• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2009

Objectives : We evaluated the health effects of exposure to BTEX(Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, m,p-Xylene, o-Xylene) in the Taean area after the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Methods : We used a questionnaire survey to look for health effects among 80 pregnant women 2 to 3 months following the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Their BTEX exposures were estimated using the CALPUFF method. We then used a multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effects of BTEX exposure on the women s health effets. Results : Pregnant women who lived near the accident site reported more symptoms of eye irritation and headache than those who lived farther from the site. There was a trend of decreasing symptoms with an increase in distance from the spill site. Pregnant women exposed to higher ambient cumulative levels of Xylene were significantly more likely to report symptoms of the skin(OR 8.01 95% CI=1.74-36.76) in the first day after the accident and significantly more likely to report abdominal pain(OR 3.86 95% CI=1.02-14.59 for Ethylbenzene, OR 6.70 95% CI=1.82-24.62 for Xylene) during the 1st through 4th days following the accident. Conclusions : This study suggests that exposure to BTEX from an oil spill is correlated with an increased risk of health effects among pregnant women. This implies the need to take proper measures, including the development of a national policy for environmental health emergencies and a plan for studying the short- and long-term chronic health effects associated with such spills.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 2020

Since industrialization, the production and utilization of various chemicals has contributed to improving the quality of our lives, but the subsequent discharge of massive waste is inevitable, and environmental pollution is becoming more serious every day. Exposure to chemicals as a result of environmental pollution is having a negative effect on human health and the ecosystem, and cleaning up the polluted environment that can affect our lives is a very important issue. Toxic aromatic compounds have been detected frequently in soil, groundwater, and wastewater because of the extensive use of oil products, and phenol, which is used to produce synthetic resins, textiles, and dyes, is one of the major pollutants, along with insecticides and preservatives. Phenol can cause dyspnea, headache, vomiting, mutation, and carcinogenesis. Phenol-degrading bacterium DWB-1-8 was isolated from the activated sludge of textile wastewater; this strain was identified as Comamonas testosteroni by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The optimal culture conditions for the cell growth and degradation of phenol were 0.7% K₂HPO₄, 0.6% NaH₂PO₄, 0.1% NH₄NO₃, 0.015% MgSO₄·7H₂O, 0.001% FeSO₄·7H₂O, an initial pH of 7, and a temperature of 30℃. The strain was also able to grow by using other toxic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, or xylene (BTX), as the sole source of carbon.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.477-487
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• 2019

Objectives: Firefighters are known to be exposed to a variety of toxic substances, but little information is available on the exposure profile of firefighting activities. The aims of this study were to conduct exposure monitoring of toxic chemicals at fire scenes, to compare the concentrations of respective chemicals among firefighting tasks, and to assess the main factors influencing the concentrations of chemicals. Methods: Researchers performed sampling at firefighting scenes during four weeks in 2013. At the scene, we collected samples based on firefighters' own activities and examined the situation and scale of the accident. Collected samples were classified into three categories, including fire extinguishing and overhaul, and were analyzed in the laboratory according to respective analysis methods. Results: A total of fourteen fire activity events were surveyed: five fire extinguishing, six overhaul, and three fire investigations. Although no substance exceeded the ACGIH TLV, PAHs were detected in every sample. Naphthalene ranged from 0.24 to 279.13 mg/㎥ (median 49.6 mg/㎥) and benzo(a)pyrene was detected in one overhaul case at 10.85 ㎍/㎥. Benzene (0.01-12.2 ppm) was detected in every task and exceeded the ACGIH TLV. No significant difference in concentrations between tasks was shown. Conclusions: These results indicate that all firefighting tasks generated various hazardous combustion products, including possible carcinogens.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.261-267
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of extracts of Protaetia brevitarsis larvae fed on fermented oak sawdust (FOS) or spent mushroom substrates (SMS, Pleurotus eryngii). Total polyphenol content was 32% higher in extracts of larvae fed on SMS (P. eryngii) (75.33±0.43 mg GAE/g) than in extracts of larvae fed on FOS (57.02±1.73 mg GAE/g). The flavonoid content of extracts of larvae grown on FOS and SMS (P. eryngii) was 24.6±0.28 mg/g and 25.4±0.75 mg/g, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity increased in an extract concentration-dependent manner, and the DPPH radical scavenging capacity of the extract of larvae produced on SMS (P. eryngii) was higher than that of the larvae produced on FOS. The reducing power of the larval extracts produced on FOS and SMS (P. eryngii) increased in an extract concentration-dependent manner, but there was no significant difference between them. The extract of larvae fed on SMS (P. eryngii) (66.55±0.99 uM TE/g) had a higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) than extracts of larvae grown on FOS (76.32±0.48 uM TE/g). The effect of larval extracts on cell proliferation was investigated using a WST-1 (4-[3-(4-iodophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulfonate) assay on RAW 264.7 cells. When cells were treated with larval extracts produced on FOS and SMS (P. eryngii) at concentrations of 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 40, and 64 mg/ml, RAW 264.7 cells proliferated at 90% or more. Therefore, larval extracts produced on FOS and SMS (P. eryngii) were not toxic to RAW 264.7 cells.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2007

