• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 2012

Fish contain both the neurotoxin methyl mercury (MeHg) and nutrients important for brain development. The developing brain appears to be most sensitive to MeHg toxicity and mothers who consume fish during pregnancy expose their fetus prenatally. Although brain development is most dramatic during fetal life, it continues for years postnatally and additional exposure can occur when a mother breast feeds or the child consumes fish. This raises the possibility that MeHg might influence brain. We evaluated the relationship between fish consumption and mercury exposure levels in umbilical cord blood of the pregnant women of the city of Tongyeong city, Korea. A total of 159 pregnant women residing in the city of Tongyeong, Korea were recruited for the study between October 2010 and March 2011. Fish consumption was evaluated using food frequency questionnaires including detailed questions on fish consumption. We used ANOVA to estimated the particular relevance between the frequency of fish consumption and the umbilical cord blood mercury concentration, and other various factors. The average mean concentration of mercury levels in umbilical cord blood of pregnant women who participated in our study were $2.69{\pm}2.50ppb$, ranging from 0.01 to 14.80 ppb. The mean concentration of umbilical cord blood mercury exposure was lower than the level recommended by WHO (5.0 ppb), but the mercury exposure level exceeded the WHO recommended in 17 (10.7%) cases of umbilical cord blood. Mercury levels in cord blood of pregnant women were $2.04{\pm}2.00ppb$, ranging from 0 to 8.00 ppb in below 29 years old and $3.18{\pm}2.74ppb$, ranging from 0.01 to 14.80 ppb in more 30 years old. In this study, there was a significant difference for the frequency of eating fish between the groups (p < 0.01). The level of the groups that ate fish 3 to more times per week ($4.15{\pm}4.02ppb$) was significant higher as compared with the level of other groups that ate fish 1 to times per week ($2.63{\pm}2.22ppb$) and none per week ($1.06{\pm}1.44ppb$), respectively. We found that the mercury concentration of umbilical cord blood associate with fish consumption and this was statistically significant and this fact revels that fish consumption is positively related to mercury levels in the umbilical cord blood. We need systematic and periodic research on the general population to prevent mercury poisoning, which can be cause by low-level mercury exposure from dietary intake such as chronic fish consumption.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 1996

Clinical findings of white muscle disease or dystrophia were reported in Hokkaido horses from 1960. This disease was caused by selenium and $\alpha$-tocopherol deficiency. Therefore, this study were conducted to measure serum selenium and $\alpha$-tocopherol levels in Cheju island horses using feedstuffs containing volcanic ashes. The results were as follows : 1. The mean values of serum total selenium and $\alpha$-tocophcrol were $91.90{\pm}49.18ppb$(13.20ppb-193.80ppb) and $0.345{\pm}0.253mg/dl$(0.056mg/dl-1.159mg/dl) in female respectively. There were no significant relation between serum total selenium and $\alpha$-tocopherol levels. 2. 22%(15 of 68) of the horse examined showed selenium levels below 50ppb. 11.8%(8 of 68) showed $\alpha$-tocopherol levels lower than 0.10mg/dl. These results could be useful to diagnose of white muscle disease of Cheju island foals and quality control of feedstuffs of pregnant mares.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1997

This experiment was conducted with total 960 brown layers, consisted of 8 treatment to investigate the effects of dietary chromium as chromium picolinate on egg production, egg quality, nutrient utilizability, serum traits and mortality in brown layers. Layers were fed diets with two levels of dietary protein (14% and 16%) and supplemented with 0, 200, 400, 800 ppb/kg of chromium as chromium picolinate, respectively. The highest egg production, egg weight and egg mass were found in 800 ppb chromium picolinate supplementation group with high protein level (16%) (p < 0.05). Although there was no significant difference, layers receiving 400 ppb of chromium picolinate with high protein (16%) represented the lowest broken eggs. The utilization of energy, dry matter and crude protein of 400 ppb chromium picolinate group with low protein level (14%) were significantly higher than those of control or other chromium picolinate group (p < 0.05). 400 ppb chromium picolinate with low protein level (14%) showed the lowest serum glucose concentration. But serum glucose concentrations in all treatments showed no significant differences. Present date revealed that the lowest serum cholesterol concentration of layers was found at 400 ppb chromium picolinate group with high protein level (16%) (p < 0.05). Crude protein content in yolk was significantly higher in eggs of layers received 800 ppb chromium picolinate and the lowest in eggs from layers received 400 ppb chromium picolinate among chromium picolinate levels (p < 0.05). Mortality was remarkably decreased by chromium picolinate supplementation and the lowest mortality value was found in layres receiving 800 ppb chromium picolinate with high protein level.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1997.06a
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• pp.143-158
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• 1997

