• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.4 s.28
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• pp.454-465
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• 1989

In a small island community with a population of less than 100 residents, nine persons died and five experienced severe illnesses during the period from November 1986 to May 1988. Their initial symptoms were sore throat and fever. Renal failure and hepatitis developed within one week after the onset. Oral mucosal ulcer developed in some cases. After one week, progressive respiratory failure and dyspnea developed evidently and severe respiratory distress and hypoxia preceded those fatal cases. Chest X-ray findings revealed bilateral diffuse multiple cystic lesion with occasional multiple large emphysematous bullae. Based on these features paraquat poisoning was diagnosed and route of poisoning was investigated. In three sources of drinking water, trace amount of paraquat was detected in November 1988, six months after the incidence of recent fatal case. In November 1988, soybean sauces and soybean pastes from 12 households were found contaminated with high concentration of paraquat, the cause could not be identified. The possibility of the contamination of drinking water as the cause of this mass poisoning has been suggested.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.4 s.91
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• pp.262-267
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• 2006

DBPs and T&O(taste-and-odor) compounds in drinking water is one of main source to deteriorate water quality. So, these compounds can cause adverse health effects and result in many consumer complaints aesthetically. This experiments carried out to investigate the effect of boiling water on DBPs and T&O compounds in the tap water. THMs and TCM concentration were reduced by 91.3%, 88.9% after 5 min of boiling, respectively. It is certainly, resulted from volatilization of TCM. TCAA concentration decreased when the water was boiled, too. By contrast, the concentration of DCAA was increased with duration time from boiling-point. The reduction of TCAA from the boiled water can be attributed to chemical transformation like decarboxylation. T&O compounds such as geosmin and 2-MIB was effectively removed by boiling of water, resulting in the removal efficiency of 97.1%, 94.4% after 5 min of boiling, respectively.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 1988

The drinking water in the apartment is stored in reservior tank and thereafter supplied each household. In case the drinking water is stored too long or insanitary, tap water might change in quality. This study was carried out to evaluate the physico-chemical and microbiological conditions of 36 samples of tap water of apartments compared to 18 samples of tap water of independence houses in Taegu City from May to October, 1987. Main findings are summarized as follows : PH values were within normal range in all samples. Samples less than 0.2ppm in residual chlorine accounted for 16.7% in the appartment and 5.6% in the independence house. Nitrite nitrogen was detected 2.8% of apartment samples only. Among the total of 54 samples, 11.1% of the apartment and independence samples were over the normal value in standard plate count. Samples more than 1.8 of most probable number(MPN) accounted for 27.8% in the apartment and 33.3% in the independence house. In result of test for residual chlorine, nitrite nitrogen, standard plate count, and MPN, the proportion of the samples revealed inappropriated in respect of drinking water standards. In case of all sorts of tests was 2.7% in apartment and nothing in independence houses, in case of 3 sorts of tests was 2.7% in apartment and 5.6% in independence houses, in case of 2 sorts of tests was 8.3% in apartment and 5.6% in independence houses, and in case of only 1 test was 25.0% in apartment and 22.2% in independence houses. Correlation between residual chlorine and standard plate count, and between standard plate count and MPN were observed. It was found that the more years since construction of apartment were, the worse tap water was in quality.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.475-482
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• 2005

This study aimed to determine the fluoride intakes in 120 preschool children aged 3 to 6 residing in Jumunjin (community water fluoridation area) and Gangneung (non-fluoridation area). The parents were asked to collect 24-hour urine samples and to duplicate the samples of all the diets that their children ingested in the day of urine collection. The acid-diffusible fluoride in the food and non-carbonate beverages were isolated by the acid-diffusion technique and then measured with a fluoride electrode. The fluoride in carbonate beverages, drinking waters and urine samples were measured directly with a fluoride electrode. The geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) of daily fluoride intakes from all kinds of diet was 5.99 (2.27) $\mu$g/kg/day in the children in Gangneung and that of the children in Jumunjin was 18.36 (2.69). The amount of fluoride intake by food and drinking water in fluoridation area were significantly larger than that in non-fluoridation area but the statistical difference of fluoride intake by beverages between two areas was not observed. The GMs (GSDs) of daily fluoride excretion by urine of children in non-fluoridation area and in fluoridation area were 8.39 (1.73) and 18.62 (1.77) $\mu$g/kg/day, respectively. The correlation between fluoride intake from diet excluding beverage and urinary excretion was statistically significant. It is concluded that the amount of fluoride intake of children living in fluoridation area did not exceed the upper intake level to avoid the risk of dental fluorosis (2.2 mg/day in 4- to 8-year-olds) and urinary excretion of fluoride was good indicator of fluoride intake from diets.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.32-42
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• 2013

