• Title/Summary/Keyword: toxic substance

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Record Keeping of Employee Exposure to Chemical Hazards under Industrial Safety and Health Law (근로자의 화학물질 노출관련 기록 보존에 관한 연구)

  • Oh, Sangmin;Park, Donguk;Yu, SeoungJae;Jung, Jin Woo;Lim, KyungTaek;Lee, Jaehwan;Ha, Kwonchul
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.367-373
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    • 2013
  • Objectives: Employee exposure record refers to a record containing information about environmental (workplace) monitoring or measuring of a toxic substance or harmful physical agent. The aims of this study were to examine problems related to exposure records and provide some amendments to the Korean Industrial Safety & Health Act for the effective management of chemical substances under the law. Methods: This study performed a literature search and review on legal provisions related to exposure records of a number of different countries, including Korea, the USA, Japan, EU, Germany, and the UK. They were compared and investigated and the amendment of articles was suggested. Results: The results of this study were provided as suggested amendments to the related act. There were a variety of ways of improvement, including a 30-year retention period and the introduction of new access methods, contents, transfer, and maintenance methods. All exposure data elements have to be standardized, including reference to a similar exposure group (SEG), sampling strategy, and circumstances of exposure (e.g., date, shift length, use of personal protective equipment, etc.). The SEGs are described by process, job, task, and environmental agent. Conclusions: This study is expected to provide for the amendment of the related act in order to ensure effective management of exposure records and is helpful for solving the cause and result of occupational disease by keeping exposure records according to the Industrial Safety & Health Act.

Surveillance of acute Occupational Pesticide-related Illness: The US Experience (급성 직업성 농약중독 및 손상에 대한 감시체계: 미국의 경험)

  • Song, Jae-Chul;Calvert, Geoffrey M.
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.1-8
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    • 2002
  • Pest control is required for protecting the food supply and for controlling disease vectors. Unfortunately, there is no perfectly safe form of pest control. Pesticides are commonly used for pest control. Pesticides are defined under the US Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act(FIFRA) as any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate pests, and any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or dessicant(40 CFR Part 152). Currently in the United States, there are 890 active ingredients registered as pesticides. Approximately one billion pounds of active ingredient are used in the US per year. Unlike most chemicals(anti-neoplastic and anti-micobial medications are the principal exceptions), pesticides are specifically designed to kill and cause harm. Because society allows these chemicals to be disseminated into the environment, it is important to monitor the health effects associated with these releases. This represents an important justification for establishing and maintaining surveillance systems for acute pesticide-related illness and injury. A comprehensive, national surveillance system for acute pesticide-related illness and injury does not currently exist in the US. Although the United States has several surveillance systems for this condition, none provide a complete understanding of the problem of acute pesticide-related illness and injury. The Toxic Exposure Surveillance System(TESS) and Bureau of Labor Statisitics(BLS) are useful for assessing magnitude and trends. The state-based surveillance systems are more useful for timely identification of outbreaks and emerging problems. Efforts are underway to increase the number of states that conduct surveillance, and to broaden the use of the standardized case definition to facilitate aggregation of data across states. Through such efforts, a comprehensive, national surveillance system may be attainable.

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The Algicidal Activity of Arthrobacter sp. NH-3 and its Algicide against Alexandrium catenella and other Harmful Algal Bloom Species (Alexandrium catenella와 유해성 적조종에 대한 Arthrobacter sp. NH-3와 살조물질의 살조능)

  • Jeong, Seong-Yun;Jeoung, Nam Ho
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.34 no.2
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    • pp.139-148
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    • 2015
  • BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to isolate and identify algicidal bacterium that tends to kill the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella, and to determine the algicidal activity and algicidal range of algicide. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among of algicidal bacteria isolated in this study, NH-3 isolate was the strongest algicidal activity against A. catenella. NH-3 isolate was identified on the basis of biochemical characteristics and analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. The NH-3 isolate showed over 99% homology with Arthrobacter oxydans, and was designated as Arthrobacter sp. NH-3. The optimal culture conditions were $25^{\circ}C$, initial pH 7.0, and 2.0% (w/v) NaCl concentration. The algicidal activity of Arthrobacter sp. NH-3 was significantly increased to maximum value in the late of logarithmic phase. Arthrobacter sp. NH-3 showed algicidal activity through indirect attack, which excreted active substance into the culture filtrate. When 10% culture filtrate of NH-3 was applied to A. catenella, 100% of algal cells were destroyed within 30 h. In addition, the algicidal activities were increased in dose and time dependent manners. The pure algicide was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the culture filtrate of NH-3 by using silica gel column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We investigated the algicidal activity of this algicide on the growth of harmful algal bloom (HAB) species, including A. catenella. As a result, it showed algicidal activity against several HAB species at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$ and had a relatively wide host range. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results suggest that Arthrobacter sp. NH-3 and its algicide could be a candidate for controlling of toxic and harmful algal blooms.

