We tested for residual pesticide levels in dried vegetables in Seoul, Korea. A total of 100 samples of 13 different types of agricultural products were analyzed by a gas chromatography-nitrogen phosphate detector (GC-NPD), an electron capture detector (GC-μECD), a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MSD), and a high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV). We used multi-analysis methods to analyze for 253 different pesticide types. Among the selected agricultural products, residual pesticides were detected in 11 samples, of which 2 samples (2.0%) exceeded the Korea Maximum Residue limits (MRLs). We detected pesticide residue in 6 of 9 analyzed dried pepper leaves and 1 sample exceeded the Korea MRLs. Data obtained were then used for estimating the potential health risks associated with the exposures to these pesticides. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) range from 0.1% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for bifenthrin to 8.4% of the ADI for cadusafos. The most critical commodity is cadusafos in chwinamul, contributing 8.4% to the hazard index (HI). This results show that the detected pesticides could not be considered a serious public health problem. Nevertheless, an investigation into continuous monitoring is recommended.

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Background: Since cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for respiratory infections and alters the immune response, the severity of influenza illness and the immunogenicity of influenza vaccination may differ between cigarette smokers and non-smokers. This study investigated the effect of cigarette smoke exposure on the severity of influenza illness and vaccine-induced antibody production in mice. Materials and Methods: Cigarette smoke exposed (CE) and non-cigarette smoke exposed (NCE) mice were infected with mouse-adapted influenza A/PR8/8/34 (H1N1). Influenza virus was quantified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by real-time polymerase chain reaction and the lung pathology was examined to investigate the influence of smoke exposure on the severity of illness. To assess immunogenicity, hemagglutination inhibition antibodies were measured in pre-and post-influenza vaccination blood samples from CE and NCE mice. Results: Influenza viral proliferation was higher and inflammatory changes such as macrophage infiltration in the alveolar space and necrotizing bronchitis were more pronounced in CE mice, compared with controls. Vaccine-induced immunogenicity was achieved in both CE and NCE mice. Conclusions: Cigarette smoke exposure enhanced influenza viral replication and the inflammatory changes associated with influenza illness, but had no significant effect on vaccine-induced immunogenicity.

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