• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.39-53
• /
• 2001

Environmental pollution of the Tohyun mine creek area was investigated on the basis of geology, mineralogy and geochemistry. In soils and sediments of the mine area, ${Al_2}{O_3}/{Na_2O}$ and ${K_2}O/{Na_2}O$ ratios are partly negative correlation against ${SiO_2}/{Al_2}{O_3}$, respectively. Geochemical characteristics of some trace and rare earth elements such as V/Ni, Ni/Co, La/Ce, Th/Yb, Th/U, La/Th, ${La_N}/{Yb_N}$, La/Sc and Sc/Th are revealed a narrow range and homogeneous compositions may be explained by simple source lithology. These results suggest that sediments source of the host shale around the mine area could be originated by basic to intermediate igneous rocks. Mineral compositions of soil and sediment near the mine area were partly variable mineralogy, which are composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, chlorite, clay minerals and some pyrite. Soils and sediments with highly concentrated heavy minerals, gravity separated mineralogy, are composed of some pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, goethite and various kinds of hydroxide minerals on the polished sections. As normalized by bed rock composition, average enrichment indices of major elements in sediments, precipitates, farmland soils and paddy soils are 1.0, 1.7, 0.9 and 0.8, respectively. Maximum concentration of environmental toxic elements in the mine creek are detected with Ag = 186 ppm, As = 17,100 ppm, Bi = ]27 ppm, Cd = 77 ppm, Cu = 12,299 ppm, Pb = 8,897 ppm, Sb = 1,350 ppm, W = 599 ppm and Zn = 12,250 ppm, which are increasing with total FeO increasing, and extremely high concentrations of surface sediments and precipitates near the waste rock dump. These toxic elements (As, Bi, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, W and Zn) of the samples, normalizing by host rock concentration, revealed that average enrichment index is 106.0 for sediments, 279.6 for precipitates, 3.5 for farmland soils and 1.6 for paddy soils. However, on the basis of EPA values, enrichment indices of all the samples are 40.7, 121.4, 1.3 and 0.6, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.231-237
• /
• 2012

Toxicity of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole were investigated via FETAX (Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus) protocol using domestic frog embryos. Embryos of Black-spotted pond frog, Rana nigromaculata, were incubated and toxic effects of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole were investigated by probit analysis. As a result, mortality and malformation rates were increased and larval body length was decreased in a dose dependant manner of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole. The half maximal effective concentration ($EC_{50}$) of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole were 0.07, $12.7mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively and the half maximal lethal concentration ($LC_{50}$) of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole were 4.2, 39.1, respectively. The teratogenic index (TI) were 61.4 in $Ni^{2+}$ and 3.1 in Tebuconazole, respectively. These results reveals that $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole suppress the development of Black-spotted pond frog embryos at the low concentration as showing teratogenic effects in other assay system. Therefore, teratogen assay system using the Rana nigromaculata embryos could be useful as a tool to evaluate the toxicity of the pollutants in environment.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.509-521
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study is to find out geochemical characteristics of stream sediments which are good indicator of geochemical hazard valuation and water in primary channels of the Jangheung area. We separated three groups which were granitoid area, granite gneiss area and tuffeous area by petrological properties. Physical and chemical characteristics of stream water such as temperature, pH, and EC were measured in the field between 1999 and 2001 and stream sediments samples were collected from April to May in 1999. For the chemical analysis of stream sediments samples, XRF, ICP-AES and NAA were used. The contents of the major elements had a similar contents in three groups and those of rare earth elements in granite gneiss area were lower value than those of other two groups. Zn and Cu were higher value than the other toxic elements. Through the enrichment factor and enrichment index features of the elements, we knew that $Fe_2O_3$, MgO, $TiO_2$, MnO and Eu, Yb of the tuffeous area samples and Co, Cr, Zn were enriched.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.393-405
• /
• 2007

