• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.154-159
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• 2011

Inadequate food handling and poor hand hygiene playa major role in the occurrence of foodborne diseases. The objective of this study was to find out if the level of microbial contamination on the hands of food preparers varies by time during their working period. This study focused on the contamination of aerobic plate count, total and fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. Sampling from left hand and right hand of twenty food preparers was done with glove-juice method at every two hours during their work. Microbiological testing was conducted according to the Food Code of Korea. The microbiological load on the hands was changed over time. Samples taken from their hands before work and at 8 hours showed higher levels of bacteria than those taken at 2, 4, and 6 hours during work and/or after work (p < 0.05). The contamination levels of microorganisms were consistently higher in right hand than in left hand. Poor hand hygiene practices were indicated by the positive results for total and fecal coli forms, E. coli, S. aureus, and Salmonella spp. on the hands of some food preparers. This study indicates food preparers' hands can be a vehicle of pathogen during their work. The results of this study emphasize the importance of hand hygiene education and training targeting the food preparers.

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
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• 2010.11b
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• pp.1025-1028
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• 2010

The bacteriological examination of spring water in Seogwipo-city was conducted. A total 11 spring water samples were performed from January to April, 2010. During the study period, the range of temperature was from 0.7 to $15.4^{\circ}C$, and result of the analyses showed that hydrogen ion concentrations (pH) for spring water was 0.33 to 7.8. salinity levels for sample average of 0.5 to 1.04‰, as the result of measuring dissolved oxygen (DO) for spring water showed that water dissolved oxygen were 1.02 to 7.14 mg/${\ell}$. The range of total coliform of spring water sample at 11 stations located in the designated spring water were <1.8~>1,600 MPN/100mL. And the range of geometric mean of total coliform were 1.9~117.1 MPN/100mL, The range of fecal coliform of spring water sample at 11 stations located in the designated spring water were <1.8~>1,600 MPN/100mL. And the range of geometric mean of fecal coliform were 1.8~68.1 MPN/100mL, respectively. Level of microbial contamination was examined in 11 samples for indication of bacterial contamination such as heterophic bacteria, EscherichiacoliO157;H7, salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella spp. Were frequently detected from the spring water. Salmonella spp., S.aureus were detected in the range of $0{\sim}1.0{\times}10^1$, $0{\sim}3.0{\times}10^1$ CFU/ml, respectively. And the Escherichia coli O157;H7, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Shigella spp. Were not detected from the examined spring water samples.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.646-654
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• 2020

Objectives: Users of parks or children's play facilities have pointed to pets' bowel movements as the most serious problem when using them. In prior studies, a very low detection rate of parasites (eggs) in sand flooring materials has been found. Even though feces have been identified, no parasites (eggs) have been detected. Method: A standard solution of nitrate nitrogen was used to verify the reliability of a new nitrogen analysis method. The linearity, precision, and accuracy of the nitrate nitrogen analysis method were verified. Using this method, the pollution distribution of the sand flooring material and the degree of pollution at each point were investigated. Results: As a result of the verification of the nitrogen analysis method, the linearity was found to be good at r2=0.999 when distilled water is mixed in a standard substance solution. The standard substance additive solution r2=0.968 was found to be good. Precision represented 0.01 to 0.06% RSD for peak height. The recovery rate was 92.4 to 104.0 percent, indicating high accuracy. According to the same method of analysis, the flooring material sand at a general amusement facility with the largest number of concealed spaces was nitrate nitrogen 6.1 times higher than at the entrance of the playground. Also, in a comparison between clean sand and sandy flooring, the average nitrogen concentration of the sand flooring material was 24.4-167 times higher than pure sand. Conclusions: As such, no parasites (eggs) were detected at all points under investigation, but the sand flooring was exposed to animal fecal contamination. Therefore, the management of nitrogenous components should allow accurate identification of animal fecal contamination so that the timing of sand replacement can be managed hygienically and safely.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2015

