• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

Objectives: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was approximately 16% in populations of over age 30 years, and deaths from diabetes mellitus became the sixth most prevalent cause of death by disease. To assess the relationship between HbA1c and heavy metal level in blood and urine, targeted residents were evaluated in a vast steel industrial complex. Methods: We selected 414 subjects for analysis after applying the following exclusion criterion: 18 persons with diabetes mellitus. They took part in a questionnaire survey and underwent blood and urinary assessments. HbA1c and lead (Pb) level were measured in blood and, cadmium (Cd), inorganic arsenic (iAs) and mercury (Hg) were evaluated in urine. Two subgroups were divided by HbA1c 6.5%. Each subgroup was divided by 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th and 90th percentile levels of biological exposure index of the heavy metals for logistic regression. Results: Odd ratios have a tendency to increase as they go from the 90th to the 10th percentile of cadmium. However, lead, arsenic and mercury did not have significant relationships with HbA1c. In correction of age, region, gender and smoking history, a higher distribution in the subgroup with cadmium above 0.8318 ㎍/g creatinine (30th percentile) was demonstrated in the subgroup with HbA1c levels above the 6.5%, with an odds ratio of 5.26 (95% C.I. ; 1.44~19.17). Conclusion: This study found a significant correlation between urinary levels of cadmium and HbA1c in correction of several factors. It is meaningful that this outcome may be used as a basis for a study to establish the acceptable limit of urinary cadmium in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.230-234
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• 2011

According to the Codex committee, the maximum allowable level for lead in fruits is 0.1 mg/kg. This survey was conducted as a surveillance program following the establishment of safety guideline for fruits in Korea. Concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) were measured in 927 samples using a ICP-MS and a mercury analyzer. The recoveries of microwave digestion method were 86.0-110.4% for Pb, 81.0-104.0% for Cd and 82.0-104.7% for As by standard addition method. The recovery of direct mercury analyzer was 106.5% for Hg. The average levels of Pb in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $10.0{\pm}12.8$ for apple, $8.8{\pm}10.9$ for pear, $4.1{\pm}4.4$ for persimmons, $14.9{\pm}12.3$ for mandarin, $7.1{\pm}6.5$ for orange, $3.1{\pm}3.3$ for banana, $8.8{\pm}8.9$ for kiwi, and $9.3{\pm}9.7$ for mango. The average levels of Cd in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $0.4{\pm}0.3$ for apple, $2.0{\pm}1.6$ for pear, $0.3{\pm}0.3$ for persimmon, $0.1{\pm}0.1$ for mandarin, $0.1{\pm}0.1$ for orange, $1.3{\pm}1.8$ for banana, $0.5{\pm}0.5$ for kiwi, and $0.7{\pm}0.6$ for mango. The average levels of As in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $2.0{\pm}2.1$ for apple, $1.2{\pm}1.3$ for pear, $1.5{\pm}1.2$ for persimmon, $0.8{\pm}0.3$ for mandarin, $1.5{\pm}0.5$ for orange, $1.8{\pm}1.2$ for banana, $1.6{\pm}1.5$ for kiwi, and $1.2{\pm}1.5$ for mango. The average levels of Hg in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $0.5{\pm}0.4$ for apple, $0.3{\pm}0.2$ for pear, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ for persimmon, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ for mandarin, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ for orange, $0.2{\pm}0.0$ for banana, $0.2{\pm}0.2$ for kiwi, and $0.6{\pm}0.2$ for mango. Based on the Korean public nutrition report 2005, these levels (or amounts) are calculated only at 0.17% for Pb, 0.013% for Cd and 0.006% for Hg of those presented in provisional tolerable weekly Intake (PTWI) which has been established by FAO/WHO. Therefore, the levels presented here are presumed to be adequately safe.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.80-99
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• 2016