Objectives: Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite, has been recognized as a frequent cause of waterborne disease due to its extremely strong resistance against chlorine disinfection. Although there has as yet been no report of a Cryptosporidium outbreak through drinking water in Korea, it is important to estimate the health risk of Cryptosporidium in water supply systems because of the various infection cases in human and domestic animals and frequent detection reports on their oocysts in water environments. Methods: This study evaluated the annual infection risk of Cryptosporidium in tap water using the quantitative microbial risk assessment technique. Exposure assessment was performed upon the results of a national survey on Cryptosporidium on the water sources of 97 large-scale water purification plants in Korea, water treatment efficacy, and daily unboiled tap water consumption. The estimates of the US Environmental Protection Agency on the mean likelihood of infection from ingesting one oocyst were applied for effect assessment. Results: Using probabilistic methods, mean annual infection risk of Cryptosporidiosis by the intake of tap water was estimated to fall within the range of $2.3{\times}10^{-4}$ to $1.0{\times}10^{-3}$ (median $5.7{\times}10^{-4}$). The risk in using river sources was predicted to be four times higher than with lake sources. With 0.5-log higher removal efficacy, the risk was estimated to be $1.8{\times}10^{-4}$, and could then be lowered by one-third. Conclusions: These estimations can be compared with acceptable risk and then used to determine the adequacy and priority of various drinking water quality strategies such as the establishment of new treatment technology.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.10 no.1_2
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• pp.1-14
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• 1995

The purpose of this research is to assess the health risk of pollutants in drinking water and recommend the guidelines and management plans for maintaining good quality of drinking water. This study has been funded as a national project for three years from 1992 to 1995. This study(the second year, 1993-1994) was conducted to monitor 32 species of carcinogenic chemicals such as volatile organic compounds(VOCs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs), pesticides and heavy metals of drinking water at some area in six cities of Korea, and evaluate health risk due to these chemicals through four main steps of risk assessment in drinking water. In hazard identification, 32 species of carcinogenic chemicals were identified by the US EPA classification system. In the step of exposure assessment, sampling of raw, treated and tap water from the public water supply system had been conducted from 1993 to 1994, and 32 chemicals were analyzed. In dose-response assessment, cancer potencies, unit risk estimates and virtually safe doses of carcinogens were obtained by TOX-RISK (Version 3.1). In risk characterization of detected chemicals, health risk due to carcinogens such as vinyl chloride, carbon tetrachloride, dichloromethane, 1, 2-dichloromethane, chloroform, benzene and arsenic of tap water in several cities exceeded 10$^{-5}$ level. We suggest that non-regulated chemicals which exceed 10$^{-5}$ excess cancer risk level, such as vinyl chloride, carbon tetrachloride and 1, 2-dichloroethane, should be monitored periodically and be regulated by the Drinking Water Management Act, and database for exposure parameter of our own situation should be established.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2001

Barley or corn tea, which is usually prepared with municipal chlorinated tap water, is commonly consumed by the public as a substitute for the supplied water itself. This is because most people believe that harmful organic and inorganic compounds can be removed from the tap water by the adsorption mechanism during the tea preparation. In this study, three kinds of commercial grain tea materials-roasted barley grains, a tea bag containing barley grain pieces, and roasted corn grains-were tested for metal removal by preparing 1 liter of tea with deionized/distilled water according the manufacturer's recommended preparation procedures, assuming that the water is contaminated with eight selected metals at levels of 50$\mu\textrm{g}$/l. Of the tested teas, barley tea prepared with roasted grains showed the highest removal efficiency for Cu, As, Ni, Co, Pb, and Cd, ranging from 48 to 71%, followed by corn tea with roasted grains and barley tea with a tea bag. Cr was nearly maintained at the initial concentration in all kinds of tea. The Mn levels. however, were elevated during the tea preparation, particularly in both barley teas, probably because the metal was extracted into the water from the tea materials without significant adsorption. Therefore, it should be considered in the ingestion exposure analysis for metals that their concentrations are altered during the tea preparation with roasted barley or corn grain materials.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2019

