The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential exposure of chemicals from the working environment of nail shops and determine health-related symptoms from the nail shop workers by self-reporting questionnaire. A total of 54 nail shop workers from 15 different locations were asked to conduct a survey concerning their working environment. VOCs (including toluene and nine other substances) and aldehyde(including formaldehyde and four other substances) detected. We studied on the relationship between the environmental concentration of chemical substances and the self-reported symptoms of nail shop workers. There was a significant relationship between the neck pain and substances such as 2- propanol, benzene, toluene, n-buthylacetate, ethylbenzene, and xylene (p<0.01). Furthermore, symptoms in the nose irritation, neck irritation and recurrent coughs had significant relationship with benzene (p<0.05), whereas, toluene showed significant relationship with neck irritation and symptoms such as coughs and fatigue (p<0.05).

This study was performed to investigate the concentration of indoor aldehydes in children’s facilities. The samples were collected from various children's facilities (40 playrooms, 42 day-care centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor playgrounds) in summer (Jul~Sep, 2007), winter (Jan~Feb, 2008) and spring (Mar~Apr, 2008). The ratio of Indoor and outdoor (I/O) of aldehydes exceeds 1.0 and the formaldehyde levels in each child-care facilities were significantly different. We evaluated the lifetime cancer and non-cancer risk of young children due to indoor aldehyde exposure. We estimated the lifetime excess cancer risks (ECRs) of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and the hazard quotients (HQs) of non-carcinogens (benzaldehyde and formaldehyde). Formaldehyde was evaluated for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk. The average ECRs of formaldehyde for young children were 1×10^-4~1×10^-5 level in all facilities. HQs of four non-carcinogens did not exceed 1.0 for all subjects in all facilities.

콘크리트의 박리(scaling)는 수분의 존재하에 동결융해 싸이클에 따른 콘크리트의 점진적인 표면열화이다. 특히, 이것은 제설제에 염화물의 존재가 콘크리트 표면박리(스켈링)와 더불어 심한 경우, 굵은골재의 노출 및 탈리로 이어질 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 콘크리트의 스켈링에 대한 저염화물계 제설제(low chloride deicier, LCD)와 염화칼슘 및 염화나트륨 제설제의 상대적인 영향을 ASTM C672에 준하여 실시하였다. 시험 제설제의 농도는 1, 4, 10% 이고, 수돗물은 기준으로 사용하였다. 박리량은 중량으로 평가하였다. 연구결과 4% 농도를 적용하였을 때, 동결융해 56 싸이클 후 콘크리트의 박리는 수돗물에 비해 LCD 용액에서 약 9배, 염화칼슘 용액에서 약 18배, 염화나트륨 용액에서 약 33배 정도 크게 발생하였다. 용액의 농도에 따라서는 고농도인 10%에 비해 4% 농도에서 표면 박리가 가장 현저하게 발생하였는데, 이는 스켈링 발생이 염농도가 3~4%일 때 가장 현저해진다는 기존의 연구결과와 일치함을 알 수 있었다(일본콘크리트공학회, 1999). 또한 콘크리트가 경화된 후, 현장에서 염화나트륨 및 저염화물계 제설제(LCD, 염소이온 중량비 50%)가 살포되고 동결융해 싸이클에 노출된 경우, 제설제에 노출되지 않은 경우의 콘크리트 동해열화에 대해, 콘크리트의 공기량에 따른 영향을 실험적으로 연구하였다. 연구 결과 동결융해 싸이클에 따른 콘크리트 시편은 제설제에 노출되지 않은 것 보다 염화물 제설제 노출에서 스켈링이 더 심한 것으로 나타났고, 염화물 제설제에 노출된 시편이 노출되지 않은 시편 보다 중량 손실이 2배나 되었다. 콘크리트 시편의 상대 동탄성계수는 염화물 제설제에 노출되지 않은 것과 비교하여 염화물 제설제에 노출된 것에서 더 빠르게 감소하였다. 또한 염화나트륨 제설제에 노출된 콘크리트 시편의 상대 동탄성계수는 저염화물계 제설제에 노출된 것 보다 더 빠르게 감소하였다. AE 콘크리트는 염화물과 동결융해 싸이클에 노출되었을 때, Non-AE 콘크리트 보다 성능저하가 크게 지연되었다.

