• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.380-391
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• 2003

Surface sediments were collected from Gwangyang and Yeosu Bays to evaluate their sedimentological characteristics and geochemical aspects of both the benthic environment and heavy metal pollution. The grain size distribution includes both sandy and muddy sediments. Sand-rich sediments occur mainly near the POSCO and the channel between Namhedo and Yeosu Bando, while elsewhere mud-dominated sediments are present. TOC content ranges from 0.2 to 2.1 % and C/N ratios indicate that the range arises from the mix of organic matter. The C/S ratios of this organic matter show that parts of the study area are anoxic or have sub-anoxic bottom conditions. The hydrogen sulfide content of the sediment has a range of 0.7 to 301 ppm, with a high content occurring inshore of Myodo Island, where it indicates a polluted environment. The enrichment factor (Ef) and index of accumulation rate (Igeo) of ten heavy metals (Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb, Li, Zn, V, Cr, Ba) show that parts of the study area contain from one to seven times more Pb and Ba, and from 0.8 to 3.5 times more of the other elements than the mean sediment value. The Igeo values of V and Cd show that different parts of the area can be classified as heavily polluted, heavily to moderately polluted, or more or less unpolluted. Those areas that have both high levels of enrichment and high accumulation rates of heavy metals contain predominantly fine sediments with a high organic matter and hydrogen sulfide content.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.554-559
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• 2012

To evaluate the effect of aging on solar salts produced in Korea, the chemical compositions of the solar salts, including their heavy metal contents, were analyzed after they were aged for one-year (OA) and for three years (TA). The average contents of the components were: sodium chloride; 81.4% (OA) and 90.9% (TA), chloride; 57.7% (OA) and 65.0% (TA), moisture content; 4.7% (TA) and 12.0% (OA), insoluble solids; 0.03% (OA) and 0.04% (TA), and $SO_4$ ions; and 0.57% (TA) and 0.85% (OA). No significant difference was found, however, in the heavy metal contents. Heavy metals such as As, Pb, and Hg were detected with values far below the maximum permissible limit, and Cd was not detected in the salts. The TA solar salts showed higher values of sodium chloride, chloride, and insoluble solids than the OA solar salts, but the TA solar salts had lower moisture and $SO_4$ values. These results clearly indicate that the levels of heavy metals in the OA and TA solar salts that are produced in Korea are safe.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.363-370
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• 2021

This study was conducted to evaluate the dermal cytotoxicity of lead acetate (LA) and other heavy metal compounds, and the protective effect of Lespedeza bicolor (LB) extract on LA-induced cytotoxicity in cultured B16-/F10 melanoma cells. The study evaluated the antioxidative effects of LB due to its electron-donating ability (EDA), inhibitory effects on melanization and improving cell viability. LA significantly decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, and the XTT₅₀ value was determined at 52.7 µM in the studied cultures. Based on the Borenfreund and Puerner's toxicity criteria, LA was estimated to be highly cytotoxic. LA-induced cytotoxicity and cell damage was reversed by the antioxidant activity of kaempferol (KAE), thereby remarkably improving cell viability. A study of the protective effects of the LB extract on LA-induced cytotoxicity showed that the LB extract remarkably increased cell viability in the LA-treated group, and also inhibited the EDA and the total amount of melanin. The above results suggest oxidative stress-mediated cytotoxicity of LA. In the study, LB extract effectively prevented LA-induced cytotoxicity via its antioxidative activity and inhibition of melanization. In conclusion, natural resources like LB extracts may be useful agents for the prevention of oxidative stress-mediated cytotoxicity and melanization by heavy metallic compounds such as LA.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.87-100
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• 2021

With a striking increase in the level of contamination and subsequent degradations in the environment, detection and monitoring of contaminants in various sites has become a crucial mission in current society. In this review, we have summarized the current research areas in membrane-based colorimetric sensors for trace detection of various molecules. The researches covered in this summary utilize membranes composed of cellulose fibers as sensing platforms and metal nanoparticles or fluorophores as optical reagents. Displaying decent or excellent sensitivity, most of the developed sensors achieve a significant selectivity in the presence of interfering ions. The physical and chemical properties of cellulose membrane platforms can be customized by changing the synthesis method or type of optical reagent used, allowing a wide range of applications possible. Membrane-based sensors are also portable and have great mechanical properties, which enable on-site detection of contaminants. With such superior qualities, membrane-based sensors examined in the researches were used for versatile purposes including quantification of heavy metals in drinking water, trace detection of toxic antibiotics and heavy metals in environmental water samples. Some of the sensors exhibited additional features like antimicrobial ability and recyclability. Lastly, while most of the sensors aimed for a detection enabled by naked eyes through rapid colour change, many of them investigated further detection methods like fluorescence, UV-vis spectroscopy, and RGB colour intensity.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: In recent years, studies on microplastics have focused on their decomposition in the ocean. However, no studies have been reported on the interaction between microplastics and metal ions in aqueous solutions. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the adsorption capacity of cadmium(Cd) by polypropylene (PP) in aqueous solution. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cadmium adsorption characteristics of PP in aqueous solution were evaluated through various conditions including initial Cd concentration(1.25-25 mg/L), contact time(0.5-24 h), initial pH(2-6) and temperature($20-50^{\circ}C$). Cadmium adsorption fit on PP was well described by Freundlich isotherm model with adsorption capacity(K) of 0.028. The adsorption amount of Cd by PP increased with increasing contact time, indicating that adsorption of PP by Cd was dominantly influenced by contact time. Especially, the removal efficiency of Cd by PP was highest at high temperature. However, the surface functional groups of PP before and after adsorption of Cd were similar, suggesting that adsorption of Cd by PP is not related to surface functional groups. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that PP affects the behavior of Cd in aqueous solution. However, in order to clarify the specific relationship between microplastics and metal ions, mechanism research should be carried out.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.163-170
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• 2019

