• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.169-173
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• 2009

A survey of total aflatoxin levels was conducted on 145 samples(carthamiflos, thujae semen, giycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma) collected in Yakyeang markets in Seoul. Aflatoxin levels were quantified by the immunoaffinity column clean-up method followed by performance liguid chromatography(HPLC)-fluorescence detector(FLD). Aflatoxins were found in 10(6.9%)samples including 5 Arecae semen, 4 Thujae semen, 1 Zizyphi semen with a range of $0.45{\sim}79.15\;{\mu}g/kg$. Generally These results show that the contamination level of aflatoxins in Herb Medicines consumed in Korea is high compared with the standard in Korea Herb Medicine Code($10\;{\mu}g/kg$ as aflatoxin B1). It is considered that aflatoxin concentration was increased in herb medicines during a storage and drying in herb medicines examined

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.310-320
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• 2014

Backgrounds: Endotoxin, which found in the outer membrane of the gram-negative bacteria cell wall, makes up almost all of the lipopolysaccharide(LPS). When people are exposed to endotoxin,it can result in diverse health effects such as an airway irritation and inflammation, fever, malaise, bronchitis, allergic asthma, toxic pneumonitis, hypersensitivity lung disease. Cases among the elderly, children or pregnant can occur more frequently than a healthy adult if they are repeatedly exposed to the existing endotoxin. Therefore, we investigated and assessed the environmental characteristics associated with the airborne endotoxin concentration level in six hospital lobbies. Method: Endotoxin from indoor air in six hospital lobbies was measured by an area sampling method and analyzed according to American Society for Testing and Materials International(ASTM international) E2144-01. Total suspended particulate(TSP), carbon dioxide($CO_2$), temperature and humidity were also measured by using direct reading measurements or airborne sampling equipment at the same time. Environmental characteristics were appropriately divided into two or three groups for a statistics analysis. One-way analysis variable(one-way ANOVA) was used to examine a difference of the endotoxin concentration, depending on the environmental characteristics. In addition, only variables with p-value(p<0.25) were eventually designed to the best model by using multiple regression analysis. Results: The correlation analysis result indicated that TSP(p=0.003) and $CO_2$(p<0.0001) levels were significantly associated with endotoxin concentration levels. In contrast, temperature(p<0.068) and humidity(p<0.365) were not associated with endotoxin concentration. Levels of endotoxin concentration were statistically different among the environmental characteristics of Service time(p=0.01), Establishment of hospital(p<0.001), Scale of hospital(p=0.01), Day average people using hospital(p=0.03), Cleaning time of lobby(p=0.05), Season(p<0.001), and Cleaning of ventilation system(p<0.001) according to ANOVA. Finally, the best model(Adjusted R-square=72%) that we designed through a multiple regression test included environmental characteristics related to Service time, Area of lobby, Season, Cleaning of ventilation system, and Temperature. Conclusions: According to this study, our result showed a normal level of endotoxin concentration in the hospital lobbies and found environmental management methods to reduce the level of endotoxin concentration to a minimum. Consequently, this study recognized to be requirement for the management of ventilation systems and an indoor temperature in order to reduce the level of endotoxin concentration in the hospital lobbies.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.179-184
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• 2010

