Evaluated were household THMs exposure associated with the use of municipal tap water treated with chlorine and with ozone-chlorine. The current study measured the THMs concentrations in the tap water and indoor and outdoor air in the two types of household, along with an estimation of THMs exposure from water ingestion, showering, and the inhalation of indoor air. Chloroform was the most abundant THMs in all three media, yet no bromoform was detected in any sample. Contrary to previous findings, the fall water THMs concentrations exhibited no significant difference between the chlorine and ozone-chlorine treated water. However, the spring median chloroform concentration in the tap water treated with chlorine (17.6 ppb) was 1.3 times higher than that in the tap water treated with ozone-chlorine (13.4 ppb). It is suggested that the effects of the water parameters should be considered when evaluating the advantage of ozone-chlorine disinfection for THMs formation over chlorine disinfection. The indoor air THMs concentration trend was also consistent with the water concentration trend, yet the outdoor air THMs concentrations did not differ significantly between the two types of household. The indoor to outdoor air concentration ratios were comparable with previous studies. The THMs exposure estimates from water ingestion, showering, and the inhalation of indoor air suggested that, for the residents living in the surveyed households, their exposure to THMs in the home was mostly associated with their household water use, rather than the indoor air. The THMs exposure estimates from tap water ingestion were similar to those from showering.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of vitrification solution(VS) on in vitro developmental competence of immature porcine oocytes. The immature porcine oocytes were exposed to the following vitrification solution, at RT. 1) EFS sol. : 20% ethylene glycol (EG) 3 min, 40% EG + 18%(w/v) Ficoll(MV70, 000) + 0.3 M sucrose 30 sec, 2) GE sol. : 10% glycerol 5 min, 10% G + 20% EG 5 min, 25% G +25% EG 30 sec, 3) EG sol : 1.5M EG 2.5 min, 5.5 M EG + 1.0 M sucrose 30 sec. Oocytes were immediately transferred into 1.0 M, 0.5 M, 0.25 M, 0125 M, 0 M sucrose solution for 2.5 min each at RT. After removal of VS, immature oocytes were matured in vitro and subsequently all oocytes were subjected to IVF followed in vitro culture for 7 days. Maturation rates of oocytes were 38.8%, 44.5%, 22.4% and 57.6%, in EFS, EG, GE and Control, respectively, maturation rates of oocytes in EG and Control was significantly higher than EFS and GE(P<0.01). Fertilization rates of oocytes in Control was significantly higher than other treated groups(P<0.05), but no difference were observed among treated groups. Polyspermic rates were no significant difference among four groups. Cleavage rates of oocytes were 21.9%, 47.1%, 19.0% and 65.9%, in EFS, EG, GE and Control, respectively, cleavage rates of oocytes in EG and Control was significantly higher than EFS and GE(P<0.05), but blastocyst formation rates were no significant difference among four groups. These results suggested that the use of EG solution could be a great challenge for reaching a successful vitrification of immature porcine oocytes.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in essentially all natural and synthetic materials from petrol to flowers. In this study, indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations of houses, offices and internet-cafes were measured and compared simultaneously with personal exposures of each 50 participants in Asan and Seoul, respectively. Also, factors that influence personal VOCs exposure were statistically analyzed using questionnaires in relation to house characteristics, time activities, and health effects. All VOCs concentrations were measured by OVM passive samplers (3M) and analyzed with GC/MS. Target pollutants among VOCs were Toluene, o-Xylene, m/p-Xylene, Ethylbenzene, MIBK, n-Octane, Styrene, Trichloroethylene, and 1,2-Dichlorobenzene. Indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations measured in Seoul were significantly higher than those in Asan except Ethylbenzene. Residential indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios for all target compounds ranged from 0.94 to 1.51 and I/O ratios of Asan were a little higher than those of Seoul. Relationship between personal VOCs exposure, and indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations suggested that time-activity pattern could affect the high exposure to air pollutant. Factors that influence indoor VOCs level and personal exposure with regard to house characteristics in houses were building age, inside smoking and house type. In addition insecticide and cosmetics interestingly affected the VOCs personal exposure. Higher exposure to VOCs might be caused to be exciting increase and memory reduction, considering the relationship between measured VOCs concentrations and questionnaire (p<0.05).

