• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.261-266
• /
• 2010

In the workplace, the arsenic is used in the semiconductor production and the manufacturing of pigments, glass, pesticides and fungicides. Therefore, workers may be exposed to airborne arsenic during its use in manufacturing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential toxicity of particulate matters (PMs) doped with arsenic (PMs-Arsenic) using a rodent model and to compare the genotoxicity in various concentrations and to examine the role of PMs-Arsenic in the induction of signaling pathway in the lung. Mice were exposed to PMs $124.4{\pm}24.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (low concentration), $220.2{\pm}34.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (middle concentration), $426.4{\pm}40.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (high concentration) doped with arsenic $1.4\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (Low concentration), $2.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (middle concentration), $5.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (high concentration) for 4 wks (6 h/d, 5 d/wk), respectively in the whole-body inhalation exposure chambers. To determine the level of genotoxicity, Chromosomal aberration (CA) assay in splenic lymphocytes and Supravital micronucleus (SMN) assay were performed. Then, signal pathway in the lung was analyzed. In the genotoxicity experiments, the increases of aberrant cells were concentration-dependent. Also, PMs-arsenic caused peripheral blood micronucleus frequency at high concentration. The inhalation of PMs-Arsenic increased an expression of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt: protein kinase B) and phpsphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) at high concentration group. Taken together, inhaled PMs-Arsenic caused genotoxicity and altered Akt signaling pathway in the lung. Therefore, the inhalation of PMs-Arsenic needs for a careful risk assessment in the workplace.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.515-522
• /
• 2007

To develop the manufacturing method of ice cream with microbiologically safe and proper sensory quality using irradiation for sensitive consumer, 3 different flavors, which were resistant to their flavors against irradiation, were selected and used for ice cream manufacturing to reduce the irradiation-induced off-flavor problem. The general composition was not different among treatments. Total aerobic bacteria were detected as 2.38, 1.23, 1.38, and 1.15 log CFU/g level in ice cream with control(no flavor added), spearmint, mint, and citrus flavor, respectively. No viable cells were observed by irradiation at 1 kGy except for the control. Sensory evaluation indicated that the irradiated ice cream with spearmint flavor at 1 kGy and citrus flavor at 3 kGy had higher overall acceptability. Therefore, a low dose irradiation (less than 3 kGy) with mint or citrus flavors may enhance the safety of ice cream with proper sensory quality for sensitive consumer.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.382-387
• /
• 2005

The aim of this study was to identify binding properties of germanium (Ge) in Germanium-fortified Yeast using optimum manufacturing process. The ratio of yeast cell and germanium solution was 1 : 0.5 (50%), and pH 6.5, $35^{\circ}C$ and 20 h during fermentation, and Germanium-fortified Yeast produced. In results of the XRD, NMR and FT-IR analysis, it was different adding inorganic Ge $(GeO_2)$ during fermentation process from transformed into germanium in Germanium-fortified Yeast. And germanium concentration was not shown any difference before and after in the dialysis test with SGF (simulated gastric fluids). Therefore, Germanium-fortified Yeast of Geranti made by using biosynthetic technology was considered that transformed into organic properties during fermentation process. And, this result showed that Germanium-fortified Yeast was not dissociated under SGF (simulated gastric fluids) condition because of its structural binding safety. Thus, Germanium-fortified Yeast was transformed into organic germanium during biosynthetic cultivation. It is expected that this Germanium-fortified Yeast can be applied as a new dietary functional materials for cellular immunity, recovery of injured cells and immune system, and possible anticancer activities by activation immune cells like macrophage.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.28 no.1 s.49
• /
• pp.225-243
• /
• 1995

