• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2015

This study was performed for both evaluating the safety of other processed products and providing basic information for making the general standard for contaminants in the category of other processed products. We analyzed the contents of three heavy metals, thirty six anti-impotence drugs and their analogues, three anti-obesity drugs and their analogues, twenty eight steroid drugs and their analogues, collecting in Incheon Metropolitan City. Any illegal compound was not detected in those products. However the contents of lead, cadmium and mercury of those products were at the range of 0.001-13.390 mg/kg, 0.03-1.231 mg/kg and 0.001-0.650 mg/kg respectively. Because there are no standards of heavy metals against other processed products, we compared the analytical results with relevant standards of both S. Korea and foreign countries. As a result, two products exceeded the relevant standards of lead, and other two products exceeded the relevant standards of mercury. The relative hazards compared to PTWI of FAO/WHO (Codex), Seafoods-pajeonmix, Perilla seed powder exceeded PTWI standards 0.214. The compulsory standards of each food product are determined by the category of the products. Because there is no standard of heavy metals in the category of other processed products in S. Korea, any food products registered as other processed product by manufacturer are free with those standards. Abusing similar problems on the categorization of food products could cause consumers' health problem. To prevent these problems, detail regulations on the categorization of food products have to be introduced.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to determine total mercury and methyl mercury level in fishes (Deep-sea Fish, Tuna, Billfish) and fishery products. A total of 101 fishes and 44 fishery products samples collected from commercial market in Gyeonggi-do. Total mercury were analysed by mercury analyzer and methyl mercury were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. In the fishes, total mercury was detected in all samples and methylmercury was detected in 92 samples of them. The detection rate of methylmercury was 91.1% in fishes. The mean concentration (mg/kg) of total mercury and methylmercury were $1.968{\pm}0.505/0.496{\pm}0.057$ for Billfish, $0.665{\pm}0.091/0.252{\pm}0.033$ for Deep-sea Fish and $0.577{\pm}0.085/0.218{\pm}0.025$ for Tuna, respectively. The Swordfish contains the highest level of total mercury (1.968 mg/kg) and methylmercury (0.496 mg/kg). In Mabled rockfish, the ratio of methylmercury's contents about total mercury's contents was the highest as 66.5%. In case of fishery products, frozens made of 100% of raw material contained the highest level of total mercury and methyl mercury. The weekly intake of total mercury and methylmercury was calculated in 4.72% and 5.24% of Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) respectively. This study showed that the weekly intake of methylmercury from Deep-sea Fish, Tuna and Billfish was less than the PTWI recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO expert committee on food additives.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.129-135
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• 2012

This study was to investigate the heavy metal content of 55 commercial salts in the Seoul area. There were 22 types of solar sea salt, 17 types of processed salt and 16 types of reworked salt. Looked at another way, there were 22 types of domestic salt and 33 types of salt imported from France, the U.S., Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina. The samples were measured using both a mercury analyzer and an Inductively-Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). The average heavy metal contents for commercial salts were Pb $0.281{\pm}0.344$, Cd $0.035{\pm}0.221$, Cr $0.364{\pm}0.635$, Cu $0.182{\pm}0.313$, As $0.046{\pm}0.062$, Ni $0.155{\pm}0.247$, Al $5.753{\pm}10.746$, Co $0.028{\pm}0.211$ and Hg $0.001{\pm}0.001$ mg/kg. The leads were detected highly in solar sea salt rather than in processed salt or reworked salt. Also chrome, arsenic and nickel were found more in processed salt. There were large differences in aluminum content between imported solar sea salt and processed salt. Aluminum was highly detected in French products, showing that salt can be affected by regional differences. The weekly average intakes of Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Hg from commercial salt were 1.652% (0.000~6.754), 0.372% (0.000~7.214), 3.177% (0.000~26.279), 0.008% (0.001~0.049), and 0.031% (0.000~0.094) respectively compared with Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee for the evaluation of food safety. The content of heavy metals from commercial salts was determined to be at safe levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.1138-1146
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• 2016

