed that ROCPs residues in agricultural soils were not as high as crop safety threatening.