• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 2007

This survey was carried out to estimate the heavy metal contents of fishes (531 ocean fishes and 80 freshwater fishes) sold in and around Korea from April to October in 2006 . The contents of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and mercury (Hg) were estimated by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and a mercury analyzer. The concentrations [mean (minimum-maximum) mg/kg] of heavy metals in the ocean fishes were as follows: As=2.523 (0.140-65.543), Cd=0.017 (0.000-0.108), Cu=0.569 (0.040-5.634), Pb=0.023 (0.000-0.323), Hg=0.068 (0.002-0.754), Mn=0.395 (0.016-4.651) and Zn=6.086 (0.529-34.729). The concentrations of heavy metals in the freshwater fishes were: As=0.370 (0.024-2.231), Cd=0.01l (ND-0.086), Cu=0.628 (0.003-1.962), Pb=0.026 (ND-0.423), Hg=0.058 (0.006-0.349), Mn=1.150 (0.069-7.230) and Zn=9.980 (3.463-82.737). The weekly intakes of Cd, Hg and Pb from fish were 0.9, 1.6 and 0.9%, respectively, as compared with the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWl) established by Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee for food safety evaluation.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.187-208
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the risk factors of Oral cleft and to inspect the living environments of the rural areas of Sintang, Indonesia Methods: During 3 to 9 August 2004, A questionnaire survey was done for the risk factors of oral cleft. Case group was composed of 11 oral cleft patients who admitted Missionary Hospital whose mother's bloods were analyzed for anemia and hyperlipidemia. Control group was composed of 56 reproductive rural women recruited from near rural villages. Also we surveyed 4 rural areas of Indonesia with simple water test kits. $x^2-test$ for significant difference was analysed. Results: Drinking water was statistically significant risk factor(p<0.05) of oral cleft. Other factors had no statistical significancy. The kind of drinking water was river-originated water. In rural villages, water sanitation state, even boiled water, was very poor. Although $NO_2-N$, $NO_3-N$ was negative, E. coli-form microorganisms were strongly positive in most samples. Total food intake amount was not enough, and vitamin supplements were also under the need. Conclusions: Drinking the contaminated river-water around pregnancy was supposed to be one of the risk factors of oral cleft in Indonesia. Further study is needed for nitrate and mercury.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.76-90
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• 2018

To determine the distribution of mercury (Hg) in the coastal surface sediments around the Korean peninsula, the baseline concentration of Hg was estimated, the extent of contamination was assessed, and the factors controlling the distribution were discussed. The concentrations of Hg in surface sediments were significantly high in Jinhae-Masan Bay in the South Sea, Ulsan-Onsan Bay and Yeongil Bay in the East Sea, but Hg in other sediments showed a similar distribution to Cs and relatively very low concentration between 0.21 and $39.5{\mu}g/kg$ ($13.6{\pm}7.80{\mu}g/kg$). Compared to the sediment quality guidelines in Korea, 8 % of the surface sediments (n=282) analyzed in this study exceeded the values of the threshold effects level (TEL), and six sediments collected around Onsan Port were higher than the value of the probable effects level (PEL). The contamination levels of Hg were assessed by the enrichment factors using the baseline concentration (2.06Cs+1.75) based on the residual analysis from the linear regression line for Cs, and further, factors controlling the distribution of Hg were discussed by the comparison with geochemical substances depending upon the Hg enrichment level. Hg concentrations were correlated well with Cs concentration in the range of less than 1.69 of EF implying grain size control, while in the range of 1.69 and 4.03 Hg concentrations were correlated well with Fe oxyhyroxide and organic carbon contents, which indicates Hg was enriched by superior sorption capability. On the meanwhile, samples with higher EFs (4.03 to 74.9) showed fairly positive correlations with other metals (Cu, Zn, Pb) rather than geochemical substances. For samples in Youngil Bay and Ulsan-Onsan Bay (n=30), Hg concentrations were correlated only with other metals rather than geochemical substances implying simultaneous supply of metal particles from metal refineries. But samples at Gosung, Sokcho and Uljin coast were correlated well with organic carbon even though they had high EFs. In addition, samples in Jinhae-Masan Bay with high contents of S were enriched by relatively high sulfide formation.

• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.39-54
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• 2020

This study analyzed the groundwater quality according to the depth and geological features in Gyeongsangnam-do area using groundwater quality monitoring network data to grasp the groundwater quality characteristics and to provide basic data for policy making on efficient groundwater management. Five hundred and three data sets were acquired from background water quality exclusive monitoring network in soil groundwater information system for five years (2013 ~ 2017). Except for the total coliforms and tracer items such as mercury, phenol, and others, the parameters of water quality were significant or very significant, depending on depth and geological features. As the depth got deeper, the average value of pH and electrical conductivity increased; water temperature, dissolved oxygen, oxide reduction potential, arsenic, total coliforms, and turbidity decreased; and total unfit rate for drinking water standards was lower. It was found that the sum of the positive and negative ions was the highest in the clastic sedimentary rock and the lowest in metamorphic rock. The total unfit rate for drinking water standards was the highest for metamorphic rocks, followed by clastic sedimentary rock and unconsolidated sediments and, finally, intrusive igneous rock with the lowest penetration. The Na-Cl water type, which indicated the possibility of contamination by external pollutants, appeared only at some points in shallow depths and in clastic sedimentary rocks.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.906-914
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• 2020

To investigate the usefulness of natural plants, physicochemical characteristics, functional components and physiological activities of dodder(Cuscuta australis R.Brown) were experimented. The extraction of dodder was carried out at 60℃ in shaking bath with 10 times of distilled water for three hours. Harmful metals such as lead, cadmium and arsenic were not detected, but the content of mercury from dodder was 0.0004ppm in acceptable standards. The extraction yield was 23.45%, total content of phenolics equivalent to gallic acid was 699.8 mg/100g and total content of flavonoid equivalent to naringin was 373.8 mg/100g. 28 kinds of free amino acids were detected with the contents of 252mg/100g in the dodder extract, and the contents of anserine and sarcosine were analysed highest in all amino acids. From the comparison of physiological activities of dodder extract with those of ascorbic acid, total reducing power, electron donating ability based on DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power was equivalent to 88%, 56% and 40%, respectively, of ascorbic acid. The nitrite scavenging activity of dodder extract was 78% of ascorbic acid on pH 1.5, but the antioxidant index of dodder on perilla oil was about 4 times greater than that of ascorbic acid.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.305-315
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• 2003

Purpose: To describe the status of the laboratory facilities, equipment and expenses for practice in a four-year nursing schools and to analyze mandatory requirements for laboratory facilities and equipment. Method: A descriptive survey research design was used. The participants were 49 of the 4-year nursing schools across the nation. The data were collected by e-mail. The return rate for questionnaires was 63.3% (n=31). Result: In 2001 the total expenses for laboratory practice were 21,865,230 won and the average per student was 102,418 won. Types of laboratories included single and complex. The mean size for laboratories was $318.7m^2$ and mean size for laboratories for fundamental nursing was $161.1m^2$. The range for number of students in a laboratory class was 20-30 for eight universities (30.8%). Among required laboratory equipment, items that were deficient in 50% in the universities were mercury and aneroid sphygmomanometers for children, electronic sphygmomanometers, Bell type fetal stethoscopes, sheepskin, beds for children, for gynecology, and electronic hilo beds. Among the elective equipment, items that were deficient in 50% of the universities were $O^2$ tents, Blackmore tubes, retractors, hot-water supply, and incentive spirometers. The number of items that needed to add to the equipment were 10 for required equipment and 22 for elective equipment. Conclusion: A standardized mandatory list of equipment for laboratory facilities and expenses for practice in 4-year nursing schools needs to be developed.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.6.1-6.10
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• 2016