This study examined the effects of red light generated from a light emitting diode (LED) upon proliferation and mitochondrial stress in human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs). Cells were exposed to LED-generated red light at a clinically relevant intensity and distance with a 610-630 nm wavelength for various times (0-48 min). At different exposure times, cells were processed for the analysis of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, proliferation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cytotoxicity. Cell cycle progression was also investigated by flow cytometry after staining with propidium iodide. Red light exposure was found to inhibit SDH activity and DNA synthesis in hGFs in a time-dependent manner. Light exposure also reduced the MMP levels in these cells and this was closely associated with a G0/G1 arrest. In contrast, exposure of hGFs to red light for 48 min led to a dramatic loss of MMP with an attendant increase in cytotoxicity. These findings demonstrate that LED-generated red light may cause mitochondrial stress and growth inhibition in hGFs during tooth whitening therapy, depending on the length of the exposure.

The biological effects of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs) including benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DBA), benzo[a]anthracene (BaA), benzo[b] fluoranthene (BbF), benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF), and indeno[1,2,3-c, d]pyrene (

We investigated the effects of cadmium exposure and various stress on the transcription of heat shock protein 70 and 82 (HSP70 and HSP82) from Pardosa astrigera wolf spider. To do this, P. astrigera HSP70 and HSP82 genes were cloned and its full-length sequence determined. Female spiders were long-term exposed to cadmium or to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) for 2, 4 and 6 weeks and short-term exposed to endosulfan by dietary uptake. Female spiders were also exposed to various temperatures. HSP82 did not show a clear tendency of transcription induction following exposure to cadmium. On the contrary, HSP70 transcription gradually increased during the exposure to 2, 20 and 40 mM of cadmium for 2, 4 and 6 weeks. Transcript level of HSP70 was not significantly changed by endosulfan and PCB exposure. In the short-term (3 hr) temperature exposure, an increased expression of HSP70 was observed under the heat shock to 30°C and then slightly decreased at 35°C. However, induction of HSP70 transcription was not observed during the long-term (7 days) temperature exposure. Taken together, HSP70 gene appears to be up-regulated by cadmium in a time-dependent manner but little affected by other potential contaminants. Analysis of HSP70 transcript levels in P. astrigera collected from various fields revealed that levels of cadmium concentration were well correlated with HSP70 transcript levels (r2 = 0.76). Taken together, it was suggested that transcript level of HSP70 could be useful as a biomarker for the long-term cadmium exposure of P. astrigera.

In this paper the lifetime risk assessment of exposure to airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in environmental atmosphere was carried out in one of the Korean industrial city, Gumi based on their measurements of VOCs at five representative outdoor monitoring sites. According to this study toluene, trichloroethylene, and dichloromethane are three main VOCs in Gumi. The carcinogenic risks 5the carcinogenic VOC are greater than the benchmark concentration (1.0E-6) in all five designated sites. Particularly, the Lifetime Cancer Risk in industrial complex 1 and 2 reached 9.64E-5 and 1.32E-4, respectively, both of which are far higher than the benchmark risks. The components of predominant risk in industrial areas are found as chloroform, benzene and trichloroethylene, while those of other sites are benzene and chloroform. It was estimated that the contributions of those componentsto cancer risk are not less than 90%. For non carcinogenic VOCs, the total hazard indices in 5 monitored sites are less than 1. The hazard index in industry complex No. 2 recorded the highest among 5 sites up to 0.663 due to the dominant contribution of 1, 2-dichloropropane by up to 50% (0.335). Based on this analysis, effective emission reduction for chloroform, benzene, trichloroethylene, and 1,2-dichloropropane will rapidly I the cancer risks and hazard indices in Gumi.

