• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2003

Indoor air quality(IAQ) in workplace and residential environments has been concern of people. Recently, Ministry of Environment in Korea has recognized the potential risk on the healthy effect related to indoor air pollution at home. Therefore, the purpose of this study was performed to measure the indoor air pollutants of IAQ at different homes and investigate to compare the perception of IAQ recognition at home from questionnaire survey in Seoul. We estimated the IAQ of selected 6 homes based on site region and housing type. The indoor air pollutants and parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, respirable suspended particulate matter($PM_{10}$), formaldehyde(HCHO), total bacteria counts, carbon monooxide(CO) and carbon dioxide($CO_2$) were monitored for summer and winter. In monitoring results, the respirable suspended particulate matter(($PM_{10}$) and indoor airborne bacteria level of home 5 and 6 were higher than the standard of the public $150{\;}{\mu}g/m^3$ and $500{\;}{\mu}g/m^3$, the level formaldehyde(HCHO) was exceed 0.1 ppm of the standard of Korea at all monitored homes. In statistics analysis, we could find a correlation between the building age and the concentration of CO, TBC were significant at 0.01 level and Relative Humidity was significant at 0.05 level for summer. Finally, the important air pollutants of IAQ in home were HCHO and total bacteria counts(TBC). And we performed a questionnaire survey of 500 people about their awareness for the importance of IAQ in our home during same period. In results, all most response of occupant has recognized the importance of IAQ at home. Therefore, it can be concluded that the IAQ of selected 6 home studied was perceived as acceptable, it is recommended that the government related IAQ was suggested the guideline and control of IAQ problems, and the occupants need to be effort to reduce the exposure of sources to undesirable pollutants.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.249-259
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to analyze the users' behaviors and to suggest development strategies in Uljin Kumgang pine tree(Pinus densiflora for. erecta) eco-forest(UKPEF), which is located in Kyeongbuk. The data were collected by interviewing 122 visitors to september 3 from august 29, 2007 with a constructed questionnaire. The results of the analysis are as follows. 1. The major visitors of UKPEF are male and the age between 20 to 30, the residents of the Uljin county with relatively high academic background. 2. The motive of visiting UKPEF is mainly by the beauty and taste of Kumgang pine tree and the condition of the forest. The visitors are mainly composed of family, not big group. 3. The visitors of UKPEF have obtained information about the Kumgang fine tree forest mainly from friends, not from the internet or travel agency. 4. The visitors of UKPEF pointed out lack of convenient facilities such as toilets and water-supply facilities. However, visitors are satisfied by the condition of the forest. 5. The visitors of UKPEF set a high value on Kumgang fine tree, So, more active marketing strategy about Uljin Kumgang pine tree has to be established. 6. The visitors of UKPEF are more satisfied by the Uljin Kumgang pine tree forest than expected. The development strategies of UKPEF are suggest as follows. (1) Auto tram system has to be set up and new trail should be constructed to attract more visitors and people of other regions. (2) To attract group tourists, new program should be developed. (3) Advertisement through internet or travel agency has to be developed. (4) Government(local) should make a plan to register the forest as World natural heritage. (5) Monitoring and evaluation system has to be developed to satisfy tourists. In conclusion, the efforts of taking care of and preserving the UKPEF should be made at the national level. I hope that more Koreans can have chance to feel and experience the value and excellence ofthe Uljin Kumgang pine tree(Pinus densiflora for. erecta)

