• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate asphalt fumes and PAHs exposure among asphalt road paving workers. Methods: Task-based personal air samplings(n=41) were carried out in 3 asphalt road paving construction sites using PTFE (polytetrafluorethylene) filters for asphalt fume and XAD-2 with glass fiber filters for PAHs. The concentration of fumes and PAHs were showed by four different job(paver finisher operator, paving laborer(raker), macadam roller operator and tire roller operator). Results: The geometric mean(GM) concentration of asphalt fumes as benzene soluble aerosol was highest at paving laborers($42.32{\mu}g/m^3$), followed by in order, paver finisher operators($41.57{\mu}g/m^3$), macadam roller operators($31.9{\mu}g/m^3$), and tire roller operators($30.31{\mu}g/m^3$). The GM of total PAHs concentration was highest at paver finisher operators($37.5{\mu}g/m^3$), followed by in order, paving laborers($20.13{\mu}g/m^3$), tire roller operators($8.66{\mu}g/m^3$), and macadam roller operators($6.23{\mu}g/m^3$). The results of the evaluation of 16 compounds of PAHs showed that the concentrations of naphthalene, achenaphthylene, achenaphthene, pyrene, fluorene and benz (a) anthracene was higher than those of other PAHs compounds and as the carcinogenic substances, benzo(a)pyrene, and debenz(a,h) anthracene were detected. The benzo(a)pyrene equivalent concentration(BaPeq) was $2.81{\mu}g/m^3$ at paver finisher operators, $2.07{\mu}g/m^3$ at paving laborers, $0.41{\mu}g/m^3$ at tire roller operators and $0.22{\mu}g/m^3$ at macadam roller operators. Asphalt road paving workers have higher benzo(a)pyrene equivalent(BaPeq) values even though at lower total PAHs concentration than workers in steel pipe coating and tar industry. Conclusions: Asphalt road paving workers were found to have risk of carcinogen exposure due to higher Benzo(a)pyrene equivalent concentration(BaPeq) than other PAHs exposure occupations. This study confirmed the carcinogenic hazards among asphalt paving workers.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: It is difficult to consistently demonstrate the health effects of soy isoflavones owing to the multitude of factors contributing to their bioavailability. To accurately verify these health effects, dietary isoflavone intake should be measured using a biologically active dose rather than an intake dose. This concept has been expanded to the development of new exposure biomarkers in nutrition research. This review aims to provide an overview of the development of exposure biomarkers and suggest a novel research strategy for identifying the health effects of soy isoflavone intake. MATERIALS/METHODS: We cover recent studies on the health effects of soy isoflavones focusing on isoflavone metabolites as exposure biomarkers. RESULTS: Compared to non-fermented soy foods, fermented soy foods cause an increased concentration of isoflavones in the biofluid immediately following ingestion. The correlation between exposure biomarkers in blood and urine and the food frequency questionnaire was slightly lower than that of corresponding 24-h dietary recalls. Urinary and blood isoflavone levels did not show a consistent association with chronic disease and cancer risk. CONCLUSION: It is crucial to understand the variable bioavailabilities of soy isoflavones, which may affect evaluations of soy isoflavone intake in health and disease. Further studies on the development of valid exposure biomarkers are needed to thoroughly investigate the health effects of isoflavone.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.223-232
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• 2017

Objectives: In response to increased interest in the safety of children's products, a risk management system is being prepared through exposure assessment of hazardous chemicals. To estimate exposure levels, risk assessors are using deterministic and probabilistic approaches to statistical methodology and a commercialized Monte Carlo simulation based on tools (MCTool) to efficiently support calculation of the probability density functions. This study was conducted to analyze and discuss the usage patterns and problems associated with the results of these two approaches and MCTools used in the case of probabilistic approaches by reviewing research reports related to exposure assessment for children's products. Methods: We collected six research reports on exposure and risk assessment of children's products and summarized the deterministic results and corresponding underlying distributions for exposure dose and concentration results estimated through deterministic and probabilistic approaches. We focused on mechanisms and differences in the MCTools used for decision making with probabilistic distributions to validate the simulation adequacy in detail. Results: The estimation results of exposure dose and concentration from the deterministic approaches were 0.19-3.98 times higher than the results from the probabilistic approach. For the probabilistic approach, the use of lognormal, Student's T, and Weibull distributions had the highest frequency as underlying distributions of the input parameters. However, we could not examine the reasons for the selection of each distribution because of the absence of test-statistics. In addition, there were some cases estimating the discrete probability distribution model as the underlying distribution for continuous variables, such as weight. To find the cause of abnormal simulations, we applied two MCTools used for all reports and described the improper usage routes of MCTools. Conclusions: For transparent and realistic exposure assessment, it is necessary to 1) establish standardized guidelines for the proper use of the two statistical approaches, including notes by MCTool and 2) consider the development of a new software tool with proper configurations and features specialized for risk assessment. Such guidelines and software will make exposure assessment more user-friendly, consistent, and rapid in the future.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2014

