An Assessment of Air Pollution using Pollutant Standards Index (PSI): 1983~1984 in Seoul / 예방의학회지

In order to assess the general health effect due to air pollution and to determine the critical pollutant which is meant by the worst effect to health among various pollutants in Seoul, air quality measurements at 10 sites during 1983~1984 were analyzed using Pollutant Standards Index (PSI): This index has been ultimately proposed to describe the comprehensive degree of the air pollution by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) since 1976. Total average of PSI in Seoul during the two years was 139 that is described in "unhealthful". The highest PSI appeared in Winter 183 through the 2 years, the lowest in Summer 99, and Spring 129 and Fall 150 respectively. PSI in Deungchon dong and Seongsu dong which are industrial areas were very high in terms of "very unhealthful", while Shinlim dong was shown in low in terms of "good". TSP was a priority pollutant in Seoul as the most frequently occurring critical pollutant. Its frequency was 76.4% in Spring, 86.0% in Summer, 78.0% in Fall and 44.2% in Winter during the 2 years. In Winter, TSP X SO2 was an important term as the critical pollutant in Seoul. Oxidant was the most frequently occurring critical pollutant in Kwangwhamoon through the whole seasons. It was recommended that the PSI could be used to assess the air pollution administratively and legally in context with public health.

Particle Size Distribution of Suspended Particulates in the Atmosphere of a Seoul Residential Area / 예방의학회지

The particle size of suspended particulates was measured by a Andersen air sampler from Mar. 1982 to Feb. 1984 in a part of Seoul. It was concluded as follows: 1) The arithmetic concentration of suspended particulates was 147.8 microgram/m3 in Spring, 136.9 in Summer, 131.9 in Autumn and 158.1 in Winter respectively. 2) The cumulative distribution of suspended particulates size in logarithmic diagram showed similar to normal log distribution. 3) The atmospheric particulate matters showed a bimodal size distribution on the base of unit particle concentrations, which divided at approximately 2 micrometer in the diameter. 4) While the fine particulates less than 2.1 micrometer was 35.4-45.0%, the coarse particulates was 55.0-64.5%. 5) The higher the concentration of suspended particulates, the more increased the ratio of fine particulates. The higher the concentration of suspended particulates, the lower median size of suspended particulate as well. 6) The respirable dust particulates less than 4.7 micrometer was 52.2-62.9% in seasonal average through the 2 year samples. With the above result, air pollution concerned with public health could be evaluated and the control measures also are suggested.

A Study on the Emission and Dispersion of Particulate Mather from a Cement Plant / 예방의학회지

To investigate the an air pollution by particulate matter and its dispersion, a cement plant producing portland cement 600,000ton/year and its vicinity were surveyed from October, 1980 to April, 1983. The survey was mainly focused on main stack emission rate of the cement plant and particle size distribution in the dust, dustfall and total suspended particulate concentration in the area by month and distance from the stack. The results of the study were as follows; 1. The main stack emission rate was surveyed before and after the spray tower was additionally installed to the original E.P. and bag filter. Before the spray tower installed, the main stack emission rate was higher(0.64g/Nm3) than the emission standard of Korean Environmental Preservation Law's(0.5g/Nm3, amended to 0.4g/Nm3 on April 1983), but after the spray tower was installed, its main stack emission rate was markedly decreased to the standard (0.43g/Nm3). 2. 2~3 micrometer of the particle size was the largest portion(20.8%) of the dust particulate from the main stack and 50% of the frequency distribution was 1.5 micrometer of the size. Most particle size was below 10 micrometer. 3. The spray tower reduced the dustfall to 37.81~9.76ton/km2/month while dustfall appeared at 45.29-15.45ton/km2/month, in the vicinity of plant before spray tower installed. 4. Mean concentrations of total suspended particulate for 24 hours of the various stations were determined in 20.6-200.0 microgram/m3, 3 stations of them were higher than the value of Harry and William's arithmetic average standard 130 microgram/m3. 5. Linear regression between dustfall[X] and total suspended particulate[X] concentration was an equation, Y=4.024X+11.479.[r=0.91]. 6. During the whole seasons in the opposite area 100m apart from the emission source the prevailing wind direction was with estimated more than 30ton/km2/month, and the concentration of total suspended particulate for 24 hours averaging time was more than 140 microgram/m3 in the same area and direction. 7. Assuming the wind direction were constant through the day dustfalls for a day were estimated at 13.40ton/km2/day, 10.79ton/km2/day and 4.55ton/km2/day at various distances of 100m, 500m and 1,500m from the emission source respectively. 8. In the simutalion of dustfall and suspended dust by area, Gaussian dispersion model modified by size distribution of particulate matter was not applicated since the emission of dust were from multi sources other them stack. From the above results, it could be applied that the dispersion of dust from the cement plant is estimated and regulated for the purpose of environmental protection.