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2005

This study was to determine the fluctuation in phytoplankton assemblages with regarding to environmental conditions and nutrients, which were surveyed around Mokpo waters in the southwestern waters, Korea. Sampling was carried out on the Mokpo, Sinan, and Wando coasts from March to November 2003. The maximum sea surface temperature was recorded in August, and it ranged around $25^{\circ}C$ regardless of sampling sites. However, salinity in Mokpo waters showed a great variation, which ranged from 5-30 psu and recoded the minimum of 5 psu in July and the maximum of 30 psu in November. Moreover, in Mokpo waters, the chlorophyll a and SS concentration of the surface layer were also the highest values of $20\;{\mu}g\;l^{-1}\;and\;40\;{\mu}g\;l^{-1}$, respectively than those of Sinan and Wando waters. The concentrations of $NH_4-N,\;NO_2-N,\;NO_3-N,\;and\;PO_4-P$ were also he highest values of $0.018\;{\mu}mol\;^l{-1},\;0.062\;{\mu}mol\;l^{-1},\;1.2\;{\mu}mol\;l^{-1}\;and\;0.078\;{\mu}mol\;l^{-1}$, respectively in Morpo waters than those of Sinan and Wando waters. During the period of this study, the majority of the taxa were diatoms; Thalassiosira rotula, Rhizosolenia setigera, Prorocentrum minimum, Chaetoceros curvisetus, Leptocylindrus danicus, Pseudonitzschia pungens, and Chaetoceros spp. were detected in the dominant species of phytoplankton. The dinoflagellates were relatively abundant during the summer season in Wando waters, which attained an abundance of $10-20\%$. In Mokpo waters, DIN/DIP was the highest value of 700 in March, whereas the lowest was shown in Wando waters. However, DIN/DIP value in summer at Wando waters was extremely reversed, which appeared to be associated with the development of dinoflagellates. On the bais of factor analysis using SYSAT 6.0, nutrient showed somewhat correlation with chlorophyll a. Consequently, the process of discharge of fresh water in Mokpo waters plays an important role in extremely fluctuation in nutrients and conditions. Although Wando waters maintains a lack of nutrients, it should be influenced by different water current and may be associated with a concentration of nutrients.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.266-274
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• 2010

This study aim to investigate fundamentally the growth and physiological responses of tomato plants in responses to two different levels of water deficit, a weak drought stress (-25 kPa) and a severe drought stress (-100 kPa) in soil. The two levels of water deficit were maintained using a micro-irrigation system consisted of soil sensors for the real-time monitoring of soil water content and irrigation modules in a greenhouse experiment. Soil water contents were fluctuated throughout the 30 days treatment period but differed between the two treatments with the average -47 kPa in -25 kPa set treatment and the -119 kPa in -100 kPa set treatment. There were significant differences in plant height between the two different soil water statuses in plant height without differences of the number of nodes. The plants grown in the severe water-deficit treatment had greater accumulation of biomass than the plants in the weak water-deficit treatment. The severe water-deficit treatment (-119 kPa) also induced greater leaf area and leaf dry weight of the plants than the weak water-deficit treatment did, even though there was no difference in leaf area per unit dry weight. These results of growth parameters tested in this study indicate that the severe drought could cause an adaptation of tomato plants to the drought stress with the enhancement of biomass and leaf expansion without changes of leaf thickness. Greater relative water content of leaves and lower osmotic potential of sap expressed from turgid leaves were recorded in the severe water deficit treatment than in the weak water deficit treatment. This finding also postulated physiological adaptation to be better water status under drought stress. The drought imposition affected significantly on photosynthesis, water use efficiency and stomatal conductance of tomato plants. The severe water-deficit treatment increased PSII activities and water use efficiency, but decreased stomatal conductance than the weak water-deficit treatment. However, there were no differences between the two treatments in total photosynthetic capacity. Finally, there were no differences in the number and biomass of fruits. These results suggested that tomato plants have an ability to make adaptation to water deficit conditions through changes in leaf morphology, osmotic potentials, and water use efficiency as well as PSII activity. These adaptation responses should be considered in the screening of drought tolerance of tomato plants.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2014

This experiment has investigated suitable methods to improve precision water content monitoring of coconut coir substrates to control irrigation by frequency domain reflectometry(FDR) sensors. Specifically, water content changes and variations were observed at different sensing distances and positions from the irrigation dripper location, and different spaces between the FDR sensors with or without noise filters. Commercial coconut coir substrates containing different ratios of dust and chips(10:0, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7) were used. On the upper side and the side of the substrates, a FDR sensor was used at 5, 10, 20, 30cm distances respectively from the irrigation dripper point, and water content was measured by time after the irrigation. In the glass beads, sensors were installed with or without noise filtering. Closer sensing distance had a higher water content increasing rate, regardless of different coir substrate ratios. There were no differencies of water content increasing rates in 10:0 and 3:7 substrates between the upper side and the side. Whereas, 7:3 and 5:5 substrates showed higher increasing rates on the upper side measurements. Substrates with higher ratios of chip(3:7) had lower increasing rates than others. And, with noise filters, the exatitude of measurement was improved because the variation and deviation were reduced. Therefore, in coconut coir with FDR sensors, an efficient water content measurment to control irrigations can be achieved by installing sensors closer to an irrigation point and upper side of substrates with noise filters.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2017

