• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.474-485
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• 2002

The object of this study is to investigate the contamination degree and the interpretation of sea water intrusion phenomena with hydrogeochemical and hydrogen-oxygen stable isotope of coastal aquifer in the Gogum area, Korea. The physical characteristics of groundwaters is the neutral pH condition and transitional Redox environments, and groundwater is affected by sea water & surface water. The chemical properties of groundwaters are showing an increase in contamination owing to the sea water intrusion, waste water from the surface and agricultural chemicals. In the case of chloride, 6 samples of the groundwater in the study area are in excess of the drinking water standard. The Piper diagram shows the contamination in GG-4 and 14 by sea water intrusion. GG-3, 7 and 13 dominate the Na-HCO$_{3}$ type water and regional (GG-14) is indicated to dominate the Na-Cl type water such as sea water. According to the Sl (saturation index), sea water is oversaturated with respect to calcite and dolomite, GG-3, 14 and 18 are approaching the saturation state. The hydrogen-oxygen stable isotope ratio of groundwaters originates in the meteoric water, and groundwaters of GG-1, 5 and 14 display high oxygen isotope value due to surface water trespass and sea water intrusion. The result of this study, GG-14 is contaminated by sea water intrusion, groundwaters expected GG-3, 7 and 13 is in progress to artificial pollution and sea water intrusion.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.63-77
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• 2002

Salinization is an important environmental problem encountered in coastal aquifers. In order to evaluate the salinization problem in the western coastal area of Korea, we have performed a regional hydrochemical study on shallow well groundwaters (N=229) collected within 10 km away from the coastline. The concentrations of analyzed solutes are very wide in range, suggesting that the hydrochemistry is controlled by several processes such as water-rock interaction, seawater mixing, and anthropogenic contamination. Based on the graphical interpretation of cumulative frequency curves for some hydrochemical parameters (esp., $Cl^{-}$ and ${NO_3}^-$), the collected water samples were grouped into two major populations (1) a background population whose chemistry is predominantly affected by water-rock interaction, and (2) an anomalous population which records the potential influences by either seawater mixing or anthropogenic pollution. The threshold values obtained are 34.7 mg/l for $Cl^{-}$ and 37.2 mg/l for ${NO_3}^-$, Using these two constituents, groundwaters were further grouped into four water types as follows (the numbers in parenthesis indicate the percentage of each type water) : (1) type 1 waters (38%) that are relatively poor in $Cl^{-}$ and ${NO_3}^-$, which may represent their relatively little contamination due to seawater mixing and anthropogenic pollution; (2) type 2 waters (21%) which are enriched in $Cl^{-}$, Indicating the considerable influence by seawater mixing; (3) ${NO_3}^-$-rich, type 3 waters (11%) which record significant anthropogenic pollution; and (4) type 4 waters (30%) enriched in both $Cl^{-}$ and ${NO_3}^-$, reflecting the effects of both seawater mixing and anthropogenic contamination. The results of the water type classification correspond well with the grouping on a Piper's diagram. On a Br x $10^4$versus Cl molar ratio diagram, most of type 2 waters are also plotted along or near the seawater mixing line. The discriminant analysis of hydrochemical data also shows that the classification of waters into four types are so realistic to adequately reflect the major process(es) proposed for the hydrochemical evolution of each water type. As a tool for evaluating the degree of seawater mixing, we propose a parameter called 'Seawater Mixing Index (S.M.I.)’ which is based on the concentrations of Na, Mg, Cl, and $SO_4$. All the type 1 and 3 waters have the S.M.I. values smaller than one, while type 2 and type 4 waters mostly have the values greater than 1. In the western coastal area of Korea, more than 21% of shallow groundwaters appear to be more or less affected by salinization process.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.315-321
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate contamination levels of aflatoxins, the secondary metabolites produced by fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, in herbal medicine. Herbs is susceptible to these fungi infections through its growth harvest, transport and storage. This study determine the aflatoxin $B_1$, $B_2$, $G_1$ and $G_2$ levels by HPLC-florescence detector coupled with photochemical enhancement in 558 samples herbal medicine distributed in Korea and China. Also, We checked a transfer ratio of aflatoxins from raw herbal medicines to herbal medicine extract. Hot water extraction of herbal medicines was prepared by air pressure and high pressure condition. The analytical method for aflatoxins was validated in this method. In results recoveries of the analytical method were ranged from 67.4% to 96.2% and, limits of detection and quantitation for aflatoxins were $0.015{\sim}0.138\;{\mu}g/kg$ and $0.046{\sim}0.418\;{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. According to the results of monitoring on aflatoxins in herbal medicine, aflatoxins 1.7 ug/kg $B_1$ and 0.9 ug/kg $G_1$ were detected in only one sample of Strychni Ignatii Semen, and 0.8 ug/kg $G_1$ in Strychni Semen. About 13.6~51.3% of aflatoxins were transferred to hot water extract. Although the detected levels are under the permitted levels for aflatoxins in herbal medicine, these amounts should be considered in regard to overall daily exposure to mycotoxins.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.365-375
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• 2009

