• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.282-287
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: The current study was carried out to investigate Cd, Hg, Pb and As contaminations in 222 commercial medicinal plants and to estimate the potential health risk through dietary intake of commercial medicinal plants in Korea.METHODS AND RESULTS: The Cd, Hg, Pb, and As in medicinal plants were analyzed by ICP/MS and mercury analyzer.The potential health risk was estimated using risk assessment tools. Total amount of Cd in medicinal plants with 29% samples exceeded the standard limit legislated in 'Pharmaceutical Affairs Act' while all plant samples were lower than the standard limit value for As, Hg, and Pb. However, when applying the standard limit for root vegetable (fresh weight) in the Food Sanitation Act, four samples exceeded the standard limit of Pb. For health risk assessment, the values of cancer risk probability were 0.3~5.9×10^-7which were less than the acceptable cancer risk of 10^-6~10^-4for regulatory purpose. Also, Hazard quotientvalues were lower than 1.0.CONCLUSION: Therefore, these results demonstrated that human exposure to Cd, Hg, Pb, and As through dietary intake of commercial medicinal plants might notcause adverse health effects although some medicinal plants were higher than the standard limit values for Cd and Pb.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2010

In this study, breast milk levels of indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were estimated, and statistics drawn, for 22 Koreans in the general population, aged 26-38, who had resided in metropolitan areas for more than 5 years without occupational exposure to organochlorine pollutants. Concentrations of indicator PCBs were measured using the isotope dilution method with a high resolution gas chromatograph/high resolution mass detector, which provided accurate and precise data for investigation of trends, and international comparisons. The geometric mean of total indicator PCB levels was 22.3 ng/g lipid, which is significantly lower than the level in individuals from European countries. Overall, the geometric mean and 95th percentile of the most abundant congener PCB 153 were 8.04 ng/g lipid and 16.4 ng/g lipid, respectively. PCB congeners 138, 153 and 180 together accounted for about 75% of the indicator congeners analyzed. Breast milk total indicator PCB concentrations were significantly associated with age and parity, but not with body mass index (BMI), rate of body weight increase, or smoking habits. The geometric mean level of PCB 153 in breast milk from mothers with a pre-pregnant BMI < $21\;kg/m^2$ was significantly higher than in pre-pregnant women with a BMI of ${\geqslant}\;21\;kg/m^2$ (p<0.05). Women who ate more fish, meat, and milk products did not have significantly higher total indicator PCB levels than those who ate less of these products, but a significant difference in PCB 153 levels was demonstrated between the subjects consuming higher (11.45 ng/g lipid) and lower (6.79 ng/g lipid) amounts of fish (p<0.05), after adjusting for confounders. These results suggest that age, parity and fish intake are the important factors affecting the concentrations of indicator PCBs in these subjects.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.714-720
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• 2015

Biji is a tofu by-product made by squeezing the liquid out of the dregs left over from making tofu. The objectives of this research were to break the biji into sub-micron-scale particles and to prepare a biji sub-micron suspension having increased quality characteristics such as antioxidant capacity, polyphenol, dietary fiber, and soluble protein contents, in comparison with untreated biji. Disruption of biji by an ultra-high-pressure homogenization (UHPH) process was used to prepare the sub-micron suspension of biji. UHPH can be used to prepare emulsions or suspensions with extremely small particle sizes. The effect of the UHPH process on biji was studied at 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 bar. The extraction yield increased up to 1.64 times by breaking the biji to form a sub-micron suspension. The soluble dietary fiber, protein, and free amino acid contents were increased by the UHPH process (p<0.05), in comparison with those of untreated biji. Furthermore, the total sugar, free sugar, and total polyphenol contents of biji were augmented by the UHPH process. Antioxidant activity (ABTS) after exposure to UHPH (1,000-2,000 bar) was well retained (p<0.05). The extraction efficiencies and nutritive components were enhanced by increasing the pressure in the UHPH process.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.456-460
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• 2012

