• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.408-417
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• 2013

Objectives: Phthalates are used as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. As phthalate plasticizers are not chemically bound to the PVC, they can leach, migrate or evaporate into indoor air and atmosphere, foodstuffs, other materials, etc. Therefore, humans are exposed through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure over their entire lifetime, including during intrauterine development. In particular, university students have a great number of opportunities to contact products including phthalates during campus life (food packaging, body care products, cosmetic, lotions, aftershave, perfume etc.). The purpose of this study was to examine levels of phthalate exposure as undergraduate students begin to use pharmaceuticals and personal care products including phthalates. Methods: Phthalate metabolites, mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-2- ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), {(mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP}, and mono-(2-ethlyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP} were examined. 80 urine samples collected from university students were analyzed using LC/MS/MS(API 4000, Applied Bioscience) with on-line enrichment and columnswitching techniques. This study was carried out at Y university located in Gyonggi Province from 2008 to 2011. Results: The detection limit of phthalate metabolites were 0.03 ng/mL for MEP, 0.11 ng/mL for MnBP, 0.08 ng/mL for MiBP, 0.93 ng/mL for MEHP, 0.19 ng/mL for MEOHP and 0.16ng/mL for MEHHP. MnBP showed the highest urinary levels (median: 31.6 ug/L, 24.8 ug/g creatinine (cr)). Concentrations were also high for MEHHP (median: 24.1 ug/L, 19.0 ug/g cr), followed by MEOHP (median: 22.8 ug/L, 17.9 ug/g cr). In individual cases, the maximum level reached up to 348 ug/L, and 291 ug/g cr, respectively. The urinary and creatinine adjusted levels of MEP were lower than those for DBP and DEHP metabolites, but were higher in 95th percentiles. As a result, the mean daily DEP intake value was 2.3 ${\mu}g/kg$ bw/day, 3.5 ${\mu}g/kg$ bw/day for DEHP and 4.9 ${\mu}g/kg$ bw/day for DBP. Conclusion: These students' phthalate exposure levels were below the international safe level set by the EU, but higher than the 2012 KFDA survey of the age group from 3 to 18.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate microbial contamination of Dutch coffee in Gyeonggi province, South Korea. A total of 70 different Dutch coffee were purchased from an offline market (food service business operator). Two types of coffee were considered: "coffee made from food service business operator" and "coffee made from food manufacturer." The levels of total aerobic bacteria were 0.74-6.21 log CFU/mL in 15 samples and fungi were 0.70-4.00 log CFU/mL in 21 samples. Total aerobic bacteria was detected at higher levels in "coffee made from food service business operator" than in "coffee made from food manufacturer," and the difference was not significant. Three samples in "coffee made from food manufacturer" exceeded the standard for total aerobic bacteria. Escherichia coli, Coliform, and 12 types of foodborne bacteria were not detected in all samples. The extraction method detected no difference in cell counts of total aerobic bacteria and fungi. Therefore, to reduce microbial contamination of Dutch coffee, managing hygiene while maintaining the refrigeration temperature from the bean management stage to the sale process is crucial.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.96-105
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• 2022

Background: Pyrethroid insecticides account for more than 30% of the global insecticide market and are frequently used in agricultural settings and residential and public pest control among the general population. While several animal studies have suggested that exposure to pyrethroids can alter glucose homeostasis, there is only limited evidence of the association between environmental pyrethroid exposure and diabetes in humans. Objectives: This study aimed to report environmental 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) concentrations in urine and evaluate its association with the risk of diabetes in Korean adults. Methods: We analyzed data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 2 (2012~2014) and Cycle 3 (2015~2017). A total of 10,123 participants aged ≥19 years were included. Multiple logistic regressions were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) for diabetes according to log-transformed urinary 3-PBA levels. We also evaluated age, sex, education, monthly income, marital status, alcohol drinking, physical activity, urinary cotinine, body mass index, and sampling season as potential effect modifiers of these associations. Results: After adjusting for all the covariates, we found significant dose-response relationships between urinary 3-PBA as quartile and the prevalence of diabetes in pooled data of KoNEHS Cycles 2 and 3. In subgroup analyses, the adverse effects of pyrethroid exposure on diabetes were significantly stronger among those aged 19~39 years (p-interaction<0.001) and those who consumed high levels of cotinine (p-interaction=0.020). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the potential diabetes risk of environmental exposure to pyrethroids and should be confirmed in large prospective studies in different populations in the future.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.86-97
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• 2015

