• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.344-350
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: To design and develop a constructed wetland for effective livestock wastewater treatment, it is necessary to understand the removal mechanisms of various types of pollutants in constructed wetlands. The objective of this study was to evaluate the treatment efficiency of pollutants under different types of fraction in constructed wetland system for treating piggery wastewater. METHODS AND RESULTS: The piggery wastewater treatment plant that consisted of activated sludge tank, aerobic and anaerobic beds was constructed. The concentration of COD(Chemical oxygen demand) in effluent by fraction was 71.5 mg/L for soluble COD, 142 mg/L insoluble COD. The concentration of SS(Suspended solid) in effluent by existing form was 102 mg/L for volatile SS, 15.5 mg/L for fixed SS. The concentration of T-N(Total nitrogen) and T-P(Total phosphorus) in effluent by existing form were 12.8 mg/L and 3.05 mg/L for dissolved form, 35.0 mg/L and 1.93 mg/L for suspended form. The removal efficiencies of COD, SS, T-N and T-P in hot season(summer and autumn) were higher than those in cold season(spring and winter). The removal efficiencies of COD, SS, T-N and T-P in effluent were 98.0, 99.0, 98.2 and 99.2% for all seasons, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): The results indicated that removal types of pollutants were insoluble COD(ICOD), volatile SS(VSS), dissolved T-N(DTN) and dissolved T-P(DTP) in constructed wetlands for treating piggery wastewater.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate the measurement uncertainty associated with determination of cadmium and lead from tomato paste by ICP/MS. The sources of measurement uncertainty (i.e. sample weight, final volume, standard weight, purity, molecular weight, working standard solution, calibration curve, recovery and repeatability) in associated with the analysis of cadmium and lead were evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: The guide to the expression of uncertainty was used for the GUM (Guide to the expression of Uncertainty in Measurement) and Draft EURACHEM/CITAC (EURACHEM: A network of organization for analytical chemistry in Europe/Co-Operation on International Traceability in Analytical Chemistry) Guide with mathematical calculation and statistical analysis. The uncertainty components were evaluated by either Type A or Type B methods and the combined standard uncertainty were calculated by statistical analysis using several factors. Expected uncertainty of cadmium and lead was $0.106{\pm}0.015$ mg/kg (k=2.09) and $0.302{\pm}0.029$ mg/kg (k=2.16), on basis of 95% confidence of Certified Reference Material (CRM) which was within certification range of $0.112{\pm}0.007$ mg/kg for cadmium (k=2.03) and $0.316{\pm}0.021$ mg/kg for lead (k=2.01), respectively. CONCLUSION(s): The most influential components in the uncertainty of heavy metals analysis were confirmed as recovery, standard calibration curve and standard solution were identified as the most influential components causing uncertainty of heavy metal analysis. Therefore, more careful consideration is required in these steps to reduce uncertainty of heavy metals analysis in tomato paste.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.300-307
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: The Transfer Factor (TF) of heavy metals from soil to plant is important, because TF is an indicator of heavy metal in soils and a factor that quantifies bioavailability of heavy metals to agricultural products. This study was conducted to investigate the transfer ability of Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), and Lead (Pb) from soil to agricultural products. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated heavy metals (As, Cd and Pb) concentrations in 9 agricultural products (rice, barely, corn, pulse, lettuce, pumpkin, apple, pear, tangerin) and soil. TF of agricultural products was evaluated based on total and HCl-extractable soil concentration of As, Cd, and Pb. Regression analysis was used to predict the relationship of total and HCl-extractable concentration with agricultural product contents of As, Cd, and Pb. The result showed that TF was investigated average 0.006~0.309 (As), 0.002~6.185 (Cd), 0.003~0.602 (Pb). The mean TF value was the highest as rice 0.309 in As, lettuce 6.185, pear 0.717, rice 0.308 in Cd, lettuce 0.602, pumpkin 0.536 in Pb which were dependent on the vegetable species and cereal is showed higher than fruit-vegetables in As. CONCLUSION(S): Soil HCl-extractable concentration of As, Cd, and Pb had the larger effects on thier contents in agricultural products than total soil concentrations. We suggests that TF are served as influential factor on the prediction of uptake. Further study for uptake and accumulation mechanism of toxic metals by agricultural products will be required to assess the human health risk and need TF of more agricultural products.