• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.324-330
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• 2007

A new ion selective PVC membrane electrode is developed as a sensor for mercury(II) ions based on bis(benzoylacetone) propylenediimine (H2(BA)2PD) as an ionophore. The electrode shows good response characteristics and displays, a linear Emf vs. log[Hg2+] response over the concentration range of 1.0×10-6 to 1.0×10-1 M Hg(II) with a Nernstian slope of 29.8±0.75 mV per decade and with a detection limit of 2.2×10-7 M Hg(II) over the pH range of 2.5-11.5. Selectivity concentrations for Hg(II) relative to a number of potential interfering ions were also investigated. The sensor is highly selective for Hg(II) ions over a large number of cations with different charge. The sensor has been found to be chemically inert showing a fast response time of 60 s and was used over a period of 3 months with a good reproducibility (S = 0.27 mV). The electrode was successfully applied to determine mercury(II) in real samples with satisfactory results.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 2012

Fish contain both the neurotoxin methyl mercury (MeHg) and nutrients important for brain development. The developing brain appears to be most sensitive to MeHg toxicity and mothers who consume fish during pregnancy expose their fetus prenatally. Although brain development is most dramatic during fetal life, it continues for years postnatally and additional exposure can occur when a mother breast feeds or the child consumes fish. This raises the possibility that MeHg might influence brain. We evaluated the relationship between fish consumption and mercury exposure levels in umbilical cord blood of the pregnant women of the city of Tongyeong city, Korea. A total of 159 pregnant women residing in the city of Tongyeong, Korea were recruited for the study between October 2010 and March 2011. Fish consumption was evaluated using food frequency questionnaires including detailed questions on fish consumption. We used ANOVA to estimated the particular relevance between the frequency of fish consumption and the umbilical cord blood mercury concentration, and other various factors. The average mean concentration of mercury levels in umbilical cord blood of pregnant women who participated in our study were $2.69{\pm}2.50ppb$, ranging from 0.01 to 14.80 ppb. The mean concentration of umbilical cord blood mercury exposure was lower than the level recommended by WHO (5.0 ppb), but the mercury exposure level exceeded the WHO recommended in 17 (10.7%) cases of umbilical cord blood. Mercury levels in cord blood of pregnant women were $2.04{\pm}2.00ppb$, ranging from 0 to 8.00 ppb in below 29 years old and $3.18{\pm}2.74ppb$, ranging from 0.01 to 14.80 ppb in more 30 years old. In this study, there was a significant difference for the frequency of eating fish between the groups (p < 0.01). The level of the groups that ate fish 3 to more times per week ($4.15{\pm}4.02ppb$) was significant higher as compared with the level of other groups that ate fish 1 to times per week ($2.63{\pm}2.22ppb$) and none per week ($1.06{\pm}1.44ppb$), respectively. We found that the mercury concentration of umbilical cord blood associate with fish consumption and this was statistically significant and this fact revels that fish consumption is positively related to mercury levels in the umbilical cord blood. We need systematic and periodic research on the general population to prevent mercury poisoning, which can be cause by low-level mercury exposure from dietary intake such as chronic fish consumption.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.667-676
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• 2006

