• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.3 s.150
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• pp.205-216
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• 2007

South Korea is the representative consumption country of herbal medicines and most of herbal medicines circulating in Korea have been importing from the developing countries of Southeast Asia such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia and so forth. Domestic hygiene and safety are continuously proposed because herbal medicines which are circulating have the possibility could remain contaminants or residues. Physicochemical contaminants such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, radionucleosides, microbial toxins, biological contaminants such as microorganisms and animals, agrochemical residues such as pesticides, substances used for fumigation, antiviral agents, and solvent residues are classified as major contaminants and residues in herbal medicines from 2005 September WHO.$^{1)}$ Currently our administration have established a permission standard and the inspection criteria against the heavy metal, the residual pesticides and a residual sulfur dioxide. Furthermore our administration is continuously monitoring and conducting researches for the policies and their scientific ground against herbal medicines. But the appearances or discoveries of the harmful new species due to environmental and industrial developments are becoming social problems. Therefore it may be necessary to continuously consider and investigate regarding hereupon. Recently, the contamination of the mycotoxins against foods such as cereals, nuts and the powdered red pepper have developed and started became problematic issue, and possibility of contamination against the herbal medicine is proposed. And since populations who are using the herbal medicines very limited to several nations, recognition and researches about contamination of mycotoxins in herbal medicines are very insufficient. Therefore it will be need to more focus on the international regulation of quality control and safety for herbal medicines. Now on, we are going to introduce the importance, occurrence, characteristic properties, World-wide research trends and detoxification of aflatoxins, which is known as the most potent mutagen, carcinogen and teratogen mycotoxins.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 1993

N-Heterocyclic aromatics (NHA) are widely occurring environmental pollutants formed during the pyrolysis of nitrogen-containing organic chemicals. NAH are found in significant amounts in tobacco condensates, synthetic fuels, polluted river sediment, and effluents from the heating of coal. Following topical application 7H-dibenzo[c, g]carbazole (DBC) induces cancer in liver as well as skin, indicating that dermal exposure can lead to systemic effect. DBC and dibenz[a,j]acridine (DBA) are examples of NHA. The potency of many carcinogenic compounds is related, at least in part, to the efficiency of their biological activation. We undertook studies to determine which initial metabolites lead to the formation of high levels of carcinogen-DNA adducts in vivo. DBC and DBA's, DBA, trans-DBA-1,2-dihydrodiol (DBA-1,2-DHD), trans-DBA-3,4-dihydrodiol (DBA-3,4-DHD), and trans-DBA-5,6-dihydrodiol (DBA-5,6-DHD), were applied to the skin of mice. There were six adducts that were related to DBC application. These addusts were seen in the target organ, liver at high levels, but at very low levels in non-target organs, skin, lung and kidney. In skin, DBA produced two distinct adducts. The same two adducts were seen when DBA-3,4-DHD was applied. In addition the total adduct level elicited by DBA-3,4-DHD higher than that of parent compound. Two adducts were seen when DBA-5,6-DHD was applied, but these were very different from adducts seen with DBA. These results suggested that activation of DBA to DNA-binding compounds in skin includes initial formation of DBA-3,4-DHD.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 2015

In 2014, the city of Seoul revised the ordinance regarding water-cycle restoration in the Seoul Metropolitan areas by incorporating the 'Low Impact Development (LID)' policy. The new ordinance plan will utilize 630 mm or almost 45 to 50% of annual rainfall until 2050 by means of providing a rainwater management system consisting of infiltration, retention and vegetation. The LID is believed to be the key to achieving the target requirements, specifically in development projects. This research was performed to evaluate the stormwater runoff and pollutant reduction performance of three different LID facilities (water circulation facilities) including an infiltration inlet, bioretention swale, and permeable pavement constructed in Seoul City. Results show that among the water circulation facilities, the permeable pavement achieved the highest runoff reduction as it was able to entirely capture and infiltrate the runoff to the ground. However, in order to attain a long-term performance it is necessary to manage the accumulated sediment and trapped pollutants in the landscape areas through other water circulation techniques such as through soil erosion control. In terms of pollutant reduction capability, the infiltration inlet performed well since it was applied in highly polluted areas. The bioretention facility integrating the physico-chemical and biological mechanisms of soil, microorganisms and plants were able to also achieve a high runoff and pollutant reduction. The water circulation facilities provided not only benefits for water circulation but also various other benefits such as pollutant reduction, ecological restoration, and aesthetic functions.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2004

