• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.2-4
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• 1998

Proliferation of Nocardia amarae cells in activated sludge has often been associated with the generation of nuisance foams. Despite intense research activities in recent years to examine the causes and control of Nocardia foaming in activated sludge, the foaming continued to persist throughout the activated sludge treatment plants in United States. In addition to causing various operational problems to treatment processes, the presence of Nocardia may have secondary effects on the fate of heavy metals that are not well known. For example, for treatment plants facing more stringent metal removal requirements, potential metal removal by Nocardia cells in foaming activated sludge would be a welcome secondary effect. In contrast, with new viosolid disposal regulations in place (Code o( Federal Regulation No. 503), higher concentration of metals in biosolids from foaming activated sludge could create management problems. The goal of this research was to investigate the metal sorption property of Nocardia amarae cells grown in batch reactors and in chemostat reactors. Specific surface area and metal sorption characteristics of N. amarae cells harvested at various growth stages were compared. Three metals examined in this study were copper, cadmium and nickel. Nocardia amarae strain (SRWTP isolate) used in this study was obtained from the University of California at Berkeley. The pure culture was grown in 4L batch reactor containing mineral salt medium with sodium acetate as the sole carbon source. In order to quantify the sorption of heavy metal ions to N amarae cell surfaces, cells from the batch reactor were harvested, washed, and suspended in 30mL centrifuge tubes. Metal sorption studies were conducted at pH 7.0 and ionlc strength of 10-2M. The sorption Isotherm showed that the cells harvested from the stationary and endogenous growth phase exhibited significantly higher metal sorption capacity than the cells from the exponential phase. The sequence of preferential uptake of metals by N. amarae cells was Cu>Cd>Ni. The specific surFace area of Nocardia cells was determined by a dye adsorption method. N.amarae cells growing at ewponential phase had significantly less specific surface area than that of stationary phase, indicating that the lower metal sorption capacity of Nocardia cells growing at exponential phase may be due to the lower specific surface area. The growth conditions of Nocardia cells in continuous culture affect their cell surface properties, thereby governing the adsorption capacity of heavy metal. The comparison of dye sorption isotherms for Nocardia cells growing at various growth rates revealed that the cell surface area increased with increasing sludge age, indicating that the cell surface area is highly dependent on the steady-state growth rate. The highest specific surface area of 199m21g was obtained from N.amarae cell harvested at 0.33 day-1 of growth rate. This result suggests that growth condition not only alters the structure of Nocardia cell wall but also affects the surface area, thus yielding more binding sites of metal removal. After reaching the steady-state condition at dilution rate, metal adsorption isotherms were used to determine the equilibrium distributions of metals between aqueous and Nocardia cell surfaces. The metal sorption capacity of Nocardia biomass harvested from 0.33 day-1 of growth rate was significantly higher than that of cells harvested from 0.5- and 1-day-1 operation, indicatng that N.amarae cells with a lower growth rate have higher sorpion capacity. This result was in close agreement with the trend observed from the batch study. To evaluate the effect of Nocardia cells on the metal binding capacity of activated sludge, specific surface area and metal sorption capacity of the mixture of Nocardia pure cultures and activated sludge biomass were determined by a series of batch experiments. The higher levels of Nocardia cells in the Nocardia-activated sludge samples resulted in the higher specific surface area, explaining the higher metal sorption sites by the mixed luquor samples containing greater amounts on Nocardia cells. The effect of Nocardia cells on the metal sorption capacity of activated sludge was evaluated by spiking an activated sludge sample with various amounts of pre culture Nocardia cells. The results of the Langmuir isotherm model fitted to the metal sorption by various mixtures of Nocardia and activated sludge indicated that the mixture containing higher Nocardia levels had higher metal adsorption capacity than the mixture containing lower Nocardia levels. At Nocardia levels above 100mg/g VSS, the metal sorption capacity of activate sludge increased proportionally with the amount of Noeardia cells present in the mixed liquor, indicating that the presence of Nocardia may increase the viosorption capacity of activated sludge.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.223-228
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the purification capacity of pollutants by column test with the tidal flat sediment. Sediment materials were taken from Chunjangdae tidal flat which located in Chungnam Seochungun. The column tests were conducted on four conditions(R1 : raw sewage filtered by G2 filter, R2 : sterilized sewage after filtered by GF/C filter, R3 : R2 /filtered(membrane) seawater (1:1), R4 : R2 /filtered(membrane) seawater(1:2)). The results of this study may be summarized as followed ; The removed COD by column tests were increased according to increasing the quantity of sewage. During the column tests of 580min, the total removed ammonia nitrogen were 90.1mg for R1, 81.0mg for R2, 27.6mg for R3 and 4.1mg for R4. The result was similar to COD experiment. During the 580min, the total removed total-phosphates were 3.4mg for R1, 4.2mg for R2, 5.6mg for R3 and 2.0mg for R4. The removal efficiency of Pb and Cd for R3 and R4 reactor were higher than R1 and R2 reactor. The remove of heavy metal by the column test was high in sample with seawater. But in the initial 20min, the adsorbed Pb and Cd showed about 3% of the total adsorbed Pb and Cd during 580min.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.138-152
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• 2014

