• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 2009

Korea is representative of a country that consumes herbal medicines; most of the herbal medicines circulating in South Korea have been imported from developing countries in Southeast Asia, such as China and Indonesia. Recently, domestic hygiene and safety are issues that have come to the forefront, because herbal medicines currently in circulation could possibly contain contaminants or residues. Furthermore, the appearance or discovery of harmful new species due to environmental and industrial developments is becoming a social problem. Therefore, it may be necessary to consider and investigate these matters on a continual basis. Recently, mycotoxin contaminations in such foods as cereals, nuts, and powdered red pepper have been reported. They have become a problematic issue; the possibility of contamination in herbal medicines has also been considered. Nevertheless, recognition of and research into mycotoxin contamination in herbal medicines has been scarce because herbal medicine is used in only a few nations. In this research, we identified contamination by aflatoxin which is known to be the most potent mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic mycotoxin in Thujae Semen, a herbal medicine. We also found co-contaminations involving other mycotoxins, including ochratoxin A and zeraleanone.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.247-251
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• 2004

We developed a polyclonal antibody (PAh) based- ELISA system to accurately and rapidly monitor inocula on plant surface before onset of anthracnose. Titer of mouse antisera against conidia of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was determined by using indirect ELISA. It was high enough to be detectable up to ${\times}$ 12,800 dilutions. Absorbance readings exceeded (1.5even at a 10$^{-5}$ dilution. Sensitivity of PAb was precise enough to detect spore concentration as low as 50 conidia/well by indirect ELISA. PAb1 and PAb2 proved to be very sensitive and highly specific to the target pathogen, C. gloeosporioides, apparently discriminating other unrelated pathogens, or epiphytes. Absorbance values for original isolate exceeded 1.0, but no reaction was detected with other isolates, except three other anthracnose fungi: C. gloeosporioides (pepper strain), Glomerella cingulata (apple strain) and C. lagenarium. Our data suggest that PAb1 and PAb2 bind with the protein epitope that partially contains residues of amino acid, arginine, and Iysine. This kit fulfills the require-ments for detecting inoculums before infection and during onset of anthracnose on sweet persimmon.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.104-116
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: This experiment was conducted to establish a simultaneous analysis method for 7 kinds of herbicides in 3 different classes having similar physicochemical property as diphenyl ether(bifenox and oxyfluorfen), dinitroaniline (ethalfluralin and trifluralin), and chloroacetamide (metolachlor, pretilachlor, and thenylchlor) in crops using GC-ECD/MS. METHODS AND RESULTS: All the 7 pesticide residues were extracted with acetone from representative samples of five raw products which comprised apple, green pepper, Kimchi cabbage, hulled rice and soybean. The extract was diluted with saline water and directly partitioned into n-hexane/dichloromethane(80/20, v/v) to remove polar co-extractives in the aqueous phase. For the hulled rice and soybean samples, n-hexane/acetonitrile partition was additionally employed to remove non-polar lipids. The extract was finally purified by optimized Florisil column chromatography. The analytes were separated and quantitated by GLC with ECD using a DB-1 capillary column. Accuracy and precision of the proposed method was validated by the recovery experiment on every crop samples fortified with bifenox, ethalfluralin, metolachlor, oxyfluorfen, pretilachlor, thenylchlor, and trifluralin at 3 concentration levels per crop in each triplication. CONCLUSION: Mean recoveries of the 7 pesticide residues ranged from 75.7 to 114.8% in five representative agricultural commodities. The coefficients of variation were all less than 10%, irrespective of sample types and fortification levels. Limit of quantitation (LOQ) of the analytes were 0.004 (etahlfluralin and trifluralin), 0.008 (metolachlor and pretilachlor), 0.006 (thenylchlor), 0.002 (oxyfluorfen), and 0.02 (bifenox) mg/kg as verified by the recovery experiment. A confirmatory technique using GC/MS with selected-ion monitoring was also provided to clearly identify the suspected residues. Therefore, this analytical method was reproducible and sensitive enough to determine the residues of bifenox, ethalfluralin, metolachlor, oxyfluorfen, pretilachlor, thenylchlor, and trifluralin in agricultural commodities.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.108-114
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• 2014

