• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.314-323
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• 2006

This study was conducted to identify ingredients of thinners and to confirm reliability of material safety data sheets (MSDS) of thinners for public and workers' health. The 41 thinner products were collected from paint shops located in Busan and Gyeongnam province. The 12 thinner products among them were identified using product MSDS. GC-MSD was used to analyze 41 kinds of thinners qualitatively and quantitatively. The 12 products MSDS were compared with thinner's component through qualitative analysis to confirm MSDS. Chemical ingredients, such as Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene etc., of thinners were analysed in quantity. The 41 thinner products contained 17 disclosed specific, trade name, or generically described chemical solvent ingredients. These 17 ingredients came under 6 classes: alcohols, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, glycol ethers, ketones, and mixtures. These 17 ingredients were important in the view of industrial hygiene and had occupational exposure limit in the ambient, such as toluene, xylene, acetone, nonane, EGEE, heptane, cumene, MIBK, indene, tri-methyl benzene, etc, were found in 41 kinds of thinners. Aromatic hydrocarbons were the most identified ingredient in thinners. Especially, the benzene, which induces leukemia, was found in 4 kinds of thinners. The content rates of benzene in thinners were 0.25~1.18%. The benzene in enamel thinner, which were 0.39~0.72%, was highest from chemical classification. The contents of toluene, which was found from 27 kinds of thinners, were 5.35~64.16%, which were highest in sobu thinner as 58.80%. Xylene was found from 22 kinds of thinners and contents of xylene were 4.61~72.42%. Acrylic thinner's contents of xylene were 12.06~51.05%, which was most high. It was found that contents of benzene were increased and frequency of detection was decreased through comparison with other study. The MSDS possession rate of paint shops was low as 29.27%. So it did not provide information with public or workers. Mean of agreement rate between MSDS and components of thinners through qualitative analysis was 42.01% and it has wide range from 8.3% to 75%. There are many deficiencies in MSDS about component of thinners. In some case of sample, expecially, despite containing benzene, information was not written it on MSDS.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.190-199
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• 2003

This study was conducted to determine the factors affecting job satisfaction in workers by using the Job Stress Model proposed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Data were collected from December 1 to December 30, 1999. The subjects were 2,133 workers employed at 155 work sites, who were examined using NIOSH Job Stress questionnaire translated by the Korea Occupational Safety ${\pounds}|$ Health Academy and Occupational Safety ${\pounds}|$ Health Research Institute. SAS/PC program was used for statistical analysis using descriptive analysis. Pearson's correlation coefficient, ANOVA, and Stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results of this study were as follows. 1. According to general characteristics of the subjects, job satisfaction was high in those with less number of children. 2. By work condition, job satisfaction was higher in those who were working in a permanent job position, were working with regular time basis than with shift basis, were working in regular shift hours than in changing shift hours, were working for a short period, and were working less hours and overtime works per week. 3. In terms of physical work environment, job satisfaction was significantly related to 10 physical environmental factors. In other words, job satisfaction was high in workers who were working in an environment with no noise, bright light, temperature adjusted to an appropriate level during summer and winter, humidity adjusted to an appropriate level. well ventilation, clean air, no exposure to hazardous substance during work hour, overall pleasant work environment and not crowded work space. 4. By work-related factors, job satisfaction was high in those with less ambiguity about future job and role, high job control/autonomy, and less workload. On the other hand, job satisfaction was low in those with little utilization of competencies, and much role conflict at work and workload. 5. As for the relationships between job satisfaction and the non-work related factors, job satisfaction was high in workers who were volunteering at different organizations or active in religious activities for 5-10 hours per week. 6. In the relationships between job satisfaction and buffering factors, significantly positive correlations were found between job satisfaction and factors such as support by direct superior, support by peers, and support by spouse, friend and family. 7. There were nine factors that affected job satisfaction in the workers: age, number of children, work hours per week, noise, temperature at the work site during summer, uncomfortable physical environment, role ambiguity, role conflict, ambiguity in job future, work load, no utilization of competencies and social support from direct supervisor. These nine factors accounted for 26% of the total variance in the multiple regression analysis. In conclusion. the following are proposed based on the results of this study. 1. The most important physical environmental factors affecting job satisfaction in workers were noise, role ambiguity, and work load, suggesting a need to develop strategies or programs to manage these factors at work sites. 2. A support system that could promote job satisfaction is needed by emphasizing the roles of occupational health nurses who may be stationed at work sites and manage the factors that could generate job stress. 3. Job satisfaction is one of the three acute responses to stress proposed in NIOSH job stress model (job satisfaction. physical discomfort and industrial accidents). Therefore, further studies need to be conducted on the other two issues.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 1992

