• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.629-634
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The aim of this experiments was to show anti-obesity effects of Korean solar salt from different salt fields in diet-induced obese mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Diet-induced obesity (DIO) was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD; 45% cal from fat) in C57BL/6J mice for eight weeks. The mice were fed with the designated diets (chow diet for Normal, HFD for Control, 0.47%-salt-mixed HFD for purified salt (PS), Guerande solar salt from France (SS-G), solar salt from Y salt field (SS-Y), solar salts from T salt field (SS-T) and S salt field (SS-S)) for another eight weeks. We checked body weight, food efficiency ratio (FER) and tissue weights (liver and epididymal adipose tissue (EAT)), and observed serum concentrations of triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), leptin and insulin. We also evaluated gene expressions of adipogenic / lipogenic mRNAs of $C/EBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$ and FAS and beta-oxidation-related factors ($PPAR{\alpha}$ and CPT-1) in liver and EAT. The mineral composition of salt samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). RESULTS: SS-T and SS-S significantly reduced body weight gain, FER, and weight of EAT compared to control and other samples (P < 0.05). SS-T and SS-S also significantly decreased serum levels of TG, TC, leptin and insulin (P < 0.05). SS-T and SS-S suppressed expressions of adipogenic / lipogenic mRNAs in liver and EAT, while promoting expression of beta-oxidation-related factors. The lowest sodium concentration was observed in SS-T ($30.30{\pm}0.59%$), and the lowest sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio was found in SS-S (17.81). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that well-processed Korean solar salt may have anti-obesity effects in vivo, probably owing to its differences in mineral composition and other components, presumably resulting from the manufacturing processes. Further research is needed into the mechanism and to explore optimal manufacturing processes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.353-361
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• 2017

Uranium concentration in groundwater of the Goesan area was anticipated high because the area contains Ogcheon metamorphic rock zone which partly includes coal bed bearing high uranium content and nearly half of the area is covered by granitic rocks. Groundwater samples collected from 250 wells in five 5 lithology (Ogcheon meta-sandy rock zone (Og1), Ogcheon lower phyllite zone (Og2), Ogcheon pebble bearing phyllite zone (Og3), Jurassic granite (Jgr), Cretaceous granite (Kgr)), of the area were analyzed and equivalent uranium concentrations (e(U)) from 200 rocks near sampled wells were measured using portable gamma spectrometry. Higher median value of e(U) (8.2 mg/kg) was found on Kgr outcrops. The median e(U) value of Og2 was not as high as that of Kgr and similar to those of Jgr, Og1, and Og3 (3.05~3.90 mg/kg). The uranium level in groundwater of the area ranged from 0.01 to $293.0{\mu}g/L$ with a median value of $0.87{\mu}g/L$ which is similar to the national median uranium level of $0.74{\mu}g/L$. The uranium concentration was high in the samples from the Kgr (median $4.74{\mu}g/L$) and low samples from the Og1, Og2, and Og3 (median $0.35{\sim}0.74{\mu}g/L$). The percentage of total samples having uranium level above $30{\mu}g/L$ was 2.8%, on the other hand, that of Kgr is 20.7%, reflecting additional survey on the Kgr area is needed.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2020

To ensure food safety of berries from radioactive contamination, radioactivity monitoring was conducted with a total 258 samples of the berries and processed berry products distributed in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, from 2016 to 2018. The concentration of artificial radionuclides, ¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs, was analyzed using gamma-ray spectrometry. ¹³¹I and ¹³⁴Cs were not detected above the MDA (Minimum Detectable Activity) value from any of the samples. However, the range of radioactivity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs was 0.69-808.90 Bq/kg in 39 cases of berries. ¹³⁷Cs was detected at 0.70-3.29 Bq/kg from 6 cases of domestic berries, which were manufactured from imported raw materials. Among 33 cases of imported berries, ¹³⁷Cs was detected at 0.69-808.90 Bq/kg. The concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs in 1 case of blueberry powder product (808.90 Bq/kg) and 2 cases of lingonberry powder products (103.93, 188.46 Bq/kg) exceed domestic maximum radioactivity limits, and these were detected in the berries from Poland. These results suggest that monitoring system for imported berries and processed berry products should be continuously intensified to secure food safety.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 1992