To analyze the hazards associated with cucumber and hot pepper cultivation areas, a total of 72 samples were obtained and tested to detect the presence of biological (sanitary indicative, pathogenic bacteria and fungi) and chemical hazards (heavy metals and pesticide residues). The levels of sanitary indicative bacteria (aerobic plate counts and coliforms) and fungi were ND-7.2 and ND-4.8 log CFU/(g, mL, hand, or $100cm^2$) in cucumber cultivation areas, and ND-6.8 and 0.4-5.3 log CFU/(g, mL, hand, or $100cm^2$) in hot pepper cultivation areas. More specifically, the soil of hot pepper cultivation areas was contaminated with coliforms at a maximum level of 5.6 log CFU/g. Staphylococcus aureus was detected only in glove samples at a level of 1.4 log CFU/$100cm^2$ and Bacillus cereus was detected in the majority of samples at a level of ND-4.8 log CFU/(g, mL, hand, or $100cm^2$). Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella spp. were not detected. Heavy metal (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Hg) chemical hazards were detected at levels lower than the regulation limit. Residual insecticides were not detected in cucumbers; however, hexaconazole was detected at a level of 0.016 mg/kg (maximum residue limit: 0.3 mg/kg) in hot peppers.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.470-478
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• 2021

This study was conducted to monitor residual pesticides in a total of 527 school foodservice agricultural products from 2019 to 2020 in Incheon. Pesticide residues in the samples were analyzed by the multi-residue method in the Korean food code for 373 pesticides using GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, GC-ECD, GC-NPD, and HPLC-UVD. By monitoring the pesticides, 12 (2.3%) of the 527 pesticides were detected, and 2 (0.4%) samples exceeded the maximum residue limit. Twelve types of pesticides were detected in the agricultural products of carrot, chard, chili pepper, chwinamul, crown daisy, parsley, perilla leaves, and spinach. As a means of risk assessment through the consumption of agricultural products detected with pesticide residues, the proportion of estimated daily intake to acceptable daily intake was estimated in the range of 0.0000-39.7425%. Results showed no particular health risk through the consumption of school foodservice agricultural products with pesticide residues.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.228-238
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• 2021

The aim of this research was to develop a rapid and easy multi-residue method for determining dimethipin, omethoate, dimethipin, chlorfenvinphos and azinphos-methyl in agricultural products (hulled rice, potato, soybean, mandarin and green pepper). Samples were prepared using QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) and analyzed using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Residual pesticides were extracted with 1% acetic acid in acetonitrile followed by addition of anhydrous magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) and anhydrous sodium acetate. The extracts were cleaned up using MgSO₄, primary secondary amine (PSA) and octadecyl (C₁₈). The linearity of the calibration curves, which waas excellent by matrix-matched standards, ranged from 0.005 mg/kg to 0.3 mg/kg and yielded the coefficients of determination (R²) ≥ 0.9934 for all analytes. Average recoveries spiked at three levels (0.01, 0.1, 0.5 mg/kg) and were in the range of 74.2-119.3%, while standard deviation values were less than 14.6%, which is below the Codex guideline (CODEX CAC/GL 40).

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.220-227
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• 2021