To examine the sedimentary geochemical characteristics of sediment in the Tamjin River and Doam bay, the analysis was conducted, using the sample obtained in February 2000, on the grain size and the contents of metallic elements and organic carbon. The factors that influence the geochemical behavior of metallic elements in the surface sediment are grain size, organism, surrounding soil and $CaCO_3$. To find out the pollution level of metallic elements, the enrichment factor (EF) and the index of geoaccumulation ($I_{geo}$) were researched. The majority of metallic elements sustain their values in natural state. The elements such as K, Ba, Zr, etc. appear to be rich in some places. The EF and $I_{geo}$ of P, Cu, Zn, and Pb, which belong to toxic heavy metals, are partly related with man-made pollution. P and Cu have a high EF, Pb has a high $I_{geo}$ and Zn is high in both EF and $I_{geo}$. The low contents of P and Cu are not likely to be related with the pollution of water environment. However, given the development of relative pollution, the research and the management regarding the pollutants are needed. Because Pb, naturally enriched by geological characteristics, has a large influence on water environment along with Zn, the adequate measures against man-made pollution should be worked out.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.23 no.2 s.73
• /
• pp.153-160
• /
• 1995

As part of our search for less toxic antimicrobial agents from natural resources, the antimicrobial activity of Elfvingia applanata $(P_{ers.})\;K_{arst.}$ extract was examined alone and in combination with naringenin. EA, the aqueous extract from the carpophores of E. applanata, was lyophilized and a dark brownish powder was obtained. Antimicrobial activity of EA was tested in vitro against nineteen strains of bacteria and eleven strains of fungi by serial broth dilution method, and expressed by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Among nineteen strains of bacteria tested, the antimicrobial activity of EA was the most potent against Proteus vulgaris showing MIC of 1.125 mg/ml. EA also inhibited the growth of the selected fungi at higher concentrations ranging from 7.5 mg/ml to 15.0 mg/ml. To investigate the effect of antimicrobial combinations of EA with naringenin, the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was determined by checkerboard assay for each strain. The antimicrobial combinations of EA with naringenin resulted in partial synergism against Staphylococcus aureus only, and showed additive effect in two strains including Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhi. Antagonism was not found.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.38 no.3 s.172
• /
• pp.221-236
• /
• 2005

In order to investigate the contamination levels and dispersion patterns of heavy metals such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn by urbanization, soils beneath roadside-trees and leaves of Ginkgo biloba were collected from Seoul area during October to November in 2001. All tree leaves were grouped into washed and unwashed ones. The pH of most soil ranges from 6 to 9 indicating a weak acidic and alkaline. The element couples of Cd-Co, Cr-Ni and Zn-Cu-Pb have good correlation in soils, and contamination sources of Cd-Co, Cr-Ni and Zn-Cu-Pb could be similar. High correlation coefficients among Pb, Cu and Zn in G. biloba indicates that these elements show the similar behavior during the metabolism processes. From the results of pollution index calculation for soils, industrialized and heavy traffic area were severly polluted by heavy metals such as Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. By the discriminant analysis, industrialized and heavy traffic areas are enriched in the order of Ni> Cr> Pb. Cadmium is useful to discriminate between industrialized and heavy traffic areas, Co and Pb are highly enhanced in heavy traffic area.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.108-113
• /
• 1983

There has been two kind of research fields in evaluating the ecotoxicity of chemicals The one is a bioassay and the other is an ecosystem analysis. The toxicants are transported into different biota, which have quite different environmental behaviour patterns and toxic properties. The effects of pesticides (butachlor, carbofuran, and tricyclazole) on periphyton community was studied by analyzing content of chlorophyll-a and autotrophic index (AI) that is a means of determining the trophic nature of the periphyton community. Results indicated that the content of chlorophyll-a was not influenced by the pesticides. The growth of algae was inhibited by sunshine period. And AI value is 43-2027: the large value indicates heterotrophic periphyton community, and was not affected by pesticides.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.155-165
• /
• 2021

