• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제51권3호
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• pp.837-842
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• 2019

A large amount of radioactive material was released from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) in 2011 and dispersed into the environment. Though seven years have passed since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, some parts of Japan are still under the influence of radionuclide contamination, especially Fukushima Prefecture and prefectures neighboring Fukushima Prefecture. The long-term effective doses and the contributions of each exposure pathway (5 exposure pathways) and radionuclide ($^{131}I$, $^{134}Cs$, and $^{137}Cs$) were evaluated for people living in the regions of Fukushima and neighboring prefectures in Japan using a developed dose assessment code system with Japanese specific input data. The results estimated in this study were compared with data from previously published reports. Groundshine and ingestion were predicted to contribute most significantly to the total long-term dose for all regions. The contributions of each exposure pathway and radionuclide show different patterns for certain regions of Japan.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.12-29
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• 2011

Risk-based screening levels (RBSLs) of some pollutants for residential adults were derived with risk assessment tools developed by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and Korea Ministry of Environment (KMOE) and compared each other. To make the comparison simple, ingestion of soil, dermal contact with soil, outdoor inhalation of vapors, indoor inhalation of vapors, and inhalation of soil particulates were chosen as exposure pathways. The results showed that the derived RBSLs varied for every exposure pathway. For direct exposure pathways (i.e., ingestion of soil and dermal contact with soil), the derived RBSLs varied mainly due to the different default values for exposure factors and toxicity data. When identical default values for the parameters were used, the same RBSLs could be derived regardless of the assessment tools used. For inhalation of vapors and inhalation of soil particulates, however, different analysis methods for cross-media transfer rates were used and different assumptions were established for each tool, identical RBSLs could not be obtained even if the same default values for exposure factors were used. Especially for inhalation of soil particulates pathway, screening level derived using KMOE approach (most conservative) was approximately 5000~10000 times lower than the screening level derived using ASTM approach (least conservative). Our results suggest that, when deriving RBSL using a specific tool, it is a prerequisite to technically review the analysis methods for cross-media transfer rates as well as to understand how the assessment tool derives the default values for exposure factors.

• 한국방사성폐기물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국방사성폐기물학회 2004년도 학술논문집
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• pp.361-367
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• 2004

원전 주변 주민들의 $^3H$ 및 $^14C$ 섭취선량을 평가하는데 필요한 농작물중 $^3H$ 와 $^14C$농도를 계산하기 위하여 국내 4개 원전 주변 10개 지역에서 채취한 채소 및 과일류의 수분, 수소 및 탄소함량을 분석하였다. 조사 대상 농작물은 2001~2002년 보건복지부 국민건강ㆍ영양 조사결과에 근거하여 결정하였고, 그것들의 섭취량 백분율을 식품가중치로 취하여 그룹 대푯값을 산출하였다. 원전 주변 농작물 시료들의 수분, 수소 및 탄소함량을 분석한 결과, 곡류는 현재 원전의 주민피폭선량 평가코드인 K-DOSE60에 적용중인 값과 유사하게 나타났다. 무 등의 근채류는 현행 ODCM의 채소류보다 3.5배정도 높은 수소함량을 보였고, 엽채류 및 과일류의 수분, 수소 및 탄소함량이 현행 ODCM과 비교하여 약 0.7~1.3배정도의 값을 보였다.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.171-180
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• 2016

