• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.457-466
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• 2005

Industrial plasticizers such as phthalates can induce peroxisome proliferation. A growing concern among environmental and health groups has arisen because phthalates such as di-2-ethy1hexy1 phthalate (DEHP) and DBP may cause hormonal disorders, reproductive toxicity, hepatocellular tumors, genital disorders owing to a capacity to bind estrogen receptors, and a low-dose toxic action during certain periods of fetal development. Phthalate esters are used extensively as a plasticizer for plastic manufacture such as PVC bags and medical devices. This study investigated the effects of leached components from spring water container's cap and seal film. Phthalates, e.g. dimethy1 phthalate (DMP), diethy1 phthalate (DEP), di-n-buty1 phthalate (DBP), benzy1buty1 phthalate (BBP), di-(2-ethy1hexy1) phthalate (DEHP), and bisphenol A (BPA) were measured in the spring water. The bisphenol A was not detected or below the detection limit on the leaching from cap, sealing or spring water. DEHP were detected 90-116 ppb on the leaching from seal after 2 weeks, and 0.48-0.51 ppb from the spring water after I week. BBP were measured from seal within 1 week 25.4-66 ppb and below 0.12 ppb from spring water within 2 days. DMP were detected from seal within 2 weeks 51-68.5 ppb and 0.12 ppb after 2 weeks. DEP were measured from seal within 2 weeks 48.1-141 ppb and the concentrations were increased by the time from 0.10 to 0.31 ppb at spring water. DBP were detected from the seal within 2 weeks 92.3-5100 ppb and the concentration were decreased by the time from 0.24 to 0.10 ppb at spring water. These results indicate that some phthalate esters contaminated with spring water using the intact cap and seal film. It is concluded that the measured levels of phthalates leaching from these materials might in vivo only be slightly less than 1/10 of the LOAEL.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.257-261
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• 1992

Measurements of sulfur dioxide, ozone and meteorological parameters at Kosan, Cheju Island show clear indications of the influence of the source areas of both Korean Peninsular and Mainland China. Monthly mean levels in February of $SO_2$ and $O_3$ were 1.4 and 44 ppb, respectively. These Values are 2-30 times higher than those measured in remote are as such as Bermuda Island and Uto Island in Finland. Ozone loss in February and March were found to be 0.2 and 0.36 ppb/hr and correlation coefficient between ozone and solar radiation was 0.48. Also it was found that $SO_2$ levels were more than 2 times higher when the prevailing winds from WSW-NNE than from the rest.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 1997

Sulfonamides, a therapeutically important group of antimicrobial drugs, are widely used to treat and prevent the acute systemic and skin infections in dairy cattle. They also pose an economic hazard through inhibition of growth of dairy starter cultures. This study was carried out to compare four screening methods for detection of sulfamethazine in milk and determine the positive milk sample by HPLC method. Sulfamethazine was used to spike at five levels of sulfamethazine. The Lac-Tek test and CharmII test were also consistent better than TTCII test and Delvo SP test in sulfamethazine detection. Analysis probabilities of obtaining a positive response with TTCII test and Delvo SP test assay at 50 ppb sulfamethazine level in milk samples were only 14%, 42% each. Whereas using the Lac-Tek test and CharmII test would have resulted in 100% identification of the five levels. Determination of sufamethazine using the HPLC method in the spiked milk were 10.64, 19.30, 30.76,38.83 and 50.23 ppb, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2003

In order to know the effects of PCB(Arochlor 1248) on the oocyte maturation and proges-terone(P$_4$) production by FPH(Frog pituitary homogenate: 0.01 p.e/$m\ell$) of frog in vitro, the oocytes were cultured for 20 hours in presence of the PCB at various concentrations and exam-ined their maturation(germinal vesicle breakdown: GVBD) rates and P$_4$ levels secreted by the oocyte in the culture medium. The results show that PCB concentration of 10 ppb suppressed the maturation of the oocytes and secretion of P$_4$. To examine the reversibility of the inhibitory effects, the oocytes were exposed to the PCB only for 3 hours, and then transferred to plain medium and cultured further for 17 hours. The oocytes were recovered from the toxic effect of the PCB when they were exposed to 2.5 ppb, but not to 5 ppb of the PCB. These results indi-cate that PCB suppress the maturation of oocytes and secretion of p, at low concentration, sug-gesting that the frog oocyte culture system can be used as a useful tool to evaluate the toxicity of the pollutants in the environment.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2001

The personal exposures of nitrogen dioxide(NO$_2$), microenvironmental levels and daily time activity patterns on Seoul subway station workers were measured from February 10 to March 12, 1999. Personal NO$_2$exposure for 24 hours were 29.40$\pm$9.75 ppb. NO$_2$level of occupational environment were 27.87$\pm$7.15 ppb in office, 33.60$\pm$8.64 ppb in platform and 50.13$\pm$13.04 ppb in outdoor. Personal exposure time of subway station workers was constituted as survey results with $7.94\pm$3.00 hours in office, $2.82\pm$1.63 hours in platform and 1 hours in outdoor. With above results, personal $NO_2$exposure distributions on subway station workers in Seoul were estimated with Monte Carlo simulation which uses statistical probabilistic theory on various exposure scenario testing. Some of distributions which did not have any formal patterns were assumed as custom distribution type. Estimated personal occupational $NO_2$exposure using time weighted average (TWA) model was 31.$29\pm$5.57 ppb, which were under Annual Ambient Standard (50ppb) of Korea. Though arithmetic means of measured personal $NO_2$exposure was lower than that of occupational $NO_2$exposure estimated by TWA model, considering probability distribution type simulated, probability distribution of measured personal $NO_2$exposures for 24 hours was over ambient standard with 3.23%, which was higher than those of occupational exposure(0.02%). Further research is needed for reducing these 24 hour $NO_2$personal excess exposures besides occupational exposure on subway station workers in Seoul.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.532-536
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• 2005