Observed trends in climate change, globalization and an aging population have an effect on public health conditions in Korea, prompting a reevaluation of current environmental regulations. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the total coliform (TC) standard, which is the only microbiological standard in the current regulation regime for hot spring water, by estimating correlation with the presence/absence of Legionella, a non-fecal opportunistic pathogen with heat-tolerance. Microbiological data in 7 studies that surveyed Legionella in hot spring waters were subjected to meta-analyses with the odds ratio (OR) as the effect size. The presence/absence of Legionella was significantly correlated to TC levels [OR = 3.1(1.5–6.4, 95% CI), p = 0.002]. Due to there being no direct explanation as to the reason for the occurrence of TC, mesophilic fecal bacteria, being coupled with Legionella presence, the mechanism of the correlation between the two kinds of bacteria was further investigated. Legionella presence was more prevalent with a high heterotrophic plate count [HPC; 4.0(2.2–7.2); p < 0.001] and water temperature [4.3(1.4–13.6), p = 0.011] when the temperature range was <40℃. However, it was reverse-correlated with water temperature when the temperature was >50℃ [0.2(0.1–0.4), p < 0.001]. Therefore, bacterial standing crops in hot spring waters appear to be determined by water temperature in general, and this forces TC and Legionella levels be correlated. In accordance with this relationship, HPC rather than TC reflect the levels of non-fecal contamination better. Therefore, employing HPC as the sole microbiological standard, or adding HPC into the current standard of hot spring water assessment, is suggested as a proactive measure to prevent health issues arising from contamination.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.324-331
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• 2012

Bacteriological examination of spring water in Jeju City was conducted. A total of 21 spring water samples were collected from January to April, 2010. During the study period, the range of temperature was 0.6 to $15.4^{\circ}C$, and the results of the analyses showed that hydrogen ion concentrations (pH) for spring water were 0.43 to 7.9. Salinity levels for the samples averaged from 3.0 to 1.64%, and levels of water-dissolved oxygen were 1.85 to 6.06 mg/l. The range of total coliforms in spring water samples at 21 stations located in the designated spring water were <1.8->1,600 MPN/100 ml. Furthermore, the range of geometric means of total coliforms was 9.9-151.6 MPN/100 ml, while the range of fecal coliforms in spring water samples at 21 stations located in the designated spring water area was <1.8->1,600 MPN/100 ml. Finally, the range of geometric mean of fecal coliforms was 3.1-151.6 MPN/100 ml. The level of microbial contamination was examined in 21 samples for indications of bacterial contamination such as heterotrophic bacteria, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Shigella spp. were frequently detected in the spring water. Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and S. aureus were detected in the range of $0-0.5{\times}10^1$, $0-0.1{\times}10^1$, $0-0.1{\times}10^1$, and $0-0.3{\times}10^1$ CFU/ml, respectively, while E. coli O157:H7 was not detected in the examined spring water samples.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.442-448
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• 2009

Bacteriological examination of a 12,700 ha area within Jaranman Saryangdo area, located in Jaran bay and Saryangdo island, was conducted with 35 fixed (designated areas and adjacent areas) seawater sampling stations between January 2006 and December 2008. According to results, the geometric mean range and the estimated 90th percentile range of fecal coliform counts in sea water samples collected in the designated area were <1.8-2.4 and <1.8-8.6 MPN/100mL, respectively. The estimated 90th percentile range of fecal coliform counts in sea water samples collected from 6 sampling stations in the adjacent areas were 6.1-34.6 MPN/100mL. Based on these results, bacteriological water quality of the designated areas in the Jaranman. Saryangdo area meet the NSSP (National Shellfish Sanitation Program) guidelines for approved area. The bacteriological sea water quality in Jaranman.Saryangdo area has been shown to be favorable at all investigated sampling stations except for July and August which coincided with heavy rainfall. In fact, the bacteriological water quality was not affected if rainfall was less than 30 mm rainfall. However, the degree of bacteriological contamination increased rapidly and the water quality exceeded approved NSSP guidelines set for rainfall above 60 mm.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.1 no.1 s.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 1986

