• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.3
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• pp.340-352
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• 2017

In This study, we examined the gap between supply and demand of forest policy by year through big data analysis for macroscopic evaluation of the 5th Basic Forest Plan. We collected unstructured data based on keywords related to the projects mentioned in the news, SNS and so on in the relevant year for the policy demand side; and based on the documents published by the Korea Forest Service for the policy supply side. based on the collected data, we specified the network structure through the social network analysis technique, and identified the gap between supply and demand of the Korea Forest Service's policies by comparing the network of the demand side and that of the supply side. The results of big data analysis indicated that the network of the supply side is less radial than that of the demand side, implying that various keywords other than forest could considerably influence on the network. Also we compared the trends of supply and demand for 33 keywords related to 27 major projects. The results showed that 7 keywords shows increasing demand but decreasing supply: sustainable, forest management, forest biota, forest protection, forest disease and pest, urban forest, and North Korea. Since the supply-demand gap is confirmed for the 7 keywords, it is necessary to strengthen the forest policy regarding the 7 keywords in the 6th Basic Plan.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.23 no.2 s.58
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• pp.146-151
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• 2005

Recent studies indicated the utility of whole effluent assessment as a measure to control discharge of toxic effluents to receiving water in Korea. However, most studies have been focussed on acute lethal effects of toxic wastewater with little consideration of chronic sublethal impacts which are of growing concern in protecting aquatic ecosystem. We conducted acute and chronic toxicity tests with effluents discharged from five different dyeing plants in Gyeong-gi province using a marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri and a freshwater macroinvertebrate Daphnia magna to demonstrate the importance of assessing chronic sublethal effects. Various levels of acute and chronic toxicities were observed in many samples tested in this study. In 21-d chronic toxicity tests using D. magna all samples showed effects on reproduction and growth. Notable mortalities were also noted in three out of five effluents. The result of the Microtox assay indicated that acute microbial toxicity existed in effluents from two out of five plants and acute daphnid toxicity was observed in only one effluent. The result of this study clearly suggests chronic toxicity tests are more suitable to assess biological effects of effluents because it was shown from this study that even an effluent with no acute toxicity could cause chronically lethal and/or sublethal adverse effects on aquatic biota which may affect the population dynamics in aquatic ecosystem.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.62-71
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• 2008

Soil quality standards (SQS) are necessary to protect the human health and soil biota from the exposure to soil pollutants. The current SQS in Korea contain only sixteen substances, and it is scheduled to expand the number of substances. Chemical ranking and scoring (CRS) system is very effective to screen the priority chemicals for the future SQS in terms of their toxicity and exposure potential. In this study, several CRS systems were extensively compared to propose the assessment factors that required for the screening of soil pollutants The CRS systems considered in this study include the CHEMS-1 (Chemical Hazard Evaluation for Management Strategies), SCRAM (Scoring and Ranking Assessment Model), EURAM (European Union Risk Ranking Method), ARET (Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics), CRSKorea, and other systems. The additional assessment factors of CRS suitable for soil pollutants were suggested. We suggest soil adsorption factor as an appropriate factor of CRS system to consider chemical transport from soil to groundwater. Other factors such as soil emission rate and cases of accident of soil pollutants were included. These results were reflected to screen the priority chemicals in Korea, as a part of the project entitled ‘Setting the Priority of Soil Contaminants'.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.440-449
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in breast milk and to evaluate the relations with factors affecting these levels. Methods: The congener levels of PBDE in 22 samples of breast milk were analyzed using a high resolution gas chromatograph with a high resolution mass detector. In accordance with our standard operating procedures, the recoveries of internal standards had to range between 68% and 118%. Since the distribution of PBDE concentrations is close to log-normal, the data were logarithmically transformed before analysis. Test subjects were healthy primipara and multipara mothers with a mean age of 32 (SD = 2.7) in 2006. Results: Seven PBDE congeners (BDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183) were detected and identified in all of the pooled breast milk samples, indicating widespread contamination from PBDEs in the environment in Korea. Residue levels of total PBDEs (sum PBDEs from tri- to hepta-BDE) ranged from 0.84-13.1 ng/g lipid with median and geometric mean levels of 2.6 ng/g lipid and 2.74 ng/g lipid, respectively. PBDE congeners 47, 99 and 153 markedly predominated and accounted for about 75% of the amount of the PBDE congeners analyzed. BDE-47 was the dominant congener in most samples, whereas BDE-153 was predominant in a few (n = 7/22). BDE-47 was highly correlated with total PBDEs (r = 0.987, p < 0.01). In analyses of the differences of the means of log transformed breast milk PBDE levels for groups of potential covariates, only breast milk BDE-47 and BDE-99 levels were significantly associated with fish (p < 0.05) and meat consumption (p < 0.01). However, we did not find significant correlations between PBDE levels and maternal age, body mass index (BMI), parity, job presence and smoking status. Conclusions: Our findings are mainly limited due to the small sampling size and low doses of PBDEs exposure. Background and human exposure data of PBDEs is lacking, and longitudinal investigations into the environment and biota are encouraged to determine the health impact on future populations in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.1119-1127
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• 2005

