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.
Air Pollution ; Atmosphere* ; Benzene ; Benzo(a)pyrene* ; Chromatography ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Seasons ; Seoul* ; United States Environmental Protection Agency

General information is summarized, that is necessary to introduce a scientific assessment of the human health and exposure issue concerning dioxin and dioxin-like compound. Scientific literatures were reviewed to assess the background exposures to the dioxin-like compounds for normal residents. Epidemiologic studies were also reviewed to assess malignant and nonmalignant effects of dioxins. In 1997, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as a human carcinogen, primarily based on occupational cohort studies. The US Environmental Protection Agency made the same decision in it's Draft Dioxin Reassessment. Epidemiologic evidences point to a generalized excess of all cancers, without any pronounced excess at specific sites. Reported non-cancer effects included a range of conditions affecting most systems. Among them, chloracne, elevation in gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alterations in reproductive hormones are related to TCDD. Other adverse outcomes, such as lipid concentrations, diabetes, circulatory and heart diseases, immunologic disorders, neurobehavioral effects, and developmental outcomes require further study before their respective relationships to TCDD can be more definitively assessed.
Chloracne ; Cohort Studies ; Dioxins* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Humans* ; International Agencies ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin ; Transferases ; United States Environmental Protection Agency

BACKGROUND: The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies asbestos as belonging to Carcinogen Group 2A for gastric cancer. We herein report a case of gastric cancer associated with asbestosis and describe the work-related and risk assessments of asbestos exposure for gastric cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: The 66-year-old male patient in our case worked in asbestos spinning factories. His level of cumulated asbestos fiber exposure was estimated to be 38.0-71.0 f-yr/cc. Thus, the Excess Life Cancer Risk for lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure was 9,648x10-5, almost 9,600 times the value recommended by the United States of America Environmental Protection Agency (1 x 10-5). The relative risk of developing lung cancer for this patient was more than 25 f-yr/cc, a well-known criterion for doubling the risk of lung cancer. CONCLUSION: The patient's exposure to high-dose asbestos was sufficient to increase his risk of gastric cancer because as the risk of lung cancer increased, the risk of gastric cancer was due to increase as well. Therefore, occupational asbestos fiber exposure might be associated with gastric cancer in this case.
Aged ; Americas ; Asbestos ; Asbestosis* ; Humans ; International Agencies ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Risk Assessment* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Textiles ; United States ; United States Environmental Protection Agency

Pyrolysis of tissue in a hypoxic environment can produce carbon monoxide. Peritoneal cavity is hypoxic during laparoscopic cholecystectomy by insufflation with 100% carbon dioxide, then, carbon monoxide is produced by electrocautery of tissue. To determine whether carbon monoxide was being absorbed in dangerous amounts to patients and operating room workers, blood was analyzed for carboxyhemoglobin in patients and their operators. Twenty-one patients undergoing this procedure, sampling the insufflation gas before, after use of electrocautery analyzed for carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide was present in the peritoneal cavity, 5 min after use of electrocautery at a median concentration of 430 ppm(range 20~1000 ppm), and at the end of surgery at a median concentration of 174 ppm(range 10~720 ppm). This is well in excess of the 35 ppm upper limit for a 1-hr exposure set by the Environmental Protection Agency in U.S.A.. The patients carboxyhemoglobin concentrations(mean +/- SD) at the beginning, at the end and 3 hrs after surgery were 0.51+/-0.30%, 0.41%+/-0.28%, and 0.45%+/-0.74%, respectively. The operator's carboxyhemoglobin concentrations before and at the end of surgery were 1.12%+/-1.09% and 1.03%+/-1.03%, respectively. Although there was no evidence of significant absorption of carbon monoxide in these patients and operators, care should be taken to scavenge the gases produced by electrocautery of tissues to avoid operating room contamination during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Absorption ; Carbon Dioxide ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Carboxyhemoglobin* ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Electrocoagulation* ; Gases ; Humans ; Insufflation ; Operating Rooms ; Peritoneal Cavity ; United States Environmental Protection Agency

