• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.1_2
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• pp.95-101
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• 1997

Ethyl carbamate (EC) is a potent teratogen in rodents and is present at low concentration in fermented foods and alcohol beverages. It has been well hypothesized that some metabolic products are responsible for the teratogenic effects of the compound. In the present study, the effects of phenobarbital (PB) on EC-induced embryotoxicity were investigated in SD rats. Six groups were constructed: EC 300 (EC 300 mg/kg/day), EC 600 (EC 600 mg/kg/day), EC 600+PB (EC 600 mg/kg/day and PB 80 mg/kg/day), PB (PB 80 mg/kg/day), DR (dietary restriction, 8 g/day/rat) and a control group. Rats of the EC 600+PB group were pretreated with phenobarbital intraperitoneally for three days to induce cytochrome P450 enzymes, followed by oral administration of EC for two consecutive days. The incidence of fetal deaths in the EC 600+PB group was higher than that of the EC 600 group(42.7 vs. 14.3%). The incidence of fetal realformations in the EC 600+PB group was higher than that of the EC 600 group (external; 7.0 vs. 4.1%, visceral; 31.4 vs. 11.3%, skeletal; 11.1 vs. 6.5%). There was no embryotoxicity in the control, EC 300, PB and DR groups. These results show that the pretreatment with phenobarbital augments EC-induced embryotoxicity in rats, indicating an evidence that metabolic activation by cytochrome P450 may be the major pathway of EC to its embryotoxic forms.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.308-314
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• 2001

This study was conducted to determine the content of heavy metals in canned foods and soft drinks available on the Korean markets. Trace metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, and Sn) were detected in 24 kinds, 120 samples by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The average concentration of heavy metals in canned foods was in the order of Sn (6.930 ppm)>Cr (0.050 ppm)>Pb (0.030 ppm)>Cd (0.008 ppm), which was the same order in soft drinks as Sn (3.519 ppm)>Cr (0.080 ppm)>Pb (0.024 ppm)>Cd (0.001 ppm). The total contents of heavy metals in canned fruits and fruit juices were relatively higher than those in cans and drinks made of vegetable and fish. It can be supposed that the high acidity owing to the organic acid of fruit itself promotes to extract metals from can materials, and although fish usually contains more heavy metals than vegetables, canned fish revealed low level because internal organs and most of skin which had more heavy metals than meat were removed throughout canning process. Because processed foods such as canned foods and soft drinks are very popular with the children and adolescence according to the change of life style and eating habit, and the possibility of exposure to heavy metals by the habitual intake of these is increasing simultaneously, it is suggested that more practical study about the process of exposure and the amount in each step is needed fur the assessment of safety.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2013

Yam (Dioscorea) has long been used as foods and folk medicine with the approved positive effects for health promotion. Although consumption of yam products is increasing for health promotion, reports for the metal contamination in commercial yam powder products to protect the consumers are lacking. In this study, we aimed to assess whether the commercial yam powder products were heavy metal contaminated or not using the yam products from six commercial products from various places in South Korea. The contents of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, As, Pb, Ni, and Sn) in yam powder products were measured and compared to national and international food standard levels. Also, the metal contamination was monitored during the food manufacturing steps. The study results showed that the contents of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, As, and Pb) in yam powder products are similar to those in national 'roots and tubers' as well as in various crops. In comparison to three international standard levels (EU, Codex and Korea), Cd content in yam powder products was lower but Pb content was 5 times higher. Also, Pb, Ni, and Sn may have the potential to be contaminated during food manufacturing steps. In conclusion, the level of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, As, Ni, and Sn) except Pb is considered relatively safe on comparison to national and international food standard levels.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.394-399
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• 2022

This study was conducted to estimate hazardous heavy metal content, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) in 120 collagen products currently marketed in Korea. Hg concentration was analyzed by a gold amalgamation method using a mercury analyzer, while concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As were analyzed by ICP-OES. The average Pb concentration was 0.097 mg/kg. For comparison, respective average concentrations were 0.108 mg/kg, 0.084 mg/kg, 0.131 mg/kg, and 0.149 mg/kg in functional health foods, other processed products, beverages, and fruit/vegetable processed products. The average concentration of Cd was 0.026 mg/kg. All products in which Cd was detected were functional health foods. The average concentration of As was 0.097 mg/kg, with respective average concentrations of 0.091 mg/kg, 0.133 mg/kg, and 0.086 mg/kg in functional health foods, other processed products, and fruit/vegetable processed products. The average Hg concentration was 0.0025 mg/kg, with respective average concentrations of 0.0012 mg/kg, 0.0028 mg/kg, 0.0013 mg/kg, and 0.0031 mg/kg in functional health foods, other processed products, fruit/vegetable processed products, and candies respectively. Heavy metal levels in beverages and candy products with set heavy metal standards were below the set standards. Even products without regulatory standards were found to be relatively safe compared with heavy metal standards set for domestic and foreign foods.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1135-1140
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• 2005

