• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2002

The emission characteristics of particulate matter (PMs) and heavy metals from hazardous industrial wast incinerators were investigated. The particle size distribution (PSD) of PM-10 showed different patterns for two tripes of incinerators; stoker and rotary kiln. However both types showed bimodal form at inlet of air pollution control devices (APCD) and each peak (mode) is located at smaller than 1 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and near 10 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. It could explain the growth of fine PM by nucleation/coagulation/condensation of metal vapors for fine mode. The PSD of PM-10 after APCD was also influenced by APCD types that had different collection mechanism, and both electrostatic precipitator and bag filter showed less collection efficiency for particles ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and led to a mode in the range of 0.2 to 0.8 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. However the hag filter showed two modes of PSD, while the electrostatic precipitator had one peak. The PMs and heavy metals emission factors, the representative value of emission quantity for sources, for tested facilities were developed. The emission factor of uncontrolled total PM and PM-10 were 14.7 and 7.05 kg/ton waste, respectively. The emission factors from this study were a little bit different with those from US EPA AP-42. It may thus be appropriate to use these results in the course of developing national emission factors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.235-242
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• 2007

Road runoff water includes various heavy metals (zinc, Zn; lead, Pb; copper, Cu; chrome, Cr; cadmium, Cd; etc.) and pathogens (E-coli and coliform). Since these pollutants are significantly harmful to human beings and have negative impact on water streams, numerous studies have been conducted to determine the characterization of these non-point pollutants from road runoff water. However, since these non-point pollutant concentrations vary depending on road traffic, road construction, and road maintenance, measurement of pollutant loadings in different site is necessary to estimate the effect of road runoff water on drinking water source. The objective of this study was to examine the quality of road runoff water from a city bridge in Seoul, Korea. This study was conducted for two years to assess annual discharge pollution loads. In this study, five key heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, and Cd) and two pathogens (E-coli and coliform) were measured at 18 different events. The pollutant load mass transported was always higher than the corresponding runoff volume for Zn, Cu, and Cd, while Pb and Cr showed similar values between the load mass transported and the corresponding runoff volume. The event mean concentrations were Zn (0.908 mg/L), Pb (0.092 mg/L), Cu (0.141 mg/L), Cr (0.023 mg/L), and Cd (0.006 mg/L). Like Zn, Cu, and Cd, E-coli and coliform values (relatively high in Summer and Fall) are higher at the beginning of each event and decrease afterwards.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2004

Concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn were determined in four arctic brown algae (Laminaria saccharina, L. digitata, Alaria esculenta, Desmarestia aculeata) in an attempt to examine for their metal accumulation capacity and also to assess their contamination levels. Macroalgae were collected from shallow subtidal waters (<20m) of Kongsfjorden (Kings Bay) on Spitsbergen during the period of the late July to early August 2003. Metal concentrations highly varied between sampling sites, species and tissue parts. Input of melt-water laden with terrigenous sediment particles seemed to have a large influence on baseline accumulations of some metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Pb etc.) in the macroalgae, causing a significant spatial variation. There were also significant concentration differences between the young and old tissue parts in L. saccharina, L. digitata and A. esculenta. While Al, Fe, Mn, Pb were higher in the perennial parts (stipes and holdfast below meristematic region), Cd and As concentrations were significantly higher in the young blades above the meristematic region. Zn and Cr, on the other hand, showed little differences between the tissue parts. The highest metal concentrations were found in D. aculeata, which seems to be due to its filamentous fine branches leading to high surface/volume ratios. The lowest concentrations were found in the two Laminaria spp., the blades of which are thicker than D. aculeata and A. esculenta. No distinct signs of contamination were detected in the brown algal species analyzed. Added to this, the results of the present studies suggest the potential utility of L. saccharina, L. digitata and A. esculenta as biomonitors for metal pollution monitoring in this area.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.76-80
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• 2015

