• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.111-119
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• 2013

Eleven mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, zearalenone, T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol, and HT-2 toxin, were analyzed simultaneously in rice, barley, and maize produced in 2011 by liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Limits of detection (LOD) are 0.2 ${\mu}g/kg$ for aflatoxin $B_1$, and $G_1$, 0.3 ${\mu}g/kg$ for aflatoxins $B_2$, and $G_2$, 0.1 ${\mu}g/kg$ for ochratoxin, fumonisins, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin and 3.0 ${\mu}g/kg$ for deoxynivalenol and HT-2 toxin. Limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.6 ${\mu}g/kg$ for aflatoxins $B_1$, and $G_1$, 0.9 ${\mu}g/kg$ for aflatoxins $B_2$, and $G_2$, 0.3 ${\mu}g/kg$ for ochratoxin, fumonisins, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin and 10.0 ${\mu}g/kg$ for deoxynivalenol and HT-2 toxin. Recoveries for 11 mycotoxins ranged from 70.45 to 111.11%. Fumonisins, deoxynivalenol, and zaeralenone were detected from 0.9 to 334.0 ${\mu}g/kg$ in the polished rice, barley and raw corn cultivated in Korea. Other mycotoxins were not detected. Deoxynivalenol contamination was mainly found in barley (24 out of 43 samples) and the average value in positive samples was 113.30 ${\mu}g/kg$.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2021

In order to confirm the impact of the Positive List System (PLS) being applied to all agricultural products from January 1, 2019, we analyzed 28,693 points of inspection-related data on agricultural products distributed in Gyeonggi-do from 2018 to 2020. The ratio of cases exceeding the standard for the total inspection performance was 1.0% in 2018, 1.2% in 2019, and 1.2% in 2020. Out of the 114 cases exceeding the standard in 2019, 55 were applied on a Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) of 0.01 mg/kg, and out of the 115 cases exceeding the standard in 2020, 66 were applied on a MRL of 0.01 mg/kg. To improve this, it seems necessary to manage unintentional pollution, conventional use for unregistered crops, and illegal pesticides. Fluquinconazole detection resulted from unintentional contamination, and diazinon, chlorothalonil, and methabenzthiazuron detection resulted from conventional use in unregistered crops. Chinomethionat is a pesticide component that was discarded in the past and its current use has been attributed to the smuggling of pesticides. This study and future monitoring data can be used as reference data for system supplementation and on-site management reinforcement.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2022

In this study, heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and mercury) and shellfish poisoning toxins (diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxins, amnesic shellfish poisoning toxins) were investigated in a total of 104 shellfishes. According to the analysis of heavy metals, lead (Pb) was detected in the range of 0.0177-0.5709 mg/kg, cadmium (Cd) was detected in the range of 0.0226-1.4602 mg/kg, and mercury (Hg) was detected in the range of 0.0015-0.0327 mg/kg. Levels of Pb, Cd, and Hg were acceptable by Korean standards. Okadaic acid (OA) and dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX-1) were investigated for monitoring of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxins and OA and DTX-1 were not detected. As a result of monitoring of amnesic shellfish poisoning toxins, domoic acid was detected in 5 of 104 samples and detection ratio was 4.8%. The detection period was found as follows; 1 case in January, 1 case in February, 1 case in May, 2 cases in September. These showed that continuous monitoring for the management of shellfish poisoning toxins and heavy metals is required. In addition, this study can be used as reference data to strengthen managing heavy metals in fishery products.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2024

