• Clean Technology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.47-56
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• 1997

This Paper Proposes new pollution indices as a quantitative measure of environmental impact. The pollution index for a process is defined by using pollution balance equations. Three pollution indices were defined on the basis of waste characteristics: mass, BOD, and toxicity. Such pollution indices can be effective and valuable tools for minimizing the waste production of a process in terms of environmental impacts, and, when used with cost estimates, for objectively determining the optimal process. In this paper, the application of these indices was demonstrated in a case study involving the production of detergent, as reported in the literature. Pollution indices for the existing process and two improved processes were calculated and compared to evaluate environmental impacts of these processes.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.109-123
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• 2012

Our study investigated the effects of Solanum macrocarpon (African eggplant) on haematological and biochemical parameters of male albino rats exposed to urban air pollution ($O_3$, $PM_{10}$, CO, $SO_2$, $NO_2$ and VOC). Male albino Wistar rats were exposed for 63 days either to urban air pollution without treatment (A); oral supplementation with Solanum macrocarpon given at 36 and 75 mg/kg body weight (BW), representing C and D respectively and exposed to air pollution; oral supplementation with Solanum macrocarpon given at 75 mg/kg BW after exposure to air pollution (B); or kept in animal house without exposure to air pollution (E). Animals exposed to air pollution showed significant alterations in haematological and biochemical parameters signaling that the blood and organs were badly injured. There were significant elevations in white blood cells (WBC) and its indices, reduction in red blood cells (RBC) and significant depletions of non-enzymic antioxidants, total protein and increase in lipid peroxidation values. Solanum macrocarpon supplementation in the feed of animals halted significantly the deleterious effects of air pollution, with co-administration during exposure given better results.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.303-316
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• 2009

Benthic macroinvertebrate communities collected from eight different streams in South Korea were analyzed to compare community and biological indices across different levels of water pollution. The Self-Organizing Map (SOM) was utilized to provide overview on association of the proposed indices. The sample sites were accordingly clustered according to the gradient of pollution on the SOM. While the general trends of the indices were commonly observable according to different levels of pollution, the detailed differences among the indices were also illustrated on the SOM. The conventional diversity and evenness indices tended to be high even though the water quality state was poor representing relatively weak gradient at polluted sites, while the index presenting the saprobic degree such as family biotic index showed the stronger gradient at the polluted area and was robust to present the gradient. Our results also confirmed the general characterization of two indices: The Shannon index is more strengthened by the number of species occurring at the sample sites, while the Simpson index is more influenced by the degree of evenness among the species. The patterning based on the SOM was efficient in comparatively characterizing the proposed indices to present ecological states and water quality.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.105-138
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• 2009

This study investigates the spatial distribution of the degree of water pollutants in Han River using data obtained by the water pollution observation stations. This study estimates a non -parametric kernel density function for each water pollutants, and tests a significant difference between two estimated distribution functions. Next, Generalized Entropy inequality indices are evaluated and this research tests difference of inequality indices between two years using bootstrapping method. Lastly in a dynamic of view, it is analyzed that there are significant changes in the ranking of water pollution level. Estimation results show that the degree of inequality in spatial distribution of water pollution tends to be stable or decreasing for last 15 years in a great part of water pollutants, and ranking of water pollution level hardly changes in Han River.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.759-770
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• 1998

biotic indices scoring with the benthic macroinvertebrates were assessed as pollution monitoring tools in the north branch of the Han River system, Korea. We investigated the temporal variability of water quality at unpolluted, moderately polluted and heavily polluted sites using several biotic indices and assessed appropriate biological monitoring indices for lotic systems in Korea. The following biotic and chemical indices were employed in order to compare their applicability to the lotic systems : Trent Biotic Index (TBI), Chandler's Biotic Index-Average Score per Taxon (CBI-ASPT), Modified Biological Monitoring Working Party Score System-Average Score per Taxon (BMWP-ASPT), Hilsenhoff's biotic Index (BI) and Family-level Biotic Index (FBI) models for biotic analyses and National Sanitation foundation's Water Quality Index (NSFWQI) and comprehensive Chemical Pollution Index (Pb/n) for chemical analyses of water quality. Index and score values were compared with each other and with 24 water chemistry parameters. All biotic indices were significantly auto-correlated (p<0.001) and BI and FBI/ROK among them were highly correlated (r=0.84). BI and BMWP-ASPT models were also highly correlated with NSFWQI, while TBI values showed high correlation with the Pb/n. The BI and BMWP-ASPT were highly correlated with the most water chemistry parameters. We conclude that the BI model, which includes indicator species and abundance of taxa, is best suited for the bioassessment of lotic systems in Korea. For rapid field-based assessments, FBI/ROK and BMWP-ASPT models are also appropriate.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2012

