• Title/Summary/Keyword: Health Estimation

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Mortality Change of North Korean People and its Association with State Production and Welfare System (경제 위기 전후 북한 주민의 사망률 동태의 특성과 변화)

  • Park, Keong-Suk
    • Korea journal of population studies
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    • v.35 no.1
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    • pp.101-130
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    • 2012
  • This study examines mortality change in North Korea and its association with state production and welfare systems. Two main subjects are analyzed. The first theme is to examine the reliability of mortality related data released by North Korea government authorities. Examining inner consistencies among mortality related statistics and comparing with mortality trends in other socialist societies, the study finds that mortality rate was under estimated. Under-estimation of mortality by North Korean authorities is regarded to result not only from political purpose which aims to propagate the regime's superiority but also from enumeration errors of vital statistics based on the residence registration. The second theme is to estimate the change in mortality of North Korean people since the establishment of DPRK, correcting errors of mortality data. Mortality of North Korean people is estimated to have improved largely by the early 1970s, to have been sluggish hereafter, and finally to have increased during the economic hardship period between 1993 and 2008. While large people died during the food crisis in the late 1990s, however the population loss caused by mortality increase was not so great as the proposition of the huge starvation was expected. It is partly because population turbulence occurred not just by mortality increase, rather it has progressed in the joint effects of fertility decline and exodus of North Korean people for food. It is also due to North Korean people's voluntary activities of informal economy. It is also worth noting the high mortality rate of North Korean men. The high mortality of North Korean men is likely due to men's mobilization for long time in army and labor with high risk of accident and their life styles.

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Barium Compounds through Monte Carlo Simulations Compare the Performance of Medical Radiation Shielding Analysis (몬테카를로 시뮬레이션을 통한 바륨화합물의 의료방사선 차폐능 비교 분석)

  • Kim, Seonchil;Kim, Kyotae;Park, Jikoon
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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    • v.7 no.6
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    • pp.403-408
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    • 2013
  • This study made a tentative estimation of the shielding rate of barium compound by thickness through monte carlo simulation to apply medical radiation shielding products that can replace existing lead. Barium sulfate($BaSO_4$) was used for the shielding material, and thickness of the shielding material specimen was simulated from 0.1 mm to 5 mm by applying $15{\times}15cm^2$ of specimen area, $4.5g/cm^3$ of density of barium sulfate, and $11.34g/cm^3$ density of lead. Entered source was simulated with 10kVp Step in consecutive X-ray energy spectrum(40 kVp ~ 120 kVp). Absorption probability in 40 kVp ~ 60 kVp showed same shielding rate with lead in 3 mm ~ 5 mm of thickness, but it was identified that under 2 mm, the shielding rate was a bit lower than the existing lead shielding material. Also, the shielding rate in 70 kVp ~ 120 kVp energy band showed similar performance as the existing lead shielding material, but it was tentatively estimated as fairly low shielding rate below 0.5 mm. This study estimated the shielding rate of barium compound as the thickness function of x-ray energy band for medical radiation through monte carlo simulation, and made comparative analysis with existing lead. Also, this study intended to verify application validity of the x-ray shielding material for medical radiation of pure barium sulfate. As a result, it was estimated that the shielding effect was 95% higher than the existing lead 1.5 mm in at least 2 mm thickness of barium compound in medical radiation energy band 70 kVp ~ 120 kVp, and this result is considered valid to be provided as a base data in weight lightening production of radiation shielding product for medical radiation.

An Analysis on the Reemployment of the Unemployed : Centered on the Applications of Human Capital and Human Capability Perspective (실업자의 재취업에 관한 분석: 인적자본관점(Human Capital Perspective)과 인간능력관점(Human Capability Perspective)의 적용)

