• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.26 no.2 s.42
• /
• pp.192-201
• /
• 1993

Epidemiologic investigation was conducted on January, 1993 in Seoul to identify the cause of an infant methemoglobinemia. Field investigation of the area of outbreak, survey of household and family members, analysis of ground water, and blood tests of involved family members were performed. Following results were obtained On analyzing the quality of the ground water on patient's household high levels of nitrate was found indicating contamination of water as the cause of a methemoglobinemia outbreak. On analysing the quality of the ground waters on seven other places within the neighborhood five were contaminated by nitrate in concentration that exceeded the permissible limit implying presence nearby source of contamination. Sources of contamination were thought to be originating from human waste in conventional bathroom facilities, chicken manure used in nearby orchards and plant fields or fertilizers. But the results of water analysis with presence of bacteria or E.coli, concentration of potassium, phosphate and the past history of diarrhea among family members, chicken manure suggested the most possible source of contamination. To evaluate the health status of members in the neighborhood past history was reviewed revealing no prior existence of patient with cyanosis and 65 people in the neighborhood had normal levels of methemoglobin concentration in their blood. Conclusively, the ground water on patient's household was contaminated with nitrate and despite provision of adequate water supply, family members of the patient along with their distrust in the water supply system had used ground water as their source of drinking water resulting of methemoglobinemia. Many suburban area of Seoul and country side thought to be having similar problems concerning contaminated ground water supply and dormant outbreak of patients as a result of the drinking of the contaminated water. Epidemiologic investigation and water analysis of ground waters are advised.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2020

In this study, the contamination level was measured using an ATP meter using adenosine triphosphate bioluminescent material to find effective infection control to compensate for the disadvantages of the microbial culture method used for hygiene control of ultrasound probe. The convex probes were selected from six ultrasound probe in the hospital, and the samples were taken in real time before and after cleaning to check the contamination of the probe. In order to classify the pollution degree using the APT meter was classified by category. A total of 78 samples were collected from the ultrasound probe. When the pollution levels before and after cleaning were classified by category, 76.6% of the samples were classified into category 3·4 before cleaning, but they decreased to 23.3% after cleaning. 13.3% before cleaning was in category 1, but increased to 43.3% after cleaning. By classifying the pollution level, it was confirmed that the pollution level was significantly reduced by category. Until now, there was no suitable criterion for determining the contamination level by using ATP meter in medical machines where sample area is small and reused. In this study, criteria for each category were set to measure the contamination level of ATP meter suitable for small sample area such as ultrasound probe, so that contamination level could be determined in real time at the site. Therefore, it is considered that hygiene management for ultrasound probe can be more actively performed.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.98-103
• /
• 2004

To evaluate the quality of drinking water and contamination sources in a rural community, this study was carried out on the summer of 2003 at Shin-Dong Myun, Chun-Cheon, Gang-Won province. Seventy three drinking water samples were collected from three different types of water supply systems. Sources of contamination were identified and the public perception of water quality area were evaluated. The findings of this study are as follows; Drinking water was mainly obtained from Local Water and Simple Piped Water Supply Systems, and pollution sources varied over the study area. Most of residents (＞63%) were satisfied with the quality of drinking water and could not identify any contamination sources. Corresponding to this perception, measured water quality parameters generally met the Drinking Water Quality Standards (＞64%). However, approximately 35.6% of samples exceeded the regulation for Nㅒ$_3$$^{-}$$_{-}$N, coliform, and general bacteria. The water quality was significantly different among the three water supply systems, and between the potentially contaminated areas and the rest of the areas (p＜0.05). In the potentially contaminated areas, the levels of coliform and general bacteria contamination were significantly higher than the rest of the areas (p＜0.05). The coliform and general bacteria values of Simple Piped Water were significantly higher than Own Piped Water＇s, and the NO$_3$$^{-}$$_{-}$N values of Own Piped Water were significantly higher than those of water＇s (p＜0.05). Based on this study, NO$_3$$^{-}$$_{-}$N, coliform, and general bacteria were identified as a major problem of drinking water. To regularly manage drinking water supply systems, to identify contamination sources, and to add drainage systems are required in the study area.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.49-58
• /
• 2010