Studies were conducted to determine the combined effect of uniconazole [(E) -1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4, 4-demethyl 2-(1,2,4 triazol-1-yl)-1-penten-3-ol] and silver thiosulfate $[Ag {(S_2O_3)}^3\;_2-]$ (STS) on reduction of ozone injury in tomato plants(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. 'Pink Glory'). Plants were given a 50ml soil drench of uniconazole at concentrations of 0, 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 mg/pot at the stage of emerging 4th leaf. Two days prior to ozone fumigation, STS solution contained 0.05% Tween-20 was also sprayed at concentrations of 0, 0.3 and 0.6 mM. Uniconazole at 0.01 mg/pot and STS at 0.6 mM were effective in providing protection against ozone exposure(20h at 0.2ppm) without severe retardation of plant height and chemical phytotoxicity, respectively. Combined treatment with uniconazole, STS significantly reduced ozone injury at the lower concentration than a single treatment with uniconazole or STS. Uniconazole treatment reduced plant height, stem elongation and transpiration rate on a whole plant level and increased chlorophyll concentration. STS did not give any effect on plant growth and chlorophyll content but increased transpiration rate in non-ozone-fumigated plants. Ethylene production in the leaves of ozone-fumigated plants was decreased by uniconazole and STS pretreatment, but there was no protective effect on epinasty of leaves in uniconazole-treated plants. STS increased ethylene production in non-ozone-fumigated plants, but it significantly reduced the degree of epinasty and defoliation of cotyledons when plants were exposed to ozone. Uniconazole slightly increased superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities. But STS showed little or no effects on such free radical scavengers. Day of flowering after seeding was shortened and percentages of fruit set were increased by uniconazole treatment. STS was highly effective on protecting reduction of fruit set resulting from ozone fumigation. These results suggest that combined use of uniconazole and STS should provide miximum protection against ozone injury without growth retardation resulting in yield loss.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.72-76
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• 2003

We investigated the effects of molting-hormone insecticide tebufenozide on fourth larvae of the midge C. flaviplumuon in growth development from fourth-instar to adult. Fourth-instar larvae were exposed test concentrations were chosen control, 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$, 30 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$, 60 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$ and 100$\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$. In control and 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$, 10~20% individuals succeed adults while low emergence rates were observed surplus 30 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$. Death larvae appeared a various day along the concentration. We observed the converged day: control, 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$, 30 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$ and 60~100 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$ were day 4 to day 18, day 13 to day 16, day 9 to day 17 and day 9 to day 15, respectively. Therefore we concerned a tendency that exposure concentration was high, death period was short. Also, due to molting hormone disruption, development of midge was postponed relatively low concentration such as 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$. The converged days of pupa stage revealed control, 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$, 30 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$ and 60~100$\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$ were day 11~15, day 16~20, day 9~15 and day 5~9, respectively. About 10% individuals grow up the pupa-stage in 60~100 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$ condition. Sex ratio of the emerged adults was not different in this study. Death pupae frequently appeared in day 13~16 in control, day 6~23 in 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$, day 13~16 in 30 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$ and day 6~16 in 60~100 $\mu\textrm{g}$$L^{-1}$.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.82-87
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• 2008

