• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.347-357
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• 2023

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic turned biological hazards in the working environment into a global concern. This systematized review of published reviews aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the specific jobs and categories of workers exposed to biological hazards with the related prevention. Methods: We extracted reviews published in English and French in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Two authors, working independently, subsequently screened the potentially relevant titles and abstracts recovered (step 1) and then examined relevant full texts (step 2). Disagreements were resolved by consensus. We built tables summarizing populations of exposed workers, types of hazards, types of outcomes (types of health issues, means of prevention), and routes of transmission. Results: Of 1426 studies initially identified, 79 studies by authors from every continent were selected, mostly published after 2010 (n = 63, 79.7%). About half of the reviews dealt with infectious hazards alone (n = 38, 48.1%). The industrial sectors identified involved healthcare alone (n = 16), laboratories (n = 10), agriculture (including the animal, vegetable, and grain sectors, n = 32), waste (n = 10), in addition of 11 studies without specific sectors. The results also highlighted a range of hazards (infectious and noninfectious agents, endotoxins, bioaerosols, organic dust, and emerging agents). Conclusion: This systematized overview allowed to list the populations of workers exposed to biological hazards and underlined how prevention measures in the healthcare and laboratory sectors were usually well defined and controlled, although this was not the case in the agriculture and waste sectors. Further studies are necessary to quantify these risks and implement prevention measures that can be applied in every country.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.43-52
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• 2014

Because information on biological agents in the workplace is lacking, biological hazard analyses at the workplace to securely recognize the harmful factors with biological basis are desperately needed. This review concentrates on literatures published after 2010 that attempted to detect biological hazards to humans, especially workers, and the efforts to protect them against these factors. It is important to improve the current understanding of the health hazards caused by biological factors at the workplace. In addition, this review briefly describes these factors and provides some examples of their adverse health effects. It also reviews risk assessments, protection with personal protective equipment, prevention with training of workers, regulations, as well as vaccinations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.265-275
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution patterns and exposure concentrations of biological hazards in waste handling industries. Methods: We selected 3 recyclable waste sorting plants(RWS), 2 food recycling plants(FR), 1 landfill area(LA) and 1 waste incineration plant(WI). Total airborne bacteria and fungi were measured with single stage impactor and gelatin filters. Endotoxin and glucan were measured with polycarbonate filters in total and respirable dust. Results: The geometric mean of airborne bacterial concentration was the highest in FR($3,273CFU/m^3$), followed by LA, RWS, and WI as 1,334, 934, and $860CFU/m^3$. The fungal concentrations were 6,031, 5,052, 3,307, and $713CFU/m^3$ in RWS, WI, FR, and LA, respectively. By process, WI pit showed the highest concentrations of bacteria, fungi, and endotoxin, followed by inside of bulldozer in LA. The indoor to outdoor ratios of bacteria, fungi, endotoxin and glucan were 2.3, 4.0, 2.3, and 5.0 in RWS, 29.5, 4.9, 7.6, and 5.0 in FR, 5.3, 8.7, 26.8, and 9.5 in WI, respectively. Conclusions: We found that biological hazards, specifically bacteria in FR, fungi in RWS and endotoxin in WI pit and bulldozer at LA, should be controlled to prevent worker's respiratory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.593-605
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• 2004

An egg has been considered as one of the most important food sources because of it's nutritional superiority and reasonable price. With the complexity of egg flow system from production to consumption in Korea, preventive measures for egg safety have been required. Therefore, our study was carried out to analyze hazards for the egg under farm level and develope preventive measures with a purpose of obtaining egg safety. To analyze biological hazards, microbial contamination of egg(normal, dirty and cracked), water, feed, manure and equipments associated with laying were investigated. One isolate of Salmonella enteritidis and S. bardo were detected from the manure and dirty egg shell respectively. The sanitary conditions in the farm were surveyed by questionaries. Confirmation of vaccination for purchasing chicks and establishment of sanitary guidances for water and type of water suppliers ought to be preceded. Feed supplier systems including feed tanks, feed pipes and hoppers were known that their contamination might give it a chance to infect individuals and egg content and shell. The safe and rapid disposal of dead chickens and rodent were reported as more crucial factors to prevent infectious disease and manage good sanitation. Egg selector and collecting belt should be kept properly not to be contaminated from egg fluids and feces. It should be also considered that regular gathering of eggs, removal of dirty or cracked ones, storage under refrigeration and the use of disposable egg tray were continuously fulfilled. Conclusively, Our results suggested that HACCP-based system for providing fresh and safe eggs to consumers should be applied to the farm.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.247-256
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• 2008

Public perceptions of nanotechnology and its potential risk can be an important measure for the sustainable advances of the technology. We conducted a survey for public (N =599) and experts (N = 165). They answered the same questions and results were analyzed. 74% of the public have not heard about the potential risk of nanotechnology and 77% expected that nanotechnology/materials are not harmful to the human and nature. 74% of experts realized the potential hazards by nanomaterials. The results represented that large perception gab between public and experts has existed in Korea. Interestingly, Korean public thought that nanotechnology is more profitable and less risky than that of American. We suggest that 'now is the best time to give appropriate information on the potential risk of nanotechnology to Korean public without preconception or exaggeration.'

