• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2016

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate Korean people's awareness about impact of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan and radioactive contamination caused by it. Materials and Methods: The respondents of the survey were 600 adults who resided in the Seoul metropolitan area. Results and discussion: The survey results show that the majority of respondents were concerned about impact of radiation leakage that might have an effect on our environment. They were worried about radioactive contamination of foodstuffs, particularly fishery products and preferred to acquire information through TV(49.8%) or the Internet(31.3%). Meanwhile, respondents mentioned that the information on the Fukushima nuclear accident and radioactive contamination had not been sufficient and they didn't know well about the follow-up measures of the government on the accident. Most respondents answered that information on radioactive contamination levels and safety of foods and environment was most needed. Conclusion: The results of this study could be useful to enhance awareness on radioactivity and improve risk communication on nuclear power plant accidents.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.353-358
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• 2007

Contamination of ochratoxin A (OTA) was studied in 194 compound feeds and 59 feed ingredients samples distributed in South KOREA in 2006 and 2007. The degree of OTA contamination in feed ingredients was 27%, and its detected levels were ranged from 0.27 to 3.39 ppb. Seventy six percent of compound feeds were contaminated with OTA at concentration between 0.21 and 13.64 ppb. The highest degree of OTA contamination was observed in compound feeds for dairy cattle (96%) followed by for poultry (85%) and swine (79%). Beef cattle exhibited the highest level of OTA contamination (2.2 ppb). Compound feeds for dairy cattle and feed ingredients for vegetable proteins showed relative lower level of contamination at 1.6 and 1.2 ppb, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: Heavy metals discharged from various sources contaminate the soil and water and the residuals can persistently be accumulated. In this study, the concentration of soil heavy metals was assessed over the whole regions of Korea based on the contamination factor and the geoaccumulation index. METHODS AND RESULTS: The data of averaged concentrations of heavy metals and fluorine were collected from the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) and the research papers published. In order to classify the levels of heavy metal concentration, the contamination index, including the contamination factor and the geoaccumulation index, based on the relative ratio of the actual concentration of heavy metals in the soil to the background concentration was calculated. In addition, the distribution of heavy metals in soils was visualized by using the geographic information system (GIS). As a result, the Cd contamination in the soils was the most concerned. CONCLUSION(S): This study very roughly indicated the outline of heavy metal concentration over the whole regions of Korea. The change in heavy metals' concentration over the time should further be monitored and the larger data of heavy metal contamination are needed for better understanding in the future.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2024

This study assessed microbial contamination in seven fried fish pastes sold in Southeast Asian traditional markets during summer. It measured viable cell count, coliforms, Escherichia coli, fungi, and Staphylococcus spp. It also qualitatively analyzed Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella spp., Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Clostridium perfringens. The average viable cell count, coliforms and fungi were detected as 6.34 (3.84-8.13), 2.16 (1.00-3.55), and 3.92 (1.85-7.74) log₁₀ CFU/g, respectively. Staphylococcus spp. was detected at 4.59 (2.10-7.63) log₁₀ CFU/g. Some samples had high contamination levels: viable cell count (8.13 log₁₀ CFU/g), fungi (7.74 log₁₀ CFU/g) and S. aureus (7.63 log₁₀ CFU/g). However, E. coli was not detected in any samples (ND, <1 log₁₀ CFU/g). V. parahaemolyticus, Salmonella spp., B. cereus, L. monocytogenes, and Cl. perfringens were also not detected in the samples. The microbial contamination data provide insight into managing microbial contamination and ensuring the safety of fried fish pastes in traditional summer markets.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.346-352
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• 2007

Contamination of aflatoxins(AFs) was monitored in 447 compound feeds and 138 feed ingredients samples distributed in South KOREA in 2006 and 2007. The degree of $AFB_1\;and\;AFB_2$ contamination in compound feed was 20% and 3%, respectively. The levels of detection were ranged from 0.48 to 10.46 ppb for $AFB_1$ and from 0.25 to 0,42 ppb for $AFB_2$. Thirty eight percent of compound feeds were contaminated with $AFB_1$ at concentration between 0.43 and 5.52 ppb and $AFB_2$ was detected in 2% of compound feeds at levels ranging 0.26-0.40 ppb. The highest degree of $AFB_1$ contamination was observed in compound feeds for beef cattle (75%) followed by for dairy cattle (72%) and in bran among feed ingredients (30%). Bran exhibited the highest level of $AFB_1$contamination (3.1 ppb). Vegetable proteins and compound feeds for dog showed relative lower degree of contamination at 2.9 and 1.9 ppb, respectively. $AFG_1\;and\;AFG_2$ were not detected in any compound feeds and feed ingredients samples.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.400-410
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• 2022

This study was performed to analyze the microbial contamination levels of three non-heated rice cake manufacturers in terms of seasonal manufacturing process and to investigate the effects of summertime soaking on contamination levels and temperature-controlled soaking in water on reduction in microbial levels. The total aerobic bacteria (TAB) ranged from 2.69 log CFU/g to 5.08 log CFU/g in the produce, but the microbial contamination increased sharply during soaking. The levels of TAB and coliforms during summer soaking were 7.01 and 3.96 log CFU/g, respectively, and this was significantly higher than those in other seasons. The contamination level was high in the subsequent freezing, with the TAB level (6.24 log CFU/g) exceeding the legal standard. The temperature of soaking water in summer increased from 19.1℃ to 26.8℃ after 12 h of soaking. The microbial contamination was significantly high commensurate with increased soaking time, and the TAB level in the frozen process exceeded the legal standard from 9 h of soaking. The use of ice packs to prevent the increase in temperature of the soaking water in summer resulted in maintenance of temperature at 20.1℃ for up to 12 h. The average TAB value in the freezing process was 4.42 log CFU/g after 12 h of soaking, and this is 1.77 log CFU/g lower than that before. Based on these results, it was determined that controlling the soaking time and water temperature are essential for the production of a safe unheated frozen rice cake. The safety of the HACCP system could be established by applying these preventive management standards.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.122-133
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• 2018

