• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.299-303
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• 2016

Salmonella spp. and Brucella spp. can cause considerable diseases on both humans and animals. In addition, these microorganisms cause the economic loss in animal farming and food industry. In this study, the disinfection efficacy of a disinfectant spray, composed to grapefruit seed extract, citric acid, malic acid and benzalkonium chloride, was evaluated against S. Typhimurium and B. ovis. A bactericidal efficacy test by broth dilution method was used to determine the lowest effective dilution of the disinfectant following exposure to test bacteria for 30 min at $4^{\circ}C$. The disinfectant and test bacteria were diluted with hard water (HW) or organic matter suspension (OM) according to treatment condition. On HW condition, the bactericidal activity of the disinfectant spray against S. Typhimurium and B. ovis was 5 and 4 fold dilutions, respectively. On OM condition, the bactericidal activity of the disinfectant spray was 2 and 1 fold dilutions against S. Typhimurium and B. ovis, respectively. As the disinfectant spray possesses bactericidal efficacy against foodborne pathogens such as S. Typhimurium and B. ovis, the disinfectant spray can be used to control the spread of bacterial diseases.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.266-273
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• 2016

Objectives: This study evaluated the virucidal efficacy against avian influenza virus (AIV) of a disinfectant spray containing 0.25% grapefruit seed extract, 0.2% citric acid, 0.0625% malic acid and 0.0125% benzalkonium chloride. Methods: The disinfectant spray was diluted several times with hard water (HW) and organic matter (OM). Two point five mL of each diluent was added into each test tube, and 2.5 mL of AIV suspension was inserted into each test tube. After 30 minutes of virus-disinfectant contact reaction at $4^{\circ}C$, 2.5 mL of 10% inactivated fetal bovine serum was added into each test tube to neutralize the sanitizer efficacy. The neutralized solutions were serial 10-fold dilutions with phosphate buffer solution, and 0.2 mL of the diluents was injected into the allantoic cavity of five ten-day-old-chickens per dilution time. After incubation of the embryos for five days, the viability of the AIV was examined by hemagglutination titer. The valid dilution of the disinfectant spray was estimated according to the dilution time that the virus titer was inactivated more than $10^4$ 50% egg-infective dose (EID50)/mL compared with pathogen control. Results: In HW and OM conditions, the valid dilutions of the disinfectant spray against AIV were seven- and three-fold dilutions, respectively. The AIV titer of the pathogen control was more than 6.1 log10EID50/mL, and there was no embryonic toxicity. Conclusion: The present study showed that this disinfectant spray has effective virucidal activity against AIV.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2017

Objectives: This on-site study was performed to evaluate the reduction efficiency of an air cleaner on particulate matters and biological agents in a swine facility. Materials and Methods: Particulate matter was measured using a real-time monitoring recorder and biological agents were sampled with a one-stage impactor and then analyzed based on the microbial culture method. An experimental process for the reduction effect on airborne pollutants through air cleaner operation consisted of three conditions: no treatment, wet scrapper by water spray and wet scrapper by disinfectant spray. Results: Geometric mean levels of particulate matter(TSP, $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_1$) were presented at $1,608{\mu}g/m^3$, $1,373.8{\mu}g/m^3$, $401.8{\mu}g/m^3$ and $144.5{\mu}g/m^3$ for no treatment; $1,503{\mu}g/m^3$, $1,017{\mu}g/m^3$, $159.4{\mu}g/m^3$ and $69.8{\mu}g/m^3$ for wet scrapper by water spray; and $1,222.17{\mu}g/m^3$, $477.17{\mu}g/m^3$, $33.2{\mu}g/m^3$ and $11.1{\mu}g/m^3$ for wet scrapper by disinfectant spray, respectively. In the case of biological agents, the geometric averaged concentrations of total airborne bacteria and fungi were as follows: $45,371cfu/m^3$ and $13,474cfu/m^3$ for no treatment, $43,286cfu/m^3$ and $8,610cfu/m^3$ for wet scrapper by water spray, and $2,440cfu/m^3$ and 1,867 cfu/ for wet scrapper by disinfectant spray, respectively. Regardless of particulate matter and biological agent, the highest concentrations were found for no treatment, while the lowest concentrations were found with wet scrapper by disinfectant spray. Conclusions: Based on the results obtained from this on-site evaluation, there was a significant reduction effect on particulate matter and biological agents through the application of an air cleaner in this study.

• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.57-67
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify what research ethics issues are related to chemical incidents at the level of national disasters in Korea, and then to secure clear research ethics to prevent similar incidents from recurring. Research design, data and methodology: The study design was a case study of the humidifier disinfectant disaster in Korea. The humidifier disinfectant incident is a worldwide issue that has never occurred in the world. The main cause of the humidifier disinfectant incident that occurred only in Korea was the toxicity of the humidifier disinfectant contained in the humidifier spray. In this regard, research ethics will be derived through related laws and systems, research ethics status, incident damage and compensation, prosecution's investigation status, and the final precedent of the Supreme Court. Results: Although the lack of laws and systems of government departments related to humidifiers is important in the research results, the violation of ethics regulations by researchers during research experiments has become a decisive problem. Conclusions: In conclusion, the most important thing is that the research bioethics of researchers at the forefront should take precedence over any other values, especially during experiments and research related to public health.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.370-380
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• 2019

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the distribution of individual exposure characteristics according to an exposure assessment classification for humidifier disinfectant and to identify the factors that influence assessment classification. Methods: We examined the exposure characteristics of 4,482 subjects who applied for the 4-1 and 4-2 assessments of environmental exposure to humidifier disinfectant conducted by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI). Environmental exposure assessment classification was assessed using the following seven criteria: 1) Distance from humidifier to face; 2) Spray direction; 3) Time used, daytime 4) Time used, during sleep; 5) Time used, cumulative; 6) Exposure intensity; and 7) Cumulative exposure level. Each criteria was then classified as 'high' or low'. When participants answered for more than four criteria, exposure assessment was determined as 'definite,' 'probable,' or 'possible' depending on the ratio of 'high' responses. If participants' responses were inconsistent, exposure assessment was listed as 'unlikely.' If participants answered for less than four criteria, exposure assessment was considered 'indeterminate.' Results: For the exposure assessment classes, definite was assigned to 38.5% (1,725 subjects), probable assigned to 32.9% (1,474 subjects), 25.0% (1,122 subjects) were assigned to as possible, unlikely assigned to 0.1% (3 subjects), and indeterminate assigned to 3.5% (158 subjects). Overall, participants who used 'Oxy Ssakssak New Gaseupgi Dangbun,' 'Aekyung Gaseupgi Mate,' 'Homeplus Gaseupgi Chungjungje,' and 'E-Mart Gaseupgi Salgyunje' totaled 2,996, 557, 176, and 162 subjects, respectively. There was a statistical difference in the type of humidifier disinfectant products between high-exposed and low-exposed participants. Based on the assessment criteria of humidifier disinfectant exposure, subjects were likely to be in the highly exposed classes (definite and probable) when the subjects were exposed 1) for more than ten hours per day and 2) for more than four hours at night 3) when the total cumulative exposure time was higher than the average, 4) when the direction of humidifier spray was toward the face, 5) when the respiratory position was less than 1 meter of distance from the humidifier, 6) when the concentration of indoor contaminants (ug/m3) was higher than the average exposure intensity, and 7) when overall exposure level ($ug/m3^*hr$) was higher than the average exposure level. Conclusion: This study suggests that each exposure assessment criteria was able to appropriately estimate cumulative exposure levels.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.513-520
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• 2021

Background: Benzalkonium chloride (BKC) has been extensively used as a preservative in industrial products and in hygiene, medical, and cosmetic applications. Humidifier disinfectant (HD) products containing BKC have been used in South Korea. Objectives: This study was aimed to review types of products containing BKC, to summarize the regulations in the US, EU, Japan, and South Korea, and to review the health effects associated with the use of HD. Methods: We reviewed and summarized documents which were searched through PubMed and Google Scholar with the key words: BKC and asthma/contact dermatitis, humidifier disinfectant-associated lung injury (HDLI), and more. Results: Regulations in most countries including South Korea do not allow its use as disinfectants in spray-type of products for medicine, cosmetics, and household products. Two types of HD containing BKC (800~1,270 ppm) were marketed in South Korea from 1996~2003. Health effects reported from people who used products containing BKC were allergic contact dermatitis, erythema, and respiratory disease, including asthma. Two people who responded as HD users containing BKC only were confirmed to have developed asthma. HD-associated lung injury (HDLI) was reported by consumers who used both HD containing polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) and HD containing BKC. Conclusions: In conclusion, the use of BKC as a biocide has to be controlled considering the route and pattern of exposure. Products containing BKC as preservatives were reviewed with exposure routes and sites in the human body such as skin, eyes, and the respiratory tract. HD containing BKC was clinically evaluated to be associated with asthma.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.87-97
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• 2020

