• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.324-333
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• 2023

Background: Human exposure to phthalates in indoor environments occurs via dermal absorption, oral ingestion of indoor dust, and inhalation of indoor air. However, systematic studies to investigate the exposure rate to phthalates among the three exposure routes in indoor environments are currently limited. Objectives: A theoretical exposure ratio between inhalation and oral exposure was calculated based on the total amount of di(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) emitted into indoor air and deposited into floor dust in a test house. Methods: Flooring and wallpaper containing DEHP were installed in a test house and the concentration of DEHP in both indoor air and floor dust were monitored for five months. Based on the measured DEHP concentrations, the theoretical total amount ratio of DEHP that could be exposed through inhalation and oral ingestion was calculated. Results: Considering the period of operation in the test house, the theoretical total amount of DEHP through inhalation and oral ingestion exposures in the entire test house space was calculated to be 0.014 mg and 5.5 mg, respectively. The exposure ratio of the two routes between inhalation and oral exposure corresponding to the total DEHP amount in flooring and wallpaper was 6.0×10^-7% and 2.3×10^-4%, indicating that theoretical oral exposure to DEHP is approximately 380 times higher than inhalation. Conclusions: Monitoring results from a test house has shown that oral exposure is the main exposure route for DEHP in indoor environments. The experimental design employed in this study and theoretical exposure ratio obtained can be applied to investigate actual exposure to DEHP and to determine the exposure characteristics of various types of semi-volatile organic compounds.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.205-210
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• 2014

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) is used for various purposes, such as a fungicide for coolants, an antiseptic for wood, and disinfectant for cleaning. Despite the increasing likelihood of DDAC inhalation, available data on its toxicity from inhalation are scarce. Therefore, this study was aimed at confirming the toxicity of DDAC after inhalation exposure for 2 wk. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to approximately $0.15mg/m^3$, $0.6mg/m^3$, and $3.6mg/m^3$ DDAC aerosols in whole-body exposure chambers. After DDAC exposure for 2 wk, effects of DDAC on body weight, blood, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and the lungs were verified. The mass median aerodynamic diameter of DDAC aerosols was $1.86{\mu}m$ and the geometric standard deviation was 2.75. The concentrations of DDAC aerosols for the low, medium, and high groups were $0.15{\pm}0.15mg/m^3$, $0.58{\pm}0.40mg/m^3$, and $3.63{\pm}1.56mg/m^3$, respectively. Body weight gain was significantly influenced by DDAC exposure. In the high group, a body weight decrease of 2.6 g was observed, whereas a 25.8 g increase was observed in the normal control group after the first 3 days. The low and medium groups showed 23.3 g and 20.4 g increases, respectively, after the first 3 days. Decreases in body weight were recovered during the next 4 days. In contrast, no changes were noted in hematological and blood biochemistry parameters after DDAC exposure. Furthermore, only mild effects were observed on bronchoalveolar cell differentiation counts and cell damage parameters in the BAL fluids of the medium and high groups. Although inflammatory cell infiltration and interstitial pneumonia were partially observed, fibrosis was not found in the lungs of the medium and high groups. In conclusion, body weight gain and the lungs were mainly affected by DDAC exposure. The no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for DDAC was determined as $0.15mg/m^3$.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.7-14
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• 2017

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) is used in many types of biocidal products including tableware, carpets, humidifiers, and swimming pools, etc. In spite of increased chances of DDAC exposure through inhalation, studies on the inhalation toxicity of DDAC are not common even though the toxicity of DDAC might be significantly higher if it were to be administered through routes other than the respiratory system. DDAC aerosols were exposed to Sprague-Dawley rats in whole body exposure chambers for a duration of 13 weeks. The Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameters of the DDAC aerosol were $0.63{\mu}m$, $0.81{\mu}m$, and $1.65{\mu}m$, and the geometric standard deviations were 1.62, 1.65, and 1.65 in the low ($0.11{\pm}0.06mg/m^3$), the middle ($0.36{\pm}0.20mg/m^3$) and the high ($1.41{\pm}0.71mg/m^3$) exposure groups, respectively. Body weight was confirmed to be clearly influenced by exposure to DDAC and mean body weight was approximately 35% lower in the high ($1.41{\pm}0.71mg/m^3$) male group and 15% lower in the high ($1.41{\pm}0.71mg/m^3$) female group compared to that of the control group. In the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid assay, the levels of albumin and lactate dehydrogenase had no effect on DDAC exposure. The lung weight increased for the middle ($0.36{\pm}0.20mg/m^3$) and the high ($1.41{\pm}0.71mg/m^3$) concentrations of the DDAC exposure group, and inflammatory cell infiltration and interstitial pneumonia were partially observed in the lungs of the middle ($0.36{\pm}0.20mg/m^3$) and the high ($1.41{\pm}0.71mg/m^3$) exposure groups. However, severe histopathological symptoms, including proteinosis and/or fibrosis, were not found. Based on the results of the changes in the body weight and lung weight, it is considered that the NOAEL (no-observed adverse effect) level for the 13-week exposure duration is $0.11mg/m^3$.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.125-133
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• 2002

