• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.438-449
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• 2016

Objectives: Exposure to airborne bacteria is associated with adverse health effects such as respiratory and infectious diseases. This study evaluated airborne bacterial concentrations in the living rooms, kitchens, and toilets of 30 homes. Methods: Bacteria were sampled with an MAS100 impactor in three spaces in the subject homes between April 2014 and February 2015. Bacteria were grown on TSA plates for 48 hours at $35^{\circ}C$. The bacterial strains were isolated and amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Results: The most culturable bacteria were found in toilets ($624.0CFU/m^3$, GM: $417.3CFU/m^3$), followed by in the kitchen ($503.8CFU/m^3$, GM: $324.9CFU/m^3$). The dominant genera identified were: Staphylococcus sp.(19%), Micrococcus sp.(16%), and Bacillus sp.(11%) in the indoor air and Bacillus sp. (30%) in the outdoor air. Gram-positive bacteria comprised more than half of all colonies. Conclusion: In this study, culturable bacteria concentrations were higher than those reported in other spaces. Therefore, it is important to control relative humidity and remove moisture to prevent bacteria from multiplying. Additionally, the dominant species in indoor air were Staphylococcus sp. and Micrococcus sp. These are found on the human skin, mucous membranes, and hair, so human activity can affect bacterial distribution. Therefore, cleaning and controlling moisture are important for reducing indoor bacterial concentrations.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.359-367
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• 2020

Objectives: Exposure to mold is strongly associated with adverse health effects (development or exacerbation of allergic diseases). We reviewed the health effects of mold exposure and explored to determine the annual distribution of indoor mold in facilities with susceptible populations. Methods: The health effects of mold exposure were mainly summarized by reviewing related papers and WHO research reports. We selected 10 facilities, including daycare centers, postpartum care centers, medical institutions, and elderly care facilities within the Seoul Metropolitan. Mold sampling was performed once every week or once every quarter from February 2016 to 2017. In addition, fungal species analyses was performed, and distribution status by month and facility was analyzed in the same manner as concentration. Results: Adverse health effects attributed to fungal exposure are largely divided into allergic symptoms, toxic effects, and infectious effects. Monthly mean concentrations of mold indoors and outdoors was 368.8 CFU/㎥ (geometric mean 213.4 CFU/㎥) and 496.0 CFU/㎥ (327.9 CFU/㎥), respectively. The indoor concentration has begun to increase in February, peaked in July, declined in August, increased again until October, and then decreased in November. About 36 genera of indoor fungal species were found in each facility. Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Aspergillus sp., Alternaria sp., and Arthrinium sp. were observed as the dominant species. Conclusions: Our findings showed that the overall level of indoor mold was below the 500 CFU/㎥ level recommended by the Ministry of Environment. The development of DNA-based assessment and expanding facilities to be monitored for mold would be necessary for preventive aspects.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.183-188
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• 1984

This paper was concerned with the investigation on the species of fungi detected in indoor environments. Mycological survey on the wall of buildings and houses in Seoul was performed from December 26, 1983 to February 11, 1984. The collected fungi with the sterilized cotton rod were caltivated and isolated in the Potato-Detrose Agar medium with chloramphenicol. The fungi detected in hospital were Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., Alternaria sp., Chaetomium sp. and others. The fungi detected in household were Penicillium sp., Alternaria sp., Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp., Rhizopus sp., Trichoderma sp. and others. The kitchen of household was more contaminated by fungi than the living room and others. In hospital, it was much contaminated by the same species of the aboves on the wall of lobby and refectory. As the above results were recognized, the higher humidity and the more poor ventilation, the more species and amount of fungi were contaminated. Further studies on the identification of pathogenic fungi should be continued. The proper regulation for the hygienic maintenance of indoor environment in household, hospital and other public buildings should be recommended as well.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.282-289
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• 2022

Background: Airborne fungi are ubiquitous in the air and exposure to an airborne fungus can be a significant risk factor. The composition of fungi has been potentially important for human health, especially for respiratory diseases like asthma and atopic dermatitis. Therefore, we attempted to ascertain what kind of airborne fungi affect human health at a nationwide level. Objectives: This study was carried out to provide information on indoor fungi distribution at multi-use facilities throughout South Korea. Methods: We classified our data by region and public facility after collection, cultivation, and identification via the sequencing of the ITS (internal transcribed spacer) region. We investigated whether or not the proliferation of HaCaT cells was affected by the identified airborne fungi. Results: In our data, the most isolated airborne fungi by region were Penicillium spp (Seoul, Daegu), Periconia sp (Gyeonggi-do), Iprex sp (Gangwon-do), Phanerochaete sp (Busan), Bjerkandera sp (Gwangju), and Aspergillus sp (Jeju-do). In the public facilities, the most detected fungi were Cladosporium sp (public transport), Penicillium sp (apartment house, retail market, financial institution, karaoke room), Bjerokandera sp (underground parking lot, public toilet, medical institution), Periconia sp (retail store), and Fusarium sp (general restaurant). Next, we selected twenty airborne fungi to examine their cytotoxicity and proliferation of human skin cells. In this experiment, the proliferation of the cells was influenced by most of the identified fungi. In case of the cytotoxicity test, most genera except for Rhodotorula sp and Moesziomyces sp showed cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells. Conclusions: The distribution of mold in the indoor air in multi-use facilities in South Korea differs from region to region, and this is an indicator that should be considered in future health impact studies. In addition, as a result of culturing about 20 types of bacteria dominant in indoor air, it was found that most (90%) inhibit the growth of skin cells, which can be harmful to health. An in-depth study of the health effects of floating fungi is needed.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

