• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• 제28권3호
• /
• pp.317-329
• /
• 2006

To assess the contamination status of organochlorine pesticides in the marine environment of Saemangeum, surface seawater and sediments were collected and analyzed. Organochlorine pesticides were widely distributed in the Saemangeum environment, with DDT, HCH and endosulfan II contamination being particularly prevalent. The overall concentrations of DDTs, HCHs, and endosulfan II in surface seawater were in the rage of 0.03-0.65ng/l (mean value: 0.36ng/l), 1.31-4.54ng/l (2.63 ng/l), and not detected (ND)-0.96ng/l (0.49ng/l), respectively. Among the target organochlorine pesticides, endosulfan II showed the hi띤est level at the river mouth flowing into the Saemangeum. Additionally, its negative gradient from the rivers to the outside and a good correlation with $NO_3^-$ indicate that endosulfan ll inflows to the Saemangeum through the river; this conclusion is also supported by the elevated levels of endosulfan II in sediments at the river mouth. In sediment, the concentration of DDTs, HCHs, CHLs, and endosulfan II were in the range of 0.05-1.96 ng/g, 0.03-0.31ng/g, 0.01-0.13ng/g, and ND-0.62ng/g, respectively. Levels of contamination in Saemangeum are relatively lower than the median concentrations previously observed at the Korean coastal regions and sediment quality guidelines suggested by NOAA (Long et at. 1995).

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제27권3호
• /
• pp.165-170
• /
• 2002

Combined with deposition model onto the ground of radionuclides, the influence of radioactive contamination to agricultural products was analyzed due to wet deposition as well as dry deposition from radioactive air concentration during a nuclear emergency. The previous dynamic food chain model, in which initial input parameter is only radionuclide concentrations on the ground, was improved for the evaluating of radioactive contamination to agricultural products from either radionuclide concentrations in air or radionuclide concentrations on the ground. As the results, in case of deposition onto the ground, wet deposition was more dominant process than thy deposition. While the contamination levels of agricultural products were dependent on the a variety of factors such as radionuclides and rainfall rate. It means that the contamination levels of agricultural products are determined from which is more dominant process between deposition on the ground and interception onto agricultural plants.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• 제22권2호
• /
• pp.105-109
• /
• 2007

This study monitored and compared the contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliform groups and S. aureus of 16 Shrimp Jeotgal (Salt Fermented Shrimp) products from 3 traditional markets (TM), 3 department stores (DS) and 3 super markets (SM) located on seoul, Korea. Moreover this study was carried out to survey the concentrations of NaCl and heavy metal (lead; Pb) of the Shrimp Jeotgal. The contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria in the Shrimp Jeotgai were $3.35log_{10}CFU/g$ as a mean and $3.71log_{10}CFU/g$ for TM, $3.16log_{10}CFU/g\;for\;DS,\;2.84log_{10}CFU/g$ for SM. The coliform groups were contaminated in 50% of Shrimp Jeotgal and it means that the hygienic control is needed urgently. S. aureus were not detected in every sample. The levels of NaCl were between 17.9 and 28.5%. Heavy metal (lead; Pb) was detected in only 1 product at the level of 0.02 ppm out of 16 products. Although microbiological contamination levels of Shrimp Jeotgal were not much high, hygienic management like HACCP is thought to be needed for the production of Shrimp Jeotgal in traditional market.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• 제38권2호
• /
• pp.282-290
• /
• 2018

