• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 1980

Certain heavy metals which may lead peoples to poisonous status are widely used in industry and their uses have been increasing along with rapid industrialization of this country. Such an increasement of metal uses aggravates the status of environmental pollution affecting foodstuffs which are the most important life supporting factor of animal and humanbeing. Concerning the safety measures to minimize food-borne transmission of such hazardous metals, surveillance is the backbone of them and probably more so with a potential problem such as intoxication. Theoretically, this surveillance should include the determination of levels of heavy metal toxicants in foods, the determination of food consumption patterns and typical total diet, and the estimation of total load of the metal contaminant from all sources of exposure including air, water, and occupational sources. In recent year, actually, such estimates on the total daily intake of some heavy metals from foods have been made in several developed countries and a wide variation of date by season, locality, and research method was recognized. Also in this country, this kind of research data is vitally needed to make up for the serious shortage or lack of references to estimate the total amount of heavy metal intake of the people. In this study, a modification model for estimation of the total daily intake of cadmium copper, nickel, zinc, and lead through foods was applied and concentrations of the above metals in crops cultivated in this country were measured with atomic absorption spectro photometer to get the following results. 1. Level of heavy metal concentration in crops Generally, the levels of such metals in essential crops such as rice, cucumber, radish. chinese cabbage, apple, pear, grape, and orange are similar or lower than those in Japan and other developed countries. By the way, a striking result on cadmium concentration was increasement of its concentration in rice from $0{\sim}0.035ppm$ in 1970 to 0.11ppm in this study. However, the value is still far below the. Japanese Permissible Lebel of 1.0ppm. 2. Estimation of total daily intake per capita from foods A new model for estimation was devised utilizing levels of metal concentration in foods, amount of food consumed, and other food factors. Based on the above method, the daily intake of cadmium was estimated to be $70.53{\mu}g/man/day$ in average which was as high as the Limit Value of ILO/WHO(up to $71.4{\mu}g/man/day$). Also, 3.89mg of Zinc, 1.65mg of cuppor, 0.32mg of lead were given as the total daily intake per capita by this research. 3. Efficacy of washing or skinning to decrease the amount of metals in crops After washing the crops sufficiently with commercial linear alkylate sulfonate, the concentration of heavy metals could be reduced to $50{\sim}80%$ showing decreasement rate of $20{\sim}50%$. Also, after skinning the fruits, decreasement rate of the heavy metal concentration shelved $0{\sim}50%$.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.565-574
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• 2011

This study analyzed the concentration of the heavy metals(Cd, Hg, iAs) of urine(n=576) from May, 2007 to Oct 2007. The subject was residents in G, Y, H industrial area, Jeollanam-do, in which exposure due to the adjacency of the industrial complex. As to the heavy metal concentration in the urine of the residents in the whole exposed region and the comparing region, the content of cadmium, mercury, and inorganic arsenic in the exposed region group were 1.23, 1.85, and 8.80 ${\mu}g$/g_ct respectively, and those of the comparing region group were 1.87, 2.00, and 8.93 ${\mu}g$/g_ct respectively, which indicates that the concentration of the comparing group was higher than that of the exposed group. The heavy metal concentration for each age group increased in proportion to age except those under 10 for some substances(p<0.01). As to geometric mean concentration cadmium and inorganic arsenic in urine according to the smoking history of the subject, the concentration of the smoking group and the non-smoking group were 1.65 ${\mu}g$/g_ct and 9.13 ${\mu}g$/g_ct respectively, while those of the non-smoking group were 1.47 ${\mu}g$/g_ct and 8.91 ${\mu}g$/g_ct respectively, which indicates that the former is higher than the latter. As to the inorganic arsenic concentration in urine according to the food preference, in order of vegetable, fish, and meat showed high concentration (p<0.01). To clarify the factors affecting the heavy metal concentration in urine among the subjects, the multiple regression analysis was conducted. As a result, it turned out that as to cadmium content in urine, gender, age, drinking, and smoking have influence on the subjects, with explanatory adequacy of 37.5 %.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.495-503
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to compare the characteristics of humidifier disinfectant-like products (HD-like products) and humidifier disinfectant products (HD products) and introduce actual cases of the usage of HD-like products in hospitals based on an on-site investigation. Methods: The characteristics, chemical components, and usage of HD-like products (Hichlor or Biospot) and HD products (N-with) containing NaDCC (sodium dichloroisocyanurate) were compared. In the process of conducting the on-site investigation, four hospitals were identified as previously using HD-like products. Each on-site investigation to identify the use of HD-like products was composed of four parts: 1) hospital infection control guidelines, 2) manual for humidifiers in patient's rooms, 3) interviews with nursing staff, infection managers, and purchase managers, 4) searching on the product purchase system. Results: Although HD-like products (Hichlor and Biospot) and HD products (N-with) were sold for different usage purposes, they were all white-colored and coin-shaped foaming tablets with the same chemical component, NaDCC. The manual for using HD-like products and HD products was similar (inserting the tablet in a humidifier container with water). Among the four hospitals, one had used Hichlor in the same manner as HD (N-with) by inserting a tablet in 1L of water in a filled humidifier container and Biospot as a kind of detergent for humidifier container cleaning. Another two hospitals had used Biospot and/or Aniosyme as a kind of detergent for humidifier container cleaning. The other hospital had used unknown product in the same manner as N-with, so we thus assumed it was either an HD products (N-with) or HD-like products (Hichlor, Biospot). Conclusion: This study raises the possibility of the development of adverse health effects similar to exposure to an HD-products when exposed to an HD-like products and the possibility of further use in other medical institutions or multi-use facilities. Therefore, an expansion of the investigation is needed in order to confirm whether there have been similar cases in the past.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.324-333
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• 2006

