• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.133-138
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• 2010

Despite of the increasing importance of environmental mycobacteria, detection and identification of mycobacteria from environmental sources including water have been fraught with technical difficulties. Although, several protocols to optiruize isolation of mycobacteria from water sources have been reported, standard method has not yet been established. In this study, usefulness of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), a cationic quaternary ammonium compound, for the isolation of environmental mycobacteria from diverse water samples was evaluated. For this, water samples from diverse water sources such as effluent water, lake water, and underground water were collected, treated with diverse concentrations of CPC, and plated on the solid agar plates. Subsequently individual colonies grown on the plates were sequence analyzed for identification of each colony. In brief, the results from this study showed that the growth of mycobacteria was enhanced by use of CPC as a pre-treatment reagent to water samples by inhibiting growth of other non-mycobacteria in water. In fact, the effect of CPC to decontaminate non-mycobacteria for isolation of mycobacteria was better than 1~4% of NaOH, which is a routinely used decontaminating reagent widely employed for culturing mycobactera from sputum specimens. Therefore, the results from this study seems to support that the CPC pre-treatment may be useful for isolation of mycobacteria from diverse sources including clinical specimens which are often contaminated with other bacteria.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2001

New process to determine $^{90}Sr$ in the environmental samples was established by investigating the existing methods. The environmental samples included soil, milk, seaweed, fishes and clams, pine needles, and marine sediment. Using the developed method combined with fuming nitric acid and ion exchange resin, which could be reduced the treatment step, we could be removed Ca effectively for the determination of $^{90}Sr$. The recovery yield of $^{90}Sr$ in this method was 10% higher than those of using the fuming nitric acid only. This method could be applied to all environmental samples we choose. The content of $^{90}Sr$ in soil was the highest value in the tested environmental samples.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.201-208
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• 2011

Objectives: According to the compliance of the asbestos-related regulation, every building has to be inspected for asbestos presence before its abatement work. This study was performed for identifying the types and contents of asbestos in building bulk samples. Materials and Methods: Bulk samples were collected during the asbestos inspection in 2010. We grouped the bulk samples into the regulated asbestos containing materials(RACM), presumed asbestos containing materials(PACM), and construction products. Additionally, the types of asbestos in all bulk samples were identified by polarization microscopy(PLM). Results: The RACMs were from building, house, pipe and facility. The RACMs were found mainly building (72.1%) and house (93.7%). The contents of chrysotile in building, house and facility were 66.9% (1-90%), 89.7% (2-90%) and 11.0% (2-90%), respectively. PACMs were surfacing material, thermal system insulation (TSI), and miscellaneous material. The miscellaneous materials that showed a high detection rate (79.2%) were ceiling, roofing and wall materials. Among them, the roofing materials had high chrysotile content(9.7%, 2-21%), followed by wall (8.7%, 2-21%) and ceiling (3.4%, 1-17%). In the construction products, asbestos was found mainly in slate (92.6%, 2-21%), including chrysotile. The slate had high asbestos content (9.7%, 2-21%), followed by cement flat board (8.7%, 2-19%) and textile (3.4%, 1-17%) Conclusions: Utilizing these results, it would be contributed to construct a useful ACM database and prevent from asbestos exposure to workers in the asbestos abatement and maintenance works.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.46-52
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• 2007

A toxicity method using bioluminescence producing bacteria, Escherichia coli DH5 RB1436, was developed and applied on solid environmental samples. In the assay, 1 g soil sample was mixed with 4 ml RB1436 strain. Sets amended with p-buffer were employed for control in soil test, showing approximately 108% of sets amended with combusted soils. Measurable differences were observed between relatively more polluted groups (HP) and less polluted groups (LP) of soil samples, showing average toxicity 43 and 26%, respectively, in direct soil toxicity test. $EC_{50}$'s for all soil groups appeared in the range of $1.8{\sim}4.6\;g$, but those of sediments from dam reservoir and refuses were below 0.22 g. This developed bioassay should prove useful as a screening test for toxicity in various types of environmental solid samples.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.26
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• pp.12.1-12.7
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• 2011

