• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.13-21
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• 2021

The goal of this study was to quantify the content of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Hg) in the bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis, which was obtained from the Black Sea's Sinop peninsula, as well as estimate the health risks. Concentrations of heavy metals in mussels' soft tissues ranged between 16.4-21.8, 0.52-0.93, 0.13-0.45; 0.015-0.019 and 0.006-0.011mg kg^-1 wet weight for Zn, Cu, Pb, Hg and Cd, respectively. In general, metal concentrations in mussels were quite low. In mussels, Zn was the most prevalent element, followed by Cu. Regarding the monthly variation, although relatively higher tissue metal concentrations were observed in August compared to July, no statistical difference was found. The estimated daily intakes did not exceed the tolerable intakes. There was no health risk since the total hazard index was far below critical value 1. This demonstrates that eating mussels from the Sinop coasts in 2019 does not cause any health risks in infants, children, or adult. Mussels have a risk index of less than 10^-6, which is considered insignificant. In conclusion, the results of this study show that there is no heavy metal pollution in the mussels collected from Sinop coasts.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.603-608
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• 2010

A study has been conducted experimentally to investigate behavior of ignition and flame spread over metal dust deposits with particle size using by a developed apparatus and thermogravimetric analysis(TGA). Zr, Ta and Mg-Al(90:10 wt%) alloy metal powders including Mg and Ti with different particle size were used. Also we used PMMA(Polymethylmethacrylate) powder to compare the combustion properties to those of metal powders. When dust layers were more than 5 mm in thickness, the dependency of deposit depth on flame spread rate over dust layer was not shown. With decreasing mean particle diameter, flame spread rate over Ti dust layer decreased, while the spread rate over Mg dust layer increased. For mean diameter of $51{\mu}m$, fire spread rate over pure Mg dust layer decreased to about 50 percent in Mg-Al(90:10 wt%) dust layer. The oxide thickness of metal dust used in this study tended to be inversely proportional with the spread rate, and it was quite small for influence with particle size. From the results of TGA for Ti and Mg, weight increasing curves(550 for Mg, 578 for Ta) were observed in the oxidation process, and they seems to be caused by ignition of upper dust layer.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.8-17
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• 2013

The objective of this study is investigation of contamination levels and transfer rate of heavy metals and assessment of health risk effects in animal medicines. A total of sixteen items with 148 samples were obtained for this investigation from major herbal medicine producing areas and herbal markets from 2011 to 2012. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer method was conducted for the quantitative analysis of Pb, Cd and As. In addition, the mercury analyzer system was conducted for that of Hg without sample digestion. The average contents of heavy metals in animal medicines were as follows : 1.55 mg/kg for Pb, 0.28 mg/kg for Cd, 0.70 mg/kg for As and 0.047 mg/kg for Hg respectively. The average contents of heavy metals in decoctions were as follows : 0.03 mg/kg for Pb, 0.01 mg/kg for Cd, 0.17 mg/kg for As and 0.003 mg/kg for Hg respectively. The average transfer rates of heavy metals from animal medicines to decoctions were 1.9% for Pb, 3.6% for Cd, 24.2% for As and 6.0% for Hg respectively. Cancer risks of animal medicines and decoctions through slope factor by ministry of environment republic korea and environmental protection agency was $1.36{\times}10^{-6}$ and $2.50{\times}10^{-8}$ for Pb and $7.46{\times}10^{-5}$ and $1.98{\times}10^{-5}$ for As (assuming that the total arsenic content was equal to the inorganic arsenic) respectively. The hazard index of heavy metals in animal medicines and decoctions was below recommended hazard index as 0.52 and 0.05 respectively. Taken together, cancer risks about Pb and hazard indexes of animal medicines and decoctions indicate that the majority of samples except for some samples with relative high contents of heavy metals were safe. But cancer risks about As of animal medicines indicate that the majority of samples were not relatively safe.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.327-338
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• 2024

Objectives: Estimating the number of deaths caused by smoking is crucial for developing and evaluating tobacco control and smoking cessation policies. This study aimed to determine smoking-attributable mortality (SAM) in Korea in 2020. Methods: Four large-scale cohorts from Korea were analyzed. A Cox proportional-hazards model was used to determine the hazard ratios (HRs) of smoking-related death. By conducting a meta-analysis of these HRs, the pooled HRs of smoking-related death for 41 diseases were estimated. Population-attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated based on the smoking prevalence for 1995 in conjunction with the pooled HRs. Subsequently, SAM was derived using the PAF and the number of deaths recorded for each disease in 2020. Results: The pooled HR for all-cause mortality attributable to smoking was 1.73 for current men smokers (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53 to 1.95) and 1.63 for current women smokers (95% CI, 1.37 to 1.94). Smoking accounted for 33.2% of all-cause deaths in men and 4.6% in women. Additionally, it was a factor in 71.8% of men lung cancer deaths and 11.9% of women lung cancer deaths. In 2020, smoking was responsible for 53 930 men deaths and 6283 women deaths, totaling 60 213 deaths. Conclusions: Cigarette smoking was responsible for a significant number of deaths in Korea in 2020. Monitoring the impact and societal burden of smoking is essential for effective tobacco control and harm prevention policies.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2015

