• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.252-261
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• 2017

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) increase radiation exposure to the public as these materials are concentrated through artificial manufacturing processes by human activities. This study focuses on the development of a method for the quantitative analysis of $^{232}Th$, $^{235}U$, and $^{238}U$ in building materials. The accuracy and precision of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for determination of digestion processes was evaluated for certified reference materials (CRMs) digested using various mixed acid (e.g., aqua regia, hydrofluoric acid, and perchloric acid) digestions and a $LiBO_2$ fusion method. The method validation results reveal that a $LiBO_2$ fusion and $Fe(OH)_3$ co-precipitation should be applied as the optimal sample digestion process for the quantitative analysis of radionuclides in building materials. The radioactivity of $^{232}Th$, $^{235}U$, and $^{238}U$ in a total of 51 building material (e.g., board, brick, cement, paint, tile, and wall paper) samples was quantitatively analyzed using an established process. Finally, the values of $^{238}U$ and $^{232}Th$ radioactivity were comprehensively compared with those from the indirect method using ${\gamma}$-spectrometry.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.496-503
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• 2021

Background: Considering the expenses of and difficulties in arsenic speciation by high performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS), alternative measurement methods should be useful, especially for large-scale research and projects. Objectives: A measurement method was developed for arsenic speciation using HPLC-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC-AFS) as an alternative to HPLC-ICP-MS. Methods: Total arsenic and toxic arsenic species in some seafoods were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry coupled with hydride vapor generation (AAS-HVG) and HPLC-AFS, respectively. Recovery rate of arsenic species in seafood was evaluated by ultra sonication, microwave and enzyme (pepsin) for the optimal extraction method. Results: Limits of detection of HPLC-AFS for As³⁺, dimethylarsinate (DMA), monomethylarsonate (MMA) and As⁵⁺ were 0.39, 0.53, 0.60 and 0.64 ㎍/L, respectively. The average accuracy ranged from 97.5 to 108.7%, and the coefficient of variation was in the range of 1.2~16.7%. As³⁺, DMA, MMA and As⁵⁺ were detected in kelp, the sum of toxic arsenic in kelp was 40.4 mg/kg. As³⁺, DMA, MMA and As⁵⁺ were not detected in shrimp and squid, but total arsenic (iAS and oAS) content in shrimp and squid analyzed by AAS-HVG were 18.1 and 24.7 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions: HPLC-AFS was recommendable for the quantitative analysis method of arsenic species. As toxic arsenic species are detected in seaweeds, further researches are needed for the contribution degree of seafood in arsenic exposure.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.412-417
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• 1999

The analytical results obtained by microwave digestion and acid digestion methods for sample pretreatment to determine metal impurities in silicon wafer by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were compared. In order to decompose the silicon wafer, a mixed solution of $HNO_3$ and HF was added to the sample and the metal elements were determined after removing the silicon matrix by evaporating silicon in the form of Si-F. The recovery percentages of Ni,Cr and Fe were found to be 95∼106% for both microwave digestion and acid digestion methods. The recovery percentage of Cu obtained by the acid digestion method was higher than that obtained by the microwave digestion method. For Zn, however, the microwave digestion method gave better result than the acid digestion method. Fe was added to a silicon wafer using a spin coater. The concentration of Fe in this sample was determined by lCP-MS, and the same results were obtained in the two pretreatment methods.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.289-298
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• 2015

Objectives: The method of analyzing urinary arsenic by flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-HG-AAS) is generally used because it shows relatively greater sensitivity, low detection limits, low blocking action, and is simple to operate. In this study, the results of analysis according to three pre-reductants commonly used in the FI-HG-AAS method were compared with each other. Methods: To analyze urinary arsenic, nineteen urine samples were collected from adults aged 43-79 years old without occupational arsenic exposure. Analysis equipment was FI-HG-AAS (AAnalyst 800/FIAS 400, Perkin- Elmer Inc., USA). The three pre-reductants were potassium iodide (KI/AA), C3H7NO2S (L-cysteine), and a mixture of KI/AA and L-cysteine (KI/AA&L-cysteine). Results: In the results of the analysis, the recovery rate of the method using KI/AA was 82.3%, 95.7% for Lcysteine, and 123.5% for KI/AA and L-cysteine combined. When compared with the results by use of high performance liquid chromatography inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS), the method using L-cysteine was the closest to those using HPLC-ICP-MS ($98.57{\mu}g/L$ for HPLC-ICP-MS; $74.96{\mu}g/L$ for L-cysteine; $69.23{\mu}g/L$ for KI/AA and L-cysteine; $13.06{\mu}g/L$ for KI/AA) and were significantly correlated (R2=0.882). In addition, they showed the lowest coefficient of variation in the results between two laboratories that applied the same method. Conclusion: The efficiency of hydride generation is considered highly important to the analysis of urinary arsenic via FI-HG-AAS. This study suggests that using L-cysteine as a pre-reductant may be suitable and the most rational among the FI-Hg-AAS methods using pre-reductants.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.324-332
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• 2019

