• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.57-61
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• 2001

Tank mixing application of pesticides has been used to reduce labor and to control wide spectrum of pests, but it may cause significant pesticide poisoning on human and animals due to carelessness. The toxic response of pesticides for the tank mixtures and mixtures was investigated to determine acute toxicity and enzymatic change using experimental animals. Acute oral toxicity and acute dermal toxicity were tested by RDA test guideline. The $LD_{50}$ was calculated by probit analysis method and cholinesterase was measured with automatic analyzer. The toxicities were generally higher than estimated toxicities in tank mixing and mixture. Serum cholinesterase activity was inhibited more than expected at the dose levels of 1/5, 1/10 and 1/20 of $LD_{50}$. Therefore, the results of this study showed that acute toxicity caused by the pesticide mixtures should be considered before the tank mixing method is applied.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 1983

This study was carried out to obtain the basic data for the prevention of chronic poisoning by organic phosphorous pesticides and to estimate the normal range of plasma cholinesterase activity level for Korean agricultural workers. The 285 agricultural workers were randomly selected for the study in Jungup Gun, Jeonbug Province, 135 persons of them were tested in the period of pre-exposure of organophosphorous pesticides (April 1981) and rest of them were tested after exposure(August 1981). Cholinesterase activity levels were measured by the Micro-method of Takahashi Hiroshi. Major findings are as following: 1) There is significant difference in plasma cholinesterase activity levels between the pro-exposed and post exposed group(p > 0.01). Mean values of plasma cholinesterase activity levels were $7.60{\pm}1.74{\mu}M/20{\mu}{\ell}$/hr. in the pre-exposed group and $6.23{\pm}1.59{\mu}M/20{\mu}{\ell}$/hr. in the post-exposed group. 2) Plasma cholinesterase activity in Korean agricultural worker could be estimated $7.30-7.90{\mu}M/20{\mu}{\ell}$/hr. with 95% confidence interval.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.341-347
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• 2010

The majority of forensic autopsies in Korea are performed by the National Institute of Scientific Investigation (NISI), and the NISI has carried out about 4,000 cases annually. Total 4,578 autopsies were performed by NISI in 2009, among them 2,918 cases (64%) were carried out at main office of NISI in Seoul, which is in charge of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi province. In this study we investigated pattern of drugs & poisons in autopsy cases for recent three years in Korea. Postmortem specimens (bloods, gastric contents, etc) from autopsy cases by main office of NISI during 2007~2009 were screened for drugs & poisons. Using laboratory information management system of NISI (iLIMS), the kinds of drugs & poisons and the frequency were investigated. As the results, 1,705 cases were negative to drugs & poisons, it occupied 58% of total 2,918 autopsy cases in 2009. During three years (2007~2009), the kinds of drugs & poisons detected in specimens were 206, 185 and 203, respectively, and top three drugs were atropine (anticholinergic), chlorpheniramine (antihistamine) and lidocaine (local anaesthetic/anti-arrythmic). These drugs were supposed to be used not so much for suicidal or homicidal purpose as for therapeutic purpose in hospital. Meanwhile cyanide showed the highest frequency of poisons during 2007~2009, and the frequency was 32 cases in 2009. In case of pesticides, poisoning by paraquat (herbicide, 17 cases) showed the highest frequency, and methomyl (insecticide, 9 cases) and glyphosate (herbicide, 7 cases) were followed. Finally we selected 62 drugs as target drugs for systematic toxicological analysis (STA) for Korea. Poisons such as pesticides, natural toxins, volatile compounds should be included for STA in further study.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.203-212
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• 2016

In order to investigate actual pesticide usage, this survey was carried out with farmers growing four crop groups, leaf vegetables, fruit vegetables, fruits, and rice from 2012 to 2015. Five hundred sixty farmers were selected in main crop production areas and were asked about their pesticide uses during the growing season. Investigations on pesticide damages to crop in recent 5 years showed that fruit vegetables had the highest proportion of damage at 14%, followed by rice at 11%, orchards at 11%, and leaf vegetables at 8%. Compared to the results of a pilot study which took place from 2009 to 2011, fruit vegetable damage increased by 4% while damage to rice and orchards decreased by 7-9%. This means continuous education on mixed spraying, usage methods, and precaution is required. In the survey on the safety guidelines for pesticide use, 6 items were well observed (89.0-95.0%), but one item for use of protective gear had the lowest observance (81.7%). A measure for protective gear for poisoning prevention is required. The survey of pesticide usage per area ($kg\;a.i.\;ha^{-1}$) showed that 1.65, 4.93, 10.98, and $3.16kg\;a.i.\;ha^{-1}$ of pesticides were applied to leaf vegetables (6 species), fruit vegetables (6 species), fruits (6 species), and rice, respectively, which decreased from the usage reported in the pilot study. This change was likely caused by more effective pesticides and fewer pest outbreaks; therefore, shipments of pesticides have been decreasing. In the case of paddy rice herbicides, 43 products, including butachlor, were used for $1.3kg\;ha^{-1}$. Herbicides represent 44% of pesticides used in paddy rice.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1993