Benzidine Industry in Korea has started after Japan has banned its production in early 1970's, and it has been in operation in Korea for over 20 years. However, it is not known yet whether any bladder cancer has developed from benzidine exposure. This study was done to screen benzidine-exposed workers for bladder cancer, and to examine the feasibility of employing screening test at the workplace. All the workplaces that manufacture or use benzidine for more than 20 years in Korea have been covered in this study, and they include 2 benzidine manufacturing factories, 5 benzidine using factories, as well as 2 benzidine free factories as an outside control. In total, 516 workers were screened with urine stick test and urine cytology test for the evidence of hematuria and abnormal urothelial cells. Each worker was also asked about risk factors and symptoms of bladder cancer including past medical history, smoking, medication and occupational history Benzidine in the air was measured by personal and area sampling. Out of 516 screened workers, 84(16.3%) workers showed positive hematuria in urine stick test, and 7(1.4%) workers showed degenerative cells in urine cytology tests. Those workers with abnormal urine test results who have been exposed to benzidine fo more than 10 years were further screened, and, in total, 23 workers were examined with intra-venous pyelography and cystoscopy. None of those screened had any evidence of bladder cancer When workers with only past hematuria history were included in the positive hematuria group, 96(18.5%) had positive hematuria. On the multiple logistic regression analysis, positive hematuria was significantly associated with benzidine exposure, history of other occupations with elevated bladder cancer risk, pyuria and glycosuria. The association got stronger as direct benzidine exposure was accounted through individual task analysis, and as exposure duration was accounted with tenure analysis. For those with benzidine exposure with more than 10 years of tenure, the odds of having positive hematuria was elevated 2.14(95%C.I is 1.08 to 4.25) times more than for those without exposure. Even though bladder cancer was not detected for several limitations including short observation period, majority of studied workers with short latency, healthy worker effect, and low sensitivity of single screening test in a cross-sectional study, the study results suggest that hematuria screening is a feasible and very useful test for bladder cancer screening among benzidine exposed workers.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.3-14
• /
• 2020

Titanium sponge is industrially produced by the Kroll process. In order to understand the importance of the emerging smelting and recycling process, it is necessary to review the conventional production process of titanium. Therefore this paper provides a general overview of the conventional titanium manufacturing system mainly by the Kroll process. The Kroll process can be divided into four sub-processes as follows: (1) Chlorination of raw TiO₂ with coke, by the fluidized bed chlorination or molten salt chlorination (2) Magnesium reduction of TiCl₄ and vacuum distillation of MgCl₂ and Mg by reverse U-type or I-type with reduction-distillation integrated retorts (3) Electrolysis process of MgCl₂ by monopolar cells or multipolar cells to electrolyze into chlorine gas and Mg. (4) Crushing and melting process in which sponge titanium is crushed and then melted in a vacuum arc furnace or an electron beam furnace Although the apparatus and procedures have improved over the past 80 years, the Kroll process is the costly and time-consuming batch operation for the reduction of TiCl₄ and the separation of MgCl₂.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.82-88
• /
• 2011

The artificial increase in the solar intensity incident on solar cells using lenses or mirrors can allow solar cells to generate equivalent power with a lower cost. There are two types of concentration optics for solar energy conversion. One is to use mirrors, and the other is to use Fresnel lenses. The gains that can be achieved with a Fresnel lens or a parabolic mirror are compared. The result showed the gains are comparable and the two configurations were developed competitively. In application areas of Fresnel lenses as solar concentrators, several variations of design were devised and tested. Some PV systems still use commercially available flat Fresnel lenses as concentrators. A convex linear Fresnel lens to improve the concentration ratio and the efficiency is devised and flat linear Fresnel lens in thermal energy collection is utilized. In this study, we designed and optimized flat Fresnel lens and the 'light pipe' to develop 500X concentrated solar PV system. In the process, we compare the transmission efficiencies according to groove types. We performed rigorous ray tracing simulation of the flat Fresnel lenses. The computer aided simulation showed the 'grooves in case' has the better efficiency than that of 'grooves out case'. Based on the ray-trace results we designed and manufactured sample Fresnel lenses. The optical performance were measured and compared with ray-trace results. Finally, the optical efficiency was measured to be above 75%. All the design and manufacturing were performed based on that InGaP/InGaAs/Ge triple junction solar cell is used to convert the photon energy to electrical power. Field test will be made and analyzed in the near future.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.657-663
• /
• 2011

