• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.103-106
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• 2012

The effect of continuous humidifier use on the bioaerosol concentration in an indoor environment was investigated. An ultrasonic humidifier was operated for 10 hr per day for 15 days in an apartment room. During this time period, viable bioaerosol samples were taken using a single-stage Andersen sampler containing culture media plates for bacteria and fungi. The culture plates were then incubated at room temperature for 2~7 days depending on the media. The counts for the air sample plates were corrected for multiple impactions using the positive hole conversion method and are reported as the colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/$m^3$). While the bacterial concentration measured using the tryptic soy agar (TSA) did not show any significant change during the first 3 days, the concentration increased from the $6^{th}$ day (6979 CFU/$m^3$) and reached a maximum on the $9^{th}$ day (46431 CFU/$m^3$). The concentration then decreased to 2470 CFU/$m^3$ on the $12^{th}$ day, at which point the fungal concentration increased rapidly to 14424~16038 CFU/$m^3$. Also, while the fungal concentration showed a significant change until the $9^{th}$ day of humidifier use, fungal growth was observed on the wallpaper and increased rapidly from the $12^{th}$ day. However, the bacterial concentration increased rapidly after the fungi were removed by remediation. The major fungal species identified in the samples were Penicillium representing 34%, Aspergillus representing 31%, Cladosporium representing 24%, and Alternaria representing 1%. The results also indicated that a relative humidity over 80% was easily achieved with continuous humidifier use. Yet, maintaining a high humidity in a room can cause a rapid outbreak of microbial growth.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2013

Various antimicrobial technologies have been developed to inactivate bioaerosols in indoor environments. In this study, air filter media were treated with a natural antibacterial agent of Sophora flavescens in order to inactivate the bacteria collected on the air filter. Three treatment methods were applied to manufacture the test antibacterial air filter media: electrospray, nebulization and dip-coating methods. In case of electrospray and nebulization processes, the size distribution of aerosolized natural antibacterial agent was measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer. Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria were aerosolized to test inactivation of the filter media treated with a natural antibacterial agent. The pressure drop and the antibacterial efficiency of the filter media increased with increasing the mass loading of natural antibacterial agent in each treatment method. The antibacterial efficiency per loaded antibacterial agent mass by the electrospray method was the highest and the filter treated by the dip-coating method was the lowest among three treatment methods.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.381-385
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• 2015

In the present study, drop-on-demand two-dimensional patterning of unstained and stained bacterial cells on untreated clean wafers was newly conducted using an electrospray pulsed jet. We produced various spotted patterns of the cells on a silicon wafer by varying the experimental conditions, such as the frequency, flow rate, and translational speed of the electrospray system in a two-dimensional manner. Specifically, the electrospray's pulsed jet of cell solutions produced alphabetical patterns consisting of spots with a diameter of approximately $10{\mu}m$, each of which contained a single or a small number of viable bacteria. We tested the viability of the patterned cells using two visualization methods. This pattering technique is newly tested here and it has the potential to be applied in a variety of cell biology experiments.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.265-275
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution patterns and exposure concentrations of biological hazards in waste handling industries. Methods: We selected 3 recyclable waste sorting plants(RWS), 2 food recycling plants(FR), 1 landfill area(LA) and 1 waste incineration plant(WI). Total airborne bacteria and fungi were measured with single stage impactor and gelatin filters. Endotoxin and glucan were measured with polycarbonate filters in total and respirable dust. Results: The geometric mean of airborne bacterial concentration was the highest in FR($3,273CFU/m^3$), followed by LA, RWS, and WI as 1,334, 934, and $860CFU/m^3$. The fungal concentrations were 6,031, 5,052, 3,307, and $713CFU/m^3$ in RWS, WI, FR, and LA, respectively. By process, WI pit showed the highest concentrations of bacteria, fungi, and endotoxin, followed by inside of bulldozer in LA. The indoor to outdoor ratios of bacteria, fungi, endotoxin and glucan were 2.3, 4.0, 2.3, and 5.0 in RWS, 29.5, 4.9, 7.6, and 5.0 in FR, 5.3, 8.7, 26.8, and 9.5 in WI, respectively. Conclusions: We found that biological hazards, specifically bacteria in FR, fungi in RWS and endotoxin in WI pit and bulldozer at LA, should be controlled to prevent worker's respiratory diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.300-309
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• 2014

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate microbial exposure hazards in the metal-working fluids(MWF) handling industry. Methods: Air quality parameters(airborne bacteria, fungi, endotoxin and oil mist) and bulk MWF in storage tanks were evaluated at 54 points at nine sites in South Korea. Results: The geometric means(GM) of culturable airborne bacteria, fungi, endotoxin and oil mist concentration were $133CFU/m^3$(n=376, range $7{\sim}6,510CFU/m^3$), $159CFU/m^3$(n=381, range $7{\sim}8,469CFU/m^3$), $8.06EU/m^3$(n=103, range $0.34{\sim}280.4EU/m^3$) and $0.20mg/m^3$(n=104, range $0.01{\sim}2.87mg/m^3$), respectively. The ratio of indoor to outdoor concentration was 2.7 for bacteria, 6.1 for endotoxin, and 4.8 for oil mist. Even though average airborne bacteria concentration did not exceed recommended exposure limits($1,000CFU/m^3$), MWF in the storage tanks was highly contaminated with bacteria(arithmetic mean $2.1{\times}10^6CFU/ml$) and exceeded recommended bacteria limits($10^5CFU/ml$). Conclusions: It is necessary for MWF handling workplaces to conduct periodical biohazard inspection of MWF storage tanks. Additionally, further research may be necessary to establish biological occupational exposure limits.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.347-357
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• 2023