This study was carried out as a survey on the level of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) in 5 items of agricultural products (lettuce, pumpkin, head lettuce, cabbage and crown daisy) for which safety guidelines are not yet established in Korea. The 407 samples were collected from local markets in 9 regional places and the levels of metals were measured by ICP-MS and mercury analyzer. The average levels of Pb, Cd, As and Hg were 0.026, 0.018, 0.008 and 0.003 mg/kg for lettuce, 0.002, 0.001, 0.001 and 0.0006 mg/kg for pumpkin, 0.002, 0.005, 0.001 and 0.0005 mg/kg for head lettuce, 0.001, 0.002, 0.0002 and 0.0006 mg/kg for cabbage and 0.022, 0.014, 0.006 and 0.004 mg/kg for crown daisy. For risk assessment, the daily dietary exposures of Pb, Cd and Hg by intake of these agricultural products were calculated and compared with PTWI (provisional tolerable weekly intake) established by JECFA. The daily dietary exposure of heavy metals by intake of these agricultural products were 0.13, 0.56 and 0.09% of PTWI, respectively. These monitoring results will be utilized as fundamental data for the establishment of Korean standards of Pb, Cd, As and Hg in 5 items of agricultural products and valuable source for DB construction for science-based safety control of heavy metals in foods including agricultural products.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.103-117
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• 2021

Nuts are cholesterol free with high poly-unsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) and have lower intakes of sodium than non-consumers, and thus they can decrease blood pressure. Hypertension is a common primary diagnosis in Korea. Because of extending exposure to 24-hour raised blood pressure and heart rate hypertension is likely to be caused by prolonged short sleep durations. This study examined the relationship between nut consumption and hypertension according to sleep duration among Korean adult. Based on data from the 2010-2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES), the final analytic sample(n=25,359) was used for current analysis. The dietary intake was assessed through a 24-hour recall method. Associations of nut consumption with sleep duration and hypertension were determined using multiple logistic regression with odds ratio(95% CI). All the analyses were carried out in SAS version 9.4, and the significance level was set at p<0.05. With increasing nut intake, the prevalence of hypertension significantly decreased(p for trend=0.02). After controlling for sleep duration, the nut consumption showed significant association with the prevalence of hypertension when sleep duration was 6 to 6.9 h per day(p for trend=0.03) or 7 to 7.9 h per day(p for trend=0.03). In conclusion, dietary total nut intake was found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of hypertension.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2008

Effects of the various dietary additives on growth and tolerance of abalone Haliotis discus hannai to the stresses were determined in the 16-week feeding trial. Seventy juvenile (an initial body weight of 4.2 g) abalone per container were randomly distributed into 21, 50 L plastic rectangular containers each. The six kinds of experimental diets were prepared: control (CON) with no additive, by-product of green tea (BPG), extract of figs (EF), extract of green tea (EG), commercially available product of Hearok (PH), and Haematococcus (HC). In addition, dry sea tangle (ST) was prepared to compare the efficiency of the experimental diets. Fishmeal, soybean meal and shrimp head meal were used as the protein source, and dextrin, sea tangle powder and wheat flour, and soybean oil and fish oil were used as the carbohydrate and lipid sources, respectively in the experimental diets. The experimental diets were fed to abalone once a day at a satiation level with a little leftover. The feeding trial lasted for 16 weeks. At the end of the 16-week feeding trial, abalone was exposed to the different types of stresses (air exposure, and sudden changes of rearing temperature and salinity). Survival of abalone fed the sea tangle was highest. However, weight gain of abalone fed the EF, EG and PH diets was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of abalone fed the BPG diet or dry sea tangle. Shell length of abalone fed the all experimental diets was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of abalone fed the dry sea tangle. Accumulated mortality of abalone fed the sea tangle was low when exposed to the different types of stresses. Also, relatively low mortality was achieved in abalone fed the HC and EF diets. In considering these results, it can be concluded that the various sources of additives is effective to improve production of abalone, and Haematococcus and extract of figs can be considered as dietary additives to improve resistance of abalone against the different types of stresses.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2004

This study was executed to determine the cumulative dietary risk of PAHs exposed by food ingestion. Food samples including barbecued beef, barbecued pork, grilled chicken, ham, bacon and vegetable oil which were collected from food markets. These samples were saponified, extracted and cleaned up to purify PAHs, and then the purified sample solutions were analyzed by HPLC-FL. Generally, the levels of total PAHs in barbecued beef (0.2 ppb), bacon (0.3 ppb), barbecued pork (0.7 ppb), ham (0.8 ppb), and vegetable oil (1.2 ppb) were low, whereas the level of total PAHs in grilled chicken (9.3 ppb) was significantly high. For the exposure assessment of PAHs due to food ingestion, PAHs levels converted into TEQ$_{BaP}$, the average body weight for 20-73 age group and consumed levels of food proposed from report on the National Health and Nutrition Survey were used. The estimated lifetime average daily intake of dietary PAHs was 4.32${\times}$10$^{-4}$ $\mu\textrm{g}$-TEQ$_{BaP}$kg/day as the mean value. The dietary risk adjusted to cancer potency of benzo(a)pyrene as 7.3 (mg/kg/day)$^{-1}$ was 3.44${\times}$10$^{-6}$ based on current data.ata.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 1996

