• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.9 no.1_2
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• pp.37-51
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• 1994

To evaluate the genotoxicities of workers exposed to glue and glue cleaning solution, ambient air monitoring of working place, animal study and human monitoring were carried out. By GC-MS analysis, air samples collected from shoesmaking plant were found to be toluene, xylene, cyclohexane, n-hexane, methyl ethyl ketone, trichloroethylene, butylacetate, isopropyl alcohol. Glue and glue cleaning solution from shoesmaking plant were applicated topically to the CD-1 mice. DNA was isolated from skin 24 hr following the application and analysed for DNA-adducts using the nuclease $P_1$version of $^{32}$P-postlabelling assay. RAL (Relative Adduct Labelling, adducts$10^8$ nucleotides) was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner in the glue cleaning solution treated mice skin. Peripheral blood DNA-adducts of workers exposed to glue and glue cleaning solution were also analysed by the same method, but there were not significant differences in the peripheral blood DNA-adducts level between exposed and control workers. In addition, glue cleaning solution from shoes factory was evaluated for mutagenicity in the Salmonella plate incorporation assay using strains TA 100 and TA 1535 in the presence and absence of Arochlor 1254-induced rat liver S$_{9}$. There was evident mutagenicity for cleaning solution in TA 100 regardless of $S_9$, but TA 1535 showed positive only in the absence of $S_9$when predicted by Stead model of mutagenicity prediction (p=0.0000). The urine concentrates from workers and controls were also assayed for mutagenicity towards strain TA 100 of Salmonella typhimurium in the presence of $S_9$ using Kado's microsuspension assay, but their mutagenic activities were not found to be significant. These data suggest that shoesmaking workers are exposed to genotoxic compounds and need to be monitored by testing the mutagenicity of human urines. However, $^{32}$P-postlabelling application requires further validation for the routine monitoring of human exposure.osure.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.30
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• pp.15.1-15.11
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• 2015

Objectives There has been a growing concern about the possible carcinogenic effects of the electromagnetic radiofrequency fields emitted from mobile phones. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between mobile phone use and the development of gliomas in Korea. Methods Our study methods were based on the International Interphone study that aimed to evaluate possible adverse effects of mobile phone use. This study included 285 histologically-confirmed Korean patients 15 to 69 years of age, with gliomas diagnosed between 2002 and 2007 in 9 hospitals. The 285 individually matched controls were healthy individuals that had their medical check-up in the same hospitals. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for use of mobile phones. Results For the entire group, no significant relationship was investigated between gliomas and regular use of mobile phones, types of mobile phones, lifetime years of use, monthly service fee, and the other exposure indices. Analyses restricted to self-respondents showed similar results. For ipsilateral users, whose the body side for usual mobile phone use match the location of glioma, the aORs (95% CIs) for lifetime years of use and cumulative hours of use were 1.25 (0.55 to 2.88) and 1.77 (0.32 to 1.84), respectively. However, the contralateral users showed slightly lower risk than ipsilateral users. Conclusions Our results do not support the hypothesis that the use of mobile phones increases the risk of glioma; however, we found a non-significant increase in risk among ipsilateral users. These findings suggest further evaluation for glioma risk among longterm mobile phone users.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.135-148
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• 2018

Reservoir sedimentation is a major environmental issue, and various sediment load controls and plans have been proposed to secure clean and safe water resources. The objectives of this study were to estimate soil loss in the upper basins and predict sediment deposition in Ipjang reservoir using hydrologic and hydraulic model. To do so, SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) and EFDC (Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code) was used to estimate soil loss in two upper basins and to predict spatial distribution and amount of sediment deposition in the Ipjang reservoir, respectively. The hydrologic modeling results showed that annual average soil loss from the upper basins was 500 ton. The hydraulic modeling results demonstrated that sediment particles transported to the reservoir were mostly trapped in the vicinity of the reservoir inlet and then moved toward the bank over time. If long-term water quality monitoring and sediment survey are performed, this study can be used as a tool for predicting the dredging amount, dredging location and proper dredging cycle in the reservoir. The study findings are expected to be used as a basis to establish management solutions for sediment reduction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9955-9960
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• 2014