Recently, the consumption of dietary supplements has increased because of people’s greater interest in health. Unfortunately, the sales of dietary supplements containing unauthorized substances such as drugs have also increased. We developed a rapid, accurate method for the simultaneous determination of antihistamines using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with a multiple reaction monitoring mode. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the instrument used in this method were in the ranges 0.0003-0.3 and 0.0009-0.6 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. The linearity of the method was > 0.99. The precision levels of the method were 0.1-9.8% (intra-day) and 0.3-9.6% (inter-day), and the levels of accuracy of the method were 82.7-115.0% (intra-day) and 84.3-113.0% (inter-day). The mean of recovery of the method was in the range of 83.9-117.9% and the RSD of the stability was less than 5.9%.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.284-292
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• 2012

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the relations between the bacterial concentration and the environmental factors in the water soluble metal working fluids at factories. Methods: The bacterial concentrations for airborne and fluid samples of 7 factories were quantified during the summer season. And we statistically analysed the relations between the bacterial concentrations and the factors such as temperature, relative humidity, usage quantity, mixing ratio and exchange interval. Results: The geometric mean levels of the airborne bacterial concentrations were 79.1(range : N.D.~686) $CFU/m^{3}$ and 68.1(range: N.D.~919) $CFU/m^{3}$ in the process and outdoor. The airborne bacterial concentrations showed no statistical difference by process, usage quantity, mixing ratio and exchange interval. The airborne bacterial concentrations had negatively weak correlations with air temperature and relative air humidity(p<0.05). The bacterial concentrations and pH showed significantly negative correlations in the fluids(p<0.05). And the airborne bacterial concentrations in factories and those in metal working fluids showed no statistical relationship. Conclusions: In the water soluble metal working fluids using factories, the airborne bacterial concentrations of the process were related to those of the outdoor and environmental factors, rather than the onsite contaminated metal working fluids.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of exposure to asbestos for ship repair workers in Korea by a systematic review. The number of articles studying asbestos exposure levels from ship repair workplaces was found to be 4. All asbestos concentration reported as either geometric mean and geometric standard deviation or ranges were transformed to arithmetic mean to estimate exposure level. In addition, weighted arithmetic means(WAMs) were calculated by weighing of the different number of samples. The WAM concentrations were 2.746 f/cc during asbestos dismantling work, 0.034 f/cc before asbestos dismantling work and 0.065 f/cc after working respectively. The maximum airborne concentration of asbestos during asbestos removal work was 7.02 f/cc which was 70 times higher than the occupational exposure limit of Korea, 0.1 f/cc. This study recommends that retrospective exposure to asbestos based on various ship types and operations should be assessed.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.480-488
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• 2019

To ensure the safety of products containing omega-3 fatty acids, twenty fish and algae oil omega-3 products available in a Gyeonggi Province, South Korea market were analyzed for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content, as well as for oxidative status. Of the tested products, 90% complied with the CODEX/FAO fish oil standards on a p-anisidine value (p-AV) limit of 20, and 80% complied with the CODEX/FAO fish oil standards on the TOTOX limit of 26, respectively. Fully 100% of the products complied with EPA/DHA content levels. In addition, 90% of the tested products met with a peroxide value (PV) limit of 10 meq/kg while 95% of products were within the a p-AV limit of 30. Also, 95% of the products had a calculated TOTOX value of 50, which is lower than the stringent limits used by the European and British Pharmacopeia and Australian authorities.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.82-89
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• 2011

