• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.375-387
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• 2012

The objective of this study is investigation of contamination levels and assessment of health risk effects of heavy metals in herbal pills. 31 Items and 93 samples were obtained for this investigation from major herbal medicine producing areas, herbal markets and on-line supermarkets from Jan to Jun in 2010. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer method was conducted for the quantitative analysis of Pb, Cd and As. In addition, the mercury analyzer system was conducted for that of Hg without sample digestion. The average contents of heavy metals in samples were as follows : 0.87 mg/kg for Pb, 0.08 mg/kg for Cd, 2.87 mg/kg for As and 0.16 mg/kg for Hg, respectively. In addition, the average contents of heavy metals in different parts of plants, including cortex, fructus, herba, radix, seed, algae and others were 0.63 mg/kg, 3.94 mg/kg, 1.42 mg/kg, 1.05 mg/kg, 0.16 mg/kg, 22.31 mg/kg and 10.17 mg/kg, respectively. After the estimations of dietary exposure, the acceptable daily intake (ADI), the average daily dose (ADD), the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) and the relative hazard of heavy metals were evaluated. As the results, the relative hazards compared to PTWI in samples were below the recommended standard of JECFA as Pb 3.1%, Cd 0.9%, Hg 0.5%. Cancer risks through slope factor (SF) by Ministry of Environment Republic Korea and Environmental Protection Agency was $4.24{\times}10^{-7}$ for Pb and $3.38{\times}10^{-4}$ for As (assuming that the total arsenic content was equal to the inorganic arsenic). Based on our results, possible Pb-induced cancer risks in herbal pills according to parts used including cortex, fructus, herba, radix, seed, algae and others were $1.95{\times}10^{-7}$, $1.45{\times}10^{-6}$, $2.14{\times}10^{-7}$, $6.27{\times}10^{-7}$, $1.99{\times}10^{-8}$, $3.61{\times}10^{-7}$ and $9.64{\times}10^{-8}$, respectively. Possible As-induced cancer risks in herbal pills by parts used including cortex, fructus, herba, radix, seed, algae and others were $1.54{\times}10^{-5}$, $7.24{\times}10^{-5}$, $1.23{\times}10^{-4}$, $2.02{\times}10^{-5}$, $3.25{\times}10^{-6}$, $2.18{\times}10^{-3}$ and $5.67{\times}10^{-6}$ respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that the majority of samples except for some samples with relative high contents of heavy metals were safe.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.230-242
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• 2005

Background : Spirometry should be compared with the normal predictive values obtained from the same population using the same procedures, because different ethnicity and different procedures are known to influence the spirometry results. This study was performed to obtain the normal predictive values of the Forced Vital Capacity(FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second($FEV_1$), Forced Expiratory Volume in 6 Seconds($FEV_6$), and $FEV_1/FVC$ for a representative Korean population. Methods : Based on the 2000 Population Census of the National Statistical Office of Korea, stratified random sampling was carried out to obtain representative samples of the Korean population. This study was performed as a part of the National Health and Nutrition Survey of Korea in 2001. The lung function was measured using the standardized methods and protocols recommended by the American Thoracic Society. Among those 4,816 subjects who had performed spirometry performed, there was a total of 1,212 nonsmokers (206 males and 1,006 females) with no significant history of respiratory diseases and symptoms, with clear chest X-rays, and with no significant exposure to respiratory hazards subjects. Their residence and age distribution was representative of the whole nation. Mixed effect models were examined based on the Akaike's information criteria in statistical analysis, and those variables common to both genders were analyzed by regression analysis to obtain the final equations. Results : The variables affecting the normal predicted values of the FVC and $FEV_6$ for males and females were $age^2$, height, and weight. The variables affecting the normal predicted values of the $FEV_1$ for males and females were $age^2$, and height. The variables affecting the normal predicted values of the $FEV_1/FVC$ for male and female were age and height. Conclusion : The predicted values of the FVC and $FEV_1$ was higher in this study than in other Korean or foreign studies, even though the difference was < 10%. When compared with those predicted values for Caucasian populations, the study results were actually comparable or higher, which might be due to the stricter criteria of the normal population and the systemic quality controls applied to the whole study procedures together with the rapid physical growth of the younger generations in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.589-597
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to arrange for the systematic execution of safety control in children's foods through nutrition and hygiene standard suggestions and guidelines for quality certification system in children's preferable food. Aiming to achieve this objective, the study researched the present status of children’s preferable food sold near elementary schools, elicited the hazards and problems of those foods and selected nutritional and hygienic hazard components in those foods. To suggest the standards and guidelines for quality certification in children's preferable food, the study referred to sundry records, surveyed the practical cases of relevant policies and standards at home and abroad. We studied the standard of nutrition for the quality certification in those foods for sugar, fat, sodium, and additives (tar color: red No. 2 in a ban on use, caffeine), microorganism (aflatoxin $B_1$ (${\mu}g$/kg) and pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella spp.), which are the nutrients that may hamper health when taken in a large amount, and the standard for a diet restricted to under 200 kcal per one serving size. Results of distribution of processed foods (242 samples) by nutrition standards were as follows. In case of all ‘low’ level in total sugar, total fat and sodium, 0.4% of total samples was possible to be certified, In case of all ‘medium’ level in total sugar, total fat and sodium, maximumly 22.3% of total samples was possible to be certified. In case of all medium level in nutrients and $\leq$200 kcal/serving, 17.8% of total samples was possible to be certified. Certified food types was milk products and beverages.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.4 s.55
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• pp.801-814
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• 1996