Background: Promoter hypermethylation is a common event in human cancer. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is a gene involved in DNA repair, which is methylated in a variety of cancers. We aimed to explore the methylation status of MGMT gene among the North Eastern population where esophageal cancer incidence and exposure to carcinogens like nitrosamines is high. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 newly diagnosed esophageal cancer cases along with equal number of age, sex and ethnicity matched controls were included in this study. Methylation specific PCR was used to determine the MGMT methylation status in serum samples. Results: Aberrant promoter methylation of the MGMT gene was detected in 70% of esophageal cancer cases. Hypermethylation of MGMT gene was found to be influenced by environmental factors like betel quid and tobacco which contain potent carcinogens like nitrosamines. Tobacco chewing and tobacco smoking habit synergistically with MGMT methylation elevated the risk for esophageal cancer development [adjusted OR=5.02, 95% CI=1.35-18.74; p=0.010 for tobacco chewing and Adjusted OR=3.00, 95% CI=1.22-7.36; p=0.014 for tobacco smoking]. Conclusions: Results suggest that the DNA hypermethylation of MGMT is an important mechanism for MGMT gene silencing resulting in esophageal cancer development and is influenced by the environmental factors. Thus MGMT hypermethylation can be used as a biomarker for esophageal cancer in high incidence region of North East India.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2459-2465
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• 2012

Background: Numbers of epidemiological studies assessing residential radon exposure and risk of lung cancer have yielded inconsistent results. Methods: We therefore performed a meta-analysis of relevant published case-control studies searched in the PubMed database through July 2011 to examine the association. The combined odds ratio (OR) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models. Subgroup and dose-response analyses were also performed. Results: We identified 22 case-control studies of residential radon and lung cancer risk involving 13,380 cases and 21,102 controls. The combined OR of lung cancer for the highest with the lowest exposure was 1.29 (95% CI 1.10-1.51). Dose-response analysis showed that every 100 Bq/$m^3$ increment in residential radon exposure was associated with a significant 7% increase in lung cancer risk. Subgroup analysis displayed a more pronounced association in the studies conducted in Europe. Studies restricted to female or non-smokers demonstrated weakened associations between exposure and lung cancer. Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides new evidence supporting the conclusion that residential exposure to radon can significantly increase the risk of lung cancer in a dose-response manner.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.28 no.10 s.96
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• pp.955-960
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• 2004

The treated ballast water from previous treatment contains microorganisms and pathogenic organisms in an electrolytic treatment system. The experimental methods included using a peristaltic flow pump placed upward on an electrode pole. Due to the reaction time, the hydraulic retention time indicated unlike microorganisms on the flow rate. In electrolysis, dioxide iridium-coated titanium (Ti/Ir02) and stainless steel plates were used for the anode and cathode, respectively. Current density controls make use of a DC power supply on 250V, 100Amper. Experimental use of a current density between 0.1 and 1.0A/dm2 was able to disinfect the microorganism (E. coli, Bacteria, Bacillus sp.) in seawater for 5 seconds of reaction time. The removal rate was approximately $90\%,$ while the current density was 2.0A/dm2 and the electrode distance was 75mm. This study shows that the electrolytic treatment system has a potential for the sterilization of ballast water.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1560-1568
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• 2013

Salmonella, a main cause of foodborne diseases, encounters a variety of environmental stresses and overcomes the stresses by multiple resistance strategies. One of the general responses to hyperosmotic stress is to import or produce compatible solutes so that cells maintain fluid balance and protect proteins and lipids from denaturation. The ProP and ProU systems are the main transport systems for compatible solutes. The OsmU system, recently identified as a third osmoprotectant transport system, debilitates excessive growth as well by reducing production of trehalose. We studied a fourth putative osmoprotectant transport system, YehZYXW, with high sequence similarity with the OsmU system. A Salmonella strain lacking YehZ, a predicted substrate-binding protein, did not suffer from hyperosmolarity but rather grew more rapidly than the wild type regardless of glycine betaine, an osmoprotectant, suggesting that the YehZYXW system controls bacterial growth irrespective of transporting glycine betaine. However, the growth advantage of ${\Delta}yehZ$ was not attributable to an increase in OtsBA-mediated trehalose production, which is responsible for the outcompetition of the ${\Delta}osmU$ strain. Overexpressed YehZ in trans was capable of deaccelerating bacterial growth vice versa, supporting a role of YehZ in dampening growth. The expression of yehZ was increased in response to nutrient starvation, acidic pH, and the presence of glycine betaine under hyperosmotic stress. Identifying substrates for YehZ will help decipher the role of the YehZYXW system in regulating bacterial growth in response to environmental cues.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 1988