Paved road dust emissions were investigated 14 times on 12 main roads in Seo-Cho Gu, Seoul, Korea by vehicle-based mobile sampling system(Road Dust Monitoring System) during September to December 2011. Also, fourteen heavy metals present in the dust samples were analyzed by ICP. ICP analysis showed that one of major source of the road dust would be urban construction. A large amount of silt was found, which might be originated mainly from building construction and open beds of trees. Trace element and pollution indices of heavy metals(Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) on the roads adjacent to the commercial area had higher concentrations than those on the roads adjacent to the construction and residential areas because of traffic density and heavy traffic.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.89-99
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• 2012

An upland monitoring was conducted for about 4 years with respect to the water and quality of rainfall-runoff. The objective was to characterize of runoff and nonpoint source (NPS) pollution from a sandy field with 4.5 % in slope under balloonflower (2008-2010) and potato (2011) cultivation. Balloonflower was cultivated without any surface cover but potato was grown under plastic mulching. Runoff rate, EMCs and NPS pollution loads were estimated. The first flush effect was evaluated, and the correlation coefficient among the selected water quality indices were analyzed. Average rainfall size was higher by 2.3 mm when balloonflower was cultivated but average runoff rate was higher by 0.02 when potato was cultivated due to the plastic mulching. EMCs monitored from balloonflower field were higher than potato field except SS and TN, but all NPS pollution loads of potato field were 2.1~22.9 times greater than balloonflower field because of larger runoff volume. As a result of first flush effects, balloonflower and potato field were more influenced by increasing of accumulated rainfall and rainfall intensity rather than first flush. In the result of correlation analysis, there were no evident correlations between runoff and water quality indices. However, there were obvious correlations between SS and the other indices except TN. As a result of this study, it was thought that perennial balloonflower crop could help reduce runoff and NPS pollution loads but annual crop with plastic mulching increase them.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2018

Air pollution index (API) is used in Mainland China and includes only $SO_2$, $NO_2$ and $PM_{10}$. In 2016, air quality index (AQI) replaced API. AQI contains three more air pollutants (CO, $O_3$ and $PM_{2.5}$). Both the indices emphasize on the effect of a single pollutant, whereas the contributions of all other pollutants are ignored. Therefore, in the present work, a novel air quality index (NAQI), which emphasizes on all air pollutants, has been introduced for the first time. The results showed that there were 19 d (5.2%) in API, 28 d (7.7%) in AQI and 183 d (50.1%) in NAQI when the indices were more than 100. In API, $PM_{10}$ and $SO_2$ were regarded as the primary pollutants, whereas all five air pollutants in AQI were regarded as primary. Furthermore, four air pollutants (other than the CO) in NAQI were regarded as primary pollutants. $PM_{10}$, as being the primary pollutant, contributed greatly in these air quality indices, and accounted for 51.2% (API), 37.0% (AQI) and 52.6% (NAQI). The results also showed that particulate matter pollution was significantly high in Luzhou, where stricter pollution control measures should be implemented.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.48-59
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• 2018

Beryllium (Be), cobalt (Co), thallium (Tl) and vanadium (V) are candidates of 21 priority soil pollutants in Korea. The distribution of their concentration in soils from three contamination sources including industrial, roadside and mining areas was investigated. Concentrations of the metals were evaluated quantitatively using pollution indices and the fractionation of metals was conducted using modified SM&T (Standards Measurements and Testing programme) sequential extraction. Concentrations of the metals for all samples from industrial and roadside soils were within the range of natural background levels, while some of Be in soils from abandoned mines exceeded that the range. Enrichment Factor (EF) and Nemerow Integrated Pollution Index (NIPI) for Be, Co, Tl and V showed that there are effects or possibilities of anthropogenic activities. Pollution Load Index (PLI) analyses indicated all investigated sites needed further monitoring. The results of sequential extractions indicated mobile fractions (F1+F2) of Be, Tl and V were below 30% except some of Co in soil, which implies their low mobility to neighboring environment media. Variable tools like sequential extraction, comparison with background/actual concentration and pollution indices, as well as aqua regia extraction should be considered when evaluating Be, Co, Tl, V in soil.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.101-113
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• 2015

Air quality index (AQI) or air pollution index (API) is commonly used to report the level of severity of air pollution to public. A number of methods were developed in the past by various researchers/environmental agencies for determination of AQI or API but there is no universally accepted method exists, which is appropriate for all situations. Different method uses different aggregation function in calculating AQI or API and also considers different types and numbers of pollutants. The intended uses of AQI or API are to identify the poor air quality zones and public reporting for severity of exposure of poor air quality. Most of the AQI or API indices can be broadly classify as single pollutant index or multi-pollutant index with different aggregation method. Every indexing method has its own characteristic strengths and weaknesses that affect its suitability for particular applications. This paper attempt to present a review of all the major air quality indices developed worldwide.