Volatile disinfection by-products (DBPs) contained in chlorinated tap water are released into household air during indoor activities (showering, cooking, dish -washing, etc.) associated with tap water uses and may cause adverse health effects on humans. Twenty seven subjects were recruited and their homes were visited during the winter of 2002. Tap water, household air, and exhaled breath samples were collected and analyzed for five volatile DBPs (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dichloroacetonitrile, 1,1 -dichloropropanone and 1,1,1 trichloropropanone). Chloroform was a major DBP found in most samples. Tap water chloroform concentrations were not statistically correlated with its household air concentrations, probably due to individual variability in indoor activities such as showering, cooking, and dish - washing as well as household ventilation. Correlation of breath chloroform concentration with household air chloroform concentration showed its possible use as a biomarker of exposure to household air chloroform. Exposure estimates suggested that inhalation during household stay be a major route of exposure to volatile DBPs and that ingestion of tap water be a trivial contributor to the total exposure in Koreans.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.301-310
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• 1998

Recently, bathes have been suspected to an Important source of indoor exposure to volatile organic compounds(VOCs). Two experiments were conducted to evaluate chloroform exposure and corresponding body burden by exposure routes while bathing. Another experiment was conducted to ekamine the chloro- form dose during dermal exposure and the chloroform decay In breath after dermal exposure. The chioroform dose was determined based on exhaled breath analysis. The ekamine breath concentration measured after normal baths (2.8 Vg/$m^3$) was approxidmately 13 tomes higher that measured prior to normal bathes (0.2 ug/$m^3$). Based on the means of the normalized post exposure chloroform breath concentration. the dermal exposure was estimated to contribute to 74% of total chloroform body burden while bathing. The Internal dose from bathing (Inhalation plus dermal) was comparable to the dose ostimated Srom dally water Ingestion. The rusk associated 10 a weekly, 30-min bath was estimated to be 1 x 10.5, while the rusk firom dally Ingestion of tap water was to be $0.5{\times}0^{-5} for 0.151 and 6.5{\times}10^{-5}$ for 2. 0 1. Chloroform breath concentration Increased gradually during the 60 minute dermal exposure. The breath decay after the dermal exposure showed two-phase mechanism, with early raped decay and the second slow decay. The mathematical model was developed to describe the relationship between water and air chloroform concentrations, with $R^2$ : 0.4 and p<0.02.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.31-41
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• 2017

Side stream cigarette smoke (SSCS) is known to be as harmful and hazardous to human health as is active smoking. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the exposure to SSCS and its stimulatory and subacute effects on the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A methionine and choline-deficient plus high fat (MCDHF) diet was administered to C57BL/6 mice for 6 weeks. During the first three weeks of MCDHF diet feeding, each diet group was exposed to SSCS (0, 20, $40{\mu}g/L$) or fresh air for 2 hrs per day and 5 days per week. Additional experiments were performed by increasing the concentration (0, 30, $60{\mu}g/L$) and exposure time (6 hours per day) of SSCS. According to histopathologic analysis and serum levels of Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), there were no differences in hepatic fat deposition, fibrosis, apoptosis or liver damage in MCDHF-fed mice based on SSCS exposure. There were also no differences in the expression of inflammation-, oxidative stress- or fibrosis-related genes between MCDHF-fed mice with or without SSCS exposure. Therefore, it is concluded that SSCS with current exposure amounts does not have additive detrimental effects on the early stage of NASH.

• 원예과학기술지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.239-245
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• 2013

Occupational exposure and risk assessment were conducted to evaluate the safety of operators when insecticide acetamiprid was applied to apple orchard using a speed sprayer. Dermal patches, cotton gloves, socks, and masks were used to monitor the dermal exposure, and personal air pump with solid sorbent was used to measure the potential inhalation exposure. In validation to analytical methods, the limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 0.25 ng and 1 ng, respectively. Good reproducibility (coefficient variation < 4%), linearity (coefficient determination > 0.999), and recovery (85.3-118.2%) were obtained. Trapping efficiency of solid sorbent was 96.4% while breakthrough did not occur. Only hand exposure was measured on the gloves during mixing/loading to give $33-1,132{\mu}g$. Exposure amount of operator 3 among 4 workers was noticeably high. The total volumes of spray liquid for operators were $535-1,235mL{\cdot}h^{-1}$, corresponding to 0.03-0.08% of the applied spray solution. Highest contaminated parts of body were thighs, chest, and lower legs. The inhalation exposure ratio to the total application amount was significantly low. However, wind seemed to affect the inhalation exposure of operator. For risk assessment, margin of safety was calculated by the application of cloth and dermal penetration rate to obtain values of much larger than 1 in all cases. Therefore, health risk of operators during treatment of acetamiprid in apple orchard could be of least possibility.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.279-288
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• 2002

