• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.58-73
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate BTEX exposure to gas station service attendants and the critical affect of benzene and MtBE airborne concentration. Methods : the degree of exposure to airborne BTEX and MtBE was examined in the service attendants at seven gas stations across the country during a summer season. The TWAs(time-weighted averages) of atmospheric concentration of substances in personal and area samples, were calculated. The component ratio of BTEX and MtBE in the samples of bulk gasoline from each station studied was also measured. Results : The airborne concentrations of BTEX and MtBE showed a lognormal distribution and The TWA concentrations of benzene in personal samples from each station were 0.089 ppm - 0.18 ppm, and those of toluene were 0.097 ppm - 0.2 ppm. The average TWA concentrations of xylene and ethyl benzene was 0.03 ppm and 0.001 ppm, respectively. The TWA concentrations of MtBE were 0.4 ppm - 1.3 ppm. The volume concentrations of MtBE, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene in the bulk gasoline samples were 3 - 7.4 %, 3 - 12 %, 0.64 % and 1.5 - 10 %, respectively. Conclusions : The benzene concentration was detected to exceed the ACGIH threshold benzene level of 0.5 ppm, in one of 74 personal and area samples. MtBE, a substitute for aromatic compounds such as benzene in gasoline, was found to bring about a greater chance of exposure to carcinogen, due to its high vapor pressure and carcinogenicity.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.379-387
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• 2010

Sediments of Little Scioto (LS) River in Ohio was contaminated by poor disposal of creosote from Baker Wood Creosoting Facility. Among the primary compounds of creosote, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the most common ingredient PAHs are known for toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds. There are many difficulties to remove the PAHs in nature environment because their characteristics are having a less water-solubility, volatile and low mobility properties as increasing the molecular weight. The generation of hydroxyl radicals (${\cdot}OH$) and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) forms as well as high temperature (5000 K) and pressure (1000 atm) by a physico-chemical effects of ultrasound during a cavitation collapse can promote the degradation and desorption of PAHs in sediment And it can also produces shock wave and microjets which are able to change the size and surface of particle in solid-liquid system as one of physical effects. Therefore, we explored to understand the role of particle size, the effect of elimination for PAHs concentration by ultrasound and optimize the conditions for ultrasonic treatment. The condition of various size of particles (> $150{\mu}m$, < $150{\mu}m$) and solid-liquid ratio (12.5g/L, 25g/L) for the treatment was considered and ultrasonic power (430 W/L) with liquid - hexane extraction and microwave extraction method were applied after ultrasound treatment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.875-885
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• 2023

Volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and isomers of xylenes (BTEX) constitute a group of monoaromatic compounds that are found in petroleum and have been classified as priority pollutants. In this study, based on its newly sequenced genome, we reclassified the previously identified BTEX-degrading thermotolerant strain Ralstonia sp. PHS1 as Cupriavidus cauae PHS1. Also presented are the complete genome sequence of C. cauae PHS1, its annotation, species delineation, and a comparative analysis of the BTEX-degrading gene cluster. Moreover, we cloned and characterized the BTEX-degrading pathway genes in C. cauae PHS1, the BTEX-degrading gene cluster of which consists of two monooxygenases and meta-cleavage genes. A genome-wide investigation of the PHS1 coding sequence and the experimentally confirmed regioselectivity of the toluene monooxygenases and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase allowed us to reconstruct the BTEX degradation pathway. The degradation of BTEX begins with aromatic ring hydroxylation, followed by ring cleavage, and eventually enters the core carbon metabolism. The information provided here on the genome and BTEX-degrading pathway of the thermotolerant strain C. cauae PHS1 could be useful in constructing an efficient production host.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.296-303
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• 2008

This study was performed to establish an analytical method of PAHs in oil contaminated soil of these methods by evaluating the PAHs test methods from US EPA and ISO etc. The application to domestic contaminated soil leads to a conclusion that alumina column is a more effective clean-up procedure for oil contaminated soil rather than the others. It is proposed with the new analytical method of 12 PAHs except for more volatile compounds (naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene). The recovery of PAHs in this method ranged 67~107%. The oil contaminated soil samples were analyzed using GC/MSD. The concentration of PAHs ranged $78.68{\sim}275.57{\mu}g/kg$. The predominated compounds were fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene attributing about 70% of total concentration. The level of Benzo[a]pyrene ranged $1.76{\sim}24.65{\mu}g/kg$.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2006

In this study, we attempted to evaluate the sorptive loss of VOC upon their contact with different material surfaces including clothing pieces. For the purpose of this study, we developed a method to evaluate such loss by employing a filter holder pack in the thermal desorption line of the GC/FID system. The calibration curves of different aromatic VOCs including benzene, toluene, and xylene were made by loading them at different quantities through the analytical line. A series of experiments were conducted repetitively to draw calibration data sets for all three materials covering glass fiber, cotton, and nylon. The results were then compared in terms of both material types and of VOC types. The extent of sorptive loss increased in a highly systematic manner across different materials such as glass fiber, cotton, and nylon. The patterns of sorptive loss also increased gradually across VOC type such toward in the direction of increasing molecular weights: benzene, toluene, and xylene. According to this experimental study, it is concluded that sorptive behavior of pollutint compounds like VOC can be controlled by the combined effects of both chemical properties and material characteristics.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.496-513
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• 2004