This study was performed to survey the distribution of Listeria spp. in fresh agricultural products in the Busan area, the Republic of Korea, from January to November 2022. We investigated the pathogenicity and epidemiological relationships by tracing isolated strains using polymerase chain reaction and pulsed-field gel electro-phoresis (PFGE) methods. Forty cases of Listeria spp. were detected in the 210 samples of fresh agricultural products analyzed. Four species, Listeria rocourtiae, L. innocua, L. grayi, and L. monocytogenes were detected only in green vegetables (lettuce, perilla leaps) and the others (L. innocua, L. monocytogenes, and L. grayi) were detected in enoki and oyster mushrooms. L. innocua was detected in 22 samples and L. grayi in six samples. L. monocytogenes, which causes foodborne diseases, was only detected in enoki mushrooms and the strains that were isolated had genes responsible for the pathogenicity of listeriosis (iap, prfA, inlA, inlC, inlJ, and hly). To investigate the genetic similarity and contamination route of L. monocytogenes, serotyping and PFGE were conducted for 12 strains isolated from fresh agricultural (10 strains) and poultry (2 strains) products distributed at a market in the Busan area. Two serotypes (1/2a, 1/2b) were detected in strains isolated from the agricultural and poultry products, but serotype 1/2b was only detected in strains isolated from agricultural products. PFGE analysis showed index of similarity values of 45.7 to 100% and the same patterns were represented in isolates from some enoki mushrooms. These isolates had the same serotypes and showed significant epidemiological relationships.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1970

The present status of control measures for public health important helminthic infections in Korea was surveyed in 1969 and the following results were obtained. The activities of parasitic examination and Ascaris treatment for the positives which were done during 1966 to 1969 were brought in poor result and could not decrease the infection rate. It is needed to improve or strengthen the activities. The mass treatment activities for paragonimiasis and clonorchiasis in the areas which were designated by the Ministry of Health were carried out during 1965 to 1968 with no good results in decrease of estimated number of the patients. There were too many pharmaceutical companies where many kinds of anthelmintics were produced. It may be better to reduce the number of anthelmintics produced and control the quality. The human feces, the most important source of helminthic infections, was generally not treated in sanitary ways because of the poor sewerage system and no sewage treatment plant in urban areas and insanitary latrines in rural areas. The field soils of 170 specimens were collected from 34 areas out of 55 urban and tourist areas where night soil has been prohibited by a regulation to be used as a fertilizer, and examined for parasites contamination with the result of Ascaris egg detection in 44%. Some kinds of vegetables of 64 specimens each from the supply agents of parasite free vegetables and general markets were collected and examined for parasites contamination with the results of Ascaris egg detection in 25% and 36% respectively. The parasite control activities and the ability of parasitological examination techniques in the health centers of the country were not satisfactory. The budget of the Ministry of Health for the parasite control was very poor. The actual expenditure needed for cellophane thick smear technique was 8 Won per a specimen. As a principle the control of helminthic infections might be led toward breaking the chain of events in the life cycle of the prasites and eliminating environmental and host factors concerned with the infections, and the following methods nay be pointed out. 1) Mass treatment might be done to eliminate human reservoirs of an infection. 2) Animal reservoirs which are related with human infections night be eliminated. 3) The excretes of reservoirs, particularly human feces, should be treated in sanitary ways by the means of sanitary sewerage system and sewage treatment plant in urban areas and sanitary latrines such as waterborne latrine, aqua privy and pit latrine in rural areas. The increase of national economical development and prohibition of the habit of using night soils as a fertilizer might be very important factors to achieve the purpose. 4) The control of vehicles and intermediate hosts might be done by the means of prohibition of soil contamination with parasites, food sanitation, insect control and snail control. 5) The improvement of insanitary attitudes and bad habits which are related with parasitic infections night be done by the means of prohibition of habit of using night soils as a fertilizer, and improving eating habits and personal hygiene. 6) Chemoprophylactic measure and vaccination may be effective to prevent the infections or the development of a parasite to adult in the bodies when the bodies were invaded by parasites. Further studies and development of this kind of measures are needed.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2008