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous organisms that are generally found not only in the natural environment but also in the human engineered environment, including water, soil, and dust. These organisms can form biofilms and can be readily aerosolized because they are hydrophobic owing to the presence of the lipid-rich outer membrane. Aerosolization and subsequent inhalation were the major route of NTM lung disease. Water distribution systems and household plumbing are ideal habit for NTM and the main transmission route from natural water to household. NTM have been isolated from drinking water, faucets, pipelines, and water tanks. Studies that used genotyping have shown that NTM isolates from patients are identical to those in the environment, that is, from shower water, showerheads, tap water, and gardening soil. Humans are likely to be exposed to NTM in their homes through simple and daily activities, such as drinking, showering, or gardening. In addition to environmental factors, host factors play an important role in the development of NTM lung disease. The incidence and prevalence of NTM lung disease are increasing worldwide, and this disease is rapidly becoming a major public health problem. NTM lung disease is associated with substantially impaired quality of life, increased morbidity and mortality, and high medical costs. A more comprehensive understanding of the infection source and epidemiology of NTM is essential for the development of new strategies that can prevent and control NTM infection.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 2001

Since the middle of 1990s, in Korea a few researches on the optimal management technologies combining numerical model and GIS for the management of water environment in drinking watershed area and reservoir such as Paldang Lake have been carried out. In this study, the integrated water environment management system was been suggested to efficiently reflect the public awareness of the environment by integrating the web based distributed data collection system, GIS, public hearing system and water quality model. As all the components of the system have been developed using the World Wide Web and all data have been collected from the relevant agencies through the Internet, the water quality model could be implemented on the web directly. In consequence, the environmental geographic information in Paldang Lake could be acquired and analyzed through the Internet. The system can rapidly respond to the public right to know on environment, so the public will willingly participate in the governmental projects on environment. To verify the usability of the developed system, it has been applied to Paldang Lake. Especially when the web based model has been used, users can easily and confidentially get the prediction results by applying the minimum number of parameters for the water quality model. This model will provide clearness and scientific bases in the process of water quality prediction for the sensitive sites where there are critical conflicts between the residents and the developers. In this study, rapid water environment management technique without spatial and time limit has been suggested, which can contribute to the efforts on the government and the public participation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1551-1556
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• 2016

Broiler meat production worldwide has been plagued by lethal food-poisoning bacteria diseases, including listeriosis. A fatality rate of 15.6% was recorded in human beings in the EU in 2015. During 2013, a total of 200 poultry farm samples, including litter, chicken breast, farm feed, and drinking water, were collected to generate baseline data for the characterization of the genus Listeria in broiler poultry farms. Listeria spp. were detected in a total of 95 (47.5%) poultry farm samples. The isolates of Listeria spp. included L. innocua (28.5%), L. ivanovii (12.5%), L. welshimeri (4.5%), and L. monocytogenes and L. seeligeri (1% each). Listeria spp. contamination rates were higher in farm feed (70%), followed by litter (52.5%), chicken breasts (42.2%), and drinking water (10%). Almost all Listeria spp. isolates were resistant to more than three classes of antibiotics (multidrug resistant). Besides this, we observed a significant resistance level to penicillin and fluoroquinolone drugs. However, lower resistance levels were recorded for broad-spectrum cephalosporins. The inlA, inlC, and inlJ virulence genes were detected in almost all of the L. monocytogenes isolates. Thus, food safety management approaches and interventions at all stages of the broiler rearing cycle were needed to control cross-contamination and the zoonotic potential of listeriosis.