• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.274-281
• /
• 2015

BACKGROUND: A lasting release of low levels of persistence chemicals including pesticides and pharmaceuticals into river has a bad influence on aquatic ecosystems and humans. The present study monitored pesticide residues in the Yeongsan and Seomjin river basins and their tributaries as a fundamental study for water quality standard of pesticides.METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine pesticides(aldicarb, carbaryl, carbofuran, chlorpyrifos, 2,4-D, MCPA, methomyl, metolachlor, and molinate) were determined from water samples using SPE-Oasis HLB(pH 2) and LC/MS/MS. Validation of the method was conducted through matrix-matched internal calibration curve, method detection limit(MDL), limit of quantification(LOQ), accuracy, precision, and recovery. MDLs of all pesticides satisfied the GV/10 values. Linearity(r²) was 0.9965- 0.9999, and a percentage of accuracy, precision, and recovery was 89.4-113.6%, 3.1-14.0%, and 90.8-106.2%, respectively. All pesticides exclusive of aldicarb were determined in the river samples, and there was a connection between the positive monitoring results and agricultural use of the pesticides.CONCLUSION: Monitoring outcomes of the present study implied that pesticides were a possible non-point pollutant source in the Yeongsan and Seomjin river basins and tributaries. Therefore, it is required to produce and accumulate more monitoring results on pesticides in river waters to set water quality standards, finally to preserve aquatic ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.171-178
• /
• 2009

Water shortages are expected to be a major impact of climate change. This study examined the growth of Chinese cabbage seedling using reclaimed wastewater and waste nutrient solution as alternative irrigation resources. Generally, the concentration of nutrients, such as $K^+$, $NH_4^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$,$NO_3^-$, $PO_4^-$ and $SO_4^{2-}$, in waste nutrient solution was higher than that in wastewater. However, Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with wastewater was supplied a higher concentration of $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ than waste nutrient solution. The growth of Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with waste nutrient solution was similar or higher than those irrigated with groundwater as control, while the growth of those irrigated with wastewater was similar to those irrigated with groundwater. The total nitrogen uptake in Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with groundwater, waste nutrient solution from organic and inorganic hydroponic cultures, and wastewater was 5.47, 10.02, 5.20, and 4.59 mg/plant, respectively. The nitrogen uptake of Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with waste nutrient solution from organic hydroponic substrates in a 50% lower dose than recommended was 8.34 mg/plant, which is higher than that of the cabbage irrigated with groundwater. Overall, the results suggest that waste nutrient solution and wastewater can be used as alternate water resources, and can allow a reduction in the amount of fertilizer needed to raise Chinese cabbage seedling.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.427-437
• /
• 2012

A total of 100 groundwater samples were collected from the Nonsan area and the behaviors of uranium and radon as natural radionuclides were investigated with respect to other physicochemical components in the groundwater in order to understand their occurrence, properties, and origins. Radionuclide levels were used to construct detailed concentration maps. The concentration of uranium ranges from 0 to 378 ${\mu}g/L$, with an average of 8.57 ${\mu}g/L$, standard deviation of 42.88 ${\mu}g/L$, and median of 0.56 ${\mu}g/L$. The correlation coefficient between uranium and radon is 0.42, whereas these radionuclides show no relation with other physicochemical components in groundwater. It is noteworthy that the uranium level in most samples (97% of the samples) is less than 30 ${\mu}g/L$, where the bedrock of the aquifer is granite or complex rocks located along the boundary between granite and metamorphic rocks. In the Okcheon metamorphic belt, the uranium concentration of most groundwater is less than 1 ${\mu}g/L$. Radon levels varies from 128 to 9,140 pCi/L, with an average of 2,186 pCi/L, standard deviation of 1,725 pCi/L, and median of 1,805 pCi/L. High radon levels (> 4,000 pCi/L) are most common in regions of Jurassic granite, whereas low radon areas are found in regions of sedimentary rock. In conclusion, the distribution and occurrence of radionuclides are intimately related to the basic geological characteristics of the rocks in which the radiogenic minerals are primarily contained.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.387-398
• /
• 2012

