• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.823-839
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• 2012

Environmental Specimen Banks (ESBs) are playing pivotal role in monitoring the effect of environmental pollution on the ecosystem based on the retrospective analysis of the representative samples collected regularly and stored in cryogenic condition. In Korea, National Environmental Specimen Bank (NESB) was established in 2009 and the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for sampling, and cryogenic milling and storage had been prepared during 2007-2010. Since then, the tentative SOPs for the seven kinds of specimens (shoots of Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) and Korean Pine (Pinus koraiensis), leaves of Mongolian Oak (Quercus mongolica) and Zelkova Tree (Zelkova serrata), eggs of Feral Pigeon (Columba livia var. domestica), muscles and organs of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), and Freshwater Bivalve (Unio (Nodularia) douglasiae)) have been put to test in the field and laboratory as well against the practicality and feasibility. The SOPs were improved by reflecting the findings from the research and the following discussion regarding the selection of specimen (Feral Pigeon suffering from a control management), sample size (a problem of decreasing number of sampling trees related to increasing sampling time) and period (a problem related to a bud growth), and sampling methods etc.. In addition, barcoding system for the management of the specimen information, and monitoring system of the cryogenic storage to regulate the optimum temperature and the liquid nitrogen level were also developed for the efficient and effective control of the samples. Lastly, the safety guide and emergency protocol were augmented to guarantee a safe work environment with the cryogenic facility. These improvements of the SOPs are expected to contribute to more stable operation of the NESB.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.29-37
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to identify the distribution of non-ortho and mono-ortho PCB congeners and homologues in adipose tissues and sera of women with breast cancer. The collected samples were 25 adipose tissues and 33 sera from women with breast cancer. The samples from the control group were 49 adipose tissues and 52 sera. The levels of three non-ortho and eight mono-ortho PCBs identified in adipose tissue and serum samples were determined by GC/MSD and GC/ECD analyses. Non-ortho and mono-ortho PCB congeners were more dominant in the control group than in the case group for serum samples. The Tetra-PCB and the Hexa-, Hepta-PCB were more dominant in tale and control groups, respectively. The level of PCB homologues in normal women was similar to that of the normal human milk samples. However, the levels of PCB homologues from breast cancer patients were almost same the level of sample from environment. As a result of this study, it is suggested that breast cancer could be related to environmental factors such as PCB level in stack gas and soil sample. More extended research should be to verify this result.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.488-497
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• 2012

A DNA barcode based on 648 bp of cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene aims to build species-specific libraries for animal groups. However, it is hard to recover full-length (648 bp) barcode gene from environmental fecal samples due to DNA degradation. In this study, we designed a new primer set (K_Bird), which amplifies a 226 bp fragment targeted an inner position of full-length COI barcode based on 102 species of Korean birds to improve amplification success, and we attempted to identify bird species from 39 avian fecal samples collected during 4 months from Jinan, South Korea. Simultaneously, we conducted a dietary analysis using a universal DNA mini-barcode (Uni_Minibar) from same fecal samples. In silico analysis on newly designed mini-barcode represented that genetic distances were 0.5% in species and 9.1% in genera. Intraspecific variations of 149 species out of 174 species (86%) between Korea and North America were within the threshold (5.3% threshold in this study). From environmental fecal samples collected in Jinan, we identified seven avian species, which have high similarity (99-100%) with registered COI sequences in GenBank. Eight kinds of prey species, such as moth, spider, fly, and dragonfly, were identified in dietary analysis. We suppose that our strategy applying mini-barcode for environmental fecal samples, might be a useful and convenient tool for species identification and dietary analysis for birds.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.73-86
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• 1988

In order to determine the content levels of trace metals in common salts, 64 bay salt samples were collected from three producing districts and 33 bay salt samples, 32 remade salt samples and 5 fine salt samples were collected from 7 major cities in Korea, from August to September 1987. These were analysed for content levels of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn and Mn using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results were as follows: 1. Lead contents in three type salts were N.D. - 1081.9 $\mu$g/kg and fourteen percent of the 114 samples exceeded the World Health Organization(WHO) criteria of 100$\mu$g/kg. Cadmium contents of samples were N.D.- 382C.5 $\mu$g/kg and five percent of the 114 samples were over the Spanish criteria of 500 $\mu$g/kg. Copper contents of samples were 8,9-214.9 $\mu$g/kg and there was not a sample over the World Health Organization(WHO) criteria of 500 $\mu$g/kg. Zinc contents ranged N.D. - 342.9 $\mu$g/kg and Manganese contents ranged N.D.- 8.31 mg/kg. 2. The comparison of heavy metal contents among the bay salts from three producing districts was significantly different in Pb, Cd and Cu contents. 3. The comparison of heavy metal contents between the bay salts and remade salts was not significantly different in Pb, Cd and Cu contents. 4. The contents of Pb, Cd, Zn and Mn in fine salts were much lower than those of bay salts and remade salts.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 1983

A study was carried out to find drinking water qualities of 56 simple piped water supply systems and 37 water pumps in Chun Sung Conutry, Kang Won Province from 1st July to 30th August 1981. 1. The results of all kinds of water test are found to be safe at only one out of fifty six samples of simple piped water supply system at two out of thirty-seven samples of water pump and unsafe at the others. 2. In general Count of Bacteria test, twelve (21.4%) out of fifty six samples of the simple piped water are found to be safe for the legitimate standard of safty water, and five (13.5%) out of thirty=seven samples of pump water. 3. Escherichia coli group is negative at seven (12.5%) out of fifty-six samples of simple piped water, and eight (21.6%) out of thirty-seven samples of pump water. 4. The results of the physical and chemical examination of drinking water specimen are found to be safe at twelve out of fifty-six samples of simple piped water and at twenty-eight out of thirty-seven samples of pump water.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.447-462
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aims to develop distributable samples that can be used for proficiency testing to verify the ability of the testing laboratory to perform high temperature and low temperature tests. Method: In this study, the temperature-resistance characteristics of the NTC thermistor were used to develop samples. The homogeneity and stability of samples were examined according to the proficiency testing requirements. Results: Thirty samples with homogeneity and stability were developed and used for the proficiency testing. Thus, it was possible to distinguish between the test laboratories that showed satisfactory results and those that did not. Conclusion: It was the first time to develop samples that can be used for proficiency testing in high temperature and low temperature tests. and it was proved that the proficiency test program can be operated using the characteristics of NTC thermistor.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.33-42
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• 2012

