• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.52-61
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• 2019

Over the past few decades, microalgae-based biotechnology conjugated with innovative CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic engineering has been attracted much attention for the cost-effective and eco-friendly value-added compounds production. However, the discharge of reproducible living modified organism (LMO) into environmental condition potentially causes serious problem in aquatic environment, and thus it is essential to assess potential environmental risk for human health. Accordingly, in this study, we monitored discharged genetically modified microalgae (GMM) near the research complex which is located in Daejeon, South Korea. After testing samples obtained from 6 points of near streams, several green-colored microalgal colonies were detected under hygromicin-containing agar plate. By identification of selection marker genes, the GMM was not detected from all the samples. For the lab-scale environmental risk assessment of GMM, acute toxicity test using rotifer Brachionus calcyflorus was performed by feeding GMM. After feeding, there was no significant difference in mortality between WT and transformant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. According to further analysis of horizontal transfer of green fluorescence protein (GFP)-coding gene after 24 h of incubation in synthetic freshwater, we concluded that the GFP-expressed gene not transferred into predator. However, further risk assessments and construction of standard methods including prolonged toxicity test are required for the accurate ecological risk assessment.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.214-220
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• 2005

Initial Risk assessments using physicochemical properties and acute toxicity are conducted to provide information for managers to decide the potential adverse effects and played as a tool for decision-making in development of new substances. In this study, we built initial risk assessment framework and carried out human and ecology initial risk assessment for three different pesticides of captan, glyphosate, and paraquat dichloride to confirm our framework. Two water estimation models of GENEEC (GENeric Estimated Environmental Concentration) and FOCUS (FOrum for the Co-ordination of pesticide models and their USe) were employed for pesticides exposure assessment. Application for paraquat dichloride and glyphosate uses shows very low human and ecology risk. On the other hand, high acute ecological risk was observed from the application for captan. These results showed good agreements with the U.S. EPA RED (Reregistration Eligibility Decision) reports verifying the framework of this study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.29-43
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• 2024

Legally protected species are one of the crucial considerations in the field of natural ecology when conducting environmental impact assessments (EIAs). The occurrence of legally protected species, especially 'Endangered Wildlife' designated by Ministry of Environment, significantly influences the progression of projects subject to EIA, necessitating clear investigations and presentations of their habitats. In perspective of statistics, a minimum of 30 occurrence coordinates is required for population prediction, but most of endangered wildlife has insufficient coordinates and it posing challenges for distribution prediction through modeling. Consequently, this study aims to propose modeling methodologies applicable when coordinate data are limited, focusing on Rodgersia podophylla, representing characteristics of endangered wildlife and northern plant species. For this methodology, 30 random sampling coordinates were used as input data, assuming little survey data, and modeling was performed using individual models included in BIOMOD2. After that, the modeling results were evaluated by using discrimination capacity and the reality reflection ability. An optimal modeling technique was proposed by ensemble the remaining models except for the MaxEnt model, which was found to be less reliable in the modeling results. Alongside discussions on discrimination capacity metrics(e.g. TSS and AUC) presented in modeling results, this study provides insights and suggestions for improvement, but it has limitations that it is difficult to use universally because it is not a study conducted on various species. By supporting survey site selection in EIA processes, this research is anticipated to contribute to minimizing situations where protected species are overlooked in survey results.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-43
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• 2017

The objectives of the study were to evaluate fish compositions, endangered species, community structure, physical habitat, and general water quality for a preliminary environmental impact assessment of Jeokbyeok River on the road construction between two regions. Total number of species and total number of individuals, based on CPUE, were 23 and 1186, respectively. The endangered species (I, II) as the legal protection species were Pseudopungtungia nigra (79 samples) Gobiobotia brevibarba) (5) Gobiobotia macrocephala (2), indicating a requiring of endangered species conservation. In the meantime, exotic species and ecological disturbing species such as Micropterus salmoides and Lepomis macrochirus, were not present, indicating a well conserved area. According to fish community analysis, values of species diversity index were high (range: 0.788 - 1.030), and the dominance index were low (range: 0.097 - 0.183), indicating that the fish community in this area was maintained well without high dominacne by specific species. Also, fish analysis on tolerance guilds and trophic guilds showed that the proportions of sensitive species were largely exceeded the proportions of the tolerant species, while the proportions of insectivore species were largely exceeded the proportions of the omnivore species. This outcome suggests that the ecosystem was well maintained in terms of tolerance and trophic compositions (food chain). Ecological health, based on the multi-metric fish model of Fish Assessment Integrity (FAI), reflected those fish conditions. In other words, values of FAI model averaged 82.4, which means a "good condition" in the criteria of ecological health by the Minstry of Environment, Korea. In addition, general water quality and physical habitat analyses showed that the system was in good condition. Under these conditions, if the road constructions between the two regions happen in the future, inorganic suspended solids may increase in the waterbody, and this may result in indirect or direct influences on the physical habitats and food chain as well as fish compositions, so the ecological protections and prevention strategy from the soil erosion are required in the system.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.5 s.92
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• pp.440-445
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• 2006

