• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.73-81
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• 1991

To assess biological air quality, concentrations of viable airborne microbes were determined in hospital home and outdoor air from August 25 to October 18, 1990. Bacteria, fungi and thermophilic bacteria were sampled using gravitational and suctional sampling method. In bacteria groups, the Staphylococcus spp. was identified by microscopic examination and biochemical tests. Results of the study are as follows. 1. Results using the gravitational sampling method indicated that average numbers of airborne microbes in hospital home and outdoor air were 21.5, 12.2 and 17.6 CFU/plate, respectively. These levels are well within an appropriate standard of 50 CFU/plate suggested by Endo. 2. Results using the suctional sampling method indicated that total airborne microbe concentrations in hospital, home and outdoor air were 1,998, 1,363 and $1,880CFU/m^3$, respectively. All of the results were within the recommended remedial action level, $10,000CFU/m^3$ of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists(ACGIH). 3. Concentration of thermophilic bacteria in hospital and outdoor air were 79 and $111CFU/m^3$, respectively. Thermophilic bacteria were not detected in the home air. These results were within the remedial action level, $500CFU/m^3$. 4. Concentrations of Gram negative bacilli in holpital home and outdoor air were 20.3, 23.6 and $16.8CFU/m^3$, respectively. all were within the remedial action level, $500CFU/m^3$, recommended by ACGIH. 5. Concentrations of Staphylococcus spp. in hospital, home and outdoor air were 34.8, 14.7, and $22.4CFU/m^3$. respectively. all were within the remedial action level, $75CFU/m^3$, recommended by ACGIH. The percentages of Staphylococcus spp. in total bacteria in hospital, home and outdoor air were 19.0, 10.2 and 14.5%, respectively.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.306-312
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• 2010

This field study was performed to evaluate the efficiency of a plasma ion-operated air cleaner in temporal reduction of airborne pollutants emitted from a pig housing facility. In the case of gaseous pollutants, the plasma ion air cleaner was not effective in reducing levels of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, or sulfur dioxide (p>0.05). In the case of particulate pollutants, however, the air cleaner was effective in reducing levels of particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_1$) by 79(${\pm}6.1$) and 78(${\pm}3.0$)%, respectively. Unlike the case of these fine particle fractions, the reduction of total suspended particles (TSP) and $PM_{10}$ following treatment was almost negligible. In the case of biological pollutants, the mean reduction efficiencies for airborne bacteria and fungi were relatively low at 22(${\pm}6.6$) and 25(${\pm}8.7$)%, respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that in terms of air pollutants released from this pig housing facility, the plasma ion air cleaner was primarily effective in reducing levels of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_1$.

• 한국대기환경학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.69-76
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• 2004

Asian Dust samples were collected in the ambient air of Seosan, Western Korea, in spring of 2000∼2002. PM (Particulate Matter) concentrations were 199,8$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ in the first Asian Dust period (March, 23∼24) and 249.4$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ in the second period (April, 7∼9) of 2000. Compared with the concentrations in 2000, relatively low PM concentrations, 157.3$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ were measured in the periods of 2001 (April, 24∼26). Especially high PM concentration 953.1$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ were measured in the periods of 2002 (March, 21∼22). The variation in the PM concentration was observed according to the time for the formation of Asian dust. Considering the particle size distributions of Asian dust, a high concentration was also observed in coarse particle region. The results of backward trajectory model showed the route of the dust storms from northern area of Mongol and Gobi desert. Various mycelia grown from fungal spores were observed on the PM samples and identified at the genus level. All the genera from the three years (2000∼2002), Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Basipetospora, Epicoccum and Monotospora are hyphomycetes in the division Fungi imperfecti (Deuteromycota). Fungal composition on the dust sample in March, 2000 was similar to the result of March, 2002. However, the result of April, 2001 was obviously different from the other dust periods. The variations of fungal compositions between the dust periods could be caused by the trajectories of the dust storms.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.84-94
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• 2013

Objectives: The objective of this study is to identify the composition of dominant microorganisms in waste handling industries. Methods: We collected airborne bacteria and fungi by agar plate impaction method in recyclable waste sorting industry, food recycling industry, landfill and incineration. Isolated dominant microorganisms were identified by VITEK system or morphological analysis. Results: We isolated totally 330 microorganisms in the process and outdoor. Bacillus was the most dominant genus in the all industries, and Sphingomonas, Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus, and Proteus was dominant bacterial genus. The dominant genus of fungi was Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium in each industries. Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, and Proteus was identified as the dominant gram negative bacteria. The ratio of bacteria being biosafety levels(class 1 or 2) was 58.3~77.8%. Conclusions: This study has investigated the dominant microorganisms in the waste handling industries. The genus of dominant microorganisms was similar among the industries but the composition was different. We used biosafety levels as qualitative method, but further studies are needed about specific process of qualitative evaluation methods.