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2002

There has been an increase in the public concern about possible health risks by electromagnetic exposure from mobile phones. Recently, increase in the use among young children of portable telephones public concern regarding potential health hazards due to a hot spot appearing inside the infant head, has been growing. Since the biological hazards due to RF exposure are caused mainly by a temperature-rise in tissue, the effect of localized SAR for portable telephones should also be related to the temperature-rise in the human head. In this paper, it was measured that in the actual use of portable telephone the temperature of the local tissue in the human-head change. As a result, it should be noted that the mean temperature of human-body and localized tissue is rising from beginning call. However the temperature variation of localized tissue is recovered rapidly as normal temperature, although the mean temperature of human-body rising continuously at ending call of portable telephone.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.14-37
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• 2014

Objectives: Since information on biological factors in the workplace are currently lacking, I wanted to create a handbook of these factors that would be viewable at a glance as a means to more effectively prevent occupationally-infected diseases. Proper information on biological hazards in the workplace allowing the appropriate recognition of the harmful factors is desperately needed. Methods and Results: In this study, I intended to create a high-utility handbook of biologically hazardous agents in the workplace. To ensure its effectiveness, information and references about biologically hazardous agents in the workplace were analyzed and classified and pathogen safety data sheets(PSDS) sourced from the Public Health Agency of Canada were included. I intended to make it accessible from the point of view of workers and their employers. A more effective classification system of occupational infectious diseases is presented, and biologically hazardous agents were classified according to occupations, industries, infectious diseases, and so on. The handbook consists of 60 major kinds of biologically infectious occupational factors that are expected to be generated in workplaces in Korea, and are focused on practical utility. The pathogen safety data sheets(PSDS) of 192 species were also included. To allow more effective management, domestic and foreign laws and regulations are presented. Conclusions: This case report presents general information on the history and contents of the handbook and PSDS, it will also be useful in workplaces if download from the homepage of OSHRI, KOSHA(oshri.kosha.or.kr/bridge?menuID=901).

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2016

Background: The public has increasing concerns about herbal crops owing to insufficient information on biological hazards such as foodborne pathogens. Therefore, the objective of this study is the development of a herbal crop quality control system through monitoring with biological hazard analysis. Today, it is estimated that millions of people become ill every year from food contamination. The public demands agricultural products of stable and consistent quality. Governments have the responsibility of establishing the standards, legislation and enforcement programs necessary to control food quality and safety. However, research on the biosafety of herbal crop products is still insufficient. Therefore, the implementation of monitoring systems with high standards is critical for public safety. Methods and Results: In this study, we collected 52 samples of herbal crop products, and conducted both quantitative and qualitative biological hazard analysis. With biological hazard analysis, aerobic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Coliforms, and Listeria spp. could be detected. Conclusions: Herbal crops were found to be contaminated with aerobic bacteria at $3.69{\pm}0.32log\;CFU/g$. Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Coliforms, and Listeria spp. were not detected in any of the samples. This research suggests that continuous monitoring of biological hazards is required to improve the quality of herbal crops.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 2017.04a
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• pp.136-136
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• 2017

By-products has been considered lately in Total Mixed Ration (TMR) as an alternative to livestock feed around the world. This is due to the high cost of using forage as feed, less expense in exploring by-products of agriculture origin and environmental concerns with their disposal. However, by-products usually contain contaminants and the production process requires fermentation using a storage and fermentation tank. Animal feed is the start point of the food safety chain in the 'farm-to-fork' model. This necessitated a study to model a protocol that will culminate to safe feed production. Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), a systematic preventive approach to food safety from biological, chemical and physical hazards in production processes that can cause the finished product to be unsafe was explored. Implementation of this model provides a mechanism that ensures product safety is continuously achieved. The entire production process of By-products feed production was evaluated using HACCP wizard software. This includes the plant layout, technical standards, storage and fermentation tank cleansing method, staff assignment, safety control method, and distribution. The potential biological, chemical, and physical hazards that may exist in every step of the production process were identified, and then critical control points (CCPs) were selected. This will ensure the safety of products made from livestock that consumes by-product feed. These includes cheese, milk, beef, etc.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3578-3585
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to establish the critical limit at CCP (Critical Control Point) of HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system for instant noodle and it was conducted at P company in Ichen(Gyeonggi-do), Korea. According to the CCP, Fried process were experimented to removal and decrease of microbiological and chemical hazards by measuring of each temperature and times. As a result, the standard plate count and pathogenic microorganism were not detected by fried processing (Temperature : $145{\pm}10^{\circ}C$, Time : $75{\pm}30$ sec). The acid value of chemical hazards produced by fried processing was able to manage, showed lower (0.2) than the legal limit (0.6). Air-borne bacterial examination results detected(3 CFU/mL, 3 CFU/mL) in the Frying Room and Steam Room. Therefore, the CCP-BC of fried process would be a great alternative to prevent and remove hazard analysis, such as general and pathogenic microorganism (E. coli O157:H7, B. cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp, Sthaph. aureus etc), chemical hazard analysis. In conclusion, it suggested that HACCP plan was necessary for management standard and systematic approach in establishement of critical limit, solving the problem, method of verification, education and records management by fried processing.