This research was performed to investigate chemical and microbiological hazards of Ready-to-eat(RTE) compound foods which uses the by-product of meat. For this experiment, 51 samples of RTE compound foods in by-product of meat distributed in Incheon from January to December 2006 were tested. The contents of heavy metals in the main ingredient of RTE compound foods were in the range of $0.073{\sim}0.112ppm$ for lead (Pb), $0.006{\sim}0.013ppm$ for cadmium (Cd) and $0.746{\sim}0.978ppb$ for mercury (Hg). The concentrations of residual ABS(alkyl benzene sulfate) in the small intestine which is a main ingredient of Gopchang-casserole were $$0.8ppm{\sim}57.6ppm$ (Ave. 10.3ppm). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 11 samples (21.6%) among 51 main ingredients of RTE compound foods. The isolation rates of Salmonella spp. and Clostridium perfringens were 2.0% (1/51) and 5.9% (2/51), respectively. By types of main ingredient, the small intestine was showed the highest isolation rate as 35.3% (12/34), ham and the sausage which are main ingredients of the Budae-pot stew were 25% (2/8) and other meat products were 20% (1/5). Food poisoning bacteria was not found in the blood of pig which is a main ingredient of the Sunji-pot stew. 28.4% (27/95) of sauce included in each RTE compound foods were coliform bacteria positive. Pesticide residues were found in four of 45 vegetables which are the additional ingredient of RTE compound foods. The concentrations of pesticide were chlorothalonil 2.8 ppm, EPN 10.3 ppm, chlorpyrifos 0.4ppm and indoxacarb 0.7ppm. In 33 bean sprout samples, captan and carbendazim were not detected.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.82-87
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• 2008

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by chronic relapsing inflammation and is associated with hyper-production of immunoglobulin E (IgE). Recent studies have suggested that one of the treatments to alleviate symptoms of AD could be a supplementation of probiotics, Lactobacillus, Rhamnosus, Bifidus, etc. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotics on immune parameters in NC/Nga mice treated with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitro-benzene (DNCB). To induce atopic dermatitis, DNCB was treated to the back of mice for 2 weeks. Then, NC/Nga mice were divided into the four experimental groups randomly. Probiotics fragment, probiotics with other complex (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12LbL, L. plantarum K8, L. plantarum K8 fragment, ${\gamma}$-linolenic acid), antihistamine, and distilled water were administrated orally to the NC/Nga mouse for 4 weeks of experimental period. The groups were probiotics fragment group (DPF), probiotics with other complex group (DPOC), antihistamine group (DAH) and distilled water group (DDW) as a control group. The levels of serum IgE, interlukin-4 (IL-4), interlukin-5 (IL-5), interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) and spleenocyte IgE were measured. The levels of serum IgE were significantly different among the four experimental groups. Before the treatment, there was no differences among the groups. However, from the first through the third week of the treatments, the levels of serum IgE in the probiotics (DPF, DPOC) and antihistamine (DAH) groups were lower than those of control group (p < 0.05). The levels of serum IL-4 of DPOC group was significantly lower than that of control group (p < 0.05) and serum IL-5 levels of DPF, DPOC, and DAH groups were significantly lower than that of control group. The levels of serum IFN-${\gamma}$ were not different among the four experimental groups. The levels of serum IgE in supernatant of spleen lymphocytes were not significantly different among the groups. These results suggest that probiotics supplementation showed partial effectiveness in the DNCB treated NC/Nga mice via modulation of IgE level and IL-4, IL-5 production. Based on these findings, probiotics exhibited the inhibitory effect via IL-4 production thereby inhibited the production of IgE in atopic animal model NC/Nga mice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1 s.37
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• pp.1-10
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• 1999

