• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 2010

Objectives: An outbreak of norovirus occurred at a high school in Gyeongju city in 2009. An epidemiological investigation was carried out to examine the infection source and the transmission route of norovirus, and to prevent a recurrence. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted for 520 male students and 8 food handlers. Rectal swabs were examined in 21 symptomatic students and the 8 food handlers by Gyeongsangbukdo Government Public Institute of Health & Environment, and an environmental investigation was performed. A case-control study was used to evaluate the association between risk factors and disease. Results: The attack rate was 21.3% (111/520) between January 29 and February 10, and norovirus GII was isolated from 12 of 21 students. Food handlers had no symptoms and their stool samples were negative. The case-control study revealed that seasoned soy bean sprouts {odds ratio (OR): 2.542, 95% CI=1.315-4.915} and drinking water from the purifiers in the cafeteria (OR: 2.854, 95% CI=1.107-7.358) supplied on February 3 were significant risk factors for the outbreak. Water pipes and waste pipes were located in the same place where was filled with some water and trace of high water level was detected. Conclusions: The major risk factors for this norovirus outbreak were presumed to be the contaminated seasoned soy bean sprouts and drinking water from the purifiers in the cafeteria. More strict personal and environmental hygiene need to be enforced to prevent such outbreaks.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 1992

In this study, the water soluble sulfur, lead and cadmium contents of Prunus yedoerais leaves were analysed. The water soluble sulfur content considered as a main pollution indicator was extracted by the conventional barium sulfate method and the concentrations were calculated. The results obtained are as follows ; 1. The water soluble sulfur contents of the leaves collected from the heavy traffic roadside trees were two time higher than that of control materials on average. It was presumed those trees has been under meaningful pollutants impact. The water soluble sulfur contents of leaves between Cheonju and Iri was higher than that between Iri and Kunsan. 2. The range of Pb contents from roadside trees was 11.9-34.5 ppm for exceeding the control. The trees grown on the right roadside were more heavliy Pb-contaminated. 3. The range of Cd contents from roadside trees grown between Iri and Kunsan, the site-to-site variations of Cd concentration was not significant.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.37-47
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• 2009

This research was conducted at the constructed wetland in Goheung reclaimed land, and water quality components were measured at the 12 points in 15 March 2008 and 10 January 2009, respectively. Temperature, pH, DO, EC and salinity components were measured at the field, and TOC, Cl-, COD, TSS, T-P and TN components were analyzed laboratory. Concentrations of field measured components at inflow points were higher than in constructed wetland. TOC concentration ratio of inflow water to constructed wetland water was higher in January, and Cl concentration ratio of it was higher in March. And, COD concentration ratio of it were 1.37 for March and 1.49 for January, respectively. T-P and T-N concentration ratios of it at inflow points were higher 3 times than in constructed wetland. Constructed wetland attenuated concentration of contaminated components inflow to it. Removal efficiencies of Cl-, T-P and T-N components in inflow water were high at the constructed wetland. removal efficiencies of Cl component were 83% for 1st monitoring and 76% for 2nd monitoring, this removal efficiency be caused by dilution effect of constructed wetland. removal efficiencies of T-P component were 67% for 1st monitoring and 69% for 2nd monitoring, and they of T-N component were 100% for 1st monitoring and 95% for 2nd monitoring. Abnormal removal efficiency of T-N component is caused that nitrogen in inflow water was a little. Removal efficiency of T-P component was higher in January, and T-N component was higher in March. This is caused by environmental difference between growing season and winter.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2014

Rainwater harvesting is a process by which rainwater collected from rooftop or other catchment is purified so that the water can be directly or indirectly used by human beings for beneficial uses. As rainwater is increasingly considered for high quality purposes, membranes have gained an important place in rainwater treatment. It has advantages such as the production of high quality water, small footprint, and affordable energy consumption. Nevertheless, membrane fouling is regarded as a serious problem similar to the cases of water treatment and wastewater reclamation. In this study, we applied microfiltration (MF) membranes for rainwater treatment. In addition, a low pressure ultraviolet (UV) process was also use as a pretreatment to control notonly. To quantify the effect of UV on organic matters, both total organic carbon (TOC) and UV absorbance (UVA) were measured. Moreover, the effect of UV pretreatment on membrane fouling was investigated. Experimental results indicated that the pretreatment of membranes using LPUV was effective to control fouling of MF membranes only when the rainwater was contaminated by algae. This was attributed the reduction and modification of organics after UV treatments. It is likely that the UV/MF process is a promising option for water treatment in decentralized water treatment such as micro water grid systems.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.384-390
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• 2018