Indoor and outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations were measured and compared with measurements of personal exposures of 95 persons in Seoul, Korea and 57 persons in Brisbane, Australia, respectively. Time activity diary was used to determine the impact on NO2 exposure assessment and microenvironmental model to estimate the personal NO2 exposure. Most people both Seoul and Brisbane spent their times more than 90% of indoor and more than 50% in home, respectively. Personal NO2 exposures were significantly associated with indoor NO2 levels with Pearson coefficient of 0.70 (p<0.01) and outdoor NO2 levels with Pearson coefficient of 0.66 (p<0.01) in Seoul and of 0.51 (p<0.01) and of 0.33 (p<0.05) in Brisbane, respectively. Using microenvironmental model by time weighted average model, personal NO2 exposures were estimated with NO2 measurements in indoor home, indoor office and outdoor home. Estimated NO2 measurements were significantly correlated with measured personal exposures (r = 0.69, p<0.001) in Seoul and in Brisbane (r = 0.66, p<0.001), respectively. Difference between measured and estimated NO2 exposures by multiple regression analysis was explained that NO2 levels in near workplace and other outdoors in Seoul (p = 0.023), and in transportation in Brisbane (p = 0.019) affected the personal NO2 exposures.

The personal exposures of nitrogen dioxide(NO2), microenvironmental levels and daily time activity patterns on Seoul subway station workers were measured from February 10 to March 12, 1999. Personal NO2 exposure for 24 hours were 29.40±9.75 ppb. NO2 level of occupational environment were 27.87±7.15 ppb in office, 33.60±8.64 ppb in platform and 50.13±13.04 ppb in outdoor. Personal exposure time of subway station workers was constituted as survey results with 7.94±3.00 hours in office, 2.82±1.63 hours in platform and 1 hours in outdoor. With above results, personal NO2 exposure distributions on subway station workers in Seoul were estimated with Monte Carlo simulation which uses statistical probabilistic theory on various exposure scenario testing. Some of distributions which did not have any formal patterns were assumed as custom distribution type. Estimated personal occupational NO2 exposure using time weighted average (TWA) model was 31.29±5.57 ppb, which were under Annual Ambient Standard (50 ppb) of Korea. Though arithmetic means of measured personal NO2 exposure was lower than that of occupational NO2 exposure estimated by TWA model, considering probability distribution type simulated, probability distribution of measured personal NO2 exposures for 24 hours was over ambient standard with 3.23%, which was higher than those of occupational exposure (0.02%). Further research is needed for reducing these 24 hour NO2 personal excess exposures besides occupational exposure on subway station workers in Seoul.

Ozone (O3 )-induced changes in chlorophyll content and specific activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and glutathione reductase (GR) were investigated in two rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.) grown under variable nutrient treatments. For this study, two rice cultivars of Ilpumbyeo (IL) and Keumobyeo#l (KM), which were known as resistant and susceptible to O3 , respectively, were exposed to O3 at 0.15ppm for 30 days and investigated with 10 days interval. The available nutrient regimes were varied by doubling the supply of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) Within a basic fertilizer status (N, P, K; 15, 12, 12kg/l0a-1 ). In both cultivars and at all nutrient status, chlorophyll content in O3 -treated plants decreased with prolonged treatment period, although higher N, P and K supply with O3 treatment alleviated the decrease in chlorophyll content. The activities of almost all enzymes investigated for this study were decreased during initial stages of O3 - exposure except GPX which maintained higher activity throughout the exposure period than the non-treated plant. However, the antioxidant enzymes in O3 -treated plants showed almost the same or higher activities on 30 days after O3 - exposure. The most significant changes in activities were observed in GR of the O3 -treated leaves. With the prolonged treatment period, the activity of GR at 30 days was increased by 3-8 times compared to those in 10 days. Most of the investigated enzymes showed very similar tendency to O3 treatment in all fertilizer status. There was no observed evidence for enhanced detoxification of O3 -derived activated oxygen species in plants grown under higher fertilizer status compared with that in plants grown under basic fertilizer status. The increase in the activities of SOD, APX and GR in rice leaves by relatively long-term treatment with O3 at low concentration is considered to indicate that the plant became adapted to the O3 stress and the protection system increased its capacity to scavenge toxic oxygen species. Our results in two rice cultivars indicated that there was little difference in the activities of antioxidant enzymes between IL and KM, which were known as resistant and susceptible cultivar to O3

This study examined blends of styrene butadiene rubber(SBR) and chloroprene rubber(CR) prepared from an open 2-roll mill following the conventional polymer blend method for a wide range of the blend composition. Rubber vulcanizates were manufactured by hot press and then mechanical properties, heat and ozone resistance of the specimens were examined. Due to the post cure during the aging test, hardness of vulcanizates was increased. It was found that the undesirable characteristics of heat and ozone resistance of pure SBR was significantly improved through the blending of SBR with CR.

