• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.275-284
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• 2002

Atmospheric concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in Seoul, South Korea between July 1999 and May 2000 were determined to investigate concentration distribution in air, relationship between concentrations and meteorological conditions, and apportionment of sources e.g. local sources (air- surface exchange) and long range transport. Endosulfan and $\alpha$-HCH were the highest concentrations in atmosphere with values typcally ranging from 10s to l00s of pg/㎥. These high concentrations may be attributed to their usage, period and chemical property (Koa). All OCPs also showed elevated levels during the summer and were positively correlated with temperature. This would suggest that a seasonal enhancement was due to (re)volatilization from secondary sources and application during the warmer months. The temperature dependence of atmospheric concentrations of OCPs were investigated using plots of the natural logarithm of partial pressure (In P) vs reciprocal mean temperatures (1/T), and environmental phase-transition energies were calculated for each of the pesticides. For OCPs, temperature dependence was statistically significant (at the 99.99% confidence level) and temperature accounted for 35~95% of the variability in concentrations. The relatively higher slopes and phase-transition energies for $\alpha$-, ${\gamma}$-chlordane, endosulfan and endosulfan sulfate suggested that volatilization from local sources influenced their concentrations. The relatively lower those for $\alpha$-, ${\gamma}$-HCH, p, p'-DDE and heptachlor epoxide also suggested that volatilization from local sources and long range transport influenced their concentrations.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 1986

One of the most medically important snail species of Korea is Semisulcospira spp., a member of the freshwater prosobranch family pleuroceridae. The parasites that these snails transmit to humans are mainly Paragonimus westermani and Metagonimus yokogawoi. On the other hand, Semisulcospira snails are edible as a foodstuff in Korea. The present study was first aimed to detect out residual pesticides in the snails collected at the endemic and non-endemic areas of paragonimiasis in Korea and to make relationship to the detectability of larval trematodes shed from the snails. In addition, water specimens from the habitats where the snails were collected were sampled and analysed to elucidate environmental conditions of the habitats. This malaco-ecological survey was done at 7 endemic and 3 non-endemic areas of paragonimiasis for about more than 2 years, May, 1984 through October, 1986. All the water smaples both from the endemic and non-endemic areas of paragonimiasis showed normal ranges of the criteria of upper freshwater streams, with lower B.O.D. (0.4~2.0 ppm) and higher D.O. values (9.5~11.0 ppm) than those in the large river systems Infection rate of digenetic trematodes in total snails collected was 6.7%, but no Paragonimus cercaria was detected out at all even in the endemic areas of paragonimiasis. The ecological factors affecting Paragonimus larvae in the snails were also discussed. A total of 9 chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticieds was targeted to detect out from the tissues of snails. Out of 9 pesticides, aldrin, beta-BHC, p, p-DDT, dieldrin, DDE, lindane, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide were eluted from the snails. The highest levels of the pesticides were mostly detected out in the snails collected from the Donghae-Chun area of Haman and the Kangwha area of Kyongki-Do, where the lowest infection rates of trematode cercariae (0~0.5%) were revealed. The possibilities that the residual pesticides in the freshwater animals including Semisulcospira snails might be transferable to humans were also discussed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 1982

Composite soil samples from 236 sites representing paddy field, up-land, orchard and plastic film house were examined for organochlorine residues by GLC-ECD. Detection frequencies and residual levels of most persistent organochlorine residues in the soil samples were found to depend on the cropping practices. Highest organochlorine residues were found in orchard soils and followed, in decreasing order, plastic film house, up-land and paddy field soils. ${\alpha}-Endosulfan$, dieldrin, p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDT were responsible for the observed high organochlorine residues in the orchard soils. ${\alpha}-BHC$ and ${\gamma}-BHC$ were detected in all 236 soil samples. The mean residue levels of both BHC isomers were, however, remained fairly low. Residues of PCNB and ${\alpha}-endosulfan$ in native soils are reported, for the first time, in present work. PCNB was present in up-land plastic film house soils while ${\alpha}-endosulfan$ was found in all agricultural soils studied. High levels of p,p'-DDT and dieldrin were discussed in relation to crops cultivated, amount and duration of the pesticides usage. Need for continued observations on the persistent residue of pesticides in soils, already banned for general use, is emphasized.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.442-453
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• 2014

Objectives: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are known to be the detrimental chemicals in the body, even at low levels, and are stored in adipose tissue. Recently, POPs have been reported to be associated with chronic diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease, and aging and obesity are reported as common factors in chronic disease. However, there have been only a few studies on the associations of POPs with age and body mass index (BMI) in Korea. Therefore, we analyzed the associations of serum POPs levels with age and BMI in Korea. Methods: This cross-sectional study includes 444 subjects (253 men and 191 women) from the Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II (2004-2011). Serum levels of 33 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 19 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were measured by a gas chromatographer (Agilent 6890) coupled to high resolution mass spectrometer (JEOL JMS-800D). Results: Concentrations of PCB 153 (men: 12.26 ng/g lipid, women: 10.50 ng/g lipid) and p,p'-DDE (men: 94.66 ng/g lipid, women: 96.66 ng/g lipid) were the highest among serum PCBs and OCPs, respectively. PCBs and OCPs were significantly positively correlated with age in both sexes. After adjustment for age, non-dioxin like PCBs were significantly negatively correlated with body mass in women. However, cis-heptachlor epoxide was significantly positively correlated with body mass index in both sexes. When analyzed by sex, stronger associations were shown between POPs and age in men and POPs and BMI in women. Conclusion: These results may provide baseline data for the study of POPs and for the health management field in Korea.