Air and soil are being contaminated by the environmental pollution as a result of climate change and urbanization, resulting in water pollution reaching serious levels. In this studies, we investigated the use of antimicrobial copper for the removal of biological pollutants from water system. Specifically, we tested its effects against E. coli, B. subtilis, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. Made a sphere shape having a diameter of 2cm using a strip-shaped copper wire of 0.5g, 1g and 2g. And then, to confirm the antimicrobial activities, each copper ball was equipped in the broth which inoculated each pathogens. The results showed that bacterial growth of the five test bacteria was inhibited by more than 99% after reaction with a 0.5 g copper ball for at least 20 minutes. Based on the these results, if perform the further experiment such cytotoxicity, it is expected that will be enough to be used as a filter for water quality purification. The developed technique is expected to be widely applied in various industries.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2022

A distribution survey was conducted from March to August 2021 to evaluate the distribution status, habitat characteristics, and threat of extinction of the Korean cold-water fish Ladislabia taczanowskii Dybowski (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae). Historical distribution reports were divided into 1997~2005, 2006~2012, 2013~2019, and distribution surveyed 169 sampling sites, and 1,040 individuals were collected from 72 sites. Areas where the habitat was confirmed were Namhan River (27 stations), Han River (17 stations), Bukhan River (16 stations), Samcheok Osipcheon (4 stations), Yeongokcheon (3 stations), Gangneung Namdaecheon (2 stations), Jeoncheon (1 station), Chucheon (2 stations). The main habitat of L. taczanowskii was upstream of the river with a high altitude of more than 300 m, 2~30 m water flow width, 0.3~1.5 m water depth, and high ratio (50~90%) boulder bottoms. The main reasons for the decline in population size were assumed as river works, construction of reservoirs and bridges, discharge of contaminated water into the river, the inflow of summer vacationers, and weir. Compared to our results there exists evidence that states a 36.1% reduction in occupancy within 10 years, in a small appearance range (7,820 km²) and occupancy area (288 km²), number of disconnected locations (19 locations), and a decline in habitat quality. Therefore, L. taczanowskii is now considered as Vulnerable (VU) based on the results (VU A2ac, Near meets B1b (i, ii, iii)+B2b (i, ii, iii)) of IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Lastly, the conservation plan of Ladislabia taczanowskii was discussed.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.64-72
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• 2023

Biopolymer is a versatile material used in food processing, medicine, construction, and soil reinforcement. 𝛽-glucan is one of the biopolymers that improves the soil water content and ion adsorption in a drought or toxic metal contaminated land for plant survival. We analyzed drought stress damage reduction in sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L. cv. Sodammi) by measuring the growth and major protein expression and activity under 𝛽-glucan soil amendment. The result showed that sweet potato leaf length and width were not affected by drought stress for 14 days, but sweet potatoes grown in 𝛽-glucan-amended soil showed an effect in preventing wilting caused by drought in phenotypic changes. Under drought stress, sweet potato leaves did not show any changes in electrolyte leakage, but the relative water content was higher in sweet potatoes grown in 𝛽-glucan-amended soil than in normal soil. 𝛽-glucan soil amendment increased the expression of plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPase, but it decreased the aquaporin PIP2 (plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2) in sweet potatoes under drought stress. Moreover, water maintenance affected the PM H⁺-ATPase activity, which contributed to tolerance under drought stress. These results indicate that 𝛽-glucan soil amendment improves the soil water content during drought and affects the water supply in sweet potatoes. Consequently, 𝛽-glucan is a potential material for maintaining soil water contents, and analysis of the major PM proteins is one of the indicators for evaluating the biopolymer effect on plant survival under drought stress.