The objective of this study is to review the role and function of the village health worker in the wake of the recent social changes in Korea. The stud}' also aimed at' elucidating' the characteristics of the village health worker organizations developed through community participation in this country. The study methods employed were: a review of literature and other existing information related to VHW's activities ; the use of Questionnaire and interview with VHW's on their activities in one selected county in 1992. The major findings obtained are as follows: 1. So far the community health care activities have been carried out by medical colleges, foreign aid agencies and religious organizations with a view to improving health care for the population in rural area. 2. The VHWs employed by the local community health services received remuneratiorin cash or in kind. However, presently no remuneration is paid to VHWs employed by the government village health projects. The training for VHWs is organized by County Health Center once a year for 1-2days regardless of pre-employment or refresher. 3. The needs of care for maternal and child health and family planning has been decline due to the decrease of the target population, but on the other hand, the needs of care by VHW for prevention of infectious diseases, health of the aging, management of geriatric diseases, prevention of poisoning of pesticides and environmental sanitation has beer increased. 4. It was felt strongly that the training for VHWs should be strengthened by means of developing a problem-solving oriented educational program in order to improve practical skills of VHWs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.360-369
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• 1997

Food/nutrition related views, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors were investigated for three hundred randomly selected men and women, aged 20-60 years, residing in Seoul metropolitan area. Food/nutrition views, attitudes, and beliefs were found to vary greatly between groups of different age, sex, education and income level. Adults of 20-35 years of age showed significantly less strong views about keeping traditional food habits, while exhibiting a significantly high level of acceptance towards the use of convenience foods as compared to the adults aged 36 years or older. Food safety was found to be a major concern to most of the subjects accounting 69.7% for pesticides residues in fresh produce items, 94.7% for food additives in processed food, and 56.3% for food poisoning in foods eaten outside of the home. Male adults aged 45 years or older showed a strong tendency to rely on a few promotional food products for the maintenance of their health and for them the development and implementation of a sensible feed nutritin/health education program including a way to avoid nutrition quackery might be beneficial. Eighty percent of the subjects were found to read food labels with higher rates shown among young adults and females. Due to the virtual absence of nutrition labeling however, the percentage of subjects who idicated that they are looking for the information on nutrient content was low (<10%) compared to the rates for other informations such as date of manufacture(80.2%), expiration data(55.8%), ingredients(40.9), and additives(40.9%). Ninety one percent of the subjects indicated that they would like to see the sources for nutrition label the nutritional value of the foods. The top five most frequently (68.3%), food packages(50.7%), and radio(43.3%). Health professionals such as physicians, nurses, and nutritionists/dietitians were utilized less frequently as sources of nutrition information than lay sources, with reported rate of only 38%, 22%, and 0.7%, respectively. These results collectively suggest that strategies are to be developed to provide accurate nutrition information to adults.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.762-772
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• 2016

Purpose: Adolescence is a critical period for growth and development; hence, knowledge about good food habits is essential amongst children. This study was conducted to investigate prevalence of awareness among food sellers, which could probably influence children's health and perceptions on food around schools towards adulterated food management beliefs, competencies, and food safety practices. Methods: Data was collected from 195 dealers around 25 elementary, middle and high schools in Daegu and Gyeongbuk provinces using a self-administered questionnaire in July and August, 2015. The data was analyzed using frequency analysis, one-way analysis of variance, $x^2$-test, factor analysis, and reliability analysis by SPSS Statistics (ver. 23.0). Results: A total of 121 people (62.1%) reported satisfaction of providing information and education on adulterated food. The perception of hazardous substances was found to be related to food poisoning bacteria and viruses (65.6%), heavy metals (42.1%), environmental hormones (36.4%), residual pesticides (27.2%), and irradiated food (26.7%). The perceived score on hygiene practices for processed food seller was $4.04{\pm}0.56/5.00$ and for cooked food seller was $4.09{\pm}0.45$. The capacity of adulterated food management practice of food sellers was significantly correlated with food knowledge on adulteration and public relation capacity, necessity of adulterated food management, and perception of hygiene practices (p<0.01). Similarly, knowledge and public relation capacity were significantly different according to ages (p<0.01). The perception of the necessity of adulterated food management was significantly different according to education levels (p<0.05), and the evaluation of hygiene practices was significantly different according to age (p<0.01). Conclusion: In order to solve the problem of adulterated food, which is one of the four social evils, and to strengthen the capacity of children to solve social problems, various practices like campaign on health promotion, goof food habits, education, and adulterated food management, should be actively promoted not only for children but also for food sellers around the schools.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2001