This research was aimed to establish rapid analysis technique for the determination of nitrate ($NO_3{^-}$) concentration in the leaves of paprika, which has key role for the stable vegetative and reproductive growth. Leaf petiole and blade sap of two paprika cultivars ('Raon red' and 'Raon yellow') were used for the determination of $NO_3{^-}$ concentration, separately using rapid detection kit (RQ-flex) and spectroscopy quantification methods. In addition, two paprika cultivars namely, 'Nicole' and 'TP2001' were used to determine the status of $NO_3{^-}$ concentration in leaf of each fruiting group. $NO_3{^-}$ concentration in leaf blade sap and the content in leaf showed significant correlation ($R^2=0.8628$), analysed by RQ-flex and spectroscopy methods, respectively. Furthermore, leaf petiole sap and the content in leaf also showed significant correlation ($R^2=0.6734$) but the relationship was poor compared to leaf blade sap and the leaf content. $NO_3{^-}$ concentration in petiole sap decreased in all the cultivars from early to late fruiting group. The higher concentration in the lower leaves and the continuous decrease towards the upper leaves in the both years were found through the analysis of $NO_3{^-}$ concentration in different leaf position. In addition, daily short-term fluctuation of $NO_3{^-}$ in petiole sap could be rapidly monitored. These results showed that long-term or short-term monitoring by test strip-based rapid analysis technique might be useful tool for the diagnosis of nutritional status for the stable of nutritional management in paprika.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 2014

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is currently identified as a restoration target species, because it is listed as level 1 in the Korean National Park Service's endangered species list. The present research was conducted to investigate the basic behavioral patterns distribution of red foxes. For this study, red foxes under semi-natural conditions were observed and recorded from May 2012 to April 2013. The results revealed that the activities of the red foxes began at $16:59{\pm}01:20t$ and ended at an average time of $05:50{\pm}03:02t$. The males began and ended their activities earlier than their female counterparts. Among the seasonal activity durations, the longest activity duration was observed in summer with activity of 14 hours and 5 minutes, while the shortest activity duration was observed in winter with activity periods of 10 hours and 11 minutes. Generally, the red foxes exhibited a nocturnal behavioral pattern; the activity start time of the foxes was influenced by the sunset time. However, the activity end time showed no relationship with the sunrise time. The frequency of daily feeding activity ranged from one to eight times per day, with the males ($2.40{\pm}1.66$) exhibiting higher frequency than their female counterparts ($1.87{\pm}1.24$). The feeding activity peaked in November (average, 3.52 times per day) and was lowest in January (average, 1.28 times per day). Both males and females engaged in daily drinking activity (average, $2.03{\pm}1.296$ times per day). Thus, the increase in the frequency of the feeding activity is related to increase in the frequency of the drinking activity. Although the present research was conducted under semi-natural condition, the findings will be useful for the daily specification management of the species, monitoring of the released foxes, and habitat management based on the behavioral characteristics of the species.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.9-24
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• 1997

Surfactant-aided in situ soil flushing has been proposed as an alternative for the expensive and time consuming 'pump and treat' technology in remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater Injected surfactants can effectively solubilize contaminants sorbed to the soil matrix or nonaqueous phase liquids(NAPLs) in residual saturation. The contaminants solubilized in groundwater are recovered and treated further. The theoretical background of the technology and the results of the field operations, mostly in the US. were summarized. In addition, the factors crucial to the successful application of the technology were discussed. Cost analyses and technical limitations in current applications were also discussed. In conclusion, it is likely that in situ surfactant flushing become a viable option for soil remediation in limited cases. Currently, further advances with respect to operation cost and to treatment efficiency are required for more extensive application of the technology. However, the current trends in soil remediation, specially the growing emphasis on risk based corrective action and natural attenuation, will increase the competitiveness of the technology. For example, removal of easily washable contaminants by short term soil flushing followed by long term monitoring and natural attenuation can greatly reduce the operation cost and time.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.35-44
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• 2009