Evaluation of the Corrosion Resistance of Steel Coated with Zinc Using a Cr-free Coating Solution as a Function of Heat Treatment Time (Cr-free 코팅액에 의한 아연도금강판의 건조시간에 따른 내식특성)

  • Seo, Hyun-Soo;Moon, Hee-Joon;Kim, Jong-Soon;Ahn, Seok-Hwan;Moon, Chang-Kwon;Nam, Ki-Woo
    • Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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    • v.24 no.5
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    • pp.67-74
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    • 2010
  • Chromate conversion coating is a coating technique used to passivate aluminum, zinc, cadmium, copper, silver, magnesium, tin, and their alloys to slow corrosion. The process uses various toxic chromium compounds, which may include hexavalent chromium. The industry is developing less toxic alternatives in order to comply with substance restriction legislation, such as RoHS. One alternative is to develop a Cr-free coating solution. In this study, eco-friendly, Cr-free solutions (urethane solution S-700, organic/inorganic solution with Si LRO-317) were used. Test specimens were dried in a drying oven at $190^{\circ}C$ for 3, 5, 7, and 9 minutes. Corrosion resistance was evaluated using a salt spray test for 72 hours. The results show that the optimum corrosion resistance was achieved at $190^{\circ}C$ for five minutes for EGI and three or five minutes for HDGI, respectively. The adhesive properties of the two types of coating solutions were superior regardless of drying time.

A Study on the RDF fuel mixing with household and organic wastes (생활(生活)쓰레기 및 유기성폐기물(有機性廢棄物) 혼합(混合)에 따른 RDF 연료화(燃料化)에 관한 연구(硏究))

  • Ha, Sang-An;You, Mi-Young;Kim, Dong-Kyun;Wang, Jei-Pil
    • Resources Recycling
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    • v.20 no.5
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    • pp.52-57
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    • 2011
  • This study was conducted to examine the possibilities to utilize the mixture of domestic and organic wastes from B-city as a fuel. All types of mixing ratio for uncarried waste, sludge cake, and food waste were found 10 generate heating value with 6,000 kcal/kg, and in case of sludge cake the concentration of toxic substance produced was found to be decreased as air-fuel ratio and temperature were increased. It was noted that toxic gases such as CO, NOx, and SOx were observed below concentration of emission standard, and temperature inside the incinerator was stabilized at 2 of air-fuel ratio and 800$^{\circ}C$. It was observed that a heating value of 6000 kcal/kg generated using RDF(Refuse Derived Fuel) was appropriate to utilize a fuel if a complete combustion was attained.

A Commentary on Air Pollution Monitoring Programs in Korea

  • Ghim, Young-Sung;Kim, Jin-Young;Shim, Shang-Gyoo;Moon, Kill-Choo
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.18 no.E1
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    • pp.21-28
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    • 2002
  • Air quality issues in Korea rapidly changed at the beginning of the 1990s from primary to secondary pollutants starting in Seoul, the capital of Korea. The present frame of national air pollution monitoring networks was established between the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s. Background monitoring was initiated in the middle of the 1990s in response to increasing public concern about the long-range transport of air pollutants. Apart from the national monitoring, both routine and intensive measurements of fine particles have been made for research purposes since the middle of the 1990s at several background sites. However, air pollution monitoring in urban areas for other purposes was relatively scarce as national monitoring has been concentrated in these areas. Although ozone pollution has become a significant issue in major metropolitan areas every summer, only a little information on ozone precursors is available. During the past few years, the number of national monitoring stations has greatly increased. The government has a plan to gradually expand monitoring items as well as stations. It is anticipated that highly detailed information on both photochemical reactants and products will be available within the next several years. More emphasis will be placed on toxic substances based on risk assessment in monitoring for both research and policy making.

BIOASSAYS ON MARINE ORGANISMS II. ACUTE TOXICITY TEST OF MERCURY, COPPER AND CADMIUM TO CLAM, MERETRIX LUSORIA (해양생물에 대한 생체실험 II. 백합에 대한 수은, 구리 및 카드뮴의 독성)

  • PARK Joo-Suck;KIM Hak-Gyoon
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.113-117
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    • 1979
  • The short-term acute toxicities of mercury, cadmium and copper for the clam, Meretrix lusoria were determined from 28 June to 15 July, 1978. In the test with mercury and copper, the rate ot mucus excretion increased gradually at a higher concentration. But the clams did not excrete mucus in the solutions of cadmium and natural sea water. The rate of mucus excretion in mercury was $42.9\%$, and that in copper was $14.3\%$ in a test solution of 1mg/l. mercury was more toxic than copper. The median lethal concentration after 96 hours (96 hr-Lc 50) was 0.67mg/l in mercury, 7.04mg/l in copper and 7.10mg/l in cadmium. Consequently it was found that mercury was the most toxic substance and cadmium was the least. meanwhile, it was considered that exposure time by stimulation in a fixed concentration caused the test animals to respond.

