• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.257-265
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• 2008

Nanotechnology is emerging as one of the key technologies of the 21 st century and is expected to enable one to broaden the applicability across a wide range of sectors that can benefit public and improve industrial competitiveness. Already, consumer products containing nanomaterials are available in markets including coatings, computers, clothing, cosmetics, sports equipment and medical devices. Recently, Institute of Occupational Medicine in UK reported an occupational hygiene review for nanoparticles in the viewpoint of nanotoxicity. They reported that the exposure control is very important issues in workplace for exposure assessment, but no proper methods are available to measure the extent of exposures to nanoparticles in the workplace. Therefore, for the estimation of exposure of nanomaterials, we have to approach the material-balance methodology, which similarly carried out in TRI (toxic release inventory) for hazardous chemicals. In order to use this methodology, the exposure source of nanomaterials should be determined firstly. Therefore, herein we investigated the main sources and processes for the exposure to nanomaterals by conducting the survey. The results could be used to define and assess nanohazard sources.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.714-727
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• 2015

This study investigated consumers' clothing expense, consumer innovativeness and perceived risk to the channel type they frequently purchase fashion products and compared the relationship between the variables. A survey of male and female college students was conducted and 367 responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, two-way ANOVA, factor analysis, reliability analysis, and correlations. Female consumer clothing expenses were high compared to male consumers, and clothing expenses of consumers using department stores and independent banded stores were high compared to those using internet shopping malls. The sub-dimensions of consumer innovativeness were determined as adventure-oriented, unique-oriented, and change-oriented, and female consumers have characteristics more unique-oriented and change-oriented. In the case of female respondents, unique-oriented innovativeness was highest for department store customers, while the male customer of non-branded stores showed the highest unique-oriented innovativeness. Perceived risk indicated the highest score from the customers of internet shopping mall. Department stores were recognized as reliable by female department store customers. Clothing expenses and consumer innovativeness dimensions showed significantly positive correlations; in addition, the relation between clothing expense and perceived risks were significantly negative. Consumer innovativeness and perceived risks have positive relations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.191-202
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• 2023

Food upcycling has emerged as an effective approach to sustainably utilize the food waste generated within the food supply chain. This review article examines upcycled food with respect to its definition, consumers' knowledge and perception on it, and the process by which by-products from the food supply chain are utilized for the creation of upcycled food products. The definition of upcycled food varied among manufacturers, research institutions, and the Upcycled Food Association, depending on the specific values and objectives of each sector. This has resulted in the use of different keywords to highlight the distinctive characteristics of their respective interpretations of upcycled food. This review also summarizes the various consumer traits that can influence the awareness and acceptance of upcycled food, encompassing functional, empirical and emotional, symbolic and self-expressive, and economic benefits. Additionally, the review presents strategies to utilize by-products produced in large quantities in Korea, while also addressing the control of hazardous components to ensure biological or chemical safety and the changes in nutritional value that may occur during the utilization of these byproducts.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.134-155
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• 2016

Perfluorinated chemicals are highly diverse and widely used. More than 160 substances are pre-registered under REACH and approximately 140 substances are in the existing chemicals list of Korea from this chemical group. Chemical structures of PFCs that are globally prohibited and still in uses are identified with OECD's classification of PFCs with an overall review on their uses in consumer products including textile products. Case examples for current domestic situation on use of PFCs as a major component of water-repelling agents in textile products as well as a brief summary of eight major PFC manufacturers' situation are presented from our survey study along the supply chains and the most recent report of EPA stewardship programme, respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.138-145
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• 2024

Background: Appropriateness issues have emerged regarding the non-application of hazardous substance safety standards for items classified as 'other textile products'. Objectives: Testing for formaldehyde (HCHO) and risk assessment were conducted on 'other textiles products' to provide reference data for promoting product safety policies. Methods: Testing was conducted on five items (102 products) classified as 'other textile products' according to relevant standards (textile products safety standards), and the risk of each product was assessed using the evaluation methodologies of the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC) and European Chemical Agency (ECHA). Results: Out of the 102 products tested, HCHO was detected above the quantification limit in five. Based on these results, the screening risk assessment indicated that three products exceeded the criteria. Upon reassessing the emission and transfer rates of products exceeding the criteria, it was confirmed that there were no instances of exceeding the criteria. Conclusions: Risk assessment results can be used as supporting data for non-application of hazardous substance standards. However, it is deemed necessary to transition towards a management approach based on risks in order to addressing emerging trends such as convergence/new products.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2018

This study investigated consumer innovativeness by examining a relationship model of innate innovativeness, product interest, product-specific innovativenss, and actualized innovativeness for eight product items as well as observed gender differences in the variables. The eight product items for the survey were smartphones, movies, clothing, cars, skin care products/cosmetics, traveling, AI products, and books. An online survey was conducted in January 2018, and 400 responses from male and female consumers in their twenties and thirties, were analyzed using reliability test, descriptive statistics, regression, and ANCOVA. The positive effect of innate innovativeness and product interest on product-specific innovativeness, and positive effect of innate innovativeness and product-specific innovativeness on actualized innovativeness were confirmed. Product interest was found to have a stronger power on product-specific innovativeness than innate innovativeness. Gender differences in product interest, product-specific innovativeness, and actualized innovativeness were identified as hypothesized. Female consumer's clothing interest, clothing innovativenss, and actualized clothing innovativeness were higher than male consumers; in addition, male consumer's cars and AI interest, cars and AI innovativenss, and actualized cars and AI innovativeness were higher than female's. The controversial results that indicated the higher innate innovativeness of male consumers useful to further in-depth discussion and research. This study contributed to the theory construction of consumer innovativeness research areas and offered practical implications for new product launching and customer relationship management.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.321-325
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• 2019