Objectives This study examined the spatial distribution and the extent of soil contamination by heavy metals resulting from primitive, unconventional informal electronic waste recycling in the Agbogbloshie e-waste processing site (AEPS) in Ghana. Methods A total of 132 samples were collected at 100 m intervals, with a handheld global position system used in taking the location data of the soil sample points. Observing all procedural and quality assurance measures, the samples were analyzed for barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), using X-ray fluorescence. Using environmental risk indices of contamination factor and degree of contamination ($C_{deg}$), we analyzed the individual contribution of each heavy metal contamination and the overall $C_{deg}$. We further used geostatistical techniques of spatial autocorrelation and variability to examine spatial distribution and extent of heavy metal contamination. Results Results from soil analysis showed that heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher than the Canadian Environmental Protection Agency and Dutch environmental standards. In an increasing order, Pb>Cd>Hg>Cu>Zn>Cr>Co>Ba>Ni contributed significantly to the overall $C_{deg}$. Contamination was highest in the main working areas of burning and dismantling sites, indicating the influence of recycling activities. Geostatistical analysis also revealed that heavy metal contamination spreads beyond the main working areas to residential, recreational, farming, and commercial areas. Conclusions Our results show that the studied heavy metals are ubiquitous within AEPS and the significantly high concentration of these metals reflect the contamination factor and $C_{deg}$, indicating soil contamination in AEPS with the nine heavy metals studied.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2011

Objectives: This study assessed the factors that have an influence on the residents exposed to heavy metals, and we utilized the findings to establish the proper management of abandoned metal mines in the future. Methods: For a total of 258 residents who lived close to abandoned mines in Gangwon-province and Gyeonggi-province, the exposure factors and biomarkers in their blood and urine were comparatively analyzed via multiple regression analysis. Results: The blood levels of lead and mercury and the cadmium levels in urine were found to be higher in the study group than that in the average Korean. For the blood levels of heavy metals according to each exposure factor, all of them were found to be significantly higher in both of the group residing for a longer period of time and the group living closer to the source of pollutants. Multiple regression analysis disclosed that all the heavy metals, except lead, in their blood were significantly reduced in proportion to the increased distance of inhabitancy from the mines. Their other biomarkers were within the normal ranges. Conclusions: We found that the distance between the residential village and the mines was a factor that affects the blood level of heavy metals in the villagers. This finding could be an important factor when developing a management model for the areas that surround abandoned metal mines. (ED note: I much like this important study.)

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.403-410
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the hygienic quality of commercial Kwamegi, a Korean traditional food, made from semi-dried Pacific saury. The hygienic qualities of 10 Kwamegi samples were examined from the 15 commercially available types. Samples with code 3, 4, 6, 11 and 12 were acceptable based on criteria suggested by Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (i.e. moisture below 50%, total mercury below 0.5 ppm, lead below 2.0 ppm, viable cells below $1.0{\times}10^5$ CFU/g and coliform count below $1.0{\times}10^3$ MPN/100g. Peroxide value of commercial Kwamegi ranged from 15.3-104.1 meq/kg. Agmatine sulfate, cadaverine, histamine, tyramine, spermidine, dopamine and spermine were found in all of the 15 commercially available Kwamegi, while tryptamine and 2-phenylethylamine were not detected. Putrescine dihydrochloride was only detected in 7 samples. The histamine content of commercial Kwamegi ranged from 33-124mg/kg, which is believed to be an acceptable limit according to guidelines from other countries. Cadaverine can be used as a potential index for freshness of commercial Kwamegi as there is a good correlation between volatile basic nitrogen and biogenic amine contents.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.487-493
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• 2017

Recent years have seen steadily increasing concerns about human exposure to heavy metals through seafood consumption. In Korea, the diverse dietary patterns of different bivalve shellfish necessitate tissue-specific evaluation of heavy metal contents for risk assessment. We analyzed the heavy metal contents of various tissues in scallops (Patinopecten yessoensis) and pen shells (Atrina pectinate). In both species, we found higher levels of cadmium (Cd) in the mantle than in the adductive muscle, while there was no significant difference between the two tissue types in total mercury (THg) and lead (Pb) (P<0.05). Levels of THg and Pb were acceptable by Korean standards. However, the level of Cd in pen shell mantle tissue exceeded the standard by 40%. The rate of heavy metal exposure from consumption of these species was shown to be 0.003-0.010% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake of THg and 0.312-0.600% of the provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTWI) of Cd as recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. These findings on the tissue-specific heavy metal contents of these species will be useful in assessing the health risks of Korean dietary habits.