Since 1982, female agricultural workers are populous than male in Korea. Previous study was suggested that female workers are more sensitive to the agricultural medicine poisoning than male. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the impact on plasma components and nutrient intakes in female agricultural workers by the use of pesticides. Data were obtained from 44 females residing in Wonjoo, Kangwon-do area. Analysis for the general characteristics, nutrient intakes, and plasma components of the subjects were performed by physical examination, 24-hour recall method and venous blood sampling. They were divided into 3 groups according to the degree of the pesticide use: 8 in none(Non-expose group), 14 in low(<4/yr)(Low-expose group), and 22 in high$({\geq}4/yr)$(High-expose group). The results are summarized as follows. Serum glucose, SGOT, SGPT, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol did not correlated with pesticide use and were not different among the groups. But serum total cholesterol was higher in pesticide use group. With increasing the number of pesticide use times, leukocyte count was tended to increased. Eighty two percent of the subjects were hemoglobin less than or equal to 12g/dl. Hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, serum Fe, Serum ferritin belonged to normal range and did not correlated with pesticide use. Intake of energy, Fe, vitamin $B_2$ were lower than RDA. Fe, K, and vitamin A intake were higher in don't use group than the other groups. There are not many differences according to using the pesticide in anthropometric measurements, nutrient intakes, and blood components, except for serum total cholesterol level and some nutrients intake. But these results suggest the need the systemic researches about the effects the pesticide using on nutritional status in Korean agricultural workers.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

Gastric lavage is one of gastrointestinal decontamination methods which have been controversial in the clinical toxicology field for a long time. Expert groups of American and European clinical toxicologists have published the position papers regarding gastric lavage three times since 1997. They recommended that gastric lavage should not be used as a routine procedure in the management of acute intoxication, because they thought that there is no certain evidence of improving clinical outcome by its use. However, the studies they reviewed were not well-controlled randomized trials, which cannot be conducted in the clinical toxicology field due to variability of patients and ethical problems. Therefore, the results from these studies should be interpreted with caution. They also insisted that gastric lavage can be undertaken within 60 minutes of ingestion. The limitation of one hour after ingestion is too arbitrary and may cause a lot of misunderstanding. Formation of pharmacobezoar or gastric hypomotility after ingestion may significantly delay the gastric emptying time so that gastric lavage can be useful even after several hours or more in case of highly toxic substances or severe intoxication. Furthermore, as there are a number of serious intoxication by toxic pesticides with large amount in suicidal attempts in Korea, it seems that gastric lavage may be used more frequently in Korea than in Western countries. When deciding whether or not to use gastric lavage, all the indications, contraindications, and possible adverse effects should be taken into account on the basis of risk-benefit analysis. If the procedure is decided to be done, it should only be performed by well-trained experts.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2004

Purpose: A number of reports about the intoxicated patients have been introduced, but there were few multicenter studies. The purpose of this study was to analyse the patients with toxic exposure in the Daejon province. Methods: The patients who were presented to the four academic emergency departments in Daejon with toxic exposure were enrolled from January to June 2003. The collected variables were according to the form which modified from the Toxic Exposure Surveillance System (TESS) of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Results: The toxic exposure patients were 362 cases which is $0.78\%$ of total patients presented to the emergency department. The most common exposure site was home ($84\%$). Eighteen percent of cases were exposed by two or more substances. The most common substance was the pesticides ($34.8\%$), and the non-prescription drugs ($32.6\%$) was followed. The suicidal attempt was the top reason for exposure ($67.1\%$). The route of exposure other than ingestion was $3.6\%$. Although the most patients left the hospital within a day, the average treatment period was 4.4 days. Thirty-one patients ($8.6\%$) were expired, and 22 among them were exposed to the paraquat. Conclusion: We reported the current status of toxic exposure in Daejon province by modified TESS style.