Electrochemical deionization (EDI) offers continuous demineralization at higher water recovery rates (>90%), compared with mixed bed ion exchange, and without the use of chemical regenerants and the associated production of saline waste water. Although EDI technology has been used in some power generation applications, its wider application requires the satisfactory resolution of outstanding capital cost and performance issues. This paper reports on the field evaluation of a new cost-effective EDI technology in a power generation application. The E-Cell System$^{TM}$, which became commercially available in the fourth quarter of 1996, consists of a rugged, modular system, based on a new high-performance EDI stack. Starting in May 1996, a 100 gpm modular EDI pilot system, rated for operation at 100 psi, was evaluated at the TVA Brown's Ferry Nuclear Plant. The feed consisted of Reverse Osmosis (RO) permeate with a conductivity of 4-7 $\mu$S/cm. The pilot system reliably produced 17.8-18.0 M$\Omega$.cm water under design operating conditions, independent. Silica levels were reduced from ca. 50 ppb to 4 ppb, while TOC levels were reduced from ca. 120 ppb to 30 ppb.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2009

This study was conducted in industrial area. The level of nitrogen dioxide was measured indoor, outdoor, work and personal in an study area within 5 km from source of pollution and control area 15 km farther from August, 2006 to September. The followings are the summary of this research. The concentration of the indoor and the outdoor $NO_2$ levels in the industrial area are 18.41$\pm$6.35 ppb, 18.51$\pm$3.26 ppb each, and the indoor/outdoor concentration rate is 0.99. The concentration of $NO_2$ in the workplace is 18.59$\pm$10.16 ppb, and the individual exposure rate is 18.80$\pm$5.71 ppb. The concentration of the indoor and the outdoor $NO_2$ levels control area are 12.57$\pm$3.82 ppb, 9.68$\pm$2.16 ppb each, and the indoor/outdoor concentration rate is 1.33. The personal exposure rate is 14.49$\pm$10.06 ppb. The residents of the each area and those of the comparative area spend 80.9% and 76.9% each their time in the indoor. It shows they spend most of their time in indoor. The predictions of the individual exposure rates in the industrial area and the comparative area are 15.10$\pm$6.14 ppb and 10.52$\pm$3.82 ppb each, The concentration levels measured by passive sampler are 18.80$\pm$5.71 ppb and 14.49$\pm$10.34 ppb each. The result of the research is the analysis of the personal exposure rate in indoor, outdoor and workplace of industrial area. This research may bo used as a basic data to manage and to establish the plan for $NO_2$ gas of the industrial area.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 1994

This study was carried out to investigate the levels of copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, cadmium and mercury content in breast milk among urban, rural and industrial lactating women in Korea. A total of 59 samples, which were collected from 17 in urban, 20 in rural and 22 in industrial area, and from 21-38 years-old healthy lactating women, were analyzed by Rigaku Mercury Analyzer for mercury, and by atomic absorption apectrophotometry for the other metals. The results are summarized as follows : The mean trace metal contents in breast milk were determined to be 0.34$\pm$0.14 ppm for copper, 2.01$\pm$1.43 ppm for zinc, 8.49$\pm$5.11 ppb for manganese, 7.75$\pm$5.73 ppb for nickel, 1.65$\pm$2.42 ppm for cadmium, 34.45$\pm$26.71 ppb for lead and 0.90$\pm$0.68 ppb for mercury. For the trace metal content in breast milk by area, the highest of copper, zinc, cadmium and mercury content were in urban, the highest of manganese content was in industrial, and the highest of nickel and lesd content were in rural. For copper, zinc, manganese and lead content in breast milk by lactation period, the highest levels were found in under 4 weeks after lactating, and subsequently the levels declined as lactation progressed, but the levels of zinc and manganese content increased from over 25 weeks after lactating. For cadmium and mercury content in breast milk by lactation period, the lowest levels were found in under 4 weeks after lactating, the highest levels were found in 5-12 weeks after lactating, and subsequently the levels declined as lactation progressed.For nickel content in breast milk by lactation period, the highest level was in 13-24 weeks after lactating, the lowest level was in 5-12 weeks after lactating.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2006