Mutagenic actions of aflatoxin B$_1$ (AFB$_1$) in the presence of various concentrations of L-ascorbIc acid (AA) in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 100 and TA98 were studied. Spontaneous revertants per plate of the tester strains TA100 and TA98 were 121-125 and 25-30 with or without S9 mix, respectively. The negative controls used in the study did not show any mutagenesis in the tester strains. AFB$_1$ revealed strong mutagenicity at the dose levels of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.25 ${\mu}$g/plate with metabolic activation system in both strains. However, it showed a toxic effect when the levels were more than 0.5 ${\mu}$g/plate. When lower concentrations of AA (5-20 ${\mu}$g/plate) were added to AFB$_1$ in the Ames assay system with S9 mix the mutagenic action of AFB$_1$ decreased in both strains. About 70-90% of mutagenicity of AFB$_1$ disappeared in strain TA100 when 20${\mu}$g of AA was added to 0.05 ${\mu}$g of AFB$_1$. The inhibitory effect was greatly increased by the addition of higher concentrations of AA to AFB$_1$ in TA100 strain. The mutagenicity of AFB$_1$ was completely inhibited when 100 ${\mu}$g and 500 ${\mu}$g of AA were added to 0.05 ${\mu}$g and 0.1 ${\mu}$g of AFB$_1$, respectively, However, this protective effect of AA on AFB$_1$ mediated mutagenesis was less effective in TA98 strain than that in TA100.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of mixed probiotics on growth performance and fatty acid profiles of Korean native chicken and to provide information regarding producers. Ninety six Korean native chicken (48 males and 48 females, Hanhyup-3-ho) were allocated to 16 wire cages with 4 treatments, 4 replicates and 6 chicks (3 males and 3 females) per wire cage and fed one of four diets containing 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% mixed probiotics for 6 weeks. There were no differences among treatments in growth performance of Korean native chicken. For fatty acid profiles, no statistically differences in each fatty acid, total saturated fatty acid and unsaturated fatty acids were observed in all treatments. In the present study, irrespective of statistically differences, inclusion of mixed probiotics tended to improve growth performance, reduce saturated fatty acid and increase unsaturated fatty acids in breast muscles from Korean native chicken compared to controls.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.68-77
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• 2000

This study was performed to evaluate tannin exposure by wooddusts for workers in furniture factories and to investigate the relationship between tannin exposure and sino-nasal cancer risk. In order to explore possible cytological changes leading to nasal cancer, we have examined 50 male furniture workers and 50 matched controls using brush cytology. The results we have obtained in this study were as follows: 1. The tannin contents of woods used in woodworking factories have been measured and varied from 0.43 to 8.72 mg tannic acid equivalent per gram wood, for reconstituted softwood and turpentine (Syncarpia glomuliferia) respectively. 2. Airborne tannins in wooddusts were also determined by area and personal exposure. The values of mean exposures for both methods are ranged from 3.1 to $5.0{\mu}g/m^3$ and from 4.6 to $14.5{\mu}g/m^3$ in furniture manufactures. 3. Over nasal cytology scores 2, the scores of study group were slightly more than control group and this kind of metaplasias seemed to be occurred over $2mg/m^3$ wooddust and $6{\mu}g/m^3$ tannin exposure. Keratinising squamous metaplasia was investigated at nasal cytology score 3 and $10{\mu}g/m^3$ tannin exposure. The nasal cytology score 4 was seemed to be atypical squamous metaplasia. 4. To find out contributing factors to nasal cytology change, odds ratio that is one of fundmental biostatistics was applied. Actually the relationship between wooddust, tannin concentration and metaplasia were not meaningful, but the relationship between working experence more than 15 years and metaplasia was calculated as 1.83. This reveals that significant clinical abnormalities could be influenced from the years of woodworking experiences. However further research is required to evaluate the significance of the data, for the purposes of sino-nasal risk assessment, standard setting to prevent nasal cancer occurrences and possibility of changing workplace.