• Title/Summary/Keyword: exposure sources

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Contamination and Risk Analysis of Heavy Metals in Korean Foods (국내식품의 중금속 오염과 위해성 분셕)

  • 이서래;이미경
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.324-332
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    • 2001
  • Foods constitute a large portion of heavy metal exposure toward general population and attract a deep concern with respect to assuring human health. This study summarized published data in Korea on the content, and dietary intake of heavy metals and assessed their risk potential in comparison with foreign data. An analysis for the yearly fluctuation of metal contents including arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead by flood group (marine fishes, coastal shellfishes, freshwater fishes, cereal grains) exhibited a decreasing trend from the 1970s to the 1990s. When compared with domestic standards of heavy metals, their mean contents were below the limit and their maximum values seldom exceeded the limit. The data on the dietary intake of heavy metals by Koreans showed a decreasing trend from the 1980s to the 1990s. The average intakes offs and Hg were 6∼8% and those of Cd and Pb were 50∼80% of PTWI(provisional tolerable weekly intake), all of which were below the tolerance. As the extreme intakes of these metals may exceed the PTWI, a careful assessment for them may be necessary. Dietary intakes of Cd, Hg and Pb by Koreans lie in the mid-level among countries cited in the GEMS/Food monitoring data. As fishery foods are suspecious of contamination with Hg, Cd and As, and floods in general are with Pb, it is necessary to establish legal limits for these metals and monitor any progress of their contamination. Furthermore, overall assessment of exposure to heavy metals from all sources including floods, air, drinking water and occupation should be made in order to confirm the dietary risk factors and to assure the safety of food resources.

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Increase in the Th1-Cell-Based Immune Response in Healthy Workers Exposed to Low-Dose Radiation - Immune System Status of Radiology Staff

  • Karimi, Gholamreza;Balali-Mood, Mahdi;Alamdaran, Seyed-Ali;Badie-Bostan, Hassan;Mohammadi, Elaheh;Ghorani-Azam, Adel;Sadeghi, Mahmood;Riahi-Zanjani, Bamdad
    • Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.107-111
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    • 2017
  • Objectives: Radiation is one of the most important sources of free radical (such as reactive oxygen species) production, which plays an essential role in the etiology of over hundred diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate some immune parameters and hematological indices in healthy workers of the Radiology Department, University Hospital of Mashhad, Iran. Methods: The study was performed on 50 healthy workers: 30 radiology staff as the case group and 20 laboratory workers as the control group. The radiation dose received by the radiology staff participating in the study was less than the annual maximum permissible level, 50 millisievert. Hematological parameters, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production were studied in both groups. Results: Among healthy radiology workers, the hematological indices did not differ statistically; however, their proliferation indices and $IFN-{\gamma}$ levels showed significant increases in parallel with decreases in the IL-4 levels as compared to controls. The immune system of workers exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation was found to be shifted from a Type 2 to a Type 1 response to promote cellular immunity. Conclusion: Based on our data, exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation may decrease the prevalence, frequency, and recurrence of various cancers and infectious diseases because of an increase in Th1-cell-based response, thus leading to more protection of the human body against tumor cells and foreign agents and possibly increased longevity. However, due to high rate of fluoroscopy use for interventional radiology, we suggest continuing research projects on radiation protection and hazards to prevent irreversible damage. As a recommendation, in future studies, radiology staff with a weakened immunity due to high radiation exposure should be considered as good choices to be treated using acupuncture techniques because acupuncture has been demonstrated to enhance the function and the number of immune cells.

Factors Affecting Nursing College Students' Adherence to Prevention Compliance Behavior of Blood-Born Infection (간호대학생의 혈액매개감염 예방행위 실천도에 영향을 미치는 요인)

  • Ryu, Seong-Mi;Kong, Jeong-Hyeon;Choi, Hye-Ok
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.19 no.8
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    • pp.220-229
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    • 2018
  • The purpose of this study is to identify nursing college students' knowledge, awareness and adherence to preventive behavior of blood-borne infection, and the factors affecting the adherence to preventive behavior of blood-borne infection. This study was carried out for 475 juniors in university who have completed clinical practice at the nursing college located in G city from December 1 to 15, 2017. The study findings showed that knowledge score, awareness and adherence to preventive behavior of blood-borne infection were 13.13 points(0-18 points), 4.18 points and 4.34 points, respectively. Nursing college students' adherence to preventive behavior of blood-borne infection showed a positive correlation between knowledge of blood-borne infection and awareness of blood-borne infection, The factors affecting the adherence to preventive behavior of blood-borne infection were found to be age, education experience, exposure, knowledge of blood infection, and the explanatory power of these variables was 16.3%. Therefore, it was found to be necessary to develop and apply a standardized education protocol in ward units for nursing college students to reduce the incidence of exposure to blood-borne infection sources in nursing college students.