The management of data on biological diversity is presently complex and confusing. This study was initiated to construct a database so that such data could be stored in a data management, and analysis instrument to correct the problems inherent in the current incoherent storage methods. MySQL was used in DBMS(DataBase Management System), and the program was basically produced using Java technology Also, the program was developed so people could adapt to the requirements that are changing every minute. We hope this was accomplished by modifying easily and quickly the advanced programming technology and patterns. To this end, an effective and flexible database schema was devised to store and analyze diversity databases. Even users with no knowledge of databases should be able to access this management instrument and easily manage the database through the World Wide Web. On a basis of databases stored in this manner, it could become routinely used for various databases using this analysis instrument supplied on the World Wide Web. Supplying the derived results by using a simple table and making results visible using simple charts, researchers could easily adapt these methods to various data analyses. As the diversity data was stored in a database, not in a general file, this study makes the precise, error-free and high -quality storage in a consistent manner. The methods proposed here should also minimize the errors that might appear in each data search, data movement, or data conversion by supplying management instrumentation on the Web. Also, this study was to deduce the various results to the level we required and execute the comparative analysis without the lengthy time necessary to supply the analytical instrument with similar results as provided by various other methods of analysis. The results of this research may be summerized as follows: 1)This study suggests methods of storage by giving consistency to diversity data. 2)This study prepared a suggested foundation for comparative analysis of various data. 3)It may suggest further research, which could lead to more and better standardization of diversity data and to better methods for predicting changes in species diversity.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2014

Total concentration and chemical speciation of trace metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Ni) were determined to evaluate pollution level and potential ecological risk in surface sediments of the Masan Bay. The results showed that the trace metal concentrations, except for Ni, were high in the inner Masan Bay. Based on the chemical speciation of metals in sediments, the percentage of total concentrations of Cd and Pb in non-residual fraction was 92% and 88%, respectively, indicating that these metals originated mainly from anthropogenic sources. However, Ni (70%) was dominant in residual fraction. Pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk index (ERI) values in the inner bay indicate the presence of anthropogenic pollution and considerable-moderate ecological risk, respectively. Ecological index (Ei) value for Cd was high at most stations in the Masan Bay, and Cd content was the highest in acid soluble fraction, which presents the highest ecological risk. The results obtained in this study indicate that Cd presents a high potential ecological risk to benthic biota in the Masan Bay.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2 s.53
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• pp.103-113
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• 2006

This study examined effects of crude oil on the phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (UDPGT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in mussel Mytilus edulis and rockfish Sebastes schlegeli, a representative bivalve and a culture fish, respectively. This work also intended indirectly to evaluate the post impact recovery from the massive oil tanker spillage accidents occurred during the summer of 1995 in the sea area off Yosu City, Chonnam. For these, enzyme activities of UDPGT and GST were examined in the fish and mussel following laboratory exposure to fresh crude oil, weathered oil, field-obtained oil residues, or in the field biota samples. Decreased GST activity was observed in rock fish following exposure to oil-soluble fraction (OSF) of fresh oil. A similar diminished GST activity was also observed after OSF of artificially weathered oil. OSF of field oil residues retrieved from the spillage area approximately 1 year later also exerted a slight inhibition of GST to rockfish. There was neither a change in UDPGT in rockfish, nor were there changes in mussel in both enzymes to any oil fractions. We could not observe any difference in the two enzymes either in rockfish or mussel sampled from the field during $1.5{\sim}2.0$ years post spillage, indicating that their enzyme systems might had been recovered by the sampling time. In conclusion, it seems that the inhibition of GST activity in rockfish is a biomarker response to crude oil exposure. The results, however, must be interpreted with care, as the inhibition nay reflect various factors such as oil concentration, duration and water temperature.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2007

