• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.227-234
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• 2022

Background and Purpose: In 2021, lung cancer in school food workers was first recognized as an occupational cancer. The classification of the carcinogenicity of cooking fumes by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was based on Chinese epidemiological data. This study aimed to determine the hazard levels of school cooking fumes in Korea. Materials and Methods: Based on public school cafeterias in one area, 25 locations were selected for the survey according to the number per school type, ventilation states, and environmental pre-assessments of cafeterias. Two inside cooking areas using a heat source and one outside cooking area were selected as control measurement points. Measurements of CO, CO₂, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), including benzene, formaldehyde, and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1, respectively), were taken. The concentrations and patterns of each substance in the kitchens were compared with the outdoor air quality. Result: Known carcinogens, such as the concentrations of PAHs, formaldehyde, TVOC (benzene), and particulate matter in school cooking fumes, were all detected at similar or slightly higher levels than those found outside. Additionally, substances were detected at relatively low concentrations compared to the Chinese cooking fumes reported in the literature. However, the short-term exposure to high concentrations of CO (or composite exposure with CO₂) and PM2.5 in this study were shown. Conclusion: The school cooking fumes in South Korea was a relatively less harmful than Chinese cooking fumes, however short-term, high exposure of toxic substances can cause a critical health effect.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.207-215
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• 2024

This study focuses on measuring the levels of naturally occurring radioactivity in the soil of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, as well as the associated health hazard. Thirty (30) soil samples were collected from various locations and analyzed for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K radioactivity levels using a High Purity Germanium detector (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer with a photo-peak efficiency of approximately 52.3%. The average values obtained for these radionuclides are 35.6 ± 5.7 Bqkg^-1, 47 ± 12.5 Bqkg^-1, and 877 ± 153 Bqkg^-1, respectively. The level of ²³²Th is slightly higher and ⁴⁰K is 2.2 times higher than the internationally recommended limit of 30 Bqkg^-1 and 400 Bqkg^-1, respectively. Various parameters were calculated based on the results obtained, including Radium Equivalent (Ra_eq), External Hazard (H_ex), Absorbed Dose Rate (D), Annual Gonadal Equivalent Dose (AGDE), Annual Effective Dose Rate, and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR), which are 170.3 ± 24 Bqkg^-1, 0.46 ± 0.06 Bqkg^-1, 81.4 ± 2.04 nGy h^-1, 582 ± 78.08 µSvy^-1, 99.8 ± 13.5 µSv Gy^-1, and 0.349 ± 0.04, respectively. These values are below the limits recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) in 2002. This study highlights the potential radiation threats associated with natural radioactivity levels in the soil of Swabi and provides valuable information for public health and safety.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.282-290
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the potential interaction between kidney function and the non-linear association between serum calcium levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Methods: This study included 8927 participants enrolled in the Dong-gu Study. Albumin-corrected calcium levels were used and categorized into 6 percentile categories: <2.5th, 2.5-25.0th, 25.0-50.0th, 50.0-75.0th, 75.0-97.5th, and >97.5th. Restricted cubic spline analysis was used to examine the non-linear association between calcium levels and CVD mortality. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD mortality according to serum calcium categories. All survival analyses were stratified by the estimated glomerular filtration rate. Results: Over a follow-up period of 11.9±2.8 years, 1757 participants died, of whom 219 died from CVD. A U-shaped association between serum calcium and CVD mortality was found, and the association was more evident in the low kidney function group. Compared to the 25.0-50.0th percentile group for serum calcium levels, both low and high serum calcium tended to be associated with CVD mortality (<2.5th: HR, 6.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 33.56; >97.5th: HR, 2.56; 95% CI, 0.76 to 8.66) in the low kidney function group. In the normal kidney function group, a similar association was found between serum calcium levels and CVD mortality (<2.5th: HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.58 to 3.27; >97.5th: HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.70 to 3.93). Conclusions: We found a non-linear association between serum calcium levels and CVD mortality, suggesting that calcium dyshomeostasis may contribute to CVD mortality, and kidney function may modify the association.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2012

To prepare measures for practical policy utilization and the control of heavy metals, hazard control related institutions by country, present states of control by country, and present states of control by heavy metals were examined. Hazard control cases by heavy metals in various countries were compared and analyzed. In certain countries (e.g., the U.S., the U.K., and Japan), hazardous substances found in foods (e.g., arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury) are controlled. In addition, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) recommends calculating the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of individual heavy metals instead of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) to compare their pollution levels considering their toxicity accumulated in the human body. In Korea, exposure assessments have been conducted, and in other countries, hazardous substances are controlled by various governing bodies. As such, in Korea and other countries, diverse food heavy metal monitoring and human body exposure assessments are conducted, and reducing measures are prepared accordingly. To reduce the danger of hazardous substances, many countries provide leaflets and guidelines, develop hazardous heavy metal intake recommendations, and take necessary actions. Hazard control case analyses can assist in securing consumer safety by establishing systematic and reliable hazard control methods.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.454-462
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• 2003