This study was designed to investigate the effect of bone demineralization and tibia lead on blood lead in retired lead workers. Two hundred thirty five(126 females and 109 males) retired lead workers who worked in 4 different lead factories and 101 non-occupationally lead exposed subjects(51 females and 51 males) were recruited from March 2004 to October 2004. Bone mineral density(BMD) was measured at left calcaneous bone area by broadband ultrasound attenuation(BUA) method with QUS-2(Metra Biosystems Inc, USA). The BUA value transformed into T-score by WHO standard conversion criteria. Tibia bone lead was measured for skeletal bone lead with K-xray fluorescence(K-XRF) and blood lead was analyzed with flameless atomic spectrophotometer. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum calcium and iron were also analyzed. In addition, information for smoking and drinking status and basic personal data such as age, gender and lead exposure were also collected using questionnaire inquiry. Blood lead was correlated with tibia lead (r=0.664) and these two variables were negatively correlated with BMD in bivariate analysis. BMD showed significant main effect on the change of blood lead independent to tibia lead without any effect modification of age or gender; the one T-score unit decrease of mineral bone density made $0.43{\mu}g/dl$ increase of blood lead. On the other hand, tibia lead showed effect modification with gender on blood lead; the slope of tibia lead on blood lead in male was steeper than in female and crossed at around zero of tibia lead. In the multiple regression analysis of blood lead and tibia lead on BMD after adjustment of related covariates, only blood lead showed statistically significant effect on BMD. This study confirmed that BMD and blood lead were significantly associated. To verify the causal association of BMD on blood lead and vice versa, further longitudinal studies are needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.499-504
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• 1999

Objectives : To evaluate whether a relation between blood lead and zinc proto porphyrin(ZPP) was modified by gender in Korean lead workers. Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,304 male and 101 female subjects in 1997. The relation between blood lead and ZPP were evaluated with linear, exponential, and quadratic models. Then, the different effect of gender on the relation was examined by adding the interaction terms in the each model. Results : $Mean{\pm}SD$ of blood lead and ZPP level was different between male$(27.7{\pm}10{\mu}g/dl\;and\;51.3{\pm}23.4{\mu}g/dl)$ and female subjects$(22.5{\pm}9.2{\mu}g/dl\;and\;78.7{\pm}38.6{\mu}g/dl)$. After adjusting for possible confounders, the effect modification by gender was significant in linear$(\beta=1.119,\;p<0.001)$, exponential$(\beta=Exp(0.008),\;p<0.05)$, and quadratic model$(\beta=1.388,\;p<0.001)$. In separate analysis, a quadratic relation between blood lead and ZPP was shown in male lead workers$(\beta=0.036,\;p<0.001)$, but an exponential relation in female lead workers$(\beta=Exp(0.029), p<0.001)$. Conclusion : Our data showed that the increasing rate of ZPP in female were always higher than in male lead workers, suggesting that females were more susceptible to occupational lead exposure than males.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2002