This study was designed to assess the level of nitrogen dioxide from several microenvironments including inside the home, outdoors near the home, inside the school, outdoors near the school, and on the road for 42 primary schoolchildren during the month of December 2002 in Seoul, Korea. The average personal, indoor, outdoor $NO_2$ levels, and indoor/outdoor ratio were 45.08 ppb, 27.89 ppb, 30.96 ppb, and 0.89, respectively. The indoor $NO_2$ concentrations were significantly associated with the presence of a smoker with a gas stove. The estimated personal $NO_2$ exposure using time-weighted average equation of $34.64{\pm}5.29$ ppb was significantly lower than the measured personal exposure of $45.08{\pm}5.50$ ppb. Our results indicate that indoor $NO_2$ levels were associated with the presence of a smoker and a gas stove. Moreover, personal $NO_2$ exposure with a gas stove in the house was significantly higher than those without a gas stove.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.42-53
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• 2001

This study were conducted to estimate property of nitrogen dioxide concentration at industrial areas in Korea. The nitrogen dioxide concentrations were measured for 50 dwellings at Ulsan and Yeochon, respectively using the nitrogen dioxide filter badge forming the passive sampler from summer time 1998 to winter time 1999. The major results obtained from this study were as follows: 1. The mean indoor, outdoor, and personal concentrations of nitrogen dioxide during summer time 1998 in Ulsan were 28.9 ppb, 24.8 ppb, 24.8 pub, respectively. 2. The mean indoor, outdoor, and personal concentrations of nitrogen dioxide during winter time 1999 in Yeochon were 11.4 ppb, 12.5 ppb, 15.5 ppb, respectively. 3. The mean concentration of nitrogen dioxide during winter time 1998 were higher than the corresponding levels during summer time 1997 in Ulsan. 4. The mean concentration of nitrogen dioxide in Ulsan were in general higher than the corresponding levels in Yeochon. 5. This results in slightly positive correlation among indoor, outdoor, and personal nitrogen dioxide concentrations for summer time in Ulsan, then it statistical significance is showed(p <.05). These results suggest that nitrogen dioxide concentrations in industrial areas seem to be affected by traffic density and conditions of industrialization.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2012

Objectives: Polyurethanes are usually formed by the reactions of liquid diisocyanate components with liquid polyol resin components. Although polyurethanes have advantageous properties, such as their versatility, the manufacturing process generates diisocyanates, which can cause asthma and respiratory irritation in exposed workers. This study compared the differences in diisocyante concentrations between two different (molded foam and slabstock foam) polyurethane foam manufacturing methods. Materials and Methods: Active samples and direct reading samples of diisocyanates (MDI, TDI) were collected in five polyurethane foam manufacturing companies. Results: Workers' exposure concentrations of diisocyanate (GM: 4.078 ppb, range: 1.190~23.770 ppb) in a slabstock foam manufacturing company were much higher than those (GM: 0.011 ppb, range: 0.001~0.055 ppb) in molded foam manufacturing companies. The results of the direct reading samples of diisocyanate indicated that the rapid reaction zone of the slabstock foam processes emitted large amounts of diisocyanates. Conclusions: The exposure levels of diisocyanates for all molded foam workers were much lower than the occupational exposure standard (5 ppb); however, exposure levels for many slabstock foam workers exceeded the standard.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.330-336
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• 2012

Purpose: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity ($FEF_{25-75}$) are not included in routine monitoring of asthma control. We observed changes in FeNO level and $FEF_{25-75}$ after FeNO-based treatment with inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) in children with controlled asthma (CA). Methods: We recruited 148 children with asthma (age, 8 to 16 years) who had maintained asthma control and normal forced expiratory volume in the first second ($FEV_1$) without control medication for ${\geq}3$ months. Patients with FeNO levels >25 ppb were allocated to the ICS-treated (FeNO-based management) or untreated group (guideline-based management). Changes in spirometric values and FeNO levels from baseline were evaluated after 6 weeks. Results: Ninety-three patients had FeNO levels >25 ppb. These patients had lower $FEF_{25-75}$ % predicted values than those with FeNO levels ${\leq}25$ ppb (P<0.01). After 6 weeks, the geometric mean (GM) FeNO level in the ICS-treated group was 45% lower than the baseline value, and the mean percent increase in $FEF_{25-75}$ was 18.7% which was greater than that in other spirometric values. There was a negative correlation between percent changes in $FEF_{25-75}$ and FeNO (r=-0.368, P=0.001). In contrast, the GM FeNO and spirometric values were not significantly different from the baseline values in the untreated group. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory treatment simultaneously improved the FeNO levels and $FEF_{25-75}$ in CA patients when their FeNO levels were >25 ppb.