Exposure and Toxicity Assessment of Ultrafine Particles from Nearby Traffic in Urban Air in Seoul, Korea

  • Yang, Ji-Yeon;Kim, Jin-Yong;Jang, Ji-Young;Lee, Gun-Woo;Kim, Soo-Hwan;Shin, Dong-Chun;Lim, Young-Wook
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.28
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    • pp.7.1-7.9
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    • 2013
  • Objectives We investigated the particle mass size distribution and chemical properties of air pollution particulate matter (PM) in the urban area and its capacity to induce cytotoxicity in human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells. Methods To characterize the mass size distributions and chemical concentrations associated with urban PM, PM samples were collected by a 10-stage Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor close to nearby traffic in an urban area from December 2007 to December 2009. PM samples for in vitro cytotoxicity testing were collected by a mini-volume air sampler with $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ inlets. Results The PM size distributions were bi-modal, peaking at 0.18 to 0.32 and 1.8 to $3.2{\mu}m$. The mass concentrations of the metals in fine particles (0.1 to $1.8{\mu}m$) accounted for 45.6 to 80.4% of the mass concentrations of metals in $PM_{10}$. The mass proportions of fine particles of the pollutants related to traffic emission, lead (80.4%), cadmium (69.0%), and chromium (63.8%) were higher than those of other metals. Iron was the dominant transition metal in the particles, accounting for 64.3% of the $PM_{10}$ mass in all the samples. We observed PM concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects on BEAS-2B cells. Conclusions We found that exposure to $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ from a nearby traffic area induced significant increases in protein expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8). The cell death rate and release of cytokines in response to the $PM_{2.5}$ treatment were higher than those with $PM_{10}$. The combined results support the hypothesis that ultrafine particles from vehicular sources can induce inflammatory responses related to environmental respiratory injury.

Estimation of Dietary Daily Intake of PCDDs/PCDFs from Korean Retail Food (우리 나라 시판 식품을 통한 다이옥신 섭취량 평가)

  • Kim, Kyoung-Sim;Kim, Jong-Guk;Kim, Man-Young
    • Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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    • v.22 no.7
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    • pp.1345-1355
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    • 2000
  • The main route of exposure of the human population to polychlorinated dibenzop-dioxins(PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans(PCDFs) is through the diet. However in Korea, there are few studies on PCDDs/PCDFs levels in environmental samples and foods. The purpose of this study is to analyze concentration of PCDDs/PCDFs in Korean retail foods and to estimate dietary daily intake of them. 9 samples from animal food and 10 samples from plant food were analysed for PCDDs/PCDFs. Concentrations of PCDDs/PCDFs ranged from 0.02(milk) to 5.39(anchovy)pg/g. TEQ levels appeared in order of fish/shellfish, meat, vegetable, cereal, fruit and milk, and these values ranged from 0.0008 to 0.3153pgTEQ/g. The daily intake of PCDDs/PCDFs via food was calculated to be about 37.7pgTEQ/day and these values are equivalent to 0.75 pgTEQ/kg b.w./day, under consideration of 50kg for body weight. The daily intake of PCDDs/PCDFs via food was lower than that in other countries. From these results, it is important to note that fish/shellfish intake is one of the main sources of PCDDs/PCDFs exposure in Korea.

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Exposure to Crime News, Multicultural Acceptability, and the Mediation Effects of Perceived Risk (범죄 뉴스 노출과 다문화수용성 위험지각의 매개효과를 중심으로)

  • Heo, Yun-Cheol;Im, Yung-Ho
    • Korean journal of communication and information
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    • v.76
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    • pp.92-123
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    • 2016
  • This paper aims to examine systematically how audiences' exposure to crime news influences their multicultural acceptability. In particular, the analysis has focused on how the variance in the effects of contacts with crime news on foreigners takes place, according to the types of media and communication favored among the audiences. Also, with perceived risk toward crime as a mediating variable, this research scrutinizes the way crime news on foreigners comes to influence multicultural acceptability among the audiences. While various news sources and communication channels are influential in strengthening the perceived possibility of crime on the individual level, the results show, television seems to be particularly more effective with regards to the perceived prevalence of crime on the social level (RQ 1). Also, while contacts with crime news through 'dialogic' media rarely influence multicultural acceptability significantly, 'discursive' media and face-to-face contacts have negative impacts on the multicultural acceptability (RQ 2). Consequently, perceived risk on the social level seems to play the role of full mediation in the process where audiences' contact with crime news through discursive media influences their multicultural acceptability (RQ 3). Based on these findings, both theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

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A Study on the Safety of a Screening X-ray Laboratory Using Containers in accordance with the COVID 19 Outbreak (COVID 19 유행에 따른 컨테이너를 이용한 선별 X-선 검사실의 안전성에 대한 고찰)

  • Kim, Jae-Seok
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.425-431
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    • 2020
  • When a radiation generating device is installed in an export container due to COVID-19, the purpose of this study was to measure the space dose in the radiation room and to study the effectiveness of the shielding wall in the laboratory. Air dose measurement method was set behind the X-ray tube, 50 cm, 100 cm, 200 cm, and measured 12 locations. The dose values before and after the use of the movable radiation shielding wall were compared by measuring 3 locations behind the X-ray tube using the movable radiation shielding wall. The measured values were 50 cm on the left behind the X-ray tube: 1.446 μSv, behind the X-ray tube: 0.545 μSv, and 50 cm on the right behind the X-ray tube: 1.466 μSv. Measurements behind the radiation barrier were 0.190 μSv, 0.204 μSv, and 0.191 μSv. As a result of performing the corresponding sample t test of the average value according to the use of movable barrier walls, p <0.001 was found. As a result of the actual measurement, the medical exposure of the examiner due to the shielding wall in the laboratory decreased to 82.3%. In order to reduce occupational exposure in screening radiological laboratories, it is recommended that sufficient separation from radiation sources and the use of shielding walls are recommended.

