• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• /
• v.35
• /
• pp.3.1-3.11
• /
• 2023

Background: Studies on the risk of mercury (Hg) in Korean fishery products focus primarily on total Hg levels as opposed to methylmercury (MeHg) levels. None of the few studies on MeHg in tuna investigated tuna from Japanese restaurants. Few have evaluated lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in tuna. Thus, this study aimed to conduct a risk assessment by evaluating heavy metal concentrations in tuna from Japanese restaurants. Methods: Thirty-one tuna samples were collected from Japanese restaurants in the Republic of Korea. They were classified according to region and species. The concentration of heavy metals in the samples was analyzed using the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Food Code method. The rate of exceedance of maximum residue levels (MRLs) and the risk compared to the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) set by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (%PTWI) were evaluated for risk assessment. Results: The mean of MeHg, Pb, Cd and As concentrations were 0.56 ± 1.47 mg/kg, 33.95 ± 3.74 ㎍/kg, 14.25 ± 2.19 ㎍/kg and 1.46 ± 1.89 mg/kg, respectively. No sample exceeded the MRLs of Pb and Cd, but 9.7% of the samples exceeded the MRL of MeHg. The %PTWIs of MeHg, Pb, Cd and As were 4.2037, 0.0162, 0.0244 and 1.1627, respectively. The %PTWI of MeHg by age group and sex was highest among men aged 19-29 years (10.6494), followed by men aged 30-49 years (7.2458) and women aged 19-29 years (4.8307). Conclusions: We found that 3 out of 31 samples exceeded the MRL of MeHg. The %PTWI of MeHg showed significant differences based on age and sex, and the value was likely to exceed a safe level depending on individuals' eating behaviors. Therefore, improved risk management for MeHg is required.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.170-186
• /
• 2016

This paper introduces a multi-phase fuzzy risk graph model, representing a method for determining for SIL values for railway industry systems. The purpose of this paper is to compensate for the shortcomings of qualitative determination, which are associated with input value ambiguity and the subjectivity problem of expert judgement. The multi-phase fuzzy risk graph model has two phases. The first involves the determination of the conventional risk graph input values of the consequence, exposure, avoidance and demand rates using fuzzy theory. For the first step of fuzzification this paper proposes detailed input parameters. The fuzzy inference and the defuzzification results from the first step will be utilized as input parameters for the second step of the fuzzy model. The second step is to determine the safety integrity level and tolerable hazard rate corresponding to be identified hazard in the railway industry. To validate the results of the proposed the multi-phase fuzzy risk graph, it is compared with the results of a safety analysis of a level crossing system in the CENELEC SC 9XA WG A0 report. This model will be adapted for determining safety requirements at the early concept design stages in the railway business.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.107-117
• /
• 2007

Dispersion characteristics and envirounmental impactes of the stream sediments were investigated and geochemical disaster in the Namhae-Hwagye area was predicted. Stream sediments having no possibility of contamination effect and representing drainage basins were collected. Major and hazardous elements concentrations were determined by XRF, ICP-AES and NAA analysis methods. Acid decomposition for the ICP-AES have been used $HClO_4$ and HF with $200^{\circ}C$ heating at 1'st and after that $HClO_4$, HF and HCl with $200^{\circ}C$ heating at 2'nd stage. Hazardous elements concentrations for the stream sediments in the Namhae area were Cu $5.66{\sim}168\;ppm$, Pb $18.0{\sim}40.7\;ppm$, Cr $21.6{\sim}147\;ppm$, Co $4.86{\sim}25.3\;ppm$. Hazardous elements concentrations for the stream sediments in the Hwagye area were Cu $16.4{\sim}41.2\;ppm$, Pb $26.5{\sim}37.5\;ppm$ Cr $79.6{\sim}153\;ppm$, Co $15.7{\sim}29.5\;ppm$. Concentration of Cu and Co in the stream sediments show a negative correlation with $SiO_2$ in all study area. According to E.I.(Enrichment Index) of stream sediments was not enriched in study area. And average E.I. was 0.35 (Namhae) and 0.56 (Hwagye) respectively. The stream sediments were enriched as in order of Pb > Cr > Co > Cu. And the average of Enrichment Factor (E.F.) was 0.46 to 2.84, respectively. E.F. concentration of Cu and Co were nearly similar enrichment characteristic but E.F. concentration of Cr were higher enrichnent characteristic in Namhae than Hwagye area. Pb was highly enriched in all study area but the tolerable level that used to investigate the enrichment degree of hazardous elements, was not exposed to harmful hazardous elements.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.8
• /
• pp.1138-1146
• /
• 2016