Objectives: Perchlorate is an emerging contaminant that is found everywhere, including various foods. Perchlorate is known to disturb the production of thyroid hormones and leads to mental disorders in fetuses and infants, as well as metabolic problems in adults. In this study, we attempted to establish an LC-MS/MS method for measuring perchlorate in dairy products and used this developed method to investigate perchlorate levels in Korean milk and yogurt samples. Methods: The developed method of perchlorate analysis requires a shaker and 1% acetic acid/acetonitrile as the extracting solvent. Briefly, the samples were extracted and then centrifuged (4000 rpm, 1hour), and the supernatant was then passed through a $Envi^{TM}$ Carb SPE cartridge that had been prewashed sequentially with 6 mL of acetonitrile and 6 mL of 1% acetic acid in water. The final volume of the sample extract was adjusted to 40 mL with reagent water and the final sample was filtered through a 0.20-${\mu}m$ pore size PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) syringe filter prior to LC-MS/MS. Results: The average levels of perchlorate in milk and yogurt samples were $5.63{\pm}3.49\;{\mu}g/L$ and $3.65{\pm}2.42\;{\mu}g/L$, respectively. The perchlorate levels observed in milk samples in this study were similar to those reported from China, Japan, and the United States. Conclusions: The exposure of Koreans to perchlorate through the consumption of dairy products was calculated based on the results of this study. For all age groups, the calculated exposure to perchlorate was below the reference of dose (0.7 ${\mu}g/kg$-day) proposed by the National Academy of Science, USA, but the perchlorate exposure of children was higher than that of adults. Therefore, further investigation of perchlorate in other food samples is needed to enable a more exact assessment of exposure of children to perchlorate.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.336-342
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• 2019

Introduction: An unexpected death was reported in a beginner immediately after starting the work at a plating factory. After the incident, air sampling was performed using a simulation of the situation as it had been at the time. Methods: To evaluate the airborne concentration of hydrogen cyanide, a total of six samples were collected: one personal sample, three area samples, and two background samples (office and outdoors). Hydrogen cyanide measurement was performed according to the standard sampling protocol recommended by the U.S. NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health). Results: The highest concentration of hydrogen cyanide was 0.938 ppm measured in a sample collected from the plating bath area with local exhaust ventilation. This value was approximately 20% of the ceiling occupational exposure limit. The personal sample showed a concentration of 0.135 ppm. Samples collected near the bath in which the incident occurred and a dehydrator showed hydrogen cyanide concentrations of 0.236 ppm and 0.101 ppm, respectively. Hydrogen cyanide was not detected in the background samples (office and outdoors). Conclusions: It is necessary to use proper ventilation systems and respirators in plating factories to prevent acute poisoning. Furthermore, it is important to educate and train new workers dealing with toxic substances.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.609-616
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• 2022

In this study, the effect of different reaction times for thermal-alkaline pretreatment on the solubilization and biogasification of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) were evaluated. Thermal-alkaline pretreatment tests were performed at 73 ℃ and pH 13 at 0-120 h reaction times. The mesophilic anaerobic batch tests were performed with untreated and pretreated PHB samples. The increase in the pretreatment reaction time results in a 52.8-98.8% increase of the abiotic solubilization efficiency of the PHB samples. The reaction time required to achieve solubilization efficiencies of 50%, 90%, and 95% were 10.5, 52.0, and 89.6 h, respectively. The biogasification of the untreated PHB samples achieved a specific methane production rate of 3.6 mL CH₄/g VSS/d and require 101.3 d for complete biogasification. The thermal-alkaline pretreatment significantly improved specific methane production rate (10.2-16.0 time increase), lag time (shortened by 76-81%), and time for complete biogasification (shortened by 21-83%) for the biogasification of the PHB samples when compared to those of the untreated PHB samples. The improvement was higher as the reaction time of the thermal-alkaline pretreatment increased. The findings of this study could be used as a valuable reference for the optimization of the biogasification process in the treatment of PHB wastes.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.231-240
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• 2015

