• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.295-304
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• 2006

Residual materials such as veterinary drugs, environmental contaminants, and pesticides are affecting food safety. High resolution techniques and quality controls are needed to analyze these materials from part per million to part per trillion quantities in food. In order to achieve quality results, standardized methods and techniques are required. Our laboratories were prepared to obtain a certificate of accreditation for ISO/IEC 17025 in the analytical criteria of animal drugs, dioxins, pesticides, and heavy metals. ISO together with IEC has built a strategic partnership with the World Trade Organization with the common goal of promoting a free and fair global trading system. ISO collaborates with the United Nations Organization and its specialized agencies and commissions, particularly those involved in the harmonization of regulations and public policies including the World Health Organization and CODEX Alimentarius for food safety measurement, management and traceability. Our goal was to have high quality analysts, proper analytical methods, good laboratory facilities, and safety systems within guidelines of ISO/IEC 17025. All staff members took requirement exams. We applied proficiency tests in the analysis of veterinary drugs (nitrofuran metabolites, sulfonamide and tetracyclines), dioxins, organophosphorus pesticides, and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As) to the Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS) at Central Science Laboratory, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), England. The results were very satisfactory. All documents were prepared, including system management, laboratory management, standard operational procedures for testing, reporting, and more. The criteria encompassed the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:1999. Finally, the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS) accredited our testing laboratories in accordance with the provisions of Article 23 of the National Standards Act. The accreditation will give us the benefit of becoming a regional reference laboratory in Asia.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2015

This study was performed for both evaluating the safety of other processed products and providing basic information for making the general standard for contaminants in the category of other processed products. We analyzed the contents of three heavy metals, thirty six anti-impotence drugs and their analogues, three anti-obesity drugs and their analogues, twenty eight steroid drugs and their analogues, collecting in Incheon Metropolitan City. Any illegal compound was not detected in those products. However the contents of lead, cadmium and mercury of those products were at the range of 0.001-13.390 mg/kg, 0.03-1.231 mg/kg and 0.001-0.650 mg/kg respectively. Because there are no standards of heavy metals against other processed products, we compared the analytical results with relevant standards of both S. Korea and foreign countries. As a result, two products exceeded the relevant standards of lead, and other two products exceeded the relevant standards of mercury. The relative hazards compared to PTWI of FAO/WHO (Codex), Seafoods-pajeonmix, Perilla seed powder exceeded PTWI standards 0.214. The compulsory standards of each food product are determined by the category of the products. Because there is no standard of heavy metals in the category of other processed products in S. Korea, any food products registered as other processed product by manufacturer are free with those standards. Abusing similar problems on the categorization of food products could cause consumers' health problem. To prevent these problems, detail regulations on the categorization of food products have to be introduced.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.167-175
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• 2017

Objectives: Children may be more exposed to certain environmental contaminants because they react with greater sensitivity and have different food intakes and breathing rate per unit of body weight compared to adults. The aim of this study was to determine general exposure factors such as skin surface area, period and frequency of exposure, and others among Korean children aged ${\leq}18$ years old. This study was carried out as the first of its kind in Korea. Methods: We developed 23 recommended exposure factors for Korean children aged 0 to 18 years by reclassifying raw data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Statistical Information Service, as well as through investigation by experiments in the absence of related data. Results: Reflecting the activity patterns of about 9,000 children, the daily inhalation rates for long-term exposure ranged from $9.49m^3/day$ for children from birth to <2 years to $14.98m^3/day$ for children aged 16 to <18 years. The research found that Korean children spent an average of 22.21 hours indoors, 0.67 hours outdoors, and 1.12 hours in-transit every day. Young children (${\leq}2$ years old) spent approximately 34 more minutes outdoors on weekends than they did on weekdays. Conclusion: Various physiological variables in the human body reflect characteristics of children that can directly influence risk exposure. Therefore, the identification of general exposure factors based on Korean children is required for appropriate risk assessment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.60-70
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• 2011