This study was performed to estimate daily intakes of aluminum from Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle and evaluate their potential health risks for Koreans. Estimated daily intake of aluminum was calculated, whereas the actual level of aluminum in Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Food consumption amount was drawn from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI-1). In analysed samples, aluminum values ranged from 0.54~564.38 mg/kg in peeled Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle samples (n=53) and from 0.72~28.05 mg/kg in unpeeled ones (n=40). Statistically significant difference (P<0.001) was detected according to the type of skin. To estimate the dietary intake of Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle, a total of 7,242 respondents (scenario I) were compared to 227 Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle consumption subjects (scenario II). Estimated daily intake of aluminum was calculated based on point estimates. Level of safety for aluminum was evaluated by comparison with Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI), 1 mg/kg bw, set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. For scenario I, mean estimated daily intake of aluminum was 0.001 mg/kg bw/d. For scenario II, mean estimated daily intake of aluminum was 0.033 mg/kg bw/d, and 95th percentile estimated daily intake was 0.610 mg/kg bw/d. For scenario II, aluminum from Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle had a mean weekly intake that was the 23.1% of PTWI.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.447-460
• /
• 2013

Dietary supplement use is prevalent and represents an important source of nutrition. This study was conducted in order to assess the dietary maximum exposure of vitamins and minerals from various sources including regular diet, vitamin mineral supplements for non-prescription drug (VMS-NPD), vitamin mineral supplements for health functional foods (VMS-HFF), and fortified foods (FF). A total of 1,407 adolescent boys and girls attending middle or high schools were chosen from various cities and rural communities in Korea. Users of vitamin and mineral supplements (n = 60, 15-18 years of age) were chosen from the above 1,407 students. Intake of vitamins and minerals from a regular diet and FF was assessed by both food record method and direct interview for three days of two weekdays and one weekend, and those from VMS-NPD and VMS-HFF were assessed by both questionnaire and direct interview, and compared with the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) and the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for Korean adolescents. Daily average exposure range of vitamins and minerals from a regular diet was 0.3 to 4.4 times of the RNI. Some subjects had an excessive exposure to the UL in the following areas: from regular diets, vitamin A (1.7%) and niacin (5.0%); from only VMS-NPD, vitamin C (9.1%) and iron (5.6%); and from only VMS-HFF, niacin (8.6%) > vitamin $B_6$ (7.5%) > folic acid (2.9%) > vitamin C (2.3%). Nutrients of daily total intake from regular diet, VMS-NPD, VMS-HFF, and FF higher than the UL included nicotinic acid for 33.3% of subjects, and, then, in order, vitamin C (26.6%) > vitamin A (13.3%), iron (13.3%) > zinc (11.7%) > calcium (5.0%) > vitamin E (1.7%), vitamin $B_6$ (1.7%). Thus, findings of this study showed that subjects may potentially be at risk due to overuse of supplements, even though most of them took enough vitamins and minerals from their regular diet. Therefore, we should encourage adolescents to have sound health care habits through systematic and educational aspects.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.95-101
• /
• 2024