Algae are vital in the primary production of the aquatic ecosystem, having been considered as good indicators of the bioactivity of pesticides. Algae have short life cycle, respond quickly to environmental change and their diversity and density can indicate the quality of their habitat. The purpose of the study was to determine the growth inhibition effects of butachlor (Tech. 93.4%) and $K_2Cr_2O_7$ (Tech. 99.5%) in Selenastrum capriconutum, Scenedesmus subspicatus, Chlorella vulgaris and Nitzschia palea during and exposure period of 72 hours. The toxicological responses of S. capriconutum, S. subspicatus, C. vulgaris and N. Palea to butachlor, expressed in individual $ErC_{50}$ values were 0.0022, 0.019, 8.67 and $4.94\;mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. NOEC values were 0.0008, 0.0016, 5.34 and $2.92\;mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. S. capriconutum was more sensitive than the other algae species. The toxicological responses of S. capriconutum, S. subspicatus, C. vulgaris and N. palea to $K_2Cr_2O_7$ expressed as $ErC_{50}$ values were 0.91, 0.78, 0.85 and $0.57\;mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. NOEC values were 0.2, 0.2, 0.2 and $0.18\;mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. Growth inhibition of S. capriconutum, S. subspicatus, C. vulgaris and N. palea from PEC of butachlor were 100, 75, 0 and 0%, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.24-25
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• 2003

Lead is ubiquitous in the human environment as a result of industrialization. China's rapid industrialization and traffic growth have increased the potential for lead emissions. Lead poisoning in children is one of the most common public health problems today, and it is entirely preventable. Children are more vulnerable to lead pollution and lead in their bodies can affect their nervous, circulatory, and digestive systems. Children are exposed to lead from different sources (such as paint, gasoline, and solder) and through different pathways (such as air, food, water, dust, and soil). Although all children are exposed to some lead from food, air, dust, and soil, some children are exposed to high dose sources of lead. Significant sources of lead for China's children include industrial emissions (often close to housing and schools), leaded gasoline, and occupational exposure that occurs when parents wear lead-contaminated clothing home from work, burning of coal for home heat and cooking, contaminated food, and some traditional medicines. To assess the blood lead level in children in China, a large-scale study was conducted in 19 cities among 9 provinces during 1997 to 2000. There were 6502 children, aged 3-5 years, were recruited in the study The result indicates that the mean blood lead level was 8.83ug/dl 3-5 year old living in city area. The mean blood lead level of boys was higher than that of girls (9.1l ug/dl vs 8.73ug/dl). Almost 30 percent childrens blood lead level exceeded 10ug/dl. The average blood lead level was higher than that of in 1985 (8.83ug/dl vs 8.lug/dl). An epidemiological study was carried on the children living around the cottage industries recycling the lead from battery. Nine hundreds fifty nine children, aged 5-12 years, living in lead polluted villages where the lead smelters located near the residential area and 207 control children live in unpolluted area were recruited in the study. The lead levels in air, soil, drinking water and crops were measured. The blood lead and ZnPP level were tested for all subjects. The results show that the local environment was polluted. The lead levels both in the air and crops were much higher than that of in control area. In the polluted area, the average blood level was 49.6ug/dl (rang 19.5-89.3ug/dl). Whereas, in the unpolluted area, the average blood level was 12.4ug/dl (rang 4.6-24.8ug/dl). This study indicates that in some countryside area, some cottage industries induce seriously lead pollution and cause children health problem. For the introducing of unleaded gasoline in some large cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, the blood lead level showed a declined trend since 1997. By 2000, the use of leaded gasoline in motor vehicles has been prohibited in China. The most recent data available show that levels of lead in blood among children in Shanghai decreased from 8.3ug/dl in 1997 to 7.6ug/dl in 1999. The prevalence rate of children lead poisoning (blood lead >10ug/dl) was also decreased from 37.8% to 24.8%. In children living in downtown area, the blood lead level reduced dramatically. To explore the relationship between gene polymorphisms and individual susceptibility of lead poisoning, a molecular epidemiological study was conducted among children living in lead polluted environment. The result showed that the subjects with ALAD2 allele has higher ZPP level, and the subjects with VDR B allele has larger head circumference than only with b allele. In the present study, we demonstrated that ALAD genotypes modify lead effects on heme metabolism and VDR gene variants influence the skull development in highly exposed children. The polymorphism of ALAD and VDR genes might be the molecular inherited factor modifying the susceptibility of lead poisoning. Recently, Chinese government pays more attention to lead pollution and lead poisoning in children problem. The leaded gasoline was prohibited used in motor vehicles since 2000. The government has decided to have a clampdown on the high-polluted lead smelters for recycling the lead from battery in countryside. It is hopeful that the risk of lead poisoning in children will be decreased in the further