The objectives of this study were to investigate the microbial contamination levels on food service in university and to provide the information of microbial contamination to improve food safety. A total of 288 samples were collected during summer and winter season between 2006 and 2008 from 4 food services located in the university in Western Gyeongnam and were used to detect sanitary indicator bacteria [aerobic plate count (APC), coliform, and Escherichia coli] and pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp.). As a result, APC and coliform for hand and kitchen utensils which are used often by the employee were detected at high levels of 1.1~5.5 and 1.3~5.3 log CFU/($100\;cm^2$, hand), respectively. The contamination levels of APC and coliform in cooked foods and drinking water were 0.8~6.4 and 1.3~5.0 log CFU/(g, mL), respectively. Especially, the cooked foods showed the highest contamination for APC (2.1~6.4 log CFU/g) and coliform (1.0~5.0 log CFU/g). We think the reason that the cooked foods may be contaminated with APC and coliform on cooking process by using employee's hand and kitchen utensils. Moreover, S. aureus for hand and kitchen utensils was detected at levels of 2.8~3.0 and 2.0~2.3 log CFU/(g, hand), but Salmonella spp. was not detected. According to the above results, contamination levels of the samples were mostly decreased irrespective of summer and winter season. The results obtained indicated that it is necessary to periodic monitoring for microorganism contamination and education about personal and environmental hygiene to employee for ensuring food safety of food service in university.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.13-25
• /
• 1971

During a period from October 1st to November 15th in 1971, We made a survey on hygienic status of kitchen utensils used at 270 college student's home in 9 districts of Seoul city. The results obtained could be summarized as follows. In bacteriological study on the kitchen utensils 20.7% of them revealed contaminations with general bacterial counts of over 100/m1 and 20.0% of them with coliform bacteria. It was probable that degrees of bacterial contamination of the kitchen utensils were chiefly attributable to levels of education of housewives and living standard of individual household. Factors that were presumed to be directly responsible for the contamination were sources and storage of water and methods of washing the utensils. One of the major sources of contamination was derived from the use of a piece of cloth (Hangjoo) to wipe up the utensils after soashing. Hygienic treatment of Hangjoo in urgently needed. Otherwise, it is desirable not to used the Hangjoo and leave the utensils dry after washing them with boiling water.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2000.11a
• /
• pp.129-135
• /
• 2000

Four types of land use were selected for sampling and study with different characteristics of heavy metal contamination during the period from August 1998 to June 2000. A series of studies have been carried out concerning the physicochemical characteristics of the sediments settling down in a gully pot to evaluate the contamination of Pb, Zn, Cd, Co, Cr and Cu. An examination of six elements indicated that Zn, Cu and Pb were the heavy metals severely impacted by anthropogenic input in Seoul. An assessment of 60 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban runoff and ground water was conducted based on samples collected from 31 sites and 12 wells, respectively, in Seoul City. The higher levels of alkyl benzenes in urban runoff indicated that Seoul areas were mainly contaminated through traffic sources.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.62 no.1
• /
• pp.5.1-5.5
• /
• 2022

Many countries have imposed regulations relating to concerns that hide contamination will affect the cleanliness of abattoirs. However, South Korea has not indicated any clear criteria. The purpose of this study is to use surrogate bacteria to measure the contamination in abattoirs caused by contaminated cattle hides. The swab contact method and plate count method are used. Surrogate bacteria are found in most internal environments after the final process. These surrogates remained on the carcass even after the final washing process. This paper is the first study in South Korea that use surrogate bacteria to analyze contamination levels in abattoirs.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.185-200
• /
• 1998

