• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.335-342
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• 2007

The objective of the study is to investigate the distribution patterns of airborne bacteria and fungi in the feedstuff manufacture factory. The mean levels of airborne bacteria and fungi in the feedstuff manufacture factory were $113({\pm}18)cfu/m^3$ and $89({\pm}5)cfu/m^3$ for pelleting process and $198({\pm}5)cfu/m^3$ and $124({\pm}12)cfu/m^3$ for powdering process, respectively. The percentage of respirable and total concentration of airborne bacteria and fungi in the feedstuff manufacture factory ranged from 60% to 90% and were higher in pelleting process than powdering process. The ratio of indoor and outdoor airborne microorganism exceeded 1.0 regardless of types of feedstuff manufacture process. Based on the result of the study, there would be an association between environmental factors such as relative humidity and carbon dioxide and airborne microorganism's bioactivity.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.517-525
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• 2020

Background: The study was planned to show the status of indoor microorganisms and the status of the reduction device in the military dog clinic. Methods: Airborne microbes were analyzed according to the number of daily patient canines. For identification of bacteria, sampled bacteria was identified using VITEK^®2 and molecular method. The status of indoor microorganisms according to the operation of the ventilation system was analyzed. Results: Airborne bacteria and fungi concentrations were 1000.6 ± 800.7 CFU/m³ and 324.7 ± 245.8 CFU/m³. In the analysis using automated identification system, based on fluorescence biochemical test, VITEK^®2, mainly human pathogenic bacteria were identified. The three most frequently isolated genera were Kocuria (26.6%), Staphylococcus (24.48%), and Granulicatella (12.7%). The results analyzed by molecular method were detected in the order of Kocuria (22.6%), followed by Macrococcus (18.1%), Glutamicibacter (11.1%), and so on. When the ventilation system was operated appropriately, the airborne bacteria and fungi level were significantly decreased. Conclusion: Airborne bacteria in the clinic tend to increase with the number of canines. Human pathogenic bacteria were mainly detected in VITEK^®2, and relatively various bacteria were detected in molecular analysis. A decrease in the level of bacteria and fungi was observed with proper operation of the ventilation system.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.104-114
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• 2007

This study evaluated the airborne concentrations of bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi in waiting rooms, wards, and outdoors, according to time and particle size between October 17 and November 28, 2003. The geometric mean number of airborne bacteria was highest in the morning. The more people there were, the higher was the total bacteria concentration. The concentration of fungi was also highest in the morning. Temperature and relative humidity affected the concentrations of fungi significantly (p<0.05). This study found relationships between microorganism concentrations and (actors such as time, place, temperature, humidity, ventilation, and number of people. Therefore, to manage the pollution resulting from airborne microorganisms, each time, place, and environmental factor should be examined periodically, and the number, size, and movement of airborne microorganisms should be evaluated.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.11-19
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• 2008

Mean levels of airborne bacteria, airborne fungi, temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide in total 69 general offices were $426({\pm}83)\;cfu/m^3$, $234({\pm}125)\;cfu/m^3$, $25.9({\pm}1.3)\;^{\circ}C$, $57.7({\pm}8.6)\;%$, $422({\pm}38)\;ppm$, respectively. The I/O ratio of airborne bacteria and fungi was over 1 and there was no significant difference among temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide in total 69 general offices. In construction period, a concentration of airborne bacteria and fungi was significantly highest in general offices constructed under one year and over three years since construction, respectively (p<0.05). The concentration of airborne fungi in general offices located at basement was significantly higher than those located at ground (p<0.05). No significant difference of airborne bacteria and fungi in general offices was found regardless of installation of HVAC system (p>0.05). The dominant bacterial genera identified in general offices was Staphylococcus, followed by Micrococcus, Bacillus, and Corynebacterium while usarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Rhizopus and Mucor were identified as dominant fungal genera in general offices.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

Concentration and identification of airborne bacteria in the regulated public facilities were examined with the six-stage cascade impactor. Geometric mean total and respirable concentrations of airborne bacteria were $404cfu/m^3$ and $194cfu/m^3$ in hospital, $931cfu/m^3$ and $358cfu/m^3$ in kindergarten, $294cfu/m^3$ and $134cfu/m^3$ in day-care center, and $586cfu/m^3$ and $254cfu/m^3$ in postpartum nurse center, respectively. As a result, culturable total and respirable concentrations of airborne bacteria were significantly highest in kindergarten and lowest in day-care center (p<0.05). The ratio of respirable to total concentration of airborne bacteria in the investigated public facilities was ranged from 30% to 40% but there was no significant difference among them (p>0.05). The mean I/O ratio of culturable total and respirable concentrations were 0.58 and 0.66 in hospital, 0.71 and 0.83 in kindergarten, 0.28 and 0.41 in day-care center, and 0.63 and 0.78 in postpartum nurse center, respectively. Day-care center showed the lowest I/O ratio of culturable total and respirable concentration of airborne bacteria (p<0.05) but a significant difference was not found among other facilities. Indoor concentration of airborne bacteria did not correlated significantly with indoor temperature and relative humidity (p>0.05) but had a significant positive correlation with $CO_2$ and surrounding condition (p<0.05). Staphylococcus spp., Micrococcus spp., Corynebacterium spp., and Bacillus spp. were dominant genera and amounted to over 95% of total airborne bacteria identified in the investigated public facilities. Size distributions of four dominant genera did not observed inconsistently regardless of type of public facility.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.211-216
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• 2012