OBJECTIVES: N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and is formed during the chlorination of municipal drinking water. In this study, selected nitrosamines were measured in chlorinated drinking water collected from Chuncheon, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea, and a risk assessment for NDMA was conducted. METHODS: Twelve water samples were collected from 2 treatment plants and 10 household taps. Samples were analyzed for 6 nitrosamines via solid-phase extraction cleanup followed by conversion to dansyl derivatives and high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). Considering the dietary patterns of Korean people and the concentration change of NDMA by boiling, a carcinogenic risk assessment from ingestion exposure was conducted following the US EPA guidelines. RESULTS: NDMA concentrations ranged between 26.1 and 112.0 ng/L. NDMA in water was found to be thermally stable, and thus its concentration at the end of boiling was greater than before thermal treatment owing to the decrease in water volume. The estimated excess lifetime carcinogenic risk exceeded the regulatory baseline risk of 10(-5). CONCLUSIONS: This result suggests that more extensive studies need to be conducted on nitrosamine concentration distributions over the country and the source of relatively high nitrosamine concentrations.
Dimethylnitrosamine ; Drinking ; Drinking Water ; Eating ; Family Characteristics ; Halogenation ; Humans ; Nitrosamines ; Oligopeptides ; Phosphatidylcholines ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Assessment ; United States Environmental Protection Agency ; Water

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of metal pollution in the sediment from rivers, lakes, and streams in active gold mining districts in Ghana. Two hundred and fifty surface sediment samples from 99 locations were collected and analyzed for concentrations of As, Hg, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Mn using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Metal concentrations were then used to assess the human health risks to resident children and adults in central tendency exposure (CTE) and reasonable maximum exposure (RME) scenarios. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As were almost twice the threshold values established by the Hong Kong Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines (ISQG). Hg, Cu, and Cr concentrations in sediment were 14, 20, and 26 times higher than the Canadian Freshwater Sediment Guidelines for these elements. Also, the concentrations of Pb, Cu, Cr, and Hg were 3, 11, 12, and 16 times more than the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) sediment guideline values. The results of the human health risk assessment indicate that for ingestion of sediment under the central tendency exposure (CTE) scenario, the cancer risks for child and adult residents from exposure to As were 4.18 x 10(-6) and 1.84 x 10(-7), respectively. This suggests that up to 4 children out of one million equally exposed children would contract cancer if exposed continuously to As over 70 years (the assumed lifetime). The hazard index for child residents following exposure to Cr(VI) in the RME scenario was 4.2. This is greater than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) threshold of 1, indicating that adverse health effects to children from exposure to Cr(VI) are possible. This study demonstrates the urgent need to control industrial emissions and the severe heavy metal pollution in gold mining environments.
Adult ; Child ; Chromium ; Contracts ; Eating ; Fresh Water ; Ghana ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Lakes ; Metals ; Mining ; New Zealand ; Risk Assessment ; Rivers ; Spectrum Analysis ; United States Environmental Protection Agency

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the spatial distribution and the extent of soil contamination by heavy metals resulting from primitive, unconventional informal electronic waste recycling in the Agbogbloshie e-waste processing site (AEPS) in Ghana. METHODS: A total of 132 samples were collected at 100 m intervals, with a handheld global position system used in taking the location data of the soil sample points. Observing all procedural and quality assurance measures, the samples were analyzed for barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), using X-ray fluorescence. Using environmental risk indices of contamination factor and degree of contamination (Cdeg), we analyzed the individual contribution of each heavy metal contamination and the overall Cdeg. We further used geostatistical techniques of spatial autocorrelation and variability to examine spatial distribution and extent of heavy metal contamination. RESULTS: Results from soil analysis showed that heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher than the Canadian Environmental Protection Agency and Dutch environmental standards. In an increasing order, Pb>Cd>Hg>Cu>Zn>Cr>Co>Ba>Ni contributed significantly to the overall Cdeg. Contamination was highest in the main working areas of burning and dismantling sites, indicating the influence of recycling activities. Geostatistical analysis also revealed that heavy metal contamination spreads beyond the main working areas to residential, recreational, farming, and commercial areas. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the studied heavy metals are ubiquitous within AEPS and the significantly high concentration of these metals reflect the contamination factor and Cdeg, indicating soil contamination in AEPS with the nine heavy metals studied.
Agriculture ; Barium ; Burns ; Cadmium ; Chromium ; Cobalt ; Copper ; Electronic Waste* ; Fluorescence ; Ghana* ; Metals ; Metals, Heavy* ; Nickel ; Recycling* ; Soil* ; Spatial Analysis ; United States Environmental Protection Agency ; Zinc