Mobile phone has become one of the essential items in our daily life. In Korea, it is estimated that more than 20 million cell phones are discarded each year due to advancement in technology, thus creating disposal and environmental pollution. In order to conserve the resources, their proper recycling is essential as it contains both valuable and toxic metals. The economics of the recycling will depend on the amount and value of the metals. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the composition of the metals present in the different cell phones. In the present study, a report is presented on the variation of metal content per year of waste mobile phones. A review has been made for the mobile phones manufactured during the period 2000-2009 and metal content of the printed circuit boards (PCBs) by analyzing their metals. An example of the precious metal palladium and of the heavy metal lead shows the decreasing trend.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.330-342
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• 2008

A comprehensive quality survey for PCDDs/PCDFs and coplanar PCBs as well as heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in sediments has been investigated in August 2006, Korea. Monitoring was undertaken at five streams representing different surrounding environments throughout Juwang and Gapyeong streams (reference sites), Jungrang stream (dense population site), Ansan stream (mixed small population and industrial site), and Siheung stream (heavy industrial site). The levels of heavy metal in samples were found to be significantly higher in sediment from Siheung stream compared to those of other stream sites. The heavy metal concentrations (dry weight basis) in sediment from Siheung stream were as follows; Cd (3.7 ${\mu}g$/g), Pb (1,295 ${\mu}g$/g), Cu (713.4 ${\mu}g$/g) and Zn (358.1 ${\mu}g$/g). Among 12 coplanar PCBs and 17 PCDDs/PCDFs selected as target compounds in this study, PCB (IUPAC no. 118) and OCDD were the most abundant congeners found in all sediment samples, followed by 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD, OCDF and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8HpCDF as well as PCB (IUPAC no. 105). These results were shown to be in the same trend as the sediment samples of other countries. The levels of PCDDs/PCDFs/coplanar PCBs in sediment samples were expressed as concentrations and WHO- TEQ values. The PCDDs/PCDFs/coplanar PCBs concentrations and their WHO-TEQ values in sediment from Siheung stream were remarkably high. The levels detected were 788.16 pg/g and 36.080 pg WHO-TEQ/g dry weight for PCDDs/ PCDFs and 314 pg/g and 0.4189 pg WHO-TEQ/g dry weight for coplanar PCBs, respectively, beyond the safety level of sediment value 20 pg WHO-TEQ/g. Sediment samples of the five streams were also monitored by sensitive biomarkers using insect immune responses: hemocyte-spreading behavior and immune-associated enzyme activities of phospholipase A$_2$ (PLA$_2$) and phenoloxidase. Organic extracts of Siheung and Jungrang sediments significantly interfered with the hemocytespreading behavior, whereas those of Ansan, Gapyeong, and Juwang did not. These organic extracts did not inhibit the PLA$_2$ and phenoloxidase activities. However, phenoloxidase was highly susceptible to exposure to aqueous extracts in all site sediments. In comparison, PLA$_2$ activities of the hemocytes were significantly inhibited only by aqueous extracts of Siheung, Jungrang, and Gapyeong sediments, but not by those of Ansan and Juwang. Despite some disparity between bioand chemical monitoring results, the biomarkers can be recommended as a device warning the contamination of biohazard environmental chemicals because of a fast and inexpensive detection method.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.424-431
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• 1996

