• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.12 no.3 s.29
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• pp.1-8
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to determine the distribution of the suspended matter caused by dredging at the northeastern part of Kwangyang Bay and to determine the effect of the single silt protector for it. According to the direction of the tidal current, six sampling stations were chosen from the dredging site to the southeast. At the high tide, the high concentration of the suspended matter was observed below the mid-depth near the dredging site. As the tidal currents were stronger. its concentrations below the mid-depth at the inner stations of the single silt protector were rapidly increased, but those of the outer stations did not show any significant change. The concentrations at the inner stations of the silt protector at that time were from 20~140mg/l and those of the outer stations, which was only about 30 m apart from the inner station, were from 20~30mg/l. It suggests that the large amount of suspended matter caused by dredging were moved to the inner stations near the silt protector at the ebb tide and that the silt protector is very effective for the suspended matter.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.571-578
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• 2009

$PM_{2.5}$ black carbon (BC) concentrations were measured to investigate the filter spot loading effect in raw BC data at 5-minute time-based resolution using a single-wavelength aethalometer at a Gwangju site. Also the elemental carbon (EC) concentrations from 24-hr integrated filter-based measurements of $PM_{2.5}$ particles were determined to compare with the loading compensated BC values. Close examination of the time-series BC data showed clearly the "gaps" when the filter tape advances, suggesting the correction of raw BC data. Therefore, we calculated the average BC concentration in each range of attenuation (ATN) to decide if there was (or was not) an effect on the aethalometer data according to the loading of the filter spot. A consistent decrease of average BC concentration was found with increasing ATN values for every month, suggesting there was a consistent "spot loading effect" in the raw BC data. The loading compensated BC concentration according to a simple compensation model with loading effect was 1.01~1.15 times greater than the raw BC data. The 24-hr average concentration of EC observed during summer sampling period was about 3% higher than the original 24-hr average BC value and 2% lower than the loading compensated BC concentration.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2015

The collection of fine particulate matter samples was made at Gosan site of Jeju Island, one of the background sites of Korea, during a year of 2013, and their water-soluble ionic species were analyzed in order to examine the chemical compositions and pollution characteristics. The concentrations of $nss-SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NH_4{^{+}}$, $NO_3{^{-}}$, and $K^+$ had occupied 66.0% of water-soluble ionic species in $PM_{10}$, especially 94.3% in $PM_{2.5}$ fine mode, however the $nss-Ca^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ showed high concentrations in $PM_{10-2.5}$ coarse mode. $NO_3{^-}/nss-SO_4{^{2-}}$ concentration ratios in $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{10-2.5}$ were 0.30 and 0.13, showing less significant effect from automobile and local pollution sources. The sulfate and nitrate compounds were presumed to be long-range transported to Gosan area by the relatively high SOR and NOR values. The trajectory cluster analysis showed the higher concentrations of the major secondary pollutants ($nss-SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^{-}}$, $NH_4{^{+}}$) and $nss-Ca^{2+}$ when the air masses had moved from China continent and Korean peninsula into Gosan area.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.7-11
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• 2004

We previously reported that ginseng inhibited NMDA receptors in cultured hippocampal neurons. Here, we further examined the detailed mechanism of ginseng-mediated inhibition using its main active ingredient, ginsenoside Rg$_3$. Co-application of ginsenoside Rg$_3$ with increasing concentrations of NMDA did not change the EC$_{50}$ of NMDA to the receptor, suggesting ginsenoside Rg$_3$ inhibits NMDA receptors without competing with the NMDA-binding site. Ginsenoside Rg$_3$-mediated inhibition also occurred in a distinctive manner from the well-characterized NMDA receptor open channel blocker, MK-801, However, ginsenoside Rg$_3$ produced its effect in a glycine concentration-dependent manner and shifted the glycine concentration-response curve to the right without changing the maximal response, suggesting the role of ginsenoside Rg$_3$ as a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist. We also demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg$_3$ significantly protected neurons against NMDA insults. Therefore, these results suggest that ginsenoside Rg$_3$ protects NMDA-induced neuronal death via a competitive interaction with the glycine-binding site of NMDA receptors in cultured hippocampal neurons.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.515-520
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• 2017