This study was performed to estimate daily intakes of aluminum from Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle and evaluate their potential health risks for Koreans. Estimated daily intake of aluminum was calculated, whereas the actual level of aluminum in Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Food consumption amount was drawn from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI-1). In analysed samples, aluminum values ranged from 0.54~564.38 mg/kg in peeled Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle samples (n=53) and from 0.72~28.05 mg/kg in unpeeled ones (n=40). Statistically significant difference (P<0.001) was detected according to the type of skin. To estimate the dietary intake of Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle, a total of 7,242 respondents (scenario I) were compared to 227 Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle consumption subjects (scenario II). Estimated daily intake of aluminum was calculated based on point estimates. Level of safety for aluminum was evaluated by comparison with Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI), 1 mg/kg bw, set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. For scenario I, mean estimated daily intake of aluminum was 0.001 mg/kg bw/d. For scenario II, mean estimated daily intake of aluminum was 0.033 mg/kg bw/d, and 95th percentile estimated daily intake was 0.610 mg/kg bw/d. For scenario II, aluminum from Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle had a mean weekly intake that was the 23.1% of PTWI.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.378-384
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• 2009

There are differences of Cadmium (Cd) urinary concentration which is considered as indicator of renal tubular dysfunction in other countries, so we have reviewed domestic epidemiological data and suggested Korean health based guidance value (HBGV) for Cd to improve an efficiency of risk management. We decided to apply the WHO calculation model which considered the relationship between dietary intake and Cd concentration in urine sample. It is determined that Cd concentration 2.5 ug/g creatinine in urine as the prevalence of renal tubular dysfunction based on epidemiological data, because there is no renal tubular dysfunction and injury/lesion such as proteinuria at the concentration of 11.63 ug/g creatinine which is the highest Cd concentration in urine from the domestic epidemiological data. It is identified that the ratio between the Cd dietary consumption (8.3~10.4 ug/day) and Cd urinary concentration (0.38 ug/g creatinine) in Korean adult who predicting never been exposed to Cd are 21.8~27.3 and then it is applied to the corresponding model suggested by WHO. Also it is applied that 10% of bioavailability and 50% of excretion rate of absorbed to body (the ratio is 24) were assumed. The estimate of daily Cd consumption level which begins tubular dysfunction is 1 ug/kg bw/day, so we suggest the Korean provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) as 7 ug/kg bw/week.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2008

Objective of this study was to investigate residual the levels of heavy metals in rice grain and soils of "Top-Rice" and common rice cultivation areas from 2005 to 2007. Soil and rice grain samples were taken from 33 "Top-rice" areas and neighboring paddies, and analyzed for the elements using ICP-OES and ICP-TOF-MS after acid digestion. A concentration of arsenic in paddy soil was 1.33 mg/kg which was below 1/5-1/11 fold of the threshold levels(concern: 4 mg/kg, action: 10 mg/kg), and paddy soil was 0.06 mg/kg of Cd(cadmium) being below 1/25-1/67 fold of the limits(concern: 1.5 mg/kg, action: 4 mg/kg). A level of Cu(copper) in paddy soil was 4.57 mg/kg which was below 1/11-1/27 fold of the threshold levels(concern: 50 mg/kg, action: 125 mg/kg), and Pb(lead) concentration in paddy soil was found to be a 4.68 mg/kg. In addition, Hg(mercury) concentration in paddy soil was to be a 0.03 mg/kg, which was below 1/131-1/328 fold of the threshold levels(concern: 4 mg/kg, action: 10 mg/kg). The average concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg in the polished rice samples were 0.037, 0.043, 0.280, 0.048 and 0.002 mg/kg, respectively. These levels are lower than those of other countries in rice grains. Assuming the rice consumption of 205.7 g/day by total dietary supplements in Korea, the amount of total weekly metal intake of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg by polished rice were estimated to be 0.0892, 1.035, 6.712, 1.161 and 0.054 ${\mu}g/kg$ body weigh/week, respectively. The PTWI(%) of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg were 5.95(inorganic arsenic), 0.26(total arsenic), 14.79, 0.19, 4.65 and 1.07% estimated to be 0.0892, 1.035, 6.712, 1.161 and 0.054 ${\mu}g/kg$ body weigh/week, respectively. In conclusion, it was appeared that the heavy metals contamination in the brown and polished rice should not be worried in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.230-234
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• 2011