Deep Ocean Water (DOW) is formed within restricted area including polar sea (high latitude) by cooling of surface seawater and globally circulating in the state of isolation from surface seawater. Although it is not as obvious as estuaries mixing, brine ground water is mixture of recirculated seawater and ground water. Seawater having high osmotic pressure infiltrates into an aquifer which is connected to the sea. In order to clarify the characteristics of deep ocean water and brine ground water, we investigated their origins, chemical compositions, water qualities and resources stabilities. While concentrations of stable isotopes (/sup 18/O and ²H) in seawater is 0‰, those in brine ground water is on meteoric water line or shifted toward oxygen line. It means that origin of brine ground water is different than that of deep ocean water. The ions dissolved in seawater (Na, Ca, Mg, K) are present in constant proportions to each other and to the total salt content of seawater. However deviations in ion proportions have been observed in some brine ground water. Some causes of these exception to the rule of constant proportions are due to many chemical reactions between periphery soil and ground water. While DOW has a large quantity of functional trace metals and biological affinity relative to brine ground water, DOW has relatively small amount of harmful bacteria and artificial pollutants.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.76-90
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• 2000

The estimation of material cycle of pollutants is necessary for the environment management in coastal zone. Model for material budgets are useful tools to understand the phenomena of natural system and to provide an insight into the complex processes including physical, chemical and biological processes occuring in natural system. Budgets of fresh water, salt and nutrients were estimated in order to clarify the characteristics of seasonal material cycle in Keum river estuary. Inflow volumes of freshwater into system was approximately 1.014×10/sup 8/～12.565×10/sup 8/m³/month and discharge in Keum river has occupied 99.7% of total freshwater. Seasonal variations of freshwater volume in the system were found to be very high in the range of about 4 ～ 14 times due to rainfall in summer season. Existing water mass of freshwater in system calculated by salt budget was approximately 0.339×10/sup 8/～0.652×10/sup 8/m³. Mean residence time of freshwater was calculated to be about 1.6～10.0day, and exchange time was calculated to be about 2.2～11.9day. Mean residence time was short as 1.6day in summer due to precipitation, and long as 10.1day in winter due to a drought. Inflow masses of DIP and DIN were approximately 5.57～32.68ton/month and 234.93～2,373.39ton/month, respectively. Seasonal inflow mass of DIP was larger than the outflow mass except for summer season. Thus, we postulate that accumulation of DIP in the system will happen. Residence times of DIP and DIN were calculated to be 1.1～6.4day and 1.8～10.9day, respectively. The ratio of water residence time versus DIP, DIN residence time was calculated to be 0.39～2.31 times and 0.83～1.13 times, respectively.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 2006

In heavily industrialized areas, soil sites are contaminated with high concentrations of heavy metals. These pollutants are highly accumulated to the human body through the food web and cause serious diseases. To remove heavy metals from the soil, a potential strategy is the environmental friendly and cost effective phytoremediation. For the enhancement of remediation efficiency, the symbiotic interaction between the plant and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has been attended. In this review, the interaction of the plant and PGPR in the heavy metal-contaminated soil has been reviewed. The physicochemical and biological characteristics of the rhlzosphere can influence directly or indirectly on the biomass, activity and population structure of the rhizobacteria. The root exudates are offered to the soil microbes as useful carbon sources and growth factors, so the growth and metabolism of rhizobacteria can be promoted. PGPR have many roles to lower the level of growth-inhibiting stress ethylene within the plant, and also to provide iron and phosphorus from the soil to plant, and to produce phytohormone such as indole acetic acid. The plant with PGPR can grow better in the heavy metal contaminated soil. Therefore higher efficiency of the phytoremediation will be expected by the application of the PGPR.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.785-794
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• 2013

Combined sewer overflows during rainfall events contain sewer sediments and surface pollutants. This can cause significant chemical, physical and biological problems to receiving watershed. However, there are no method that can commonly apply to decide criteria for controlling the pollutant load. In this study, it sets up the reduction goals of combined sewer overflow through long-term simulation using the rainfall-runoff model. From a review of domestic and foreign management standard of combined sewer overflow for this, it makes decision that 60% (phase 1), 85% (phase 2) of total pollutant load and frequency per year for reduction goals is more proper. Also, the result of analyzing long-term simulation (minimum 10 years) applied to research basin indicates that reduction goals of BOD pollutant load are 1,123 kg (phase 1) and 2,374 kg (phase 2), and overflow volumes for research objective achievement are $11,685m^3$ (phase 1) and $24,701m^3$ (phase 2).