The sediment removal index derived from the chemical contaminants, $CI_{HC}$, is currently in use to identify and define the spatial extent of the contaminated sediments in the sea. In order to analyze the sensitivity of the ecological and human risk associated with contaminated sediment, we evaluated five hypothetical contaminated sediments, whose $CI_{HC}$ values are identical but consisted of different contaminant contents, using $TrophicTrace^{(R)}$ model dedicated to evaluate sediment risk, against the resident greenling (Hexagrammos otakii) and humans by calculating No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level based Toxicity Quotient (NOAEL TQ) and Lowest-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level based Toxicity Quotient (LOAEL TQ), and cancer risks and hazard indices (HI), respectively, based on the site conceptual model and exposure assumptions of fish ingestion to human receptor populations. NOAEL and LOAEL TQ values varied as much as a factor of 2 among 5 hypothetical sediments. Chemical element specific contribution to the carcinogenic risk and HI varied also greatly in these sediments. The reason for this significant dissimilarity in ecological and human risk stems from the different risk of each contaminant to the resident fish and human receptor. When the conceptual food web model is constructed for the target biological species for a given site, the ecological and human risk analysis considering trophic transfer of contaminants will add a ecosystem based tool for the management of contaminated sediments.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.176-184
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• 2004

This study was conducted to compare and estimate the daily PAHs dietary intake from both home-cooking and dining-out, through approach of model diet used in exposure assessment of food contaminants. Food commodities reflecting in model diet were selected from the KHIDI report and were analysed in cooked or uncooked edible forms using HPLC-Fluorscence Detector. The PAHs dietary intake comparison between home-cooking and dining-out was based on one meal intake suggested in model diet and PAHs dietary intake was estimated by using food consumption rate and body weight of the Korean adult group. The daily PAHs dietary intake was calculated by permutation and combination method with assumption that a person consumed 2 meals from home-cooking menu and 1 meal from dining-out menu. The total PAHs levels in 36 food commodities with 200 samples were ranged from 2.00 ug/kg to 141.28 ug/kg and a food showing the highest PAHs level was the stir-fried anchovy. The $TEQ_{BaP}$ levels of PAHs were calculated using benzo(a)pyrene equivalents individual congener level and corresponding TEF value and the $TEQ_{BaP}$ level were ranged from $0.03\;ugTEQ{BaP}$ to $1.31\;ugTEQ_{BaP}$ and a food showing the highest $TEQ_{BaP}$ level was the hamburger. The PAHs dietary intakes per one meal from home-cooking and dining-out were $2.4\times10^{-3}\;ugTEQ_{BaP}/kg/meal\;and\;4.0\times10^{-3}\;ugTEQ_{BaP}/kg/meal$, respectively. This data showed the PAHs dietary intake from dining-out was about 1.7 times higher than from the home-cooking. The daily PAHs dietary intakes of general Korean adult having two meals from home-cooking and one meal from dining-out per a day were ranged between $8.0\times10^{-3}\~9.7\times10^{-3}\;ugTEQ_{BaP}/gg/day$ and mean value as $8.9\times10^{-3}\~9.7\times10^{-3}\;ugTEQ_{BaP}/gg/day$.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.288-294
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Methylmercury is analyzed by HPLC-ICP/MS because of the simplicity for sample preparation and interference. However, most of the pre-treatment methods for methylmercury need a further pH adjustment of the extracted solution and removal of organic matter for HPLC. The purpose of this study was to establish a rapid and accurate analytical method for determination of methylmercury in fish by using HPLC-ICP/MS. METHOD AND RESULTS: We conducted an experiment for pre-treatment and instrument conditions and analytical method verification. Pre-treatment condition was established with aqueous 1% L-cysteine HCl and heated at $60^{\circ}C$ in microwave for 20 min. Methylmercury in $50{\mu}L$ of filtered extract was separated by a C18 column and aqueous 0.1% L-cysteine HCl + 0.1% L-cysteine mobile phase at $25^{\circ}C$. The presence of cysteine in mobile phase and sample solution was essential to eliminate adsorption, peak tailing and memory effect problems. Correlation coefficient($r^2$) for the linearity was 0.9998. The limits of detection and quantitation for this method were 0.15 and $0.45{\mu}g/kg$ respectively. CONCLUSION: Result for analytical method verification, accuracy and repeatability of the analytes were in good agreement with the certified reference materials values of methylmercury at a 95% confidence level. The advantage of the established method is that the extracted solution can be directly injected into the HPLC column without additional processes and the memory effect of mercury in the ICP-MS can be eliminated.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.578-585
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• 2010

