• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.473-478
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• 2012

To protect human health and manage increasing hazardous chemicals in stream area, it is necessary to expand water quality hazardous items based on risk assessment with proper monitoring data. Also, it is essential to set up the suitable monitoring frequency to produce reliable exposure data to derive water quality guidelines. However, there has been no harmonized monitoring frequency for risk assessment in both domestic and international monitoring systems. In addition, the monitoring frequency for risk assessment has been selected as 'Research needs' in the International Conference on Deriving Environmental Quality Standards for the Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems (EQSPAE) of 2011. In this study, Cases of UNEP/WHO, EU, European countries, USEPA, ANZECC/ARMCANZ, CCME, Japan, and Korea were analyzed to propose the monitoring frequency for risk assessment. Monitoring frequencies depending on environmental conditions, monitoring object, measurement parameters, and monitoring duration were extensively collected. We observed that a monthly monitoring has been applied at most of organizations including EU, USEPA, and UNEP/WHO. In this study, monitoring frequency of minimum 6 times during 3 years were proposed to conduct the risk assessment based on the current domestic status. However, it is necessary to make agreements among interested parties, and perform additional studies about optimal monitoring frequency to protect the aquatic ecosystem and human health in Korean rivers and streams.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.55-70
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• 2024

The loss of biodiversity poses a significant threat not only to business sustainability and investment risk but also to societal well-being. Nature serves as a crucial driver for long-term business viability and economic prosperity. The Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), established in September 2023, mandates that companies assess and disclose their impacts on nature. Despite this, many businesses lack a full understanding of their reliance on and impact upon natural capital and ecosystem services, leading to insufficient disclosures. This study evaluates the applicability of TNFD's assessment methodologies and indicators within a domestic context, highlighting the condition of nature and ecosystem services, and exploring potential synergies with national biodiversity policies. Our analysis suggests that TNFD necessitates a unique approach to the spatial and temporal data and methodologies traditionally employed in environmental impact assessments. This includes assessing the reciprocal influences of corporate activities on natural capital and ecosystem services via the LEAP framework. Moreover, in industries where the choice of specific indicators depends on unique sectoral traits, developing a standardized strategy for data and assessment indicators-adapted to local conditions-is crucial due to the variability in the availability of assessment tools and data. The proactive engagement of the private sector in ecosystem restoration projects is particularly promising for contributing towards national biodiversity objectives. Although TNFD is in its nascent phase, its global adoption by numerous companies signifies its potential impact. Successful implementation of TNFD is anticipated to deepen businesses' and financial institutions' understanding of natural capital and ecosystem services, thereby reinforcing their commitment to sustainable development.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.22-33
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• 2009

Ecological risk assessment(ERA), developed in Australia, can be used to estimate the risk of target, bycatch and protected species from the effects of fishing using limited data for stock assessment. In this study, we employed the ERA approach to estimate risks to tunas, billfishes, sharks, sea turtles and other species by the Korean tuna longline fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean using productivity and susceptibility analyses of the ERA based on low(<1.30), medium(1.30-1.84) and high risk(>1.84). Albacore, bigeye, yellowfin, skipjack and bluefin tunas were generally evaluated in the medium risk. The susceptibility of tuna species, however, had higher risks than the productivity. Billfishes were also at medium risk, while sharks were at high risk by the tuna longline fishery. The risk of productivity was generally high, because most sharks caught by the tuna longline fishery have high longevities, i.e., over 10 years, including ovoviviparous species. Susceptibility, which is related with the selection of fishing gear, was also high, because the longline fishery has no gear modifications to prevent bycatch of protected species. Not only target tuna species were influenced by the tuna longline fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, but also nontarget species, such as pomfret, mackerels rays, sea turtle were done. Ecosystem-based fishery assessment tools, such as productivity and susceptibility analysis(PSA), have the ability to provide broad scientific advice to the policy makers and stakeholders.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.585-591
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• 2019

Most insect-resistant LMOs have been produced by applying Cry and Vip3Aa proteins. Vip3Aa protein is activated during the vegetative stage of Bacillus thuringensis (Bt) and the inhibitory activity of the Vip3Aa protein against pathogenic attacks from lepidopteran insect species is well known. However, a risk assessment of the Vip3Aa protein compared to the Cry protein has not been conducted in South Korea. This study demonstrates a possible risk assessment method for Vip3Aa protein against honeybees (Apis mellifera). For the risk assessment of the protein, we purified the recombinant Vip3Aa protein in Escherichia coli. The survival rate and symptoms of general intoxication of 4 months honeybees were measured after Vip3Aa exposure. These results indicated that there was no significant difference in the survival rate and the symptom between Vip3Aa and the control buffer. In this study, we established standard methods of Vip3Aa protein purification and oral adult toxicity test using A. mellifera as an LMO risk assessment technique for preserving the natural ecosystem of South Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.33-55
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• 2018

It has been noted that the main cause of biodiversity loss is influx of alien species. Specifically, habitats destruction, economic loss, and human injury are increasing due to invasive alien species. There were 2,167 alien species in Korea. 21 alien species of extraterrestrials including Lycorma delicatula, Solenopsis invicta, Myocastor coypus, and Spartina alterniflora at high risk through ecological risk assessment, are designated as invasive alien species. Alert species, which may have negative impact on ecosystems when they are introduced into the country, are assigned to 127 species through the ecosystem risk evaluation. To list such alien species to prevent invasion of alien species in advance, and to minimize damage caused by imported alien species, a national level management system called the Conservation and Use of Biological deversity Act was established, but there is a lack of a systematic management system in accordance with degree of risk. There is also a risk assessment chart should be developed thatreflects ecological characteristics of each taxon and evaluation criteria in predicting the risk.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.3-25
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• 2011