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.311-316
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• 2018

As the lives of people have improved, the demand for improved indoor air quality has increased. Various methods are used to remove biological air pollutants, such as UV/photocatalytic devices and ozone generators. However, these methods have disadvantages such as energy consumption, high corrosivity and toxicity. To overcome these disadvantages, an antibacterial copper filter was fabricated and its antimicrobial activity was then tested against two fungi (P. pinophilum, C. globosum) and one bacteria (S. aureus) Moreover, the ability to remove suspended microorganisms was tested step by step from the chamber stage to the air conditioning system. The results revealed 100% antimicrobial activity after 24 hours for the two fungi, while this value was 99.9% after 18 hours for the bacteria. Moreover, the antibacterial activity was higher when the chamber and air purifier were used than was obtained using a general antibacterial HEPA filter. Also, as a filter for system air conditioner, the antibacterial activity was lowered in offices and hospitals. In conclusion, the copper filter was found to have sufficient antibacterial activity for use as an antibacterial filter; however, further research on its preparation methods and materials is warranted.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.23-31
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• 1987

In land treatment systems for organic waste removal, especially rapid intiltration method is well known as less climatic restrictions and less field area requirements as against the others. Therefore the present study on rapid infiltration is aimed to survey the waste removal rate, infiltration rate, variation of dissolved oxygen due to biological oxygen absorption and pH decrement using pilot infiltration column filled with permeable soil(sand) as media, also to find the waste load(COD) per unit area and nitrate conversion ratio from TKN. The results obtained here are as follows. 1) When the depth of sand layer is more than 1 meter, the COD removal would be reached steadly to 90% or more under the infiltration rate below 15~20cm/day, and would be no problem due to leached organic pollutants considering the depth of ground water table. 2) The COD removal per unit area($m^2$) can readily be expected to 10~14g/day with proper operation, and the decomposition of substrate would be attained mostly at the surface layer of the media. 3) Generally the conversion of TKN to the $NO_3{^-}$-N is seemed to be proportional to the COD removal rate if provided proper retention time.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7523-7527
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• 2015

Background: Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pALL) patients at King Abdulaziz Medical City represent a pure Saudi Arabian population. ETV6-RUNX1 positive pALL patients have good prognosis as compared to ETV6-RUNX1 negative counterparts. Therefore, frequencies of these two patient groups have a huge consideration in treatment strategies of pALL in a given population. Different geographical locations have been reported to have different frequencies of ETV6-RUNX1 ranging from 10% in Southeast Asia to 30% in Australia. Aim: Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish the ETV6-RUNX1 status of Saudi Arabian pALL patients and its association with clinical parameters and early remission. Materials and Methods: Clinical parameters and ETV6-RUNX1 status (using FISH technique) of pALL patients attending the Pediatric Oncology Clinic, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh from 2006 to 2011 were studied. Comparisons between ETV6-RUNX1 positive and negative groups were accomplished using chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS version 9.2 (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC). Results: Out of 54 patients, 33 were male and 21 were females (ratio 1.57:1). B- and T-cell lineages were found in 47 (87%) and 7 (13%) patients respectively. Only 5 (9.3%) patients were ETV6-RUNX1 positive while 49(80.7%) were ETV6-RUNX1 negative. All ETV6-RUNX1 patients (100%) were of B-cell lineage and 80% (4/5) were in the 3-7 year age group. None of the ETV6-RUNX11 patients had ${\geq}5%$ blasts (no remission) at day 14 as compared with 9% in the ETV6-RUNX1 negative group (Figure 1). Conclusions: Frequency of ETV6-RUNX1 positive patients (less than 10%) in our pALL patients is much lower than reported for most European countries, North America, Australia and Japan while it is in accordance with ETV6-RUNX1 frequencies from Egypt (11.6%), Pakistan (10%), Spain (2%) and India (5-7%). This shows ethnic differences in genetics of pALL as well as higher frequencies of ETV6-RUNX1 positive pALL mostly in more industrialized countries, probably due to some industrial pollutants or westernized lifestyle.