Quantification of the airborne microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) at a swine wastewater treatment plant was performed. Microbial samples were collected at three different phases of the treatment process over a 1-yr period. Cultivation methods based on the viable counts of mesophilic heterotrophic bacteria and fungi were performed. The concentrations of airborne bacteria ranged up to about $5{\times}10^3$ colony-forming unit (CFU)/$m^3$, and those of airborne fungi ranged up to about $9{\times}10^2CFU/m^3$. The primary treatment (e.g., screen, grit removal, and primary sedimentation) was found to be the major source of airborne microorganisms at the site studied, and higher levels of airborne bacteria and fungi were observed in summer. High levels of the respirable bioaerosol (0.65 to $4.7{\mu}m$ in size) were detected in the aeration phase. Among the environmental factors studied, temperature was strongly associated with fungal aerosol generation (with a Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.90 and p-value <0.01). Occupational biorisks are discussed based on the observed field data.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.145-149
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• 2007

The range of reduction rates of airborne bacteria concentration at 6 hrs, 12 hrs, 24 hrs and 48 hrs, which means a storage time until input of agar media into incubator after air sampling with an impactor. were 15-20%, 25-40%, 35-50% and 55-70%, respectively, compared to initial concentration. Types of agar media and storage thermal condition did not significantly affect a collection efficiency of impactor in terms of evaluating airborne bacteria level (p>0.05). To better improve the impactor's collection efficiency of airborne bacteria, based on the result of this study, it is recommended that the vicinity of $25^{\circ}C$ should be sustained until input of agar media into incubator after air sampling.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.503-509
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was performed in order to evaluate the generation characteristics of airborne bacteria and fungi while operating a household humidifier, in consideration of user habits. Methods: Microbial samples were collected in a closed chamber with a total volume of 2.76 $m^3$, in which a humidifier was operated according to experimental strategies. A cultivation method based on the viable counts of mesophilic heterotrophic bacteria and fungi was performed. Experimental strategies were divided into three classes: the type of water in the water reservoir (tap water, cooled boiled water); the frequency of filling the reservoir (refill every day, no refill); and the sterilization method (sterilization function mode, humidifier disinfectants). Results: Significant increases in the concentration of airborne bacteria were observed while the humidifier was in operation. The concentration had increased to 2,407 $CFU/m^3$ by 120 hours when tap water filled the reservoir without any application of sterilization, while for cooled boiled water, it was merely 393 $CFU/m^3$ at a similar time point. Usages of disinfectant in the water tank were more effective in decreasing bioaerosol generation compared to sterilization function mode operation. Generation characteristics of airborne fungi were similar to those of bacteria, but the levels were not significant in all experiments. Calculated exposure factor can be used as an indicator to compare biorisk exposure. Conclusion: This study identified the potential for bioaerosol generation in indoor environments while operating a household humidifier. User practices were critical in the generation of bioaerosol, or more specifically, airborne bacteria. Proper usage of a humidifier ensures that any biorisks resulting from generated bioaerosol can be prevented.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.194-201
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the exposure level to dust and airborne microorganisms among employed workers in a clothing shopping center. Materials and Methods: On-site investigation of a clothing shopping center was performed between October and November 2012. The hazardous substances measured in this study are particulate matter(Total dust, respirable dust) and airborne microorganisms (Total airborne bacteria, total airborne fungi). Results: The highest geometric mean levels of particulate matter(total dust, respirable dust) for personal sampling were $1.735(SD:0.883)mg/m^3$ for total dust and $0.0711(SD:0.008)mg/m^3$ for respirable dust, respectively. Those for area sampling were $0.625(SD:0.091)mg/m^3$ for total dust and $0.0718(SD:0.012)mg/m^3$ for respirable dust, respectively. The highest geometric averaged concentrations of airborne microorganisms(Total airborne bacteria, total airborne fungi) were detected at $1,181(SD:105)cfu/m^3$ for total airborne bacteria and $683(SD:114)cfu/m^3$ for total airborne fungi, respectively. Concentrations of particulate matters and airborne microorganism in clothes shopping center did not correlate significantly with environmental factors such as temperature or relative humidity. Conclusions: Exposure levelshave not been established for service workers. Thus, health risk assessment for this group is very difficult. Health guidelines for service workers should be established as soon as possible.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제16권11호
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• pp.1684-1689
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• 2006

Airborne microorganisms, which are currently termed bioaerosols, have received attention owing to the harmful effects they have on human health. As the concern over airborne microorganisms grows, there also grows an urgent need to study and develop efficient methods for controlling them. In this study, thermal energy using a thermal tube was tested as a control method, mainly against airborne E. coli. For a comparison, B. subtilis var. niger spores were utilized in the experimentation. It was found that the widely known inactivation conditions for microorganisms were not adequate against airborne microorganisms. The experimental results demonstrated the need for extensive studies that should investigate adequate and economic conditions to control against airborne bacteria. In this study, thermal energy exposed by the thermal tube demonstrated an inactivation performance for controlling E. coli bioaerosols.