The livestock infections had been happened seasonally, but they have gradually changed to be irrelevant to seasons and have an aspect to rapidly spread after outbreak. Especially in Korea, proactive disinfection measures are very important because the livestock farms are located densely so high as to accelerate the spread of disease between farms. livestock disease outbreaks like HPAI and FMD occurred with high probability due to vehicles visiting the farms, this study is to evaluate the efficiency of livestock vehicle disinfection systems by investigating the disinfectant coverage according to the type of vehicle disinfection system and the type of vehicle quantitatively. In field experiments, water-sensitive papers (WSPs) were attached to 21 locations on the surface of four vehicles (sedan, SUV, truck, and feed transport), respectively, and exposed to disinfectants while the vehicle was sprayed in two vehicle disinfection systems (tunnel type and simplified type). The WSPs were scanned and image-processed to calculate the disinfectant coverage. The results showed that the tunnel-type vehicle disinfection system had a better disinfection performance with an average coverage of 90.27% for all vehicles compared to 32.62% of the simplified type system. The problem of the simplified system was a wide coefficient of variation (1.05-1.31) of the disinfectant coverage between 21 locations indicating a need for further improvement of nozzle location and arrangement.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.301-314
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to introduce the overall progress of exposure assessment to humidifier disinfectant (HD); to present participants' demographic characteristics, exposure characteristics to humidifier disinfectant, and exposure classification; and furthermore to compare those characteristics between survivors and non-survivors. Methods: An assessment of environmental exposure to HD was conducted using modified HD-specific questionnaires that had been previously validated. We analyzed the data from 4,482 participants who had been potentially exposed to HD and had registered with the KEITI (Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute) from September 2016 to May 2018 (the fourth survey). Environmental exposure assessments were performed as follows: 1) contact with participants, 2) environmental exposure assessment though face-to-face interviews, 3) assessment review and coding, and 4) exposure rating. Results: Overall, survivors made up 77.1% (3,457 subjects) and non-survivors made up 22.9% (1,025 subjects). When compared with the survivors, non-survivors had a higher proportion of subjects aged >60 years and subjects who answered as suffering lung damage and having purchased HD because it is "Beneficial to health" (p<0.05). For the exposure characteristics compared to survivors, non-survivors had a higher proportion of cases of distance from humidifier to face being less that one meter and the spray direction being toward the face (p<0.05). Overall, respondents who used the "Oxy Ssak Ssak New Gaseupgi Dangbun", "Aekyung Gaseupgi Mate", "Homeplus Gaseupgi Chungjungje", and "E-Mart Gaseupgi Salgyunje" products made up 66.1, 12.3, 4.0, and 3.6%, respectively, and 72.5% of respondents used products with PHMG as the active chemical. When compared with survivors, non-survivors had a higher proportion of use of "Oxy Ssak Ssak New Gaseupgi Dangbun" but a lower proportion of use of products with CMIT/MIT, PGH, or PHMG as the active chemical. Conclusions: This study provided demographic characteristics and exposure assessment for applicants who have been injured by HD. In spite of the limitations of performing past exposure assessment through a questionnaire survey, such as recall bias, useful results may be obtained by comparing survivors with non-survivors. Further studies such as the exposure rating method and so on are necessary to assess past exposure to HD.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.591-596
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• 2022

Various COVID-19 quarantine guidelines and measures are being taken by country at the WHO, but the number of confirmed cases has not decreased significantly. In order to prevent the inflow and outflow of COVID-19 through individual droplets, it is mandatory to wear a mask anytime, anywhere. However, as virus bacteria entering the mask amplify, it pollutes the mask and causes a disgusting smell. In this paper, a new method of preventing the spread of COVID-19 was proposed by sterilizing the mask with a dental gait spray introduced into the mask that has been used for a long time. Dental gargle water is usually produced by electrolysis of tap water, and the unstable ion water (HOCl) dissolved in water penetrates the cell barrier of various viruses and fails to act in its nucleus, causing water to self-purify. As a result of the experiment, when the mask used for a long time was washed with gargle water spray, the washed mask was dried after 10 minutes, and the smell of virus droplets or saliva almost disappeared. In particular, as a result of MOS testing the fit of the subjects who participated in the mask cleaning, it was excellent at 4.4 on average. Therefore, the mask was disposable, but if the spray was washed in the proposed method more than twice a day, the mask could be used in a comfortable state for more than a week.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.817-828
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• 2023

Deteriorating soil physical properties and increasing soil pathogens due to the continuous cultivation of field crops are the leading causes of productivity deterioration. Crop rotation, soil heat treatment, and chemical control are used as pest control methods; however, each has limitations in wide application to domestic agriculture. In particular, chemical control requires improvement due to direct exposure to sterilizing solution, odor, and high-intensity work. To improve the overall domestic agricultural environment, the problems of time and cost, such as field maintenance and cultivation scale, must be addressed; therefore, mechanization technology for chemical control must be secured to derive improvement effects in a short period. Most related studies are focused on the control effect of the DMDS (dimethyl disulfide) sterilizer, and research on the performance of the sterilization spray device has been conducted after its introduction in Korea, but research on the corrosion suitability of the material is lacking. This study conducted a corrosion test to secure the corrosion resistance of a soil sterilizer injection pump, and a mechanical failure mode by corrosion by the material was established. The corrosion test comprised operation and neglect tests in which the sterilizing solution was circulated in the pump and remained in the pump, respectively. As a result of the corrosion test, damage occurred due to the weakening of the mechanical strength of the graphite material, and corrosion resistance to aluminum, stainless steel, fluororubber, and PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) materials was confirmed.