Photon, neutron and beta radiation fields were measured at PWR plants which are the representative types of nuclear power plant operated in Korea. The photon energy spectra were measured at locations in the auxiliary building during operation period and in the containment vessel(C/V) during shutdown period using a portable gamma spectrometer with a HPGe detector. The distribution of average energy was found to range from 440 to 780 keV in the C/V and from 280 keV to 760 keV in the auxiliary building, respectively. The average neutron energy measured at the five locations around the operation deck in the C/V in operation using a BMSS (Bonner Multi-Sphere Spectrometer) ranged from 20 keV to 210 keV. A computer code, BUNKI was used to unfold the spectrum. The beta energy spectra in the C/V and in the auxiliary building in annual outage were determined using 14 smear samples taken from the highly contaminated areas. The analysis showed that the representative corrosion product, $^{60}Co$ made main contribution to the beta energy field.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.297-309
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• 2005

As a number of potential endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are released into the environment, recently growing attention has been drawn to them. Therefore sensitive and reliable analytical methods are essential to monitor those compounds. In this study, complementary CC-MS and LC-MS were employed to analyze the endocrine disrupters, and the results of two methods were compared for di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), benzylbutylphthalate (BBP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), and 4,4'-Isopropylidenediphenol (Bisphenol-A, or BPA). The results indicate that it was possible to lower the detection limits of EDCs by LC-MS. Also, LC-MS enabled to identify the EDCs as almost intact molecules. Furthermore, this study presented a nanofiltration membrane (MWCO 250) and a ultrafiltration membrane (MWCO 1,000) filtration system as methods far removing EDCs from drinking water containing $\gamma$-BHC, p,p'-DDE, BBP, p,p'-DDT, DEHP, PCP, and BPA. Cross-flow type nanofiltrations showed $100\%$ removal of EDCs, and the result implies that MWCO 250 nanofilter was sufficient for treatment of EDCs. The ratio of permeate flux to mass transfer coefficient of nanofiltration, high flux ultrafiltration, and low flux ultrafiltration with ultrapure water were 0.67, 3.4, and 0.44, respectively. It was found that nanofiltration and low flux ultrafiltration were operated at a diffusion dominant condition, and the high flux ultrafiltration was operated at a convection dominant condition. Furthermore, a diffusion dominant process attained reasonable rejection of EDCs. The removal in the ultrafiltration was depending on the molecular weight of an EDC, and the filtration was governed by diffusion-dominant hydrodynamic conditions.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.488-494
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• 2018

To ensure food-safety of mushrooms from radioactive contamination, edible mushroom samples distributed in Gyeonggi province in Korea were collected according to species and country of origin. A total of 284 mushrooms, belonging to 10 species (Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii, Agaricus bisporus, Flammulina velutipes, Phellinus linteus, Inonotus Obliquus (Chaga), Auricularia auricula-judae, Ganoderma lucidum and Tricholoma matsutake) were subjected to radioactivity testing. The concentration of artificial radionuclides, 131I, 134Cs, and 137Cs, was analyzed using gamma-ray spectrometry. 131I and 134Cs were not detected more than MDA value from all samples. Among 204 domestic mushrooms, however, 137Cs were detected in 0.21~2.58 Bq/kg from six cases (3 Lentinula edodes, 1 Ganoderma lucidum and 2 Tricholoma matsutake), whereas 137Cs were detected in 0.21~53.79 Bq/kg from 38 cases (22 Inonotus Obliquus(Chaga), 14 Phellinus linteus, 1 Lentinula edodes and 1 Tricholoma matsutake) among 80 imported mushrooms. In addition, average concentration of 137Cs in 10 Chaga mushroom-processed products was more than twice as much as dried Chaga mushroom, and maximum concentration was 123.79 Bq/kg. Results suggest that radioactivity monitoring system for imported mushrooms and mushroom-processed products should be continuously intensified to secure food-safety in Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.8836-8843
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• 2015

This study was performed to investigate the antiproliferative activities of supercritical extracts from phalsak(Citrus hassaku Hort ex Tanaka) and yeagam(Citrus iyo Hort. ex Tanaka) against human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells and the chemical compositions of the extracts. The anticancer properties of supercritical extracts were demonstrated using the MTT assay and Hoechst 33342 staining and the compositional analyses were conducted by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). The peel extracts of both species exhibited similar antiproliferative effect. The antiproliferative activity of the flesh extracts was not detected up to $400{\mu}g/mL$, whereas peel extracts of phalsak and yeagam reduced cell viability with 87.16% and 92.95% at $400{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. There was a dramatic increase of the apoptotic body formation in the cell treated with peel extracts while no apoptotic body formation detected in the cell treated with flesh extracts at 100, $200{\mu}g/mL$. By GC-MS analysis, 27 and 31 kinds of compounds identified in flesh and peel of phalsak, while 27 and 29 kinds of compounds were identified in flesh and peel of yeagam, respectively. 1,1,4,4-Tetramethyl-2-tetralone(20.86%), alloimperatorin(8.15%), limonene(11.23%), and auraptene(7.29%) were major in peel of phalsak, whereas limonene(22.19%), linalool(11.23%), and ${\gamma}$-sitosterol(9.12%) were major in peel of yeagam.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2016