소 배반포로부터 배아주 (embryonic stem, ES) 유사세포를 분리하기 위해서는 영양외배엽 (trophectoderm, TE) 세포를 제거하는 것이 효과적이다. 따라서 본 실험은 효과적으로 TE를 제거하기 위한 calcium ionophore A23187 (CIPA) 처리조건을 확립하고, 분리해낸 ES 유사세포의 in vitro 다능성 (pluripotency)을 검증하고자 수행하였다. CIPA 농도 및 처리시간을 달리 하였을 때 50 M에서

This study was designed to evaluate the exposure to benzene by residents in neighborhoods near a major roadways, by persons waiting buses, and by drivers and service station attendants while refueling. It was confirmed that the outdoor air benzene concentrations near the major roadways were higher than those further away from the sources. However, neither the indoor air nor breath concentrations were different for two specified residential areas. Smoking was confirmed as an important factor for the indoor air benzene levels. Persons waiting buses, drivers and service station attendants were exposed to elevated benzene levels compared to even the residents in neighborhoods near a major roadways. The mean benzene concentration at bus stop was 2.7 to 6.9 times higher than the mean ambient air concentration. The mean benzene concentrations in the breathing zone of drivers and service station attendants were 95 to 160 and 120 to 202 times higher than the mean ambient air concentrations, respectively.

PM10 concentrations were measured in underground stores located in 4 major cities, Chunchon, Wonju, Donghae and Sockcho, in Kangwon-Do using scattering light integrated type digital dust indicator. Personal exposure to PM10 for two women(housekeeper and graduate student) and a man(undergraduate student) were measured also. The dimensional conversion factors for mass concentrations(K) showed some difference among underground stores which were 2.0, 2.7, 3.4, 2.6 ㎍/㎥·CPM in chunchon, Wonju, Donghae and Sockcho, respectively. Average PM_10 concentrations at underground stores were 178 ㎍/㎥ in Chunchon, 141 ㎍/㎥ in Wonju, 125 ㎍/㎥ in Donghe and 59 ㎍/㎥ in Sockcho. The portion of PM10 in total suspended particles was about 50∼60 % as weight. The exposure of graduate student, housekeeper and undergraduate to PM10 during 12 hours were 1004.3 (㎍/㎥)·hr, 907.0 (㎍/㎥)·hr and 691.2 (㎍/㎥)·hr, respectively. Personal exposure to PM10 showed very different according to their activity pattern and they had more than 90 % of their PM10 exposure at indoor environment.

During the spring and fall of 1994 and winter of 1995, the exposure time of periphyton biomass on the artificial substrata at 10 headwater streams in the southeastern Korea was evaluated in 7-14 day interval. In the streams with low periphyton biomass (chl a: 2-4 ㎎/㎡) in natural rocks, biomass of artificial substrata (unglazed the: 3.7 × 9.5 × 2 ㎝) exceeded that of the natural rocks after 28 days, while sites with high biomass (chl. a: 20-60 ㎎/㎡) in natural rocks showed slower biomass accumulation after 40 days. Due to the high light input and temperature in a partially shaded mountain stream, development of periphyton biomass in spring occurred faster than that of winter. In general, development of periphyton biomass placed on artificial substrata took 4-5 weeks in spring and at least 6 weeks in winter to reach the natural level.

The concentrations of SO_2 and SO_3 were measured to estimate a new developed long time exposure SO_2 sampler at Onsan industrial area considering the meteorological factors from June to October, 1992. The mean concentration of SO_3 by PbO_2 method was 0.924 ㎎ S0_3/100㎠ PbO_2/day and their high values were shown in the center of the industrial area, which show potential pollution due to the increase of industrial activities and micrometeorological factors in and around the sites. As a result of statistical correlation between SO_2 concentration by new sampling method and SO_3 concentration by PbO_2 method in July and August, 1992, correlation coefficients were high (r=0.87, 0.91) and shown more than 0.83 value in the high concentration data set, which was arbitrarily divided into 7-10㎕ SO_2 concentration in an attempt to further investigate these relationships. Therefore, use of new developed long time exposure SO_2 sampler is good for SO_2 measurement and valuable for estimation of air quality in the urban and industrial area.

To perform a long-term ambient sampling study at a residential site, an air sampler was constructed to collect 24-hour integrated air samples suitable for the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis. It includes an esthetically acceptance due to proximity to homes, as well as providing the required sampling specifications. The VOCs sampler accomodates four 5/8 stainless steel(SS) traps packed with adsorbent(Tenax) and is capable of four flow rates in the range of 5 to 50 cc/min. Sintered metal filters(10 micrometer) were directly connected to the inlet of the trap adapters. Additional specifications include: 1) constructed of organically inert materials. 2) weatherproof, 3) battery operated, 4) collecting of VOCs at a breathing zone level, , and 5) quiet operation with micro diaphragm pumps wrapped by the sponge. The pump/battery system was separated from the sampling shelter. Sound levels measured for this system were below permissible sound levels (NJDEP) at a residential site. The sampler has been successfully operated at both ground level in a residential area and on the roof of a one story elementary school.