• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.241-255
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to investigate environmental geochemical characteristics for the acid mine drainage and stream sediments in the abandoned Honam coal mine area. For the chemical analysis, stream winter samples were collected at 54 sites and for the mineralogical and chemical analysis, stream sediments samples were collected at 34 sites. Physical and chemical characteristics of stream water were measured at the site and chemical compositions were analyzed by ICP-AES, ICP-MS and IC. Mineralogical characteristics of stream sediments samples were determined using XRD, SEM and EDS. In physical and chemical properties, stream water shows thats pH 2.85~8.12, Eh -62~215 mV, EC 0.205~146 ms/m, ER 0.234~255 {$\Omega}{\cdot}$m, DO 0.03~1068 mg/L and TDS 10.96~1420mg/L. In chemical compositions, we obtain that K 0.118~3.184 mg/L, Mg 2.1~114.48 mg/L, Ca 2.59~l25.02 mg/L, Al 0.01~44.72 mg/L, Fe 0.108~89.49 mg/L and Na 5.45~125.41 mg/L. Stream sediments are commonly composed of quartz, illite and goethite in the result of x-ray diffraction. After heat treatment at 98$0^{\circ}C$, the hematite peaks are distinctly shown. In consideration of heavy metals (include Fe) for steam sediments, Fe ranges 22575~34713 ppm, Zn 41.66~970.3 ppm, Cd 0.52~52.07 ppm, Cu 1.25~198.5 ppm and Pb 0.43~77.35 ppm.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.428-442
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• 2004

Dustfall samples were collected by the modified American dust jar (bulk type) at 5 sampling sites in the Nakdong river area from lune 2002 to May 2003. Nineteen chemical species (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Si, V, Zn, $Cl^-$, $NO_3^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$, and $NH_4^+$) were analyzed via the combination of ICP/AES, AAS, IC and UV. The purposes of this study were to qualitatively evaluate the chemical composition of dustfalls by examining their regional and seasonal distribution patterns. Computation of the enrichment factor showed that well-defined anthropogenic sources, particularly in Pb were found in the order Gamjeondong (industrial area), Wondong, Silla University, Samrangiin and Mulgum. The seasonal mean of soil contribution showed its highest value (16.3%) during the winter with an annual mean of 11.2%. The concentration ratio of [$SO_4^{2-}/NO_3^-$] was found to be highest (5.12) during the winter, while the lowest ratio value (3.30) was seen during the all. fall, Also regional equivalent ratios of [$SO_4^{2-}/NO_3^-$] were found in the order: Silla University (6.78), Gamjeondong (4.98), Mulgum (3.95), Wondong (3.85), and Samrangjin (2.87). Seasonal distribution of water soluble components for total dustfall were found in the order: spring (71.6%), summer (61.2%), fall (49.2%) and winter (48.6%) with a mean ratio of 57.6%. Regional contribution of sea salts of water soluble ions were found in the order: Silla university (34.5%), Gamjeondong (28.3%), Wondong (17.3%), Samrangiin (17.2%) and Mulgum (13.8%), the total mean contribution rate was 22.1%. As for the chemical composition of dustftll on the lower Nakdong river, there is a decreased influence of sea salt and artificial anthropogenic sources and increased influence of soil particle inland. Also, the total amount of deposition on the lower Nakdong river has decreased, with the river's surface serving as a confounding factor in resuspending dusts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.1873-1879
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• 2010

This study was conducted to estimate the heavy metal contents of vegetables available on the markets in Seoul area. Concentrations of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chrome (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were measured in 300 samples using a mercury analyzer and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) after wet digestion. The average values of heavy metals in vegetables were as follows [mean (minimum~maximum), mg/kg]; Hg: 0.0005 (N.D~0.007), Pb: 0.011 (N.D~0.259), Cd: 0.012 (N.D~0.188), As: 0.002 (N.D~0.142), Cr: 0.100 (0.019~0.954), Ni: 0.093 (0.003~1.231), Cu: 1.098 (0.072~36.29), and Zn: 3.48 (0.485~21.31). The heavy metal contents of vegetables available on the markets in Seoul were almost the same as or lower than those reported in other studies. The weekly average intakes of mercury, lead and cadmium from vegetables take 0.44~7.71% of PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes) that the FAO/WHO Joint Food Additive and Contaminants Committee sets for evaluation of food safety.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.363-373
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• 2007

