• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.53.1-53.15
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• 2023

Background: Plastics are high-molecular-weight materials composed of long carbon chains. They are prevalent in daily life, present in various items such as food containers and microwavable packaging. Phthalates, an additive used to enhance their flexibility, are endocrine-disrupting chemicals. We utilized the data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 3, representing the general South Korean population, to investigate the relationship between the use of plastics in refrigerator food storage and phthalate exposure. Methods: We assessed 3,333 adult participants (aged ≥ 19 years) including 1,526 men and 1,807 women, using data from KoNEHS cycle 3. Using the 75th percentile concentration, urine phthalate metabolites were categorized into high and low-concentration groups. χ² test was conducted to analyze variations in the distribution of each variable, considering sociodemographic factors, health-related factors, food intake, the use of plastics, and the concentration of urine phthalate metabolites as the variables. To calculate odds ratios (ORs) for the high-concentration group of urine phthalate metabolites based on the use of plastics in refrigerator food storage, logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results: In men, the use of plastics in refrigerator food storage had significantly higher adjusted ORs compared to those using the others. The adjusted ORs were calculated as follows: mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) had an OR of 1.35 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.72), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) had an OR of 1.48 (95% CI: 1.16-1.88), mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP) had an OR of 1.32 (95% CI: 1.04-1.66), ∑di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (∑DEHP) had an OR of 1.37 (95% CI: 1.08-1.74) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) had an OR of 1.44 (95% CI: 1.13-1.84). Conclusion: The concentrations of urine phthalate metabolites (MEHHP, MEOHP, MECPP, ∑DEHP, and MnBP) were significantly higher in men who used plastics in refrigerator food storage compared to those using the others.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.277-283
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• 2005

A plasticizer is a substance which is added to a material to improve its processability, flexibility and stratchability. Phthalates and adipates are the most frequently used plasticizers of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). However, they can migtate into food from PVC food packaging, and some of them are especially suspected as endocrine disruptors. In this study, Simultaneous analysis of 13 phthalates and 9 adipates were carried out by dual-column gas chromatography system equipped wi two FID detectors for rapid confirmation and quantification. The Proposed method was validated with > 0.993 of linearity in the ranges of 10-500 mg/l, < $3.5\%$ RSD of reproducability in 10 inter-days sample preparations, and > $98.1\%$ of recoveries for all the plasticizers. DEHA was detected in all the 3 PVC wraps at levels of 176.9-198.5mg/g. Among the 51 samples of PVC gaskets, the targeted plasticizers were detected in 41 samples. Of these plasticizer detected samples,40 contained DIDP at the levels of 157.3-374.7 mg/g and one contained DMP at the levels of 165.6 mg/g. Also, some plasticizers were detected in other packaging materials such as PET, PP, PE, Pulp. But it might be attributed to contamination in manufacturing.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.218-222
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• 2007

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) were screened for estrogenic activity using a recombinant yeast screening system consisted with estrogen receptors and ${\beta}-galactosidase$ as reporter gene. The chemicals showed estrogenic activity in ranges of $1{\times}10^{-10}\;to\;1{\times}10^{-7}M(DEHP)\;and\;of\;1{\times}10^{-9}M\;to\;1{\times}10^{-6}M(DBP)$ respectively. $17{\beta}-estradiol$, as a positive control of, showed maximal activity at $1{\times}10^{-9}M$. The concentration of half-maximal estrogenic activity was $1{\times}10^{-9}M$ for both chemicals. However, the concentration of maximal estrogenic activity was $1{\times}10^{-7}M$ for DEHP and $1{\times}10^{-8}M$ M for DBP. These results suggested that DBP was higher in relative potencies and more sensitive than DEHP. In conclusion, DEHP and DBP were both estrogenic, even though DBP was more reactive to estrogen receptor.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.283-292
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify hazardous factors that reflect the characteristics of the academy and to provide basic data of environmental safety standard. Methods: Heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, pesticides and phthalates were measured in 20 academies, which were supplementary, music, art and physical education institutes. Results: In case of heavy metals, the 12 locations were detected for lead (Pb) over the standard value, and 15 locations were exceeded for the total heavy metal. In six locations, the concentrations of volatile organic compounds were exceeded the standard value of $400{\mu}g/m^3$, and two locations for formaldehyde were exceeded the standard value of $100{\mu}g/m^3$. The most commonly detected agents in the air dust were chlorpyrifos and diazinon. The concentrations of DEHP, DINP, and DBP were detected and exceeded in several academies, The risk assessment results showed that HCHO as carcinogen had a safety level of 10-7 to 10-6, and DEHP and DINP as non-carcinogens had a safety level as assessed to be under than 0.1. Conclusions: Through the investigation of long-term environmental and health effects related laws on academies, indoor air quality management might be needed because there were cases of exceeding standard.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.199-211
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• 1999