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: This experiment was conducted to investigate the distribution and burden characteristics of heavy metal in the rainwater sampled at Taean area, in the middle part of Korea, from April 2002 to October 2003. METHODS AND RESULTS: The relationship between concentration of heavy metal and other chemical properties in the rainwaters was also evaluated. Chemical properties in the rainwater were various differences with raining periods and years. It appeared that a weighted average pH values of rainwater was ranged from 5.0 to 5.1. Heavy metal concentrations in the rainwater were ranked as Pb > Zn > Cu > Ni > As > Cr > Cd. As compared with heavy metal concentrations of rainwater in 2002, Cu, Pb, and Zn were higher than other elements in 2003. There were positive correlation between major ionic components, such as ${NH_4}^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $K^+$, $Na^+$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$ and ${NO_3}^-$, and As, Cd, Zn, Cr, and Ni concentrations in rainwater. For heavy metal distribution of rainwater, the order of average enrichment factor was Cd > Pb > As > Cu > Zn > Ni > Cr, and these were relatively higher than the natural components such as Fe, Mg and Ca. The monthly enrichment factor were relatively high, from August to October at Taean. The monthly amount of heavy metal precipitation was high in the rainy season from July to August because of great influence of rainfall. CONCLUSION(s): The results of this study suggest that the heavy metals(Cd, Pb, As, Cu, and Zn) of rainwater is strongly influenced by anthropogenic sources rather than natural sources.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: In this study, 5 different treatments such as non-treatment, mixed expeller cake 1.0 N (standard nitrogen fertilizer), rice straw, rice straw+mixed expeller cake 0.5 N, rice straw+mixed expeller cake 1.0 N were performed over 4 cropping seasons over 2 years in order to identify the optimal application rate of mixture of rice straw and mixed expeller cake, organic source in organic cultivation of tomatoes. METHODS AND RESULTS: There was no difference in all treatments in case of 200 mg/kg in the nitrate nitrogen content in soil prior to the first cropping season test under the criteria for nitrogen nutrient based on yield of crops, cultivation without fertilizers seems possible. But in the second cropping season, no treatment and rice straw showed the reduction of yield and in the third cropping season, rice-straw+mixed expeller cake 0.5 N treatment showed the significant difference. The content of nitrate nitrogen in soil prior to cropping seasons was evaluated in 160 mg/kg and standard fertilization such as mixed expeller cake, source of nitrogen, are needed due to the deficiency of nitrogen. In terms of application of organic resources, rice straw showed the effects of improvements on physical properties of soil such as bulk density, cation exchange capacity and humus contents, but the mixed expeller cake did not show any significant differences in improvements on physical properties of soil. CONCLUSION(s): Fertilizer management in organic cultivation of tomatoes is thought to produce the reliable quantity of crops as well as keep the high quality of soils by using the optimal application rate of mixed expeller cake according to the contents of nitrate nitrogen in soil and rice straw which improves the physical properties of soil.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2009

Biosorption uses adsorbents derived from non-living biomass and removes toxic metals from industrial wastewater. The objective of this research was to evaluate the potential of low cost biosorbents to remove heavy metal ions (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) from aqueous solutions using chemically modified rice husk and saw dust (Pseudotsuga menziesi, Quercus, Populus). Batch-type adsorption experiments were carried out using rice husk and saw dust treated with NaOH and/or tartaric acid in artificial wastewater 100 mg metal/L). The experimental results showed that the adsorption specificity of each biosorbent was Pb > Cu > Cd > Zn irrespective of the types of biosorbents. The adsorption capacity of Pb and Cu onto NaOH-treated sawdust was increased 2${\sim}$3 times compared to the untreated one. In addition, the tartaric acid treatment increased the adsorption capacity of rice husk for Zn and Cd approximately 5${\sim}$10 fold compared to the untreated one. Surface conditions and changes in functional groups by chemical modification of each biosorbent were confirmed by SEM and FT-IR. Overall, the results show that chemical modification increases the metal removal capacity of rice bran and sawdust.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 2005

Numerous abandoned or closed mines are present in the steep mountain valleys in Korea due to the depression of the mining industry since the late 1980s. From the mines, enormous amounts of wastes were dumped on the slopes causing sedimentation and acid mine drainage to be discharged directly into streams causing detrimental effects on surrounding environment. Objective of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of the lime cake by-product from the soda ash production (Solvay process) to neutralize the pyrophyllite mine wastes, which have discharged the acid drainage to soil and stream in the watershed. The pH of mine wastes was strongly acidic at pH 3.67 containing over 16% of $Al_2O_3$ and 11% of $Fe_2O_3$. Whereas the lime cake by-product was strongly basic at pH 9.97 due to high contents of CaO, MgO and $CaCl_2$ as major components. Column experiments were conducted to test the neutralizing capacity of the lime cake by-product for the acidic pyrophyllite mine wastes. The column packed with the wastes (control) was treated with the lime cake by-product, calcium carbonate, the dressing soil or combination. The distilled water was eluted statically through the column and the leachate was collected for the chemical analyses. Treatments of the mine wastes with the lime cake by-product (or calcium carbonate) as mixtures increased pH of the leachate from $3.5{\sim}4.0\;to\;7{\sim}8$. Concentrations of Fe and Al in the leachate were also decreased below 1.0 mg $L^{-1}$. A Similar result was observed at the combined treatments of the mine waste, the lime by-product (or calcium carbonate) and the dressing soil. The results indicated that the lime cake by-product could sufficiently neutralize the acid drainage from the pyrophyllite mine wastes without dressing soils.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate cytotoxicity of paraquat or bentazone on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, toxicity of paraquat or bentazone, and compensatory effects of 3-Methylcholanthrene(3-MC) on the rat liver. In order to MTT assay, the $5.0{\times}10^4$ cell/mL of NIH 3T3 fibroblast in each well of 24 multidish were cultured. After 24 hours, the cells were treated with solution of paraquat or bentazone(1, 25, 50, 100 ${\mu}M$ respectively). After the NIH 3T3 fibroblast of all groups were cultured in same condition for 48 hours. MTT assay were performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of cell organelles. Paraquat or bentazone $MTT_{50}$ were 1668.97 ${\mu}M$ and 1506.97 ${\mu}M$, respectively. These $IC_{50}$ of paraquat or bentazone were decided low cytotoxicity by Borenfreund. In order to observe the toxicity and compensatory effects of paraquat or bentazone on the rat liver, Sprague-Dawley male rats were used as experimental animals and divided into paraquat or bentazone only treated group and simultaneous application group of paraquat or bentazone and 3-MC. At 30 min and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 hrs interval after each treatment, the animals were sacrificed by decapitation and liver were immediately removed, immersed in fixatives, and processed with routine method for light microscopic study. Paraffin sections were stained with H-E, PAM and Best Carmine. Under the light microscope, degenerative changes of hepatic lobules were frequently observed in portal area from 3 hrs after paraquat or bentazone treatment. All hepatic cells were induced degenerative change at 12 hrs and more severe degenerative change at 48 hrs after paraquat or bentazone treatment. Especially, hepatic cells of bentazone only treated group were distinctly showed pyknotic. Glycogen granules were increased in portal area at 3 hrs, all hepatic cells at 12 hrs and remarkably increased at 48 hrs after paraquat or bentazone treated group. But hepatic cells of bentazone only treated group were regeneration at 48 hrs from portal area and glycogen granules of hepatic cells of paraquat or bentazone and 3-MC combination treated group showed in central area only at 48 hrs. The results indicate that 3-MC may be decrease paraquat or bentazone cytotoxicity on the rat liver.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.280-286
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• 1999

This studies were conducted to evaluate efficiency of microbial inoculator for active composting of food wastes. The Microbial inoculators used in this studies were purchased from different comparise to evaluate their effectiveness for composting of food waste in Korea. The number of bacteria growing at $30^{\circ}C$ in commercial inoculator collected were below $91.0{\times}10^8\;CFU/g$ which were counted from well cured compost made by animal manure. The number of bacteria in commercial microbial inoculator, such as FL, VP, B9, CM and GE were higher than that of composted at $50^{\circ}C$ or $60^{\circ}C$ of incubation temperature. Fungi were counted in GR, VP and B9 as over $10^3CFU/g$ at $30^{\circ}C$ of incubation temperature, while fungi of all the commercial inoculator collected could not grown at $50^{\circ}C$ and $60^{\circ}C$. Actinomycetes in most of the these had higher number($10^5CFU/g$) than that of compost : however, it was not detected at $60^{\circ}C$ incubation temperature from all the samples collected. The amount of carbon dioxid production was order to VP>HU>B9>GE>CM>Control>Compost in the lab scale composting test with or without inoculation of commercial inoculators, however, but the difference in carbon dioxide production was similar among each treatments. The effect of inoculation on composting parmeter such as pH changes, temperature increasing and change of chemicals properties were a little among each treatments, with or without inoculation of commercial inoculator in active composting of food waste. Using commercial inoculator did not show any statistical difference in food waste composting process under various condition such as pH changes, temperature changes, etc.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.319-337
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• 2010

Major objective of this study was to determine interannual and seasonal water quality along with characteristics of longitudinal gradients along the reservoir axis of the riverine zone (Rz)-to-lacustrine zone (Lz). Water quality dataset of five years during 2003~2007 used here were obtained from Ministry of Environment, Korea and ten physical, chemical and biological parameters were analyzed in the study. Similarity analysis, based on moropho-hydrological variables of reservoir surface area, watershed area, total inflow, and outflow, showed that the reservoirs were categorized as three groups of large-dam reservoirs (Chungju Reservoir, Daecheong Reservoir and Soyang Reservoir), mid-size reservoirs (Andong Reservoir, Yongdam Reservoir, Juam Reservoir and Hapcheon Reservoir), and small-size reservoirs (Hoengseong Reservoir and Buan Reservoir). According to the data comparison of high-flow year (2003) vs. lowflow year (2005), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, biological oxygen demand (BOD), suspended solids (SS), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), chlorophyll-a (CHL) and electrical conductivity (EC) declined along the longitudinal axis of Rz to Lz and water transparency, based on Secchi depth (SD), increased along the axis. These results indicate that transparency was a function of Values of pH, DO, SS, SD, and EC at each site were greater in the low-flow year (2005) than the high-flow year (2003), whereas values of BOD, COD, TN, TP and CHL were greater in the high-flow year (2003). When values of TN, TP, CHL and SD in nine reservoirs were compared in the three zones of Rz, Tz, and Lz, values of TN, TP and CHL declined along longitudinal gradients and SD showed the opposite due to the sedimentation processes from the water column. Values of TN were not statistically correlated with TP values. The empirical linear models of TP-CHL and CHL-SD showed significant (p<0.05, $R^2$>0.04). In the mid-size reservoirs, the variation of CHL was explained ($R^2$=0.2401, p<0.0001, n=239) by the variation of TP. The affinities in the correlation analysis of mid-size reservoirs were greater in the CHL-SD model than any other empirical models, and the CHL-SD model had an inverse relations. In the meantime, water quality variations was evidently greater in Daecheong Reservoir than two reservoirs of Andong Reservoir and Hoengseong Reservoir as a result of large differences of water quality by long distance among Rz, Tz and Lz.