The reduction of $Hg^{2+}$ in the aqueous phase results in the production of dissolved gaseous mercury(DGM), and the volatilization of DGM has been identified as an important mechanism for the loss of Hg from waterbodies to the atmosphere. Although mercury emission in the world is known to be mostly from Asia, there have been few studies of measuring DGM concentrations in lakes in Asia. In this study, DGM concentrations were measured at Juam reservoir($35^{\cir}00'N,\;127^{\circ}14'E$), Korea. The results showed that the average concentrations of DGM at the upper and down stream of the lake during summer time were $95{\pm}8\;and\;130{\pm}15$ pg/L, respectively and the concentration of total mercury(TM) at the upper and down stream was $2.1{\pm}0.7,\;1.7{\pm}0.3$ ng/L respectively. Average DGM concentration during summer time($101{\pm}14pg/L$) was approximately 5.5 times higher than that during fall($18{\pm}0.1pg/L$). The DGM concentrations ai the midstream decreased from 32 to 13.7 pg/L during rain event, while the TM concentrations increased from 2.2 ng/L to 2.7 ng/L indicating the deposition of mercury from the atmosphere. Also, the diurnal patterns between DGM concentrations and UV intensities were observed. Water temperatures and DOC concentrations were significantly related to DGM concentrations, while TM concentrations were negatively related to DGM concentrations(p<0.0001). Comparing with the study of Dill et al.,(2006) the average concentrations of DGM $(109{\pm}15pg/L)\;and\;TM(2.2{\pm} 0.4ng/L)$ at Juam reservoir were approximately 3 and 2.2 times higher than those measured in other lakes(DGM: $38{\pm}16pg/L$, TM: $1.0{\pm}1.2ng/L$).

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.51-61
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between socioeconomic status and blood heavy metal concentration in Korean adult population using the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey(KNHANES 2013-2015). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between socioeconomic status and the blood heavy metal concentration. Positive association was found between education and income level and blood concentration of mercury while those of lead and cadmium were negatively associated education and income level in Korean adult population (P for trend <0.001). At the point of an increase in the prevalence of heavy metal concentrations in the blood, a national public health policy will be needed to address the inequity of health due to socioeconomic factors.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.223-236
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• 2001

The concentration of gaseous mercury (Hg) was measured at hourly intervals along with relevant environmental parameters from two monitoring stations (Hannam and Kwachun) in Seoul metropolitan city during September 1999 to July 2000. Irrespective of the environmental and areal differences in the two locations, the concentrations of observed Hg levels were remarkably compatible each other. The results showed that the mean Hg level in Hannam was measured to be 5.34${\pm}$3.92 ngm$^{-3}$ (N = 2576), while that of Kwachun was 5.25${\pm}$2.53 ngm$^{-3}$ (N = 1992). Using these measurement data, we inspected Hg distribution and behavior at various time scale. When the data were analyzed at 24 hr scale, the distribution patterns for the two areas were distinguished by enrichment in either night(Hannam) or day (Kwachun). The patterns for seasonal distributions were also opposing each other such as the occurrences of peak during winter (Hannam) or summer (Kwachun). In order to analyze the factors affecting Hg distributions between two sites over different time scale, we conducted both correlation and factor analysis on both all data sets and on seasonally divided data groups. Whereas Hg exhibits strong correlations with such parameters as PM (particulate matter), SO$_2$, and NO$_2$, its relationship with meteorological parameters was not significant enough in many cases. The results of factor analysis also indicated that the Hg levels are tightly associated with most pollutants, explaining the largest portions of statistical variance. According to our study, we conclude that patterns of Hg distributions can exhibit variable patterns depending on local source processes which we expect to be diverse among different areas.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.24 no.1 s.61
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• pp.46-52
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• 2006