The objective of the study survey was to determine the effect of marine sand extraction on community composition and rate of recolonization of the meiobenthos following cessation of mining activities. Because of meiobenthic distribution in nature, high abundance, intimate association with sediments, fast reproduction, benthic larva period, sensitivity to pollution and rapid life histories, meiobenthos are widely regarded as ideal organisms to study the potential ecological indicator of natural and anthropogenic stresses. The community structure of meiobenthos was studied at seven stations within sandy tidal and sub tidal zones in Jangbongdo in the Yellow Sea, Korea from Aug. 2006 to Dec. 2007. Meiobenthic samples were collected by three core samples, with a 3.6 cm in diameter, from each sediment sample taken with a Smith-McIntyre Grab. It was found that sand mining often causes complete removal of the sediment and the damage to the habitats of meiobenthos. This study in the effect showed that sand mining resulted in a reduction in total abundance and biomass of meiobenthos in mining area. The finding of this study further showed that initial restoration of abundance and biomass within one year of the cessation of sand mining.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2005

Objective : To estimate the magnitude of psychosocial distress and examine eligible factors associated with the development of psychosocial distress in Korean employees, using a nationwide sample. Methods : A total of 6,977 workers were recruited from 245 companies. A structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographics, health-related behaviors, job characteristics, social support at work, personality traits (locus of control, type A behavior pattern), self-esteem, and psychosocial distress. Results : The results showed that 23 % of workers were categorized as high stress, 73% as moderate, and 5% as normal. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that psychosocial distress was more common in younger workers, both male and female. Regular exercise was negatively associated with increase of psychosocial distress. In job characteristics, as expected, low decision latitude, high job insecurity, and low social support at work were related to high psychosocial distress. Personality traits such as locus of control and type A behavior pattern, and self-esteem were more powerful predictors of psychosocial distress than general characteristics, health-related behavior, and job characteristics. There were some gender differences. While men who are less educated and single (unmarried, divorced, and separated) experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who are educated and married, women who feel high job demand experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who feel low job demand. Conclusions : The proportion of the high stress group was higher than expected, and psychosocial factors like social support and personality characteristics (e. g. locus of control, type A behavior pattern and self-esteem) were more significant factors for psychosocial distress than other variables. This finding suggests that some psychosocial factors, especially inadequate social support, low self-esteem and lack of internal locus of control for the development of psychosocial distress, will also operate as an intervention strategy in the worksite stress reduction program. It is strongly required that worksite stress reduction programs should be established in at both occupational and level as well as in individual levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.177-191
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• 1998

