In order to evaluate the mutagenic effects of extractable indoor air pollutants (organic matters), we measured the mutagenic activities by sensitive microsuspension Ames test using new tester strains (YG 1024 and YG 1029). And additionally to evaluate the mutagenic effects on vital cell, we examined the frequencies of micronucleus appearing in lymphocytes from dye handling workers and controls. This study was conducted from Jan. toMay, 1995. The extractable indoor air pollutants were collected by low volume air sampler in a general office room and 3 of dye handling factories. And the environment of general office room divided into 3 different groups according to the type of room heaters. To determine the frequencies of micronucleus appearing in lymphocytes, we sampled peripheral venous blood from 20 of dye handling workers and 20 of controls, and cultured, and then examined the lymphocytes. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The indirect mutagenic activities of extractable organic matters from suspended particulates colleced in a general office room were higher than the direct one. 2. The strain YG 1024 was the most sensitive, and the increasing order of test strainsthat showed higher number of revertant were YG 1024, YG 1029, TA 100, and TA 98. 3. In the general office room, the room using kerosene heater showed the highest mutagenecity, and the next was buthan gas heater, and non-heating room in order. 4. The mutagenic effects of suspended particulates in::dye handling factories on the strain YG 1024 was 1.2 times higher than YG 1029. 5. The frequencies of micronucleus appearing in lymphocyte of the circulating blood of dye handling workers and the control were 5.65+/-2.97% and 4.65+/-0.97%, respectively. And the difference was statistically significant.
Air Pollutants* ; Kerosene ; Lymphocytes*

Two cases showing severe combustion, especially, of the abdomen are presented in this report. The corpse were found in the outdoor field. Their head and four extremities showed relatively weak combustion with their original contour. But, their abdomen including lumbar vertebrae almost totally became ash. Gasoline and Kerosine had been used in each case. At the time of autopsies, I did not understand exactly why these corpse showed peculiar findings like this. Recently one scientist had performed an experiment with pig. The result of the combustion in this reference is same with my cases. According to this experiment, the melted fat leaked from the splitted skin acted as fuel and the burned clothes or blanket acted as a wick. The total combustion of the abdomen is not a suspicious finding of previous open wound before fire. This knowledge is beneficial for the practitioners in the forensic field.
Abdomen ; Autopsy ; Burns ; Cadaver ; Extremities ; Fires ; Gasoline ; Head ; Kerosene ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Skin ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVETo detect the number of cells and the level of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IFN-γ and IL-17 cytokines in the peripheral blood of mice exposed to rocket kerosene by skin.

METHODICR mice were randomly divided into the normal control group and RK experimental group (400 µl×1 group). RK undiluted fuel were applied directly to the dorsal skin of the mice. In control groups were treated with sesame oil (SO). the number of blood cells were detected by automatic blood cell counter and the level of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IFN-γ and IL-17 cytokines in serum were detected by using flow cytometry and BD CBA Flex set kit.

RESULTCompared with the normal group, WBC and LYM had a decreasing tendency 2 h and decreased significantly 6 h, 12 h and 1 d after RK exposure (P<0.05). They increased significantly 7 d after RK exposure (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the level of IL-6 increased significantly 2 h, 6 h, 12 h,1 d and 3 d (P<0.05). The level of TNF-α increased significantly 2h, 3d, 5d and 7d (P<0.05). The level of IL-10 increased significantly 2 h, 6 h, 3 d, 5 d and 7 d (P<0.05). The level of IFN-γ increased significantly 6 h and 3 d (P< 0.05). The level of IL-17 significantly increased 3 d, 5 d and 7d (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONRK can change the number of immune cells, causing the immune cytokine changes in mice after RK cutaneous exposure.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Blood Cell Count ; Cytokines ; blood ; Flow Cytometry ; Kerosene ; toxicity ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR

Chemical pneumonitis induced by hydrocarbon aspiration is rare in Korea. Kerosene is a petroleum distillate with low viscosity and high volatility. We report two adult cases of chemical pneumonitis caused by the accidental aspiration of kerosene. They were treated successfully with antibiotics and systemic corticosteroids, and recovered without complications.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Humans ; Kerosene ; Korea ; Petroleum ; Pneumonia ; Viscosity ; Volatilization

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the work-relation of the asthma of a 51-year old aircraft maintenance worker and his working environment METHODS: For 2 weeks, the patient went back into his workplace. The pulmonary function test including FEV1 was performed every other day morning in the hospital and peak expiratory flow rate(PEFR) self-monitoring was done 6 times a day. RESULTS: The patient has been worked as aircraft maintenance worker in line maintenance department since 1968. The pulmonary function test(PFT) with bronchodilator confirmed the asthma of the patient. He showed positive response to 2-weeks workplace challenge test. On 3rd day after stopping challenge exposure, FEV 1.0 was 1.04 L(55 % of baseline measurement). The result of PEFR self-monitoring showed progressively deteriorating pattern, baseline PEFR was 6.02 L/min but PEFR on 3rd day after stopping exposure was 2.43 L/min. CONCLUSIONS: The present case could be occupational asthma based on positive results of PEFR monitoring. Further research will be needed to find the specific agent to cause asthma in aircraft maintenance workers exposed to aviation fuel and jet stream exhausts.
Aircraft ; Asthma* ; Asthma, Occupational ; Aviation ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Kerosene ; Middle Aged ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Rivers