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a food-borne pathogen that causes bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). We compared three selective media and evaluated the performance of immunomagnetic separation (IMS) for the detection of low levels of E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef and radish sprouts with different levels of background flora. Bulk food samples (500 g for each trial) were artificially inoculated with nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli O157:H7 at the lowest dose that would generate 20 partial-positive samples of 25 g each. All samples were homogenized in mTSB (225 mL) and incubated overnight at $37^{\circ}C$. IMS was performed using the enriched mTSB samples (1 mL) along with conventional spreads plated onto three different selective media: Sorbitol MacConkey agar (SMAC), Sorbitol MacConkey agar with cefixime and tellulite (CT-SMAC), and Sorbitol MacConkey agar with nalidixic acid (NAL-SMAC) as the gold standard. Two suspicious colonies from each medium were selected and confirmed usinga serological test after transfer to tryptic soy broth with yeast extract (TSAYE). CT-SMAC was better than SMAC for detecting E. coli O157:H7 in all food types. Although there was no statistical difference in the number of positive samples when using IMS vs. non-IMS techniques, more positive samples were detected when IMS was used in both ground beef and radish sprouts. It appears that the improvement was more significant in radish sprouts, which had a higher level of background flora than ground beef. The results also suggest that the combination of CT-SMAC and IMS is sufficient to recover low levels of E. coli O157:H7 in high background flora food samples.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.402-410
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the air quality surrounding an indoor swimming pool, to estimate the cancer risk based on the airborne exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs), and to examine the ventilation efficiency by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Chlorine and THMs were measured poolside, and in the staff room and reception area. The indoor swimming pool was modeled using the Airpak program, with ventilation drawings and actual survey data. Temperature, flow and mean age of the air were analyzed. Levels of chlorine poolside, and in the staff room, and reception area were $203\;{\mu}g/m^3$, $5\;{\mu}g/m^3$, and $10\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. Chloroform was the dominant THM in all sampling sites and mean concentrations were $16.30\;{\mu}g/m^3$, $0.51\;{\mu}g/m^3$, and $0.06\;{\mu}g/m^3$ poolside, in the staff room and reception area, respectively. Bromodichloromethane and Dibromochloromethane levels were respectively estimated as $10.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $1.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$ poolside, $1.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $0.1\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in the staff room, and were not detected in the reception area. The cancer risks from inhalation exposure to THMs were estimated between $3.37{\times}10^{-7}$ and $1.84{\times}10^{-5}$. A short circulation phenomenon was observed from the supply air vents to the exhaust air vents located in the ceiling. A high temperature layer was formed within one meter of the ceiling, and a low temperature layer was formed under this layer due to the low velocity and high temperature of the supply air, and the improper locations of the supply air vents and exhaust air vents. The stagnation was evident at the above adult pool and the mean age of the air was 22 minutes. Disinfection by-products in the indoor swimming pool were present in higher concentrations than in the outdoor air. In order to increase the removal of pollutants, adjustment was required of the supply air volume and the supply/exhaust position.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.432-438
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• 2021

Background: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and its associated agricultural work-related, biomechanical factors among this population. Methods: We analyzed initial survey data from the Safety for Agricultural Injury of Farmers cohort study involving adult farmers in Jeju Island. The prevalence of LBP was calculated with associated factors. Results: In total, 1,209 participants were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of LBP was 23.7%. Significant associations for LBP were the type of farming activity, length of farming career, prior agricultural injury within 1 year, and stress levels. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed three biomechanical factors significantly related to LBP: repetitive use of particular body parts; the inappropriate posture of the lower back and neck. Conclusions: Some occupational, and biomechanical risk factors contribute to LBP. Therefore, postural education, injury prevention education, and psychological support will be needed to prevent LBP.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.226-236
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• 2022

Background: An effective communication strategy for reducing conflicts in South Korea has been designed through the analysis of public perception and communication variables on nuclear power under the conditions of rapidly changing nuclear power policies. Materials and Methods: This study conducted both qualitative research through group discussions based on social psychology and quantitative research through surveys. Results and Discussion: Nuclear power plant (NPP) area residents in favor of nuclear power indicated higher levels of communication, safety perception, and contribution than those against it. NPP area residents trusted the civilian expert groups (18.3%) and local government (17.3%) the most, while metropolitan city residents trusted the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission and the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (20.7%) the most. In determining nuclear power policy, both the NPP area residents (18.1%) and metropolitan city residents (17.1%) prioritized safety, health, and the environment. While metropolitan city residents thought that energy security and economic growth (16.4%) were important, NPP area residents thought the current issue of spent fuel rods (14.1%) to be important. Conclusion: It is necessary for the nuclear power industry to have and actively implement communication and conflict resolution strategies based on the patterns obtained in the study results.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.78-85
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• 2004

