• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.14-37
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• 2014

Objectives: Since information on biological factors in the workplace are currently lacking, I wanted to create a handbook of these factors that would be viewable at a glance as a means to more effectively prevent occupationally-infected diseases. Proper information on biological hazards in the workplace allowing the appropriate recognition of the harmful factors is desperately needed. Methods and Results: In this study, I intended to create a high-utility handbook of biologically hazardous agents in the workplace. To ensure its effectiveness, information and references about biologically hazardous agents in the workplace were analyzed and classified and pathogen safety data sheets(PSDS) sourced from the Public Health Agency of Canada were included. I intended to make it accessible from the point of view of workers and their employers. A more effective classification system of occupational infectious diseases is presented, and biologically hazardous agents were classified according to occupations, industries, infectious diseases, and so on. The handbook consists of 60 major kinds of biologically infectious occupational factors that are expected to be generated in workplaces in Korea, and are focused on practical utility. The pathogen safety data sheets(PSDS) of 192 species were also included. To allow more effective management, domestic and foreign laws and regulations are presented. Conclusions: This case report presents general information on the history and contents of the handbook and PSDS, it will also be useful in workplaces if download from the homepage of OSHRI, KOSHA(oshri.kosha.or.kr/bridge?menuID=901).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.274-281
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• 2010

The objectives of this study are (a) to investigate the distribution patterns and exposure concentrations of biological agents in sawmill industries and (b) to compare sampling methods of biological agents. The representative processes of 5 sawmills were selected to measure total airborne bacteria, fungi, endotoxin as well as dust. Airborne bacteria and fungi were measured with one stage impactor, six stage impactor and gelatin filteration methods. Endotoxin was collected with polycarbonate filters and analysed by kinetic chromogenic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate method. Geometric mean levels of airborne bacteria, fungi, endotoxin and dust were 1,864 CFU/$m^3$, 2,252 CFU/$m^3$, 31.5 EU/$m^3$ and 2.4 mg/$m^3$. The ratios of indoor/outdoor concentrations were 3.7 for bacteria, 4.1 for fungi, 3.3 for endotoxin and 9.7 for dust. The respiratory fractions of bacteria were 68.0, 50.9, 49.2 and 45.1% in band-saw, table-saw, rip-saw process and outdoor air. The respiratory fractions of fungi were 78.7, 90.8, 87.5 and 84.8% in band-saw, table-saw, rip-saw process and outdoor air, respectively. There was no significant differences in bacterial concentrations among single stage, six stage impaction and filteration methods. But, fungal concentrations measured with filtration methods were significantly higher than those with impaction methods. Geometric mean levels of airborne bacteria and fungi were higher than the OSHA guideline values of 1,000 CFU/$m^3$. The respiratory fractions of fungi were above 75%. The concentrations of biological agents were significantly different among culture-based sampling methods. In the exposure assessments of biological agents, further studies are needed for the comparisons of diverse sampling methods and the investigations of environmental factors.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.59-59
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• 2021

Stachys sieboldii Miq. (SSM) and Acorus gramineus Soland. (AGS) have been used as traditional medicines for thousands of years in parts of Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. Recent researches on SSM and AGS have documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, neurodegenerative disease effects. However, the toxicity and safety of SSM and AGS, and their mixture (medicinal herber mixture, MHMIX) were not confirmed. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the acute toxicity and safety of SSM, AGS and MHMIX. SSM, AGS and MHMIX were orally administered at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg in ICR mice. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during the 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy. We also measured parameters of organ weight, clinical chemistry, and hematology. No dead and no clinical signs were found during the experiment period after administration of a single oral dose of SSM, AGS and MHMIX. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight, or organ weight and no gross pathological findings in any treatment group. Therefore, LD50 value of SSM, AGS and MHMIX may be over 5,000 mg/kg and it may have no side toxic effect to ICR mice. The results on the single-dose toxicity of SSM, AGS and MHMIX indicate that it is not possible to reach oral dose levels related to death or dose levels with any harmful side effects.