In recent years, various types of industrial wastes are rapidly increasing with the development of high-tech industries. Specially, high-density waste glass of CRT TV containing heavy metals are buried or disposed of due to reprocessing costs and environmental pollution problems. Thus, more basic research is needed to recycle waste such as CRT waste glass such. In this study, the fundamental properties and radiation shielding performance of mortar specimens substituted CRT waste glass as a fine aggregate were analyzed and their application to shielding materials was evaluated. According to the results, the bulk density of mortar specimen replaced with CRT waste glass was increased and the compressive strength and flexural strength were decreased. Meanwhile, the CRT waste glass substitute specimen containing a large amount of lead component showed a higher shielding performance than the general mortar specimen. Especially, the linear attenuation coefficient of CRT waste glass in $122KeV{\cdot}^{57}Co$ of the low energy field was 2.5 times higher than that of normal specimen.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.266-273
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• 2019

Heavy metal contamination in freshwater ecosystem has been receiving increased worldwide attention due to their direct or indirect effect on human health and aquatic organisms. In this study, we investigated biological effects such as survival rate, growth rate, emergence rate, sex ratio and mouthpart deformity of Chironomus plumosus. The survival rate of C. plumosus decreased with the increase in heavy metal concentration as well as exposure time after cadmium (Cd) or zinc (Zn) exposure. The growth rate decreased at days 4 and 7 after Cd exposure and significantly reduced at the relatively high concentration of $50mg\;L^{-1}$ Cd. The emergence rate was decreased at $50mg\;L^{-1}$ Cd and $100mg\;L^{-1}$ Zn. The sex ratio showed imbalance pattern at relatively low concentrations (0.5 and $2mg\;L^{-1}$ Cd) with high proportion of male and relatively high concentration ($100mg\;L^{-1}$ Zn) with high proportion of female (60%). In addition, mentum deformities were observed at high concentration of Cd and Zn. These results suggest that heavy metal exposure in aquatic ecosystem may affect biological and morphological responses, and aquatic midge C. plumosus is a potential indicator for assessment of environmental pollutant such as heavy metals.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.229-238
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• 2023

Bentonite is a type of rock that has been used as a traditional mineral medicine. It has a variety of pharmacological activities, and is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat jaundice, diarrhea, and hemostasis. In modern medicine, it is used as a raw material and additive for medicines such as antacids, gastrointestinal protective agents, and laxatives. Bentonite produced in Korea was produced through diagenesis or hydrothermal alteration of tertiary volcanic debris distributed in the Pohang and Gyeongju areas. It is mainly used for industrial purposes such as papermaking, paint, civil engineering, casting, and animal feed. Recently, technology is being developed to use it in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In this study, the geochemical characteristics of bentonite were identified by analyzing the main components and trace elements of 40 and 21 types of bentonite produced in the Gampo Gyeongju and Yeonil Pohang area. Also it were classifed by formation envrionment of bentonite deposits in the Gampo and Yeonil. As a result of the study, bentonite from the reserch area may be cased by argillic alteraton that alkali elements are removed form basaltic rocks by hydrothermal fluids and AI-CCPI alteration indices wrere also indentified argillic alteraton. It was found that there is a correlation between the behavior characteristics of heavy metal elements (P b, Cr, As) and the hydrothermal alteration of bentonite in the reserch area.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2000

In order to characterize the genetic diversity of bacterial community in groundwater, samples were collected from used for drinking water and polluted with heavy metal wastewater in Seoul city and natural cave of Kangwondo. The DNA was amplified with 165 rDNA-based primers by use of the PCR, and then analysed ARDRA (amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis). Restriction endonuclease analysis patterns of amplified 165 rDNA in drinking water and wastewater relatively showed high genetic diversity in situ and drinking groundwater. The number of DNA fragments varied with in situ and drinking water. This method of ARDRA of bacterial communities in groundwater could be used for a quick assessment of genotypic changes between different locations reflecting different environmental conditions and the diversity reflected pollution of groundwater (natural cave water>drinking water>waste water, as in order of grade). [Genetic diversity, Groundwater, 165 rDNA, PCR, ARDRA].

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 2004

We have sent the 1000 hair samples to USA and received the results from USA because the programs for the interpretation of Tissue Mineral Analysis (TMA) result is not opened yet in Korea. Therefore, the study will analyze the relationship between the hair for Korean and minerals and make a classification system. To achieve the goal, first of all, we coded the results of patients and classified the analyzed results which are the interrelationship between the minerals and dietary situation and the heavy metals and diseases through the statistical methods. Finally we classified 8 metabolic type using decision tree classifier.