According to the Codex committee, the maximum allowable level for lead in fruits is 0.1 mg/kg. This survey was conducted as a surveillance program following the establishment of safety guideline for fruits in Korea. Concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) were measured in 927 samples using a ICP-MS and a mercury analyzer. The recoveries of microwave digestion method were 86.0-110.4% for Pb, 81.0-104.0% for Cd and 82.0-104.7% for As by standard addition method. The recovery of direct mercury analyzer was 106.5% for Hg. The average levels of Pb in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $10.0{\pm}12.8$ for apple, $8.8{\pm}10.9$ for pear, $4.1{\pm}4.4$ for persimmons, $14.9{\pm}12.3$ for mandarin, $7.1{\pm}6.5$ for orange, $3.1{\pm}3.3$ for banana, $8.8{\pm}8.9$ for kiwi, and $9.3{\pm}9.7$ for mango. The average levels of Cd in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $0.4{\pm}0.3$ for apple, $2.0{\pm}1.6$ for pear, $0.3{\pm}0.3$ for persimmon, $0.1{\pm}0.1$ for mandarin, $0.1{\pm}0.1$ for orange, $1.3{\pm}1.8$ for banana, $0.5{\pm}0.5$ for kiwi, and $0.7{\pm}0.6$ for mango. The average levels of As in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $2.0{\pm}2.1$ for apple, $1.2{\pm}1.3$ for pear, $1.5{\pm}1.2$ for persimmon, $0.8{\pm}0.3$ for mandarin, $1.5{\pm}0.5$ for orange, $1.8{\pm}1.2$ for banana, $1.6{\pm}1.5$ for kiwi, and $1.2{\pm}1.5$ for mango. The average levels of Hg in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $0.5{\pm}0.4$ for apple, $0.3{\pm}0.2$ for pear, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ for persimmon, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ for mandarin, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ for orange, $0.2{\pm}0.0$ for banana, $0.2{\pm}0.2$ for kiwi, and $0.6{\pm}0.2$ for mango. Based on the Korean public nutrition report 2005, these levels (or amounts) are calculated only at 0.17% for Pb, 0.013% for Cd and 0.006% for Hg of those presented in provisional tolerable weekly Intake (PTWI) which has been established by FAO/WHO. Therefore, the levels presented here are presumed to be adequately safe.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.525-531
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• 2011