In this work, the effects of the addition of epoxy on the properties of PVC-sol sealants were investigated. PVC-sol was plasticized with dioctyl phthalates(DOP). Two kinds of epoxy resins having different epoxy equivalent weight (E.E.W.) were used. It was found that the properties of the PVC-sol sealants were significantly affected by the contents and types of the added epoxy resins. The viscosity behaviors of the epoxy-modified sealants, in the case of epoxy A addition, the viscosity was decreased with increasing the epoxy contents, but In the case of $CaCO_3$ addition, the viscosity was increased with increasing the $CaCO_3$ contents. The viscosity of epoxy modified sealants aged at $45^{\circ}C$ waterbath was decreased with increasing epoxy contents, since the epoxy acted on the sealants as a stabilizer. The thermal stability of the PVC-sol sealants was slightly improved by adding epoxy. The tensile strength and elongation of sealants modified with epoxy A(two functionalities of epoxy) were increased with increasing the epoxy contents up to a certain epoxy contents but was decreased with further increasing the epoxy contents. In the case of $CaCO_3$ addition, the tensile strength of sealants were decreased with increasing the $CaCO_3$ contents. In view of the electrical properties, such as tan ${\delta}$($0.1{\pm}0.04$) and ${\epsilon}_r$($0.5{\pm}0.04$), it was found that the epoxy modified sealants were as good as insulators.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.251-261
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• 2004

A large number of chemical pollutants including phthalates, alkylphenolic compounds and organochlorine pesticides have the ability to disrupt endocrine function in animals, and alter cog-nitive function. Because hormone mediated events play an important role in central nervous system development and function, the changes in cognitive function seem to be mediated by the endocrine-like action of these chemicals. The present study therefore was designed to investigate effect of bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disrupting chemical on neuro-behavial patterns, and expression of estrogen receptors and tyrosine hydroxylase, a limiting enzyme of dopamine synthesis pathway. BPA was treated orally for 3 weeks into 3 week old mice, and then the neuro-behavial patterns (stereo-type behaviors such as jumping rearing and forepaw tremor, climbing behavior, tail flick, rotarod and locomotor activity), and the expression of estrogen receptors and tyrosine hydroxylase were deter-mined every 3 week for 9 weeks. During the treatment of BPA, the food uptake and body weight increase were not significantly changed. BPA resulted in the increased stereotype behaviors (jump-ing, rearing and forepaw tremor) 6 or 9 weeks after treatment. The time response to tail flick and locomotor activity were decreased by the treatment of BPA, whereas the time for rotarod was increased by the treatment of BPA. The expression of estrogen receptor alpha and beta was increased in the brain and pituitary gland. Maximum expression was found in the brain after 9 week of 100 mg/kg BPA treatment and in the pituitary gland after 6 week of 100 mg/kg BPA treatment. Tyrosine hydroxylase was increased in dose and time dependent manners in the brain but no change was found in the pituitary gland. The present data show that exposure of BPA in the young mice could alter expression of estrogen receptors and dopamine synthesis pathway, thereby modulate neuro-behavial patterns (increase of stereotype behaviors but decrease locomotor activity).