• Mycobiology
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.229-237
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• 2010

Members of the genus Aspergillus are the most common fungi and all reproduce asexually by forming long chains of conidiospores (or conidia). The impact of various Aspergillus species on humans ranges from beneficial to harmful. For example, several species including Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger are used in industry for enzyme production and food processing. In contrast, Aspergillus flavus produce the most potent naturally present carcinogen aflatoxins, which contaminate various plant- and animal-based foods. Importantly, the opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus has become the most prevalent airborne fungal pathogen in developed countries, causing invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients with a high mortality rate. A. fumigatus produces a massive number of small hydrophobic conidia as the primarymeans of dispersal, survival, genome-protection, and infecting hosts. Large-scale genome-wide expression studies can now be conducted due to completion of A. fumigatus genome sequencing. However, genomics becomes more powerful and informative when combined with genetics. We have been investigating the mechanisms underlying the regulation of asexual development (conidiation) and gliotoxin biosynthesis in A. fumigatus, primarily focusing on a characterization of key developmental regulators identified in the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans. In this review, I will summarize our current understanding of how conidiation in two aspergilli is regulated.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.446-450
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• 2013

The ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum is a major causal agent for Fusarium head blight in cereals and produces mycotoxins such as trichothecenes and zearalenone. Isolation of the fungal strains from air or cereals can be hampered by various other airborne fungal pathogens and saprophytic fungi. In this study, we developed a selective medium specific to F. graminearum using toxoflavin produced by the bacterial pathogen Burkholderia glumae. F. graminearum was resistant to toxoflavin, while other fungi were sensitive to this toxin. Supplementing toxoflavin into medium enhanced the isolation of F. graminearum from rice grains by suppressing the growth of saprophytic fungal species. In addition, a medium with or without toxoflavin exposed to wheat fields for 1 h had 84% or 25%, respectively, of colonies identified as F. graminearum. This selection medium provides an efficient tool for isolating F. graminearum, and can be adopted by research groups working on genetics and disease forecasting.

• 환경생물
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.294-299
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• 2002

PM (Particulate Matter) samples contained fungal spores were collected in the ambient air of Seosan, west Korea, in springtime of 2000 and 2001. PM concentrations were $199.8\mu{g}\;m^{-3}$ in the 1st Asian Dust Storm period (March, 23 ~ 24) and $249.4\mu{g}\;m^{-3}$ in the 2nd period (April, 7~9), 2000. Compared with the concentrations in 2000, relatively low PM concentration ($157.3\mu{g}\;m^{-3}$ ) was measured in the Asian Dust Storm period (April, 24 ~ 20) of 2001. Although there were somewhat differences for the total PM concentrations among the three periods, majorities of the PM were composed of coarse particles sized about 5 ~ 6 $\mu{m}$ over the periods of the two years. Diverse molds grown from fungal aerosols were observed in the PM samples and identified at the genus level. All the genera, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Basipetospora, Epicoccum and Monotospora are hyphomycetes in the division Fungi imperfecti (Deuteromycota). Especially, morphologically more diversified mycelia of hyphomycetes were grown on the fine PM sample (1.1 ~ 2.1 $\mu{m}$) than coarse PM samples in the periods of 2000. Furthermore, some molds were grown on even the background PM sample less than 0.43 $\mu{m}$ in the period of 2001. It was thought that some kinds of ultra fine sized fungal spores were transported by the Asian Dust Storm and suspended in the ambient air of study area during the events.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.188-194
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• 2005

미생물학적 실내공기질을 평가하기 위하여, 울산에 위치한 중${\cdot}$고등학교 3곳이 교실과 복도에서, 학기 중(수업시간, 점심시간, 방과 후)과 방학 중 등 상황별로 공기중 미생물의 농도를 조사하였다. 미생물의 포집에는 충돌식 공기 채취기를 사용하였으며, 세균수는 plate count agar, 진균수는 dichloran rose bengal chloramphenicol agar를 사용하여 측정하였고, 이들 배지로부터 세균과 진균을 분리하여 동정하였다. 학기 중 세균 농도는 점심시간의 복도에서 평균 $1,111\;MPN/m^{3}$로 가장 높았고, 수업시간의 복도에서 평균 $132\;MPN/m^{3}$로 가장 낮았으며, 방학 중의 측정값은 교실과 복도에서 각각 학기 중 수업시간의 $5{\%}$와 $27{\%}$ 수준이었다. 조사한 집락의 $60{\%}$는 병원성과 관련이 적은 Micrococcus spp.로 동정되었고. Staphylococdcus 속은 $12{\%}$를 차지하였다. 학기 중 진균의 평균 농도는 상황별로 $105{\~}213\;MPN/m^{3}$의 범위였으며, 방학 중의 측정값은 교실과 복도에서 각각 $32\;MPN/m^{3}$와 $83\;MPN/m^{3}$이었다. 공기중 진균의 집락으로부터 Cladosporium 속, Penicillium 속, Aspergillus 속 등을 확인할 수 있었으며, 언급한 3 속이 조사한 집락의 $77{\%}$를 차지하였다. 연구의 결과는 학교 실내에서 학생수와 함께 활동성과 연관된 상황에 따른 세균 농도의 변이를 보여주었으며, 학교 환경에서 bioaerosol의 허용수준을 결정함에 있어 이를 고려해야 함을 제안하고 있다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.324-333
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• 2016

