• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.440-447
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• 2022

Background: Agricultural handle equipment is present on all production areas' farms. They are handy and portable; however, excessive use can lead to acute traumas or accidental injuries. Repetitive movements, awkward postures, and hand-arm vibrations predispose them to pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study was to observe the interaction of handle equipment in terms of electromyographic activity and analyze the postural work-related alterations. Materials and methods: Twenty male agricultural operators, mean age 24±1.54 years, underwent the electromyographic analysis testing their muscular activities with a brushcutter, electric saw, and hedge trimmer in four different test conditions. Results: The brushcutter proved to be the agricultural handle equipment with the higher mean frequency (3.37±0.38 Hz) and root mean square (5.25±1.24 ms^-2). Furthermore, the digital postural analysis showed a general asymmetry of the main arm and the respective side of the trunk. The head resulted right inclined in the anterior frontal plane by 5.7°±1.2°; the right scapula lower than the left in the posterior frontal plane (8.5°±1.8°), and a working trunk inclination of 34.15°±5.7°. Conclusions: Vibrations of handle equipment and awkward working postures represent a risk for agricultural operators. Preventive measures are required to avoid young operators from experiencing musculoskeletal disorders all lifelong.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

The health benefits associated with consumption of fresh produce have been clearly demonstrated and encouraged by international nutrition and health authorities. However, since fresh produce is usually minimally processed, increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has also led to a simultaneous escalation of foodborne illness cases. According to the report by the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 10 people suffer from foodborne diseases and 420,000 die every year globally. In comparison to other processed foods, fresh produce can be easily contaminated by various routes at different points in the supply chain from farm to fork. This review is focused on the identification and characterization of possible sources of foodborne illnesses from chemical, biological, and physical hazards and the applicable methodologies to detect potential contaminants. Agro-chemicals (pesticides, fungicides and herbicides), natural toxins (mycotoxins and plant toxins), and heavy metals (mercury and cadmium) are the main sources of chemical hazards, which can be detected by several methods including chromatography and nano-techniques based on nanostructured materials such as noble metal nanoparticles (NMPs), quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic nanoparticles or nanotube. However, the diversity of chemical structures complicates the establishment of one standard method to differentiate the variety of chemical compounds. In addition, fresh fruits and vegetables contain high nutrient contents and moisture, which promote the growth of unwanted microorganisms including bacterial pathogens (Salmonella, E. coli O157: H7, Shigella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus) and non-bacterial pathogens (norovirus and parasites). In order to detect specific pathogens in fresh produce, methods based on molecular biology such as PCR and immunology are commonly used. Finally, physical hazards including contamination by glass, metal, and gravel in food can cause serious injuries to customers. In order to decrease physical hazards, vision systems such as X-ray inspection have been adopted to detect physical contaminants in food, while exceptional handling skills by food production employees are required to prevent additional contamination.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.217-221
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• 2013

This study developed predictive models for the kinetic behavior of Staphylococcus aureus on processed cheeses. Mozzarella slice cheese and cheddar slice cheese were inoculated with 0.1 ml of a S. aureus strain mixture (ATCC13565, ATCC14458, ATCC23235, ATCC27664, and NCCP10826). The inoculated samples were then stored at $4^{\circ}C$ (1440 h), $15^{\circ}C$ (288 h), $25^{\circ}C$ (72 h), and $30^{\circ}C$ (48 h), and the growth of all bacteria and of S. aureus were enumerated on tryptic soy agar and mannitol salt agar, respectively. The Baranyi model was fitted to the growth data of S. aureus to calculate growth rate (${\mu}_{max}$; ${\log}CFU{\cdot}g^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$), lag phase duration (LPD; h), lower asymptote (log CFU/g), and upper asymptote (log CFU/g). The growth parameters were further analyzed using the square root model as a function of temperature. The model performance was validated with observed data, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated. At $4^{\circ}C$, S. aureus cell growth was not observed on either processed cheese, but S. aureus growth on the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses was observed at $15^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, and $30^{\circ}C$. The ${\mu}_{max}$ values increased, but LPD values decreased as storage temperature increased. In addition, the developed models showed acceptable performance (RMSE = 0.3500-0.5344). This result indicates that the developed kinetic model should be useful in describing the growth pattern of S. aureus in processed cheeses.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.439-446
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• 2021

A field-scale study was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic matter amendments on the solubility of arsenic (As) in paddy soil and uptake by rice. Six organic matter (rice bran, rice straw, pig/cattle/fowls manure compost and swine liquid manure) were added to two polluted soils with high As (53 mg kg^-1) and low As concentration (28 mg kg^-1), and changes in soil solution constituents was monitored. The mean As concentrations in soil solution from the high As soil with rice bran, pig manure compost and swine liquid manure addition were significantly higher (0.61-1.15 mg L^-1) than that of the control (0.42-0.66 mg L^-1). Regression between As and Fe in soil solution indicated that As was attributable to reductive dissolution of Fe (hydr)oxides and it was driven by organic matter addition. Mean As concentrations in brown rice from the high As soil were 0.35-0.46 mg kg^-1, above the maximum safety level of inorganic As (0.35 mg kg^-1), and tended to be higher in organic matter amended soils than that of the control. The significant correlation between grain As and soil solution As was not observed and it was probably attributable to As tolerance of rice causing the reduction of As uptake and/or translocation to grain. However, considering the significant As release in soil solution from the high As soil and the tendency of grain As elevation after organic matter addition, it is needed to be cautious for food safety when amending organic matter to paddy soil with high As concentration.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.303-308
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• 2014