To evaluate environment of farm lands using indicator insects and evaluation indices, the insect abundance of which is one of the major criteria for the evaluation of agricultural environment of farm land in urban areas and industrial complex, three sites (Ansan, Daesan, Suncheon) were designated and monitored from 2004 to 2006. The flora of agricultural land was more than urban areas and industrial complex of that in three sites. Soil, water and air pollution of urban areas and industrial complex were more serious than those of agricultural land in three sites. Overall population of insects were high from June to August in the surveyed three sites. Collected insects in agricultural land were 12 order, 106 family and 166 species, those in urban areas were 11 order, 102 family and 148 species, and in industrial complex were 11 order, 100 family and 152 species. Species and population belonging to Coleoptera was dominant in the surveyed sites. The insect diversity indices of farm land were 2.36 in agricultural land, 1.92 urban areas and industrial complex. And agricultural environment of agricultural land was good, urban areas was common and industrial complex was poor. Based on the major criteria of evaluation items, the criteria were selected as diversity index over 2.1, insect indicator Pheropsophus javanus in agricultural land, diversity index 1.5-2.0, insect indicator Nephotettix cincticeps in urban areas, diversity index below 1.5, insect indicator Pagria signata in industrial complex.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.163-170
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• 2006

Nardostachyos Rhizoma (N. Rhizoma) belonging to the family Valerianaceae has been anti-arrhythmic effect, and sedation to the central nerve and a smooth muscle. We reported that the water extract of N. Rhizoma induced apoptotic cell death and differentiation in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. Cytotoxicity of N. Rhizoma was detected only in HL-60 cells (IC50 is about 200 ${\mu}g/ml$). The cytotoxic activity of N. Rhizoma in HL-60 cells was increased in a dose-dependent manner. We used several measures of apoptosis to determine whether these processes were involved in N. Rhizoma-induced apoptotic cell death. The high-dose (200 ${\mu}g/ml$) treatment of N. Rhizoma to HL-60 cells showed cell shrinkage, cell membrane blobbing, apoptotic bodies, and the fragmentation of DNA, suggesting that these cells underwent apoptosis. Treatment of HL-60 cells with N. Rhizoma time-dependently induced activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 and proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Also, we investigated the effect of N. Rhizoma on cellular differentiation and proliferation in HL-60 cells. Differentiation and proliferation of HL-60 cells was determined through expression of CD11b and CD14 surface antigens using flow cytometry and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay, and through analysis of cell cycle using propidium iodide assay, respectively. N. Rhizoma induced the differentiation of HL-60 at the low-dose (100 ${\mu}g/ml$) treatment, as shown by increased expression of differentiation surface antigen CD11b, but not CDl4 and increased reducing activity of NBT. When HL-60 cells were treated with N. Rhizoma at concentration of $50{\mu}g/ml\;and\;100{\mu}g/ml$, NBT-reducing activities induced approximately 1.5-fold and 20.0-fold as compared with the control. In contrast, HL-60 cells treated with the N. Rhizoma-ATRA combination showed markedly elevated levels of 26.3-fold at $50{\mu}g/ml$ N. Rhizoma-0.1 ${\mu}M$ ATRA combination and 27.5-fold at 50 ${\mu}g/ml$ N. Rhizoma-0.2 ${\mu}M$ ATRA combination than when treated with N. Rhizoma alone or ATRA alone. It may be that N. Rhizoma plays important roles in synergy with ATRA during differentiation of HL-60 cells. DNA flow-cytometry indicated that N. Rhizoma markedly induced a G1 phase arrest of HL-60 cells. N. Rhizoma-treated HL-60 cells increased the cell population in G1 phase from 32.71% to 42.26%, whereas cell population in G2/M and S phases decreased from 23.61% to 10.33% and from 37.78% to 33.98%, respectively. We examined the change in the $p21^{WAF1/Cip1}\;and\;p27^{Kip1}$ proteins, which are the CKIs related with the G1 phase arrest. The expression of the CDK inhibitor $p27^{Kip1},\;but\;not\;p21^{WAF1/Cip1}$ were markedly increased by N. Rhizoma. Taken together, these results demonstrated that N. Rhizoma induces apoptotic cell death through activation of caspase-3, and potently inhibits the proliferation of HL-60 cells via the G1 phase cell cycle arrest in association with $p27^{Kip1}$ and granulocytic differentiation induction .