This research was to evaluate microbial contamination levels in meat samples at hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP)-implemented processing plants that produce beef, pork, and chicken. During a period of about a year, a total of 178 samples (76 from beef, 89 from pork, and 13 from chicken) were obtained from raw materials (21.3%) and final products (78.7%). All samples were determined for each 25 g homogenized one. Samples were analyzed to determine the total aerobic plate count (APC), coliform count (CC), and E. coli count (ECC). By month, APC levels were the highest in September and the lowest in February (p<0.001). In comparison among season, APC levels in meat samples were the highest in the summer and the lowest in winter (p<0.001). By month, the highest CC prevalence was found in August, followed by October and then July (p<0.001). By season, the highest CC was obtained in summer, followed by autumn and then spring (p<0.001). All samples were negative for ECC. There was a direct correlation between the product form and coliform presence (p<0.001). In addition, there was a positive correlation between the APC and CC (r=0.261). The APCs in analyzed samples ranged from below <$10^1CFU/g$ to <$10^7CFU/g$. In conclusion, the month and season had significant effects on microbial contamination levels at HACCP implemented processing plants. Interrelationships between (i) the product form and coliform, (ii) the APC and CC were revealed.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
• /
• 한국콘텐츠학회 2009년도 춘계 종합학술대회 논문집
• /
• pp.1150-1158
• /
• 2009

Since equipment currently being used in the department of radiological technology comes into contact with patients carrying diseases, there inevitably will be the existence of pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, in order to increase the importance of using disinfectant in hospital infection precaution and the recognition of hospital infection management, comparisons were made by measuring the bacterial contamination levels in radiology room within the department of radiological technology and comparing the measurements with post disinfection levels. Disinfecting the rooms from detected bacteria was conducted with water, tissue cleaner, or 70% alcohol. When measuring bacterial contamination levels in radiology rooms, a variety of bacteria was detected. When disinfecting the interior of radiology rooms the effectiveness of destroying bacteria and preventing hospital infection was greatest when using 70% alcohol compared to water, tissue cleaner and ventilation. Therefore, there needs to be a development of a better antiseptic for destroying bacteria because there is a possibility for hospital medical equipment to be constantly contaminated. Efforts need to be made to prevent hospital infections and patient secondary infection by disinfecting and sterilizing equipment.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국지구물리탐사학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the international symposium on the fusion technology
• /
• pp.544-547
• /
• 2003

The objective of this study is to investigate the contamination levels and dispersion patterns of arsenic and heavy metals and to estimate the bioaccessible fraction of the metals in soil and plant samples in the vicinity of the abandoned Songcheon Au-Ag mine. Tailings, soils, plants (Chinese cabbage, red pepper, soybean, radish, sesame leaves, green onion, lettuce, potato leaves, angelica and groundsel) and waters were collected around the mine site. After appropriate preparation, all samples were analyzed for As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Elevated levels of As and heavy metals were found in tailings. Mean concentrations of As in agricultural soils were higher than the permissible level. Especially, maximum level of As in farmland soil was 513 mg/kg. The highest concentrations of As and Zn were found in Chinese cabbage (6.7 mg/kg and 359 mg/kg, respectively). Concentrations of As, Cd, and Zn in most stream waters which are used for drinking water around this mine area were higher than the permissible levels regulated in Korea. Maximum levels of As, Cd and Zn in stream waters were 0.78 mg/L, 0.19 mg/L and 5.4 mg/L, respectively. These results indicate that mine tailings can be the main contamination sources of As and heavy metals in the soil-water system in the mine area. The average of estimated bioaccessible fraction of As in farmland soils were $3.7\%$ (in simulated stomach) and $10.8\%$ (in simulated small intestine). The highest value of bioaccessible fraction of metal in farmland soils was $46.5\%$ for Cd.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• 제18권4호
• /
• pp.341-354
• /
• 2002

Heavy metal concentration/distribution in sediments and bivalves from the tidal flats in Saemankeum coastal area, western Korea, were investigated, Among 6 sampling sites, S2, S5 and S6 showed the higher levels of Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu and Cd contamination and S1 did the higher level of Pb contamination than other sites, while S-4 showed the lowest levels of these metal contamination. Overally, the levels of Zn, Cu and Pb concentrations in Sinonovacula constricta were estimated to be relatively high. The shell lengths of the collected mussels were linearly related to their dry weights of the whole soft parts, but the mussels collected from S3 were in a poor nutrition, resulting in the distinctively high levels of metal concentrations in the body. It was shown that in S. constricta, Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn are distributed equally into the whole soft parts or a little more into the flesh, after absorption, while Fe, Cd, Pb and Mn are transferred more into the non-flesh parts than into the flesh parts. In S. constricta, the heavy metal concentrations in the flesh increase with those in the whole soft parts. The bioaccumulation factors(heavy metal concentration in S. constricta/heavy metal concentration in sediment) showed that, of the examined metals, Cd is the most cumulative in the body of S. constricta, followed by Zn and Cu, while Mn, Cr, Ni and Pb are not cumulative.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권6호
• /
• pp.2625-2628
• /
• 2012