Objectives: Blood mercury levels among adults living in certain areas of the Gyeongsang Provinces have been shown to be very high (Kunwee County $29.6{\mu}g/L$, Yeongcheon-city $26.7{\mu}g/L$). The purpose of this project was to determine mercury exposure levels in schoolchildren and factors related with their mercury levels in high mercury exposure areas identifyed by the 2007 Korea National Environmental Health Survey. Methods: From June to September 2010, 1,097 students from grades 3 to 6 at 19 elementary schools participated in this study, including 294 students from 10 elementary schools in Kunwee County, 529 students from Yeongcheon City, 122 students from two elementary schools in Pohang City, North Gyeongsang Province, and 152 students from two elementary schools in Ulsan Metropolitan City. Biological samples from schoolchildren, including whole blood, urine and hair, were collected to measure total mercury at the time of a health check up. Information about children was collected by questionnaire. Total mercury concentrations in blood were measured using the Direct Mercury Analyzer 80 with the gold-amalgam collection method. Results: The mean mercury levels were $2.70{\mu}g/L$ in 1,091 blood samples, $2.25{\mu}g/g-creat.$ in 820 urine samples and $1.03{\mu}g/g$ in 1,064 hair samples. Blood mercury levels in the schoolchildren was slightly higher than the result of $2.4{\mu}g/L$ from a 2006 survey of elementary school children on exposure and health effects of mercury by the National Institute of Environmental Research. However, 0.3% and 4.5% of participants exceeded the reference level of blood mercury by CHBMII ($15{\mu}g/L$) and the US EPA ($5.8{\mu}g/L$), respectively. The reference level of urine by CHBMII ($20{\mu}g/L$) was exceeded by 0.4% of participants. As factors, residence period in the study areas, residence type, father's education level and income all showed significant associations with mercury level in the biological samples. The number of dental amalgam sides showed an association with urine mercury. Fish intake preference and fish intake frequency were important factors in mercury levels. In particular, intake of shark meat and recent intake of shark meat were associated with higher mercury levels. In this regard, participation in the performance of an ancestral rite showed a relation with higher mercury levels. Conclusion: The intake of shark meat was very important factor to high mercury exposure level. It is recommended to monitor and manage students with high mercury exposures who exceeded CHBM II and EPA guidelines, and include blood mercury testing in the Children's Health check up for this province.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2011

The aim of this investigation was to demonstrate a rapid bioluminescence bioassay for comparison of the toxicity of whole solids and the aqueous extracts of various environmental solid samples. With regard to the toxicities, those for the soil extracts were mostly found to be lower than those of whole soils, which may have been caused by un-extracted pollutants or dilution during the extraction process. Solid samples from dam-reservoir sediments and municipal refuses were also tested. The toxicities of the solid extracts (0-34%; refuses and sediments) were much lower than those of the whole solids (13-91%). The bioluminescence inhibition test indicated that the harmful effects of the contaminated solids samples were greater than those of the solid extracts.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2011

Crocidolite quality control (QC) sampling created by the wet generation method has been validated by validation tests such as the accuracy, precision, and storage tests. For this study we designed and developed a manufacturing apparatus and standard operating procedure for making these QC samples. The most important step in the procedure of making QC samples was the stage eliminating static electricity in asbestos fibers. This static electricity hampers the fibers clog functioning. In accuracy and precision tests by phase contrast microscopy analysis, the difference between the reference values and the studied values was at maximum 17.8%. This satisfies the AIHA proficiency analytical test criteria for asbestos. We could confirm the nearly even distribution of crocidolite fibers on the membrane filter. Also, there was no loss of fibers in the storage test after the one month.