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic turned biological hazards in the working environment into a global concern. This systematized review of published reviews aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the specific jobs and categories of workers exposed to biological hazards with the related prevention. Methods: We extracted reviews published in English and French in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Two authors, working independently, subsequently screened the potentially relevant titles and abstracts recovered (step 1) and then examined relevant full texts (step 2). Disagreements were resolved by consensus. We built tables summarizing populations of exposed workers, types of hazards, types of outcomes (types of health issues, means of prevention), and routes of transmission. Results: Of 1426 studies initially identified, 79 studies by authors from every continent were selected, mostly published after 2010 (n = 63, 79.7%). About half of the reviews dealt with infectious hazards alone (n = 38, 48.1%). The industrial sectors identified involved healthcare alone (n = 16), laboratories (n = 10), agriculture (including the animal, vegetable, and grain sectors, n = 32), waste (n = 10), in addition of 11 studies without specific sectors. The results also highlighted a range of hazards (infectious and noninfectious agents, endotoxins, bioaerosols, organic dust, and emerging agents). Conclusion: This systematized overview allowed to list the populations of workers exposed to biological hazards and underlined how prevention measures in the healthcare and laboratory sectors were usually well defined and controlled, although this was not the case in the agriculture and waste sectors. Further studies are necessary to quantify these risks and implement prevention measures that can be applied in every country.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.188-194
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• 2005

To assess microbiological indoor air quality in schools, concentrations of viable airborne microorganisms were monitored at classrooms and corridors of 3 middle or high schools in Ulsan. Airborne microorganisms were sampled at various situations during a semester (class-hour, lunchtime, after school) and during a vacation with an impaction-type air sampler. During the semester, the number of bacteria was the highest at lunchtime in corridor with an average of $1,111\;MPN/m^{3}$ and lowest at class-hour in corridor with an average of $132\;MPN/m^{3}$. During the vacation, the bacterial concentrations at classrooms and corridors were only $5{\%}$ and $27{\%}$ of the values during class-hours of the semester, respectively. Among the colonies tested, $60{\%}$ were identified as relatively harmless Micrococcus species and $12{\%}$ were Staphylococcus species. During the semester, the average values of fungal concentrations at each situation ranged from 105 to $213\;MPN/m^{3}$, and the values during the vacation were $32\;MPN/m^{3}$ at classrooms and $83\;MPN/m^{3}$ in corridors. Fungal genera such as Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus were identified from the colonies. The obtained data can be considered as a step to set a guideline for bioaerosols in indoor environment of schools.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2003

To assess microbiological indoor air quality in kindergartens, concentrations of viable airborne microorganisms were seasonally determined at three kindergartens in Ulsan from April, 2002 to January, 2003. Sampling was performed with an impaction-type air sampler and three different media. The numbers of bacteria grown on Staphylococcus medium were between 84 and 4,150 MPN/m3 with an average of 827 MPN/m3, and those on standard method agar ranged from 50 to 2,636 MPN/m3 with an average of 580 MPN/m3. The bacterial concentrations were highest in summer, followed by fall, spring, and winter, and were significantly correlated with indoor temperature. Among the colonies, 45.6~61.0% were observed as Gram-positive cocci and 8.5~20.6% were Gramnegative rods. Micrococcus species were the dominant organisms. The numbers of fungi ranged from 0 to 1,888 MPN/m3(661 MPN/m3 average) based on colony counts with dichloran rose bengal chloramphenicol agar. On average, the fungal concentrations were highest in summer and lowest in winter. Penicillium species and Aspergillus species were identified from the colonies. The obtained data can be utilized as a step to set a guideline for bioaerosols in indoor environment of schools.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.138-146
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aims to compare and evaluate the reduction efficiency of disinfectants used in the domestic meat processing industry to reduce bioaerosol exposure of meat industry workers and to use this as basic data for establishing work environment management measures. Methods: Thirteen disinfectants sold in South Korea were selected for evaluation and the bacterial reduction effect of the disinfectants was investigated. Bacterial suspension and surface disinfection tests were conducted to compare and analyze the antibacterial strength of the disinfectants. Pork carcasses, cutting boards, benches, and conveyor belts were selected for surface sterilization tests. Results: As a result of the bacterial suspension experiment test, all disinfectants had a bacterial reduction efficiency of more than 86%. Among them, the bacterial reduction efficiency of chlorine disinfectants was 99.93% on average. In the results of the pork carcass surface sterilization test, the rate of reduction of disinfectants made of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) was the highest. Tests of plastic cutting boards showed that chlorine disinfectants had the best sterilization effect. Experiments on stainless steel benches showed the best bacterial reduction efficiency for chlorine dioxide and QACs disinfectants. In the conveyor belt made of urethane, QACs disinfectants showed excellent sterilization effects. Conclusions: The study evaluated the disinfection power of disinfectants against bacteria occurring in domestic meat processing plants. All disinfectants were found to be effective in bacterial suspension experiments, and chlorine disinfectants were particularly effective. In surface sterilization experiments, sterilizing agents with QACs as the main ingredient were excellent.