This study was conducted in order to utilize the basic data for weed control by surveying the occurrence of weed species. Total 63 sites of upland Chinese cabbage fields in Chungnam Provinces were investigated. The result of survey, 71 weed species in 25 families were identified and classified to 39 annuals, 16 biennials and 16 perennials. Based on the occurrence ratio, the most weed species belonged to Compositae (20 species). 8, 6 and 5 weed species belonged to Poaceae, Cruciferae and Polygonaceae, respectively, and these 10 weed species in the most six families accounted for 50% of total weed occurrence. The most dominant weed species in upland Chinese cabbage fields were Portulaca oleracea (8.07%), followed by Digitaria ciliaris (7.54%), Rorippa palustris (6.44%), Chenopodium album (5.73%), Echinochloa crus-galli (5.02%) and Cyperus amuricus (3.95).

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2020

Recently, the severe dieback of apple trees resulting from soil-borne diseases has occurred in South Korea. The casual agents of dieback were surveyed on 74 apple orchards that had been damaged nationwide in 2016-2019. The number of apple orchards affected alone by Phytophthora rot, violet root rot, and white root rot was 31, 34, and 3, respectively. Also, the total number of mixed infection orchards was 6. Out of 9,112 apple trees affected by dieback, the trees damaged by Phytophthora rot, violet root rot, and white root rot were 3,332, 3,831, and 44, respectively. Moreover, the total number of mixed infection apple trees was 1,905. The provinces mainly affected were Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Chungbuk, and Jeonbuk. The survey on these infected apple orchards will be available to form management strategy for the dieback that had been increased by soil-borne fungal pathogens.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.156-163
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• 2019

Our study investigated the available chlorine content, contact time and difference among strains of each pathogen for sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) to control chemically against soil-borne fungal pathogens, such as Phytophthora rot by Phytophthora cactorum, violet root rot by Helicobasidium mompa, and white root rot by Rosellinia necatrix, causing die-back symptom on apple trees. As a result, the colony growth of Phytophthora cactorum was inhibited completely by soaking over 5 s in 31.25 ml/l available chlorine content of NaOCl. Those of H. mompa and R. necatrix were inhibited entirely by soaking over 160 s in 62.5 and 125 ml/l available chlorine content in NaOCl, respectively. Also, inhibition effect on available chlorine in NaOCl among strains of each soil-borne pathogen showed no significant difference and was similar to or better than that of fungicides.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.446-455
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• 2010

The characteristics of parasporal inclusion body from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki KB099 isolate which is high bioactive to the tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura, were examined. Parasporal inclusion of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki KB099 isolate showed only 1 band at 130 kDa compared with B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-l isolate producing 2 protein bands at 130 kDa and 60 kDa from by SDS-PAGE analysis without any enzyme treatment. Also, we confirmed that gut extract of sensitive S. litura KB099 isolate had digested only 60 kDa ${\delta}$-endotoxin protein. When the digestive enzyme of sensitive insect responsible for parasporal inclusion from KB099 and HD-l isolate was treated to each of them, protein band 60 KDa of KB099 was maintained up to 12 hours but all bands of HD-l were disappeared within 6 hours. In KB099 isolate, 6 genes (Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1C, Cry1D and Cry1I) were identified by PCR analysis. Also, $Cry^-$ mutant of KB099 isolate was investigated by phase- contrast microscope, SDS-PAGE and PCR.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2010

In order to survey residual characteristics of pesticides in the agricultural products selling at markets and to assess their safety, a total of 120 agricultural products were collected from the wholesale and traditional markets in Cheongju and analyzed the pesticide residues in them by multiresidue analysis method using GLC, HPLC and GC-MSD. Three pesticides, procymidone, penconazole, and tetraconazole, were detected from 4 samples such as onion, leek, tomato, and green pepper. Fungicide penconazole was detected from the onion collected from wholesale market. Fungicide procymidone was detected from leek and tomato and fungicide tetraconazole was detected from green pepper. Pesticide residues were detected from 3.3% of the total samples. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of the pesticides detected were less than 0.1% of their acceptable daily intakes (ADIs), representing that residue levels of the pesticides detected were evaluated as safe.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.290-297
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: The current study purposed to analyse the dissipation levels of a neonicotinoid insecticide and clothianidin in paddy and upland soils and clarify the effects of soil moisture on degradation and persistence of the insecticide. METHODS AND RESULTS: In order to achieve the research purposes, clothianidin 8% SG was applied to the paddy and upland fields at the rate of 0.024 kg a.i./10a, while the analytical standard was treated at 0.25 mg/kg soil under laboratory conditions. Based on the multiple first-order kinetics, total clothianidin in soils was dissipated with $DT_{50}$ of 6.7-16.1 and 6.9-8.2 days in the paddy and upland fields, respectively, whereas the figures under the laboratory condition became larger showing 56.3 and 19.6 days. CONCLUSION: As affected by soil moisture, some differences in degradative pathways were observed. Flooding of soil caused evidently demethylation and delayed cyclization of a major metabolite, thiazolylmethylguanidine (TMG) and methylaminoimidazole(MAI), compared to the aerobic upland condition. More than 80% and 50% of the parent compound was dissipated by the 24th day after the final application in both soils and, transformation products had constituted most of soil residues after that.