Objective of this study was to investigate residual the levels of heavy metals in rice grain and soils of "Top-Rice" and common rice cultivation areas from 2005 to 2007. Soil and rice grain samples were taken from 33 "Top-rice" areas and neighboring paddies, and analyzed for the elements using ICP-OES and ICP-TOF-MS after acid digestion. A concentration of arsenic in paddy soil was 1.33 mg/kg which was below 1/5-1/11 fold of the threshold levels(concern: 4 mg/kg, action: 10 mg/kg), and paddy soil was 0.06 mg/kg of Cd(cadmium) being below 1/25-1/67 fold of the limits(concern: 1.5 mg/kg, action: 4 mg/kg). A level of Cu(copper) in paddy soil was 4.57 mg/kg which was below 1/11-1/27 fold of the threshold levels(concern: 50 mg/kg, action: 125 mg/kg), and Pb(lead) concentration in paddy soil was found to be a 4.68 mg/kg. In addition, Hg(mercury) concentration in paddy soil was to be a 0.03 mg/kg, which was below 1/131-1/328 fold of the threshold levels(concern: 4 mg/kg, action: 10 mg/kg). The average concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg in the polished rice samples were 0.037, 0.043, 0.280, 0.048 and 0.002 mg/kg, respectively. These levels are lower than those of other countries in rice grains. Assuming the rice consumption of 205.7 g/day by total dietary supplements in Korea, the amount of total weekly metal intake of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg by polished rice were estimated to be 0.0892, 1.035, 6.712, 1.161 and 0.054 ${\mu}g/kg$ body weigh/week, respectively. The PTWI(%) of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg were 5.95(inorganic arsenic), 0.26(total arsenic), 14.79, 0.19, 4.65 and 1.07% estimated to be 0.0892, 1.035, 6.712, 1.161 and 0.054 ${\mu}g/kg$ body weigh/week, respectively. In conclusion, it was appeared that the heavy metals contamination in the brown and polished rice should not be worried in Korea.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.375-387
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• 2012

The objective of this study is investigation of contamination levels and assessment of health risk effects of heavy metals in herbal pills. 31 Items and 93 samples were obtained for this investigation from major herbal medicine producing areas, herbal markets and on-line supermarkets from Jan to Jun in 2010. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer method was conducted for the quantitative analysis of Pb, Cd and As. In addition, the mercury analyzer system was conducted for that of Hg without sample digestion. The average contents of heavy metals in samples were as follows : 0.87 mg/kg for Pb, 0.08 mg/kg for Cd, 2.87 mg/kg for As and 0.16 mg/kg for Hg, respectively. In addition, the average contents of heavy metals in different parts of plants, including cortex, fructus, herba, radix, seed, algae and others were 0.63 mg/kg, 3.94 mg/kg, 1.42 mg/kg, 1.05 mg/kg, 0.16 mg/kg, 22.31 mg/kg and 10.17 mg/kg, respectively. After the estimations of dietary exposure, the acceptable daily intake (ADI), the average daily dose (ADD), the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) and the relative hazard of heavy metals were evaluated. As the results, the relative hazards compared to PTWI in samples were below the recommended standard of JECFA as Pb 3.1%, Cd 0.9%, Hg 0.5%. Cancer risks through slope factor (SF) by Ministry of Environment Republic Korea and Environmental Protection Agency was $4.24{\times}10^{-7}$ for Pb and $3.38{\times}10^{-4}$ for As (assuming that the total arsenic content was equal to the inorganic arsenic). Based on our results, possible Pb-induced cancer risks in herbal pills according to parts used including cortex, fructus, herba, radix, seed, algae and others were $1.95{\times}10^{-7}$, $1.45{\times}10^{-6}$, $2.14{\times}10^{-7}$, $6.27{\times}10^{-7}$, $1.99{\times}10^{-8}$, $3.61{\times}10^{-7}$ and $9.64{\times}10^{-8}$, respectively. Possible As-induced cancer risks in herbal pills by parts used including cortex, fructus, herba, radix, seed, algae and others were $1.54{\times}10^{-5}$, $7.24{\times}10^{-5}$, $1.23{\times}10^{-4}$, $2.02{\times}10^{-5}$, $3.25{\times}10^{-6}$, $2.18{\times}10^{-3}$ and $5.67{\times}10^{-6}$ respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that the majority of samples except for some samples with relative high contents of heavy metals were safe.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.141-145
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Agricultural soils are vulnerable from contamination of heavy metal derived from industrial waste. Monitoring on heavy metals on agricultural soils around industrial complexes and evaluation on distributional state on the concentrations of heavy metals in soil have been carried out for problem assessment on soil condition. METHODS AND RESULTS: Soil samples of 1,200, were collected from sixty site of industrial complexes located Gyounggi, Chungbuk, Cheonbuk, and Gyoungnam provinces. Total concentration of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, and As were analyzed. Heavy metal concentrations in most soil samples were below warning criteria, except 1 site of Pb, Ni, and As, separately. The comparison of mean values of heavy metal concentrations between soils around industrial complexes and paddy soils, showed similar levels of heavy metals, except Pb. The concentrations of lots of heavy metals were distributed between from warning criteria to one fifth level of warning criteria. However, in the case of Cu and Pb, more than 30% were distributed below one twenties level of warning criteria. These results were very similar with the distribution state of heavy metals in upland soils. The concentrations of heavy metals in surface soil and subsoil were similar among the heavy metals in soils around industrial complexes. CONCLUSION: The concentrations of heavy metals in soils around industrial complexes were distributed close to warning criteria. Long term and continous monitoring and evaluation on heavy metals in agricultural soils are required for food safety and sustainable soil management.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.253-261
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• 2012