$PM_{2.5}$ concentrations were measured using a cyclone, impactor (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency well impactor ninety-six, WINS) and optical particle counter (OPC) at a campus site located in Yongin for the period August 2014 through March 2017. The concentrations from cyclone (Y) were generally higher than those from impactor(X); the best-fit line was Y=1.22X+5.64. The ratios of $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ranged from 0.61 to 0.66 when $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations from cyclones in selected studies were converted into those from impactors using a regression equation in this study. The slope of the best-fit line between OPC and impactor was close to 1 at 0.95, while that between OPC and cyclone was 0.72. After sampling, the flow rate in the low-volume air sampler with cyclone decreased by 3% on average, which did not have a significant effect on measured concentrations.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.392-402
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• 2010

Black carbon (BC) concentrations were measured with an aethalometer (AE-16, 880 nm) at time interval of 5-min at an urban site of Gwangju over a year 2008. 24-hr filter-based integrated measurements of $PM_{2.5}$ particles were also made at the same site during the winter and summer intensive periods to test any optical loading bias in the raw BC data measured by aethalometer. BC concentration was higher in winter than in summer, possibly due to increase in emissions from energy consumption and poor dispersion with reduction of boundary layer in winter. Also temporal cycles of BC indicate that short-term transient spikes were common, occurring primarily during the rush-hour periods. A similar feature was also observed in diurnal concentration cycle of CO, mainly emitted from motor vehicles. When both low wind speed and weather patterns such as mist, haze and etc were combined, high BC concentrations frequently occurred. The amount of optical loading effect described by the "k" factor showed the seasonal variation, ranging from 0.0003 to 0.0036. This implies that optical loading effect is not seen at all times. From the comparison between the filter-based elemental carbon (EC) and aethalometer BC data, it was found that the loading compensated BC values were more reasonable than the raw BC ones reported from the aethalometer.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.334-343
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• 2023

Background: South Korea's Act on Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemicals (known as K-REACH) was established to protect public health and the environment from hazardous chemicals. 4,4'-Methylenedianiline (MDA), which is used as a major intermediate in industrial polymer production and as a vulcanizing agent in South Korea, is classified as a toxic substance under the K-REACH act. Although MDA poses potential ecological risks due to industrial emissions and hazards to aquatic ecosystems, no ecological risk assessment has been conducted. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the ecological risk of MDA by identifying the actual exposure status based on the K-REACH act. Methods: Various toxicity data were collected to establish predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) for water, sediment, and soil. Using the SimpleBox Korea v2.0 model with domestic release statistical data and EU emission factors, predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) were derived for ten sites, each referring to an MDA-using company. Hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated by ratio of the PECs and PNECs to characterize the ecological risk posed by MDA. To validate the results of modeling-based assessment, concentration of MDA was measured using in-site freshwater samples (two to three samples per site). Results: PNECs for water, sediment, and soil were 0.000525 mg/L, 4.36 mg/kg dw, and 0.1 mg/kg dw, respectively. HQ for surface water and sediment at several company sites exceeded 1 due to modeling data showing markedly high PEC in each environmental compartment. However, in the results of validation using in-site surface water samples, MDA was not detected. Conclusions: Through an ecological risk assessment conducted in accordance with the K-REACH act, the risk level of MDA emitted into the environmental compartments in South Korea was found to be low.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.229-238
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• 2012