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the present status of several environmental problems caused by emerging toxic substances such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and arsenic in various environmental media in Vietnam. Monitoring data reported during the 1990s demonstrated elevated contamination of DDTs in most of these compartments in Vietnam. Studies in frame of the Asia-Pacific Mussel Watch Program revealed that fish, mussels and resident birds from Vietnam contained higher concentrations of DDTs as compared to other countries in region, suggesting the role of Vietnamese environment as a significant emission source of DDT in the Southeast Asian region. The estimated dietary intakes of PCBs and DDTs for Vietnamese were relatively high among Asian developing countries, suggesting potential risk for humans posed by thesechemicals. Widespread contamination of some endocrine active compounds such as alkylphenols and phthalates was observed at various sites along the coasts of northern and middle Vietnam. The presence of significant source of bisphenol-A along Red River estuary was revealed with the concentrations comparable to those reported for developed nations. A case study on seasonal variation of alkylphenols and phthalates in surface water of river delta and estuary of north and middle Vietnam indicated the differences in distribution of these compounds between dry and rainy seasons. Higher concentrations of alkylphenols and phthalates were found in dry season in estuary; while the contrasting pattern was observed in the river delta, showing elevated residues in rainy season. This result suggests the different behavior of alkylphenols and phthalates in river delta and coastal environment. From ecotoxicological perspectives, concentrations of bis-phenol A and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalates [DEHP] in surface water from some locations in Vietnam exceeded the guideline values for Ecotoxicological Effects and the Environmental Risk Limit, respectively, suggesting potential for toxic implications on aquatic wildlife. Widespread and elevated arsenic contamination was discovered inour recent surveys in groundwater in a large area of suburban areas of Hanoi city, the capital of Vietnam. The most recent investigation in 4 villages showed about more than 50 % of groundwater samples contained As concentrations exceeding 50 g/L (the WHO and Vietnamese standard). In particular, in Son Dong villages, 58 % of samples analyzed contained As concentrations higher than 200 g/L. Good correlations were found in As concentrations in water and hair and urine of peoples in corresponding families, suggesting the chronic exposure to As by people living in As-contaminated ground water areas. In Son Dong village, As levels in hair (mean: 1.7 mg/kg dry wt) and urine (g/g creatinine) exceeding the reference values recommended by WHO, suggesting potential for human risk posed by long term accumulation of As in human body. Future studies should be focused on the time trends of POPs and EDCs in biota in Vietnam in order to predict future trend of contamination and to reveal new clues for understanding possible toxic impacts on aquatic organisms. The issues of arsenic contamination in groundwater and their chronic toxic implications on human health should be systematically investigated in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 2010

We aimed to investigate the responses of soil organisms to cover plants and to provide information for the selection of proper plant species. We studied the effects of 7 cover plants, including rye, oat, rattail fescue, Chinese milk vetch, red clover, crimson clover, and hairy vetch, on soil organisms in an apple orchard. An increase in the microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and in the number of nematodes and microarthropods in the soil under the cover plants reflects elevated activities of soil organisms. A decrease in the level of some marker PLFA, which is an indicator of environmental stress, suggests that cover plants provide favorable environments for soil organisms. The population of fungi and animals that feed on fungi increased in the soil surface under red clover. The population density of nematodes and mites increased in the soil surface under rattail fescue, and that of mites and omnivorous nematodes increased in the soil surface under Chinese milk vetch. The level of microbial PLFA in the soil surfaces under the tested cover plants was higher than that under clean culture system. These results suggest that proper selection of the cover plants can facilitate the creation of favorable environments for soil organisms.

• Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.67-73
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• 2020

The research status of endangered amphibians in Korea was mainly studied the life-cycle and distribution status of species from the 1980s to the early 2000s. Although a relatively diverse range of studies have been conducted on mackerels, studies on habitat prediction, analysis, change and management are insufficient. WEB, which provides biota information using location information in Korea, is a site operated by the National Bio Resource Center under the Ministry of Environment, but there is no information on endangered species and general species information has also been found to be very scantily. For this research, we secured a database of location information of Narrow-mouth frog, an endangered species, by combining literature and field research, and established a system by applying new technologies and open-based platform technologies that can be easily accessed by non-technical personnel of IT among IT technologies. The system was divided into administrator functions and user functions to prevent indiscriminate sharing of information through authentication procedures through user membership of users. The established system was authorized to show the distance between the current location and the location of the Narrow-mouth frog. Considering the ecological characteristics of the Narrow-mouth frog, which is an endangered species, a radius of 500m was marked to determine the habitat range. The system is expected to be applied to the legal system to change existing protected areas, etc. and to select new ones. It is estimated that practical reduction measures can be derived by utilizing the development plan for reviewing the natural environment. In addition, the deployed system has the advantage of being able to apply to a wide variety of endangered species by modifying the information entered.