This study was performed to find the problems according to interference factors (organic matter, pH, Cr, Mn, Fe, clay, and etc.) when we analyzed the hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] in soils using UV/VIS spectrometer (US EPA 7196A), attempted to evaluate the domestic applicability of analytical method (US EPA 7199) using IC-UV/VIS spectrometer as alternative method. The recovery rate of certified reference materials was 75.0% (US EPA 7196A) and 101.4% (US EPA 7199) by the analytical methods. As the results of performing QA/QC about US EPA 7199, method detection limit (MDL) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.062 mg/kg, 0.196 mg/kg, respectively. The LOQ of US EPA 7199 was lower than that of the current soil official testing method in Korea (0.5 mg/kg). Cr(VI) contents in 23 soil samples were compared by the analytical methods of EPA 7196A and 7199. Cr(VI) was detected in 13 of 23 soil samples by EPA 7196A, while EPA 7199 was not detected in any soil samples. The Cr(VI) content in 23 soil samples by EPA 7196A was not clearly correlated with Cr, Fe, Mn and clay content in the soil samples. However, the contents of Cr(VI) and organic matter of the soil samples had the highest coefficient of determination ($R^2$) of 0.80. In order to evaluate the correlation between the recovery rates of Cr(VI) and organic matter contents in the soil samples, the recovery rates of 5 soil samples added Cr(VI) standard solution were analyzed by the analytical methods. According to the results, the higher the organic matter contents in soil samples, the lower the recovery rates of Cr(VI) by US EPA 7196, while in case of US EPA 7199, the recovery rates were stable regardless of the organic matter contents.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.11-14
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• 2006

In this study we attempted to develop a novel genomic method to selectively isolate target functional microbial genomes from environmental samples. For this purpose, stable isotope probing (SIP) was applied in selectively isolating organic pollutant-assimilating populations. When soil microbes were fed with $^{13}C-labeled $ biphenyl, biphenyl-utilizing cells were incorporated with the heavy carbon isotope. The heavy DNA portion was successfully separated by CsCl equilibrium density gradient. And the diversity in the heavy DNA was sufficiently reduced, being suitable for the current DNA microarray techniques to detect biphenyl-utilizing populations in the soil. In addition, we proposed a new way to get more genetic information by combining this SIP method with selective metagenomic approach. The increased selective power of these new DNA isolation methods will be expected to provide a good quality of new genetic information, which, in turn, will result in development of a variety of biomarkers that may be used in assessing ecotoxicology issues including the impacts of organic hazards, and antibiotic-resistant pathogens on human and ecological systems.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.600-627
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• 2016

Korea is one of the countries with a large veterinary antibiotics market, although antimicrobial resistance in bacteria is becoming a serious issue in many countries. The Korean government started to take interest in estimating the effects of livestock manure on rivers and agricultural soils and in monitoring of heavy metals, organic pollutants and antibiotics in the ambient water and soil. In this paper, pre-treatment methods to separate the selected antibiotics from solid samples were reviewed. It is essential to select an efficient and appropriate procedure for pre-treatment due to the high proportion of proteins and organics in biosolid samples. Pre-treatment consists of extraction followed by clean-up. Initially, homogenized samples were extracted by sonication, mechanical agitation or pressurized liquid extraction with methanol/acetonitrile/water mixture under acidic/basic conditions depending on the compound. However, aminoglycosides and colistin were extracted with 5% trichloroacetic acid and HCl, respectively. Since the ${\beta}-lactams$ are easily decomposed in acidic and basic conditions, they were extracted in neutral pH. Filtration with a membrane (pore size, $0.2{\mu}m$) or solid phase extraction with HLB and methanol, as eluents, was normally applied for the clean-up. At least, three different pre-treatment procedures should be adopted to screen all the selected antibiotics in solid samples.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2015

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are persistent environmental pollutants, extremely stable, and possibly adversely affect human health. They are widely used in many industries and consumer goods, including sunscreen products. These substances are stable chemicals made of long carbon chains, having both lipid- and water-repellent qualities. The research objectives are (1) to find the most effective method for the preparation of semi-liquid samples by comparing solid phase extraction (SPE) and centrifugation after Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), and (2) to determine the contamination levels of PFOS and PFOA in waterproof sunscreen samples. All sunscreen samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sunscreen samples were purchased from domestic and international brands sold in Thailand. Special chemical properties were considered for the selection of samples, e.g., those found in waterproof, sweat resistant, water resistant, and non-stick products. Considering the factors of physical properties, e.g., operation time, chemical consumption, and recovery percentage for selecting methods to develop, the centrifugation method using 2 mL of extracted sample with the conditions of 12,000 rpm and $5^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour after PLE was chosen. The highest concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were detected at 0.0671 ng/g and 21.0644 ng/g, respectively. Even though present concentrations are found at ng/g levels, the daily use of sunscreen products is normally several grams. Therefore, a risk assessment of PFOS and PFOA contamination in sunscreen products is an important concern, and more attention needs to be paid to the long-term effects on human health.