Acetaminophen (paracetamol), generally used as a pain reducing agent, has good analgesic efficacy in toothaches and headaches, but is of little use in inflammatory and visceral pain. This study was performed to analyze the level of acetaminophen in the Kyongahn river and to investigate the ecological risks of target compounds. Sampling sites were Haesil, Soopyo, Wangsan, Kyongahn, Jiwol, Kwangdong, Paldang and they were analyzed in June and August, 2005. Acute toxicity of acetaminophen wwas evaluated for Daphnia magna. From the ecotoxicological results, environmental risk assessments were performed for acetaminophen residues in Kyongahn river to predict their potential adverse effect. Acetaminophen was detected at Kyonahn river, $0.439{\mu}g/l$). The toxic concentration of acetaminophen calculated with 48-h $LC_{50}$ values as 16.9 mg/l. These results indicated that acetaminophen had no significant ecotoxicological impact on short-term acute exposure.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.5 s.92
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• pp.462-468
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• 2006

Antibiotics are manufactured and used for specific physiological functions, hence they may exert adverse ecological consequences when they are in contact with nontarget organisms. In the last decade, many reports have been made on the occurrences of various antibiotic compounds in surface water, and their potential impact to the environment has become an increasing concern. This study was conducted to prioritize antibiotic substances with potential environment risk in Korea. Human use antibiotics with an EIC (Expected Introduction Concentration) value greater than $1{\mu}g/l$, US FDA's action limit criteria, were selected. In order to calculate a worst-case EIC for each substance, annual production volume (in kg) of each antibiotic substance was derived using the Korea Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (KPMA)'s monetary database. Sixteen substances were preliminarily selected. The EICs of the 16 antibiotic substances were refined with the excretion rate of the parent substances. Ten antibiotic substances were identified to have EIC-corrected greater than $1{\mu}g/l$, which include Amoxicillin ($15.8{\mu}g/l$), Cefaclor ($10.1{\mu}/l$), Roxithromycin ($4.2{\mu}g/l$), Cephradine ($4.5{\mu}g/l$), Cefatrizine ($2.6{\mu}g/l$), Cefadroxil ($3.3{\mu}g/l$), Aztreonam ($2.3{\mu}g/l$), Ceftazidime ($2.8{\mu}g/l$), Ribostamycin ($1.3{\mu}g/l$), and Ceftezole ($1.3{\mu}g/l$). Additional risk assessments for these antibiotic substances are suggested.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.55-62
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• 2013

Korea Government have carried out various policies to reduce the energy consumption that cause the global warming and environmental pollution. Energy consumption of buildings in Korea has reached 24% of total energy quantities and energy consumption of apartment has been continuously increasing. It has executed the building energy efficiency rating system and energy performance assessments and certification systems have been in force to save energy consumption of buildings. Therefore, this study tried to asset the energy performance of apartment according to the shapes of unit plan, and then to evaluate the energy performance of apartment according to altering balcony area into living area in the unit plan of apartment and thus, to present the effective unit plan to reduce the energy consumption. According to the results, in case of standard unit plan, the 3Bay and 4Bay unit plans showed more effective energy consumption than the 2Bay unit plan, respectively, 5%, 6%, and in case of extended unit plan, respectively, 2%, 5%. Compared the energy efficiencies of the standard unit plan to the extended unit plan, the standard one showed more effective energy consumption than the extended one, respectively, 2% in case of the 2Bay and 4Bay unit, 5% of the 3Bay unit.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.164-174
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• 2021