• Clean Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.390-397
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• 2012

Removal characteristics of lead-contaminated soil at the military shooting range located in the Changwon city were studied experimentally using soil washing process. As a washing solution, hydrogen chloride (HCl) concentrations of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.2 N were used, and soil : solution ratios were 1 : 2, 1 : 3, 1 : 4, and 1 : 5. Particle diameter of contaminated soil of 4-0.075 mm, and washing period of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60, and 120 min were used as operating parameters. The optimum concentration of HCl solution was 0.1 N (56.3% of Pb removal efficiency) with 15 minutes operation period in views of economics, and the optimum soil : solution ratio was determined as 1 g : 3 mL for 69.7% of Pb removal efficiency with 0.1 N HCl and 15 minutes washing period. As washing period increased, removal efficiency was increased until 20 min of the removal efficiency of 75.3%, and then almost stable. Pb removal efficiency in soil particle diameters of 0.075 mm or more was ranged from 77.0% to 82.0%, but it was decreased to 52.8% in diameter of less than 0.075 mm. Therefore, the optimum cut-off size of the soil particle diameter was found less than 0.075 mm. Combined HCl solution and ultrasonic washing method showed better removal efficiency compared to only water or HCl washing method for particle sizes above 0.075 mm.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.257-271
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• 2002

One of the main interests in relation to heavily contaminated gully-pot sediment in urban area is the short term mobility of heavy metals, which depends on the pH of acidic rainwater and on the buffering effects of carbonate minerals. The buffering effects of carbonates are determined by titration (acid addition). Leaching experiments are carried out in solutions with variable initial HN03 contents for 24h. The gully-pot sediment appears to be predominantly buffered by calcite and dolomite. In case of sediment samples, which highly contain carbonates, pH decreases more slowly with increasing acidity. On the other hand, for the sediment samples, which less contain carbonate minerals, pH rapidly drops until it reaches about 2 then it decreases slowly. The leaching reactions are delayed until more acid is added to compensate for the buffering effects of carbonates. The Zn, Cu, Pb and Mn concentrations of leachate rapidly increase with decreased pH, while Cd, Co, Ni, Cr and Fe dissolutions are very slow and limited. The solubility of heavy metals depends not only on thc pH values of leachatc but also on the speciation in which metals are associated with sediment particles. In slightly to moderately acid conditions, Zn, Cd, Co, Ni and Cu dissolutions become increasingly important. As deduced from leaching runs, the relative mobility of heavy metals at pH of 5 is found to be: Zn > Cd > Co > Ni > Cu » Pb > Cr, suggesting that moderately acid rainwater leach Zn, Cd, Co, Ni and Cu from thc contaminated gully-pot sediment, while Pb and Cr would remain fixed. The buffering effects of Ca- and Mg-carbonates play an important role in delaying as well as limiting the leaching reactions of heavy metals from highly contaminated gully-pot sediment. The extent of such a secondary environmental pollution will thus depends on how well the metals in sediment can be leached by somewhat acidic rain water. Changes in the physicochemical environments may result in the severe environmental pollution of heavy metals. These results are to be taken into account in the management of contaminated sediments during rainstorms.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.323-332
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• 2003

This study was carried out to provide information for the present status of soil pollution near abandoned old-zinc mining area through analysis of bound form and 0.1 N-HCl extractable concentrations of heavy metals in soils and plants. Feasibility of endemic plants for phytoremediation was evaluated by the investigation of vegetation in soils. Cd contents of the selected samples near old-zinc mining soils ranged from 0.2 to $42mg\;kg^{-1}$. Nonagricultural soils near the mining area contained great amounts of Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu than the paddy and upland soils. Some Korean wild plants, Artemisia princeps, Artemisia montana, Erigeron canadensis, and Pueraria thunbergiana, were found to grow vigorously in the studied area. Among them, Artemisia princeps was selected as a possible phytoremediator for cleaning heavy metal contaminated soils. Artemisia princeps contained about 43 and $52mg\;kg^{-1}$ of Cd in their root and shoot as dry weight, respectively. Average contents of Cd in the rhizosphere soil, $15.68mg\;kg^{-1}$, was slightly higher than the soil-root interface soils, $14.1mg\;kg^{-1}$. Sequential extraction of Cd contaminated soils showed that average $2.4mg\;kg^{-1}$ (about 7%) of cadmium existed as exchangeable form and the average amounts increased as follows : adsorbed < organically bound < exchangeable << oxide carbonate << sulfide residual fractions. Amendment of organic by-product fertilizer in metal-contaminated soils promoted the growth of roots significantly as compared with the other treatments containing chemical fertilizer.