• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.275-282
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• 2018

Objective: Since certain chemicals are widely applied in a variety of consumer products, exposure via simultaneous use of multiple consumer products can put human health at risk. For this reason, use patterns of consumer products are an important factor inhuman health risk assessment. The aim of this study is to investigate co-use patterns of air-fresheners and deodorizers in Korea in order to estimate potential cumulative exposure. Methods: To collect the information on use patterns of air-fresheners and deodorizers, ten air-fresheners and 14 deodorizers were selected. A total of 3,000 participants were recruited and asked through on line questionnaires whether they had simultaneously used the selected air-fresheners and deodorant products in their daily lives. Results: Among the 3,000 participants, 45.6% had used more than two air fresheners and 46.3% used more than two deodorizers. The most common types of air fresheners used concurrently include liquid and candle types for indoor environments, while those of deodorizers were fabric trigger sprays and refrigerator gels. In addition, 73.7% used more than two products without product categories. Fabric trigger sprays were contained in all of the high-ranking product combinations. Conclusions: This study showed that many consumers concurrently used air-fresheners and deodorizers in their daily routines. For accurate exposure assessment, co-use patterns of consumer products should be further investigated.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.815-827
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• 2020

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) transgenic soybean was developed and biosynthesis of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) in soybean seeds was confirmed. Also, EGF transgenic soybean were found to contain a herbicide resistance selectable marker by introduction of phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) gene from the Streptomyces hygroscopicus. For biosafety assessment, the EGF transgenic soybean expressing the EGF biosynthesis gene EGF and herbicide resistant gene PAT was tested to determine effects on survival of Cyprinus carpio, commonly used as a model organism in ecotoxicological studies. C. carpio was fed 100% ground soybean suspension, EGF soybean or non-genetically modified (GM) counterpart soybean (Gwangan). Gene expression of EGF soybean was confirmed by PCR and ELISA to have EGF/PAT. Feeding test showed that no significant differences in cumulative immobility or abnormal response between C. carpio samples fed on EGF soybean and non-GM counterpart soybean. The 48 h-EC50 values of the EGF and non-GM soybean were 1,688 mg·L-1 (95% confidence limits: 1,585 - 1,798 mg·L-1) and 1,575 mg·L-1 (95% confidence limits: 1,433 - 1,731 mg·L-1), respectively. The soybean NOEC (no observed effect concentration) value for C. carpio was suggested to be 625 mg·L-1. We concluded that there was no significant difference in toxicity for non-target organisms (C. carpio) between the EGF soybean and non-GM counterparts.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.113-124
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• 2019

Insect-resistant transgenic (Bt-9) rice was generated by inserting mCry1Ac1, a modified gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, into the genome of a conventional variety of rice (Ilmi). With regard to potential problems such as safety, an evaluation of non-target organisms is necessary as an essential element of an environmental risk assessment of genetically modified (GM) crops. We studied the effects of the Bt-9 rice on the survival of cantor Daphnia magna, a commonly used model organism in ecotoxicological studies. D. magna fed on the Bt-transgenic rice (Bt-9) and its near non-GM counterparts (Ilmi) grown in the same environment (a 100% ground rice suspension). The Bt-9 rice was confirmed to have the inserted T-DNA and protein expression evident by the PCR and ELISA analyses. The feeding study showed a similar cumulative immobility and abnormal response of the Daphnia magna between the Bt-9 rice and Ilmi. Additionally, the 48 h-EC50 values of the Bt-9 and Ilmi rice were 4,400 mg/L (95% confidence limits: 3861.01 - 5015.01 mg/L) and 5,564 mg/L (95% confidence limits: 4780.03 - 6476.93 mg/L), respectively. The rice NOEC (No observed effect concentration) value for D. magna was suggested to be 1,620 mg/L. We conclude that the tested Bt-9 and Ilmi have a similar cumulative immobility for D. magna, a widely used model organism, and the growth of Bt-9 did not affect non-target insects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.192-198
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• 1999

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders constitute a major source of employee disability and lost wages. Cumulative Trauma Disorders(CTD) refers to a category of physical conditions which result from chronic musculoskeletal injury. Assessment of CTD risk in industry at early stage allows for early control, a safe environment, and a healthier workforce. In this study, the physical load of the shipping work in the cold storage warehouse were especially investigated. Employees were working with almost unnatural posture in a very restricted work space. The questionnaire and biomechanical analysis were used to evaluate the physical load. Results from analyses showed that they were sufficiently exposed to CTD due to repetition and unnatural posture. Based on the analysis, ways for improving working conditions are proposed. The analysis and proposals in this paper will serve as a basic tool for designing/redesigning working environment such as improvement of tools and equipments, design of times for work/rest cycle.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.547-558
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• 2009