Korean agricultural areas that employ water curtain cultivation (WCC) have recently suffered extensive groundwater shortages due to an increase in the number of facilities. The primary focus of this study is to measure the daily groundwater use and discharge rates in the Cheongweon and Chungju pilot areas, while the second focus is to estimate the total amount of groundwater used in WCC areas nationwide in Korea. Taking into consideration several factors, including motor type, outflow abilities of wells, records of daily minimum temperatures below $0^{\circ}C$, and the number of running wells according to weather variations, we estimated that $53,138m^3/ha$ of groundwater had been used in the 4-hectare Cheongweon pilot area during the winter period of late 2011 through early 2012. On a prorated areal basis, we can calculate that the total groundwater used nationwide was 0.57 billion $m^3$ in WCC areas of $10,746m^2$. This value is equivalent to 33.7% of the total agricultural groundwater use (1.69 billion $m^3$) in Korea. During 9-22 February 2012, the daily water discharge rate in the 4-ha Cheongweon pilot area ranged from 2,079 to $2,628m^3$, averaging $2,341m^3$. Combining this value with meteorological records for 94 days with a daily minimum temperature below $0^{\circ}C$ results in an estimated groundwater volume of $54,990m^3/ha$ for the pilot area during the 2011-2012 winter period. The total amount of groundwater used nationwide in WCC areas would then be 0.59 billion $m^3$, equivalent to 34.9% of the total agricultural groundwater use in Korea. In the Chungju area, the groundwater discharge rate was estimated to be less than 805 $m^3$/ha. This value, combined with weather data for 108 days with a daily minimum temperature below $0^{\circ}C$ in this area, can be applied to infer that the total groundwater volume used in WCC areas nationwide is no more than 55% of the total agricultural groundwater use in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.550-558
• /
• 2017

The effect of Artemisia argyi H. under liquid-state fermentation by Monascus purpureus (AAFM) on cognitive impairments has been studied in a mice model of diabetes-associated cognitive decline induced by streptozotocin (STZ). C57BL/6 mice (9 weeks of age, male) were separated into four groups: a normal control, STZ-induced diabetic mouse group (STZ group), Artemisia argyi H. (AA) 10 group (diabetic mouse+AA 10 mg/kg/day), AAFM 10 group (diabetic mouse+AAFM 10 mg/kg/day). Administration of AA and AAFM significantly improved glucose tolerance, as shown by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), and ameliorated cognitive deficit, as shown by the behavioral tests including passive avoidance, Morris water maze, and Y-maze tests. After behavioral tests, the cholinergic system was examined by assessment of the acetylcholine (ACh) level and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, and the antioxidant system was also assessed by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the brain and liver.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.68-76
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The study was designed to verify effects of aromatherapy on depression, anxiety and the autonomic nervous system in breast cancer patients who are undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy. Methods: Data were collected from November 2006 through March 2007 at the C university hospital in Seoul. The study included 33 patients and they were assigned to three groups. Group I had aroma oil inhalation for 2 minutes per time, three times a day for six weeks whereas Group II and a control group inhaled aroma oil for 2 minutes per time, once a day for six weeks. For Groups I and II, a mixture of lemon, lavender, rosewood and rose essential oils were used while control group inhaled tea tree oil. Results: Depression was significantly decreased in patients in the experimental groups only. In Groups I and II patients, anxiety level was lower than that in control patients. Patients in Groups I and II also showed stronger physical resistance to stress than control group patients. Conclusion: Aromatherapy should be considered as a method that can significantly decrease depression in breast cancer patients who are undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.118-122
• /
• 1999

Quality changes of fruit vegetables were investigated during simulated export and marketing to find out the optimum shipping temperature. Fruit vegetables were loaded into a small refrigerated-container and kept for four days at various temperatures, and fruit quality was assayed immediately after harvest, 4 days after storage and 4 days after marketing at ambient temperature. In 'Back Seong Ilho' cucumber fruits, fresh weight loss was further reduced at $13^{\circ}C$ and $11^{\circ}C$ than at $15^{\circ}C$ and room temperature. Soluble solid contents remained at relatively lower levels when cucumbers were stored at $13^{\circ}C$ and $11^{\circ}C$. In 'Chun Ryang' eggplant fruits, fresh weight loss was greatly increased at all the temperatures (room, $12^{\circ}C,\;9^{\circ}C,\;and\;6^{\circ}C$). However, flesh browning, a primary quality factor of eggplant fruit, was most effectively inhibited at $9^{\circ}C$, whereas chilling injury occurred in fruit flesh at $6^{\circ}C$. Water loss of 'Eals Seinu' melon fruits was most inhibited and soluble solid contents at harvest were maintained for the longest period at $4^{\circ}C$. In 'Pe Pe' cherry tomatoes, storage at $10^{\circ}C$ and $7^{\circ}C$ seemed to more effectively inhibit metabolic changes and the incidence of cracking, the severest disorder than room temperature. But the fruits stored at $10^{\circ}C$ contained higher level of soluble solids than those at $7^{\circ}C$. The overall results suggest that the optimum shipping temperature range is 11 to $13^{\circ}C$ for cucumbers, around $9^{\circ}C$ for eggplant fruit, $4^{\circ}C$ for melons, and $10^{\circ}C$ for cherry tomatoes.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.392-399
• /
• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of molybden (Mo) concentrations in fertilizer solution on the growth of and nutrient uptake by domestically bred strawberries. Tissue analysis based on the dry weight was also conducted to determine the threshold levels in plants when Mo toxicity developed in strawberries. The leaf chlorophyll contents decreased lineally as Mo concentrations in the fertilizer solution were elevated. The differences among treatments in chlorophyll contents were statistically significant. The fresh and dry weights decreased significantly when the Mo concentrations in fertilizer solution were higher than 3.0 mM in 'Keumhyang' and 'Maehyang' strawberries and 1.0 mM in 'Seolhyang' strawberry. The elevation of Mo concentrations in fertilizer solution resulted in severe toxicity and crops developed the unique symptoms. The margin of older leaves became yellow and desiccated. Then, the margin of leaf blade rapidly became bronze colored and died as the symptoms spread up the plants. The interveinal area of the young leaves became yellowing. The elevation of Mo concentrations in fertilizer solution did not influence the tissue P, K, and Mg contents based on the dry weight. The tissue Ca contents were higher in 1.0 mM treatment than other treatments of 'Keumhyang' and 'Seolhyang' strawberries. The tissue Mo contents based on the dry weight of 'Keumhyang', 'Maehyang', and 'Seolyahng' strawberries were 76.5, 104.0, and 187.3 $mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, respectively, in the 0.25 mM treatments and 4,155, 5,367, and 2,190 $mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, respectively, in the 4.0 mM treatments. The contents increased lineally as Mo concentrations in fertilizer solution were elevated. When the concentration of Mo at which growth of crops were retarded by 10% is regarded as threshold level, the Mo contents based on dry weight of above ground plant tissue should be lower than 653.4, 686.2, and 589.7 $mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, in 'Keumhyang', 'Maehyang', and 'Seolyahng' strawberries, respectively.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.728-734
• /
• 2010