In potential accident consequence assessments for the licensing approval of LWRs, the ground deposition of radionuclides released into the environment is not allowed into the models, as recommended in the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's regulatory guide. Meanwhile, it is allowed into the assessment models for the licensing approval of PHWRs with consideration of more detailed physical processes of radionuclides in the atmosphere. Under these backgrounds, importance of exposure dose by ground deposition was quantitatively evaluated and comprehensively discussed. For potential accidental releases of $^{137}Cs$ and $^{131}I$, total exposure doses were more conservative in case of without consideration of ground deposition than in case of with its consideration. It was because of that the depletion of air concentration resulting from ground deposition is more influential in the contribution to total exposure doses than additional doses from contaminated ground. The exposure doses by the inhalation of contaminated air showed the contribution of more than 90% in total exposure doses, depending on atmospheric stability, release period of radionuclides and distance from a release point. The exposure doses from contaminated ground showed less than 10% at most in contribution of total exposure doses. The ratios of total exposure doses in case of with consideration of deposition to without its consideration for $^{131}I$ were distinct than those for $^{137}Cs$. As the atmosphere is more stable, release duration of radionuclides is longer, distance from a release point is longer, it was more distinct.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 2019

Background: In both developed and developing countries, noise is regarded as the most common occupational hazard in various industries. The present study aimed to examine the effect of sound pressure level (SPL) on serum cortisol concentration in three different times during the night shift. Methods: This case-control study was conducted among 75 workers of an industrial and mining firm in 2017. The participants were assigned to one of the three groups (one control and two case groups), with an equal number of workers (25 participants) in each group. Following the ISO 9612 standard, dosimetry was adopted to evaluate equivalent SPL using a TES-1345 dosimeter. The influence of SPL on serum cortisol concentration was measured during the night shift. The serum cortisol concentration was measured using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) test in the laboratory. Repeated measure analysis of variance and linear mixed models were used with ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: The results indicated a downward trend in the serum cortisol concentration of the three groups during the night shift. Both SPL and exposure time significantly affected cortisol concentration (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001). Conversely, age and body mass index had no significant influence on cortisol concentration (p = 0.360, p = 0.62). Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, increasing SPL will lead to enhancement of serum cortisol concentration. Given that cortisol concentration varies while workers are exposed to different SPLs, this hormone can be used as a biomarker to study the effect of noise-induced stress.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.71-81
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• 2015

Objectives: Photochemical ozone pollution is associated with increased mortality risk. This study aims to assess the population exposure to ozone according to population characteristics for high ozone days in the Busan metropolitan region (BMR). Methods: The ozone exposure assessment in this study was performed using the WRF-CMAQ simulated ozone concentrations and the population data in the BMR. The settled and daytime population and their activity were considered to conduct the static and dynamic ozone exposure assessment. Results: Applying a static exposure assessment, in case that high ozone occurred throughout Busan area, the highest exposure levels were evaluated in urban neighborhoods. In case of ozone pollution in outer Busan, because sensitive groups have been relatively higher exposure, this case was also evaluated as part of that should not be overlooked. The dynamic exposure was higher than static exposure because the number of population exposed to ozone of high concentration is increased. This approach is important in a regard consider that daytime population distribution when high ozone occur. Conclusion: This study shows the different population exposure according to various ozone distributions for each episode day. Considering demographic characteristic such as population density and activity should be important to understanding the population exposure assessment when ozone pollution occurs.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.255-266
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• 2016