Dogs are a very good indicator of the pollution load on the environment. They share people's environment and are exposed to the action of the same pollutants. This study was to estimate the heavy metal contents in dog hairs in domestic districts, and to assess effects of age, sex, feed habits, living area, breeding environment and smoking habit of owner. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in 204 samples were 0.09${\pm}$0.10 ${\mu}g$/g, 0.21${\pm}$0.09 ${\mu}g$/g, 0.82${\pm}$0.09 ${\mu}g$/g and 0.48${\pm}$0.07 ${\mu}g$/g (Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr)) in dog hairs, respectively. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Hg and Cr in dog hairs in Yeongnam including Ulsan and Seoul, were higher than in Chungchong and Honam, and concentrations of Pb were significantly different (p<0.01). Concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb and Cr in dog hairs increased with age (p<0.05). Only dogs fed commercial pet foods had significantly higher Cd and Cr concentrations in hairs than dogs fed dog feed and human diet (p<0.01 in Cd and p<0.05 in Cr). Cr concentrations of dog hairsfrom dogs kept on cement floors were the highest of the other environments (p<0.01). Heavy metal concentrations of dogs owned by smokers, were higher than dogs of non-smokers, but there were no significant differences.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2012

This research was carried out as a survey on the contents of lead, cadmium, and arsenic in processed foods (milk, vegetable oil, and margarine) in Korea. The limits of quantification (LOQs) were Pb 0.3 ${\mu}g/kg$, Cd 0.15 ${\mu}g/kg$, and As 0.45 ${\mu}g/kg$ for milk and Pb 0.61 ${\mu}g/kg$, Cd 0.31 ${\mu}g/kg$, and As 0.91 ${\mu}g/kg$ for vegetable oil and margarine. The recoveries were 92.6-98.0% for Pb, 91.2-98.9% for Cd, and 97.9-104.7% for As. The average levels of Pb were 2.395 ${\mu}g/kg$ for milk, and 7.656 ${\mu}g/kg$ for vegetable oil. The average levels of Cd were 0.483 ${\mu}g/kg$ for milk, and 0.380 ${\mu}g/kg$ for vegetable oil, and levels of As were 0.781 ${\mu}g/kg$ for milk, and 1.241 ${\mu}g/kg$ for vegetable oil. The results of this study showed that Pb, Cd, and As contents in the whole samples were less than the maximum residual levels in the processed foods that were specified by the Codex standard.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.525-528
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• 2001

This study was conducted to estimate the contents of heavy metals in some health foods available on Korean markets. The samples were digested with microwave system, then analyzed using GF-AAS for the contents of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As). The contents of mercury (Hg) were determined using a mercury analyzer. The average values of Hg, Pb, Cd and As in calcium (Ca) health foods were 0.007, 1.08, 0.02 and 0.48 mg/kg respectively. Those values in chitosan health foods were 0.001, 0.36, 0.01 and 0.03 mg/kg respectively. Those values in propolis health foods were 0.013, 4.96, 0.01 and 0.13 mg/kg, respectively. The health foods that contained cow bone powders had the highest lead contents. Based on the variation in lead contents of those products, it could be possible that they might be contaminated through raw materials and/or manufacuring process. Some propolis products were also very high in lead contents. There could be risks for some population, especially the aged who overtake those health foods, to have heavy intake of lead. Therefore, we established the lead standards of 3.0, 2.0 and 5.0mg/kg less than for Ca, chitosan and propolis health foods respectively, based on the Codex method.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 1990

The dose calculations were carried out using environmental montoring data around Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Center(KfK). Ingestion of plant foods was the most important pathway, and the K-40 and Pb-210 natural radioisotopes in food were the most effective radiation source to man. The dose received from artificial nuclides were mostly emitted by gamma irradiation of Cs-134 and Cs-137 deposited on the ground. The effective dose equivalent in the KfK environment was far less than the dose equivalent limit recommended by ICRP.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.9
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• 2019

In the present study, the protective effects of Hizikia fusiforme and Chlorella sp. extracts on lead acetate-induced hepatotoxicity were investigated. Hepatic damage was induced in rats by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of lead acetate and the protective effects of H. fusiforme (HZK) and Chlorella sp. (CHL) extracts on lead acetate-induced hepatic damage in rat liver were examined. The results revealed significantly increased glutamic oxaloacetate and glutamic pyruvic transaminase levels in the group treated with lead acetate only (Pb group); oral administration of HZK and CHL extracts tended to decrease the enzyme levels similar to those observed in the control group. Regarding antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase activity was increased in the Pb group and decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in the HZK- and CHL-treated groups. Glutathione levels were increased in a concentration-dependent manner in the HZK- and CHL-treated groups. There was no significant difference in catalase activity. Western blot analysis showed inflammation-related protein expression in mitogen-activated protein kinase and Nrf2 pathways was affected in the HZK- and CHL-treated groups. Therefore, HZK and CHL extracts exerted antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects against lead acetate-induced hepatotoxicity. Development of functional health foods containing HZK and CHL extracts, which have hepatoprotective effects against inhaled lead acetate, should be considered.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2014

This study was conducted to estimate the contents of heavy metals in salted vegetable foods from diverse origin in Korea which were sold in Korea. The levels of heavy metals were determined using an ICP-MS. The values of metals [minimum~maximum (mean), mg/kg] in kimchi were as follows; Pb 0.0~0.074(0.018), Cd 0.0~0.027 (0.004), As 0.0~0.024(0.002), Hg 0~0.002(0.0). The weekly average intakes of lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury from kimchi take 0.06~0.13% PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes) that the FAO/WHO Joint Food Additive and Contaminants Committee has set to evaluate their safeties.