  • Kang, Chul-Hee;Lee, Hong-Jik;Hong, Hyun-Mi-Ra
    • Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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    • v.57 no.3
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    • pp.223-249
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    • 2005
  • This study examines the hazard rate of reemployment by conducting the Cox regression analysis. In addition, two gender groups are subjected to comparative analysis to identify the effect of the factors related to the human capital and human capability perspective on reemployment. For this purpose, 1,871 cases are selected from the 5th year data from Korea Labor and Income Panel Study. The results of study are as follows. First, the factors of human capital, such as education, appropriateness of skill level, and job tenure hold negative impact on the probability of reemployment, while factors of human capability, such as basic learning ability, health insurance, social insurance, residential area(living in the Seoul metropolitan area) hold positive on the probability of reemployment. It is interesting note that there are different sets of factors that affect the probability of reemployment in the two gender groups. This trend is even more apparent in the case of factors that pertain to human capability. The results of this study imply that the factors of human capability, which stress the socio-institutional characteristics, should be considered as comparably significant compared to the factors that pertain to human capital when it comes to the estimation of reemployment. Also, results of this comparative study teach us that various perspectives, such as dual labor market theory and gender-segmented labor market theory, should be factored in for reemployment discussion as well. In conclusion, this research delivers several significant messages since it introduces the concept of human capability perspective, subjected to few empirical analyses in the past, and also heralds the way for comparative analysis on the impact of the factors pertaining to human capability on reemployment.

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Effects of Nutrient Intake and Exercise on Bone Mineral Density and Bone Mineral Density in Premenopausal Women (폐경 전 성인여성에서 영양섭취 상태와 운동이 골밀도 및 골무기질 함량에 미치는 영향)

  • 최미자
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.35 no.4
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    • pp.473-479
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    • 2002
  • This study investigated associations between calcium intake, exercise behaviors, lumbar bona mineral density (BMD), and bone mineral content (BMC) among 79 premenopausal women (mean age = 41yr). The BMD and BMC of the lumbar spine (L$_2$-L$_4$) were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Nutrient intake was estimated by the convenient method and a quantitative food frequency questionnaire was designed for this study that included the most commonly consumed floods sources of Ca. Participants were asked to identify all activities of exercise they had participated in including estimation of number of years of participation, number of weeks per year, number of times per week, and the number of hours per session. Participants were then categorized into the exercise group or nonexercise group (control). To meet the criteria for inclusion in the exercise group, the subjects participated more than 3 sessions per week and more than 30 minutes per session and the length of the exercise participation was at least more then 6 months. The participants were also grouped by calcium intake. The total calcium intake of all participants was estimated by dietary calcium intake and then the subjects were divided into quartiles to assess the lumbar BMD and BMC of the upper 25% (average calcium intake = 910 mg) and the lower 25% (average calcium intake = 414 mg). Results indicated that there were no significant differences in energy and calcium intake, and that there were no significant differences in lumbar BMD and BMC between participants in exercise group and the nonexercising control group. However, the exercise group had significantly lower ALP concentration than the nonexercise group. The upper 25% calcium intake group had significantly greater lumbar bone mineral density and bone mineral content than the lower 25% calcium intake group. Also the upper 25% calcium intake group had significantly lower ALP concentration than the lower 25% calcium intake group. Correlation analysis revealed that the spinal BMB was positively associated with body weight, while calcium intake was negatively associated with ALP concentration in nonexercising women. However, neither body weight nor dietary calcium intake were associated with both spinal BMD or ALP concentration in exercising women. These results suggest that calcium intake positively influence bone mineral density and bone mineral content in nonexercisulg premenopausal women. Exercise group did not affected by body weight and dietary calcium, but decreased ALP concentration than nonexercising group. Both exercise and calcium intake positively influence bone mineral density and bone mineral content in premenopausal women.