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.375-387
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• 2012

The objective of this study is investigation of contamination levels and assessment of health risk effects of heavy metals in herbal pills. 31 Items and 93 samples were obtained for this investigation from major herbal medicine producing areas, herbal markets and on-line supermarkets from Jan to Jun in 2010. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer method was conducted for the quantitative analysis of Pb, Cd and As. In addition, the mercury analyzer system was conducted for that of Hg without sample digestion. The average contents of heavy metals in samples were as follows : 0.87 mg/kg for Pb, 0.08 mg/kg for Cd, 2.87 mg/kg for As and 0.16 mg/kg for Hg, respectively. In addition, the average contents of heavy metals in different parts of plants, including cortex, fructus, herba, radix, seed, algae and others were 0.63 mg/kg, 3.94 mg/kg, 1.42 mg/kg, 1.05 mg/kg, 0.16 mg/kg, 22.31 mg/kg and 10.17 mg/kg, respectively. After the estimations of dietary exposure, the acceptable daily intake (ADI), the average daily dose (ADD), the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) and the relative hazard of heavy metals were evaluated. As the results, the relative hazards compared to PTWI in samples were below the recommended standard of JECFA as Pb 3.1%, Cd 0.9%, Hg 0.5%. Cancer risks through slope factor (SF) by Ministry of Environment Republic Korea and Environmental Protection Agency was $4.24{\times}10^{-7}$ for Pb and $3.38{\times}10^{-4}$ for As (assuming that the total arsenic content was equal to the inorganic arsenic). Based on our results, possible Pb-induced cancer risks in herbal pills according to parts used including cortex, fructus, herba, radix, seed, algae and others were $1.95{\times}10^{-7}$, $1.45{\times}10^{-6}$, $2.14{\times}10^{-7}$, $6.27{\times}10^{-7}$, $1.99{\times}10^{-8}$, $3.61{\times}10^{-7}$ and $9.64{\times}10^{-8}$, respectively. Possible As-induced cancer risks in herbal pills by parts used including cortex, fructus, herba, radix, seed, algae and others were $1.54{\times}10^{-5}$, $7.24{\times}10^{-5}$, $1.23{\times}10^{-4}$, $2.02{\times}10^{-5}$, $3.25{\times}10^{-6}$, $2.18{\times}10^{-3}$ and $5.67{\times}10^{-6}$ respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that the majority of samples except for some samples with relative high contents of heavy metals were safe.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 1997

A microbiological nitrate determination method by E. coli is modified in Korea, using K12 wildtype, KCTC 1116, for the quantitative reduction of $NO_3{^-}$ to $NO_2{^-}$. The nitrate in plant, soil or water sample is determined spectrophotometrically after being diazotized with sulfaniamide and N-(1-naphthl)-ethlenediamine. The modified E. coli cell method and principle for nitrate determination using Korean wildtype E. coli strain is described, and cell culture and preparation of stock suspension for E. coli as well. This modified E. coli cell method can be managed simply and fast, it is suitable for the investigation of the large serials, it can be also automated and has a high degree of sensitivity up to 0.01ppm $NO_3{^-}-N$ in the sample solution. The applicability of the modified E. coli cell method has been tested for plant, soil and water analysis on a wide range of different samples. Recovery rates of added nitrate have been determined and comparisons with other standard nitrate analytical procedures have been carried out. The results with the modified E. coli cell method show high correlation ($r^2=0.98$) with those gained by the standard analytical procedures. The advantages and disadvantages of the method are also discussed to other nitrate determination methods.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2007