This study was carried out to provide information for establishing counter measures of soil pollution through analysis of Cd. Cu, Pb, and Zn in paddy soils and brown rice. Cadmium, Cu, Pb, and Zn contents in soils were analyzed and distribution maps for these heavy metals were prepared. Heavy metal contents in brown rice were also measured. Average contents of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in surface paddy soils extracted with 0.1 N HCl were 7.4, 35.8, 98.9, and $118.8mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. These were 9 times (Cu) to 50 times (Cd) higher than the background level of heavy metals in unpolluted paddy soils in Korea. The contents of Pb and Zn were lower than those measured in 1980, whereas Cd content did not decrease. The levels of heavy metal contamination in paddy soils may not affect growth or yield of rice plant, however, Cd contents indicated a level of serious concern to humans. The average contents of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in brown rice were 0.38, 2.38, 1.31 and $22.31mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.63-75
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this research is to explore the total heavy metals from a coal-fired power plant burning bituminous coal with wood pellets due to the implementation of the Renewable Portfolio Standard policy (RPS, 10% of electricity from renewable energy resources by 2023). Methods: The research was carried out by collecting archival data and using the USEPA's AP-42 & EMEP/EEA compilation of emission factors for use in calculating emissions. The Monte Carlo method was also applied for carrying out the calculations of measurement uncertainty. Results: In this paper, the results are listed as follows. Sb was measured at 110 kg (2015) and calculated as 165 kg (2019) and 201 kg (2023). Cr was measured at 1,597 kg (2015) and calculated as 1,687 kg (2019) and 1,728 kg (2023). Cu was measured at 2,888 kg (2015) and calculated as 3,133 kg (2019) and 3,264 kg (2023). Pb was measured at 2,580 kg (2015) and calculated as 2,831 kg (2019) and 2,969 kg (2023). Mn was measured at 3,011 kg (2015) and calculated as 15,034 kg (2019) and 23,014 kg (2023). Hg was measured at 510 kg (2015) and calculated as 513 kg (2019) and 537 kg (2023). Ni was measured at 1,720 kg (2015) and calculated as 1,895 kg (2019) and 1,991 kg (2023). Zn was measured at 7,054 kg (2015) and calculated as 9,938 kg (2019) and 11,778 kg (2023). Se was measured at 7,988 kg (2015) and calculated as 7,663 kg (2019) and 7,351 kg (2023). Conclusion: This shows that most heavy metals would increase steadily from 2015 to 2023. However, Se would decrease by 7.9%. This analysis was conducted with EMEP/EEA's emission factors due to the limited emission factors in South Korea. Co-firewood pellets in coal-fired power plants cause the emission of heavy metals. For this reason, emission factors at air pollution control facilities would be presented and the replacement of wood pellets would be needed.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.30-39
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• 2018

Soil contamination survey was conducted during March - July, 2017 to obtain soil contamination profile of 16 organic and inorganic contaminants in Hanam industrial complex located in Gwangju, Korea. The concentrations of all surveyed contaminants except Cd showed were within 0.3~1.5 times of their natural background levels. Cd showed concentrations as high as 6.9 times of the background level, signifying the influence of the metal processing facilities in the complex. The concentrations of Zn, Pb and Hg in areas nearby industrial facilities were 1.3~5.5 times higher than those within the facility and green area. The concentration of Cu in the green area was 1.4~2.9 times higher than in other areas. The Soil Pollution Index (SPI) analysis revealed 54% of the total area belong to first-grade soil, 43% to second-grade, and 3% to third-grade. The Enrichment Factor (EF) of Zn, Pb, and Cd were 9.2, 15.6, and 88.5, respectively, indicating high accumulation and contamination of the soil with Cd.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1648-1650
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• 2006

The synthesis of a new C,N-bipyrazolic ligand with a functionalized donor-group is reported. The binding properties of the ligand and two other ligand of similar structures towards heavy metal ions ($Hg^{2+}$, $Cd^{2+}$, $Pb^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$) and alkaline metal ions ($K^+$, $Na^{+}$, $Li^+$) were studied by a liquid-liquid extraction process and the extracted cation percentage was determined by atomic absorption measurements. The selectivity of the ligand to Hg(II) has been mentioned in the abstract.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.518-524
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• 2014

Heavy metal pollution in agricultural field near at the abandoned metal mines has been a critical issue in Korea. In particular, bioaccumulation in plants can have detrimental effect on human health. Main objective of this research was to examine arsenic (As) concentration in soil with varied extraction methods and to determine bioaccumulation and biological transfer factor in different crops. Results showed that bioaccumulation ratio of As for total contents in soil was ordered leafy and stem vegetables (1.19%) > fruit bearing vegetables (0.79%) > pulses (0.40%) > root vegetables (0.36%) with different crop species. Among 6 different extraction methods, all of extraction methods showed high correlation ($R^2=0.87-0.97$) except DTPA ($R^2=0.25$) when comparing As concentration in soil extracted with different extractants and As concentration in each crops. Calculated biological transfer factor was ranged 0.002-0.018 depending on crop species. Overall, concentration of As in crops can be varied and best management practice for minimizing bioaccumulation of As should be considered depending on crop species.