This study evaluated the concentrations of urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in industrial waste incineration workers. The effect of genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic metabolism enzymes on urinary concentration of PAH metabolites was assessed. And, aromatic DNA adduct levels were also determined in total white blood cells. Fifty employees were recruited from a company handling industrial wastes located in Ansan, Korea: non-exposed group (n=21), exposed group (n=29). Sixteen ambient PAHs were determined by GC/MSD (NIOSH method) from personal breathing zone samples of nine subjects near incinerators. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG), a major pyrene metabolite, was assayed by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy after immunoaffinity purification using monoclonal antibody 8E11 (SFS/IAC). Multiplex PCR was used for genotyping for GSTMI/TI and PCR-RFLP for genotyping of CYP1A1 (MspI and Ile/Val). PAH-DNA adducts in peripheral blood WBC were measured by the nuclease P1-enhanced postlabeling assay. Smoking habit, demographic and occupational information were collected by self-administered questionnaire. The range of total ambient PAH levels were 0.00-7.00 mg/㎥ (mean 3.31). Urinary 1-OHPG levels were significantly higher in workers handling industrial wastes than in those with presumed lower exposure to PAHs (p=0.006, by Kruskal-Wallis test). There was a statistically significant dose-response increase in 1-OHPG levels with the number of cigarettes consumed per day (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.686, p<0.001). Urinary 1-OHPG levels in occupationally exposed smoking workers were highest compared with non-occupationally exposed smokers (p=0.053, by Kruskal-Wallis test). Smoking and GSTMI genotype were significant predictors for log-transformed 1-OHPG by multiple regression analysis (overall model R²=0.565, p<0.001), whereas smoking was the only significant predictor for log-transformed aromatic DNA adducts (overall model R²=0.249, p=0.201). Aromatic DNA adducts was also a significantly correlation between log transferred urinary 1-OHPG levels (pearson's correlation coefficient=0.307, p=0.04). However, the partial correlation coefficient adjusting for Age, Sex, and cigarette consumption was not significant (r=0.154, p=0.169). The significant association exists only in individuals with the GSTMI null genotype (pearsons correlation coefficient=0.516, p=0.010; partial correlation coefficient adjusting for age, sex, and cigarette consumption, r=0.363, p=0.038). Our results suggest that the significant increase in urinary 1-OHPG in the exposed workers is due to higher prevalence of smokers among them, and that the association between urinary PAH metabolites and aromatic DNA adducts in workers of industrial waste handling may be modulated by GSTMI genotype. There results remain to be confirmed in future larger studies.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 1993

N-Heterocyclic aromatics (NHA) are widely occurring environmental pollutants formed during the pyrolysis of nitrogen-containing organic chemicals. NAH are found in significant amounts in tobacco condensates, synthetic fuels, polluted river sediment, and effluents from the heating of coal. Following topical application 7H-dibenzo[c, g]carbazole (DBC) induces cancer in liver as well as skin, indicating that dermal exposure can lead to systemic effect. DBC and dibenz[a,j]acridine (DBA) are examples of NHA. The potency of many carcinogenic compounds is related, at least in part, to the efficiency of their biological activation. We undertook studies to determine which initial metabolites lead to the formation of high levels of carcinogen-DNA adducts in vivo. DBC and DBA's, DBA, trans-DBA-1,2-dihydrodiol (DBA-1,2-DHD), trans-DBA-3,4-dihydrodiol (DBA-3,4-DHD), and trans-DBA-5,6-dihydrodiol (DBA-5,6-DHD), were applied to the skin of mice. There were six adducts that were related to DBC application. These addusts were seen in the target organ, liver at high levels, but at very low levels in non-target organs, skin, lung and kidney. In skin, DBA produced two distinct adducts. The same two adducts were seen when DBA-3,4-DHD was applied. In addition the total adduct level elicited by DBA-3,4-DHD higher than that of parent compound. Two adducts were seen when DBA-5,6-DHD was applied, but these were very different from adducts seen with DBA. These results suggested that activation of DBA to DNA-binding compounds in skin includes initial formation of DBA-3,4-DHD.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 2001