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.172-179
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• 2002

Determination were performed for the presence of three common environmental endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC), namely nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in rainwater, distilled water, millipore water, groundwater, tap water, and bottle water in market, using OASIS cartrige extraction and GC/MS-SIM. Octylphenol was not detected in any water samples. The order of nonylphenol concentrations were increased in rainwater < millipore water < distilled water < groundwater < tap water < bottle water. The concentration of nonylphenol in bolltle water was $0.44{\mu}g/L$(ppb) at highest. Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalates were detected in every water samples, and the concentrations were to be $1.70{\sim}2.92{\mu}g/L$ in rainwater, $8.7{\sim}31.7{\mu}g/L$ in distilled water, $0.6{\sim}5.6{\mu}g/L$(mean: $2.5{\pm}0.3{\mu}g/L$) in millipore water, and that were very stable values than other waters, $1.1{\sim}6.0{\mu}g/L$ in groundwater at near Jeonju, $3.1{\sim}5.8{\mu}g/L$ by means in tap water, $0.5{\sim}67.6{\mu}g/L$ in bottle water from market. The concentration of DEHP in bottle water samples from market were in higher than USEPA regulation at over 40%.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.261-268
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• 2014

In advanced countries, a variety of consumer exposure assessment models including CONSEXPO, are developed to manage risks of consumer products containing hazardous materials. The models are used to assess the risks of exposure to hazardous chemicals in consumer products, which serves as a foundation for regulation standards. In this study, exposure assessment models applicable for various scenarios were reviewed and a proper model was applied for the selected products and risk assessment was conducted at each stage to establish a risk assessment procedure for different types of products. Based on the exposure scenario, exposure factor was selected and according to the algorithm produced based on CONSEXPO exposure model, some level of phthalates were detected from some types of PVC flooring. However, a correlation between phthalate content and migration rate showed r-square 0.0065, little correlation, which is inadequate for estimating standard value. For this reason, it seems valid that the current standard be in place. Additionally, any new standard was not suggested as VOCs were not found harmful to human health, allowing the existing standard to be continuously applied. No migration rate was found for heavy metals and risk assessment was not performed accordingly. In this aspect, it is presumed that hazards to health through dermal exposure would be very little.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.1358-1364
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• 2000

A mixed culture of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria and yeast was used to prepare unique fermented fruit and vegetable beverage which contains bacteriocin. Fruit and vegetable broth fermented by Lactococcus lactis 11454 showed inhibitory activity against foodborne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogens and Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutans which is a major causative agent for dental caries. Bacteriocin was detected at the end of fermentation of fruit and vegetables and its antimicrobial activity was stable for 5 weeks during storage at $4^{\circ}C$. These results suggest that the presence of bacteriocin in beverages during fermentation and storage will provide a safeguard against foodborne pathogens and spoilage bacteria. To improve flavor of the fermented broth, post-fermentation of the fermented broth was carried out at $4^{\circ}C$ by using yeast isolated from raw material mixture. Total acidity of the post-fermented broth was slightly decreased, but significant increase in the concentration of succinic acid was observed in the post-fermented broth. It was also observed that bitter and disagreeable taste compounds such as phthalates were decreased, and mild acidic and fruity flavor esters and alcohols were increased by the post-fermentation of the fermented broth with yeast.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.315-323
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• 2022

Background: Socioeconomical disadvantaged communities are more vulnerable to environmental chemical exposure and associated health effects. However, there is limited information on chemical exposure among vulnerable populations in Korea. Objectives: This study investigated chemical exposure among underprivileged populations. We measured urinary metabolites of phthalates in urban disadvantaged communities and investigated their correlations with residential environment factors and relative socioeconomic vulnerability. Methods: Urine samples were collected from 64 residents in a disadvantaged community in Seoul. A total of eight phthalate metabolites were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Analytical method used by the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) was employed. Covariate variance analysis and general linear regression adjusted with age, sex and smoking were performed. Results: Several phthalate metabolites, namely monomethyl phthalate (MMP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) had higher levels than those reported in the adults of 4th KoNEHS. Notably, the MnBP level was higher in the lower socioeconomic group (geometric mean [GM]=47.3 ㎍/g creatinine) compared to non-recipients (GM=31.9 ㎍/g creatinine) and the national reference level (GM=22.0, 28.2 and 32.2 ㎍/g creatinine for adults, 60's and 70's, respectively.). When age, sex and smoking were adjusted, MEP and MnBP were significantly increased the lower socioeconomic group than non-recipients (p=0.014, p=0.023). The lower socioeconomic group's age of flooring were higher than non-recipients, not statistically significant. Conclusions: These results suggest that a relatively low income and aged flooring could be considered as risk factors for increased levels of phthalate metabolites in socioeconomic vulnerable populations.