In this study, groundwater quality data measured for 11 years from 2006 to 2016 were analyzed statistically for 101 civil defense emergency water supply facilities (CDEWSF) in the Gwangju area. The contamination level was quantified into four grades by using excess drinking water quality standards, average concentration analysis, and tendency analysis results for each facility. On the basis of this approach, the groundwater contamination degree of each item was evaluated according to land use status, installation year, depth, and geological distribution. The contamination grade ratios, which were obtained by analyzing three contamination indicators (water quality exceeded frequency, average concentration analysis, and trend analysis) for 15 items on statistically significant of civil defense emergency water was relatively high, in the order of Turbidity (51.5 %) > Color (32.7 %) > Nitrate nitrogen (28.7 %) > Hardness (25.7 %). As a result of the contamination grade analysis, except for the items of Turbidity, Color, and Nitrate nitrogen, the contamination levels were distributed in various degrees from "clean (0)" to "seriously contaminated (3)." Regarding the contamination grade of 12 items, 25 % of the total were classified as "possibly contaminated (1)," and 75 % were rated "clean (0)." The four items (Turbidity, Color, Nitrate nitrogen, and Hardness) for which contamination indication rate were evaluated as "high" by the were visualized on a contamination map.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.39-67
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• 2005

In order to properly define the terms such as soil, soil contamination, soil contamination site and remediation, which are the key terms under the Soil Environment Conservation Act(SECA) in Korea, we analyzed the legal definitions of the similar key words in legislations of the developed western countries. The selected countries were the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. The legal definitions of these keywords were very much diversified due to different levels of soil contamination, as well as different industrial, social, and legal backgrounds in each country. However, fair suggestions for definitions of the key terms in SECA were derived from the comparative analyses of these countries. First and foremost, SECA should provide a definition of 'soil' which includes a concept of the natural soil layer produced from soil mineralization processes. Groundwater and sublayer of the groundwater would. be excluded in the boundary of the soil with regards to the Groundwater Act of Korea. Definition of 'soil contamination' of SECA should include a concept of risk assessment(soil contaminants, pathway, and receptors), purpose of land use, and the acquired limitation levels of soil contaminants. Soil contamination activity either industrial or anthropogenic in SECA article2-1, could be substituted for a concept of soil risk assessment. Definition of 'soil contamination site' could derive from amalgamating the concepts of i) soil contamination in conjunction with contaminants, ii) risk assessment, iii) a concept of land use, and iv) knowing limitation of contamination site designation. Definition of 'remediation of contaminated site' should include the objective, intention, action, methodology and limit of the remediation. These suggested definitions would increase the efficacy of soil environment conservation policies, which includes the survey of the potentially contaminated area, remediation, and removal of the site.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.306-313
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• 2017

This study systemically analyzed the data on the microbial levels in fresh vegetables in Korea to identify the points to control. We scanned the studies published between 2001 and 2015 in peer-reviewed research papers on the microbial levels in fresh vegetables produced in Korea. Plant products were categorized by using the US IFSAC (Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration) category. The most consumed, the non-heat treated, the epidemiological foodborne diseases sources of fresh vegetable in foodservice (KCDC data) were identified by literature review. Articles were screened using National Digital Science Library (NDSL) search engine regarding to microbial hazards in plant products. Based on the total plate count number and coliforms on the 89 data cases from 26 published articles, the total plate count number was high in the order of sprouts, leaf and stem, bulbs and roots, vine-grown, solanaceous, melons, and pome. Escherichia coli was frequently detected in leaf and stem and sprouts products. Focused on the microbial data of leek, lettuce and cabbage, the levels of total plate count, coliforms and Bacillus cereus showed the levels of 4.15~7.69 log CFU/g, 1~6.99 log CFU/g, and 0.51~3.9 log CFU/g, respectively, by 33 published papers. The levels of environmental factors affecting the microbial safety of lettuce and leek before harvest were investigated. Manure, soil, hands, scale, gloves were the major potential microbial contamination points to control. In addition, GAP (good agricultural practice), microbial testing, and improvement of irrigation methods are required to provide the safer fresh produce.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate microbiological contamination of fresh-cut produce salads and raw cabbage toward climate change. Total aerobic bacteria, coliform and Escherichia coli were monitored to get the contamination levels and E. coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. to detect pathogens with risk of foodborne disease from samples. Collection of 360 samples (180 fresh-cut produce salads and 180 raw cabbage), including 60 samples from each area after setting 3 areas depending on annual temperature and annual rainfall. As a result, total aerobic bacteria and coliform group were different was performed areas in raw cabbage but there was no difference between areas in fresh-cut produce salads. In addition foodborne pathogens including E. coli were not isolated from fresh-cut produce salads.