In this study, we investigated the migration level of items specified in the Korean Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packages (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Notification) for 50 utensils and hygiene products made of biodegradable resins. Our results revealed that one Polylactide (PLA) baby tableware contained 20 mg/L in consumption of potassium permanganate, exceeding the standard of 10 mg/L or less. In all other samples, formaldehyde, lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) levels could be considered very safe and remained below the standard. Moreover, we tested the PLA baby tablewares (n = 21) for migration into a food simulant (4% v/v acetic acid) upon repeated elution at 100℃ for 30 min or UV irradiation for 2 h. We detected increased formaldehyde and As amounts at the repeated 100℃ treatment for 30 min compared to those upon repeated UV irradiation. However, the migration level was markedly low under both conditions. Furthermore, the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) calculated on an infant-to-child basis from the formaldehyde and As migration at 100℃ for 30 min in the PLA sample was at the maximum value, i.e., 6.0×10^-4 mg/kg b.w./day and 1.3×10^-1 ㎍/kg b.w./day, corresponding to 0.40% and 10.42% of the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI, 0.15 mg/kg b.w./day) and Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI, 9.0 ㎍/kg b.w./week), respectively. Therefore, in this study, we confirmed that biodegradable synthetic resins are safe to use for food.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.127-132
• /
• 1991

Recently a non-electronic, disposable and portable infusor(Baxter infusor with patient control module, Baxter health care Co., Deerfield IL 60015 USA: BI $\bar{c}$ PCM) has been developed that will deliver both a continuous drug infusion as well as allow the patient to deliver extra doses of medication on a demand basis under predetermined limitation of analgesics. Patients may also not require as high analgesic dose rate to control pain when the acceptable and tolerable level of pain relief can be maintained by this device. From April l99l, we have used a total l93 units of BI $\bar{c}$ PCM. These units consisting of two components which one made by a balloon reservoir(capacity 65 ml, flow rate 0.5 ml/hr) to store medication and to regulate the pump power(490 torr), and another two PCMs to regulate additional analgesic administration by patients demand at intervals of 1S minutes and 60 minutes. The dose administered to the patient can be varied by changing the concentration of the infusate within the balloon reservoir. These devices were utilized for the pain control of 44 patients. These patients were divided into two groups. Twenty seven cases had cancer pain and 17 cases had non-cancer pain. The Touhy needle(No. l8 G.) tip was inserted into the epidural space and was used to guide the catheter to the spinal nerve level corresponding to the most painful area. The device was connected to the opposite site of the catheter tip and was filled with 60 ml of mixture solution such as 0.5% bupivacaine 15 ml, morphine HCl 10 mg, trazodone 10 ml, Tridol 3 ml and normal saline 31 ml were administed as the initial dose. When the initial dose was less effective, the next dose could be varied by increasing the concentration of bupivacaine, by adding more morphine (5~10 mg), and by reducing the volume of normal saline. Using these modules of drug self administration, we experienced the following: 1) Improvement of patient's self titration of analgesic requirement was provided. 2) The patients anxiety with pain recurrence resulting from delays in administering pain control medication was decreased significantly. 3) The working load accompanying with the single bolus injection as the usual method was reduced remarkably. 4) There was urinary retention in 5 cases and pruritus in 4 eases which developed as side effects but respiratory depression and vomiting was not encountered in a single case.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
• /
• 2003.05a
• /
• pp.148-148
• /
• 2003