Introduction: Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin produced in cereals due to fungal infection. This study was conducted to determine FB1 contamination of rice and corn samples and its relationship with the rate of esophageal cancer (EC) in a high risk area in northeastern Iran. Methods: In total, 66 rice and 66 corn samples were collected from 22 geographical subdivisions of Golestan province of Iran. The levels of FB1 were measured for each subdivision by thin layer and high pressure liquid chromatographies. The mean level of FB1 and the proportions of FB1 contaminated samples were compared between low and high EC-risk areas of the province. Results: The mean of FB1 levels in corn and rice samples were 223.64 and 21.59 ${\mu}g/g$, respectively. FB1 contamination was found in 50% and 40.9% of corn and rice samples, respectively. FB1 level was significantly higher in rice samples obtained from high EC-risk area (43.8 ${\mu}g/g$) than those obtained from low risk area (8.93 ${\mu}g/g$) (p-value=0.01). The proportion of FB1 contaminated rice samples was also significantly greater in high (75%) than low (21.4%) EC-risk areas (p-value=0.02). Conclusion: We found high levels of FB1 contamination in corn and rice samples from Golestan province of Iran, with a significant positive relationship between FB1 contamination in rice and the risk of EC. Therefore, fumonisin contamination in commonly used staple foods, especially rice, may be considered as a potential risk factor for EC in this high risk region.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• 제18권3호
• /
• pp.235-240
• /
• 2015

Seasonal variation in the prevalence of norovirus in oysters Crassostrea gigas was investigated and compared to levels of Escherichia coli, a fecal indicator in oysters. Oysters were collected from Iwon-myeon, Taean-gun, Korea, a primary production area for European Union export of oysters between 2013 and 2014. We observed seasonality in the prevalence of norovirus in oysters, with a higher prevalence and viral load detected during winter months. Oysters taken from production areas that complied with the European Union standard for raw consumption (< 230 MPN/100 g of E. coli) had 22.1% of the samples test positive for norovirus (15/68 samples). However, norovirus was not detected in any of the samples (0%, 0/4 samples) that were collected from production sites that exceeded the standard fecal contamination level for raw consumption (> 230 MPN/100 g of E. coli). These results indicated that there is a negative correlation between the prevalence of norovirus and high levels of E. coli in oysters. Therefore, our results suggest that current food safety guidelines using only a bacterial fecal contamination indicator, E. coli, may not adequately assess shellfish production areas for viral and bacterial contamination.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• 제14권1호
• /
• pp.53-60
• /
• 2009

The main objective was to develop and assess a dynamic fate and transport model for lead in air, soil, sediment, water and vegetation. Daejeon was chosen as the study area for its relatively high contamination and emission levels. The model was assessed by comparing model predictions with measured concentrations in multi-media and atmospheric deposition flux. Given a lead concentration in air, the model could predict the concentrations in water and soil within a factor of five. Sensitivity analysis indicated that effective compartment volumes, rain intensity, scavenging ratio, run off, and foliar uptake were critical to accurate model prediction. Important implications include that restriction of air emission may be necessary in the future to protect the soil quality objective as the contamination level in soil is predicted to steadily increase at the present emission level and that direct discharge of lead into the water body was insignificant as compared to atmospheric deposition fluxes. The results strongly indicated that atmospheric emission governs the quality of the whole environment. Use of the model developed in this study would provide quantitative and integrated understanding of the cross-media characteristics and assessment of the relationships of the contamination levels among the multi-media environment.