The aim of this study was to determine exposure assessment of pathogenic bacteria in edible ices by using the monitoring data from the previous study. According to the results of exposure assessment of edible ices contaminated with S. aureus, the contamination level of S. aureus in raw materials was higher than other foodborne pathogens, and the contamination level of S. aureus in mixed samples increased much before sterilization. The most significant reduction in contamination level was observed in mixed samples after sterilization, thus, the contamination levels in frozen final products was less than that of raw materials. Overall, the possibility for the infection of foodborne bacteria from the intake of edible ices per person per day was ranged from minimum 5.89 × 10-7 to maximum 5.01 × 10-5. For more realistic estimates, consumption of edible ices and dose-response model must be studied further.

This paper has attempted to find out the factors that have an influence on the consciousness of the release of hazardous materials into the air in a nail shop. For this, the concentrations of organic solvents in the air in 10 nail shop(31 employees) in 'S' District of Seoul have been measured. Furthermore, a questionnaire survey was conducted from January 18 to May 18, 2008. Most subjects were female with mean age of 25.61 years - 25 or younger: 19 (61.3%), older than 25 : 12 (38.7%). At the breathing height for employees in a nail shop, the concentrations of organic solvents were the highest (16.61ppm), followed by ethyl acetate 1.23ppm, butyl acetate 0.40ppm, toluene 0.27ppm, n-hexane 0.25ppm and isopropyl alcohol 0.21ppm. With regard to employees' consciousness symptoms (frequent fatigue' 100%, 'headache' 90.3%, 'nasal irritation' 77.4%, 'irritation in eyes' 71.0%, 'score throat' 64.5% and 'coughing' 51.6%), statistically significant difference has been observed (p<0.01). In particular, this paper has been aimed to suggest ground data for revision of the regulations that are related with the indoor air quality of nail shop and the guidelines for employees' health.

The purpose of this study was to test that motor skill training enhance motor function and cerebellar development. Using an animal model of fetal alcohol syndrome-which equates peak blood alcohol concentrations across developmental period-critifical periods for the effect of alcohol on body and cerebellar weigh was examined. The effect of motor skill training on motor function and cerebellar development of rat exposed alcohol on postnatal days 4 through 10 were studied. Newborn rats were assigned to one of two groups: (1) Control group (CG), via artificial rearing to milk formula and (2) experimental groups (EG), via 4.5g/kg/day of ethanol in a milk solution. After completion of the treatments, the pups were fostered back to lactating dams, and wearing they were raised in standard caged until they were postnatal 48 days. Rats from experimental group of postnatal treatment then spent 10 days in one of two groups: Experimental group II (EGII) was had got motor skill training (training traverse a set of 6 elevated obstacles) for 4 weeks. Experimental group I (EGI) was not trained. Before sacrificing, the rat got examined two behavioral test, body weigh and cerebellar weigh, then coronal sections were processed. The section was investigated the Purkije cell in the cerebellum using light microscope. The results of this study were as follows. 1. In body weight test, the outcome of alcohol groups were significantly lower than the normal group. 2. In cerebellar weight test, the outcome of EGI were significantly lower than CG and EGII. 3. In motor behavioral test, the outcome of EGI was significantly lower than NG and EGII. 4. In Purkinje cells counting test, the outcome of EGI was significantly lower than the NG and EGII. These result suggest that improved motor function induced by motor skill training after postnatal exposure is associated with dynamically altered expression of Purkinje cells and that is related with cerebellar function. Also, these data can potentially serve as a model for therapeutic intervention.

The numbers of deaths attributed by tobacco smoking have remarkably increased, reflecting the smoking patterns of previous decades. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke increases the prevalence of both upper and lower respiratory tract illnesses. Self-reports of direct and indirect smoking may not always be reliable in questionnaire method used epidemiology. A number of biochemical makers have been used to validate claims of indirect smoking among which the most widely used specific markers has been the nicotine metabolite cotinine. This study was conducted to evaluate the cotinine levels to determine smoking status. Biomoitoring to assess the validity of questionnaire method found that sensitivity and specificity coefficients of around 100% and 100% in direct smokers. On the other hand, sensitivity and specificity coefficients were 56.74% and 47.26%, respectively. This results suggest that indirect smoking status should be assessed by biomonitoring such as cotinine levels.

Exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) can produce adverse health effects. Various indoor and outdoor combustion sources make NO₂ the most ubiquitous pollutant in the indoor environment. Indoor air quality can be affected by indoor sources, ventilation, decay and outdoor levels. Although technologies exist to measure these factors, direct measurements are often difficult. In the present paper, we used a mass balance model and regression analysis, penetration factor (ventilation rate divided by the sum of ventilation rate and deposition constant) and source strength factor (source strength divided by the sum of ventilation rate and deposition constant) were calculated using multiple indoor and outdoor measurements with 10 houses. Subsequently, mean contributions of indoor and outdoor sources were 28.86% and 81.09%, respectively, suggesting that both indoor and outdoor sources had contributions to indoor concentrations of NO₂.

The indoor level of phthalates in children-facilities was assessed in this study. The samples of house dust were collected at various children's facilities (40 day-care houses, 42 child-care centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor playgrounds) in summer (Jul~Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan~Feb, 2008) periods, and analyzed by GC-MS. The DEHP was detected in almost every sample (detection rate : 99%) and the detection rate of DnBP and BBzP was more than 80%. The average concentrations of DEHP, DEP, DnBP, and BBzP in house dust were 388 ㎍/g dust, 37㎍/g dust, 108㎍/g dust and 349㎍/g dust, respectively. The relationship between construction period and DEHP level was statistically significant. But, other factors such as flooring material, construction period and water leakage were not statistically significant relationship with phthalates levels. The Phthalate levels were similar or more higher than other the European country.

The objective of this study was to evaluate Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields (ELF-MFs) exposure level of housewives and the relation of residential environments with ELF-MFs exposure level in home. ELF-MFs measurements were performed for 58 housewives include 31 working women. Twenty-four hours personal MF exposure levels of housewives were slightly higher than working women as an arithmetic mean. However the median of 24 hours personal exposure levels for working women were significantly higher than housewives (p<0.05). The median of personal exposure levels due to the activity at home, working women were higher than housewives significantly (p<0.05). As a results of correlation of residential environments, such as their living environments, total income, type of water supply pipes, and distance from power line with ELF-MFs exposure level in home was different from the type of residence (p<0.05). This study could be informed as guidance for ELF-MFs exposure analysis in residential environment.

In this study, alterations in whole proteome expression patterns in the head of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) was investigated following acute or chronic exposure to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) (25 μg L-1) for 48 hrs and 15 days, respectively. The

According to the measurements at Seoul Metro subway, the sound level at the time of subway arrival ranged from 77.0 to 92.5 dB(A). The highest level was 92.5 dB(A) at Line-1, and the lowest level was 77.0 dB(A) at Line-5. The sound level of departure ranged from the lowest level of 82.9 dB(A) at Line-5 and the highest level of 95 dB(A) at Line-1. The indoor sound level at subway ranged from the lowest level of 87.2 dB(A) (Line-6) to the highest value of 92.1 dB(A) (Line-1). The results of this study also showed that the sound level at subway platform with Platform Screen Door(PSD) showed 81.8 dB(A) but 89.1 dB(A) without PSD. The sound reduction effect of PSD showed 7.3 dB(A) at platform. Consequently, the sound level in Korean subway was found to exceed the standard set for the American Public Transportation Association (85dB(A)).

In this study, we attempted to estimate the association between asthma oriented by indoor air sources and personal exposure by comparing the case (asthma-patient) and control (non-asthma-patient) groups. We selected 27 participants who showed positive response on lung function and methacholin provocation test. We performed environmental survey with 15 and 10 cases during May and June 2007, respectively. There was no significant difference between the case and control groups in the level of formaldehyde and TBC (Total Bacterial Count). In the dust allergen test, the case concentration was higher than the control's, without signifiant difference. In the personal exposure assessment of VOCs using OVM (Organic Vapor Monitor) badge, the case concentrations of Benzene, Toluene, and Ethylbenzene were higher than the control's, but there was no significant difference. The personal exposure of Xylene case study was significantly higher than the control's