The recent humidifier disinfectant disaster has caused a great change in our society and lead the Korean people to lose faith in the government and corporations. To overcome this mistrust, the government and corporations have undertaken certain efforts, including a voluntary agreement on consumer product safety. All the ingredients of a consumer product should be disclosed according to this voluntary agreement. There were also unexpected benefits occuring from this process. We found that the concept of corporate responsibility for product safety differed greatly among the various actors in Korean society. Corporations believed that a product could be considered safe if it contained no regulated substances. We have come to believe that this may be an important cause of the humidifier disinfectant disaster. The Korean government, corporations, and civil organizations have reached a consensus that it is a corporation's responsibility to evaluate the risks of products before they are introduced to the market. However, the limitations of these voluntary efforts are clear, and the legal system needs to be improved. We suggest that the concept of extreme recklessness should be introduced into regulations on product safety.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.33 no.s01
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• pp.64-85
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• 1988

Peanut seeds are characterized by high oils and proteins with good quality, and are utilized as an edible oil source and a protein-rich food products. The end products, being peanut butter, salted seed, confections, roasting stock and other by-products are favored in world-wide because of their unique roasted peanut flavor. As with many other foods, interest in the composition and chemistry of peanut is largely a result of thier use as human food. Thus, a more complete knowledge of thier chemical and food quality and flavor properties is desired. Literatures are reviewed mainly focucing on the physicochemical properties and nutritional quality of oil, protein and flavor in peanuts. Chemical properties of protein and oil, and volatile flavor component in peanut seeds are studied extensively in view point of chemical and food nutritional value. But in crop base, the synthesis and genetic studies of the chemicals could not provide valuable informations on the breeding for quality improvement. Some essential amino acids are limiting in peanut seeds and the tocopherols are very important in oil stability and for dietary adequacy ratio in high linoleic acid peanut oil, but it is thought to be quite difficult to improve by breeding technique as their lack information of gene actions. However, the selections of high protein and oil, and some essential amino acids and linoleic acid rich genotypes could be helpful for the quality improving. Research studies are also needed to elucidate the relationships between flavor components and consumer perception of peanut flavor.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.462-471
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• 2021

Background: The number of synthesized chemicals has rapidly increased over the past decade. For many chemicals, there is a lack of information on toxicity. With the current movement toward reducing animal testing, the use of toxicity big data and deep learning could be a promising tool to screen potential toxicants. Objectives: This study identified potential chemicals related to reproductive and estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated toxicities for 1135 cleaning products and 886 laundry products. Methods: We listed chemicals contained in cleaning and laundry products from a publicly available database. Then, chemicals that potentially exhibited reproductive and ER-mediated toxicities were identified using the European Union Classification, Labeling and Packaging classification and ToxCast database, respectively. For chemicals absent from the ToxCast database, ER activity was predicted using deep learning models. Results: Among the 783 listed chemicals, there were 53 with potential reproductive toxicity and 310 with potential ER-mediated toxicity. Among the 473 chemicals not tested with ToxCast assays, deep learning models indicated that 42 chemicals exhibited ER-mediated toxicity. A total of 13 chemicals were identified as causing reproductive toxicity by reacting with the ER. Conclusions: We demonstrated a screening method to identify potential chemicals related to reproductive and ER-mediated toxicities utilizing chemical toxicity big data and deep learning. Integrating toxicity data from in vivo, in vitro, and deep learning models may contribute to screening chemicals in consumer products.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 1993

The traditional farming method has very long history in the process of agricultural development. The application of chemical fertilizers production became most popular to increase quantities of agricultural production. The United States of America is one of largest countries in the world. There are at present 50 States and farming conditions are very different from each individual States. There are increasing trend of agricultural production by applying chemical fertilizers as well as sprays during last 50 years(1940-90). The disadvantages of conventional farming method were to destroy nature and human life. There were some other kinds of disadvantages such as nitriated contamination in drinking water both for human being and animals. The alternative farming method is one of new farming method reducing and/of non-application of chemical fertilizers and sprays in agricultural production. There is less economic research on alternative farming system about $5.444 economic advatages in organic farms comparing commercial farms at the same area. There are advantage of higher unit price level in orgnic products, decreasing chemical costs as well as effect of crop combinations. It is certainly necessary to have more empirical research on economic and management of alternative farming method in the United States of America. However, if there is economic advantage in alternative farming methods, the future development possibility of alternative farming method can be very bright in vear future. There might be more advantages such as soil conservation, better quality of agricultural products, better health conditions of farmer's and consumer's as well as keeping healthy environment of rural and urban areas.