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Toxicity of Methylcyclohexane and Its Effect on the Reproductive System in SD Rats

  • Kim, Hyeon-Yeong;Kang, Min-Gu;Kim, Tae-Gyun;Kang, Chung-Won
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.2 no.3
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    • pp.290-300
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    • 2011
  • Objectives: There is limited data regarding the toxicity of methylcyclohexane, despite its wide use in rubber adhesives, paint diluents, and cleansing agents. This study aimed to verify the toxicity and influence on the reproductive system of methylcyclohexane after its repeated injection in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: Methylcyclohexane was injected subcutaneously into male and female SD rats once a day, five times a week, for 13 weeks at different doses (0, 10, 100, and 1,000 mg/kg/day) for each group. The toxicity of testing material was verified by observing the change in body and organ weight, hematological change, pathological findings, and effect on the reproductive system at each different concentration. Results: In the 1,000 mg/kg/day group, there were cases of animal deaths. In animals that survived, hematological changes, including a decrease in the red blood cell count, were observed. A considerable weight gain or loss and pathological abnormalities in the liver, kidney, and other organs were found. However, the 10 and 100 mg/kg/day groups did not cause deaths or other specific abnormalities. In terms of reproductive toxicity, there were changes in hormone levels, including a significant decrease in hormones such as estradiol and progesterone (p < 0.001) in male animals. Menstrual cycle change for female animals did not show concentration dependency. Conclusion: When injected repeatedly for 13 weeks, methylcyclohexane proved to be toxic for the liver, heart, and kidney at a high dose. The absolute toxic dose was 1,000 mg/kg/day, while the no observed adverse effect level was less than 100 mg/kg/day. The substance exerted little influence on the reproductive system.

Analysis of total oral microorganisms in saliva using real-time PCR and colony forming unit (Real-time PCR과 Colony forming unit법을 이용한 타액 내 2종의 구강미생물 총량분석)

  • Yoo, Su-Min;Jeong, Seong-Kug;Yoo, Hyun-Jun;Jang, Jong-Hwa
    • Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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    • v.17 no.1
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    • pp.13-25
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    • 2017
  • Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare colony forming unit (CFU) method and multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (MRT-PCR) method for accurate quantitative analysis of bacteria. Methods: We compared the CFU method and the MRT-PCR method, which are still used in Korea, for Prevotella intermedius (P. intermedius), a periodontal disease pathogen selected by MRT-PCR, and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), a dental caries causative organism. The subjects of this study were 30 patients who visited the C dental hospital. Results: Total microorganisms in MRT-PCR method were significantly higher in both types of bacteria (p<0.05), since DNA of dead bacteria was also analyzed. This was because the periodontal dise(-) anaerobes, and even dead bacteria contain large amounts of toxic substances called LPS in the extracellular membrane, and fimbriae and pili, which are motility structures, still remain as a strong toxic substance in periodontal tissue. Conclusions: Therefore, in terms of the total amount of bacteria found, the MRT-PCR method will be a useful technique for searching all the bacteria in the oral cavity including live bacteria, as well as sterilization.

Toxicity Assessment of Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai Ethanol Extract Orally Administered to Sprague-Dawley Rats for Two Consecutive Weeks (Sprague-Dawley 랫드를 이용한 미선나무주정추출물의 2주 반복 경구투여 독성평가)

  • Kwon, Soon Bok
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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    • v.34 no.6
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    • pp.801-809
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    • 2019
  • Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai is a deciduous shrub of a flowering plant in Oleaceae. It is an important plant resource and consists of only one species in the entire world. A. distichum Nakai is well known an edible, medicinal herb in its habitat districts, but the toxicological evaluation for the safe use of its extract is still insufficient. The study characterized the toxicity of an Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai ethanol extract in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and determined the safe dosage levels in a 13 weeks toxicity study. Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai ethanol extract was orally administered once daily for 2 weeks at 0, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day to male and female SD rats. while recording the clinical signs of toxicity, body weight, food intake/consumption, eye test and urine analysis. Only the total protein frequency in the urine of male SD rats (p<0.05), the right ovary of the 500 mg/kg group (p<0.01) and the right adrenal gland of the 1,000 mg/kg group (p<0.05) in the female rats showed statistically significant changes. But no toxic effects were noted from repeated-dose administration of the Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai ethanol extract in the SD rats during the observation period. The post-mortem examinations showed no test substance-mediated changes. The hematological analysis and clinical blood chemistry data demonstrated no toxic effects from repeated-dose administration of Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai ethanol extract in the SD rats during the observation period. Based on these results, this data suggests that a dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day is a highest treatment to administer when conducting a further 13 weeks toxicity study.