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.391-400
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the effects of environmental parameters on the growth of Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas at old suspended culturing grounds of Korsung Bay and newly deveoped bottom, culturing grounds of Haenam region located in southern coast of Korea. The Kosung Bay was semiclosed and water exchange occurred through the small mouth and the current speed was very slow as the value of below 0.5kn. Haenam was opened and littoral zone. Current speed of the surroundings of this Bay about to 5.0knand transparency was low with the mean depth of 1.2m by the resuspension of the sediments. Water temperature and salinity regimes were suitable for oysters at those sites, however the mean value of those parameters and seasonal fluctuations was high at Kosung. The mean concentration of dissolved oxygen in survey area was above $5.0mg/\ell$. In Kosung, however, it was decreasing in June and showed the minimum with the concentration of $4.0mg/\ell$ in August at the bottom layer and recovered in September. Eutrophication parameters such as COD were 1.44 mg/l at this location. This mean value was higher than that of the Haenam Bay's $0.96mg/\ell$. The men value of chlorophyll-$\alpha$ at Haenam was two times higher than the other sites. Growth of shell height and meat weight of oysters at Kosung Bay were higher and the fatness was lower compared to thost of Haenam. As a result, absolute growth of oysters was high at Kosung and allometric growth, such as fatness, was good at Haenam. Low water temperature and frequent exposure of oysters to the air during ebb tide may retard the shell growth. On the other hand, relatively high food availability was profitable for the fatness at haenam site.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2004

The human skin is constantly exposed to environmental irritants such as ultraviolet, smoke, chemicals. Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by these environmental facts play critical roles in cellular damage. These irritants are in themselves damaging to the skin structure but they also participate the immensely complex inflammatory reaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the skin cell protective effect of Juniperus chinensis xylem extract on the UV and SLS-induced skin cell damages. We tested free radical and superoxide scavenging effect in vitro. We found that Juniperus chinensis xylem extracts had potent radical scavenging effect by 98％ at 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. Fluorometric assays of the proteolytic activities of matrix metalloproteinase-l(MMP-1, collagenase) were performed using fluorescent collagen substrates. UV A induced MMP-1 synthesis and activity were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gelatin-based zymography in skin fibroblasts. The extract of Juniperus chinensis showed strong inhibitory effect on MMP-1 activities by 97％ at 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL and suppressed the UVA induced expression of MMP-1 by 79％ at 25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. This extract also showed strong inhibition on MMP-2 activity in UVA irradiated fibroblast by zymography. We also examined anti-inflammatory effects by the determination test of proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin 6 in HaCaT keratinocytes. In this test Juniperus chinensis decreased expression of interleukin 6 about 30％. Expression of prostaglandin E$_2$, (PGE$_2$) after UVB irradiation was measured by competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using PGE$_2$ monoclonal antibody. At the concentrations of 5-50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL of the extracts, the production of PGE$_2$ by HaCaT keratinocytes (24 hours after 10 mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$ UVB irradiation) was significantly inhibited in culture supernatants (p〈0.05). The viability of cultured HaCaT keratinocytes was significantly reduced at the doses of above 10 mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$ of UVB irradiation, but the presence of these extracts improved cell viability comparing to control after UVB irradiation. We also investigated the protective effect of this extract in sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritant skin reactions from 24 hour exposure. Twice a day application of the extract for reducing local inflammation in human skin was done. Irritant reactions were assessed by various aspects of skin condition, that is, erythema (skin color reflectance) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). After 5 days the extract was found to reduce SLS-induced skin erythema and improve barrier regeneration when compared to untreated symmetrical test site. In conclusion, our results suggest that Juniperus chinensis can be effectively used for the prevention of UV and SLS-induced adverse skin reactions such as radical production, inflammation and skin cell damage.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.287-292
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• 2009