한약(韓藥)의 효능(效能)은 약성(藥性)에 의해 분류(分類)되고 질병(疾病)을 치료(治療)하며 예방(豫防)하는 작용(作用)을 한다. 그러나 약성(藥性) 이론(理論)의 문헌(文獻)과 임상연구(臨床硏究)는 비교적 많지만 상대적으로 실험연구(實驗硏究)는 일부분에 불과하여 효능(效能)을 입증(立證)하는데 어려움이 많다. 이에 저자(著者)는 온열성약(溫熱性藥)들이 지니고 있는 유효(有效) 성분(成分)들을 조사(調査)하고 이 온열성약(溫熱性藥)에 함유(含有)되어 있는 유효(有效) 성분(成分)들의 구조적(構造的)인 특성(特性)과 화학적(化學的)인 공통점(共通點)을 찾아 온열성약(溫熱性藥)의 분류(分類)에 대한 일반적(一般的)인 기준(基準)을 제시(提示)하고자 하였다. 그 결과 각각의 열성약(熱性藥)과 온성약(溫性藥)들이 함유(含有)하고 있는 유효(有效) 성분(成分)간의 구조적(構造的)인 공통점(共通點)을 찾아내었으며 구조적(構造的)인 공통점(共通點)으로부터 다음과 같은 결론(結論)을 얻었다. 1. 열성약(熱性藥) 중에서 강(强)한 독성(毒性)을 나타내는 부자(附子)와 초오(草烏)의 효능을 나타내는 유효 성분(成分)들은 C19-diterpenoid alkaloid과 C20-diterpenoid alkaloid 계열의 구조(構造)를 지닌 화합물들로 구성(構成)되어 있다. 이 디테르펜 알카로이드(diterpene alkaloid)들의 경우 고리의 구조(構造)가 aconitane(1), hetisan(16)과 7,20-cycloveatchane(17)의 기본골격(基本骨格)을 지니고 있으며, 이 두 가지 기본구조(基本構造)의 공통점(共通點)은 A 고리에 질소를 포함한 2-azabicyclo-[3.3.1]-nonanyl의 부분구조를 갖고 있으며, 이 부분 구조는 자연계에 존재하는 tropane alkaloid들의 기본구조(基本構造)와 유사하다. Tropane alkaloid들은 중추신경계에 작용하는 약물들로 알려져 있으며, tropane alkaloid는 일반적으로 anatoxin a(171)와 같이 강(强)한 독성(毒性)을 나타내며, 부자(附子)와 초오(草烏)가 지니고 있는 강한 독성(毒性)은 바로 2-azabicyclo-[3.3.1]-nonanyl 구조(構造)에 기인하는 것으로 추정할 수 있다. 2. 육계(肉桂)에 주성분으로 함유(含有)되어 있는 cinncassiol(47) 화합물(化合物)들은 분자 내에 bicyclo-[4.3.0]-nonanyl과 bicyclo-[3.3.0]-octanyl의 기본 혹은 부분 구조를 지니고 있다. 3. Cinncassiol(47) 화합물(化合物)들은 강(强)한 항균력(抗菌力)을 보이고 있는데, cinncassiol(47) 화합물들이 지니고 있는 구조적인 특성인 bicyclo-[4.3.0]-nonanyl과 bicyclo-[3.3.0]-octanyl의 기본 혹은 부분 고리구조는 sesquiterpenoid 화합물(化合物)들과 diterpenoid 화합물(化合物)들 중에서 많이 발견되며, 이러한 구조(構造)를 지니고 있는 sesquiterpenoid 화합물(化合物)과 diterpenoid 화합물(化合物)들도 좋은 항균력(抗菌力)을 보이고 있다. 이러한 공통(共通)된 구조상(構造上)의 유사점(類似點)이 항균력(抗菌力)을 나타내는 지표로서 활용 가능성이 기대된다. 4. 온성약(溫性藥)의 경우, 백지(白芷)의 coumarin(39) 화합물(化合物)들과 furocoumarin(61) 화합물(化合物)들, 건량(乾量)의 gingerol(87), shogaol(93), gingerdiol(95) 등과 capsaicin(102), 마황(麻黃)의 ephedrine(124) 계렬(系列) 화합물(化合物)들, 세신(細辛)의 methyleugenol(136)과 asaricin(137)의 구조(構造)에서 발견(發見)할 수 있는 공통적(共通的)인 요소는 phenolic 또는 methoxyphenyl의 공통구조를 지니고 있다. 온성약(溫性藥)의 유효성분들은 공통적으로 phenolic aromatic 화합물(化合物)을 함유(含有)하고 있다. 따라서, 열성약(熱性藥)과 온성약(溫性藥)은 주성분(主成分)들의 분포(分布)가 각기 다르며, 독성(毒性)을 나타내는 열성약(熱性藥)은 2-azabicyclo-[3.3.1]-nonanyl 구조(構造)를 지니고 있고, 육계(肉桂)와 같은 항균력(抗菌力)을 지니는 약물(藥物)은 bicyclo-[3.3.0]-octanyl 또는 bicyclo-[4.3.0]-nonanyl의 구조(構造)를 지닌다. 백지(白芷), 마황(麻黃), 세신(細辛) 등에서 볼 수 있듯이 온성약(溫性藥)은 benzene 구조(構造)를 함유(含有)하는 phenolic aromatic 화합물(化合物)들이 주종을 이룬다.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.187-195
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• 2017