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent liver diseases associated with an altered lifestyle, besides genetic factors. The control and management of NAFLD mostly depend on lifestyle modifications, due to the lack of a specific therapeutic approach. In this context, we assessed the effect of carrot juice on the development of high fructose-induced hepatic steatosis. For this purpose, male weanling Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, fed either a control (Con) or high fructose (HFr) diet of AIN93G composition, with or without carrot juice (CJ) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, plasma biochemical markers, such as triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, and ${\beta}$-hydroxy butyrate levels were comparable among the 4 groups. Although, the liver injury marker, aspartate aminotransferase, levels in plasma showed a reduction, hepatic triglycerides levels were not significantly reduced by carrot juice ingestion in the HFr diet-fed rats (HFr-CJ). On the other hand, the key triglyceride synthesis pathway enzyme, hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), expression at mRNA level was augmented by carrot juice ingestion, while their protein levels showed a significant reduction, which corroborated with decreased monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), particularly palmitoleic (C16:1) and oleic (C18:1) acids. Notably, it also improved the long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6) content of the liver in HFr-CJ. In conclusion, carrot juice ingestion decreased the SCD1-mediated production of MUFA and improved DHA levels in liver, under high fructose diet-fed conditions. However, these changes did not significantly lower the hepatic triglyceride levels.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제13권1_2호
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• pp.49-54
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• 1997

PCBs are classified as B2 (Probable human carcinogen) based on the induction of hepatocellular carcinomas in rats and mice from IRIS (Integrated Risk Information System). About 20 years ago, PCBs were phased out for electrical use in Korea, but PCBs were continuously used in the other field. Lately, there has been increasing concern on possible effects of contaminated soil to the other environment and human health. The purpose of this study is to determine PCBs level in soil at some site and to assess the human exposure doses according to exposure routes for people living within sites which expected to be exposed to PCBs. Pollution level of PCBs on the site was monitored using gas liquid chromatography. To assess the transport of PCBs in soil to plant and to air, various transfer factors(diffusion coefficient, bioconcentration factor etc.) were considered in simple calculations. To calculate the residential exposure doses by routes, some equations were considered using assumption value, which define inhalation, ingestion (soil, plant) and derreal uptake pathway. Computated results will be used as risk assessment information for human health evaluation on contaminated soil.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.75-85
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• 1990

Kalsruhe원자력 연구소(KfK) 주변의 방사능 측정자료로부터 피폭선량을 계산하였다. 식물성 식품의 섭취가 가장 중요한 피폭 경로였고, 식품중의 자연방사성 동위원소인 K-40 과 Pb-210이 주요 피폭원이었다. 인공방사능에의한 피폭은 대부분 지표에 침척된 Cs-134 와 Cs-137으로부터 방출되는 감마선 때문이었다. KfK주변환경에서의 유효선량당량은 ICRP의 권고제한치보다 훨씬 적은 값이었다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.107-116
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• 2002

Arsenic (As) is a ubiquitous element found in several forms in foods and water. Although certain foods, such as marine fish, contain substantial levels of organic arsenic forms, they are relatively low in toxicity compared to inorganic forms. in contrast, arsenic in drinking water is predominantly inorganic and highly toxic. Chronic ingestion of arsenic-contaminated drinking water is therefore the major pathway posing potential risk to human hearth. since the early 1990s in Bangladesh ozone, arsenic exposure has caused more than 7,000 deaths and uncounted thousands shout symptoms of long-term arsenic poisoning. Significant portion of world populations are exposed to low to moderate levels of arsenic of parts per billion (ppb) to hundreds of ppb. As a consequence, the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. environmental health agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made arsenic their highest priority. Recently, the WHO, European Union (EU), and US. EPA lowered an acceptable level of 10 ppb for arsenic in drinking water In this article, various health effects of arsenic in drinking water were reviewed and the current status for risk assessment to regulate arsenic in drinking water was discussed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.344-352
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• 2012

