• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.349-357
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• 2015

Objectives: The 2007 Korea National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the Human Body found the highest blood mercury levels nationwide among residents in Seoksan-ri, Goro-myeon, Gunwi-gun, Gyeonsangbuk-do. With the aim to reduce the blood mercury levels of residents in this region, we conducted this study to identify the association between mercury exposure levels and shark meat consumption. Methods: This survey was conducted with 118 participants in Seoksan-ri before the Chuseok festival and 113 residents were added afterwards. Information on participants was collected via questionnaires. Total mercury concentrations in biological samples were measured using a mercury analyzer with the gold-amalgam collection method. Results: To identify this, we conducted mercury exposure level analysis before and after the Chuseok festival and found that blood and urinary mercury levels after Chuseok (GM of $6.9{\mu}g/L$ in blood and $1.68{\mu}g/g$_cr in urine) were higher than those before (GM of $5.29{\mu}g/L$ in blood and $1.44{\mu}g/g$_cr in urine). This area maintains a custom of using shark meat as one of the ancestral rite foods, and the performance of such rites and shark meat consumption have been identified as main sources of mercury exposure. Other than this, smoking, dental amalgam treatment and residential period in the area also contributed to an increase in mercury exposure levels. On the other hand, recent consumption of oriental medicine and vaccination did not have a significant influence on mercury levels. Conclusion: The results were attributed to the local custom of consuming shark meat with high mercury concentrations during rituals taking place during the festival and ancestral rites. Given that the blood mercury levels in 23.2% of the residents exceeded the HBM II values recommended by the German Commission on Human Biological Monitoring, it is suggested that further appropriate actions and follow-up measures be taken to reduce the mercury exposure levels of the residents that exceeded the reference values.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.107-113
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Immune checkpoint blockade has recently been reported to be effective in treating microsatellite instability (MSI)-high tumors. Therefore, sufficient sampling of histological specimens is necessary in cases of unresectable pancreatic cancer (UR-PC). This multicenter study investigated the efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) using a Franseen needle for MSI evaluation in patients with UR-PC. Methods: A total of 89 patients with UR-PC who underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) or EUS-FNB using 22-G needles at three hospitals in Japan (2018-2021) were enrolled. Fifty-six of these patients (FNB 23 and FNA 33) were followed up or evaluated for MSI. Patient characteristics, UR-PC data, and procedural outcomes were compared between patients who underwent EUS-FNB and those who underwent EUS-FNA. Results: No significant difference in terms of sufficient tissue acquisition for histology was observed between patients who underwent EUS-FNB and those who underwent EUS-FNA. MSI evaluation was possible significantly more with tissue samples obtained using EUS-FNB than with tissue samples obtained using EUS-FNA (82.6% [19/23] vs. 45.5% [15/33], respectively; p<0.01). In the multivariate analysis, EUS-FNB was the only significant factor influencing the possibility of MSI evaluation. Conclusions: EUS-FNB using a Franseen needle is desirable for ensuring sufficient tissue acquisition for MSI evaluation.

• 자원환경지질
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.201-210
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• 2008

국내 폐광산 주변 중금속 오염 농경지 토양 복원을 위해 석회(CaO)와 분쇄한 석회암($CaCO_3$)을 안정화제로 이용한 토양 안정화 공법의 효율을 규명하는 배치 및 대형 칼럼실험을 실시하였다. 오염토양은 경북 군위군에 위치한 아연 폐광산 지역의 오염 농경지 토양을 이용하였으며, 안정화제의 함량은 오염토양 대비 0, 0.5, 2, 5%로 다양하게 적용함으로써, 안정화제에 의해 토양으로부터 용출되는 중금속 농도 변화를 시간에 따라 측정하여 안정화제의 중금속 저감 효율을 규명하였다. 배치실험 결과, 가루상의 석회나 석회암 0.5%를 토양과 혼합하여 안정화제로 사용한 경우, 오염토양으로부터 As, Cd, Pb, Zn의 중금속 용출 농도는 안정화제를 사용하지 않은 토양으로부터의 용출 농도를 기준으로 각각 70, 77, 94, 그리고 95% 감소하여 중금속 용출 저감 효과가 매우 높은 것으로 나타났다. 토양 객토법을 모사한 대형 칼럼실험 결과, 2% 입상 석회 첨가에 의해서 As, Cd, Zn의 토양 용출은 안정화제를 사용하지 않은 토양 용출 농도를 기준으로 각각 63, 97, 98% 감소하였다. 입상 석회암을 안정화제로 이용한 칼럼에서는 2% 석회암 첨가에 의해서 As 용출 농도는 135.6${\mu}g/L$에서 30.2 ${\mu}g/L$ 감소하여 약 46% 이상의 감소율을 나타내었으며, Cd와 Zn의 경우에는 97% 이상 감소하였다. 배치 및 칼럼실험 결과 석회암의 중금속 용출 저감 효율이 석회의 저감 효율과 매우 비슷한 것으로 나타나, 토양으로부터 중금속을 안정화시키는데 입상 석회와 석회암 모두 효과가 매우 좋은 것으로 나타났다. 토양 산성화 방지를 위해 토양개량제로 주로 사용하였던 석회의 과도한 토양 내 첨가가 토양의 급격한 pH 증가를 일으켜 농작물 재배에 악 영향을 주게 되는 한계를 극복하기 위하여, 본 배치 및 대형 칼럼실험을 통하여 토양 내 첨가에 의한 pH 증가가 거의 없으며 비용 측면에서도 석회보다 훨씬 저렴하지만 중금속 용출 저감 효과가 비슷한 석회암이 중금속 오염 농경지 토양 복원을 위한 새로운 안정화제로 유용하게 사용될 수 있음을 입증하였다.