GC-NPD analysis was performed on residues of aluminium phosphide in raw wheat and wheat products by trapping gaseous phosphine in the headspace of vessel. In Australian wheat, over 95% of samples were detected below 1 ppb, considered as safe level, whereas in American wheat, about 70% of 58 samples were detected within 1-10 ppb with 4 showing over 10 ppb. About 14-22% phosphine residues of raw wheat were retained after milling process. Wheat samples of same origin showed significant varying levels of phosphine.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.253-264
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• 2002

Surface ozone concentrations measured at 40 monitoring sites in three major cities (Seoul, Busan, and Daegu) of Korea during 1993~2000 were analyzed to understand the characteristics of temporal and spatial distributions. Trends were analyzed for annual mean, 95th percentiles of daily 8-hour maximum and days exceeding 8-h ozone standard of 60 ppb. Three indicators exhibited increasing trends (+0.75 ppb yr$^{-1}$ , +2.20 ppb yr$_{-1}$ , and +5.35 days yr$_{-1}$ on average) throughout the study period at all cities. Diurnal and seasonal variations were the largest in Seoul followed by Daegue and Busan, due to the high photochemical production and titration of ozone (Seoul), strong wind and constant supply of background ozone from the ocean (Busan). In the urban centers and industrial areas at all cities, scavenging of ozone by NO reduces the daily 8-hour maximum ozone by 10 ppb on average. High concentrations of ozone have frequently occurred in downwind eastern (Seoul and Daegu) or northern (Busan) sides of the territory. In particular, the coastal area of Busan had relatively high ozone level due to the local sea land breeze circulation. The results indicated that the temporal and spatial variations of ozone concentration were non -uniform and were closely related to the local environments; emission levels, climates, and geographic locations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 1999

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous contaminants in coastal marine environment. PAHs enter estuarine and nearshore marine environment via several routes such as combustion of fossil fuels, domestic and industrial effluents and oil spills. In August of 1997, sediment and mussels (Mytilus edulis) were collected at 6 sites near Kori nuclear power plant in order to analyze the PAH content by HPLC with uv/vis detection. The concentrations of 15 PAH in sediment ranged from < 1 to 5,900 ppb ( mean 173.5$\pm$99.7 ppb), and in mussels, from < 0.5 to 4,125 ppb (mean 105$\pm$60.5 ppb). Compared with other studies world over, the concentrations of carcinogenic PAHs were relatively low in both sediment and mussels from the intertidal zone of Kori. This study presents preliminary data for the PAH levels in sediment and mussels from the intertidal zone of Kori, and the data will hopefully be utilized for the assessment of oil pollution in the Southeast East Sea, Korea (especially for the PAHs).

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.20 no.4 s.58
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• pp.69-75
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• 2005

Professional taxi driver exposure to indoor air pollutants has been a subject of concern in recent years because of higher levels of air pollutants, comparing to the surrounding atmosphere. This study evaluated the potential exposure to respirable suspended particulate (RSP), nitrogen dioxide $(NO_2)$ and volatile organic compounds (VOCs; benzene and toluene) for professional taxi drivers inside each of 10 vehicles in Pusan, comparing weekday (Monday and Thursday) and weekend (Saturday). Indoor mean concentrations of RSP inside vehicle were $53.88\;ug/m^3\;and\;75.52\;ug/m^3$ on weekday and weekend, respectively. Measured indoor $NO_2$ concentrations were 28.32ppb and 40.69 ppb, respectively. Benzene and toluene mean concentrations inside vehicle were 5.41 ppb and 11.36 ppb, respectively. Considering no smoking of taxi drivers inside vehicle, closed window in winter, and increased usage of taxi on weekend, source of indoor air pollutants inside taxi might be mainly suggested from the number of passenger's carried, faulty exhaust systems, and engine and carburetor evaporative emissions.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.238-246
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• 2009

Acrylamide in various food samples in Korea were monitored during the period beginning August 2006 through May 2007. A total of 471 food products that were purchased at local markets were categorized into 17 groups and analyzed for the acrylamide content by using an LC-MS/MS method. Food samples that were selected based on special consideration such as expert consultation, Korean food consumption data and food market shares were considered to be representative. There are very large variations in acrylamide levels within tested foods. Acrylamide content ranged from ND(not detected) to $4,002{\mu}g$/kg with all tested samples. Acrylamide levels are relatively high in 'cereal', 'coffee', 'potato snacks', 'biscuit', 'chocolate', and 'prune juice'. Acrylamide was also detected in fruits, vegetables, Korean traditional cookies which are considered as safe for acrylamide.