• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.302-324
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• 2022

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate exposure to occupational carcinogens in the nationwide electronics industries and to establish a strategy for control of occupational carcinogens in South Korea. Methods: We evaluated occupational carcinogens as defined by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) using a nationwide work environment measurement database on the electronics industry in South Korea measured between 2013 and 2017 in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Results: The number of occupational carcinogens found in the electronics industry in South Korea were: 20 for IARC Group 1, 14 for Group 2A, and 30 for Group 2B. The occupational carcinogens (Group 1) most frequently exposed were strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulfuric acid (sulfuric acid), welding fumes, mineral oils (untreated or mildly treated), nickel compounds, silica dust, crystalline substances in the form of quartz or cristobalite, formaldehyde, arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds, chromium (VI) compounds, trichloroethylene, cadmium and cadmium compounds, vinyl chloride, ethylene oxide, wood dust, beryllium and beryllium compounds, 1,3 butadiene, benzene, and others. Among them, the carcinogens (Group 1) exceeding the acceptable standard were trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and ethylene oxide. The working environment measurement system as regulated by Occupational Safety and Health Act is not properly assessed and managed for occupational carcinogens in South Korea. A component analysis for all materials used should be set up to practically reduce occupational carcinogens. A ban on the use of occupational carcinogens and the development of alternative materials are needed. The occupational carcinogens below the acceptable standards should be carefully examined and a new standard for exposure needs to be established. Conclusions: The Occupational Safety and Health Act should be improved to identify and monitor occupational carcinogens at work sites. A strategy for occupational safety and health systems should be provided to give direction to workers' needs and right to know.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.436-445
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• 2015

Amomi Fructus with anti-oxidative activity was chosen and essential oil was obtained by SDE (simultaneous distillation extraction), and 39 constituents were determined by GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Major components were camphor, borneol acetate, borneol, D-limonene and camphene. Three solvent extracts such as hexanes, diethyl ether and methylene chloride from Amomi Fructus were obtained. These were analyzed by GC-MS and 4 more constituents were identified in addition to 39 components discovered in essential oil. Five major components such as camphor, borneol acetate, borneol, D-limonene and camphene were also detected, however the relative peak percents of those components were different from those of constituents in essential oil. To estimate the kind and the amount of materials evaporated at certain temperature and conditions from essential oil and solvent extracts, dynamic headspace apparatus was used and materials evaporated and trapped at certain conditions were analyzed by GC-MS. Recovery yield of SDE method from Amomi Fructus was measured by using camphor and standard calibration solution of camphor methanol solution and, the yield was 82.0%. Content of Hg was measured by mercury analyzer and contents of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn in Amomi Fructus, essential oils and solvent extracts were determined by ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer). Pb, Cd and Hg were measured in the concentration of 0.72 mg/kg, <0.10 mg/kg and 0.0023 mg/kg, respectively and these were below permission level of purity test. Contents of Mn, Cu and Zn in Amomi Fructus were 213 mg/kg, 8.29 mg/kg and 31.0 mg/kg, respectively and which were relatively higher than other metals such as Cr, Co and Ni. Metals such as Mn (0.65 ~ 9.08 mg/kg), Cu (1.16 ~ 4.40 mg/kg) and Zn (1.10 ~ 3.80 mg/kg) in essential oil and solvent extracts were detected. At this point it is not clear that the metals were cross-contaminated in the course of treating Amomi Fructus or metals were contained in Amomi Fructus. The influence evaluation toward biological model study of these metals in essential oil and solvent extracts will be needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.659-666
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to compare the intake status of calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc of Korean adults residing in different regions. Subjects were recruited and divided into three groups according to the districts where they lived, which included rural (n=137), coastal (n=100), and urban district (n=117). Subjects were interviewed using a general questionnaire and 24-hour recall method for dietary intake. The average age of the subjects were 58.1 years for rural district, 57.7 years for coastal district, and 48.6 years for urban district. There was no significance in total food intake by regions. The food intakes from cereals, mushrooms, vegetables of rural district, that from fishes of coastal district, and those from sugars, milks, oils of urban area were the highest among three districts. The calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc intakes were $60.1\%,\;123.9\%,\;95.2\%,\;and\;73.1\%$ of RDAs, respectively. The calcium intakes as percentage of RDA in rural and coastal district were significantly (p<0.01) lower than that in urban district. A larger number of subjects from coastal or urban district ate under $75\%$ of zinc RDA compared to those from rural village. Major sources of dietary calcium in total subjects were anchovy, kimchi, milk, soybean curd, rice, ice cream, sea mustard, yogurt, loach, and welsh onion. Rice supplied $15.5\%$ for phosphorus, $22.1\%$ for iron, and $35.9\%$ for zinc of total intake. Except for rice, major sources of dietary zinc were pork, beef, small red bean, dog meat, chicken, jacopever, soybean curd, glutinous millet, and kimchi. In conclusion, the food and mineral intakes of adults differed according to the regions in which they resided. The food and nutrient intakes of coastal district were not satisfactory, and calcium and zinc intakes of three regions did not meet RDAs. Therefore, it is required unique and discriminatory nutritional education with each region for increasing intakes of calcium and zinc.