It has been contributed to public health that the hospital has multiplied in the aspect of number and has been a large size with development of modern medical science, meanwhile the problem of hospital infection is coming out seriously. Respiratory hospital infection among hospital infections develops, very commonly from patients having taken the operation of intubation or tracheostomy, which results from a big factor that the infection developed from medical appliances used for respiration aids, contamination of solution and infection of medical staff. This study is separated into four steps-the time to use normal saline and distillation water for storaging catheter which are the cause of the infection of solution to store distillation water and catheter, not to say the catheter used when the patient who should get tracheostomy operation takes suction. The purpose of this study is to offer the basic data which are needed to check contamination degree as time goes by and nurse intervention and grope for a new nursing intervention. The target of this study is hospitalized 1D an intensive care unit having 700 sickbeds which is located in IKSAN city and it targeted patients before 7 days passed after an operaion of a tracheostormy. Materials collected were analyzed by SPSS PC+ figures program. The result of this study were as follows ; 1. The gradual contamination levels of the normal saline used In suction are showing that colony increase in proportion to the length of time. 2. while colony increases in normal saline with the lapse of time. distillation water mixed with 5cc of potadine did not show any sign of the formation of colony from its preparation until it was used for 8 hours. 3. Such variables as the period of intubation insertion. the length of hospitalization in I.C.U. the age and the level of contamination of normal saline have no inter-relationship. Therefore. as the length of normal saline used In suction. the contamination level increases with the excelleration of the contamination speed. 4. Regarding the number of suction and the contamination level of the normal saline. We can observe correlation contamination level in the 3 step of suction(mean value:13.4) and the saline which was used for one hours(r=0.702. P=0.00l). four hours(r=0.694. P=0.00l). eight hours(r=0.488. P=0.029). Further we can observe contamination in the 4 step of suction (mean value: 17 .8) well as saline used for eight hours; [for one hours (r=0.64l. P=0.002). four hours (r=0.670. P=0.00l). eight hours (r=0.57 4. P=0.008)]. Thesedays clinics use normal saline by changing it. three times a day. however. the timing of saline change and the current suction methoed should be changed given the one hour used normal saline contamination number 79.850. Regarding the number of suction and the contamination lend of the normal saline.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.277-284
• /
• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate and evaluate microbial contamination levels of leafy greens (perilla leaf and lettuce) and its distributing conditions at different seasons (Feb, May, Aug, and Nov of the year 2011) in order to provide insight into any potential health hazards associated with consumption of these commodities. Leafy greens were collected from a farm located in Geumsan, Chungnam and wholesale markets (WM) and traditional markets (TM) located in Suwon. At the same time, temperature and relative humidity fluctuations experienced by the leafy greens during distribution from the farm to the distribution center were measured by a data logger. The contamination levels of perilla leaf and lettuce were determined by analyzing total plate count. Coliform groups, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were determined. The contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliform groups and B. cereus in both vegetables sampled during May and August found to be higher than those sampled during February and November. E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes were not detected in the vegetables analyzed in this study. There were no significant trends between samples at WM and TM in the contamination levels. Relative humidity of vegetables distributed from the farm to the distribution center showed over 90% during distribution regardless of measured seasons. In the case of background microflora on leafy greens, the density was significantly increased at 20, 30 and $37^{\circ}C$ during storage of 24h. E. coli O157:H7 and B. cereus inoculated on the leaves also showed similar increases in the storage tests. The microbial contamination levels determined in this study may be used as the fundamental data for microbial risk assessment.

• Advances in environmental research
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.203-216
• /
• 2017

For survival of human beings clean water is an essential commodity whereas contamination in drinking water threatens to mankind. The main cause of water contamination is social and development activities of human being along with increasing population. The community in the study area has acute shortage of drinking water along with about 40 to 60% has no access to safe drinking water. This study indicates drinking water quality of two major sources of coastal belt of Karachi one is supplied by Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) as tap water and the other through groundwater. The physicochemical analysis was carried out by following the standard methods for checking the quality of drinking water. The analyzed results showed that the quality of groundwater was unfit as potable water. The most critical situation was observed as high level of contamination followed by high turbidity and increased salinity levels. TDS in surface water were found 12% above and TDS in groundwater was 20% below the National Drinking Water Quality Standards (NDWQS) of Pakistan as well as the permissible WHO drinking water quality guidelines.