Organic acids are important chemicals. Municipal sludge can be reused by anaerobic fermentation, from which organic acids could be obtained with liquid-liquid extraction and useful substances be produced. Based on the determination of optimum organic solvent and extractant, it effect on production of volatile fatty acid (VFA) from municipal sludge was investigated in this research. The results showed that the proper organic solvent and extractant were sulfonated kerosene and trialkyl phosphine oxide. And, the VFA production was improved by a slight amount of sulfonated kerosene.
Anaerobiosis ; Cities ; Fatty Acids, Volatile ; isolation & purification ; Fermentation ; drug effects ; Kerosene ; Organic Chemicals ; chemistry ; Sewage ; chemistry ; Solvents ; chemistry

OBJECTIVES: The increased prevalence of asthma over the last 30 years has been reported from many different countries, including Korea. The increased prevalence may be due to increased exposure to indoor air pollutants. METHODS: In this study, the relationship between residential environments and airway hyper-responsiveness has been examined among 280 family members. The bronchial hyper-responsiveness was expressed as the log-transformed slope of FEV decrease over the log-transformed dose of methacholine concentration(BRindex). Simple regression analysis was done for the effect of sex, age, atopic status, and residential environments including active and passive smoking exposures on airway responsiveness. Based on simple regression results, multiple rwegression analysis was performed for total group and also according to sex. RESULTS: The mean of BRindex of residents living in gas boiler heating houses was higher than that of central heating system (p=0.014). Smoking status was a significant determinant of bronchial hyper-responsiveness in both genders; male(p=0.017), female (p%.022). In the male group the mean of BRindex of current smokers was significantly higher than those of ex-smokers and non-smokers, and the mean of BRindex of passive smokers was higher than that of non-smokers, but statistical significance was border-line(p=0.069). In female group, the mean of BRindex of kerosene stove users was higher than that of non-users(p=0.057). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that indoor air pollutants including type of heating, passive smoking and kerosene stove use can contribute to the increase in asthma prevalence in Korea.
Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution, Indoor ; Asthma ; Female ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Kerosene ; Korea ; Male ; Methacholine Chloride ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution

Kerosene is one of the petroleum distillates with low viscosity and high volatility. Kerosene is widely used in Korean home in heating and cooking. Kerosene ingestion or aspiration is one of the most common poisonings in young children but extremely rare in adults because kerosene is not taken with the intention of committing suicide. We report four adult cases of aspiration pneumonitis by accidental aspiration of kerosene with similar clinical presentation.
Adult ; Apoptosis ; Child ; Cooking ; Eating ; Epithelial Cells ; Heating ; Helicobacter pylori ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Intention ; Kerosene* ; Neutrophils ; Petroleum ; Pneumonia* ; Poisoning ; Suicide ; Viscosity ; Volatilization

A 47-year-old-man was admitted to the emergency department with dyspnea, right pleuritic pain, and high fevers for 3 days. He had a nonproductive cough that exacerbated the chest pain. A clinical examination revealed distressed and slightly tachypneic patient, with blood pressure of 110/90 mmHg, temperature of 39degrees C, pulse of 90 beats/min, respiratory rate of 24 breaths/min. A chest examination showed significantly diminished breath sounds in the right lung with dullness to percussion. Laboratory investigation demonstrated leukocytosis and a raised C-reactive protein. The results of arterial blood gas analysis revealed moderate hypoxemia. A radiograph and a CT scan of the chest showed extensive consolidation with multifocal low densities, and pleural effusion in the right lung. A diagnostic thoracentesis revealed straw-colored fluid, which was found to be a neutrophil-predominant exudate. At 7 days after admission, the clinical symptoms had not improved and the temperature was still 39degrees C despite the aggressive therapy of community- acquired pneumonia. After comprehensive history taking, we realized then that he accidentally aspirated kerosene while siphoning from fuel tank to put into the boiler 3 days ago. Bronchoscopy with bronchial washings could be successful in establishing the diagnosis of hydrocarbon pneumonitis by demonstration of a high lipid-laden macrophage index. Thereafter, the symptoms and radiographic opacities gradually improved, and he was discharged several days later.
Anoxia ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Bronchoscopy ; C-Reactive Protein ; Chest Pain ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Exudates and Transudates ; Fever ; Humans ; Kerosene ; Leukocytosis ; Lung ; Macrophages ; Percussion ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumonia* ; Respiratory Rate ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed