• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.347-349
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.473-474
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• 2008

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.461-463
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• 2009

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.611-622
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• 2000

To investigate the exchange rates of mercury(Hg) across soil-air boundary, we undertook the measurements of Hg flux using gradient technique from a major waste reclamation site, Nan-Ji-Do. Based on these measurement data, we attempted to provide insights into various aspects of Hg exchange in a strongly polluted soil environment. According to our analysis, the study site turned out to be not only a major emission source area but also a major sink area. When these data were compared on hourly basis over a full day scale, large fluxes of emission and deposition centered on daytime periods relative to nighttime periods. However, when comparison of frequency with which emission or deposition occurs was made, there emerged a very contrasting pattern. While emission was dominant during nighttime periods, deposition was most favored during daytime periods. When similar comparison was made as a function of wind direction, it was noticed that there may be a major Hg source at easterly direction to bring out significant deposition of Hg in the study area. To account for the environmental conditions controlling the vertical direction of Hg exchange, we compared environmental conditions for both the whole data group and those observed from the wind direction of strong deposition events. Results of this analysis indicated that the concentrations of pollutant species varied sensitively enough to reflect the environmental conditions for each direction of exchange. When correlation analysis was applied to our data, results indicated that windspeed and ozone concentrations best reflected changes in the magnitudes of emission/deposition fluxes. The results of factor analysis also indicated the possibility that Hg emission of study area is temperature-driven process, while that of deposition is affected by a mixed effects of various factors including temperature, ozone, and non-methane HCs. If the computed emission rate is extrapolated to the whole study area we estimate that annual emission of Hg from the study area can amount to approximately 6kg.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2021

Major anthropogenic emissions of elemental mercury (Hg⁰) occur from coal-fired power plants, and the emissions can be controlled successfully using NH₃-SCR (selective catalytic reduction) systems with catalysts. Although the catalysts can easily convert the gaseous mercury into Hg²⁺ species, the reactions are greatly dependent on the flue gas constituents and SCR conditions. Numerous deNO_xing catalysts have been proposed for considerable reduction in power plant mercury emissions; however, there are few studies to date of elemental mercury oxidation using SCR processes with MW- and full-scale coal-fired boilers. In these flue gas streams, the chemistry of the mercury oxidation is very complicated. Coal types, deNO_xing catalytic systems, and operating conditions are critical in determining the extent of the oxidation. Of these parameters, halogen element levels in coals may become a key vehicle for obtaining better Hg⁰ oxidation efficiency. Such halogens are Cl, Br, and F and the former one is predominant in coals. The chlorine exists in the form of salts and is transformed to gaseous HCl with a trace amount of Cl₂ during the course of coal combustion. The HCl acts as a very powerful promoter for high catalytic Hg⁰ oxidation; however, this can be strongly dependent on the type of coal because of a wide variation in the chlorine contents of coal.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.1 s.45
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• pp.44-58
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• 1994

This study was conducted to examine the levels of total and organic mercury in the scalp hair of the elementary school children and adults, and their relationship with the consumption pattern of fishes and shellfishes. The scalp hair samples were collected from the occipital part of 115 children and 131 adults in costal, urban and rural areas of Kyungpook province from June to August 1991. The mercury content was analysed by the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (model IL. 555) with atomic vapor accessory (model IL. 440). The total and organic mercury contents of hair were significantly higher (p<0.01) among the children who prefer fish and/or shellfish (7.728 ppm, 6.610 ppm), and canned fish and/or fish pastes (6.969 ppm, 5.885 ppm) than those who prefer meat (4.822 ppm, 3.905 ppm) and vegetables (3.974 ppm, 3.224 ppm). The children who prefer to eat the canned fish without cooking showed a higher mercury content than the children who prefer to eat it as stew or mixed with vegetables (p<0.01). There was a dose-response relationship between the intake frequency of canned fish, raw fish and cooked fish and the content of total and organic mercury of hair, the children who eat fish almost everyday showed 2 times higher than those who eat rarely (p<0.01). The mercury content in the hair of the children who eat raw fish was significantly higher than that of the children who eat boiled or broiled fish (p<0.01). The total and organic mercury contents of adult scalp hair increased with age up to the forties and slightly decreased in the fifties. The mercury contents of those who were engaged in the fishery and raw fish restaurant were 2 times higher than those of the farmers. The mercury content of the persons who were favorite dishes of fish and shellfish were most high, and who prefer raw fish were 2 times higher than those of the persons who prefer vegetables and broiled fish. The contents of total and organic mercury in adult scalp hair showed also a increasing tendency with the intake frequency of raw and cooked fish.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate a relationship between the blood concentrations of toxic metals and the blood pressure in people living near the copper smelter. Methods: The study included 570 adults living within 4km of the smelter. We compared systolic and diastolic blood pressure between tertiary groups for blood cadmium, mercury and lead levels, respectively. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors affecting systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Results: In male subjects, there is a significant difference in the mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure between tertiary groups of blood cadmium and mercury levels, but in women, there was no significant difference in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures in all tertiary groups of heavy metals. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that age, BMI, and cadmium concentration in men were risk factors for blood pressure. In women, age and BMI, drinking and smoking, and blood mercury were significantly influenced to blood pressure. Conclusions: Residents living near the Janghang smelter showed high concentrations of blood lead and cadmium, suggesting that they were exposed to high concentrations of heavy metals released from the smelter in the past. Such exposure may have caused some blood pressure increase. Especially, the concentration of cadmium in the case of men and the concentration of mercury in blood in the case of women were found to be significantly related to the increase of blood pressure. The local population should be advised to make efforts to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, in order to minimize cardiovascular disease, and to pay close attention to any health problems possibly related to toxic metal exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.299-312
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• 2001

The analysis of vent -emitted Hg concentrations and relevant environmental parameters was made from the inlet of 42 ventpipes in Nan-Ji-Do area of Seoul during September/october of 2000. Using these data, the fluxes of Hg from the ventpipes were also derived. The mean concentration of Hg, computed using the data sets collected from 42 ventpipes, was 420$\pm$619ng m$^{-3}$ with the range of 3.45~2,952ng m$^{-3}$ . Because of large differences in concentration levels between two sectors 1 and 2 and between plain and slope areas. evaluation of the data was made by dividing them into four different categories such as plain areas of sectors 1 and 2 (and/or slope areas of sectors 1 and 2). When this classification was applied, the computed fluxes were highly different among each group with the generally enhanced fluxes in plain area relative to slope area. The computed fluxes were then used to make comparative analysis of different source processes in the study area.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 1992

Fifty samples of pregnant women's hair during December 1990~April 1991 in the Seoul area were analyzed for mercury. Mean mercury concentrations for pregnant women were 0.65$\mu$g/g and varied from 0.21$\mu$g/g to 2.44$\mu$g/g. The differences were believed to be due to diet, living area, and personal activity. Mean mercury concentrations were significantly different for the group that at twice a week(0.67$\mu$g/g) and once or less a week(0.55$\mu$g/g). Mean mercury concentrations were compared with the THI (Todai Health Index) Scores. The THI results suggested that the higher scores in MENT(Mental irritability) item had the higher mean mercury concentrations. The factors affecting mercury concentrations of pregnant women's hair must be considered further study. However, hair analysis seemed potentially useful in environmental medicine but its use in clinical investigation for basic diagnosis of mercury poisoning.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.87-102
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• 1978

Electron microscopic studies were made to investigate changes in the fine structure of the liver, kidney and gills of Carassius carassius L. following exposure to 1 and 2.5 ppm of $HgCl_2$. The following results were obtained: 1. In the mercury-treated liver cells, an increase in the number of lysosomes were noticed. These lysosomes appeared to be of two types; round ones containing some crystalline structures and others with phagocytosed glycogen granules and mitochondria. Also observed were mitochondrial swelling where the matrix appeared less electrondense, and segregation of the nucleoli in the nucleus. 2. In the kidney, mercury treatment resulted in thickening of the basement membrane of the glomerulus, and appearance of vacuoles and cytoplasmic bodies in the proximal convoluted tubule. The vacuoles seemed to be formed from mitochondria. Nuclear shrinkage was also noticed at 2.5 ppm of $HgCl_2$. 3. Many large and small lysosomes appeared in response to mercury in the epithelial cells of the gill lamella. Also the lamellar membrane became fuzzy in appearance. 4. It can be concluded from these results that mercury-induced changes in the fine structure are associated with activation of detoxication processes and impairment of energy metabolism.