A Study on The Content of Liver Protein, Nucleic Acids, and Guanine Deaminase Activity of Mouse During Acute Starvation (급성(急性) 기아(饑餓)마우스의 간단백질(肝蛋白質), 핵산(核酸) 및 Guanine Deaminase 활성(活性)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Park, Seung-Hee;Kim, Seung-Won
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.1 no.2
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    • pp.107-115
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    • 1968
  • Number of aspects, not only nutritional but social as well as political involved in human starvation pose nowadays global problems. In order to help establish the minimum nutritional requirements in the daily life of a man and to free people as well from either undernourishment, malnutrition or even starvation many workers have devoted themselves so far on the research programs to know what and how number of metabolic events take place in animals in vivo. It is the purpose of the present paper to examine in effect to what extent both of the protein and nucleic acids (DNA & RNA) together with an enzyme, guanine deaminase, which converts guanine into xanthine and in turn ends up to uric acid as an end product, undergo changes, quantitatively during acute starvation, using the mouse as an experimental animal. The mouse was strictly inhibited from taking foods except drinking water ad libitum and was sacriflced 24, 48, and 72 hours following starvation thus acutely induced. The animals consisted of two experimental groups, one control and another starvation groups, each being consisted of 6-24 mice of whose body weights ranged in the vicinity of 10 g. The animals were sacriflced by a blow on the head, followed by immediate excision of their livers into ice-cold distilled water, washing adherent blood and other contaminant tissues. The liver was minced foramin, by an all-glass homogenizer immersing it in an ice-bath, followed by subsequent fractionatin of the homogenate (10% W/V in 0.25M sucrose solution made up with 0.05M phosphate buffer of pH 7.4). For the liver protein and guanine deaminase assay, the 10% homogenate was centrifuged at 600 x g for 10 minutes to eliminate the nuclear fraction; and for the estimation of DNA and RNA, the homogenate was prepared by the addition of 10% trichloroacetic acid in order to free the homogenate from the acid-soluble fraction, the remaining residue being delipidate by the addition of alcohol and dried in vacuo for later KOH (IN) hydrolysis. The changes in body and liver wegihts during acute starvation were checked gravimetrically. Protein contents in the liver were monitored by the method of Lowry et al; and guanine deaminase activities were followed by the assay of liberated ammonia from the substrate utilizing the Caraway's colorimetry. The extraction of both DNA and RNA was performed by the Schmidt-Thannhauser's method, which was followed by Marmur's method of purification for DNA and by Chargaff's method of purification for RNA. The determinations of both DNA and RNA were carried out by the diphenylamine reaction for the former and by the orcinol reaction for the latter. The following resume was the results of the present work. 1. It was observed that the body as well as liver weights fall abruptly during starvation, and that the loss of body weight showed no statistical correlation with the decreases in the content of liver protein. 2. The content of liver protein and activity of liver guanine deaminase activity as well decline dramatically, and the specific activities of the enzyme (activity/protein), however, decreased gradually as starvation proceeded. 3. Both of the nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, showed decrements in the liver of mouse during acute starvation; the latter, however, being more striking in the decline as compared to the former. 4. The decreases in the liver protein content as resulted from the acute starvation had no statistically significant correlation with the decrements of DNA in the same tissue, but had regressed with a significant statistical correlation with the fall of RNA in the tissue. 5. The decrease in the activity of guanine deaminase in the liver of mouse during acute starvation was functionally more proportional to the decrease in RNA than DNA, and moreover correlated with the changes in the content of the liver protein. 6. The possible mechanisms involved during in this acute starvation as bring the decreases in the contents of DNA, protein, and guanine deaminase were discussed briefly.

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Guideline for Imaging Dose on Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (영상유도방사선치료에 있어 영상선량 가이드라인)

  • Cho, Byung Chul;Huh, Hyun Do;Kim, Jin Sung;Choi, Jin Ho;Kim, Seong Hoon;Cho, Kwang Hwan;Cho, Sam Ju;Min, Chul Kee;Shin, Dong Oh;Lee, Sang Hoon;Park, Dong Wook;Kim, Kum Bae;Choi, Sang Hyoun;Kim, Hye Young;Ahn, Woo-Sang;Kim, Tae Hyeong;Han, Su Cheol
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.1-24
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    • 2013
  • As image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) has been commonly used for more accurate patient setup and monitoring tumor movement during radiation therapy, the necessity for management of imaging dose is increased. However, it has not been an interest issue to radiation therapy communities because the imaging dose is much lower than the therapeutic dose. However, since the cumulative dose from 4DCT and repeated imaging for daily setup verificationin would not be ignorable, appropriate dose management based on ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle is required. In this study, we aimed that (1) survey on imaging equipments and modalities used for IGRT, (2) estimation of IGRT imaging dose depending on treatment types and equipments, (3) collecting data of effective dose on treatment sites from each equipment and imaging protocol, and thus finally provide guideline for imaging dose reduction and optimization.

Treatment of Contaminated Sediment for Water Quality Improvement of Small-scale Reservoir (소하천형 호수의 수질개선을 위한 퇴적저니 처리방안 연구)

  • 배우근;이창수;정진욱;최동호
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.7 no.4
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    • pp.31-39
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    • 2002
  • Pollutants from industry, mining, agriculture, and other sources have contaminated sediments in many surface water bodies. Sediment contamination poses a severe threat to human health and environment because many toxic contaminants that are barely detectable in the water column can accumulate in sediments at much higher levels. The purpose of this study was to make optimal treatment and disposal plan o( sediment for water quality improvement in small-scale resevoir based on an evaluation of degree of contamination. The degree of contamination were investigated for 23 samples of 9 site at different depth of sediment in small-scale J river. Results for analysis of contaminated sediments were observed that copper concentration of 4 samples were higher than the regulation of hazardous waste (3 mg/L) and that of all samples were exceeded soil pollution warning levels for agricultural areas. Lead and mercury concentration of all samples were detected below both regulations. Necessary of sediment dredge was evaluated for organic matter and nutrient through standard levels of Paldang lake and the lower Han river in Korea and Tokyo bay and Yokohama bay in Japan. The degree of contamination for organic matter and nutrient was not serious. Compared standard levels of Japan, America, and Canada for heavy metal, contaminated sediment was concluded as lowest effect level or limit of tolerance level because standard levels of America and Canada was established worst effect of benthic organisms. The optimal treatment method of sediment contained heavy metal was cement-based solidification/stabilization to prevent heavy metal leaching.

Identification and Characterization of Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salivarius from Korean Feces

  • Bae, Hyoung-Churl
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources Conference
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    • 2004.05a
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    • pp.89-119
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    • 2004
  • This study was conducted to isolate lactobacilli having probiotic characteristics to be used as health adjuncts with fermented milk products. Acid tolerant strains were selected in Lactobacilli MRS broth adjusted to pH 4.0 from 80 healthy persons (infants, children and adults). And bile tolerant strains were examined in Lactobacilli MRS broth in which 1.0% bile salt was added. By estimation above characteristics, the strains No. 27, which was isolated from adult feces, was selected and identified as Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salivarius based on carbohydrate fermentation and 16S rDNA sequencing. It was used as a probiotic strain in fermented milk products. The pH of fermented milk decreased from pH 6.7 to 5.0 and titratable acidity increased from 0.3% to 1.0% by L. salivarius subsp. salivarius (isolation strain 20, 35, and 37), when incubated for 36 h at $37^{\circ}C$. The number of viable cell counts of fermented milk was maximized at this incubation condition. The SDS-PAGE evidenced no significant change of casein but distinct changes of whey protein were observed by isolated L. salivarius subsp. salivarius for titratable acidity being incubated by $0.9{\sim}1.0%$ at $37^{\circ}C$. All of the strains produced 83.43 to 131.96 mM of lactic acid and 5.39 to 26.85 mM of isobutyric acid in fermented products. The in vitro culture experiment was performed to evaluate ability to reduce cholesterol levels and antimicrobial activity in the growth medium. The selected L. salivarius subsp. salivarius reduced $23{\sim}38%$ of cholesterol content in lactobacilli MRS broth during bacterial growth for 24 hours at $37^{\circ}C$. All of the isolated L. salivarius subsp. salivarius had an excellent antibacterial activity with $15{\sim}25$ mm of inhibition zone to E. coli KCTC1039, S. enteritidis KCCM3313, S. typhimurium M-15, and S. typhimurium KCCM40253 when its pH had not been adjusted. Also, all of the isolated L. salivarius subsp. salivarius had partial inhibition zone to E. coli KCTC1039, E. coli KCTC0115 and S. enteritidis KCCM3313 when it had been adjusted to pH 5.7. The selected strains were determined to have resistances of twelve antibiotic. Strains 27 and 35 among the L. salivarius subsp. salivarius showed the highest resistance to the antibiotics. Purified ${\alpha}$-galactosidase was obtained by DEAE-Sephadex A-50 ion exchange chromatography, Mono-Q ion exchange chromatography and HPLC column chromatography from L. salivarius subsp. salivarius 27. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 8,994 units/mg protein, representing an 17.09 folds purification of the original cell crude extract. The molecular weight of enzyme was identified about 53,000 dalton by 12% SDS-PAGE. Optimal temperature and pH for activity of this enzyme were $40^{\circ}C$ and 7.0 respectively. The enzyme was found to be stable between 25 and $50^{\circ}C$. ${\alpha}$-galactosidase activity was lost rapidly below pH 5.0 and above pH 9.0. This enzyme was liberated galactose from melibiose, raffinose, and stachyose, and also the hydrolysis rate of substrate was compound by HPLC. These results indicated that some of the L. salivarius subsp. salivarius (strain 27 and 35) are considered as effective probiotic strains with a potential for industrial applications, but the further study is needed to establish their use as probiotics in vivo.