This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of sampling and analytical methodology used for the measurement of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the ambient air. VOCs were determined by the adsorbent tube sampling and automatic thermal desorption coupled with GC/MSD analysis. Target analytes were 33 compounds including major aromatic compounds such as BTEX, and halogenated compounds. The methodology was investigated with a wide range of different adsorbents which are commercially available and have been frequently adopted for the VOC measurement. A total of 10 adsorbents were tested in this study: 6 carbon-based adsorbents such as Carbotrap, Carbopack B, Carbosieve S-III, Carboxen 1000, Carbotrap C, Activated Charcoal; and 4 polymer-based adsorbents including Tenax, Porapak Q, Chromosorb 102, and Chromosorb 106. The sampling performance was evaluated with respect to the sampling capacity of VOCs with single-adsorbent and multiple-adsorbents methods for standard samples and field samples. As a result, the best adsorbents for single-adsorbent method in the sampling of toxic organic compounds (including benzene, toluene, xylenes etc.) appeared to be Carbotrap, Carbopack B and Tenax TA. On the other hand, Chromosorb 102, Chromosorb 106 and Porapak Q were found to be unsuitable adsorbents for VOC measurement based on thermal desorption method. Multi-adsorbent packings were evaluated with 4 carbon-based adsorbents, which classified by 3 combination sets of double adsorbents and 2 combination sets of triple adsorbents. The results indicated that the most suitable combination for toixc VOC measurements is Carbotrap C with Carbotrap. Multi-sorbents tubes packed with a strong adsorbent such as Carbosieve S-III or Carboxen 1000 were found to be relatively unsuitable for several compounds, not only owing to the effect of migration of adsorbed compounds from weaker adsorbent to stronger adsorbent, but to hydrophobic nature of the adsorbents. Therefore, it should be addressed that selection of a proper adsorbent (or combination of multi sorbents) is extremely important to obtain reliable data for the concentrations of toxic VOCs in indoor and outdoor environments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.27 no.1 s.53
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• pp.83-93
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• 2005

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of additives in low sidestream cigarette papers, such as Mg$(OH)__2,\;TiO_2\;and\;KH_{2}PO_4$ on the delivery of mainstream and sidestream smoke. From the analysis of tar and nicotine in sidestream and mainstream smoke, the delivered ratios of tar and nicotine by sidestream to mainstream smoke in common cigarette paper were 5.32 and 8.60, respectively. However, the delivered ratios of those of the paper containing $Mg(OH)_2\;were\;2.25\~3.23,\;4.86\~7.14,\;Mg(OH)_2\;and\;KH_{2}PO_4\;were\;2.12\~2.92,\;4.67\~6.89,\;TiO_2\;was\;3.21,\;7.51 $ respectively. The deliver patterns of semi-volatile components in the cigarettes were similar each there, but a slight different pattern in the amount was observed depending on the kinds of compounds added in cigarette papers. In the cigarettes made of $Mg(OH)_2$ added paper, the aromatic components such as benzene, toluene and phenol were generated more while the aliphatic components like neophytadiene, ethyl decanoate were delivered less than the cigarettes made of common cigarette papers. However, the cigarettes manufactured with $Mg(OH)_2\;and\;KH_2PO_4$ added paper showed an opposite trend. The cigarettes made of $TiO_2$ added paper showed relatively low delivery in the most compounds measured. In sensory evaluation, cigarette papers tested were noticed a distinguishable sensory character between the low sidestream smokes with additive cigarette papers except $TiO_2$ added one. Moreover, aroma patterns detected by a electronic nose system in TPM were a similar tendency.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3243-3254
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• 2013