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between fish consumption and blood mercury levels in a sample of adult Koreans. METHODS: The study subjects were 299 residents of Busan (male: 65, female: 234) and 185 residents of Namhae (male: 69, female: 116), South Korea. Demographic characteristics, current smoking, current drinking, fish consumption per week, past history of amalgam treatment, and residential district were recorded by trained interviewers in June and July, 2009. We considered a portion of fish to be equivalent to 70 gm weight, and calculated amounts of fish consumed per week. Using chi-square tests, t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis, we estimated the relationships between blood mercury levels and amount of fish consumed per week and other factors. RESULTS: The mean blood mercury level of our subjects was 6.61 microgram/L, higher than the criterion defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (5.8 microgram/L). In multiple linear regression analysis, residential district and amount of fish consumed per week were associated with blood mercury levels. However, marital status, current drinking, and gender, and age were not associated with blood mercury levels. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we suggest the implementation of systematic and periodic population-based studies to decrease the risks of mercury poisoning among South Koreans who consume fish as a regular part of the diet.
Adult ; Diet ; Drinking ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Marital Status ; Mercury Poisoning ; Republic of Korea ; Smoke ; Smoking ; United States Environmental Protection Agency ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Water – related diseases are worldwide health concern. Microbial contamination and contaminant products in water are a source of disease outbreaks and development of cumulative toxic effects. Ensuring safe water is one of the goals to be achieved at the global level. The aim of this study was to assess publications on drinking and recreational water from a health point of view to understand current problems and future research trends in this field. METHODS: Scopus, the largest scientific electronic database, was used to retrieve related articles and present the results as bibliometric tables and maps. Search query was modified manually using related terms to maximize accuracy. RESULTS: A total of 2267 publications were retrieved with an average of 16.82 citations per article. The h-index of retrieved articles was 88. Visual mapping showed that E. coli, diarrhea, cryptosporidiosis, fluoride, arsenic, cancer, chlorine, trihalomethane, and H. pylori were most frequently encountered terms in title and abstract of retrieved articles. The number of articles on water microbiology was a significant (P < 0.01) predictor of worldwide productivity of water – related disease publications. Journal of Water and Health ranked first in number of publications with 136 (6.00 %) articles. The United States of America ranked first in productivity with a total of 623 (27.48 %) articles. Germany (15.44 %), India (16.00 %) and China (20.66 %) had the least international collaboration in water-related disease research. Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Prevention and Control were among top ten productive institutions. In the top ten cited articles, there were three articles about arsenic, one about aluminum, one about trihalomethane, one about nitrate, one about toxoplasmosis, one about gastroenteritis, and the remaining two articles were general ones. CONCLUSIONS: There was a linear increase in the number of publications on water – related diseases in the last decade. Arsenic, in drinking water is a serious concern. Cryptosporidiosis and other infectious gastroenteritis remain a major health risk of exposure to contaminated water. Increased number of publications from Asian countries was not associated with a high percentage of international collaboration.
Aluminum ; Americas ; Animals ; Arsenic ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bibliometrics* ; China ; Chlorine ; Cooperative Behavior ; Cryptosporidiosis ; Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Drinking Water ; Drinking* ; Efficiency ; Fluorides ; Gastroenteritis ; Germany ; Humans ; India ; Toxoplasmosis ; Trihalomethanes ; United States ; United States Environmental Protection Agency ; Water ; Water Microbiology ; Waterborne Diseases*