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Significance of brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in the assessment of occupational manganese exposure (직업적 망간 폭로에 있어서 뇌자기공명영상의 의의)

  • 정해관
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.14-30
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    • 1998
  • Manganese is an essential element in the body. It is mainly deposited in the liver and to a lesser degree in the basal ganglia of the brain and eliminated through the bile duct. Rapid turnover of managanese in the body makes it difficult to evaluate the manganese exposure in workers, esecially in those with irregular or intermittent exposure, like welders. Therefore, conventional biomarkers, including blood and urine manganese can provide only a limited information about the long-tern or cumulative exposure to manganese. Introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) made a progress in the assessment of manganese exposure in the medical conditions related to manganese accumulation, e. g. hepatic failure and long-term total parenteral nutrition. Manganese shortens spin-lattice(T1) relaxation time on MRI due to its paramagnetic property, resulting in high signal intensity (HSI) on T1-weighted image(T1W1) of MRI. Manganese deposition in the brain, therefore, can be visualizedas an HSI in the globus pallidus, the substantia nigra, the putamen and the pituitary. clinical and epidemiologic studies regarding the MRI findings in the cases of occupational and non-occupational manganese exposure were reviewed. relationships between HSI on T1W1 of MRI and age, gender, occupational manganese exposure, and neurological dysfunction were analysed. Relationships betwen biological exposure indices and HSI on MRE werealso reviewed. Literatures were reviewed to establish the relationships between HSI, Manganese deposition in the brain, pathologic findings, and neurological dysfunction. HSI on T1W1 of MRI reflects regional manganese deposition in the brain. This relationship enables an estimation of regional manganese deposition in the brain by analysing MR signal intensity. Manganese deposition in the brain can induce a neuronal loss in the basal ganglia but functional abnormality is supposed to be related to the cumulative exposure of manganese in the brain, use of brain MRI for the assessment of exposure in a group of workers seems to be hardly rationalized, while ti can be a useful adjunct for the evaluation of manganese exposure int he cases with suspected manganese-related health problems.

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Estimation of Pesticide Leaching Potential Using GUS, RF and AF Index in Cheju Citrus Orchard Soils (제주도 감귤원 토양에서 GUS, RF, AF 지수를 이용한 농약의 용탈잠재성 평가)

  • Oh, Sang-Sil;Moon, Doo-Khil;Chung, Jong-Bae;Hyun, Hae-Nam
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.7-16
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    • 2002
  • Contamination of groundwater by agrochemicals used in the regional-scale Is now a major environmental problem, and this is especially true for Cheju island where virtually all potable water is from groundwater. The objective of this study was to assess leaching potential of eight pesticides in soils of citrus orchards using groundwater ubiquity score (GUS), retardation factor (RF) and attenuation factor (AF). Considering GUS estimated in 30 citrus orchard soils, metribuzin and metolachlor were classified as leacher, alachlor in volcanic ash soils and linuron in non-volcanic soils were classified as leacher, but chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos were classified as non-leacher. For RF values, metribuzin was classified to be mobile in soils of low organic carbon, metolachlor and alachlor were classified to be moderately immobile in most soils, but linuron, diuron, diniconazole, chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos were all classified to be very immobile. For AF values, diniconazole, chlorothalonil, and chlorpyrifos were classified to be very unlikely leachable in all of the soils, metribuzin was classified to be likely leachable, and metolahclor, alachlor, linuron and diuron were classified to be leachable only in non-volcanic soils. Although there were some variations in the relative potential of teachability of pesticides estimated with the three different indices, the ranking was essentially determined on the base of the intrinsic properties of the chemicals and environmental properties. Among the eight pesticides, metribuzin, metolachlor, and alachlor, which have high water solubility and low $K_{oc}$ values, have a significant leaching potential especially in non-volcanic ash soils of low organic carbon. But diniconazole, chlorothalonil, and chlorpyrifos, which have low water solubility and high $K_{oc}$ values, were classified to be very immobile in all of the soils. Therefore, to lower the possibility of pesticide contamination of the groundwater in Cheju island, those pesticides which have high water solubility and low $K_{oc}$ values should be used with care in soils of low organic carbon including non-volcanic ash soils.