Naphthalene and TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) are defined by U.S. EPA as possible carcinogenic compounds known to have detrimental effects on the aquatic ecosystem and human body. There are, however, few researches on methods of analyzing micro-levels of naphthalene and TNT dissolved in groundwater. This study introduces and evaluates the newly developed analytical methods of measuring naphthalene and TNT in groundwater by using HPLC-FLD (Fluorescence detector) and MSD (Mass detector). The MDL, LOQ and salt effect of these methods, respectively, are compared with those of conventional methods which use HPLC-UV. For the analysis of naphthalene, HPLC-FLD was set in the maxima wavelength (Ex: 270 nM, Em: 330 nM) obtained from 3D-Fluorescence to be compared with HPLC-UV in 266 nM wavelength. The MDL ($0.3\;{\mu}g/L$) and LOQ ($2.0\;{\mu}g/L$) of naphthalene by using HPLC-FLD were approximately 80 times lower than those analyzed by HPLC-UV (MDL: $23.3\;{\mu}g/L$, LOQ: $163.1\;{\mu}g/L$). HPLC-MSD were used in comparison with HPLC-UV in 230 and 254 nM wavelength for the analysis of TNT. The MDL ($0.13\;{\mu}g/L$) and LOQ ($0.88\;{\mu}g/L$) of TNT analyzed by using HPLC-MSD were approximately 130 times lower than those obtained by using HPLC-UV in 230 nM (MDL: $16.8\;{\mu}g/L$, LOQ: $117.5\;{\mu}g/L$). The chromatogram of TNT analyzed by using HPLC-UV in 230 nM displayed elevated baseline as the concentration of ${NO_3}^-$ increases beyond 21 mg/L, while the analysis using HPLC-MSD did not demonstrate any change in baseline in presence of ${NO_3}^-$ of 63.7 mg/L which is 3.5 times higher than average concentration in groundwater. In conclusion, HPLC-FLD and HPLC-MSD may be used as suitable methods for the analysis of naphthalene and TNT in groundwater and drinking water. These methods can be applied to the monitoring of naphthalene and TNT concentration in groundwater or drinking water.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.19-32
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• 2007

In Korea, there have been various methods of estimating groundwater recharge which generally can be subdivided into three types: baseflow separation method by means of groundwater recession curve, water budget analysis based on lumped conceptual model in watershed, and water table fluctuation method (WTF) by using the data from groundwater monitoring wells. However, groundwater recharge rate shows the spatial-temporal variability due to climatic condition, land use and hydrogeological heterogeneity, so these methods have various limits to deal with these characteristics. To overcome these limitations, we present a new method of estimating recharge based on water balance components from the SWAT-MODFLOW which is an integrated surface-ground water model. Groundwater levels in the interest area close to the stream have dynamics similar to stream flow, whereas levels further upslope respond to precipitation with a delay. As these behaviours are related to the physical process of recharge, it is needed to account for the time delay in aquifer recharge once the water exits the soil profile to represent these features. In SWAT, a single linear reservoir storage module with an exponential decay weighting function is used to compute the recharge from soil to aquifer on a given day. However, this module has some limitations expressing recharge variation when the delay time is too long and transient recharge trend does not match to the groundwater table time series, the multi-reservoir storage routing module which represents more realistic time delay through vadose zone is newly suggested in this study. In this module, the parameter related to the delay time should be optimized by checking the correlation between simulated recharge and observed groundwater levels. The final step of this procedure is to compare simulated groundwater table with observed one as well as to compare simulated watershed runoff with observed one. This method is applied to Mihocheon watershed in Korea for the purpose of testing the procedure of proper estimation of spatio-temporal groundwater recharge distribution. As the newly suggested method of estimating recharge has the advantages of effectiveness of watershed model as well as the accuracy of WTF method, the estimated daily recharge rate would be an advanced quantity reflecting the heterogeneity of hydrogeology, climatic condition, land use as well as physical behaviour of water in soil layers and aquifers.