Jong-Ok Lee

Survey of nitrate and nitrite contents of vegetables grown in Korea

A scientific basis for the evaluation of the risk to public health arising from excessive dietary intake of nitrate in Korea is provided. The nitrate (NO− 3) and nitrite (NO− 2) contents of various vegetables (Chinese cabbage, radish, lettuce, spinach, soybean sprouts, onion, pumpkin, green onion, cucumber, potato, carrot, garlic, green pepper, cabbage and Allium tuberosum Roth known as Crown daisy) are reported. Six hundred samples of 15 vegetables cultivated during different seasons were analysed for nitrate and nitrite by ion chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, respectively. No significant variance in nitrate levels was found for most vegetables cultivated during the summer and winter harvests. The mean nitrates level was higher in A. tuberosum Roth (5150 mg kg−1) and spinach (4259 mg kg−1), intermediate in radish (1878 mg kg−1) and Chinese cabbage (1740 mg kg−1), and lower in onion (23 mg kg−1), soybean sprouts (56 mg kg−1) and green pepper (76 mg kg−1) compared with those in other vegetables. The average nitrite contents in various vegetables were about 0.6 mg kg−1, and the values were not significantly different among most vegetables. It was observed that nitrate contents in vegetables varied depending on the type of vegetables and were similar to those in vegetables grown in other countries. From the results of our studies and other information from foreign sources, it can be concluded that it is not necessary to establish limits of nitrates contents of vegetables cultivated in Korea due to the co-presence of beneficial elements such as ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol which are known to inhibit the formation of nitrosamine.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from raw chicken meat and human stools in Korea.

Prevalence of Campylobacter in raw chicken meat and human stools and subsequent antibiotic resistance profiles of the pathogenic isolates obtained from 2000 through 2002 were investigated. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were isolated from 570 of the 923 raw chicken meat samples collected from traditional markets, large retail stores, or department stores in Korea, resulting in the isolation rate of 61.8%. A total of 579 Campylobacter isolates were obtained from raw chicken (36.3% for C. jejuni and 26.4% for C. coli) with the average population of 335.6 CFU/g. From 513 human stool samples, 15 isolates of Campylobacter were detected. Seasonal variation in the quantification of C. coli was not noticeable throughout the year, while the isolation rate of C. jejuni was the highest in September through October (840 CFU/g) followed by that of July through August and May through June in decreasing order, showing a significant seasonal effect (P < 0.05). Contamination of Campylobacter was more severe in raw chicken meat sold in traditional markets than in those sold in large retail stores and department stores. Prevalence of Campylobacter in raw chicken sold in traditional markets was significantly influenced by seasonal changes (P < 0.05), whereas the samples obtained from other places was less affected by the seasonal changes. Susceptibilities of the 594 chicken isolates to ciprofloxaxin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, and tetracycline were determined by an E-test. Campylobacter isolates were the most resistant to nalidixic acid (91.4%) followed by ciprofloxaxin (87.9%), tetracycline (87.2%), kanamycin (30.6%), erythromycin (19.4%), and chloramphenicol (1.3%). Human isolates showed a similar resistance to the six antibiotics tested. The proportion of Campylobacter isolates with multidrug resistance to four or more antimicrobials obtained from 2000 through 2002 ranged from 28 to 43.5%, indicating that it could be a serious health-threatening factor. This study suggests that it is prudent to establish an effective National Monitoring Program in Korea for the prevention and control of Campylobacter spp.

Fumonisins B1 and B2 in Agricultural Products Consumed in South Korea : An Exposure Assessment

To survey fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) in agricultural products consumed in South Korea and provide an exposure assessment, ground samples were extracted (80% MeOH), filtered (0.2 microm), and cleaned up. After evaporation, dry residues were reconstituted in 50% MeOH, and a 50-micro1 aliquot of this sample was mixed with 200 micro1 of o-phthaldialdehyde for derivatization. The derivatives were analyzed with a high-performance liquid chromatography system equipped with a fluorescence detector. For validation of the detection procedure, linearity, accuracy, precision, detection limit, and quantification limit were determined. The validated detection method was then used to survey fumonisins in white rice, brown rice, barley, barley tea, beer, wheat flour, millet, dried corn, corn flour, corn tea, canned corn, popcorn, and breakfast cereal. Retention times for FB1 and FB2 standards were 7 and 18 min, respectively. Linearity (R2 = 0.99995 to 0.99998), accuracy (81.47 to 108.83%), precision (2.35 to 5.77), detection limit (25 ng/g or ng/ml), and quantification limit (37 ng/g or ng/ml) indicated that this procedure is capable of quantifying fumonisins in agricultural products. Only FB1-positive samples (5.12%, three dried corn samples and five corn flour samples) were found at 90.89 to 439.67 ng/g. According the survey results, an estimated daily intake of FB1 and FB2 in Korea was 0.087 ng/kg of body weight per day. These results indicate that continuous monitoring of these mycotoxins is necessary to establish appropriate risk assessment, and the maximum tolerable daily intake of fumonisins in Korea is lower than the 2 microg/kg set by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization-World Health Organization Expert Committee.