It is well known that increased incidences of lung, skin, and bladder cancers are associated with occupational exposure to PAHs. Animal studies show that certain PAHs also can affect the hematopoietic and immune systems and can produce reproductive, neurologic, and developmental effects. As a consequence, several studies have been attempted to investigate the fate of PAHs in atmospheric environment during the past decades. However, there is still a lack of information in regard to the atmospheric concentration of PAHs during the "Bon Fire Night". In this study, twenty-three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and twenty-eight aliphatics were identified and quantified in the $PM_{10}$ and vapour range in Birmingham ($27^{th}$ November 2001-$19^{th}$ January 2004). The measured concentrations of total particulate and vapour (P+V) PAHs were consistently higher at the BROS in both winter and summer. Arithmetic mean total (P+V) PAH concentrations were $51.04{\pm}47.62$ ng $m^{-3}$ and $22.30{\pm}19.18$ ng $m^{-3}$ at the Bristol Road Observatory Site (BROS) and Elms Road Observatory Site (EROS) respectively. In addition arithmetic mean total (P+V) B[a]P concentrations at the BROS were $0.47{\pm}0.39$ ng $m^{-3}$ which exceeded the EPAQS air quality standard of 0.25 ng $m^{-3}$. On the other hand, the arithmetic mean total (P+V) aliphatics were $81.80{\pm}69.58$ ng $m^{-3}$ and $48.00{\pm}35.38$ ng $m^{-3}$ at the BROS and EROS in that order. The lowest average of CPI and $C_{max}$ measured at the BROS supports the idea of traffic emissions being a principle source of SVOCs in an urban atmosphere. The annual trend of PAHs was investigated by using an independent t-test and oneway independent ANOVA analysis. Generally, there is no evidence of a significant decline of heavier MW PAHs from the two data sets, with only Ac, Fl, Ph, An, 2-MePh, 1+9-MePh, Fluo and B[b+j+k]F showing a statistically significant decline (p<0.05). A further attempt for statistical analysis had been conducted by dividing the data set into three groups (i.e. 2000, 2001-2002 and 2003-2004). For lighter MW compounds a significant level of decline was observed by using one-way independent ANOVA analysis. Since the annual mean of $O_3$ measured in Birmingham City Centre from 2001 to 2004 increased significantly (p<0.05), it may be possible to attribute the annul reduction of more volatile PAHs to the enhanced level of annual average $O_3$. By contrast, the heavier MW PAHs measured at the BROS did not show any significant annual reduction, implying the difficulties of 5- and 6-ring PAHs to be subject to photochemical decomposition. The deviation of SVOCs profile measured at the EROS was visually confirmed during the "Bonfire Night" festival closest to the $6^{th}$ November 2003. In this study, the atmospheric PAH concentrations were generally elevated on this day with concentrations of Fl, Ac, B[a]A, B[b+j+k]F, Ind and B[g,h,i]P being particularly high.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.266-274
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• 2014

To extend the understanding of the pyrolysis mechanism of wood, we have investigated wood dust charcoal and condensate of volatile organic compounds (VOC) obtained during the pyrolysis of red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) at $180{\sim}450^{\circ}C$ using elemental analysis, IR and GC/Mass. The effect of activation process on the charcoal structure also has been studied by comparing elemental analysis and IR data of charcoal carbonated at $600^{\circ}C$ and charcoals activated at $750^{\circ}C$. The results show that pyrolysis of wood has mainly started near at $240^{\circ}C$ and its chemical components did not changed much up to $270^{\circ}C$. However, the element contents and IR spectra drastically changed at $300^{\circ}C$. The fact that IR peaks related to the aromatic ring of lignin are observed in the charcoal pyrolized at $450^{\circ}C$ indicates that a small part of lignin still remains at this temperature. The chemical structure of the activated charcoal seems almost unaffected by the activation time.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1-27
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• 2023

Objectives : To investigate the modern research achievements of agarwood and its association with the efficacy of herbal medicine based on the in vivo and in vitro activities of volatile compounds detected in agarwood. Methods : Databases such as PubMed and ScienceOn were searched for medicinal in vivo and in vitro activity studies on agarwood. They were categorized into "medicine and pharmacy" and "others not related to medicine and pharmacy," and the studies on medicine and pharmacy were organized according to active efficacy. The efficacy and virtue of agarwood as identified in the book (or herbal medicine/herbology) corresponded to modern medical terms and diseases in reference to the . Separately, the Gas Chromatography & Mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis results of agarwood from a total of 5 production areas of Aquilaria crassna from Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia as identified in previous studies were consulted to search for research papers on the medicinal activity of the 13 compounds of the aromatic sesquiterpene family detected in agarwood, and they were categorized according to topic. Results : There were 123 studies on the medicinal activity of agarwood. Overall, 46 studies on single extracts of agarwood reported activities such as improving mental health, including anti-anxiety and stability, and antiallergic, antioxidant, antibacterial, and digestive system protective effects. In total, 59 papers on the activities of single compounds isolated from agarwood reported anti-inflammatory and mental health benefits. Separately, 13 compounds detected in agarwood, such as α-agarofuran and β-caryophyllene, were reported by 110 studies to have anticancer, stabilizing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. There were also papers on the cultivation methods and resin formation conditions of agarwood trees unrelated to the efficacy of herbal medicine. Conclusion : Among the pharmacological papers, a total of 57 papers corresponded to the effects of agarwood in traditional herbal medicine, including 33 papers related to agarwood extracts and 24 papers analyzing 8 types of sesquiterpenes, such as β-caryophyllene and cedrol, from previous studies. Based on the research findings of each paper, it was possible to correlate the effects of agarwood in traditional herbal medicine with the achievements of modern pharmacological research. In addition, further research is anticipated in new areas related to traditional herbal medicine, including the improvement of mental health such as anti-depression, as well as activities related to anticancer, antioxidant, and hair growth.