Clinical Observation of Dds Induced Methemoglobinemia

No abstract available.

A Study on Antibody Producing by Intoxication of Cadmium Chloride or Lead Acetate in Rat / 예방의학회지

Among the environmental pollutants, cadmium and lead compounds may impair human health. These compounds may inhibit the biological metabolic function of bum.an body and may furthermore cause the disease directly or indirectly. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the immune response by intoxication of cadmium chloride and chloride acetate. Cadmium chloride (8.8 mg/kg, in saline 10 ml) and lead acetate (15 mg/kg, in saline 10 ml) were administered by lntraperitoneal injection. After 3 weeks, the rats were intoxicated with the above chemicals and immunized with sheep RBC. After 4 weeks, the immune response of rat spleen cells was measured by the Jerne's technique. The results were obtained as follows; 1. There was no change in leukocyte counts by the intoxication of cadmium chloride or lead acetate. 2. Cadmium chloride or lead acetate reduced hemoglobin contents for most intoxicated and immunized groups. 3. Hematocrits were decreased by the intoxication of cadmium chloride or lead acetate significantly. 4. It was determined that total protein, A/G (Albumin/Globulin), alpha-, beta- and gamma-globulins in rat serum were not changed. 5. Intoxication by cadmium chloride or lead acetate reduced the number of hemolytic plaque to the sheep RBC in rat spleen cells. Therefore, antibody producing of rat spleen cells was suppressed by the intoxication of cadmium chloride and lead acetate.

Heavy Metals of the Suspended Particulate in Atmosphere of Seoul City / 예방의학회지

In order to investigate air pollution by heavy metals in Seoul city, the suspended particulates in the atmosphere were sampled with high volume air sampler in industrial area(Ku Ro Dong), commercial(Kwang Hwa Moon) and residential(Shin Chon Dong) from January to November, 1977. The sampled suspended particulates were digested and extracted from suspended particulates with the acidic solution by reflux-extraction technique, and were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. And Mercury was measured by mercury analyzer applying the reducing sublimation technique. Among heavy metals analyzed, the iron was identified at th highest level in the suspended particulates and the chromium was the least. Through the surveyed area, the concentration of heavy metals of the industrial area was comparatively high among others and the commercial was the second. It was detected that lead was the most concentrated in the suspended particulate of the commercial area, that might be caused of the traffic emissions. The seasonal variations were analyzed and the correlations among heavy metals and total suspended particulate were also calculated. Especially, the iron was highly correlated with total suspended particulate in all the surveyed areas.

Studies on Benzo(a)pyrene of the Suspended Particulate in Atmosphere of Seoul City / 예방의학회지