Methylcyclohexane is frequently used in industrial sites (2,592tons/year) as rubber adhesives, ink, paint thinners, organic solvents, and so on. However, there are limited data on the toxic evaluation of methylcyclohexane. This study aims to predict the hazards and neurological effects of methylcyclohexane using SD rats in order to prevent health disorders of workers. The OECD Guideline for Testing of Chemicals (OECD, 2001) was used as a reference during the tests. For 13 weeks (once a day, five days per week) 0, 10, 100 and 1,000mg/kg/day of methylcyclohexane was injected to SD rats to observe any changes in the body or organ weight, hematology, histopathology, mobility, blood pressure, and neurotransmitter. As a result, some male and female SD rats injected with 1,000mg/kg/day of methylcyclohexane died. On the other hand, surviving rats showed significant changes such as hematological changes involving the decrease in the number of red blood corpuscles, and the decrease or increase in the weight of the lungs, kidneys, spleens, and livers (p< 0.05, p<0.01). Also histopathological lesions were observed in the hearts and kidneys. In the test for the effect on the nervous system, SD rats injected with 100mg/kg/day of methylcyclohexane had higher blood pressure levels compared to the control group. However, no abnormal effects was observed in the mobility, serotonin, neurotransmitter, and the biopsy of the brain and coronary arteries. The study results revealed that the livers, hearts, and kidneys were affected by methylcyclohexane. The absolute toxic dose of methylcyclohexane is 1,000mg/kg/day, NOAEL is 100 mg/kg/day, and it is not a toxic substance to the nervous system.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to predict industrial accident rate using time series analysis. Methods: The rates of industrial accident and occupational injury death were analyzed using industrial accident statistics analysis system of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency from 2001 to 2014. Time series analysis was done using the most recent data, such as raw materials of Economically Active Population Survey, Economic Statistics System of the Bank of Korea, and e-National indicators. The best-fit model with time series analysis to predict occupational injury was developed by identifying predictors when the value of Akaike Information Criteria was the lowest point. Variables into the model were selected through a series of expertises' consultations and literature review, which consisted of socioeconomic structure, labor force structure, working conditions, and occupational accidents. Results: Indexes at the meso- and macro-levels predicting well occurrence of occupational accidents and occupational injury death were labor force participation rate for ages 45-49 and budget for small scaled workplace support. The rates of industrial accident and occupational injury death are expected to decline. Conclusion: For reducing industrial accident continuously, we call for safe employment policy of economically active middle aged adults and support for improving safety work environment of small sized workplace.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.298-309
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate stages of safety and health culture change through a reflection on 40 years of hearing conservation history at a multinational company. Methods: The target workplaces were multinational companies with more than 1,000 employees. The research used the clinical case study and system analysis methods based on direct observation of the research from 1994 to 2009. The latter method performed an analysis of the equilibrium state of the cross-section in the given period and the longitudinal profile of the change during the given period. Results: The stages of cultural change are divided into five stages and summarized as follows. In the first stage, workplace noise was not widely recognized as a hazard, while in the second stage, the measurement of noise levels and audiometric testing were conducted under the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA). The driving force for change in the second stage was the amendment of the KOSHA. In the third stage, noise came to be recognized as a hazard factor through awareness training. The driving force of change during the third stage was the strong executive power exerted by the audit of the industrial hygiene program from the US head office. In the fourth step, there was a change to actually reduce noise. The driving force in this stage was a change in company executives' risk perception resulting from lawsuits over noise-induced hearing loss and the task force team activities for culture change based on the action learning protocol. At the fifth stage, a 'buy quiet policy' was institutionalized. The management's experience that noise reduction was difficult was the motivation to manage noise from the time of purchase of equipment. Conclusions: The activities of a hearing conservation program are determined by the improvement of the legal system and by the way it is enforced. Noise control activities to reduce noise areas may be possible through the shared risk perception of noise-induced hearing loss and by a change agent role as a facilitator to implement noise control.