Objectives: We aimed to compare the sampling performance of different flow-based impactor samplers for collecting fungal spores and bacteria and to explore the association of the level of bioaerosols with activity patterns of occupants in daycare center settings. Methods: For comparison of sampling performance, two different flow-based samplers (greater than 100 L/min or not) were selected; a low flow-based sampler (one-stage Andersen sampler) and two high flow-based samplers (DUO SAS SUPER 360 sampler, BUCK bio-culture sampler). We collected airborne mold and bacteria in 30 daycare centers with various levels of contaminated air. Three repeat samplings per each sampler were performed. Mold and bacteria were grown for 96 hours at $25{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and 48 hours at $35{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, respectively. The Andersen and SAS samplers were used for investigating the association between the level of bioaerosols and the activity patterns of occupants in daycares. Particular matters 10($PM_{10}$), temperature, and relative humidity were monitored as well. Samplings were carried out with one-hour interval from 9 to 5 O'clock. For statistical comparisons, Kruskal-Wallis test, Wilcoxon's signed rank test, and multiple regression analysis were carried out. Results: The airborne level of molds by the low flow-based sampler were significantly higher than that of high flow-based samplers (indoor, P=0.037; outdoor, P=0.041). However, no statistical difference was observed in the airborne level of bacteria by each sampler. Also the level of bioaerosols varied by the time, particularly with different activity patterns in daycare centers. The higher level of mold and bacteria were observed in play time in indoor. Similarly, the concentrations of $PM_{10}$ were significantly associated with the level of bioaerosols (P<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the flow rate of sampler, rather than total air volume, could be able to affect the results of sampling. Also, the level of airborne mold and bacteria vary behavior patterns of occupants in indoor of daycare settings. Therefore, different samplers with other flow rate may be selected for mold or bacteria sampling, and activity patterns should be considered for bioaerosol sampling as well.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.38-49
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• 2011

하수처리시설에서 발생하는 공기중 미생물은 작업자 및 주민에게 건강상 위해의 요인이 될 수 있다. 이들 시설에서 공기중 세균과 진균의 농도 수준을 파악하기 위해 울산시에 위치한 위생처리장 1곳(YC-STP)과 하수처리장 3곳(YY-, OS-, HY-STP)의 포기조와 포기조 근처 지점에서 계절별로 공기중 미생물을 포집하였다. YC-STP의 공기중 세균 농도는 포기조에서 $1.3({\pm}0.2){\times}10^3-2.6({\pm}1.1){\times}10^4$ MPN/$m^3$, 포기조 근처에서 $1.7 ({\pm}1.0){\times}10^2-7.2({\pm}2.2){\times}10^3$ MPN/$m^3$로 매우 높았으며, 대장균군도 검출되었다. YY-, OS-, HY-STP의 공기중 세균 농도는 포기조에서 $1.9({\pm}1.2){\times}10^1-1.8({\pm}1.2){\times}10^4$ MPN/$m^3$, 포기조 근처에서 $5.0({\pm}2.8){\times}10^0-6.6({\pm}2.0){\times}10^3$ MPN/$m^3$의 범위였다. YC-, OS-, YY-STP에서의 공기중 세균 농도는 대조군 지점에 비해 평균값 기준으로 포기조에서는 16-1,200배, 포기조 근처에서는 9-280배 정도 더 높은 수치였으며, 포기조 근처(10 m)보다 포기조(0 m)에서 1.7-4.4배 정도 더 높았다. 공기중 세균을 분리하여 동정한 결과 하수처리시설에서는 Pseudomonas luteola, 대조군 지점에서는 Micrococcus sp.가 우점하였다. 공기중 진균의 농도는 포기조 보다 포기조 근처에서 더 높았으며 포기조 외에 다른 주요 발생원이 존재함을 시사한다. Cladosporium, Alternaria, Penicillium의 3속이 주로 검출되었다.