Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) detected frequently in the indoor air of child-care centers causes neurological disorders, lung, eyes, and bronchial irritation, and acute and chronic toxicity. In this study, the distributions of carcinogenic VOCs detected in child-care centers were characterized and a health risk assessment of the VOCs was performed, which can provide the necessary information for drawing up safety plans with respect to the concerned materials. The sampling of sites in day-care centers was undertaken two times: in the morning (10:00~12:00), and afternoon(16:00~20:00)-at 23 daycare centers located in Seoul, Korea from April, 2012 to July, 2012. The overall average concentrations of individual VOCs were benzene(1.61 μg/m3) > carbon tetrachloride (0.78 μg/m3) > chloroform(0.67 μg/m3) in order. Indoor/outdoor(I/O) ratios of benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform were 1.33, 1.09, 1.72, respectively. Benzene and carbon tetrachloride are thought to be more strongly associated with outdoor sources as compared to chloroform. Spearman correlation of benzene, carbon tetrachloride between indoor and outdoor concentration showed statistically significant levels(p < 0.05). The linear correlations for benzene, styrene, and carbon tetrachloride were tested. A significant correlation was observed only for carbon tetrachloride, accounting for 83 % of the variance. The risk assessment of the carcinogenic VOCs for teachers, infants, and children showed that none of the targeted VOCs posed a serious risk.

CMVP1 (cucumber mosaic virus pathotype 1) has been frequently occurring virus causing damage in pepper farms, and it is hard to control the outbreak due to lack of the genetic source resistant to this specific pathotype. Therefore, we have developed transgenic peppers tolerant of CMVP1 using a CP gene of CMVP0 pathogen. In order to fulfill the requirement of the biosafety assessment criteria, we have studied the horizontal gene flow from GM pepper to non-GM pepper by monitoring the transgene movement. If the pepper farms are located closely each other and the pollen moves from GM pepper to non-GM pepper, it would cause unintended fertilization. Therefore, a buffer zone to separate the cultivation regions is required to avoid the contamination of transgene. Previously, several data regarding the movement distance of pepper pollen were reported by judging the phenotypic change. However, no tool as a trace marker was available. The objective of this study was to assess the frequencies of gene flow from GM peppers to non-GM peppers in neighboring farms using the transgene of CP as a trace marker. The GM and non-GM peppers were cultivated in the isolated farm of Nongwoo Bio Co. (NW GM pepper field) and pepper fruits were collected from the NW GM pepper field as well as the neighboring pepper farms. The pepper seeds collected from the farms were planted and the massive PCR analysis was performed to answer the question how far the pollen of GM pepper migrates. The conclusive data based on the consecutive experiments for 6 years is that the gene flow by pollen movement did not occur in peppers that were separated each other over 30 m.

In Korea, CMV (cucumber mosaic virus) is the most frequently occurring virus with a single infection rate of 45%. However, a total occurrence of CMV by co-infection, either couple or multiple, with BBWV (broad bean wilt virus), PepMoV (pepper mottle virus) and PMMoV (pepper mild mottle virus) covers over 90% in the field cultivation of pepper. The PepMoV is transmitted by several aphid species, and it has been considered the most frequently detected potyvirus when it co-infects with CMV or PMMoV. Since F1 hybrid that resistant to PepMoV has not been developed, we have developed transgenic peppers using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with a Hc-Pro gene of the PepMoV. A large number of T1 peppers were tested for resistance to the PepMoV, and T1 peppers tolerant of PepMoV were selected. After consequent self-crossing up to T4 generation, highly tolerant peppers to PepMoV were selected. So far, BC3F1 lines have been selected by back-crossing with 4 elite lines through a breeding program. The horticultural differences of the GM line comparing to inbred lines were investigated and no statistical significance between GM and non-GM lines was found. Based on molecular analysis, One of GM lines, 10-2, contained the transgene in the non-coding region indicating that this line would be a GM event.

Bt gene derived from the B. thuringiensis has been used for developing GM crops and those crops are already on the market. The aim of this study is to construct a genetic transformation with peppers using CryIAc1 gene and consequently to develop GM peppers resistant to the oriental tobacco budworm. We have developed transgenic peppers using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and obtained 5 T0 peppers. T0 peppers were self-crossed and T1 pepper fruits were exposed to larvae to test the survival rate. The survival rate of larvae that were fed with GM fruits decreased dramatically while with non-GM fruits the rate was not changed much. In order to establish the selection and the culturing of bug through a year, an incubating system for tobacco budworm in chamber was manufactured and a selection system under the media that are mixed with GM green pepper was obtained. Using those system, T3 peppers tolerant to tobacco budworm were selected.