• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2005

In the present study, we investigated the tolerance of Commelina communis to growth in Cu-contaminated soil and water We examined the germination rate, root and shoot growth of seedlings, fresh biomass in soil and water, and ability to eliminate Cu. We found that C. communis eliminated 41% of Cu in soil containing 50 mg Cu/kg and removed over 50% of Cu from water containing 100 mg Cu/L Cu. In addition, the plants could accumulate 90 mg Cu/g when grown in soil containing 50 mg Cu/kg and 140 mg Cu/g when grown in soil containing 100 mg Cu/kg thus higher levels of Cu removal were observed in soils containing higher Cu concentrations. In water, the maximal accumulation rate was 4.9 mg Cu/g root and 1.2 mg Cu/g shoot in water containing 20 mg Cu/L, and 7 days after exposure, Cu absorption saturated. Further, the growth rate of C. communis was not affected by up to 100 mg Cu/kg in the soil. Therefore, the phytotoxic effect of Cu on plants increased as the concentration of Cu was raised, although to different extents depending on whether the Cu was in soil or water. Overall, Cu removal from soil by C. communis was most effective at 100 mg Cu/kg in soil and 10 mg Cu/L in water. Finally, we identified two peaks of Cu-binding ligands in C. communis. Which is a high molecular weight peak (HMWL) at 60 kDa (Fraction 17 to 25) and a Cu binding peptide peak at <1 kDa (Very low molecular weight ligand: VLMWL). Cu-binding peptide (Cu-BP) was observed to have an amino acid composition typical of phytochelations.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2005.09a
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• pp.513-514
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.326-329
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• 2005

A worker who grinded the inner parts of camshafts for automobile engines using water-soluble metalworking fluid (MWF) for 14 years was diagnosed with sinusitis. We postulated that the outbreak of sinusitis could be associated with exposure to microbes contaminated in water-soluble MWF during the grinding operation. To suggest responsible agents for this outbreak, quantitative exposure assessment for chemical and biological agents and prevalence of work-related respiratory symptoms by questionnaire were studied. The exposure ranges of MWF mist (0.59 $mg/m^3$to 2.12 $mg/m^3$) measured during grinding exceeded 0.5 $mg/m^3$ of the recommended exposure limit (REL). Grinder's exposures to bacteria, fungi and endotoxins were also generally higher than not only the proposed standards, but also those reported by several studies to identify the cause of respiratory effects. Statistical test indicated that the prevalence rate of reported symptoms related to nasal cavities showed no significant differences among the operations. Evaluation on grinding operation characteristics and quantitative exposure assessment indicated that repeated exposure to MWF mist including microbes contaminated from the use of water-soluble MWF may cause respiratory diseases like sinusitis or at least increase susceptibility to the development of sinusitis

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.157-161
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• 2006

The performance of abiotic degradation of oxadiazon was investigated by applying zerovalent iron(ZVI), potassium permanganate($KMnO_4$) and titanium dioxide($TiO_2$) in the contaminated water. Experimental conditions allowed the disappearance of oxadiazon in the abiotic system. The degradation of this herbicide was monitored in buffer solutions having pH 3, 5 and 7 in the presence of iron powder in which the maximum degradation rate was achieved at acidic condition(pH 3) by 2% of ZVI treatment. The oxidative degradation of oxadiazon was observed in aqueous solution by $KMnO_4$ at pH 3, 7 and 10 in which the highest disappearance rate was found at neutral pH when treated with 2% of $KMnO_4$. The catalytic degradation of oxadiazon in $TiO_2$ suspension was obtained under dark and UV irradiation conditions. UV irradiation enhanced the degradation of oxadiazon in aquatic system in the presence of $TiO_2$. Conclusively, the remediation strategy using these abiotic reagents could be applied to remove oxadiazon from the contaminated water.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 1983

The growth of Korean axolotl., Hynobius leechii, was analyzed in natural water as control group and in six copper ion groups contaminated by 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 ppm of copper ion. The copper ion checks the growth of the axolotl. The axolotl was not survived during 30 days in the copper ion of 0.3ppm, and, in the 0.4ppm the axolotl was not survived during 10 days after hatch. The growth of head width and body length show a convexing increase pattern, while that of hind leg shows a concaving increase pattern. The copper ion checks the development of hind leg. In the growth quantity of head width, body length and hid leg, that of natural water show the most rapid increase pattern, and copper ion groups of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3ppm follow in that order. The coefficient of relative growth($\alpha$) of control group is the greater value, and the copper ion groups of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3ppm follow in that order. The contaminated groups show the negative allometry in the relative growth of the containated groups to the natural water. Body length shows positive allometry, while hind leg shows negative allometry in the relative growth to head width.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.630-636
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• 2005