Background: It is necessary to analyze radioactivity of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in products to ensure radiological safety required by Natural Radiation Safety Management Act. The pretreatments for the existing analysis methods require high technology and time. Such destructive pretreatments including grinding and dissolution of samples make impossible to reuse products. We developed a rapid and simple procedure of radioactivity analysis for thorium series in the products containing NORM. Materials and Methods: The developed method requires non-destructive or minimized pretreatment. Radioactivity of the product without pretreatment is initially measured using gamma spectroscopy and then the measured radioactivity is adjusted by considering material composition, mass density, and geometrical shape of the product. The radioactivity adjustment can be made using scaling factors, which is derived by radiation transport Monte Carlo simulation. Necklace, bracelet, male health care product, and tile for health mat were selected as representative products for this study. The products are commonly used by the public and directly contacted with human body and thus resulting in high radiation exposure to the user. Results and Discussion: The scaling factors were derived using MCNPX code and the values ranged from 0.31 to 0.47. If radioactivity of the products is measured without pretreatment, the thorium series may be overestimated by up to 2.8 times. If scaling factors are applied, the difference in radioactivity estimates are reduced to 3-24%. Conclusion : The developed procedure in this study can be used for other products with various materials and shapes and thus ensuring radiological safety.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.164-168
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• 1999

For investigating transfer factors of $^{137}Cs$ in the arable land of Korea, mature crop plants and topsoils were collected from paddy and upland fields located at 33 areas of the country and $^{137}Cs$ concentrations were measured by ${\gamma}-spectrometry$. The $^{137}Cs$ concentrations in soil were in the range of $0.7{\sim}17.7$ Bq/kg-dry in the paddy fields and $1.2{\sim}27.8$ Bq/kg-dry in the upland fields. The $^{137}Cs$concentrations in hulled seed, detected for 12 areas only, were in the range of $0.019{\sim}0.111$ Bq/kg-dry and those in Chinese cabbage, detected also for 12 areas only, were in the range of $0.012{\sim}0.066$ Bq/kg-fresh. Soil-to-plant transfer factors of $^{137}Cs$ were in the range of $1.2{\times}10^{-3}{\sim}1.1{\times}10^{-2}$ for hulled seed and $6.8{\times}10^{-4}{\sim}1.7{\times}10^{-2}$ for Chinese cabbage. Inboth plant stuffs, the factor tended to decrease with increasing soil organic matter or cation exchange capacity and, in hulled seed, it tended to increase with increasing soil clay content. No statistical significance was, however, found in all those relationships. Present results can be utilized for estimating radiation risk resulting from the food consumption by Korean people and deciding agronomical counter-measures at the time of an nuclear accident.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated the applicability of the photostimulated luminescence (PSL), thermoluminescence (TL), electron spin resonance (ESR) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) methods for 5 seeds which are not allowed to be irradiated in Korea. All 5 seeds including evening primrose seed, safflower seed, rape seed, sunflower seed and flax seed were analyzed. Samples were irradiated at 1~10 kGy using a $^{60}Co$ gamma-ray irradiator. In PSL study, the photon counts of all the unirradiated samples showed negative (lower than 700). The photon counts of irradiated (1, 5, 10 kGy) samples showed positive (higher than 5,000). In TL analysis, results showed that it is possible to apply TL method to all foods containing minerals. In ESR measurements, the ESR signal (single-line) intensity of irradiated foods was higher than non-irradiated foods. The hydrocarbons 1,7-hexadecadiene ($C_{16:2}$) and 8-heptadecene ($C_{17:1}$) from oleic acid were detected only in the irradiated samples before and after the treatment at doses ${\geq}$ 1 kGy, but they were not detected in non-irradiated samples before and after treatment. These two hydrocarbons could be used as markers to identify irradiated safflower seed, rape seed, Sunflower seed and flax seed. And then, the hydrocarbons 1,7,10-hexadecatriene ($C_{16:3}$) and 6,9-heptadecadiene ($C_{17:2}$) from linoleic acid were detected in the evening primrose seed, safflower seed and sunflower seed. According to the results, PSL, TL and GC/MS methods were successfully applied to detect the irradiated foods. It is concluded that PSL, TL and GC/MS methods are suitable for detection of irradiated samples and a combined method is recommendable for enhancing the reliability of detection results.