Objectives: The major objectives of this study are to review the EU CLP Regulations to propose ways of improving the reliability of MSDS and labels. Methods: To review the EU CLP Regulations, we used EU documents including directives and regulations on chemical management. In addition, we used EU governmental agency reports to illuminate the history and background of the CLP. We found the EU CLP's instruments for reliable hazard communication and evaluated the operations of the instruments. Results: EU CLP Regulations have four instruments for the EU CLP Regulations to make hazard communication reliable. These instruments are GHS, the harmonized CMR and respiratory sensitive substances classification list, C&L inventory and restriction of trade secrets. These are highly useful for achieving the objectives of REACH and CLP(no data-no market and changing the burden of proof). Conclusions: Changing the burden of proof is a key principle for achieving a society safe from hazardous chemicals. Chemical manufacturers and importers alone should bear the responsibility for reliable MSDS. We recommend benchmarking the EU CLP Regulations in order to change efficiently the burden of proof. Trade secrets should be limited to low-hazard substances and be approved by the government before the chemical product is on the market. Like the C&L inventory, chemical product information including substances identification and hazard properties should be notified, aggregated and be opened to public on the Internet. Finally, we recommend a MSDS registration system once again.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.152-158
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• 2020

Background: The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) was developed to enhance chemical classification and hazard communication systems worldwide. However, some of the elements such as building blocks and data sources have the potential to cause "disharmony" to the GHS, particularly in its classification results. It is known that some countries have developed their own lists of classified chemicals in accordance with the GHS to "standardize" the classification results within their respective countries. However, the lists of classified chemicals may not be consistent among these countries. Method: In this study, the lists of classified chemicals developed by the European Union, Japan, Malaysia, and New Zealand were selected for comparison of classification results for carcinogenicity, germ cell mutagenicity, and reproductive toxicity. Results: The findings show that only 54%, 66%, and 37% of the classification results for each Carcinogen, Mutagen and Reproductive toxicants hazard classes, respectively are the same among the selected countries. This indicates a "moderate" level of consistency among the classified chemicals lists. Conclusion: By using classification results for the carcinogenicity, germ cell mutagenicity, and reproductive toxicity hazard classes, this study demonstrates the "disharmony" in the classification results among the selected countries. We believe that the findings of this study deserve the attention of the relevant international bodies.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Fire Science and Engineering Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.329-334
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• 2006

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2005

Chemical mixtures of components, each of which are present at less than guidance concentrations, may be hazardous due to additivity, interactions, or both. Toxicological interactions may increase the health hazard above what would be expected from an assessment of each component singly, or all components additively. So chemical mixture are a particular issue in public health. There are several approach to assess whether there are additivity or interaction in assessing toxicological effects, such as, components-based approach, physiologically-based pharmacokinetic /pharmacodynamic(PBPK/PD) models, hazard index method, and weight-of evidence method. If we consider interaction or additivity effects in assessing the health effects of chemcial mixtures, we can get more accurate information about toxicological effects and dose-response relationship in chemical mixtures.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.9-15
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• 2023

The Severe Disaster Punishment Act had recently been established in order to promote safety and health (OSH) management system for severe accident prevention. OSH management system is primarily designed based on risk assessments; however, companies in industries have been experiencing difficulties in hazard identification and selecting proper measures for risk assessments and accident prevention. This study intended to introduce an accident analysis method based on epidemiological model in finding hazard and preventive measures. The accident analysis method employed in this study was proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the accident analysis method, this study applied it to two accident cases occurred in construction and manufacturing industries. The application process and results of this study can be utilized in improving OSH management system and preventing severe accidents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.9-17
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• 2022

Qualifying quantities (upper tier (UT) and lower tier (LT)) are designated for the regulation of toxic substances. In this study, we aimed to establish systematic criteria for the qualifying quantities by comparing the South of Korea chemical control act with the European Seveso III Directive (Seveso III). In Seveso III, qualifying quantities are defined as "hazard categories" applying GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals), and LTR (lower-tier requirements) and UTR (upper-tier requirements) are determined. The Pro HC (proposed hazard categories) were relevant to the GHS classification of toxic substances and were compared with the currently regulated qualifying quantities. Furthermore, we estimated the Pro LTR (proposed lower-tier requirements) and Pro UTR (proposed upper-tier requirements) corresponding to each Pro HC. Consequently, it was supposed that LT and UT were selected based on GHS like those of Seveso III. Therefore, designation criteria for qualifying quantities should be established by setting the Pro HC such as in Seveso III, rather than designating the qualifying quantities of toxic substances by itself individually. In addition, qualifying quantities should not be delegated to GHS classifications (H302, H341, H411) that do not meet the criteria for the designation of toxic substances, and the corresponding substances should be excluded from classification as toxic substances. This study provides insights into the selection of hazard categories and criteria for qualifying quantities of toxic substances.