Recently, the HACCP(Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system has been emphasized in food processing industries throughout the world. However, the system has, as yet, not been applied very well to domestic food industries. Due to the increase in the consumption of bakery products, more studies are required on the application of HACCP to establish the system in small-scale bakeries. This study was designed to provide basic data for setting management standards for HACCP, based on microbiological hazard evaluations of bakery products. Red bean paste filled breads, custard cream filled breads and cakes covered with fresh whipping cream were collected, and microbiological evaluations conducted on the raw materials, the manufacturing processes and potential hazards. The result showed the presence of coliforms in fresh cream of cakes and the soybean paste of soybean paste breads at levels as high as 105 CFU/g on the hazard analysis of the raw materials. Moreover, the general levels of bacteria and coliforms were over those of the standards during the intermediate fermentation and molding processes. Furthermore, high levels of coliforms were detected on the hands of the salesmen and bakers themselves. This suggests that the CCPs (Critical Control Points), such as fresh cream and red bean paste manufacturing process desperately require better management. There is also a requirement for education relating to personal hygiene for the production of hygienic bakery products and for the publics health.

• 한국방재학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.02a
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• pp.163-167
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• 2007

For numerical analysis of a tidal flow, a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model is developed by solving the nonlinear shallow-water equations. The governing equations are discretized explicitly with a finite difference leap-frog scheme and a first-order upwind scheme on adaptive hierarchical quadtree grids. The developed model is verified by applying to prediction of tidal behaviors. The calculated tidal levels are compared to available field measurements. A very reasonable agreement is observed.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.319-331
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• 1999

The seismic hazard of Korea is briefly described. The seismic design requirements design earthquake levels and design response spectrum that are going to be adopted in the future code system are introduced. Characteristics of ground motion and seismic responses of structures in low to moderate seismicity regions are briefly described. The concept of limited ductility design that seems appropriate for the seismic design in Korea is explained.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.142-150
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• 2015

A portable recoilless guided missile generates a strong back blast and impulsive noise at the nozzle when it launches. In the case of indoor operations, the hazard of the blast noise from a recoilless weapon increases due to limited indoor spaces. Also, the noise levels determine the operational feasibility of a weapon; therefore, it is important to predict the blast noise levels distribution in the indoor space in advance. In addition, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method generally used for fluid related simulations, requires high computing cost and time to simulate the whole domains. The domain includes both blast wave region and large and various indoor space region. Therefore, an efficient method for predicting the far-field noise level within a short time should be developed. This paper describes an analysis model for predicting the indoor noise distributions by considering the shape effect of the building within a short time. A new developed blast wave model was implemented using the noise source. Additionally, noise reflections at the closed surfaces such as walls and noise transmissions at the opened surfaces such as windows and doors were considered in calculating the noise levels. The predicted noise levels were compared with the experimental data obtained from the indoor launch test to validate the reliability of program.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-25
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• 1999

Concerns about meat quality, including chicken meat, for the human diet has led to many attempts to manipulate the carcass fat and increase the eating quality. For actual eating quality, the birds must be grown and finished in a manner that results in meat that are tender, succulent and of good flavor, as well as being free from any foreign taint, flavor or safety hazard. Tenderization treatment with high voltage(820V) electrical stimulation and prechill muscle tensioning would improve the tenderness of chicken meat. Proper programs for the withdrawal of feed and water require a team approach for maximizing yield of meat and minimizing carcass contamination. Also effding of supplemental levels of-tocopherol to poultry with vegetable or fish oils increases of desirable polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA) content and stablizes the meat against rancidity and fish off-flavors. The nutritional effects of varying dietary ingredients on broiler carcass fat content are also important. Increasing the levels of energy in the ration increases the carcass fat content, while increasing the proteing levels decreases carcass fat content. Supplement-tation of poultry diets with amino acids such as methionine, lysine, glycine and tryptophan as well as amino acid such as well as amino acid mixtures can reduce body fat deposition. Normal stress leads to chicken muscular damage resulting in reduced meat quality, but this can be controlled by preslaughter management practices. Feed manufactures can utilize ntilize nutrient modulation to control pale soft exudative(PSE)syndrome. Finally, the success in poultry meat production depends on the consistent achievement of carefully selected levels of quality. Quality assurance should be the wider function of incorporating quality into the production system and the combination of motivating quality into actions and operations.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2020

Purpose: D-dimer levels are known to be associated with poor outcomes in patients with various cancers, but their significance at the end of life remains unclear. This study investigated D-dimer levels as a prognostic indicator for terminal cancer patients in the last hours of life. Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at a palliative care unit of a tertiary cancer center, using a database to analyze the records of patients treated from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2018. In total, 67 terminal cancer patients with available data on D-dimer levels were included. Patients' demographic data, clinical information, and laboratory values, including D-dimer levels, were collected. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. A Cox proportional-hazards model was used to identify prognostic factors of poor survival. Results: The most common site of cancer was the lung (32.8%) and the median survival time was 5 days. Most laboratory results, particularly D-dimer levels, deviated from the normal range. Patients with high D-dimer levels had a significantly shorter survival time than those with low D-dimer levels (4 days vs. 7 days; P=0.012). In the Cox regression analysis, only a high D-dimer level was identified as a predictor of a poor prognosis (hazard ratio, 1.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.09~3.07). Conclusion: Our results suggest that at the very end of life, D-dimer levels may serve as a prognostic factor for survival in cancer patients.