Polyclonal antiserum R101 against aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$) was raised in New Zealand white rabbits after injection of bovine serum albumin-$AFB_1$ conjugate. Competitive ELISA (enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay) demonstrated that antiserum R101 has the highest binding for $AFB_1$ (50% inhibition at 170 fmol) and aflatoxicol II (50% inhibition at 112 fmol). It also reacts with other aflatoxins such as $AFB_2$, $AFG_1$, $AFG_2$, and aflatoxin metabolites ($AFM_1$, $AFM_2$, $AFP_1$, and $AFQ_1$), but it does not cross-react with $AFG_2a$. Using this antiserum, aflatoxins were quantitated in 100 urine samples of undergraduate students at the College of Pharmacy, Sung Kyun Kwan University, Republic of Korea. By ELISA, $AFB_1$ and its metabolites were detected in human urine samples (N=100, male=89, female=11, ages=20~31 yrs) with a range of 1.4~200.6 ng/kg/day (mean$\pm$SD=$18.11{\pm}33.01\;ng\;AFB_1/kg/day$ in males, $3.82{\pm}2.65\;ng/kg/day$ in females). Assuming that urinary excretion is about 7.6% of $AFB_1$ intake (Groopman et al., 1992), we estimated that Koreans were daily exposed to a total dietary $AFB_1$ of $240.20{\pm}438.67\;ng/kg/day$ in males and $50.35{\pm}29.88\;ng/kg/day$ in females, respectively. When the human monitoring data was applied to a linear regression model of Y=21.67X-10.04 {Y=liver cancer incidence per 100,000, X=Log $AFB_1$ intake (ng/kg/day), r=0.99} developed from previously reported epidemiological data, calculated liver cancer incidences attributed to $AFB_1$ exposure were 41.56/100,000 in males and 26.84/100,000 in females. The incidences were similarly correlated with liver cancer mortality rates of 43.43/100,000 in males and 11.23/100,000 in females in Korea. These results suggest that aflatoxin exposure may be an important risk factor for the high incidence of liver cancer in Korea.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2005

Niacin (vitamin $B_{3}$) is the generic term for nicotinic acid (pyridine 3-carboxylic acid) and nicotinamide (nicotinic acid amide), and coenzyme forms of the vitamin. Large doses of nicotinic acid are associated with a number of adverse effects in human. The effects include flushing, skin itching, nausea, vomiting and gastrointestinal disturbance. This study was conducted to estimate daily intake of niacin by ingestion of food and multivitamin, and to identify risk value related with side effects, which can be caused by large dose intake in population having a typical lifestyle. Induced risk values by comparing only dietary intake level and intake level from both food and multivitamin with upper level as 35 mg/day were 0.53 and $0.81\~6.24$ respectively. Hazard Index over 1 means that occurrence of side effects would be expected in some population. When people intake multivitamin and functional food including niacin, risk value may increase more than risk value identified in this study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4429-4434
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• 2015

Background: Public awareness/knowledge on oral and pharyngeal cancer (OPC), potentially malignant disorders (PMODs) and their risk factors is crucial for prevention and early detection of OPC and PMODs. Yet, there are no published data available on the awareness and knowledge of OPC and PMODs among people living in Far North Queensland, Australia. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a cross sectional survey. A self-administered questionnaire was designed and consisted of relevant questions to ascertain socio-demographic information, awareness and knowledge of OPC, PMODs and risk factors and questions on participant's exposure to risk factors and dietary history were also included. Survey was carried out at the Dental Clinic of the James Cook University School of Dentistry (JCU Dental), Cairns, Australia. Subjects above the age of 20 years (n=366) were randomly selected during the period from 31st July to 6th September 2013 and questionnaire was distributed to complete while they are waiting for treatment. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 21 and the chi -squared test was employed to compare groups. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study revealed that 52.3% of the respondents were aware of the existence of OPC but only 19.0% were aware of PMODs. Of those who were aware of oral cancer, 92% agreed or strongly agreed that smoking is a strong risk factor for OPC. Similarly a relatively high proportion of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that tobacco chewing (84%), tobacco chewing with areca nut (68%), chewing areca nut alone (51%) and exposure to actinic radiation (71%) as risk factors. However, the results for alcohol intake, age, and HPV infection were found to be relatively poor with proportions 33%, 34%, and 23% respectively. Conclusions: This study revealed an alarming lack of awareness and knowledge of OPC and PMODs.