• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.457-466
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• 2007

A numerical and experimental study on the evaluation and the prediction of cleanliness level in the mini-environment system was carried out. Using the concept of local mean air-age (LMA) and effective flow rate, the new direct method for estimating the mini-environment was developed and compared with the previous performance index of airflow pattern characteristics. It was found out that the airflow pattern analysis is a restricted method to estimate the real performance of the mini-environment. The reason is that the airflow pattern cannot predict the effect of the increment of the ventilation rate on the cleanliness level in the mini-environment. While LMA is capable of showing the effects of the contaminant accumulation caused by turbulent intensity, eddy, and the increment of the effective flow rate. This result showed that LMA is more exact and effective performance index than the previous one like the airflow pattern characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.1018-1023
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• 2011

Alzinc is a ursine situated in the Ghazaouet town western part of the republic of Algeria. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of contamination which soil and plants are burdened with some heavy metals: Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cd, Mn, Cr, Fe and As, then the accumulation of heavy metals in the soil and plant adjacent of area the alzinc ursine was detected and the interdependence of pollution among all three regions of the environment determined. This paper analyzes the heavy metal contents within a 2-years period in the soil and plants at the beginning of the vegetation period. The presence of Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cd, Mn, Cr, Fe and As, in the samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). Measurements of heavy metal contents were performed at three locations in soil and vegetative parts of three-plant types (plant alimentary) period during summer. The plant samples from the immediate environment of the dumpsite were highly contaminated with Zn, Cd and Mn. Three plants species: grape, artichoke and pepper, particularly, grape met some of the conditions to be classified as accumulators for Zn, Cu, Cd and Fe, consequently, she revealed a health risk for human and livestock due to the spread of the metal pollution from waste dumpsites to agricultural areas.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1328-1339
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• 2024

Cadmium (Cd) is a prevalent environmental contaminant that poses a potential hazard to the health of both humans and animals. In this study, biosynthesized selenium-enriched Lactobacillus plantarum and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were developed and evaluated for their protective effects against Cd-induced hepatic injury in mice through oral administration for 4 weeks. Cadmium exposure resulted in severe impairment of liver function, as evidenced by increased levels of serum markers of liver injury and, oxidative stress and significant damage to liver tissue, and a notable decrease in the diversity of the intestinal microbiota. Oral administration of Se-enriched L. plantarum (LS) reduced cadmium accumulation in the liver by 49.5% and, restored other cadmium-induced damage markers to normal levels. A comparison of the effects with those of L. plantarum (L) and SeNPs isolated from LS revealed that LS could more effectively alleviate hepatic oxidative stress and reduce the intrahepatic inflammatory responses of the liver, further protecting against cadmium-induced liver injury. These findings suggest that the development of LS may be effective at protecting the liver and intestinal tract from cadmium-induced damage.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2007

The persistent and ubiquitous environmental contaminant, tributyltin chloride (TBT), induces not only imposex in gastropods but also the differentiation of adipocytes in vitro and increases adipose mass in vivo in vertebrates. TBT is a nanomolar affinity ligand for retinoid X receptor (RXR) in the rock shell(Thais clavigera) and for both the RXR and the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor $\gamma(PPAR\gamma)$ in the amphibian (Xenopus laevis), mouse, and human. The molecular mechanisms underlying induction of imposex by TBT have not been clarified, though several hypotheses are proposed. TBT promotes adipogenesis in the murine 3T3-L1 cell model and perturbs key regulators of adipogenesis and lipogenic pathways in vivo primarily through activation of RXR and $PPAR\gamma$. Moreover, in utero exposure to TBT leads to strikingly elevated lipid accumulation in adipose depots, liver, and testis of neonate mice and results in increased adipose mass in adults. In X. laevis, ectopic adipocytes form in and around gonadal tissues following organotin, RXR or $PPAR\gamma$ ligand exposure. TBT represents the first example of an environmental endocrine disrupter that promotes adverse effects from gastropods to mammals.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2018

This paper is aimed at source tracking of soil heavy metal contamination at a site established by reusing construction wastes. The soil heavy metal concentration at the study site peaked at a depth range of 5-10 m. Column studies were conducted to investigate the possibility of the contamination scenario of infiltration of stormwater carrying heavy metals of ground origin followed by selective heavy metal accumulation at the 5-10 m depth range. Almost all amount of lead, zinc, cadmium, and nickel introduced to the columns each packed with 0-5 m or 5-10 m field soil were accumulated in the column. The very poor heavy metal mobility in spite of the weak association of the heavy metals with the soil (characterized by a sequential extraction procedure) can be attributed to the high pH (10-11) of the construction wastes. From the results, the heavy metal contamination of the subsurface soil by an external heavy metal source was determined to be very unlikely at the study site. The column study applied in the current study is expected to be a useful methodology to present direct evidence of the contaminant source tracking at soil contamination sites.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.12-20
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• 2024

Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) are passive sampling devices used to determine the time-weighted average concentrations (TWAC) of contaminants. To ensure accurate performance in groundwater, it is crucial to identify environmental characteristics and maintain optimal operational conditions. This study examined the deployment time required to reach effective capacity, the thickness of the diffusive boundary layer (DBL) under stagnant water conditions, and biofilm formation on the DGT surface using groundwater samples. When using DGT with Chelex gel (A=3.14 cm²), the effective capacity was 0.7 ㎍ for Cd and 250 ㎍ for Zn, with a deployment time of 24 h. Lower Cd accumulation was due to the competition effect of coexisting ions. The DBL thickness under stagnant conditions was 0.074 cm, 93% of the diffusion gel's thickness (0.08 cm). Neglecting DBL thickness in TWAC calculations led to a 79% decrease in the determined concentration. No biofouling was observed during the 28-d DGT deployment in groundwater. In conclusion, it is essential to consider the appropriate deployment time, DBL thickness, and biofilm formation to ensure accurate DGT performance in determining contaminant levels in groundwater.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.715-728
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• 2023

Tracksite of pterosaurs, birds, and dinosaurs in Chungmugong-dong in Jinju was designated as a natural monument in 2011 and is known as the world's largest in terms of the number and density of pterosaur footprints. This site has been managed by installing protection buildings to conserve in 2018. About 17% of the footprints of pterosaur, theropod, and ornithopod in this site under management in the 2nd protection building are of great academic value, but observation of footprints has difficulties due to continuous physical and chemical damage. In particular, the accumulation of milk-white contaminants is formed by the gypsum and air pollutant complex. Gypsum remains evaporated with a plate or columnar shape in the process of water circulation around the 2nd protection building, and the dust is from through the inflow of the gallery windows. The aqueous solution of gypsum, consisting of calcium from the lower bed and sulfur from grass growth, is catchmented into the groundwater from the area behind the protection building. Pollen and a few minerals other constituents of contaminants, go through the gallery window, which makes it difficult to expel dust. To conserve the fossil-bearing beds from two contaminants of different origins, controlling the water and atmospheric circulation of the 2nd protection building and removing the contaminants continuously is necessary. When cleaning contaminants, the steam cleaning method is sufficiently effective for powder-shaped milk-white contaminants. The fossil-bearing bed consists of dark gray shale with high laser absorption power; the laser cleaning method accompanies physical loss to fossils and sedimentary structures; therefore, avoiding it as much as possible is desirable.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.603-608
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• 2018

Although the voltage-applied discharge method is most widely used in the semiconductor and display industries, periodic management costs are incurred because the method causes defects due to the absorption of ambient fine dust and causes emitter tip contamination due to the discharge. The emitter tip contamination problem is caused by the accumulation of fine particles in ambient air due to the corona discharge of the ionizer. Fuzzy ball generation accelerates the wear of the emitter tip and deteriorates the performance of the ionizer. Although a mechanical cleaning method using a manual brush or an automatic brush is effective for contaminant removal, it requires management of additional mechanical parts by the user. In some cases, contaminants accumulated in the emitter may be transferred to the wafer or product. In order to solve this problem, we developed an ionizer for a clean environment that can remove the pencil-type emitter tip and directly ionize the surrounding gas molecules using the tungsten wire located inside the ion tank. As a result of testing and certification by the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, the average concentration was $0.7572particles/ft^3$, the decay time was less than two seconds, and the ion valance was 7.6 V, which is satisfactory.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 1997

The purpose of the study is to analyze the sensitivity of the parameters that affect the runoff and water quality in the studied drainage basins. SWMM model is applied to the four drainage basins located at Namgazwa and Sanbon in Seoul and Gray Haven and Kings Creek in the USA. first of all, the optimum values of the parameters which have least simulation error to the observed data, are detected by iteration procedure. These are used as the standard values which are compared against the procedure. These are used as the standard values which are compared against the varied parameter values. In order to catch the effectiveness of the parameters to the computing result, the parameters are changed step by setp, and the results are compared to the standard results in flowerate and quality of the sewer. The study indicates that the discharge is greatly affected by the types of runoff surface, i.e., impervious area remarkably affects the peak flow and runoff volume while the surface storage affects the runoff volume at mild sloped basins. In addition, the major parameters affecting the pollution concentrations and loadings are the contaminant accumulation coefficient per unit area per time and the continuous dry weather days. Furthermore, the factors that affect the water quality during the initial rainfall period are the rainfall intensity, transport capacity coefficient and its power coefficient. Consequently, in order to simulate the runoff-water quality, it is needed to evaluate previous data in the research performed for the studied basins. To accurately estimated from the tributary areas and the rational computation methods of the pollutants calculation should be introduced.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2001

This study was conducted to compare and evaluate the heavy metal contents of agricultural products in Korea and to compare with relevant international criteria such as the Average Daily Intake(ADI) and the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake(PTWI) proposed by the joint FAO/WHO Codex Committee on additives and contaminant. Contents of heavy metal in cereals, pulses, potatoes, vegetables and fruits were in the range of $0.010{\sim}0.073$ for Cd, $0.40{\sim}6.45$ for Cu, $0.083{\sim}0.698$ for Pb, $2.45{\sim}16.30$ for Zn, $0.171{\sim}1.378$ for Ni, $0.023{\sim}0.233$ for Cr and $0.026{\sim}0.070$ mg/kg(F.W.) for As. Heavy metal contents of cereals, pulses, potatoes, vegetables and fruits were with natural content levels proposed by FAO/WHO and were similar to value monitored in other countries. Also, average intake of heavy metal from agricultural products was lower than the ADI and PTWI by the joint FAO/WHO Codex Committee on Additives and Contaminants. Therefore, none of the cereals, pulses, potatoes, vegetables and fruits evaluated showed accumulation of such heavy metal high enough to cause health problems to human.