A cross-sectional study was performed to estimate the nutritional status of Korean male lead workers and to assess the relationship between calcium nutritional status and blood lead levels. A flood consumption survey was conducted by the 24-hr recall method with 118 lead workers and 63 non-lead exposed controls. Blood lead levels were analyzed from whole blood and serum calcium concentrations were also assessed. Results of dietary analysis showed Korean lead workers consumed relatively sufficient nutrients (more than 75% of RDA) except, calcium. Mean dietary calcium intake of lead workers was 502.2mg(72% of RDA) while that of the non-lead workers was estimated as 600.8mg(86% of RDA). Intakes of protein, iron, niacin and vitamin C of lead workers were significantly lower than those of non-lead workers. There was a wide range of blood lead levels(5.5 to 73.5$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎗) observed while mean blood lead level of lead workers was 30.9$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎗. However, 98% of lead workers showed normal serum ca1cium concentrations (range ; 8.9 to 10.7mg/㎗, mean ; 9.77mg/㎗) while 66% of lead workers were estimated to intake a dietary calcium lower than 75% of RDA. Mean blood lead levels of non-1ead workers were significantly lower(mean ; 5.1$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎗, p ＜ 0.001) and the serum calcium concentration was significantly higher(mean ; 10.20mg/㎗, p ＜ 0.001) than lead workers. Results of unadjusted correlation showed that serum calcium level and dietary calcium intake were negatively correlated with blood lead concentration. In a multiple regression of blood lead levels with variables known as affecting blood lead 1eve1 such as age, body mass index and occupational lead exposure, serum calcium was insignificant while dietary calcium intake showed statistically significant(p ＜ 0.05) relation. Since calcium is a very important nutrient to reduce hazardous effects of lead, it should be strongly recommended that lead workers need to increase dietary calcium intake.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.109-114
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• 2015

Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) and Mycobacterium fortuitum (M. fortuitum) are associated with considerable diseases in animals and human. In this study, the disinfection efficacy of a commercial disinfectant composed to povidone-iodine (PVI) was evaluated against C. perfringens and M. fortuitum. A bactericidal efficacy test by broth dilution method was used to determine the lowest effective dilution of the disinfectant following exposure to C. perfringens and M. fortuitum for 30 min at $4^{\circ}C$. The disinfectant and test bacteria were diluted with hard water (HW) or organic matter suspension (OM) according to treatment condition. On HW condition, the bactericidal activity of the disinfectant against C. perfringens and M. fortuitum was 50 and 80 fold dilutions, respectively. On OM condition, the bactericidal activity of the disinfectant against both C. perfringens and M. fortuitum was 15 fold dilutions. As the disinfectant composed to PVI possesses bactericidal efficacy against C. perfringens and M. fortuitum, the disinfectant solution can be used to control the spread of bacterial diseases.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.147-157
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• 1989

To investigate the blood lead concentration, their interrelation, correlation factor and influence on pregnant women and newborn, lead concentration in the maternal blood and umbilical cord blood were determined. Samples were collected from 130 mothers who were living in the Taegu City, during March, 1989. Blood lead concentration was estimated using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer(IL. 551) equipped with Flameless Furnace Atomizer (IL. 665). The mean lead concentration of maternal and cord blood were $17.47{\pm}7.92{\mu}g/d{\ell}$, $15.31{\pm}7.98{\mu}g/d{\ell}$, respectively. A significant correlation was observed between the lead concentration of maternal and cord blood, r=0.663, Y=0.667X+3.646. No significant correlation was observed between previous spontaneous abortion and obstetric complication of mother and maternal blood lead concentration. Similarly, no significant correlation was observed between the sex, gestational age of neonate and cord blood lead concentration. But the birth weight of neonate had some negative correlation with cord blood lead concentration. The blood lead concentration of mother who had engaged in manufactures were higher than others and the longer working years were, the higher blood lead concentration were. Significant correlation was observed between husband's occupational exposure to lead and maternal blood lead concentration.