• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.372-377
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• 2020

Infection risks of handling specimens associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by public health laboratory services teams were assessed to scrutinize the potential hazards arising from the work procedures. Through risk assessments of all work sequences, laboratory equipment, and workplace environments, no aerosol-generating procedures could be identified except the procedures (mixing and transfer steps) inside biological safety cabinets. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as surgical masks, protective gowns, face shields/safety goggles, and disposable gloves, together with pertinent safety training, was provided for laboratory work. Proper disinfection and good hand hygiene practices could minimize the probability of SARS-CoV-2 infection at work. All residual risk levels of the potential hazards identified were within the acceptable level. Contamination by gloved hands was considered as a major exposure route for SARS-CoV-2 when compared with eye protection equipment. Competence in proper donning and doffing of PPE accompanied by hand washing techniques was of utmost importance for infection control.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.176-182
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• 2008

In the present study, a control methodology utilizing airborne silver nanoparticles is suggested and tested with respect to its potential to control Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis, and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria bioaerosols deposited on filters. As it is known that the Gram-negative bacteria are sensitive to airflow exposure, the main focus of this study for testing the airborne silver nanoparticles effect was the Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis bacteria bioaerosols whereas Escherichia coli bioaerosols were utilized for comparison. Airborne bacteria and airborne silver nanoparticles were quantitatively generated in an experimental system. Bioaerosols deposited on the filter were exposed to airborne silver nanoparticles. The physical and biological properties of the airborne bacteria and airborne silver nanoparticles were measured via aerosol measurement devices. From the experimental results, it was demonstrated that this method utilizing airborne silver nanoparticles offers potential as a bioaerosol control methodology.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.511-518
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• 1998

In order to develop the aerosol bolus technique which is thought to be a potential tool for probing geometries or abnormalities of small airways, an experimental system of measuring fast time variations of particle concentration in the inhaled and exhaled breathing air was developed. The system generates monodisperse sebacic acrid particles of 1 micron size and 1.2 of geometric standard deviation in high concentration of $10^8$ particles/cc, delivers a short pulse of particles at the controlled instant during inhalation using a solenoid valve, and measures the fast change of particle concentration in using the laser light scattering. Successful operation of the generator and the measuring system was confirmed by smooth concentration profiles in inhalation. It was also confirmed that maintaining a constant breathing rate is essential to stable outputs and any disturbance in flow rate near the mode (maximum concentration) induces a large number of spurious peaks in the exhalation. Experimental data without strict control of breathing flow rate showed a substantial amount of scatter. The measured results showed an improvement in scatter over the existing results. When compared with theoretical predictions from 1-D convective diffusion equation and other experiments, general characteristics of dispersion for several penetration depths showed a good agreement, but there exists some difference in absolute values, which is attributed to the difference in body conditions. Improvements are needed in the theory, especially in relation to correcting for the effect of breathing flow rate.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.151-158
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• 2017

Electrostatic precipitator is widely used to remove particulate matters in indoor air and industrial flue gas due to low pressure drop and high collection efficiency. However, it has a low collection efficiency for the submicrometer sized particles. Electrospraying is a potential method to increase the particle charging efficiency, which results in increased collection efficiency. Although particle charging efficiency is highly dependent upon droplet size, the effective measuring method of the droplets is still uncertain. Tap water was electrosprayed in this study, and the images of electrosprayed droplets were taken with a high speed camera coupled with several visualization methods in order to measure the droplets size. The droplet size distribution was determined by an image processing with an image-J program. As a result, a droplet measured by a laser visualization, had a half size of that by a Xenon light visualization. In addition, the experimentally measured droplet sizes were a good agreement with the predicted values suggested by $Fern{\acute{a}}ndez$ de la Mora and Loscertales(1994).

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2017

This study identified the loss of minimum fluidization velocity and pressure in accordance with the superficial velocity of $NiO/MoO_3/MoS_2$, a rare metallic oxide and high value-added material in the lab-scale fluidized bed reactor (L=0.25 m, D=0.05 m). The average pressure loss in L/D 1, 2, and 3 of $NiO/MoO_3/MoS_2$ within the scope of superficial gas velocity between 0.07 and 0.45 m/s based on the L/D 1, 2, and 3 of the specimen was shown to be 290~1952 Pa at decreasing flux and 253~1925 Pa at increasing flux. The comparison between the theoretical value proposed by Wen and the test data showed a difference between 0.021~0.36 magnification. Based on these results, this study was able to determine the operation conditions where rare metallic oxides could be applied in real phenomena.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.25-35
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• 2013

In swine house, dust generation comes from various sources and is known to be harmful both for the animals and the farmers because the dust contains biological and gaseous matters. When farmers are constantly exposed to the dusts, they can suffer chronic or acute respiratory symptoms and have high probability of manifesting various diseases. To address this problem, understanding of the mechanism of dust generation is very important. In this paper, the dust concentration of inhalable, respirable, TSP and $PM_{10}$ were monitored and analyzed according to the pig-activity level, ventilation quantity and feeding method in fattening pig house. From the measured results, in case of the concentration of TSP, an inverse-linear relation with ventilation rate ($R^2=0.88$) and linear relation with the installation height of feed supply pipe ($R^2=0.73$) were determined. However in case of the concentration of $PM_{10}$, no particular relationship with the variables was observed. Using the concentration of inhalable and respirable dust based on the pig-activity level, multi-variate regression analysis was conducted and results have shown that the movement of pigs can contribute to the dust generation (p＜0.05, $R^2=0.71$, 0.61). The relationship determined between dust generation and environmental variables investigated in this study is very significant and useful in conducting dust-reduction researches.