Objectives : Instrumental chemical analysis was utilized to investigate the effect of Add-Omit-Saenghyeoryunbu-eum(AO-SHU) on diabetic treatment. One of the most exciting, yet also controversial, arguments is the safety and biological mechanisms of the natural medicine on human body. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide a better understanding on bioactive chemical components, hazards of heavy metal contamination and biological mechanism of the diabetic medicine composed of 12 different natural herbs. Methods : To study bioactive compound and metallic component in the diabetic medicine in detail, LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography-Mass/Mass), GC (Gas Chromatography) and ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) were utilized to characterize the extract of the diabetic medicine and the result was compared with 18 marker substances selected from literature survey. In addition, in vitro assay experiments including GPR 119 activity and human DGAT-1 inhibition, and OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) were performed to verify the effectiveness of this medicine on diabetic treatment. Results : Out of 18 marker substances, 9 bioactive compounds were identified from LC-MS/MS analysis which include Citruline, Catalpol, Berberine, Ginsenoside Rb1, Ginsenoside Rg1, Oleanolic acid, β-Sitosterol, Mangiferin, and Schizandrin. ICP study on 245 residual pesticides revealed that 239 species were not detected but 6 species, Dimethomorph, Trifloxystrobin, Pyraclostrobin, Isoprocarb, Carbaryl and Flubendiamide, while the amounts are trace levels, below permitted concentrations. The biological activity was observed in vitro assay and Oral Glucose Tolerance Test(OGTT), which are consistent with a preliminary clinical test result, a drop in blood sugar level after taking this herbal medicine. Conclusions : Instrumental chemical analysis using LC-MS/MS, GC, and ICP was conducted successfully to identify bioactive compounds in AO-SHU for the treatment of diabetes, finding 9 bioactive compounds. Furthermore, in vitro assay experiments and OGTT show that AO-SHU has its biological activities, which imply that it can be a candidate for the future diabetes remedy.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.257-290
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• 2005

Korean energy use in industrial sector has increased more rapidly than other sectors during 1980~2000 periods. Relatively higher increases in industrial sector energy consumption raise questions whether government policy of rationalization of industrial energy use has been effective. In this study, we use 80-85-90 and 90-95-00 constant price input-output table to analyze increases in industrial energy use. Using an adjusted version of structural decomposition model introduced by Chen and Rose (1990), we decompose Changes of energy use into 17 elements. We classify entire industry sector into 32 sectors including four energy sectors (coal and coal products, refined petroleum, electricity and town gas). We then analyze changes of energy use by industrial level to check differences among industrial energy demand structures. Finally, we compare three industries, electronic product manufacturing, metal manufacturing and construction, that represent technology and capital intensive, energy and material intensive and labor and capital intensive industry. As results, we find that high energy using industries make the most effort to reduce energy use. Primary metal, petrochemical and mon-metal industries show improvements in elements such as energy and material productivity, energy and material imports, energy substitution and material substitutions towards energy saving. These results imply that although those industries are heavy users of energy, they put the best effort to reduce energy use relative to other industries. We find various patterns of change in industrial energy use at industrial level. To reduce energy use, electronic product manufacturing industry needs more effort to improve technological change element while construction industry needs more effort to improve material input structure element.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.923-931
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• 2005

A study was carried out to identify the major causes of sediments pollution in the Paldang Lake in the vicinity of Gyeongan river. Samples from 40 sites were collected and analyzed to characterize the regional distributions of grain size, organic matter contents, and concentrations of T-N, T-P and heavy metals. contaminations. The mean grain size(Mz) ranged from sand type(Mz, $1{\sim}3\;{\phi}$) where Bukhan River and Namhan River converges at a high flow rate to silt type(Mz, $5{\sim}10\;{\phi}$) at the downstream of Gyeongancheon and Paldang lake, reflecting the water circulation in the area. Except sampling point St. 36 near the wetland, the determination coefficient($r^2$) of Mz and organic matter(LOI) was 0.88, showing that more organic matters are concentrated inside finer sediments. The concentrations of T-N and T-P in sediments were higher in the area at which Mz and organic matters are also higher. High concentrations of T-P analyzed in the sediments, ranging from $216{\sim}1,623\;{\mu}g/g$ (Avg. $769\;{\mu}g/g$) could be considered as a critical level. Adsorbed-P and NAI-P, which are easily released to the surrounding environments when physico-chemical characteristics of sediments are changed, was found to be around 20%, which was showed by the result of fractionated-P. Moreover, Principle Component Analysis(PCA), showed that high concentrations of T-N, T-P, organophilic metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) are distributed in the areas where high organic matter contents and fine grain-sized sediments are found. However, results of $I'_{geo}$ (Geoaccumulation Index) that considers the grain size of sediments showed that heavy metal concentrations in the lake was low enough to be considered as Class 1 indicating the relative degree of pollution was less than zero.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2020