Background: Korean people could abuse healthy foods as well as medications, which might cause serious side effects. The aim of this study was elucidating liver dysfunction due to the self-medications of hepatotonics, healthy foods and herb medications by nested case-control study. Methods: Study subjects were drawn from male members of Seoul Cohort Study who were recruited by self-administered structured questionnaire survey through mailing to the healthy men between the age of 40 and 59 years through the program of biennial health check-up offered by Korea Medical Insurance Corporation(KMIC). The liver dysfunction was defined as the level of serum AST and ALT above 40 IU/L and increased in more than one hunderd per-cent during the 2 year follow-up period. To estimate the odds ratio between self-medication and liver dysfunction after controlling for potential confounders, logistic regression was performed. Results: During the follow-up period, 30 members were identified to fit into case criteria and 2,625 members were selected as control. In logistic regression analyses, history of healthy foods intake, age under 45 years, obesity, and habit of regular exercise were significantly associated with liver dysfunction. The following factors exhibited no statistical significance: intake of hepatotonics, of herb medicine; history of disease in family, of operation, and of radiologic examination; smoking habits and drinking amounts. Conclusion: The significant association between the intake of healthy foods and the liver dysfunction illustrates that chronically optional overuse of healthy foods might bring to hazards to health. As the increasing trend of the size of purchasing healthy foods in Korea, pharmacoepidemiologic studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of the widely used healthy foods should be performed in the near future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.4
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• pp.567-582
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• 2022

Chainsaw use for motor-manual timber harvesting in South Korea is associated with worker safety issues. However, forestry operations such as timber harvesting have already been mechanized to reduce hazards to workers and increase productivity. This study analyzed the productivities and costs of felling and processing, felling and processing using an excavator-based stroke harvester for Pinus rigida and Quercus mongolica stands. To efficiently operate the stroke harvester, we developed a regression equation to estimate the productivities of felling and processing, felling, and processing operations,and we conducted sensitivity analysis of the operation costs using DBH and machine utilization. The felling and processing productivity was 6.53 and 4.02 m³/SMH for P. rigida a nd Q. mongolica, respectively, and the cost was 17,983 and 29,210 won/m³, respectively. The felling productivity for P. rigida a nd Q. mongolica wa s 40.9 and 23.0 m³/SMH, respectively, and the cost was 2,667 and 4,743 won/m³, respectively. The processing productivity for P. rigida and Q. mongolica was 8.25 and 7.75 m³/SMH, respectively, and the cost was 15,296 and 16,283 won/m³, respectively. In the developed regression equation, the DBH, traveling distance, and number of cuttings were found to be important factors (p<0.05). Therefore, it is necessary to construct a DB considering the various conditions and species associated with harvester operations, and further research is needed to increase the accuracy of predicting operation productivity and costs.