• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.409-416
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• 2012

In this study, an electrical resistivity survey and a drilling investigation were conducted at an animal carcass disposal site. Chemical analysis of leachate collected from the site was also performed (sampling times: May 2011 and June 2012). Five lines of dipole-dipole electrical resistivity surveys were carried out, along with drilling investigations at 3 points within the disposal areas and 11 points near the disposal site. Two-dimensional inverse modeling of the collected resistivity data was performed to evaluate the properties (size, depth, and form) of the disposal site. Leachate analysis showed that pH of leachate decreased from 7.4 to 6.7, while Eh changed from -358 mV to -48 mV over time. In addition, dissolved ions increased due to the progression of carcass decomposition. Results of the electrical resistivity survey indicated that low resistivity zones (minimum value, $0.64{\Omega}m$) existed at a depth of 8 m from the surface. Considering the bedrock location and carcass disposal depth, there was no evidence of bedrock contamination by leachate. The results of the electrical resistivity survey are consistent with those of the drilling investigation, which indicates that electrical resistivity effectively depicted the properties of the disposal site. This study demonstrates that electrical resistivity survey is a suitable technique for investigation of animal carcass disposal sites.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.36 no.12B
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• pp.1708-1721
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• 2011

Recent outbreak of cattle diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease(FMD) requires constant monitoring of burial sites of mass cull of cattles. However, current monitoring system takes environmental samples from burial sites with period of between one and two weeks, which makes it impossible for non-stop management of hazardous bio-waste. Therefore, in this study, we suggest an improved real-time environmental monitoring system for such bio-hazardous sites based on wireless sensor networks, which makes constant surveillance of the FMD burial sites possible. The system consists mainly several wireless environmental monitoring sensors(i.e dust, Co2, VOC, NH3, H2S, temperature, humidity) nodes and GPS location tracking nodes. Through analysis of the relayed of the environmental monitoring data via gateway, the system makes it possible for constant monitoring and quick response for emergency situation of the burial sites. In order to test the effectiveness of the system, we have installed a set of sensor to gas outlets of the burial sites, then collected and analyzed measured bio-sensing data. We have conducted simulated emergency test runs and was able to detect and monitor the foul smell constantly. With our study, we confirm that the preventive measures and quick response of bio environmental accident are possible with the help of a real-time environmental monitoring system.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2014

In Korea, over 4,700 animal carcass disposal sites were installed until 2011 due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Due to the putrefaction of buried animals, the leachate containing veterinary antibiotics may release into surrounding environments. Antibiotic residues in the environment cause the formation of antibiotic resistance bacteria threatening human and ecosystem health. This study reports the concentrations of five antibiotics, including tetracycline (TC), chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), sulfamethazine (SMZ), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), in soils from animal carcass disposal site and adjacent agricultural field. Concentrations of antibiotics at animal carcass disposal sites (TC: $144.26-350.73{\mu}g/kg$, SMZ: $17.72-44.94{\mu}g/kg$) were higher than those at agricultural field (TC: $134.16-320.73{\mu}g/kg$, SMZ: $6.48-8.85{\mu}g/kg$) whereas the concentrations of CTC, OTC, and SMX were below detection limit in both sites. Results showed that the antibiotics in animal carcass site might leach to the soil and possibly contaminating the groundwater. Future studies will focus on the transfer of antibiotics residues into food crops.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.503-508
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the microbial communities in animal carcass disposal soils to examine the possible threat of pathogens from leachate. DNA extraction was performed for the soils in three carcass disposal sites located in Gyeonggi-do, Korea, and then 16S rRNA pyrosequencing was conducted to identify the microbial communities. Results indicate that, according to phylum classification, Proteobacteria (100%) was identified in soil A, Actinobacteria (66.4%) > Proteobacteria (31.1%) > Bacteriodetes (2.1%) > Acidobacteria (0.3%) in soil B, and Actinobacteria (63.1%) > Proteobacteria (36.9%) in soil C. According to genus classification, Pseudomonas was dominant in soil A (98%), Arthrobacter in soil B (68%) and C (61%). There were no detections of pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens. However, high concentration of Ralstonia pickettii causing bacteremia was observed. Although carcass disposal soils examined in this study were not highly contaminated with pathogens, further monitoring is still needed to examine the potential threat of pathogens in leachate derived from carcass disposal sites.

• KOREAN POULTRY JOURNAL
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.156-159
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• 2019

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.338-347
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigation of the decomposition characteristics in a pilot-scale burial site of livestock in three kinds of typical soils in Korea: sandy loam soil, clay loam soil, and sandy soil. In this study, we confirmed that most of the animals in the condition were decomposed within three years as mentioned in the "Livestock burial regional environmental research guidelines." We also determined that the decomposition rate of dead cows was higher than that of dead pigs, and that the biodegradation rate depends on the soil types in the following order: sandy soil > clay loam soil > sandy loam soil. The various external environment factors, such as temperature, moisture, pH, earthiness, nutrient, and the burial depth, should be managed properly for appropriate decomposition of dead animals.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.861-866
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the biodegradation of dissolved organic matter derived from animal carcass disposal soil using soil inhabited bacteria and to identify the bacteria involved in the biodegradation. The two soils were obtained from the animal carcass burial sites located in Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. The results indicated that during the biodegradation experiments (56 days), 48% of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was mineralized within 13 days in soil-derived solution 1 (initial DOC = 19.88 mgC/L), and the DOC concentration at 56 days was $8.8{\pm}0.4$ mg C/L, indicating 56% mineralization of DOC. In soil-derived solution 2 (initial DOC = 19.80 mgC/L), DOC was mineralized drastically within 13 days, and the DOC concentration was decreased to $6.0{\pm}0.4$ mg C/L at 56 days (76% mineralization of DOC). Unlike DOC value, the specific UV absorbance ($SUVA_{254}$) value, an indicator of proportion of aromatic structures in total organic carbon, tended to increase until 21 days and then decreased thereafter. The $SUVA_{254}$ values in soil-derived solutions 1 and 2 were the highest at 21 days. The microbial analysis demonstrated that Pseudomonas fluorescens, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Nocardioides simplex, Pseudomonas mandelii, Bosea sp. were detected at 14 days of incubation, whereas Pseudomonas veronii appeared as a dominant species at 56 days.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2013

Leakage of leachate from animal carcass disposal is a significant issue because disease can easily spread to humans and other livestock. In this study, we analyzed the physicochemical properties of leachate and tested for the presence of aerobic bacteria in leachate using molecular biology methods, for 16 animal carcass disposals in the first stage (after burial for 5 months). Leachate physicochemical analysis revealed higher total coliforms, TOC, $NH^{4+}$, and $NO^{3-}$ concentrations compared with previously published data. In most leachate samples, the concentrations of $NH^{4+}$ and $NO^{3-}$ exceeded the Korean guideline values for drinking water. In 16S rRNA sequence analysis of the distribution of leachate under aerobic conditions, Bacillus pumilus, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, and B. sphaericus were observed with high frequency, whereas no food-poisoning-related bacteria such as B. cereus or Salmonella were detected. The present findings improve our knowledge of the transport of leachate from animal carcass disposal sites through geologic media, and are useful in risk analysis and for subsequent studies.

• 한국관개배수회지
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• no.47
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• pp.26-30
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• 2011

• KOREAN POULTRY JOURNAL
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.152-155
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• 2018