Dioxin contamination on agroproducts is one of the most important issue in food safety. Herein, we measured concentration of 17 dioxins polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and 14 dioxin like-polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in the main grain (rice and barley) that were produced in Korea. The 36 rice samples were collected from rice processing complex at eight provinces, and the average concentrations of each province were ranged from 2.98 pg/g wet weight (w.w) to 4.98 pg/g w.w. as total PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs. The seven barley samples were collected from Jeon-nam and Jeon-buk provinces, and their average total concentrations of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs were 3.00 pg/g w.w. and 3.24 pg/g w.w. respectively. The residual amounts and toxic equivalent (TEQ) of DL-PCBs in rice and barley were higher than PCDD/Fs. The average total TEQ of rice and barley were 0.0056 pg-TEQ/g and 0.0092 pg-TEQ/g on lower bound estimation respectively. Estimated daily intake of dioxins from rice and barley were calculated 1.03 pg-TEQ/day/person and 0.0534 pg-TEQ/day/person respectively. These were estimated 0.46% and 0.03% of Korean TDI based on 55 kg body weight.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 1985

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the water quality in the lower part of the Nagdong river in Korea. Three hundred and sixty water samples were collected from the 15 stations from December 1981 to November 1982 by tide(see Fig.1). Water temperature, pH, chloride ion, salinity, total coliform, fecal coliform, viable cell count and the composition of coliform were observed to evaluate the water quality. The variations of water temperature was ranged from $2.0^{\circ}C\;to\;29.5^{\circ}C$ and as mean value from $15.8^{\circ}C\;to\;18.9^{\circ}C$. The range of pH was 6.00-8.88 and 7.20-7.96 as mean value. The concentration of chloride ion from St. 1 to 5 was higher as 17.51-771 mg/l in flood tide than 13.12-264.58 mg/l in ebb tide. Specially, water quality at St.1 (Samrangjin) which located about 46 km far from Hadan was also influenced by tide. Salinities of water in flood tide were a litte higher ($11.05{\sim}31.08\%0$) than those of in ebb tide ($7.80{\sim}29.28\%0$). Total coliform MPN's ranged from 3.6/100 m/l to 460,000/100ml. The geometric mean value of the upper area (included St. $1{\sim}3$) was $259{\sim}538/100ml$, that of the middle area (included St. $4{\sim}6$) was $1,097{\sim}39,544/100ml$ for it leveled heavy contamination. Specially, in the ebb tide St. 10 was influenced by St. 6 and 7. In the upper area, the geometric mean value of fecal coliform MPN's was $109{\sim}199/100ml$ but in the area in cluded St. 5, 6 and 7 were heavily contaminated by domestic sewage, waste water from the factories area and bird's excrement. Composition of coliform was $17\%$ Escherichia coli group, $33\%$ Citrobacter freundii group, $28\%$ Enterobacter aerogenes group and $21\%$ others. Plate count of samples was varied from <30 to $3.9{\times}10^4/ml$ during the study period.