This study was carried out to investigate air pollution by total suspended particulate(T.S.P.), benzene soluble matter and benzo(a)pyrene in Seoul city. The sampling areas were divided into commercial(Kwang Hwa Moon), industrial(Ku Ro Dong) and residential area(Shin Chon). Sampling was undertaken by High Volume Air Sampler for four seasons from January 1977 to November 1977. The T.S.P. was extracted with Soxhlet apparatus by benzene and benzo(a)pyrene was separated by column chromatography and thin layer chromatography. The concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene were measured by means of fluorophotometer, and following results were obtained. 1. Arithmetic average concentration for 1-day averaging time of total suspended particulate were 275.6 microgram/m3 in Kwang Hwa moon, 325.9 microgram/m3 in Ku Ro Dong and 193.0 microgram/m3 in Shin Chon. 2. The seasonal variance of total suspended particulate at Ku Ro Dong and Shin Chon were 102.7 microgram/m3 99.6 microgram/m3 respectively and at Kwang Hwa Moon 39.9 microgram/m3. And the concentration of autumn is higher than of that spring at Ku Ro Dong and at Shin Chon, but at Kwang Hwa Moon, the seasonal variance is very little. 3. The concentrations of 50% frequency from geometric mean for 1-day averaging time were 264 microgram/m3 and 178 microgram/m3 at Kwang Hwa Moon, Ku Ro Dong and Shin Chon. And geometric standard deviation were 1.27, 1.38 and 1.41 respectively. 4. The concentrations of benzene soluble mater were 26.9 microgram/m3 Kwang Hwa Moon, 22.7 microgram/m3 at Ku Ro Dong and 15.5 microgram/m3 at Shin Chon, and the ratios to the T.S.P. were 9.8%(range 5.6-14.8%), 7.0%(range 2.4-14.4%) and 8.0%(range 5.5-22.1%) respectively. 5. The concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene were 8.5 microgram/m3 (range 0.8-29.9 microgram/m3 ) at Kwang Hwa Moon 10.9 microgram/m3 (range 1.1-52.0 microgram/m3 ) at Ku Ro Dong and 5.8 microgram/m3 (range 1.5-11.4 microgram/m3) at Shin Chon. 6. The results of this investigation were relatively high in compared with the recommended standards of suspended particulate in air of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and observed levels of Benzo(a)-pyrene in U.S. city.

Effect of Various Fungi on the Aflatoxin Productivity in the Culture of Asp. Flavus / 예방의학회지

This study was attempted to know that the interactions of various fungi, and methionine and MgSO4 introduced as the substrate of culture media for fungi were affected to produce aflatoxins by Asp. flavus. 5 different fungi were isolated from the fermented soybean mash and were cultured in Chemically Defined medium (C.D. media) and soybean mash at 25 degrees for 10 days. (1) It was confirmed that Asp. flavus produced aflatoxins in the C.D. medium and soybean mash, but that Asp. niger, Asp. oryzae, Asp. awamori and Asp. terreus did not produced them respectively. (2) Asp. flavus cultured with Asp. niger did not produce aflatoxins in C.D. medium, but produced in soybean mash, in other hand, Asp. flavus with other fungi except Asp. niger produced aflatoxins in C.D. medium and soybean mash. (3) The growth of fungi were more prosperous in the separate culture than in the mixed culture. (4) In the C.D. medium added 20% of cultured medium of Asp. niger, Asp. flavus did not produce aflatoxins but other cultured medium did not prohibit the production of aflatoxins by Asp. flavus. (5) On the contrary, MgSO4 increasing the productivity of aflatoxins by Asp. flavus in the C.D. medium methionine known as one of precurser of aflatoxins did not affected the increasing productivity with significance.

Persistent Chemicals in Birds and Herbs in Korea

Measurements were made of the residual level of chlorinated hydrocarbon compound and mercury compound in the tissues of wild birds and herbs in Korea from November 1974 to August 1975. Aldrin was detected in all of the wild birds analyzed. The residue levels of aldrin varied from 0.353ppm to 16.115ppm. Among the tissues analyzed, the feathers contained the highest concentration of aldrin, but chloridane could not be detected in wild birds. The pesticides detected in wild birds were (alpha+beta)-BHC gamma-BHC, delta-BHC, heptachlor, aldrin, TDE and DDT. Dieldrin was detected only in the stomach of eastern dunlin caught at the Nakdong River basin. Residue levels of mercury were measured in all wild birds analyzed. Among tissues analyzed for mercury compound concentration, here also the feathers showed the highest level. The feathers of the eastern dunlin showed a high content of mercury compound which was 76.665 ppm at the highest level. Herbs used as material for oriental remedies were contaminated by chlorinated hydrocarbons which were (alpha+beta)-BHC, gamma-BHC, dieldrin, DDT, heptachlor, TDE, aldrin and epoxide. The insect materials from Cicadae testa, Bombycis corpus, and Scolopendia were much more contaminated by pesticides than plant materials. Herbs cultivated in arable areas were also found to be more contaminated by pesticides than wild ones. Herbs, on the whole, contained lower levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons than wild birds. The incidence of pesticide residues in natural products and in wild birds, however, should be considered as a global environmental pollution problem. The present investigation could contribute as a baseline study for the monitoring of pesticide pollution, its application and dispersal, and the hazard limit for food and human health.