This research was to examine the physiochemical factors and the attached diatoms of ecological wetland in Paju from August 2010 to May 2011. As a result of physicohemical water quality assessment, the water temperature did not fluctuate much due to ample riparian vegetation and aquatic plants growing at the site. Due to the effect of Han River Estuary, site 4, 5 and 6 had high electricity conductivity. The BOD concentration was high at site 2, 3, and 4 caused by decrease in water quantity and inflow of polluted water. At all sites, T-N and T-P concentrations ranged from eutrophic to hypertrophic status. At the downstream, the T-N and T-P concentrations decreased by inhabiting aquatic plant. Total of 98 taxa of attached diatoms were found. As for dominant taxa, Achnanthes convergens, A. minutissima, Gomphonema gracile, G. parvulum, Melosira varians, Navicula seminulum, N. minima, N. pseudolanceolata, Nitzschia amphibia, N. palea, Surirella minuta and Synedra ulna var. fragilariodes appeared. The result of biological assessment of water quality rated the sites B(suboptimal)~D(poor) during seasons of low water temperature, Fall and Winter, with DAIpo ranging 24.1~68.2 and TDI of 48.4~85.6. During Spring and Summer, all sites were rated D(poor) with DAIpo lower than or equal to 40, and TDI above or equal to 70. The biological assessment of water quality at the research site showed inferior TDI result compared to that of DAIpo.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.637-642
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• 2002

Thirty Holstein calves were used to determine effects of age, environment and sex on blood metabolite concentrations during 1 to 90 d of age. Calves were weaned at 75 d of age. Environmental effects are grouped by the difference in month at birth and site of feeding. Blood samples were obtained every 2 or 3 d. The mean metabolite concentration every 3 d was used for the statistical analysis. Dairy bodyweight gain was not affected by environmental group and sex effect. Concentrations of plasma glucose, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglyceride, total cholesterol and total ketone changed with growth. These developmental changes in metabolite levels would be caused by ruminal maturation with increment of grain intake. Levels of plasma urea nitrogen, glucose, NEFA, triglyceride and total cholesterol drastically changed during a few weeks after birth, indicating that the physiological state in calves greatly changed during that time. Effects of the environmental group and sex were significant in almost all metabolites. Temperature influenced plasma metabolite concentrations. The plasma metabolite concentrations were affected more intensely by heat stress in the infant period than in the neonatal period.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 1990

The regulation of neurotoxicants has usually been based upon setting reference doses by dividing a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) by uncertainty factors that theoretically account for interspecies and intraspecies extraploation of experimental results in animals to humans. Recently, we have proposed a four-step alternative procedure which provides quantitative estimates of risk as a function of dose. The first step is to establish a mathematical relationship between a biological effect or biomarker and the dose of chemical administered. The second step is to determine the distribution (variability) of individual measurements of biological effects or their biomarkers about the dose response curve. The third step is to define an adverse or abnormal level of a biological effect or biomarker in an untreated population. The fourth and final step is to combine the information from the first three steps to estimate the risk (proportion of individuals exceeding on adverse or abnormal level of a biological effect or biomarker) as a function of dose. The primary purpose of this report is to enhance the certainty of the first step of this procedure by improving our understanding of the relationship between a biomarker and dose of administered chemical. Several factors which need to be considered include: 1) the pharmacokinetics of the parent chemical, 2) the target tissue concentrations of the parent chemical or its bioactivated proximate toxicant, 3) the uptake kinetics of the parent chemical or metabolite into the target cell(s) and/or membrane interactions, and 4) the interaction of the chemical or metabolite with presumed receptor site(s). Because these theoretical factors each contain a saturable step due to definitive amounts of required enzyme, reuptake or receptor site(s), a nonlinear, saturable dose-response curve would be predicted. In order to exemplify this process, effects of the neurotoxicant, methlenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), were reviewed and analyzed. Our results and those of others indicate that: 1) peak concentrations of MDMA and metabolites are ochieved in rat brain by 30 min and are negligible by 24 hr, 2) a metabolite of MDMA is probably responsible for its neurotoxic effects, and 3) pretreatment with monoamine uptake blockers prevents MDMA neurotoxicity. When data generated from rats administerde MDMA were plotted as bilolgical effect (decreases in hippocampal serotonin concentrations) versus dose, a saturation curve best described the observed relationship. These results support the hypothesis that at least one saturable step is involved in MDMA neurotoxicity. We conclude that the mathematical relationship between biological effect and dose of MDMA, the first step of our quantitative neurotoxicity risk assessment procedure, should reflect this biological model information generated from the whole of the dose-response curve.