• Carbon letters
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2012

A nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) canister was indigenously developed using active carbon impregnated with ammoniacal salts of copper (II), chromium (VI) and silver (I), and high efficiency particulate aerosol filter media. The NBC canister was evaluated against carbon tetra chloride ($CCl_4$) vapours, which were used as a simulant for persistent chemical warfare agents under dynamic conditions for testing breakthrough times of canisters of gas masks in the National Approval Test of Respirators. The effects of $CCl_4$ concentration, test flow rate, temperature, and relative humidity (RH) on the breakthrough time of the NBC canister against $CCl_4$ vapour were also studied. The impregnated carbon that filled the NBC canister was characterized for surface area and pore volume by $N_2$ adsorption-desorption isotherm at liquid nitrogen temperature. The study clearly indicated that the NBC canister provides adequate protection against $CCl_4$ vapours. The breakthrough time decreased with the increase of the $CCl_4$ concentration and flow rate. The variation in temperature and RH did not significantly affect the breakthrough behaviour of the NBC canister at high vapour concentration of $CCl_4$, whereas the breakthrough time of the NBC canister was reduced by an increase of RH at low $CCl_4$ vapour concentration.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.320-328
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• 2016

Among biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in the natural ecosystem, monoterpenes, along with isoprene, play important roles in atmospheric chemistry and make significant impacts on air pollution and climate change, especially due to their contribution to secondary organic aerosol production and photochemical ozone formation. It is essential to measure monoterpene concentrations accurately for understanding their oxidation processes, emission processes and estimation, and interactions between biosphere and atmosphere. Thus, traceable calibration standards are crucial for the accurate measurement of monoterpenes at ambient levels. However, there are limited information about developing calibrations standards for monoterpenes in pressured cylinders. This study describes about developing primary standard gas mixtures (PSMs) for monoterpenes at about 2 nmol/mol, near ambient levels. The micro-gravimetric method was applied to prepare monoterpene (${\alpha}$-pinene, 3-carene, R-(+)-limonene, 1,8-cineole) PSMs at $10{\mu}mol/mol$ and then the PSMs were further diluted to 2 nmol/mol level. To select an optimal cylinder for the development of monoterpene PSMs, three different kinds of cylinders were used for the preparation and were evaluated for uncertainty sources including long-term stability. Results showed that aluminum cylinders with a special internal surface treatment (Experis) had little adsorption loss on the cylinder internal surface and good long-term stability compared to two other cylinder types with no treatment and a special treatment (Aculife). Results from uncertainty estimation suggested that monoterpene PSMs can be prepared in pressured cylinders with a special treatment (Experis) at 2 nmol/mol level with an uncertainty of less than 4%.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.283-295
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• 2017

It is crucial to measure meteorological elements in relation to the biodeterioration of building cultural heritages. The Beopjusa and Seonamsa temples located respectively in Chungbuk and Jeonnam provinces, Korea, exhibit biological damage to the building cultural heritages and cause noticeable climatic differences. To compare biodeterioration environments of the abovementioned temples, 10 meteorological elements were observed, and particulate matter (TSP) was collected at each location. Furthermore, a correlation analysis was conducted between meteorological elements, and between meteorological elements and TSP. The local meteorology at Beopjusa temple characteristically showcased high total horizontal radiation, UV radiation, evaporation, wind speed, and TSP concentration, whereas, that at Seonamsa temple showcased high temperature, humidity, dew point temperature, air pressure, precipitation and number of days with precipitation. An elemental analysis of TSP revealed the presence of sae-salts at Seonamsa temple, and compared to that of Beopjusa temple, the monthly frequencies of biogenic aerosol and Fe-containing particles were higher. The correlation analysis showed that wind speed and humidity were major meteorological factors at Beopjusa and Seonamsa temples, respectively. Subsequently, the characteristics of the local meteorology at Seonamsa temple are expected to affect the biological damage of the building cultural heritages, which is favorable for the growth of various organisms.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2021

Olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves, a raw material for health functional foods and cosmetics have abundant polyphenols including oleuropein (major bioactive compound) with various biological activities: antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer activity, and inhibit platelet activation. Oleuropein has been reported as skin protectant, antioxidant, anti-ageing, anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-atherogenic, anti-viral, and anti-microbial activity. Despite oleuropein is the important compound in olive leaves, there is still no quantitative approach to reveal oleuropein content in commercial products. Therefore, a validated method of analysis has to develop for oleuropein. In this study, the components and oleuropein content in 10 types of products were analyzed using a developed method with ultra-performance liquid chromatography to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, charge of aerosol detector, and photodiode array. The total of 18 compounds including iridoids (1, 3, 4, 14, and 16-18), coumarin (2), phenylethanoids (5, 9, and 11), flavonoids (6-8, 10, 12, and 13), lignan (15), were tentatively identified in the leaves extract based high resolution mass spectrometry data, and the content of oleuropein in each product was almost identical between two detection methods. The oleuropein in three commercial product (A, G, H) was contained more over the suggested content, and it of five products (B, E, H, I, J) were analyzed within 5-10% error range. However, the two products (C, D) were found far lower than suggested contents. This study provides that analytical results of oleuropein could be a potential information for the quality control of leaf extract for a manufactured functional food.