Agriculture reservoirs need a systematic approach that can control water purity and water improvement. The area under study, Bunam Lake exceeds the agricultural water standard level due to contamination from the upper stream. When the Taean Enterprise City was planned, the water quality improvement plan was applied to minimize the environmental change. However, in order to continuously maintain the water quality in the Bunam Lake, it was essential to apply the Total Pollution Load Management System (TPLMs). In order to achieve the targeted water quality in the Bunam Lake, standard flow rates and targeted water quality levels were applied to obtain the loading capacity which is as follows : BOD 1,891.2 kg/d, T-N 1,945.7 kg/d, T-P 131.7 kg/d. Also, the regional development load was calculated as, BOD 1,083.6 kg/d, T-N 942.2 kg/d, T-P 61.8 kg/d, which is required to be deceased :- by BOD 378.4 kg/d, T-N 198.9 kg/d, T-P 31.6 kg/d in order to safely achieve the targeted water quality in the Bunam Lake.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2341-2344
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• 2012

The aim of the research was to evaluate the incidence of breast cancer in the ecological areas of Kazakhstan and assess the potential. A retrospective study of 11 years (1999 to 2009) was conducted using descriptive and analytical methods. The incidence of breast cancer was the lowest in the Aral-Syr Darya area ($18.6{\pm}0.80$/100,000), and highest in the Irtysh area ($48.9{\pm}1.90$/100,000), with an increasing trends over time in almost all areas. A direct strong correlation between the degree of contamination with high pollution emissions in the atmosphere from stationary sources and the incidence of breast cancer ($r=0.77{\pm}0.15$; p=0.026). The results indicate an increasing importance of breast cancer in Kazakhstan and an etiological role for environmental pollution.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.178-182
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• 2014

Among imported plants, seeds are the items that have many latent pathogens and are difficult to inspect. Also, they are the import and export items whose market is expected to expand. The biggest problem with seeds is viruses. Prune dwarf virus (PDV) is the virus that is commonly inspected in Prunus cerasifera, P. persica, P. armeniaca, P. mandshurica, P. cerasus, P. avium or P. serotina seeds. In this study, two RT-PCR primer sets, which can promptly and specifically diagnose plant quarantine seed-transmitted PDV, were developed; and nested PCR primers, where products amplify 739 and 673 nucleotides (nt), and an nested PCR-product, 305 nt, can be obtained as these products are amplified again, were developed. Also, a modified-positive control plasmid was developed, where the restriction enzyme XhoI, which can identify the contamination of samples from the control, was inserted. The method developed in this study has detected PDV in 18 cases since 2007, and is expected to continuously contribute to the plant quarantine in Korea.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.8.1-8.6
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• 2018