Information on biodiversity plays an important role in conservation planning for ecosystem. As existing biodiversity indices are calculated and predicted only based on the number of individuals and species, it is difficult to explain aspects of genetic and ecological diversity. Phylogenetic diversity can indirectly evaluate ecological diversity as well as genetic diversity overlooked by existing biodiversity assessments. In this study, typical metrics of biodiversity (e.g., species diversity, species richness, etc.) and phylogenetic diversity were evaluated together using a long-term monitoring data of winter birds in Jungrang, Cheonggye and Anyang stream where are designated as Seoul migratory bird reserves. Then discussed the meaning of each assessmentresult. In Jungrang and Anyang stream, the number of individuals generally decreased overtime, whereas in Cheonggye stream, there was no significant change. In addition, species abundance increased over time slightly in Cheonggye stream, while there was no significant change in Jungrang and Anyang stream. Species diversity temporally increased in Jungrang and Cheonggye stream, excluding Anyang stream, but phylogenetic diversity showed a tendency to increase only in Cheonggye stream. These changes in the biodiversity assessment indices are thought to be due to anthropogenic disturbances such as construction that occurred within each site, and it was shown that species diversity and phylogenetic diversity do not always lead to the same assessment results. Therefore, this study suggests that biodiversity assessment needs to be considered from various contexts such as genetic and ecological perspectives.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2020

Background: The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is gaining attention as an efficient decomposer of food waste. However, recalcitrant compounds such as plastics mixed into food waste may have negative effects on its growth and survival. Moreover, its efficiency of food waste degradation may also be affected by plastics. In addition, salt (NaCl) can also be present in high concentrations, which also reduces the efficiency of H. illucens-mediated food waste treatment. In this study, we assessed the growth of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) reared on food waste containing polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) and NaCl. The weight of BSFL was measured every 2-4 days. Survival and substrate reduction rates and pupation ratio were determined at the end of the experiment. Results: The total larval weight of Hermetia illucens reared on food waste containing PS was greater than that of the control on days 20 and 24. However, the survival rate was lower in the group treated with 5% PS, as was substrate reduction in all PS-treated groups. The weight of BSFL reared on food waste containing PE was lower than that of the control on day 6. PE in food waste did not affect the survival rate, but the pupation ratio increased and substrate consumption decreased with increasing PE concentrations. Regardless of the plastic type, the addition of NaCl resulted in decreased larval weight and pupation ratio. Conclusions: Larval growth of black soldier fly was inhibited not by plastics but by substrate salinity. Additional safety assessments of larvae reared on food waste containing impurities are needed to enable wider application of BSFL in vermicomposting.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.307-321
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• 2018

Fish fauna and lentic ecosystem health assessment in freshwater were analyzed in the two reservoirs (Uirim Reservoir(Ur) and Solbangjuk Reservoir(Sr)) of the Jecheon City during May-September 2017. Total numbers of the species and genus (7 family) sampled were 21 and 16, respectively. Cyprinidae was most dominant taxa, which accounted for 11 species (52.4%) of the total species, and the relative abundance, based on the number of individuals, was 318 individuals (46.2%). Subdominant families were taxa of Centrachidae (2 species; 264 ind. (38.4%). The dominant species, based on the relative abundance, were Squalidus chankaensistsuchigae(22.7%). Subdominant species were Lepomis macrochirus(19.5%, 134 ind.) and Micropterus salmoides(18.9%, 134 ind.). Trophic state index of Korea ($TSI_{KO}$), based on chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll-a (CHL),ranged mesotrophic state. The purpose of this study was to apply a multi-metric model of Lentic Ecosystem Health Assessments (LEHA) for environmental impact assessments of two reservoirs and assessed the ecological health model values. Trophic composition's metrics showed that tolerant species (56.8%, 98.3%) and omnivore species (43.9%, 65.6%) dominated the fish fauna in the two reservoirs (Ur and Sr) of Jecheon City, indicating a biological degradation in the aquatic ecosystem. The relative proportions of Micropterus salmoides, also showed greater than 16.3% (Ur), 31.1% (Sr) of the total, indicating a ecological disturbance. The average value of LEHA model was 22 (Ur) and 12 (Sr) in the reservoirs, indicating a "poor condition (Ur)" and "very poor condition (Sr)" by the criteria of MOE (2014).