Mercury is a toxic and non-essential metal in the human body. Mercury is ubiquitously distributed in the environment, present in natural products, and exists extensively in items encountered in daily life. There are three forms of mercury, i.e., elemental (or metallic) mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds. This review examines the toxicity of elemental mercury and inorganic mercury compounds. Inorganic mercury compounds are water soluble with a bioavailability of 7% to 15% after ingestion; they are also irritants and cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Upon entering the body, inorganic mercury compounds are accumulated mainly in the kidneys and produce kidney damage. In contrast, human exposure to elemental mercury is mainly by inhalation, followed by rapid absorption and distribution in all major organs. Elemental mercury from ingestion is poorly absorbed with a bioavailability of less than 0.01%. The primary target organs of elemental mercury are the brain and kidney. Elemental mercury is lipid soluble and can cross the blood-brain barrier, while inorganic mercury compounds are not lipid soluble, rendering them unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. Elemental mercury may also enter the brain from the nasal cavity through the olfactory pathway. The blood mercury is a useful biomarker after short-term and high-level exposure, whereas the urine mercury is the ideal biomarker for long-term exposure to both elemental and inorganic mercury, and also as a good indicator of body burden. This review discusses the common sources of mercury exposure, skin lightening products containing mercury and mercury release from dental amalgam filling, two issues that happen in daily life, bear significant public health importance, and yet undergo extensive debate on their safety.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.291-299
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• 2019

Background: Ginsenosides of Korean Red Ginseng extracts (RGE) and its saponin components suppress secretion of inflammasome-mediating cytokines, whereas the nonsaponin fraction (NS) of RGE oppositely stimulates cytokine secretion. Although direct exposure of NS to macrophages in mice induces cytokine production, oral administration of NS has not been studied in inflammasome-related disease in animal models. Methods: Mice were fed RGE or NS for 7 days and then developed peritonitis. Peritoneal cytokines were measured, and peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) were collected to assay expression levels of a set of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and cytokines in response to NS ingestion. In addition, the role of intestinal bacteria in NS-fed mice was assessed. The effect of preexposure to NS in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) on cytokine production was further confirmed. Results: NS ingestion attenuated secretion of peritoneal cytokines resulting from peritonitis. In addition, the isolated PECs from NS-fed mice presented lower TLR transcription levels than PECs from control diet-fed mice. BMDMs treated with NS showed downregulation of TLR4 mRNA and protein expression, which was mediated by the $TLR4-MyD88-NF{\kappa}B$ signal pathway. BMDMs pretreated with NS produced less cytokines in response to TLR4 ligands. Conclusion: NS administration directly inhibits TLR4 expression in inflammatory cells such as macrophages, thereby reducing secretion of cytokines during peritonitis.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.97-102
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• 2007

본 연구에서는 폐금속광산 지역에서 중금속이 인체에 미치는 위해영향을 정량적으로 평가하기 위하여 3개 금속광산 주변 지역에서 농경지 토양, 농작물 및 지하수를 채취하여 화학분석을 실시하였다. 이들 폐금속광산 주변에 야적된 광산폐기물(광미)은 바람이나 집중 강우에 의해 광미댐 하부에 있는 농경지나 하천으로 유입되어 주변 환경을 오염시킬 가능성이 크다. 따라서 폐금속광산에서의 인체노출경로는 농사활동을 통한 토양의 섭취, 지하수(식수)의 섭취, 쌀의 섭취, 농사활동에 의한 토양의 피부접촉 등 4가지로 파악할 수 있었다. 각 노출경로별 비발암성위해도 평가 결과, 모든 광산에서 쌀의 섭취를 통한 중금속의 독성위해도가 가장 높게 나타났다. 광산별 4가지의 인체노출경로를 총합한 HI 지수가 3개 광산 모두 9.0 이상을 나타내었으며, 특히 B 광산이 HI 29.2로 중금속에 의한 독성위해도가 가장 높은 것으로 판명되었다. 비소에 대한 발암위해도 평가 결과, 3개의 폐금속광산 지역에서 쌀 섭취의 노출경로를 통한 비소에 의해 암이 발생할 확률이 천명중의 1명 이상으로 높게 나타났다. 이는 환경부 토양오염 위해성평가지침(안)과 미국 EPA에서 제시한 허용가능한 초과발암위해도보다도 크므로 이들 지역 주민들이 비소에 의해 오염된 농작물(쌀)을 지속적으로 장기간 섭취하게 된다면 비소가 건강에 미치는 위해영향이 크다고 판단된다.