Radiological Risk Assessment for the Public Under the Loss of Medium and Large Sources Using Bayesian Methodology (베이지안 기법에 의거한 중대형 방사선원의 분실 시 일반인에 대한 방사선 위험도의 평가)

  • Kim, Joo-Yeon;Jang, Han-Ki;Lee, Jai-Ki
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.91-97
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    • 2005
  • Bayesian methodology is appropriated for use in PRA because subjective knowledges as well as objective data are applied to assessment. In this study, radiological risk based on Bayesian methodology is assessed for the loss of source in field radiography. The exposure scenario for the lost source presented in U.S. NRC is reconstructed by considering the domestic situation and Bayes theorem is applied to updating of failure probabilities of safety functions. In case of updating of failure probabilities, it shows that 5 % Bayes credible intervals using Jeffreys prior distribution are lower than ones using vague prior distribution. It is noted that Jeffreys prior distribution is appropriated in risk assessment for systems having very low failure probabilities. And, it shows that the mean of the expected annual dose for the public based on Bayesian methodology is higher than the dose based on classical methodology because the means of the updated probabilities are higher than classical probabilities. The database for radiological risk assessment are sparse in domestic. It summarizes that Bayesian methodology can be applied as an useful alternative lot risk assessment and the study on risk assessment will be contributed to risk-informed regulation in the field of radiation safety.

The Use of feral Pigeon's (Columba livia) Feathers as a Monitor for Lead Pollution in Korea (비둘기 깃털을 이용한 납 오염 모니터링)

  • 남동하;이두표;구태회
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.233-238
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    • 2002
  • In this study, we investigated the lead exposure conditions using feathers of pigeons as a monitor for lead pollution from rural (Duckjeok Island), central urban (Seoul), and industrial complex areas (Yochon, Ansan, Ulsan, and Busan) in Korea. The feathers were taken from breast body parts and their lead analysis was performed without washing the feathers to reflect lead particles attached to the surface. The tissue lead concentrations were also compared with levels of atmospheric concentrations. The lead levels in the feathers were increased when the atmospheric lead levels were higher, so that the lead levels in the feathers of the pigeons from the industrial complex area with highest atmospheric lead levels were about four times greater than those of the rural areas. A positive correlation was found between the lead concentration of the pigeon's livers and feathers in rural, and the Yochon industrial complex area with the lowest lead levels. This result means that most of lead in feathers is transported from body tissues during the molting period without attached atmospheric lead. Thus, the feather lead concentrations could be discussed in the light of the metabolism known to occur between the liver and feathers. However, there were not significant correlations in the other areas with higher atmospheric lead levels, and observed relatively higher lead accumulation ratio in feathers than in livers compared with rural and the Yochon industrial complex areas. It is therefore suggested that the former was more exposure conditions and mainly influenced by outer pollutant sources than by the metabolism as the latter.

Experiment of KOMPSAT-3/3A Absolute Radiometric Calibration Coefficients Estimation Using FLARE Target (FLARE 타겟을 이용한 다목적위성3호/3A호의 절대복사 검보정 계수 산출)

  • Kyoungwook Jin;Dae-Soon Park
    • Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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    • v.39 no.6_1
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    • pp.1389-1399
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    • 2023
  • KOMPSAT-3/3A (K3/K3A) absolute radiometric calibration study was conducted based on a Field Line of sight Automated Radiance Exposure (FLARE) system. FLARE is a system, which has been developed by Labsphere, Inc. adopted a SPecular Array Radiometric Calibration (SPARC) concept. The FLARE utilizes a specular mirror target resulting in a simplified radiometric calibration method by minimizing other sources of diffusive radiative energies. Several targeted measurements of K3/3A satellites over a FLARE site were acquired during a field campaign period (July 5-15, 2021). Due to bad weather situations, only two observations of K3 were identified as effective samples and they were employed for the study. Absolute radiometric calibration coefficients were computed using combined information from the FLARE and K3 satellite measurements. Comparison between the two FLARE measurements (taken on 7/7 and 7/13) showed very consistent results (less than 1% difference between them except the NIR channel). When additional data sets of K3/K3A taken on Aug 2021 were also analyzed and compared with gain coefficients from the metadata which are used by current K3/K3A, It showed a large discrepancy. It is assumed that more studies are needed to verify usefulness of the FLARE system for the K3/3A absolute radiometric calibration.