This study investigated the migration levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) from food contact articles (glassware, ceramics, enamelware, and earthenware) into a food stimulant (4% v/v, acetic acid). Migration tests were performed at 25℃ for 24 h and all analyses were performed using Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The method was validated by linearity of calibration curves, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), recovery, precision, and uncertainty. In glassware, the migration concentrations ranged from not-detected (N.D.) to 752.21 ㎍/L and N.D. to 1.99 ㎍/L for Pb and Cd, respectively. In ceramics, the migration concentrations ranged from N.D. to 1,955.86 ㎍/L, N.D. to 74.06 ㎍/L, and N.D. to 302.40 ㎍/L for Pb, Cd, and As, respectively. In enamelware, the migration concentrations ranged from N.D. to 4.48 ㎍/L, N.D. to 7.00 ㎍/L, and N.D. to 52.00 ㎍/L for Pb, Cd, and Sb, respectively. In earthenware, the migration concentrations ranged from N.D. to 13.68 ㎍/L, N.D. to 0.04 ㎍/L, and N.D. to 6.71 ㎍/L for Pb, Cd, and As, respectively. All results were below the migration limits of Korea standards and specifications for food utensils, containers, and packages.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.336-344
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• 1996

The extraction of trace cobalt, copper, nickel, cadmium, lead and zinc in urine samples of organic and alkali metal matrix into chloroform by the complex with a dithizone was studied for graphite furnace AAS determination. Various experimental conditions such as the pretreatment of urine, the pH of sample solution, and dithizone concentration in a solvent were optimized for the effective extraction, and some essential conditions were also studied for the back-extraction and digestion as well. All organic materials in 100 mL urine were destructed by the digestion with conc. $HNO_3$ 30 mL and 30% $H_2O_2$ 50 mL. Here, $H_2O_2$ was added dropwise with each 5.0 mL, serially. Analytes were extracted into 15.0 mL chloroform of 0.1% dithizone from the digested urine at pH 8.0 by shaking for 90 minutes. The pH was adjusted with a commercial buffer solution. Among analytes, cadmium, lead and zinc were back-extracted to 10.00 mL of 0.2 M $HNO_3$ from the solvent for the determination, and after the organic solvent was evaporated, others were dissolved with $HNO_3-H_2O_2$ and diluted to 10.00 mL with a deionized water. Synthetic digested urines were used to obtain optimum conditions and to plot calibration-eurves. Average recoveries of 77 to 109% for each element were obtained in sample solutions in which given amounts of analytes were added, and detection limits were Cd 0.09, Pb 0.59, Zn 0.18, Co 0.24, Cu 1.3 and Ni 1.7 ng/mL, respectively. It was concluded that this method could be applied for the determination of heavy elements in urine samples without any interferences of organic materials and major alkaline elements.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.4 s.118
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• pp.450-461
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• 2006