The mercury is among the most highly bioconcentrated toxic trace metals. Many national and international agencies and organisations have targeted mercury for the possible emission control. The mercury toxicity depends on its chemical form, among which alkylmercury compounds are the most toxic. A human cervix uterus cancer cell line HeLa cells was employed to investigate the effect of the toxic heavy metal mercury (Hg) and ionizing radiation. In the in vitro comet assays for the genotoxicity in the HeLa cells, the group of Hg treatment after irradiation showed higher DNA breakage than the other groups. The tail extent moment and olive tail moment of the control group were $4.88{\pm}1.00\;and\;3.50{\pm}0.52$ while the values of the only Hg treatment group were $26.90{\pm}2.67\;and\;13.16{\pm}1.82$, respectively. The tail extent moment and olive tail moment of the only 0.001, 0.005, 0.01 Hg group were $12.24{\pm}1.82,\;8.20{\pm}2.15,\;20.30{\pm}1.30,\;12.26{\pm}0.52,\;40.65{\pm}2.94\;and \;20.38{\pm}1.49$, respectively. In the case of Hg treatment after irradiation, the tail extent moment and olive tail moment of the 0.001, 0.005, 0.01 Hg group were $56.50{\pm}3.93,\;32.69{\pm}2.48,\;62.03{\pm}5.14,\;31.56{\pm}1.97,\;72.73{\pm}3.70\;and \;39.44{\pm}3.23$, respectively. The results showed that Hg induced DNA single-strand breaks or alkali labile sites as assessed by the Comet assay. It is in good agreement with the reported results. The mercury inhibits the repair of DNA. The bacterial formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Epg protein) recognizes and removes some oxidative DNA base modifications. Enzyme inactivation by Hg (II) may therefore be due either to interactions with rysteine residues outside the metal binding domain or to very high-affinity binding of Hg (II) which readily removes Zn (II) from the zinc finger.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.243-248
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• 2011

A selective determination method of mercury (II) ion in aqueous solution by luminol-based chemiluminescence system (luminol CL system) has been developed. Determination of metal ions such as copper (II), iron (III), chromium (III) ion in solution by the luminol CL system using its catalytic role in the reaction of luminol and hydrogen peroxide has been reported by several groups. In this study, the catalytic activity of mercury (II) ion in the reaction of luminol and hydrogen peroxide was observed by the enhanced CL intensity of the luminol CL system. Based on this phenomenon, experimental conditions of the luminol CL system were investigated and optimized to determine mercury (II) ion in aqueous solution. While mercury (II) ion in mixed sample solution containing mercury (I) and (II) ions highly enhanced the CL intensity of the luminol CL system, the mercury (I) ion could not enhanced the CL intensity. Thus selective determination of the mercury (II) ions in a mixture containing mercury (I) and (II) ions could be achieved. Each concentration of mercury (I) and (II) ions in aqueous solution can be obtained from the results of the CL method that give the concentration of only mercury (II) ion and the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) method that give the total concentration of mercury ions. On the optimized conditions, the calibration curve of mercury (II) ion was linear over the range from $1.25{\times}10^{-5}$ to $2.50{\times}10^{-3}M$ with correlation coefficient of 0.991. The detection limit of mercury (II) ion in aqueous solution was calculated to be $1.25{\times}10^{-7}M$.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.33-38
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• 2017

Waste can be utilized as secondary or alternative fuel. Solid recovered fuel (SRF) and dried sewage sludge were combusted to investigate heavy metal emissions from their combusiton in this study. Content of copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) of coal, SRF and dried sewage sludge were determined, respectively. Concentrations of these heavy metals in the combustion flue gas were also determined. As a result, emissions of gas-phase Cu, Cr, Cd, Ni, Zn, Pb and As compounds were found to be little. However, a significant amount of gas-phase Hg was emitted from combustion of coal, SRF and dried sewage sludge. While SRF showed a high mercury oxidation percentage in its combustion flue gas, dried sewage sludge showed a high level of gaseous mercury emission.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.801-809
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• 2012

Long-term measurement of total mercury (TM) and dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) were performed in Yangsuri marsh. Average TM and DGM concentrations were $2.0{\pm}2.0$ ng/L and $15.0{\pm}2.8$ pg/L, respectively, indicating that only 2.6% of TM existed as the form of DGM in Yangsuri marsh. While TM did not show the seasonal variation a statistically high DGM concentration was observed in warm season, indicating that DGM was effectively produced by strong solar radiation and high water temperature. There was no relationship between TM and DGM concentrations in Yangsuri marsh, as observed in other studies. DGM in Yangsuri marsh was supersaturated for most of sampling period; therefore, one can conclude that $Hg^0$ in water surface can readily volatilize to the atmosphere.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.344-346
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• 2005