Children are the most nutrition sensitive sub-group of a population. The nutritional status of children should be especially emphasized at all levels. This study was performed to investigate the current status, trend, and influencing factors to malnutrition of infants and children in China. The study was mainly based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey which is a longitudinal study conducted in 8 provinces and the data on growth of children under 7 years of age in 9 cities in China. The result of this study showed that one fifth of the children under 5 years of age are still suffering from stunted growth and one tenth suffering from underweight. The nutrition intervention on children under 2 years of age, especially on those under 18 months should be emphasized. Better supplementary food can improve the nutritional status to decrease the prevalence of stunted children. Therefore, the development of supplementary food should be the priority and should be emphasized with breastfeeding.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.95-107
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• 2016

Objectives: Physical activity is well known as one of the most effective health behaviors for maintaining and promoting health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regional variation, compositional and contextual factors on physical activities in Korea. Methods: This study analyzed data of 6,353 adults in 4th-1, 2 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Independent variables were compositional factors that included general characteristics, health behaviors, health status, and contextual factors that included physical environment, political environment, and social safety net. Dependent variables were vigorous physical activity, moderate physical activity, and walking activity. Multilevel analysis were used to determine a variation of physical activity between levels of compositional factors and contextual factors. Results: Physical activities of the Korean people were affected by the regional variables. Financial independence and population density were related with moderate physical activity significantly. Population density, school sport or rally spaces, cultural facilities, and social safety concerns were related with walking activity significantly. These variables impacted on physical activities along with variables at the individual level. Variance Partition Coefficient were 9.94% at moderate physical activity and 2.91% at walking activities, respectively. Conclusions: The results suggest that the regional variables should be considered when planning public intervention to promoting physical activities in Korean adults.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.382-391
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the microbial contamination of red pepper powder distributed within Gyeonggi province in 2020 according to the place of purchase, the country of origin, and whether the HACCP certification and sterilization were conducted, and to evaluate the change of quality according to the storage method. Upon collecting and analyzing 100 samples, Bacillus cereus was detected in 3 cases (2 cases in large supermarkets and 1 case in traditional markets) and Clostridium perfringens in 27 cases (9 cases in large supermarkets and 18 cases in traditional markets). The levels of the total aerobic bacteria were not significantly different between the red pepper powder purchased from large supermarkets and traditional markets. However, the frequency of red pepper powder exceeding 7 log CFU/g of total aerobic bacteria was higher in traditional markets than in large supermarkets. Microbial quality was not significantly different regardless of the storage temperature (30℃, 4℃, -20℃) and the packaging method (zipper bag and clean bag) after 7 months of purchase. However, the moisture contents and ASTA color value of red pepper powder stored at 30℃ decreased remarkably after 3 months of storage. It is desirable to store red pepper powder in a refrigerator or freezer in order to maintain its quality during long-term storage.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.923-933
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• 2011

In this study, we derived seven customer value factors to evaluate the levels of service in wastewater utilities required by customers. Levels of service according to the customer value were categorized into environmental amenity, accessibility of wastewater service, affordability of wastewater charge, quality of wastewater service, health and safety of wastewater service provision, reliability and responsiveness of wastewater service provision, and satisfaction of customer service. To investigate the levels of wastewater service, questionnaires were prepared according to the customer value factors, and the questionnaire survey was performed with 800 adults in all over Korea including male and female samples. The comprehensive satisfaction score for the wastewater service was 57.5 points, indicating a slightly good satisfaction level. The detailed analysis of the result showed that the satisfaction level was high in the wastewater service accessibility and call center service provision but it was relatively low in the river water quality and nasty smell of wastewater. It was concluded that the quality of wastewater service and customer service satisfaction need to be elevated primarily in order to improve levels of wastewater service required by the customers.