Recently, a number of local governments as well as private organizations have spearheaded the release of animals into the natural ecosystem in Korea. In 2002, most of these animals released were mammals and birds, but the parameter was gradually expanded to include fish, amphibians, and invertebrates in addition to mammals and birds in 2007, with an increased overall number of animals released. Such increase has not only posed ecological, economic, and public health risks, but also yielded an increase in damages incurred by releasing animals historically or ecologically alien to a given region without thorough risk assessment. The most significant cause of such risks was a critical lack of risk management and regulatory schemes addressing the release of animals into the natural ecosystem. In stark contrast, developed countries long before established the requisite risk management and regulatory schemes either by complying with the IUCN/SSC's Guidelines for Re-Introductions or devising them independently. In this context, the current study has examined the release of animals into the natural ecosystem in Korea and, based on the investigation, asserted a strong need for proper risk management. Moreover, the study has presented systematic risk management and regulatory schemes suitable for the Korean milieu based on a comparative analysis of those employed in developed countries.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.274-284
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• 1997

Pesticide runoff from crop fields is the important concern in environment because it may affect aquatic ecosystem and human. And it is essential to find out the amount of runoff and evaluate the possible effect on aquatic organisms for the human and environmental risk assessment. However, no definite guidelines have been established and related researches are not active in Korea since too many factors were involved in pesticide runoff and it was hard to predict it by using simple data. Therefore, various runoff studies with natural field, simulated rain/field, and computer models were reviewed for the general aspect of experiments and results.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.237-254
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• 2021

Background: Some of the introduced alien species introduced settle, multiply, and spread to become invasive alien species (IAS) that threaten biodiversity. To prevent this, Korea and other countries legally designate and manage alien species that pose a risk to the environment. Moreover, 2160 alien species have been introduced in South Korea, of which 1826 animals and 334 plants are designated. The inflow of IAS can have negative effects such as ecosystem disturbance, habitat destruction, economic damage, and health damage to humans. To prevent damage caused by the inflow of IAS in advance, species that could potentially pose a risk to the environment if introduced in South Korea were designated as alert alien species (AAS). Results: The designation criteria were in accordance with the "Act on the Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity" and the "Regulations on the Ecological Risk Assessment of AAS and IAS" by the National Institute of Ecology. The analysis result of risk and damage cases indicated that mammals affect predation, competition, human economic activity, virus infection, and parasite infection. Birds have been demonstrated to affect predation, competition, human economic activity, and health. It was indicated that plants intrude on the ecosystem by competing with native species with their high-population density and capacity to multiply and cause allergic inducement. Interestingly, 300 species, including 25 mammals, 7 birds, 84 fishes, 28 amphibians, 22 reptiles, 1 insect, 32 spiders, 1 mollusk, 1 arthropod, and 99 plants, are included in the list of AAS. Conclusions: AAS designation plays a role in preventing the reduction of biodiversity by IAS in South Korea and preserving native species. Moreover, it is determined to provide considerable economic benefits by preventing socio-economic losses and ecological damage.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.115-122
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• 2000

Biocides, or non-agricultural pesticides, are a broad class of chemical. They are including biological agents used to disinfect/sanitize, pesticides for non-agricultural use, wood preservatives, antifoulants, etc. Since the early 1980s, many adverse effects of biocides to human health and ecosystem have been found in the world. Especially, antifouling biocide like TBT caused serious toxic effects on the marine organisms. Therefore, OECD began to work on biocides in mid 1996 to help Member countries co-operate in the assessment and registration of these products. EU also announced the Biocidal Products Directive (BPD, 98/8/EC) in 1998 to harmonize regulatory approaches to allow EU countries to conduct evaluations of biocides more efficiently. Korea just start to consider of biocides regulation. Some biocides products are regulated, but not all the biocides which are using in Korea. Therefore, we need to make a appropriate regulation for the all biocides categories. In addition, there are necessary to develop risk assessment tools, to survey the use pattern and amount, to research on the ecosystem contamination by the biocides .

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.363-376
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• 2023

As the risk of biodiversity reduction and extinction becomes serious due to climate change and indiscriminate development, the importance of conservation of the natural environment and ecosystem is increasing. In this situation, Ireviewed that overseas cases of the ecological outlook and evaluation system aimed at providing information on natural resources and ecosystem change. As a results, other countries showed that various research institutes have been carrying on field surveys by classification group, but it was different from us that the investigated data are collected and managed in an integrated manner and repeatedly provided within a short period of time. In addition, it was analyzed that it was highly utilized in policy and environmental impact assessment by providing evaluation-based prediction and outlook information along with basic survey data. Based on this, the limitations of information use in our wildlife surveys and environmental impacts assessments were analyzed, and the estabilishment of a ecology outlook and evaluation system and policy support measures were considered. In addition, based on the proposed outlook and evaluation system preparation plan, a policy direction that can be effectively used in domestic natural ecosystem policies was proposed.