A study was conducted to determine the trace minerals (Cu, Fe, Cd, Zn, Mo, Se, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni) levels in pasture soils and forages collected in Jeju area. Chemical characteristics and total or soluble trace minerals levels in 187 pasture soil samples (76 very dark brown and 111 black soils) were measured. Total trace minerals contents in hay samples of 60 Italian ryegrass, alfalfa and mixture grasses each were assessed. The pasture soils of Jeju were characterized to have low pH (5.1) and to contain low levels of available $P_2O_5$ (20.5 mg/kg) and exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, Na (2.6, 0.9, 0.5, 0.2 cmol+/kg, respectively) when comparing to upland soils of Jeju or Korean mainland. All trace elements in total or soluble analysis of pasture soils were detected, and there was a big difference between total and soluble levels. The pasture soils tended to have the higher total Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn contents. Cr in all forages was not detected, but other trace minerals levels showed normal range. The hay samples of Italian ryegrass and mixture grasses produced in Jeju tended to contain higher Mn (105 vs 23 mg/kg) and lower Mo (2.7 vs 4.9 mg/kg) than those of alfalfa hay imported from USA. Results show that trace minerals of pasture soils and forages in Jeju seem to be not deficient, indicating that supplementation of some trace minerals are not always necessary in diets for grazing animals and should be done after careful evaluation of diets with regard to concentrations and biological availability of essential elements.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.98-103
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• 2001

In order to understand the characteristics of leachate at the Seokdae municipal waste landfill in the Pusan city, the correlation between leachate pollution loading and volume of gas production. concentration of gas and subsidence of ground, the characteristical methos, geochemical analyses and laboratory column tests using samples of gases, leachate and surface soil of Seokdae waste landfill area. Through the analysis of water balance, leachate flow rate and pollution loading were estimated. Geistatistical analysis of four gas components ( $O_2$, C $H_4$, $H_2$S and CO) shows the possibility of ground subsidence around the group of a site with high concentration of gas. From geochemical analyses of leachate, EC and Total-Alkalinity of ground subsidence around the group of a site with high concentration of gas. From geochemical analysis of leachate, Ec and Total-Alkalinity were increased, and Cl, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were decreassed comparing to the part, and the type of water quality was Na-HC $O_3$ in trilinear diagram. It shows that biodecomposition of municipal wastes continues actively. From the analysis of water balance, the total leachate flow rate is about 465.11㎥/day and pure pollution loading of Cl, Mn and Fe are estimated to 223.8kg/day, 0.2kg/day, 0.3kg/day, respectively. The laboratory column test of residual soil and landfill soil shows 0.206cm and 0.019cm for linear velocity(equation omitted), 0.234 $\textrm{cm}^2$/min and 0.018$\textrm{cm}^2$/min for diffusion coefficient ( $D_{ι}$), and 1.136cm and 0.095cm longitudinal dispersion index ($\alpha$$_{ι}$), respective]y. It demonstrates that the delay time of contamination for residual soil is shorter than that of landfill soil.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2005

This study was conducted to estimate the contents of heavy metals including lead, cadmium, zinc, copper as well as iron status(serum iron, total iron binding capacity, feritin etc)in blood samples of middle school students(n=300). The contents of heavy metals were determined using the GF-AAS (Graphite furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer). The microwave digestion method and dilution method were compared. The dilution method showed the better recovery and detection limit than microwave digestion method. The values of toxic metals in whloe blood of boys & girls were 3.46 & 3.05 for Pb,0.063 & 0.065 for Cd respectively (ug/dL). Also the values of trace metals in serum of boys & girls were 105.9 & 92.6 for Zn, 98.3 & 99.0 for Cu respectively (ug/dL). The prevalence of iron deficiency was $7.5\%$ in 146 boys and $14.3\%$ in 156 girls. The mean values of lead in girls were higher in iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia and anemia groups than normal group. The mean values of lead and zinc were higher in boys compared to those in girls(P<0.05), the mean values of cadmium and copper in boys were similar to those in girls. Our results of toxic metals such as Pb & Cd showed lower to CDC's(Centers for Disease Control) blood lead levels of concern for children, 10 ug/dL.