Objectives: Acute exposure to high concentrations of chemicals can occur when a chemical accident takes place. As such exposure can cause ongoing environmental pollution, such as in the soil and groundwater, there is a need for a tool that can assess health effects in the long term. The purpose of this study was assessing the health risks of residents living near a chemical accident site due to long-term exposure while considering the temporal concentration changes of the toxic chemicals leaked during the accident until their extinction in the environment using a multimedia environmental dynamics model. Methods: A health risk assessment was conducted on three cases of formaldehyde chemical accidents. In this study, health risk assessment was performed using a multimedia environmental dynamics model that considers the behavior of the atmosphere, soil, and water. In addition, the extinction period of formaldehyde in the environment was regarded as extinction in the environment when the concentration in the air and soil fell below the background concentration prior to the accident. The subjects of health risk assessment were classified into four groups according to age: 0-9 years old, 10-18 years old, 19-64 years old, and over 65 years old. Carcinogenic risk assessment by respiratory exposure and non-carcinogenic risk assessment by soil intake were conducted as well. Results: In the assessment of carcinogenic risk due to respiratory exposure, the excess carcinogenic risk did not exceed 1.0×10-6 in all three chemical accidents, so there was no health effect due to the formaldehyde chemical accident. As a result of the evaluation of non-carcinogenic risk due to soil intake, none of the three chemical accidents had a risk index of 1, so there was no health effect. For all three chemical accidents, the excess cancer risk and hazard index were the highest in the age group 0-9. Next, 10-18 years old, 65 years old or older, and 19-64 years old showed the highest risk. Conclusion: This study considers environmental changes after a chemical accident occurs and until the substance disappears from the environment. It also conducts a health risk assessment by reflecting the characteristics of the long-term persistence and concentration change over time. It is thought that it is of significance as a health risk assessment study reflecting the exposure characteristics of the accident substance for an actual chemical accident.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.41-53
• /
• 2023

E171, a mixture of titanium dioxide, has been widely used as a food additive due to its whitening effect and low toxicity. However, it has been proven that E171 is no longer safe for public health. So far, there are insufficient studies on the toxic effects of E171 on organisms especially using standardized test methods. In this study, toxicity assessments of E171 to two aquatic species, water flea (Daphnia magna) and zebrafish (Danio rerio), were performed using modified standardized test methods based on the physicochemical properties of E171. The hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, and turbiscan stability index (TSI) were measured to ensure the dispersion stability of E171 in exposure media during the test period. The EC₅₀ for immobilization of water flea was 141.7 mg L^-1 while zebrafish was not affected until 100 mg L^-1 of E171. Measurements of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant enzyme activities confirmed that E171 induced oxidative stress, leading to the activation of superoxide dismutase and catalase in both water flea and zebrafish, although the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes differed between species. These results suggested the potential risk of E171 to aquatic organisms and provided toxicological insights into the impacts of E171 on the environment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.159-168
• /
• 2003

This pot experiment was conducted in order to find out the effects of boron application($B_{0}$ /; control, $B_1$; 0.2, $B_2$; 2.0,$ B_3$; 6.0, $B_4$; 15.0 B me/pot) on the forage performance of pure and mixed cultures of orchardgrass and white clover. The 2nd part was concerned with the changes in the forage yields and concurrence index. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The optimum boron application($B_2$) generally resulted in the increase of both forage yields, but the effects of boron application on them were different according to the forage species, whether it was a pure or mixed cultures, additional fertilization, and cutting order. The effects of boron application on the forage productivity were more obvious in white clover than in orchardgrass. 2. Owing to the decline of white clover as affected by the application of additional fertilizers, especially N, in the grass-clover mixed cultures, the effects of boron application on the white clover yields showed a numerical inferiority compared with the pure culture. It was recognized that the yield increase and botanical composition of white clover in grass-clover mixed cultures could be regulated by the application of additional fertilizers and boron. 3. The toxic boron application($B_3$ and $B_4$) resulted in a decreased yield of both forages. The yield change of orchardgrass tended to be similar between pure and mixed cultures, whereas it of white clover tended to be more negative in mixed than in pure cultures. 4. With the application of additional fertilizers, especially N, the botanical composition and concurrence index in grass-clover mixed cultures were relatively increased in orchardgrass, and decreased in white clover. The botanical composition of orchardgrass increased from 55% to 75%, whereas it of white clover decreased from 45% in the first half cutting to 25% in the second half cutting, respectively.