This study was performed to investigate the sanitation of restaurants in Seoul Area. The subjects were 153 wet towels, 64 cold noodle soup and 190 barely tea. The results were as follows: In wet towels: The detected rate of standard plate counts was $86.9\%$ (133 samples) and average count was $1.8\times10^3/g$ $the detected rate of coliform was $37.9\%$ (58 samples) and average count by MPN method was $2.0\times10^3/100g$, the detected rate of fecal coliform was $15.7\%$ (24 samples) and average count by MPN method was $3.2\times10/100g$. In cold noodle soups: The detected rate of standard plate counts was $100\%$ (64 samples) and average count was $9.4\times10^5/ml$, the detected rate of coliform was $75\%$ (48 samples) and average count by MPN method was $6.0\times10^5/100ml$, the detected rate of fecal coliform was $51.6\%$ (33 samples) and average count by MPN method was $3.4\times10^3/100ml$. In barely tea: The detected rate of standard plate counts was $87.4\%$(166 samples) and average count was $5.8\times10^3/ml$the detected rate of coliform was $66.3\%$ (126 samples) and average count by MPN method was $3.9\times10^3/100ml$, the detected rate of fecal coliform was $32.6\%$ (62 samples) and average count was by MPN method was $4.7\times10/100ml$.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.1006-1013
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• 2014

Wastewater organic compounds, that is, nonylphenolic compounds (NPs) and fecal sterols, were measured in surface sediments from Busan Suyeong Estuary, where two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are located, to assess contamination from municipal effluents. The NPs analyzed were nonylphenol, and nonylphenol mono- and di-ethoxylates, all synthetic endocrine disruptors. The fecal sterols analyzed were coprostanol (COP), cholestanol, and epicoprostanol. Concentrations of NPs in the sediments ranged from 146 to 3,723 ng/g, and those of COP ranged from 366 to 13,018 ng/g. Their detection in all of the sediments analyzed indicates widespread pollution by municipal effluents. The highest concentrations of NPs and COP were detected at stations close to outfalls of WWTPs. Their levels in sediments are categorized in the higher range of those previously reported in Korean coastal areas. Moreover, in comparison with screening values of NPs in the Netherlands, Norway, and Canada, more than 50% of the sampling stations exceeded the guidelines. This indicates that the estuary may be adversely influenced by municipal effluents.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2012

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), butyltins (BTs), nonylphenol (NP), and fecal sterols concentrations in sediments were investigated from Gunsan coast of Korea to evaluate organic pollution from anthropogenic activities. Sediment toxicity was also examined by bacterial bioluminescence toxicity test (Vibrio fischeri). The concentrations of 16 PAHs in sediments ranged from 67.9 to 425 ng/g dry wt; BTs ranged from 2.79 to 14.1 ng Sn/g dry wt; NP ranged from 20.7 to 2171 ng/g dry wt; and coprostanol, a fecal sterol, ranged from 7.60 to 245 ng/g dry wt. Effective concentration 50% ($EC_{50}$) of sediments ranged from 0.38 to 23.8 mg/mL. Most of the chemicals were present at levels lower than or comparable to the previously reported values from Korea. However, NP levels in the present study were in the high range of levels reported from the Korean coast, and 40% of the measured samples exceeded screening and ecotoxicological values of NP suggested by the Netherlands and Canada. This suggests that an ongoing source of NP is a serious concern in the Gunsan coast. High levels of contaminants were found in the proximity of potential sources, such as the outfall of a wastewater treatment plant for NP, an anthracite-fired power plant for PAHs, and ports for BTs, fecal sterols, and sediment toxicity. This indicates that Gunsan coast has various potential sources of marine sediment contaminants.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.177-187
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• 1996

Time-temperature relationship and microbiological quality were assessed and critical control points were identified through hazard analysis during the phases of production in two different packaged meals (Dosirak) manufacturing establishments (A, B:Kim Pab). Microbiological tests on foods, equipments and utensils were done according to standard procedures and included total plate count, coliforms and fecal coliforms. The results of the study are summarized as follows : time-temperature control management was needed because time-temperature abuse more than 8 hours at dangerous temperature zone (5-6$0^{\circ}C$) was observed from pre-preperation to distribution phase; Poor sanitary practices of employees were observed in hand washing and using disposable gloves; Microbiological analysis results of equirpments and utensils showed possible cross-contamination risks when foods were contacted with them; Kim Pab needed thorough quality control because it included various mixed ingredients of cooked and uncooked and had many apportunities of cross-contamination either by equipments or hands through whole production processes.