To investigate the mycoflora of indoor air in a Sogokju, traditional rice wine, factory, fungi were sampled and analyzed from the air of several rooms in the factory using an Anderson air sampler and from two kinds of Nuruk. Twelve fungal species belonging to the genera of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Gibberella, Cladosporium, and Talaromyces were isolated. Species belonging to Aspergillus and Penicillium genera were the major species. Seven different species of Penicillium were isolated from each different room of the factory. The Aspergillus species found from indoor air of the factory was also found from Nuruk. Rhizopus sp. was commonly isolated from Nuruk but not from indoor air of the factory. This is first report of fungi present in indoor air of a traditional rice wine factory in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.476-479
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• 2002

We observed the succession and appearence species of the marine benthic diatoms for the effective seed production of shellfish culture on wave plates in indoor mass culture tanks. Every five days, the existence species and densitiy of diatoms were counted during the 20 culture days. Experimental conditions were 8.5 $\pm$ 0.3$^{\circ}C$ of water temperature, 1.0250$\~$1.0260 of specific gravity, 2,200$\~$13,000 lux of light intensity. The total density of appearence species was rapidly increased with the lapse of time. However, the number of appearence species decreased on the 20th day. The diatoms observed were 10 species; Navicula sp. of, viridula, Cylindrotheca closterium, Licmophora sp., Pleurosisma normnii, Bacillaria Paradoxa Asterionella glacialis, Stephanopuis sp. cf, turris, Entomoneis sp., Odontella aurita and Cocconeis sp, cf, scutellum. Of them, Navicula sp, of, viridula was most dominant throughout the experiment.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.95-104
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• 2015

Recently, collecting and analyzing method of users location has been studied due to the development of mobile devices. There is analyzing method using Semantic Location History in order to identify of characteristics and extract pattern and predict trajectory of users. We should extraction of Stay Point in order to use Semantic Location History. The Conventional extraction method of Stay Point is not accuracy of location of Stay Points because it does not specify the GPS log of users. Also, Conventional extraction method of Stay Point cannot distinguish indoors and outdoors. In this paper, we implement extraction method of Stay Point in which specify the GPS log of users and extraction of Stay Point at indoors only. Stay Point(nearSP) specifies the nearest GPS log of users from generated Stay Point by conventional extraction method. And, Stay Point(indoorSP) specifies the GPS log of users that user get into the building. Our experimental results, accuracy of Stay Point is improved, and capacity of output data decrease than Conventional extraction method. Also, we were able to distinguish Stay Point of indoors and outdoors.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.417-423
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• 2006

The purification ability of indoor plants for volatile organic compounds was investigated. Philodendron selloum and Spathiphyllum sp. were tested for removal of toluene and trichloroethylene in the artificially contaminated reactor under laboratory conditions. Each plant was placed in right side of the reactor and the TCE and toluene concentration change with time were monitored. In the reactor with Philodendron, the TCE concentrations of left and right sides were compared to examine the removal effects by plant. In the reactor with Spathiphyllum, air was circulated before sampling, and thus average removal effects by plants on target VOC were observed. Both plants showed clear effects on removal of VOCs from contaminated indoor air. The removal efficiency of Philodendron and Spathiphyllum were similar and showed 30 - 46% and 31 - 47% of purification effects, respectively. The results of this study showed that air purification using plants is an effective means of reduction on indoor VOCs concentration level and reduce related health risk though, supplementary purifying aids or proper ventilation were also suggested.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.331-333
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• 2010

Moribund albino catfish, Clarias sp., displayed from an indoor private commercial aquarium were submitted in the laboratory for diagnostic examination. Dense culture of bacteria was recovered from the kidney and was characterized using Vitek System 2 and showed 98% probability to Aeromonas (A.) hydrophila. PCR result showed positive using A. hydrophila extracellular hemolysin gene ahh1 (130 bp) and aerolysin gene aerA (309 bp). The 16S rRNA gene was identical and exhibited 97% sequence similarity with the other known isolates of A. hydrophila available in the GenBank. In this paper, we reported the isolation and molecular detection of A. hydrophila from an albino catfish.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.102-106
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• 2008

Formaldehyde, an indoor volatile organic compound, is considered toxic due to its carcinogenic risk. Recently, we isolated a formaldehyde-degrading bacterium Pseudomonas sp. YK-32. A crude enzyme prepared from YK-32 also degraded formaldehyde, suggesting that YK-32 cells have formaldehyde hydrogenase activity which is one of the important factors in formaldehyde degradation. The formaldehyde hydrogenase activity was increased 1.25 fold by adding 0.1 % glucose and formaldehyde to the culture medium. In addition, treatment with 1 mM EDTA as a permeabilizer promoted the degradation of formaldehyde and increased the enzymatic activity.