The purpose of this research was to estimate dietary sodium exposure and to determine the sodium contents of school lunches in Incheon and Gangwon. In this study, we collected 1,334 samples from 8 elementary schools and 8 middle schools for 15 days. The average lunch intakes at the elementary and middle schools were $381.2{\pm}73.8g$ and $460.4{\pm}81.5g$, respectively. The sodium contents of main dishes, side dishes, and desserts were $49.7{\pm}105.6$ mg/100 g, $517.2{\pm}409.2$ mg/100 g, and $135.4{\pm}195.5$ mg/100 g, respectively. The average sodium intakes through lunch at the elementary and middle schools were $863.0{\pm}291.1$ mg and $1,052.1{\pm}323.4$ mg, and average potassium intakes were $571.1{\pm}193.0$ mg and $655.8{\pm}198.4$ mg, respectively. The results of this study show that sodium intake from school lunches is about 47% of the recommended daily intake (RDI, 2,000 mg per day) established by the WHO. Therefore, it is recommended that sodium exposure be continuously monitored.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.227-249
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• 2016

Arsenic and its compounds vary in their toxicity according to the chemical forms. Inorganic arsenic is more toxic and known as carcinogen. The provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of $15{\mu}g/kg$ b.w./week established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has been withdrawn, while the EFSA panel suggested $BMDL_{0.1}$ $0.3{\sim}8{\mu}g/kg\;b.w./day$ for cancers of the lung, skin and bladder, as well as skin lesions. Rice, seaweed and beverages are known as food being rich in inorganic arsenic. As(III) is the major form of inorganic arsenic in rice and anaerobic paddy soils, while most of inorganic arsenic in seaweed is present as As(V). The inorganic arsenic in food was extracted with solvent such as distilled water, methanol, nitric acid and so on in heat-assisted condition or at room temperature. Arsenic speciation analysis was based on ion-exchange chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. However, there has been no harmonized and standardized method for inorganic arsenic analysis internationally. The inorganic arsenic exposure from food has been estimated to range of $0.13{\sim}0.7{\mu}g/kg$ bw/day for European, American and Australian, and $0.22{\sim}5{\mu}g/kg$ bw/day for Asian. The maximum level (ML) for inorganic arsenic in food has established by EU, China, Australia and New Zealand, but are under review in Korea. Until now, several studies have conducted for reduction of inorganic arsenic in food. Inorganic arsenic levels in rice and seaweed were reduced by more polishing and washing, boiling and washing, respectively. Further research for international harmonization of analytical method, monitoring and risk assessment will be needed to strengthen safety management of inorganic arsenic of foods in Korea.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.205-210
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• 2005

The content of the trace metals in the cultured and wild fishes were determined. The tested fishes were genuin porgy (Pagrus major) and black porgy (Acanthopogrus schlegeli). The samples of the cultured and wild fishes were collected from slices of raw fish in shops, during 2003 to 2004. The samples were digested with acids, then analyzed by ICP (inductively Coupled plasma Spectrometer) and AAS (Automic Absorption Spectrometer) for the content of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn). The content of mercury (Hg) was determined using mercury analyzer. The mean contents of trace metals in cultured and wild fish was 0.031,0.047mg/kg far total-mercury,0.321,0.407 for Pb, 0.048,0.063 for Cd, 1.006, 1.132 for As, 0.467,0.806 for Cu, 0.233, 0.293 for Cr, 9.69, 12.20 for Zn,0.798, 0.624 mg/kg far Mn, respectively. The content of all the trace metals except manganese in wild fish was more than that in cultured fish. The highest level of total-mercury, lead, cadmium, zinc, chromium and arsenic in the samples analyzed were all below the quarantine limit of Korean regulation and guideline established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration f3r human consumption. The level of the trace metals in the samples was negligible, which could be endogenous. Our data obtained in this study showed that the average weekly intakes of lead, cadmium and mercury from cultured and wild fishes takes about $6\∼13\%$ of Un(Provisional Tolerance Weekley Intakes) that FAO/WHO Joint Food Additive and Contaminants Committee has set to evaluate their safeties.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.121-136
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• 1987

As a part of continuing monitoring program since 1983, a study on pesticide residues on Korean agricultural products has been conducted to offer the tolerance of pesticide residues suiting Korean reality. The samples used in this experiment were collected from four areas in five provinces of Korea. The residue, levels of organochlorine pesticide (two kinds), organophosphoric pesticide (eight kinds) and carbamate pesticide (three kinds) on lettuce, garland chrysanthemum, radish Korean, potato, egg plant, green onion, persimmon and sweet potato, and the residue levels of captan and captafol on tomato, green pepper fresh, apple, peach, soybean, cucumber and cabbage Korean were determined by GC-NPD and ECD.