In this study, sorption kinetics of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) onto coastal sediments were investigated at pH 5.5 using laboratory batch adsorbers. Four different models: one-site mass transfer model (OSMTM), pseudo-first-order kinetic model (PFOKM) ,pseudo-second-order kinetic model (PSOKM) and two compartment first-order kinetic model (TCFOKM) were used to analyze the sorption kinetics. As expected from the number of model parameters involved, the three-parameter TCFOKM was better than the two-parameter OSMTM, PFOKM and PSOKM in describing sorption kinetics of Pb and Cd onto sediments. Most sorption of Pb and Cd was rapidly completed within the first three hours, followed by slow sorption in the subsequent period of sorption. All models predicted that the sorbed amount at the apparent sorption ($q_{e,s}$) equilibria increased as the CEC and surface area of the sediments increased, regardless of initial spiking concentration ($C_0$) and heavy metal and the sediment type. The sorption rate constant ($k_s,\;hr^{-1}$) in OSMTM also increased as the CEC and BET surface area increased. The rate constant of pseudo-first-order sorption ($k_{p1,s},\;hr^{-1}$) in PFOKM were not correlated with sediment characteristics. The results of PSOKM analysis showed that the rate constant of pseudo-second-order sorption ($k_{p2,s},\;g\;mmol^{-1}\;hr^{-1}$) and the initial sorption rate ($v_{o,s},\;mg\;g^{-1}\;hr^{-1}$) were not correlated with sediment characteristics. The fast sorption fraction ($f_{1,s}$) in TCFOKM increased as CEC and BET surface increased regardless of initial aqueous phase concentrations. The sorption rate constant of fast fraction ($k_{1,s}=10^{0.1}-10^{1.0}\;hr^{-1}$) was much greater than that of slow sorption fraction ($k_{2,s}=10^{-2}-10^{-4}\;hr^{-1}$) respectively.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.97-108
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• 2012

Physical, chemical and biological hazards of strawberry farms at the cultivation stage were analyzed to establish the GAP(Good Agricultural Practice) system. Samples were collected from the plants, cultivation environments(water, soil and air), and personal hygiene (hand, glove, and clothes) of three strawberry farms(A, B, and C) and were tested to analyze physical, chemical (heavy metals and pesticide residues), and biological(sanitary indications and foodborne pathogens) hazards. Physical hazards such as insects and pieces of metal and glass were found in the strawberry farms and can be potential bow for strawberry products. Heavy metal and pesticide residue as chemical hazards were detected at levels lower than the regulation limit. In case of biological hazards, total bacteria and coliform were detected at the levels of 1.6~7.3 and 1.3~5.6 log CFU/g, leaf, mL, hand or $100cm^2$. However, Escherichia coli was not detected in all samples. Bacillus cereus and Staphylococuus aureus were detected at levels of ${\leq}$ 1.1~6.1 log CFU and 4.7~5.4 log CFU/g, mL, hand or $100cm^2$, whereas Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp. were not detected in all samples. This study demonstrates that various harzards were in strawberry farms at the growing stage. Therefore proper management such as GAP is needed to prevent the occurrence of food poisoning associated with the hazards revealed in this study.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.262-273
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• 2020

Amending biopolymers such as β-glucan (BG) and Xanthan gum (XG) generally enhances soil strength by ionic and hydrogen bonds between soil particles. Thus, biopolymers have been studied as eco-friendly construction materials in levees. However, physiological responses of plants grown on soil amended with biopolymers are not fully understood. This study focuses on the effects of biopolymers on the growth of Camelina sativa L. (Camelina) under excess zinc (Zn) stress. The optimal concentrations of BG and XG were confirmed to have a 0.5% ratio in soil depending on the physiological parameters of Camelina under excess Zn stress. The Zn binding capacity of biopolymers was investigated using 1,5-diphenylthiocarbazone (DTZ). The reduction of Zn damage in Camelina was evaluated by analyzing the Zn content and expression of heavy metal ATPase (HMA) genes under excess Zn stress. Amendments of BG and XG improved Camelina growth under excess Zn stress. In DTZ staining and ICP-OES analysis, Camelina grown on BG and XG soil showed less Zn uptake than normal soil under excess Zn stress. The Zn-inducible CsHMA3 gene was not stimulated by either BG or XG amendment under excess Zn stress. Moreover, both BG and XG amendments in soil exhibit Zn-stress mitigation similar to that of Zn-tolerant CsHMA3 overexpres sed Camelina. These results indicate that biopolymer-amended soils may influence the prevention of Zn absorption in Camelina under excess Zn stress. Thus, BG and XG are proven to be suitable materials for levee construction and can protect plants from soil contamination by Zn.