This study was conducted to examine the contents of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) in meat and meat products in Korea. The contents of Pb, Cd, As, and Hg in 466 samples of beef, pork, chicken, duck, ham, and sausage were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or a mercury analyzer. Wet ashing and microwave method were compared, and the recovery and reproducibility of the microwave method were better than those of wet ashing for meat and meat products. The recovery of the microwave method was 98.1% for Pb, 104.6% for Cd, and 103.4% for As, respectively. The best result was obtained through digestion using an acid mixture ($HNO_3$/$H_2O_2$, 6:2). Hg content was measured using a mercury analyzer. As a result, the contents of Hg and Cd in samples were lower than those of Pb and As. The average contents of Pb were 0.009 mg/kg in beef, 0.010 mg/kg in pork, 0.006 mg/kg in chicken, 0.007 mg/kg in duck, 0.005 mg/kg in ham, and 0.009 mg/kg in sausage. The average Cd contents were 0.0004 mg/kg in beef, 0.0004 mg/kg in pork, 0.0005 mg/kg in chicken, 0.0012 mg/kg in duck, 0.0015 mg/kg in ham, and 0.0019 mg/kg in sausage. The average As contents were 0.016 mg/kg in beef, 0.004 mg/kg in pork, 0.021 mg/kg in chicken, 0.010 mg/kg in duck, 0.014 mg/kg in ham, and 0.018 mg/kg in sausage. The average Hg contents were 0.713 ${\mu}g/kg$ in beef, 0.902 ${\mu}g/kg$ in pork, 0.710 ${\mu}g/kg$ in chicken, 0.796 ${\mu}g/kg$ in duck, 1.141 ${\mu}g/kg$ in ham, and 1.052 ${\mu}g/kg$ in sausage. Based on the results of the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2005, the levels of dietary exposure to heavy metal contaminants in meat and meat products were compared with the provisional tolerable weekly intake(PTWI) established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. The average dietary exposure of the general population from meat and meat products was 0.03-0.2% of PTWI for Pb, Cd, As, and Hg, which indicates a safe level for public health at present.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2017

BACKGROUND: Miscellaneous cereal have been largely consumed in Korea as due to their physiological functions beneficial to human health. The cereals are currently a social concern because they have been found to contain heavy metals. Thus, monitoring heavy metals in the cereals is an important requirement for food safety analysis. In this study, we determined arsenic concentration in the cereals randomly harvested from different markets. METHODS AND RESULTS: Inorganic arsenic was determined by ICP-MS coupled with HPLC system. The HPLC-ICP-MS analysis was optimized based on the limit of detection and recover test to reach $0.13-1.24{\mu}g/kg$ and 94.3-102.1%, respectively. The concentrations of inorganic arsenic equivalent to daily exposure were levels of $19.91{\mu}g/day$ in mixed grain, $1.07{\mu}g/day$ in glutinous rice, $0.77{\mu}g/day$ in black brown rice, $0.13{\mu}g/day$ in barley and $0.11{\mu}g/day$ in soybeans. CONCLUSION: The levels of arsenic in miscellaneous cereals were found lower than the recommended The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) levels, suggesting that the cereals marketed in Korea are not potential concern in risk assessment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.336-344
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to collect occurrence data on aluminum in 12 type agricultural products and assess dietary exposure risk to the Korean population health for aluminum concentration in agricultural products.METHODS AND RESULTS: Aluminum analysis samples were performed using microwave device and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer. The LOD(Limit of Detection) for aluminum was 0.851 μg/kg, while the LOQ(Limit of Quantitation) was 2.838 μg/kg and recovery was 97.6% for aluminum. The average levels of aluminum in mg/kg were 0.526 for rice, 0.546 for Korean cabbage, 1.316 for corn, 6.207 for soybean, 0.549 for sweet potato, 0.257 for potato, 6.963 for spinach, 1.213 for carrot, 0.524 for garlic, 0.950 for radish, 1.015 for leek, and 3.511 for Welsh onion. The dietary exposures of aluminum through usual intake were polished rice 89.31 μg/day, Korean cabbage 33.14 μg/day, corn 0.66 μg/day, soybean 3.72 μg/day, sweet potato 6.86 μg/day, potato 4.96 μg/day, spinach 45.96 μg/day, carrot 6.79 μg/day, garlic 2.36 μ g/day, radish 7.32 μg/day, leek 2.23 μg/day and Welsh onion 43.89 μg/day, taking 0.57%, 0.21%, 0.00%, 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.03%, 0.04%, 0.04%, 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.01% and 0.28% of PTWI(2 mg/kg b.w./week), respectively.CONCLUSION: The levels of overall dietary exposure to aluminum for Korean population through intake of agricultural product was far below the recommended JECFA level, indicating of least possibility of risk.