The optimum concentrations of clove oil as an anesthetic for olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and the stress response of the fish to clove oil anesthesia were determined over a range of water temperatures, and investigated in a simulated transport experiment using analysis of various water and physiological parameters. While the time for induction of anesthesia decreased significantly as both the concentration of clove oil and water temperature increased, the recovery time increased significantly (P<0.05). The plasma cortisol concentration in fish at each temperature increased significantly up to 12 h following exposure (P<0.05), then decreased to 48 h (P<0.05). The DO dissolved oxygen concentrations, pH values, and the fish respiratory frequencies decreased over 6 h following exposure to clove oil in all experimental groups (P<0.05), whereas the $NH_4{^+}$ and $CO_2$ concentrations in all experimental groups increased up to 6 h (P<0.05). The pH values and DO concentrations increased with increasing clove oil concentration (P<0.05) in the 6 h following exposure, and the $CO_2$ and $NH_4{^+}$ concentrations and the respiratory frequencies decreased with increasing clove oil concentration (P<0.05). The results of this experiment suggest that clove oil reduced the metabolic activity of olive flounder, thus reducing $NH_4{^+}$ excretion and $O_2$ consumption. In conclusion, clove oil appears to be a cost-effective and efficient anesthetic that is safe for use and non-toxic to the fish and users. Its use provides the potential for improved transportation of olive flounder.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.113-121
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• 2011

The aerosol nanoparticles are suspected to be exposed to workers in nanomaterial manufacturing facilities. However, the exposure assessment method has not been established. One of important issues is to characterize background level of nanoparticles in workplaces. In this study, intensive aerosol measurements were made at a $TiO_2$ manufacturing laboratory for five consecutive days in May of 2010. The $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were manufactured by the thermal-condensation process in a heated tube furnace. The particle number size distribution was measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer every 5 min, in order to detect particles ranging from 14.5 to 664 nm in diameter. Total particle number concentration shows a severe diurnal variation irrespective of manufacturing process, which was governed by nanoparticles smaller than 50 nm in diameter. During the background monitoring periods, significant peak concentrations were observed between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. due to the infiltration of secondary aerosol particles formed by photochemical smog. Although significant increase in nanoparticle concentration was also observed during the manufacturing process twice among three times, these particle peak concentrations were lower than those observed during the background measurement. It is suggested that the investigation of background particle contamination is needed prior to conducting main exposure assessment in nanomaterial manufacturing workplaces or laboratories.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2020

This study was conducted to identify the optimal conditions for seedling growth in Veronica rotunda var. subintegra (Nakai) T.Yamaz. which a endemic plant and can be development as ornamental plants. We sowed V. rotunda var. subintegra (Nakai) T.Yamaz. seeds, and exposed the seedling was different treatment conditions. We varied soil type and fertilizer concentration, shading ratio, additional fertilizer concentration, pretreatment light exposure and collection time of seeds. We found that seedling growth was good in horticultural substrate (with no additional fertilizer), but mixed soils supplemented with fertilizer inhibited growth, regardless of the fertilizer concentration. In the 55% shading treatment, seedling growth was greater than in the non-shading treatment. High concentration addition of fertilizer (Hyponex) promoted plant growth, in terms of both plant length and fresh weight. Exposure of seeds to a red light-source prior to germination had a greater effect on seedling growth than exposure to other light sources. Seedlings exhibited better growth when grown from seed collected in 2018, rather than 2017.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to identify PM₁₀ mass concentration levels and conduct peak identification during five tasks in agricultural works. Methods: We investigated five agricultural tasks in 12 farms, which were harvesting, plowing, sowing, planting, and decapitation. All samples were measured by using the portable aerosol spectrometer(PAS 1.108) and the aerosol monitor(SidePak AM520). The collected data were compared with the national PM₁₀ concentrations. They were calculated to descriptive statistics, independent t-test, or ANOVA, and the peak identification on time series graph. Results: The ten investigated farms showed no significant difference with the national PM₁₀ concentrations, but the two greenhouses(AM, 143.31, 85.16 ㎍/m³) showed significant difference(p<0.05). As a result of the peak identification, the harvesting tasks showed repeated peak occurrence with the background concentration level of about 50 ㎍/m³. For plowing and sowing tasks, the peak occurred intermittently when the working was conducted near the sampling sites. Among the five tasks, the arithmetic mean of the harvesting task was 138.84±294.71 ㎍/m³, which was significantly higher than the other tasks(p<0.05). In addition, the case of using a tractor was higher than the case of not using the tractor(p<0.05), and the driver's seat showed the highest concentration(AM, 95.81 ㎍/m³). Conclusions: Works in greenhouses might have exposure to PM₁₀, while outdoor works is similar to general atmospheric PM₁₀ concentration levels. However, there is a possibility of intermittent exposure to high concentrations of PM₁₀ depending on the characteristics of agricultural tasks.