Desmarestia japonica (Phaeophyceae, Desmarestiales) was recently established from the Japanese ligulate Desmarestia and is morphologically similar to D. ligulata. This species has been reported only from Japan. However, the taxonomic reports based on additional regional distributions are needed to clarify this taxonomic entity and its species boundaries. Because Desmarestia species have restricted distributions in Korea, we reexamined herbarium specimens of D. ligulata deposited at the National Institute of Biological Resources (South Korea). To improve the amplification efficiency of the polymerase chain reaction and avoid contamination by the DNA of other organisms, we developed taxon-specific molecular markers suitable for DNA barcoding of Desmarestia species. Nuclear ribosomal small subunit RNA (18S rDNA) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) regions were selected as target DNA. As a result, both were successfully isolated from herbarium specimens of D. japonica acquired over 10 years. These molecular markers provide useful genetic information for herbarium specimens for which conventional molecular analysis is challenging.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.883-893
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• 2021

Clostridium difficile present in feces of food animals may contaminate their meats and act as a potential source of C. difficile infection (CDI) to humans. C. difficile resistance to antibiotics, its production of toxins and spores play major roles in the pathogenesis of CDI. This is the first study to evaluate C. difficile prevalence in retail raw animal meats, its antibiotics susceptibilities and toxigenic activities in Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. Totally, 240 meat samples were tested. C. difficile was identified by standard microbiological and biochemical methods. Vitek-2 compact system confirmed C. difficile isolates were 15/240 (6.3%). Toxins A/B were not detected by Xpect C. difficile toxin A/B tests. Although all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole, variable degrees of reduced susceptibilities to moxifloxacin, clindamycin or tetracycline antibiotics were detected by Epsilon tests. C. difficile strains with reduced susceptibility to antibiotics should be investigated. Variability between the worldwide reported C. difficile contamination levels could be due to absence of a gold standard procedure for its isolation. Establishment of a unified testing algorithm for C. difficile detection in food products is definitely essential to evaluate the inter-regional variation in its prevalence on national and international levels. Proper use of antimicrobials during animal husbandry is crucial to control the selective drug pressure on C. difficile strains associated with food animals. Investigating the protective or pathogenic potential of non-toxigenic C. difficile strains and the possibility of gene transfer from certain toxigenic/ antibiotics-resistant to non-toxigenic/antibiotics-sensitive strains, respectively, should be worthy of attention.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2022

This study was performed to investigate the contamination status of microorganisms that cause food poisoning in shellfish distributed in the metropolitan area of South Korea. The analyses were conducted according to the sample type, season, and region. In particular, the genotype of food poisoning viruses that explosively cause collective food poisoning was analyzed. Total 483 each of four types of shellfish (Crassostrea gigas, Mytilus coruscus, Pectea albicans albicans, and Scapharca subcrenata) were collected from four distribution sites located in the metropolitan area. We investigated foodborne pathogen by multiplex PCR and RT/Nested PCR from shellfish. As a result, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Bacillus cereus were detected in 13 and 21 samples and Norovirus (NoV) GI and GII were detected in 7 and 12 samples, respectively. V. parahaemolyticus and NoV GI and GII showed differences in types of shellfish and seasons, and no correlation was confirmed with regional differences. Also, as a result of genotyping for the detected NoV GI and GII, they were confirmed as NoV GI.7, GI.5 and GII.3, which are causes of collective food poisoning. Therefore, cross-infection with shellfish can cause food poisoning. In particular, attention must be paid to the handling and cooking of shellfish in organizations that implement group feeding, and it is necessary to establish a management system for microorganisms that cause food poisoning in the process of shellfish farming and distribution.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.309-314
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to monitor the microbial contamination of ice collected from food stores or restaurants from all over the country. From the ice collected on a regional basis, it was observed that the average number of total aerobic bacteria (TAB) of samples from Seoul was the highest, showing 2.31 log CFU/g, while that of samples from Jeolla-do was the lowest, showing 1.83 log CFU/g. The food-borne pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes) were not detected from the ice. Also the average number of TAB of packaged ice (commercial ice) was 0.45 log CFU/g lower than that of ice from ice-making machine. Among three types of stores (the bakery, the dessert store and the beverage store), ice from dessert store showed the highest number of TAB (2.37 log CFU/g). This study suggests that the hygienic management of the ice from the stores is necessary. Therefore, to ensure the hygienic management of ice, not only the ice-making machine should be sanitized on a regular basis but also a thorough individual hygiene is required from food manufacturing workers.