This study is to investigate the environmental levels and trend of dioxins, which was the 3$\^$rd/ year of environmental monitoring research for endocrine disrupting chemicals since 1999. Total 282 samples were analyzed from 115 sites including 26 sites of airs, 43 sites of waters, 11 sites of sediments and 35 sites of soil, which were the same as those of investigated sites in 2000. Sampling period was from June 2001 to June 2002. Target chemicals were seventeen species of 2,3,7,8-chlorine-substituted PCDD and PCDF congeners and were analyzed by the standard methods, established by National Institute Environmental Research (NIER). The average concentration of dioxins in air decreased from 0.324 pg-TEQ/N㎥ in 2000 to 0.287 pg-TEQ/N㎥ in 2001, and those in water and soil were 0.073pg-TEQ/L and 1.703pg-TEQ/dry g, respectively, which was the less values detected in 2000. In sediment, however, the value was 0.086pg-TEQ/dry g, which was the increase from the value of the year 2000. The concentration range of dioxins in air for 26 sites in 17 regions detected were 0.013∼l.664pg-TEQ/N㎥, 4 sites from those were exceeded the Air Quality Standards of Dioxin in Japan (0.6 pg-TEQ/N㎥). The tolerable daily intake of dioxins was calculated at the highest level (1.664) in air, with referring the soil and food data from Japan, was calculated to be 2.85pg-TEQ/kg/day, which was below the level of 4 pg-TEQ/kg/day suggested in KFDA(Korea). While the average concentration of dioxins in 15 big cities was 0.190 pg-TEQ/N㎥, that in 8 medium/small cities constituting an industrial complex was 0.558 pg-TEQ/N㎥. In water, the concentration range detected were 0∼0.946pg-TEQ/L and the trend of the average concentrations shows an increase from those of 1999 but decreased from those of 2000, any sites however were not exceeded the Water Quality Standards of Dioxin in Japan (1 pg- TEQ/L). In soil. the detected range were 0∼43.333 pg-TEQ/dry g and the average concentration decreased, compared with the results of 2000. According to the monitoring results by land utilization, the detected range were 0∼43.333pg-TEQ/dry g in farmland, 0.017∼0.601 pg-TEQ/dry g in the industrial area, 0.005∼0.049pg-TEQ/dry g in the park and 0.008∼1.825 pg-TEQ/dry g in the rest. In sediment, the detected range increased from 0∼0.244 pg-TEQ/dry g to 0∼0.537 pg-TEQ/dry g, based on the results of 2000. For the proper control of dioxins, continuous monitoring needs to be performed and in addition, the dioxin inventory should be prepared for major sources through the dioxin emission survey. These results would provide sound and solid basis for proper decision making of dioxins management like establishment of environmental quality standards in Korea.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.67-72
• /
• 2013

This study has been conducted to provide a management plan for recycled products (plastic wastes) by identifying hazardous substances present in it and conducting exposure assessment. The concentration of 7 heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Zn) was analyzed. Exposure scenario was assumed by the consumption of kimchi made in a recycled plastic bucket. According to the analysis, all of the analyzed samples were within the food code standard level except one sample (137.03 mg/kg, sum of Cd, $Cr^{6+}$, Pb and Hg). In leaching test, all of heavy metals were within the leaching standard (Standards specifications of utensil and container-Packing). In an oral exposure test, Fe, Pb and Zn were detected in cabbages and were below PMTDI (Provisional Maximum Tolerable Daily Intake). As one of the recycled plastic buckets exceeded the standard level, we conclude not to recommend the recycled plastic buckets for cooking purpose.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.626-634
• /
• 2005

The objectives of this study was to assess pollution level and contamination status on tailings and soil in the vicinity of four disused metal mines in Kangwon province. As the result of total metal concentrations analysis, the pollution degree of tailings and soil decreased in the order of Wondong > Second Yeonhwa > Sinyemi ${\fallingdotseq}$ Sangdong mines. Total metal concentrations of mine tailings in this study were $1.2{\sim}78.2$ and $1.1{\sim}80.6$ times higher than those in the background soil and the tolerable levels suggested by Kloke, respectively. From these results, we found that tailings served as contamination source of nearby soil. According to sequential extraction of metals, large proportion of heavy metals in all mine tailings existed in the form of a residual fraction, and heavy metals in non-residual form was mainly associated with Fe-Mn oxide fraction and sulfidic-organic fraction. Fe-Mn oxide fraction and sulfidic-organic fraction of heavy metals may be released into and contaminated the nearby environment under the oxidation or reduction condition in long-term. In particular, the proportions of the exchangeable and carbonate fraction of Cd in mine tailings from Second Yeonhwa mine were relatively high. This suggests that Cd may be easily released into and contaminated the nearby environment in the near time. Concentrations of heavy metals in mine tailings and the nearby soil exceeded the standard (agricultural area) of Soil Environment Conservation Law. So it was thought that remediation for mine tailings and the nearby soil is needed. The pollution indices of the samples in this study were for higher than 1.0 and the pollution degree was very serious. Priority remediation site for these mines was Wondong. As Results of danger indices, it was showed that exchangeable form in Wondong and Fe-Mn oxide form in the rest mines should be removed preferentially.