This study evaluated quality characteristics of soybean fermented by selected lactic acid bacteria, which were the enzyme strains with high antimicrobial activities isolated from traditionally prepared soybean paste. We determined total aerobic and lactic acid bacteria counts, protease and amylase activities, reducing sugar and amino-type nitrogen contents, and the amounts of amino acids, organic acids, and aroma-compounds. The total aerobic bacteria counts in soybean fermented with strain I13 ($7.75{\times}10^9CFU/mL$) were the highest among all the strains analyzed. Lactic acid bacteria numbers were $2.85{\times}10^9$ to $4.35{\times}10^9CFU/mL$ in soybean fermented with isolates. Amylase and protease activities of the JSB22 sample were the highest among all sample. Reducing sugar and amino-type nitrogen contents of soybean fermented with JSB22 (1.23%, 94.52 mg%) were highest. Total amino acid content of the samples was 15.88-17.62%, and glutamic acid, aspartic acid, leucine, lysine, and arginine were the major amino acids. Lactic acid (0.82-3.65 g/100 g), oxalic acid (22.74-63.57 mg/100 g), and fumaric acid (2.88-6.33 mg/100 g) were predominant organic acids. A total of 39 volatile aroma-compounds were identified, including 2 esters, 5 ketones, 7 alcohols, 14 hydrocarbons, 2 heterocyclic compounds, 4 acids, and 5 miscellaneous compounds. These results represent useful information for the development of a starter (single or complex) and will be used for production of functional fermented soybean foods.

• Clean Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.200-208
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• 2012

This study was performed to prevent the health damage of environmental contaminants in Industrial Complex Area. And, this study aimed to identify the concentration levels and distribution characteristics of environmental contaminants and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) at soil in Industrial Complex Area and control area. The concentration of the soil pollution standard such as the heavy metals in the soil, VOCs, PAHs, and PCB were measured and analyzed using the soil specimens in the Industrial Complex Area and control area. Soil specimens from the Industrial Complex Area (the direct exposure area) and the control area were surveyed. Songdo-dong, Haedo-dong and Jechul-dong, which are in the direct exposure area and near the emission source, showed relatively high concentrations of contaminant materials when compared with Jangki-myeon, which is far off and in the control area. The concentration of zinc was 20.8-58.9% of the level of concern (300 mg/kg) in the 1st region, which is a relatively high concentration. The concentration of fluoride was under the standard in every region, but it was about 74% of the level of concern (400 mg/kg) in the 1st region. It is recommended that controlling fluoride emissions is necessary. Levels of organic phosphate, phenol, and VOCs like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene were under the detection limit of the analysis instruments. The concentration of TPH was high in Songdo-dong. The concentration of contaminants in Jechul-dong was high. In addition, it was observed that the level of soil contamination changed depending on the distance from the emission source. The concentration of PAH compounds in the soil was 18.71-1744.59 ng/g, and the concentration of six potential cancer-causing PAH materials was 6.54-695.94 ng/g. The highest concentration was in Songdo-dong. The PAH concentration in the direct exposure area near the complex was relatively high compared to the indirect exposure area.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.8-18
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• 1983

The effects of fat-solvents was investigated on the yield. brown color intensity, UV absorbance patterns, reducing and antioxidant activities, and variation of fatty acid composition of the extracts from white and red ginseng. The yield and intensity of brown color of extracts were generally greater as the polarity of the solvent used became stronger. The intensity of the brown color of extract of red ginseng was greater than that of white ginseng. The orders of reducing and antioxidant activities of extracts of red ginseng was similar that of white ginseng, resulting in decreasing order of: ethanol>methanol>ethyl acetate, acetone>ether>chloroform>benzene, hexane. The ethanol, methanol, and ethyl acetate extracts of red ginseng showed stronger UV absorption than the corresponding extracts of white ginseng. The former also possessed stronger reducing and antioxidant activities than the latter. The composition of the major unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic, and nervonic acid) in the ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts from both white and red ginseng did not change appreciably for 60 days at $45^{\circ}C$. In case of the hexane extracts which had shown the weakest reducing and antioxidant activities among the extracts, linolenic acid disappeared almost under the same condition.