• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.360-365
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• 2009

Over the last five years, we have conducted research on risk assessment of domestically developed genetically modified (GM) crops and found a number of factors which could delay risk assessment process. In this review, we described such cases and discussed the problem of transgene cassette integration, the lack of information on vectors, the poor quality control in seed production and absence of bioinformatic analysis on amino acid sequence homology before GM crop development. To solve these problems, we have suggested the introduction of the screening system of elite event before risk assessment process and quality control strategies for GM seed production. In addition, we suggested that the developers of GM crops should understand the importance of risk assessment and management for the commercialization of those crops and consider the biological and ecological characteristics of host plants. Consistent communications may need to be established between GM crop developers, risk assessors and risk managers at the initial stages of GM crop development to reduce trial-and-errors.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 2011

The concept of bio-housing comes from the new social and culture housing trends. Previous research have shown standards on performance criteria for bio-housing. However some criteria on that research were overlapped because they were merged from various current housing assessment systems. This current research looks on the duplication of criteria which were impossible to evaluate current housing assessment, and make specialized factors for bio-housing developments. Finally the research shows the magnitude of factors for bio-housing performance criteria.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.2085-2091
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• 2020

The license for Kori-1, the first commercial reactor in Busan, Korea, was terminated in June 2017; therefore, preparations are being made for its decommissioning. Because the radioactivity of Bio-shield varies greatly throughout the structure, the doses received by the workers depend on the location, order, and duration of dismantling operations. Thus, a model for evaluating the worker external dose during the dismantling of the Kori-1 bio-shield was developed, and work scenarios for dose assessment were designed. The Dose evaluation code VISIPLAN was used for dose assessment. The dose rate around the bio-shield was evaluated and the level of exposure to the operator was evaluated according to the work scenario. The maximum annual external dose was calculated as 746.86 mSv for a diamond wire saw operator under dry cutting conditions, indicating that appropriate protective measures, such as changing dismantling sequence, remote monitoring, shield installation, and adjustment of work team are necessary for the safe dismantling of the bio-shield. Through these protective measures, it was found that the worker's dose could be below the dose limit.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2014

Since the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) would be started in 2012, the use of renewable energy should be 11% of total energy use including bio-fuel in 2030. The economic efficiency for renewable energy in B power plant was considered with the bio-diesel, wind power and solar power. The Net Present Value (NPV) and Benefit/Cost Ratio(BC) were used for the economic efficiency with the cost and benefit analysis. In case of bio-diesel, the cost resulted from the fuel conversion and the benefit would be created with trade and environmental improvement. With regard to wind power and solar power, the construction cost would be required and benefit factors would be same as the bio-diesel. The wind power was the best of economic efficiency of renewable energy as the results of NPV and BC ratio. Whereas, the market of wind power was very popular and the techniques of wind power has been developing rapidly.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.245-251
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study are to investigate the contamination levels of heavy metals in soil, ground water, and agricultural product near the abandoned Boeun and Sanggok mine areas in Korea and to assess the health risk for these local residents exposed to the toxic heavy metals based on analytical data. METHODS AND RESULTS: By the results of human health risk assessment for local residents around Boeun and Sanggok, human exposure to cadmium, copper, arsenic from soil and to lead, cadmium, and arsenic from rice grain were higher in Sanggok, but human exposure to zinc and arsenic from ground water was higher in Boeun. By the results of hazard index (HI) evaluation for arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc, HI values in both areas were higher than 1.0. This result indicated that the toxicity hazard through the continuous exposure to lead, cadmium, arsenic from rice, ground water, and soil would be likely to occur to the residents in the areas. Cancer risk assessment for arsenic, risks from the rice were exposed to one to two out of 10,000 people in Boeun and one of 1,000 people in Sanggok. These results showed that the cancer risks of arsenic in both areas were 10~100 times greater than the acceptable cancer risk range of US EPA ($1{\times}10^{-6}{\sim}1{\times}10^{-5}$). CONCLUSION(S): Therefore, if these two local residents consume continuously with arsenic contaminated soil, ground water, and rice, the adverse health effects (carcinogenic potential) would be more increased.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.327-330
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• 2005

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.154-163
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• 2021

This study was carried out to identify the factors affecting the distribution of suitable habitats for Geranium carolinianum, which was naturalized in South Korea, and to predict the changes of distribution in the future. We collected occurrence data of G. carolinianum at 68 sites in South Korea, and applied the MaxEnt model under climate change scenarios (SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5). Precipitation seasonality (bio15), mean temperature of warmest quarter (bio10), and mean temperature of driest quarter (bio09) had high contribution for potential distribution of G. carolinianum. According to climate change scenarios, high suitable habitats of G. carolinianum occupied 6.43% of the land of South Korea in historical period (1981~2010), and 92.60% under SSP2-4.5, and 98.36% undr SSP5-8.5 in far future (2071~2100).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Global warming has a major impact on the Earth's precipitation and temperature fluctuations, and significantly affects the habitats and biodiversity of many species. Although the number of alien plants newly introduced in South Korea has recently increased due to the increasing frequency of international exchanges and climate change, studies on how climate change affects the distribution of these alien plants are lacking. This study predicts changes in the distribution of suitable habitats according to RCPs climate change scenarios using the current distribution of the invasive alien plant Conyza sumatrensis and bioclimatic variables. C. sumatrensis has a limited distribution in the southern part of South Korea. Isothermality (bio03), the max temperature of the warmest month (bio05), and the mean temperature of the driest quarter (bio09) were found to influence the distribution of C. sumatrensis. In the future, the suitable habitat for C. sumatrensis is projected to increase under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 climate change scenarios. Changes in the distribution of alien plants can have a significant impact on the survival of native plants and cause ecosystem disturbance. Therefore, studies on changing distribution of invasive species according to climate change scenarios can provide useful information required to plan conservation strategies and restoration plans for various ecosystems.

• Safe Food
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.19-22
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• 2008

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2013

Carbon sequestration on soil is one of the counter measurements against climate change in agricultural sector. Increasing incorporation of organic fertilizer would increase soil organic carbon (SOC) but it could bring high potential of nutrient losses which would result in water quality degradation. In this paper, literature review on soil organic carbon behavior according to agricultural management is presented. The results of field experiment to identify the effect of organic and commercial fertilizer applications on SOC and runoff water quality were also presented. Field experiment confirmed increased SOC and nutrient concentrations in runoff water as application rate of organic fertilizer increase. The potential use of simulation model to develop best agricultural management practice considering carbon sequestration and water quality conservation at the same time is discussed and monitoring and modeling strategies are also suggested to achieve the goal.