• 월간산업보건
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• s.326
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• pp.64-65
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• 2015

• 월간산업보건
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• s.326
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• pp.66-67
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• 2015

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.573-583
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• 2024

Purpose: This study predicted the flow of chemical, biological, and radiological materials in chemical, biological, and radiological defense facilities within the base during a chemical, biological, and radiological attack based on the conditions of the facility before the existing improvement, analyzed the flow of pollutants and the human impact of toxic substances, and identified the occurrence of leakage. Method: Assuming that the simple chemical, biological, and radiological defense facility improvement plan, which reflects the characteristics of the building, has been improved to the facility standard, the flow of chemical, biological, and radiological materials in the chemical, biological, and radiological defense facility within the base was predicted in the event of a chemical, biological, and radiological attack under the same conditions, and the flow of contaminants and the impact on occupants by toxic substances were analyzed to determine spatial safety. Result: In the case of Plan 1, it was found that leakage occurred after approximately 250 seconds in spaces where existing flat-panel chemical, biological, and radiological defense facilities were not installed. In the cases of Plans 2 and 3, it was found that leakage occurred in spaces where existing flat-panel chemical, biological, and radiological defense facilities were not installed. Conclusion: n the case of plans 1, 2, and 3, it was found that airtightness was maintained because no leakage occurred in the improved plane. In the case of plan 4, airtightness was not maintained due to leakage in the space where the existing plane simple chemical, biological, and radiological protection facilities were not installed.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.121-134
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• 2022

Emerge of nanotechnology impacts all aspects of humans' life. One of important aspects of the nanotechnology and nanoparticles (NPs) is in the food production industry. The safety of such foods is not well recognized and producing safe foods using nanoparticles involves delicate experiments. In this study, we aim to incorporate intelligent computer simulation in predicting safety degree of nanofoods. In this regard, the safety concerns on the nano-foods are addressed considering cytotoxicity levels in metal oxides nanoparticles using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and response surface method (RSM). Three descriptors including chemical bond length, lattice energy and enthalpy of formation gaseous cation of 15 selected NPs are examined to find their influence on the cytotoxicity of NPs. The most effective descriptor is selected using RSM method and dependency of the toxicity of these NPs on the descriptors are presented in 2D and 3D graphs obtained using ANFIS technique. A comprehensive parameters study is conducted to observe effects of different descriptors on cytotoxicity of NPs. The results indicated that combinations of descriptors have the most effects on the cytotoxicity.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.345-352
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• 2023

Antibacterial activity against foodborne bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Enteritidis) and inhibitory activity against murine norovirus, a human norovirus surrogate, of 28 extracts from plants endemic to Korea were investigated in this study. All plant extracts showed antibacterial activity only against gram-positive bacteria, B. cereus and S. aureus. Extracts from Callistemon speciosus and Nymphaea tetragona showed inhibition zones of 16.54 and 24.35 mm against B. cereus and S. aureus, respectively, presenting the highest antibacterial activities recorded in this study. Among all samples, Ardisia japonica extract at concentrations of 100 and 200 ㎍/mL showed the highest virucidal activities of 96.6 and 100.0%, respectively. Ardisia japonica, Duchesnea indica, Polygonum aviculare, and Geum japonicum extracts showed high antibacterial and virucidal activity simultaneously without Raw 264.7 cell cytotoxicity. These plant extracts may serve as potential antimicrobials to control foodborne infections.

• Safe Food
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2010

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the concentration of total airborne bacteria (TAB) in biosafety cabinets (BSCs) at universities and hospital microbial laboratories to assess the performance of BSCs. Methods: TAB was determined by using the single-stage Anderson sampler (BioStage Viable Cascade Impactor). The samples were obtained three times (with the BSC turned off and the shield open; with the BSC turned off and the shield closed; and with the BSC tuned on and operating) from the areas in front of 11 BSCs. Results: TAB concentrations of accredited and nonaccredited BSCs were determined. No significant differences were observed in the TAB concentrations of the accredited BSCs and the nonaccredited BSCs for the areas outside the BSCs in the laboratories (p > 0.05). TAB concentrations for the BSCs sampled with the shield open and the instrument turned off showed differences based on the sampling site outside the BSC in each laboratory. Conclusion: These results imply that TAB concentration is not altered by the performance of the BSCs or TAB itself and/or concentration of TAB outside the BSC is not a good index of BSC performance.