General reliability assessment of levees embankment is performed with safety factors for rainfall characteristics and hydrologic and hydraulic parameters, based on the results of deterministic analysis. The safety factors are widely employed in the field of engineering handling model parameters and the diversity of material properties, but cannot explain every natural phenomenon. Uncertainty of flood analysis and related parameters by introducing stochastic method rather than deterministic scheme will be required to deal with extreme weather and unprecedented flood due to recent climate change. As a consequence, stochastic-method-based measures considering parameter uncertainty and related factors are being established. In this study, a variety of dimensionless cumulative rainfall curve for typhoon and monsoon season of July to September with generation method of stochastic temporal variation is generated by introducing Monte Carlo method and applied to the risk assessment of levee embankment using reliability index. The result of this study reflecting temporal and regional characteristics of a rainfall can be used for the establishment of flood defence measures, hydraulic structure design and analysis on a watershed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: The disease resistant (OsCK1) rice was generated by inserting choline kinase (CK1) and phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) genes isolated from Oryza sativa and Streptomyces hygroscopicus into the genome of the rice, Nakdongbyeo. With the potential problems of safeties, the evaluations on non-target organisms are essentially required for the environmental risk assessment of genetically modified (GM) crops. In the present study, we conducted the evaluation of acute toxicity on Daphnia magna that commonly used as a model organism in ecotoxicological studies for non-target organism evaluation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Effect of acute toxicity to Daphnia magna by each concentration were investigated in the disease resistant (OsCK1) rice and non-genetically modified (non-GM) rice, Nakdongbyeo, as concentration (0, 1,000, 1,800, 3,240, 5,830, 10,500 and 20,000 mg/L). The OsCK1 rice used for the test was confirmed to express the OsCK1/PAT gene by the PCR(Polymerase chain reaction) and western blot analysis. Feeding test showed that no significant differences in cumulative immobility and abnormal response of Daphnia magna fed on OsCK1 rice or non-GM rice. The 48hr-$EC_{50}$ values showed no difference between OsCK1 rice (3,147.18 mg/L) and non-GM rice (3,596.27 mg/L). CONCLUSION: This result suggested that there was no significant difference in toxicity to Daphnia magna between OsCK1 rice and non-GM counterpart.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.24-36
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• 2003

This study integrates the revised universal soil loss equation(RUSLE) with a grid-based GIS method to assess the potential risk of soil erosion at the watershed scale. Data used in this study to generate the RUSLE factors include several thematic maps such as land use, topographic and soil maps, together with tabular precipitation data. Based on the RUSLE estimation for all the grids(10m cells) in the corresponding watershed, a cumulative histogram for the annual soil loss can be constructed. As the results, it shows that the 83.5% value of the annual soil loss for the watershed is less than 1ton/ha. However, the above 30% of agricultural land is defined as a medium or very high-risk area(more than 10ton/ha/yr). So it is necessary to establish soil conservation practices to reduce soil erosion based on the field observations.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.205-214
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• 2016

A drought-tolerant transgenic rice (Agb0103) was developed using a pepper methionine sulfoxide reductase (CaMsrB2) under the control of rice Rab21 promoter with a selection marker, the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) gene. Commercialization of genetically modified (GM) crops will require the evaluation of risks associated with the release of GM crops. With the potential problems associated to GM crops safety testing, the investigation of their effects on non-target organisms is necessary for environmental risk research. This study was carried out to assess acute toxicity of a GM crop using the water flea (Daphnia magna) for non-target organism risk evaluation. The effect of acute toxicity on Daphnia magna of Agb0103 rice and a non-GM rice, Ilmibyeo, were investigated at different concentrations (0, 625, 1,250, 2,500, 5,000, and 10,000 mg/L). The Agb0103 rice used for the test was confirmed to express the CaMsrB2/PAT gene by the PCR and ELISA. Daphnia magna feeding tests showed no significant differences in cumulative immobility or abnormal response with either Agb0103 rice or non-GM rice. The 48hr-EC50 values showed no difference between Agb0103 rice (2243 mg/L) and non-GM rice (2694 mg/L). These results suggest that there is no significant difference in toxicity to Daphnia magna between Agb0103 rice and its non-GM counterpart.

• Diabetes and Metabolism Journal
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.488-495
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• 2018

Background: Skeletal muscle plays a major role in glucose metabolism. We investigated the association between thigh muscle mass, insulin resistance, and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk. In addition, we examined the role of body mass index (BMI) as a potential effect modifier in this association. Methods: This prospective study included 399 Japanese Americans without diabetes (mean age 51.6 years) who at baseline had an estimation of thigh muscle mass by computed tomography and at baseline and after 10 years of follow-up a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and determination of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). We fit regression models to examine the association between thigh muscle area and incidence of T2DM and change in HOMA-IR, both measured over 10 years. Results: Thigh muscle area was inversely associated with future HOMA-IR after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, HOMA-IR, fasting plasma glucose, total abdominal fat area, and thigh subcutaneous fat area at baseline (P=0.033). The 10-year cumulative incidence of T2DM was 22.1%. A statistically significant interaction between thigh muscle area and BMI was observed, i.e., greater thigh muscle area was associated with lower risk of incident T2DM for subjects at lower levels of BMI, but this association diminished at higher BMI levels. Conclusion: Thigh muscle mass area was inversely associated with future insulin resistance. Greater thigh muscle area predicts a lower risk of incident T2DM for leaner Japanese Americans.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2013

Occurrence of landslides has been increasing due to extreme weather events(e.g. heavy rainfall, torrential rains) by climate change. Pyeongchang, Korea had seriously been damaged by landslides caused by a typhoon, Ewiniar in 2006. Moreover, the frequency and intensity of landslides are increasing in summer due to torrential rain. Therefore, risk assessment and adaptation measure is urgently needed to build resilience. To support landslide adaptation measures, this study predicted landslides occurrence using MaxEnt model and suggested susceptibility map of landslides. Precipitation data of RCP 8.5 Climate change scenarios were used to analyze an impact of increase in rainfall in the future. In 2050 and 2090, the probability of landslides occurrence was predicted to increase. These were due to an increase in heavy rainfall and cumulative rainfall. As a result of analysis, factors that has major impact on landslide appeared to be climate factors, prediction accuracy of the model was very high(92%). In the future Pyeongchang will have serious rainfall compare to 2006 and more intense landslides area expected to increase. This study will help to establish adaptation measure against landslides due to heavy rainfall.