For various kinds of waters including surface water, shallow groundwater (＜70 m deep) and deep groundwater (500∼810 m deep) from the Pungki area, an integrated study based on hydrochemical, multivariate statistical, thermodynamic, environmental isotopic (tritium, oxygen-hydrogen, carbon and sulfur), and mass-balance approaches was attempted to elucidate the hydrogeochemical and hydrologic characteristics of the groundwater system in the gneiss area. Shallow groundwaters are typified as the 'Ca-HCO$_3$'type with higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, SO$_4$and NO$_3$, whereas deep groundwaters are the 'Na-HCO$_3$'type with elevated concentrations of Na, Ba, Li, H$_2$S, F and Cl and are supersaturated with respect to calcite. The waters in the area are largely classified into two groups: 1) surface waters and most of shallow groundwaters, and 2) deep groundwaters and one sample of shallow groundwater. Seasonal compositional variations are recognized for the former. Multivariate statistical analysis indicates that three factors may explain about 86% of the compositional variations observed in deep groundwaters. These are: 1) plagioclase dissolution and calcite precipitation, 2) sulfate reduction, and 3) acid hydrolysis of hydroxyl-bearing minerals(mainly mica). By combining with results of thermodynamic calculation, four appropriate models of water/ rock interaction, each showing the dissolution of plagioclase, kaolinite and micas and the precipitation of calcite, illite, laumontite, chlorite and smectite, are proposed by mass balance modelling in order to explain the water quality of deep groundwaters. Oxygen-hydrogen isotope data indicate that deep groundwaters were originated from a local meteoric water recharged from distant, topograpically high mountainous region and underwent larger degrees of water/rock interaction during the regional deep circulation, whereas the shallow groundwaters were recharged from nearby, topograpically low region. Tritium data show that the recharge time was the pre-thermonuclear age for deep groundwaters (＜0.2 TU) but the post-thermonuclear age for shallow groundwaters (5.66∼7.79 TU). The $\delta$$\^$34/S values of dissolved sulfate indicate that high amounts of dissolved H$_2$S (up to 3.9 mg/1), a characteristic of deep groundwaters in this area, might be derived from the reduction of sulfate. The $\delta$$\^$13/C values of dissolved carbonates are controlled by not only the dissolution of carbonate minerals by dissolved soil CO$_2$(for shallow groundwaters) but also the reprecipitation of calcite (for deep groundwaters). An integrated model of the origin, flow and chemical evolution for the groundwaters in this area is proposed in this study.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.76-87
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• 2014

Chlorophyll a in seawater which is an indicator of phytoplankton biomass and primary production is determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Fluorometry and Spectrophotometry. In this study, various methods for chlorophyll a determination in seawater are compared using in situ seawater samples from Korean seas. Three inter-laboratory comparison campaigns were carried out using chlorophyll a standard samples (R0) and in situ seawater samples, collected from the East China Sea (R1) and the East Sea (R2). 6 laboratories by HPLC methods, 4 laboratories by fluorometry, and 3 laboratories by spectrophotometry participated. Precisions, defined as the coefficient of variation (CV) were within 9% in standard samples, 0.8~20% (average: 6.1%) in R1, 4~21% (average: 13.2%) in R2. Discrepancy in three methods was approximately 20% within the range of the sample homogeneity intended the laboratory precision (R1: 8%, R2: 15%). The discrepancy in laboratories was greater than the discrepancy in methods. The chlorophyll a concentrations can be produced within 20% discrepancy in spite of using different methods. It is recommended to consider this 20% discrepancy when using the chlorophyll a data produced by different laboratories and different methods.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.409-420
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• 2015

The Sangdae-ri riverside around Musimcheon stream, flowing through Gadeok-myon of Cheongju City, is one of the representative strawberry fields employing water curtain cultivation (WCC) in Korea. In this area, annual groundwater use for WCC has been calculated by a few methods. On the assumption that all the water flowing through the final ditch may be mostly composed of groundwater, the discharge rate in it can be used as a good proxy for assessing the groundwater use. However, in the study area, the final ditch was set up in an unpaved state near and parallel to Musimcheon stream. Under such circumstances, the drainwater is likely to be influenced by infiltration and/or inflow of nearby stream. Hence, we examined whether or not stream water has influenced water flowing out through the final ditch in respect of ion concentrations or field parameters such as T, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) values. The period of measuring field parameters and sample collection was from February 2012 through February 2015. The drainwater in the final ditch did not show the average quality of groundwater, but similar quality of stream water in respect of pH, EC, ion contents and water type. From this, it is suggested that measuring the flow rate of the final ditch should not be directly used for assessing groundwater use in the study area. In addition, because of its sensitivity to ambient temperature, water temperature proved not to be appropriate for estimating the interaction between ditch and stream. For accuracy, additional methods will be needed to calculate mixing ratios between stream and ground water within drainage system.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.98-102
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• 1983