Fluoroimide is a fungicide and is also used as a pesticide for persimmons and potatoes. The established fluoroimide pesticide analysis method takes a long time to perform and uses benzene, a carcinogen. In addition, a lower limit of quantification is required due to enforcement of the Positive List System. Therefore, this study aimed to improve the analysis method for residual fluoroimide to resolve the problems associated with the current method. The analytical method was improved with reference to the increased stability of fluoroimide under acidic conditions. Fluoroimide was extracted under acidic conditions by hydrogen chloride (4 N) and acetic acid. MgSO₄ and NaCl were used with acetonitrile. C₁₈ (octadecylsilane) 500 mg and graphitized carbon black 40 mg were used in the purification process. The experiment was conducted with agricultural products (hulled rice, potato, soybean, mandarin, green pepper), and liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry was used for the instrumental analysis. Recovery of fluoroimide was 85.7-106.9% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 15.6%. This study reports an improved method for the analysis of fluoroimide that might contribute to safety by substituting the use of benzene, a harmful solvent. Furthermore, the use of QuEChERS increased the efficiency of the improved method. Finally, this research confirmed the precise limit of quantification and these results could be used to improve the analysis of other residual pesticides in agricultural products.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to develop analytical method for picoxystrobin in agricultural commodities using GC/ECD and GC/MS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Each steps of analytical method were optimized for determining picoxystrobin residues in various agricultural commodities. The developed methods include acetone extraction, n-hexane/saline water partition and florisil column chromatography for analysis of all samples (apple, potato, green pepper, hulled rice and soybean), and in addition to these steps, solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for analysis of green pepper and n-hexane/acetonitrile partition was used for analysis of hulled rice and soybean. The instrumental conditions were tested for quantitation in GC/ECD and for confirmation in GC/MS. Recovery was in the range of 86~109% with RSD ${\leq}$10.2% and the quantitation limits (LOQ) of method were 0.025 mg/kg in all agricultural commodities. CONCLUSION: The result showed that the developed method can be used to determine picoxystrobin residue in agricultural commodities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.902-908
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• 2010

In 2008, we monitored residual pesticides of 15 agricultural products such as rice, corn, pea, chestnut, mandarin, lemon, onion, pineapple, lettuce, chard, sweet potato stalk, burdock, squash, sweet pepper and mushroom. Agricultural commodities were collected from markets in 22 provinces (Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Ulsan, Daejeon, Gwangju, Wonju, Pohang, Gumi, Changwon, Gimhae, Suwon, Seongnam, Bucheon, Goyang, Yongin, Cheongju, Cheonan, Jeonju, Yeosu, and Jeju). Total 48 pesticides were analysed by multi-residue method using GC/MS/MS. We analysed 1,064 samples and 34 samples (3.20%) were detected. Sweet potatostalk, burdock, chestnuts, peas, corn, chard, squash, mushroom and onions were found to be free from pesticide residues. 6 other agricultural products did not exceed MRLs (Maximum Residue Limits) by the Korean Food Code. Chloropyrifos and fenobucarb were particularly prevalent and also they were detected over 10 times in this monitoring. Nonetheless, the exposed quantity of the 7 residual pesticides is to be considered relatively safe, compared with the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of residual pesticides.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 2014

This experiment was conducted to establish an analytical method for residues of amisulbrom, as recently developed an oomycete-specific fungicide showing inhibition of fungal respiration, in crops using HPLC-UVD/MS. Amisulbrom residue was extracted with acetonitrile from representative samples of five raw products which comprised apple, green pepper, kimchi cabbage, potato and hulled rice. The extract was diluted with 50 mL of saline water and directly partitioned into dichloromethane to remove polar co-extractives in the aqueous phase. For the hulled rice sample, n-hexane/acetonitrile partition was additionally employed to remove non-polar lipids. The extract was finally purified by optimized Florisil column chromatography. On an octadecylsilyl column in HPLC, amisulbrom was successfully separated from sample co-extractives and sensitively quantitated by ultraviolet absorption at 255 nm with no interference. Accuracy and precision of the proposed method was validated by the recovery test on every crop samples fortified with amisulbrom at 3 concentration levels per crop in each triplication. Mean recoveries ranged from 85.3% to 105.6% in five representative agricultural commodities. The coefficients of variation were all less than 10%, irrespective of sample types and fortification levels. Limit of quantitation (LOQ) of amisulbrom was 0.04 mg/kg as verified by the recovery experiment. A confirmatory method using LC/MS with selected-ion monitoring technique was also provided to clearly identify the suspected residue. The proposed method was sensitive, reproducible and easy-to-operate enough to routinely determine the residue of amisulbrom in agricultural commodities.