Groundwater contamination by nitrate exceeding water quality criteria (10 mg $NO_3{^-}-N/L$) occurs frequently. Fumarate, acetate, formate, lactate, propionate, ethanol, methane and hydrogen gas were evaluated for their nitrate removal efficiencies and removal rates for in situ bioremediation of nitrate contaminated groundwater. Denitrification rate for each substrate was in the order of: fumarate > hydrogen > formate/lactate > ethanol > propionate > methanol > acetate. Microcosm studies were performed with fumarate and acetate. When fumarate was used as a substrate, nitrate was removed 100 percent with rate of 0.66 mmol/day while conversion rate from nitrate to nitrogen gas or another by-product was 87 percent. 42 mg of fumarate was needed to remove 30 mg $NO_3{^-}-N/L$. When using acetate as carbon source, 31 percent of nitrate was removed during initial adjustment period. Among removed fraction, however, 83 percent of nitrate removed by cell growth. Overall nitrate removal rate was 0.37 mmol/day. Acetate showed longer lag time in consumption compared to that of nitrate, which implying that acetate would be better carbon source compared to fumarate as more amount was utilized for nitrate removal than cell growth.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.409-412
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• 2003

Total extraction of stream sediments in the Kwangyang mine area shows their significant pollution with most trace metals such as Cr, Co, Fe, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn and Cd, due to sulfide oxidation in waste dumps. Calculations of enrichment factor shows that Chonam-ri creek sediments are more severely contaminated than Sagok-ri sediments. Using the weak acid (0.1N HCl) extraction and sequential extraction techniques, the transport and sediment-water partitioning of heavy metals in mine drainage were examined for contaminated sediments in the Chonam-ri and Sagok-ri creeks of the Kwangyang Au-Ag mine area. Calculated distribution coefficient (Kd) generally decreases in the order of Pb $\geq$Al > Cu > Mn > Zn > Co > Ni $\geq$ Cd. Sequential extraction of Chonam-ri creek sediments shows that among non-residual fractions the Fe-Mn oxide fraction is most abundant for most of the metals. This indicates that precipitation of Fe hydroxides plays an important role in regulating heavy metal concentrations in water, as shown by field observations.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.654-661
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• 2019

This study assessed the stabilization of fluorine (F)-contaminated soil using calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) and the consequent changes in human health risk. The bioavailable F decreased to 3.5%, (i.e., 57.9 ± 1.27 mg/kg in 6% Ca(OH)₂-treated soil sample) from 43.0%, (i.e., 711 ± 23.4 mg/kg in control soil sample). This resulted from the conversion of water-soluble F to stable calcium fluoride, which was confirmed by XRD spectrometry. Soil ingestion, inhalation of fugitive dust from soil, and water ingestion were selected as exposure pathways for human health risk assessment. Non-carcinogenic risks of F in soils reduced to less than 1.0 after stabilization, ranging from 4.2 to 0.34 for child and from 3.0 to 0.25 for adult. Contaminated water ingestion owing to the leaching of F from soil to groundwater was considered as a major exposure pathway. The risks through soil ingestion and inhalation of fugitive dust from soil were insignificant both before and after stabilization, although F concentration exceeded the Korean soil regulatory level before stabilization. Our data suggested that substantial risk to human health owing to various potential exposure pathways could be addressed by managing F present in soil.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.34-39
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• 1993

One hundred and eighty-seven water samples were collected from 23 of spring water, 2 of ground water, 1 of tap water in Pusan area and 3 of natural mineral waters. Total coliform group, fecal coliform, viable cell count and microflora were investigated to evaluate water quality of drinking water. The results were as follows: range and geometric mean value of total coliform and fecal coliform MPN's of spring water were 0~1,500/100 ml, 85/100 ml and 0~460/100 ml, 24/100 ml but coliform group was not detected in the samples of tap water and natural mineral water. Viable cell count of spring water, ground water and tap water were lower as 100 cell than the criteria for drinking water but that of natural mineral water was higher as 6.5X 10$^2$~7.4X 10$^3$ /ml. Predominant speces among the 219 strains isolated from the samples were 19.6% Aeromonas spp., 19.2% Enterobacteriaceae, 16% Acinetobacter spp. Especially, spring water and vessels were contaminated by Hafnia spp. and Providencia Spp, inhabitant of the oral cavity.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.932-937
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• 2011

Main objectives of this paper were; firstly, to explain impacts of suspended solid in the water body on the relationship between water quantity and water quality; secondly, study on the inter-relationship between organic materials, nutrients, pathogens, and suspended solids considering eco-friendly water resources. Relationship between water quality and water quantity is not easy to understand as it includes physicochemical-biological reactions and diffuse pollutions. Especially, suspended solid makes water resource management difficult. Eroded soil in the upper land transported to the downstream by water flows carrying biological and physicochemical information and sedimented in the downstream. As sediment scoured under high flow condition and environmental change, suspended solid and sediment should be emphasized for understanding the inter-relationship between water quality and water quantity. Knowledge gaps between known monitored data and management of suspended solid were identified as well for future study.