In this study, the possibility of a follow-up study on environmental pollution in domestic freshwater was identified by analyzing fish otoliths using Laser ablation-inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP/MS). Fish otolith are known to be affected by the environment in which fish live. As a result, research on this subject is active in many countries; however, this is not the case in Korea. Therefore, in this study, the possibility of tracing environmental pollution using fish otoliths was identified by analyzing the components of metal elements used as indicators for environmental pollution. For the component analysis of metallic elements LA-ICP/MS, which can shorten analysis time by reducing the pretreatment process, was used. Sampling was conducted by dividing the research and the background area and carp, a freshwater species, was selected as the experimental fish species subject. Based on the established LA-ICP/MS conditions, the concentration of the metallic elements in the fish otoliths collected in the research area was 2202.9 mg kg^-1, 2.03 times higher than the 1,086.3 mg kg^-1 in the background area. All elements except for Li and U, were found to be higher in the research area than in the background area. Compared with the sediment measuring net analysis data, the distribution tendency of Zn, Pb, and Cu in sediment metal element concentrations in the two regions and distribution of metal element concentration in fish otoliths were similarly shown. These results confirm that fish otoliths can be used to track environmental pollutants, such as in sediments.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1172-1175
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• 1997

Calcium isotopic ratios are precisely measured by removing isobaric interferences originated from water in the plasma. Liquid Ar cryogenic trap combined with membrane desolvator could eliminate backgrounds at m/z 42 and 44. Slow drift of ICP-MS is corrected by the frequent running of the standards. It is found necessary to separate Ca from the sample matrix using Ca oxalate precipitation technique. Currently, the RSD is 0.5-1.0% for 2 minutes of measurement but is expected to be improved if the measurement time is increased. The technique was applied to 42Ca enriched baby fecal samples and successfully determined 42Ca/44Ca ratio changes.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.473-481
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• 2006

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.450-464
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• 2016

Objectives: This study developed and validated reference materials (RMs) to analyze metal compounds in blood. Methods: We referred to KoNEHS (Korea National Environmental Health Survey) to estimate concentrations of blood metals (cadmium, Cd; lead, Pb; mercury, Hg) and applied analytical methods (inductively coupled plasma - mass spectroscopy, ICP-MS, for Cd and Pb; graphite furnace - atomic absorption spectrometry, GF-AAS, for Cd and Pb; and direct mercury analyzer, DMA, for Hg). Homogeneity and stability tests were carried out. In addition, certified values and uncertainties of RMs were calculated through internal and external experiments. All RMs were developed and assessed in various forms according to element, analytical method, and two types of concentration levels high concentration for occupational exposure and low concentration for environmental exposure. Results: All samples showed acceptable homogeneity, except for low concentration of Cd in the GF-AAS method. Short- and long-term stabilities were satisfied by ANOVA testing. In the inter-laboratory comparison, robust medians were lower than the certified values of all RMs (robust median/reference value; $1.301/1.327{\mu}g/L$ for Cd, ICP-MS, low concentration; $3.152/3.388{\mu}g/L$ for Cd, ICP-MS, high concentration; $1.219/1.301{\mu}g/L$ for Cd, GF-AAS, low concentration; $3.074/3.321{\mu}g/L$ for Cd, GF-AAS, high concentration; $14.473/14.516{\mu}g/L$ for Pb, ICP-MS, low concentration; $50.069/50.114{\mu}g/L$ for Pb, ICP-MS, high concentration; $12.881/14.147{\mu}g/L$ for Pb, GF-AAS, low concentration; $47.015/47.591{\mu}g/L$ for Pb, GF-AAS, high concentration; $4.059/4.218{\mu}g/L$ for Hg, DMA, low concentration; $11.474/11.181{\mu}g/L$ for Hg, DMA, high concentration). Conclusion: This study demonstrates procedures for developing and validating RMs for biomonitoring in the field of the environmental health.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.105-109
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• 2018

A certified reference material (CRM) for the analysis of inorganic nutrients in nutritional supplements has been developed. Accurate mass fractions of chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were determined by isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID ICP/MS). The measurement results were used to assign certified values for the CRM, which were metrologically traceable to the definitions of the measurement units in the International System of Units (SI). Production of a candidate reference material (RM) and the certification processes are summarized. Each nutrient in the CRM showed good homogeneity, which was estimated using relative standard deviations of the measurement results of twelve bottles in a batch. This CRM is expected to be an important reference to improve reliability and comparability of nutrient analyses in nutritional supplements and related samples in analytical laboratories.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3817-3824
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• 2013

Various separation modes in HPLC, such as anion exchange (AE), reversed-phase (RP), and affinity (AF) chromatography were examined for the separation of selenium species in human blood serum and urine. While RP- and AE-HPLC were mainly used for the separation of small molecular selenium species, double column AF-HPLC achieved the separation of selenoproteins in blood serum efficiently. Further, the effluent of AF-HPLC was enzymatically hydrolyzed and then analyzed with RP HPLC for selenoamino acid study. The versatility of the hybrid technique makes the in-depth study of selenium species possible. For quantification, post column isotope dilution (ID) with $^{78}Se$ spike was performed. ORC ICP/MS (octapole reaction cell inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry) was used with 4 mL $min^{-1}$ Hydrogen as reaction gas. In urine sample, inorganic selenium and SeCys were identified. In blood serum, selenoproteins GPx, SelP and SeAlb were detected and quantified. The concentration for GPx, SelP and SeAlb was $22.8{\pm}3.4\;ng\;g^{-1}$, $45.2{\pm}1.7\;ng\;g^{-1}$, and $16.1{\pm}2.2\;ng\;g^{-1}$, respectively when $^{80}Se/^{78}Se$ was used. The sum of these selenoproteins ($84.1{\pm}4.4\;ng\;g^{-1}$) agrees well with the total selenium concentration measured with the ID method of $87.0{\pm}3.0\;ng\;g^{-1}$. Enzymatic hydrolysis of each selenium proteins revealed that SeCys is the major amino acid for all three proteins and SeMet is contained in SeAlb only.