$Bacillus$ $cereus$ is widely distributed on various foods and is known to cause clinical infections, food poisoning toxin induced diarrhea and vomiting. In this study, $B.$ $cereus$ group detected and analyzed rice, rice bran, and biofilm characterization of $B.$ $cereus$ confirmed. $B.$ $cereus$ was identified in approximately 34.6% of brown rice and 50.0% of rice bran. $B.$ $thuringiensis$ was detected in 3.9% of brown rice and 23% of rice bran, and $B.$ $mycoides$ was isolated from rice bran. The microtiter plate assay detected differences in biofilm-forming ability among $B.$ $cereus$ group isolates. Biofilm of $B.$ $cereus$ seemed to increase the MIC values of antimicrobial agent and antibiotic compounds compared with planktonic cells. Therefore, sufficient attention should be given to good manufacturing practice and good agriculture practice to avoid contamination of $B.$ $cereus$ group raw material including rice.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.266-272
• /
• 2013

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of low-level exposure to toluene on T lymphocytes subpopulations.s. Methods: The study lasted from April to October 2010. The subjects were 390 male workers, among whom 137 were chronically exposed to toluene in video-tape manufacturing factories and 253 were controls had never been occupationally exposed to hazardous chemicals. The subpoupulations of CD4+, CD8+, CD16+ (natural killer cells) and total (CD3+) T lymphocytes were examined by two-color staining using monoclonal antibodies. The general and job characteristics of subjects were assessed through a self-administered questionnaire. Results: There was no significant difference in general and job characteristics between both groups. No significant difference in lipid peroxide level was observed between the control and exposed workers, but the concentration of hydrogen peroxide was significantly higher in the exposed workers. The numbers of CD16+ T lymphocytes in controls were significantly higher than those in exposed workers, but no significant differences were found in CD4+, CD8+ and CD3+ T lymphocytes. Hydrogen peroxide levels showed a significantly negative correlation with CD8+ (r = -0.29, p < 0.01), CD16+ (r = -0.56, p < 0.01) and CD3+(r = -0.22. p < 0.01), and toluene levels was significantly negative correlated with CD3+ (r = -0.29, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that chronic low-level exposure to toluene affects cell-mediated immunity and the effects might mediate through ROSs (Reactive Oxygen Species) such as hydrogen peroxide.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.217-223
• /
• 2007

Cosmetic products including toner and essence were manufactured to evaluate the effect of green tea polyphenols. In addition, irradiation was applied to remove an undesirable color of green tea polyphenol(GTP), which may cause a problem in marketing. The growth inhibition rates of GTP, PT, and PE on all cell lines were shown to be over 80% at 500 ppm concentration. Especially the growth inhibition rates of GTP, PT, and PE on human melanoma(G361) cells were shown to be over 80% at only 100 ppm concentration. Results indicate that the addition of irradiated green tea polyphenol may be effective in the manufacturing of functional cosmetics including toner and essence with various anti-cancer activities.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2011.10a
• /
• pp.35.1-35.1
• /
• 2011

New photovoltaic (PV) materials and manufacturing approaches are needed for meeting the demand for lower-cost solar cells. The prototypal thin-film photovoltaic absorbers (CdTe and $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$) can achieve solar conversion efficiencies of up to 20% and are now commercially available, but the presence of toxic (Cd,Se) and expensive elemental components (In, Te) is a real issue as the demand for photovoltaics rapidly increases. To overcome these limitations, there has been substantial interest in developing viable alternative materials, such as $Cu_2ZnSnS_4$ (CZTS) is an emerging solar absorber that is structurally similar to CIGS, but contains only earth abundant, non-toxic elements and has a near optimal direct band gap energy of 1.4~1.6 ev and a large absorption coefficient of ${\sim}10^4\;cm^{-1}$. The CZTS absorber layers are grown and investigated by various fabrication methods, such as thermal evaporation, e-beam evaporation with a post sulfurization, sputtering, non-vacuum sol-gel, pulsed laser, spray-pyrolysis method and electrodeposition technique. In the present work, we report an alternative method for large area deposition of CZTS thin films that is potentially high throughput and inexpensive when used to produce monolithically integrated solar panel modules. Specifically, we have developed an aqueous chemical approach based on chemical bath deposition (CBD) with a subsequent sulfurization heat treatment. Samples produced by our method were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, absorbance and photoluminescence. The results show that this inexpensive and relatively benign process produces thin films of CZTS exhibiting uniform composition, kesterite crystal structure, and good optical properties. A preliminary solar cell device was fabricated to demonstrate rectifying and photovoltaic behavior.