Human skin is constantly exposed to environmental irritants such as smoke, chemicals and ultraviolet (UV). Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by these environmental irritants play critical roles in cellular damage. In this study, to investigate the skin cell protective effect of Ophioglossum vulgatum extract, we investigated its effects on intercellular antioxidative activity and UVA-induced MMP expression in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). The dried O. vulgatum was extracted in a mixture of ethanol and water (1 : 1) for 24 h at room temperature. The extract was filtered and concentrated in vacuo and lyophilized. For testing intracellular ROS scavenging activity the cultured HDFs were analyzed by increase in DCF fluorescence upon exposure to UVB $20\;mJ/cm^2$. After treatment of O. vulgatum extracts, intracellular ROS levels were measured by luminescence spectrophotometer. Enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), and RT-PCR techniques were used for evaluating the effects of O. vulgatumon on MMP protein and mRNA expression in UVA irradiated HDFs. O. vulgatum extract was found to have ROS scavenging activity with the $IC_{50}$ values of $18.2\;{\mu}g/mL$ against superoxide radicals in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. After treatment of O. vulgatum extracts, the oxidation of CM-DCFDA was inhibited effectively and O. vulgatum extracts showed a potent free radical scavenging activity by 30.4 % at $100\;{\mu}g/mL$ in UVB-irradiated HDFs. UVA induced MMP protein expression was reduced 37.7 % by treatment with O. vulgatum extract, and MMP-1 mRNA expression was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that O. vulgatum extract prevents the skin cell damage induced by UV irradiation, and implies that O. vulgatum extract may be useful as a new ingredient for anti-aging cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.271-277
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• 2020

Toxicities to many organs caused by humidifier disinfectants have been reported. Recently, humidifier disinfectants have been reported to cause cardiovascular, embryonic, and hepatic toxicities. This study was designed to investigate the toxic mechanism of humidifier disinfectants and compare toxicity in a cellular model and a zebrafish animal model. Because brain toxicity and skin toxicity have been less studied than other organs, we evaluated toxicity in a human dermal cell line and zebrafish under various concentrations of humidifier disinfectants that included polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate (PHMG), oligo-[2-(2-ethoxy)-ethoxyethyl-guanidinium-chloride] (PGH) and methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT). A human dermal fibroblast cell line was treated with disinfectants (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 16 mg L^-1) to compare their cytotoxicity. The fewest PHMG-treated cells survived (up to 33%), while 49% and 40% of the PGH- and CMIT/MIT-treated cells, respectively, survived. The quantification of oxidized species in the media revealed that the PHMG-treated cells had the highest MDA content of around 28 nM, while the PGH- and CMIT/MIT-treated cells had 13 and 21 nM MDA, respectively. As for brain toxicity, treatment of the zebrafish tank water with CMIT/MIT (final 40 mg L^-1) for 30 min resulted in a 17-fold higher production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than in the control. Treatment with PGH or PHMG (final 40 mg L^-1) resulted in 15- and 11-fold higher production, respectively. The humidifier disinfectants (PHMG, PGH, and CMIT/MIT) showed severe dermal cell toxicity and brain toxicity. These toxicities may be relevant factors in understanding why some children have language disorders, motor delays, and developmental delays from exposure to humidifier disinfectants.