According to the epidemiological studies in chromium workers, hexavalent chromium is associated with the risk of lung cancer. Cellular oxidative damages by reactive oxygen species produced by hexavalent chromium exposure may play an important role in the carcinogenesis process. We investigated the availabilities of malondialdehyde measurement for the assessments of oxidative damages from chromium exposure with an experimental inhalation study in vivo. Lipid peroxidation, one kind of cellular oxidative damage, was measured in blood plasma of the rats which inhaled the hexavalent chromium mist for 1, 2 and 3 weeks. The concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), the metabolite of lipid peroxidation, in all exposed groups were higher than those of controls with dose-dependant manner. The levels of MDA were also correlated with urine chromium levels of the rats. Therefore, MDA as an indicator of lipid peroxidation could be proper biologic marker for the assessment of the oxidative damage from chromium exposure, which might be involved in carcinogenesis.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.333-342
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• 2017

Ethyl formate, a volatile solvent, has insecticidal and fungicidal properties and is suggested as a potential fumigant for stored crop and fruit. Its primary contact route is through the respiratory tract; however, reliable repeated toxicological studies focusing on the inhalation route have not been published to date. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the safety of a 90-day repeated inhalation exposure in rats. Forty male and 40 female rats were exposed to ethyl formate vapor via inhalation at concentrations of 0, 66, 330, and 1,320 ppm for 6 hr/day, 5 days a week for 13 weeks. Clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, urinalysis, hematologic parameters, serum chemistry measurements, organ weights, necropsy, and histopathological findings were compared between the control and ethyl formate-exposed groups. Locomotor activity decreased during exposure and recovered afterward in male and female rats exposed to 1,320 ppm ethyl formate. Body weight and food consumption continuously decreased in both sexes exposed to 1,320 ppm ethyl formate from week 1 or 3 compared with the control values. The increases in adrenal weight and decreases in thymus weight were noted in both sexes exposed to ethyl formate at 1,320 ppm. Degeneration, squamous metaplasia of olfactory epithelium in the nasopharyngeal tissue, or both were noted in the male and female rats at 1,320 ppm and female rats at 330 ppm ethyl formate. Taken together, our results indicate that ethyl formate-induced changes were not observed in male and female rats at 330 and 66 ppm, respectively. This indicates that exposure to ethyl formate at concentrations below 66 ppm for 90 days is relatively safe in rats. This is the first report of a full-scale repeated inhalation toxicity assessment in rats and could contribute to controlling occupational environmental hazards related to ethyl formate.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.282-289
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• 2011

Objectives: We sought to establish a novel method to generate nano-sized carbon black particles (nano-CBPs) with an average size smaller than 100 nm for examining the inhalation exposure risks of experimental rats. We also tested the effect of nano-CBPs on the pulmonary and circulatory systems. Methods: We used chemical vapor deposition (CVD) without the addition of any additives to generate nano-CBPs with a particle size (electrical mobility diameter) of less than 100nm to examine the effects of inhalation exposure. Nano-CBPs were applied to a nose-only inhalation chamber system for studying the inhalation toxicity in rats. The effect on the lungs and circulatory system was determined according to the degree of inflammation as quantified by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The functional alteration of the hemostatic and vasomotor activities was measured by plasma coagulation, platelet activity, contraction and relaxation of blood vessels. Results: Nano-CBPs were generated in the range of 83.3-87.9 nm. Rats were exposed for 4 hour/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks to $4.2{\times}10^6$, $6.2{\times}10^5$, and $1.3{\times}10^5$ particles/$cm^3$. Exposure of nano-CBPs by inhalation resulted in minimal pulmonary inflammation and did not appear to damage the lung tissue. In addition, there was no significant effect on blood functions, such as plasma coagulation and platelet aggregation, or on vasomotor function. Conclusion: We successfully generated nano-CBPs in the range of 83.3-87.9 nm at a maximum concentration of $4.2{\times}10^6$ particles/$cm^3$ in a nose-only inhalation chamber system. This reliable method can be useful to investigate the biological and toxicological effects of inhalation exposure to nano-CBPs on experimental rats.