We studied the accumulation and partitioning of dry weight (DW) and nitrogen (N) in different parts of field-grown 'Fuyu' persimmon to elucidate that the foliar applications of supplemental N in June or September compared favorably with the traditional soil application in securing leaf area and fruit production. We also estimated the proportion of N permanently removed from the tree at the end of a growing season. Urea was applied either to leaves in June and/or September or to the soil in June and September for three consecutive years, and the trees were excavated in November for analyses. Total DW ranged from 4.2-4.8, 8.7-9.2, and 17.1-21.5 kg in a 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old tree, respectively, without statistical difference among the four treatments. Of the total DW, 3.3-10.2% was in shoots, 5.7-10.5% in leaves, 8.3-31.4% in aerial woods, 13.0-27.0% in root, and 28.0-59.3% in fruits. As the trees became more productive, DW proportion of fruits significantly affected that of the root: in 6-year-old trees, root DW accounted for only 10.6-15.8% of the tree total when fruit DW accounted for 50-60%. N contents ranged from 24.6-28.3, 48.3-53.5, and 98.3-122.6 g in a 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old trees, respectively, without statistical difference among the treatments. Of the total N, 6.2-11.5% was in shoots, 16.7-24.3% in leaves, 17.6-23.5% in aerial woods, 17.2-37.5% in roots, and 16.9-34.4% in fruits. As in DW, the increase in the proportion of N in fruits decreased in the root most significantly. Application methods for supplemental N did not affect the proportion of DW and N removed from the tree through abscising leaves and harvested fruits. Percentage of DW removal was 41 in 4- and 5-year-old trees, but it was 61 in more productive 6-year-old trees; that of N was 39, 43, and 49%, respectively. No significant changes in the contents of DW and N in field-grown trees, as well as their percentages removed from the tree at the end of the season, demonstrated that foliar application of supplemental N was as good as soil applications with much less N.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.850-856
• /
• 2010

An in vivo oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed on hyperglycemic male Sprague-Dawley rats to assess the effect of fruits and vegetables ($1g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ body weight) on blood glucose levels (${\Delta}BGLs$) at different time intervals of 0, 5, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. The areas under glucose curve (${\Delta}AUCs$) were calculated at 120 min of OGTT by trapezoid method. Total phenolic content (TPC) and anti-oxidant activity (AOA) of fruits and vegetables were assayed in vitro by Folin Ciocalteu and DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) methods, respectively. At the end of the experiment the correlations among the parameters TPC, AOA and ${\Delta}AUC$ was estimated by Pearson's correlations. Among fruit crops, tangerine, plum, grape and pear and among vegetables, blue leaf mustard, cabbage, chicory, broccoli and others exhibited significant hypoglycemic effects by reducing ${\Delta}BGLs$ with significant ${\Delta}AUC$. The effective ${\Delta}AUC$ ranged from $5548.2{\pm}462.1$ to $3823.3{\pm}282.0mg-min{\cdot}dL^{-1}$. The TPC and AOA ranged from $0.063{\pm}0.00$ to $0.913{\pm}0.14mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$ GAE and $01.05{\pm}0.08$ to $75.46{\pm}0.06%$, respectively. Overall, six fruits and fifteen vegetables exhibited higher TPC and one fruit and four vegetables exhibited higher AOA. There was a better correlation among TPC, AOA and ${\Delta}AUC$ of fruits and TPC & AOA of vegetables. We report that hypoglycemically significant fruits and vegetables investigated in this study have pharmacological importance which reduced ${\Delta}BGLs$ through insulin like activity and AOA in prevention of type-2 diabetes.