The hydrogen fluoride gas generated from making the cement hardener injured the plants growing at the neighbour field. This investigation was conducted on sample analysis of hydrogen fluoride gas damage plants which included the ratios of destroyed leaves, damage symptoms, and nutrient elements in paddy rice and weeds. The results obtained were as follows; 1) The ratio of destroyed leaves at near HF source was very high reaching about 95% at 100m, 65% at 500m, 5% at 2㎞, respectively. 2) The necrosis was the characteristic symptom of fluoride injury on rice plant and occurred predominantly at the tip and margins of damage leaf. It developed along the tip and margins of leaves with a dull, gray-green, water soaked discoloration. 3) The fluorine content of tip and margins of damaged rice leaves were 1,600 ppm, 3 to 20 times higher than that of center part and it ranged from 130 to 242.5 ppm in weed leaves, but from 10 to 15 ppm in normal weed leaves. 4) The contents of calcium, potassium, silicon, iron and manganese were higher in tip and margins than in the center of rice damage leaves. 5) The Cocculus trilolous. D.C was the most resistant plant to HF gas than any other plant growing in this site, while wild berry and aralia tree belong to most sensitive plant group.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.174-181
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• 1998

In four citrus grow of Satsuma mandarin (rootstock of trifoliate orange) including two grove of organical management and two groves of conventional management, spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM) fungi were identified and seasonal changes in spore density in soils and AM colonization of citrus roots were investigated. AM colonization in weeds found in the groves were also examined. Three species of Glomus (G.deserticola, G. vesiculiferum, G. rubiforme ) and one unknown species of Acaulospora were observed in all of the groves. Annual mean density of AM fungal spores were in the range of 10,000${\sim}$40,000 per 100g soil with more spores in the organically-managed groves. The least spores were observed in December in all groves, and the most spores in April in the organically-managed groves while in February or April in the conventionally- managed. Annual mean AM colonization more 27% of citrus root were observed in the organically-managed with the high peaks in April and October and the minimum in August, while mean colonization less than 15% in the conventionally-managed with the peak in February and the minimum in different times depending on groves and years. AM colonization corresponded to a sigmoidal curve consisting of a laf phase during winter and a subsequent increase in spring, then succeeded by a maximum, and then a decrease at the end of vegetation. Fungal spore density and AM colonization showed a parallel pattern during the sample period. The seasonality appeared to be related more to the phenology of the plant than to the soil factors. Generally more spore density and AM colonization were found in organically managed groves. AM colonization was not correlated with available P and organic matter content in soil in this field investigation. Among sixteen weed species found in the groves, Astrogalus sinicus of Leguminosae, Portulaca oleracea of Portulacaceae showed high colonization in all groves and they can be considered as a source of inoculumn and host plants for propagation of AM fungi.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.25-41
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• 2002

In order to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics and contamination of dissolved major ions and heavy metals in the Tancheon River, river water and sediment samples were collected at 18 locations, along a distance of 69 km, between Yongin-si in Kyunggi-do and Samsung-dong in Seoul on October in 2000 and April in 2001. After appropriate sample preparation, waters were analyzed for the dissolved constituents and sediments. The pH values of river waters were in the range of 7.0 to 9.3 and could be plotted in the area of surface environment. The level of $Ca^{2+}$, , CI-, sol-, N0$_{3}$ and HC0$_{3}$ in the Tancheon River were higher than those in world average river water. Most of dissolved constituents in the river waters increased toward downstream from upstream. In particular, high concentrations of Zn2+, Na$_{+}$, CI$^{-}$, SO$_{4}^{2-}$ and N03- were found near densely residential areas and the Sungnam waste water treatment plant. The relative ion enrichment was caused by the inflow of local domestic and industrial sewages. Also, Ca2+ and HC03- concentrations were enriched in the middle of the Tancheon River due to the dissolution of cements. This indicates that the apartment complexes were built on a large scale in the upriver since these ten years and large amounts of construction materials such as cements were flowed into the Tancheon River. Concentrations of heavy metals (Mn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) in sediments from the Tancheon River exceeded the lower limit of tolerence level in bottom sediment established by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (OME) of Canada. In particular, these metals were highly elevated in sediment (TSM-12) collected from near the Sungnam waste water treatment plant. Heavy metals were higher enriched in sediments collected from dry period rather than wet period.