Hearing Impairment due to Noise in the Kyung-In Industrial Area in Korea

No abstract available.

A Study on the Isozymic Alterations of Lactic Dehydrogenase in the Tissues ofRats Following Sulfur Dioxide Exposure

Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) isozyme pattens were examined in rats after exposing the animal to 250 ppm of sulfur dioxide gas. The isozymes of the respective tissues were separated on cellulose-acetate strips from the brain, lung, heart, liver, kidneys, and muscle, and visualized as the isozyme bands by the formazan reaction and analyzed by densitometry. As well as the above experiment, room-air and room-air+SO2 were aerated through tissue homoenates in-vitro, accompanied by pure oxygen aeration in order to see the in vitro effect of the gases on the LDH activity in the tissues mentioned with the following conclusions. (1) The H-type of LDH activity dominated in the normal heart tissue of rats, M-type in the normal lung, liver, and muscle tissues of the animal. (2) The kidney tissue of normal rats exhibited preponderance of LDH-1 and-5 isozymes, brain tissue in LDH-1 and-4 isozymes. (3) When rats inhaled sulfur dioxide gas in the concentration of 250 ppm, it appeared that the M-type tended to predominate in the anaerobic tissues and the H-type in the aerobic tissue. (4) The degree of oxygen tension seemed to be correlated with the low level of LDH activity in the anaerobic tissues such as liver and muscle and with the increased activity in the aerobic tissues, such as heart and lung. (5) The low oxygen tension seems to favor syn-thesis of M-type LDH and high oxygen tesnion H-type LDH in the tissues of rats.

Study on Aflatoxins in Korean Fermented Foodstuffs / 예방의학회지

35 samples of Korean fermented foodstuffs were tested to isolate and to identify for aflatoxins. Aflatoxin G1 was detected in samples of soybean and Kanjang (Soybean sauce), are aflatoxins G1 & G2 in Meju (fermented soybean mass) are Dwenjang (fermented soybean paste). In the culture media of Aspergillus flavus aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 were also isolate and identified. Aflatoxins were confirmed by the thin layer chromatography with methancl : chroroform (5:95v/v) developer and the ultra violet absorption spectrum.

Studies of Air Pollution and Noise in Urban Korea

Air pollution in the traffic areas in Seoul during the winter season was studied. The average level of sulfur dioxide concentration was 0.24 ppm through the day. Lowest was 0.14 ppm at 2~4 P.M. when the highest vertical temperature gradient was indicated, and 0.33~0.29 ppm during 10 P.M. to 8 A.M. at night. Average level of dust was 4.65 mppcf (2.1~12.8 mppcf) and higher levels were shown at 10 A.M., 6 P.M. and 10 P.M. as 5.44, 4.73 and 5.01 mppcf respectively. The noise level in the main traffic areas was 73.5 db in the average during this survey, 75.1 db in the daytime and 65.6 db in the night (11 P.M. ~7 A.M.) in the average. Various air pollutants in auto-exhaust gases and noise of automobiles were studied, since those are main sources of nuisance in the traffic areas. Carbon monoxide in the "Corona" taxi, formaldehyde in the jeep, and carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and sulfur dioxide in the "Senara" taxi were measured respectively in high concentration and there was no significant difference in other gases among the various type of vehides. As regards average Overall noise level at ordinary driving speeds, heavy vehicles emitted much more noise (30 KPH) (82.2~83.5 db) than light vehicles such as taxi (40~5O KPH) (71.5-80.2 db). The noise level when starting heavy vehicles was higher 88.5 db(94.2 phon) on the average and that of light vehicles was lower 69.4 db (76.2 phon). There were two types of automobile horn noise in the octave band; one was in 1,000 cps and the other 2,000~4,000cps. The average horn noise level of automobiles was 98 db (107.8 phon), with 106 db (11.05 phon) maximum and 88.8db (99.5 phon) minimum. In the epidemiological study of CO poisoning in urban areas, there were 260 deaths out of 532 patients in 201 incidents of poisoning occurring on a total of 128 days during January 1964 to Dec. 1966. The concentration of co in the main living rooms and kitchens was detected as 58 and 112 ppm respectively, and the level of carboxyl-hemoglobin in the blood of housewives was relatively high, 11.2% on the average. In outside air maximal concentration of CO was 80 ppm in Shinchon-Dong an urban area.