• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.619-628
• /
• 2023

In this study, we investigated the feasibility of calcium sulfate fertilizer as a stabilizing agent for As and Hg contaminated farmland soil and its stabilization characteristics in 3 different physical forms (particulate, powder, and solution) through a pot experiment including 34 days of lettuce growth. As and Hg contents of the lettuce grown in the stabilized soils were decreased by at least 70%. However the lettuce yield of the soil stabilized with the solution agent was decreased by 46% due to the overabundance of the nutrients from the solution agent. Thus, if a solution-type agent is planned for agricultural farmland soil stabilization, additional tests for optimal dosage are needed to preserve vegetation growth. In Hg fractionation, a lower concentration of elemental fractions and a higher concentration of residual/sulfide fractions were identified in the soils stabilized with the solution, powder, and pariculate agents in descending order while there were no significant changes in As fractionation. Overall results suggest that calcium sulfate fertilizer can be used as a stabilizing agent, and a solution-type agent could be used when the operation of heavy machinery for the soil stabilization process is impossible.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.147-154
• /
• 1999

This study was carried out to obtain reasonable management method of salt-affected soil for ecological restoration in the reclaimed land. Chemical properties of reclaimed soil was investigated base on reclamation years. Ionic acitivity in soil and satruration extract were analyzed to estimate the effect of salt interception by planting ground treatment. The soil porperties of reclaimed land was saline-sodic soil with $11.3dSm^{-1}$ of electrical conductivity, 34.8% of exchangeable sodium percent in first reclamation year. Electrical conductivity, exchangeable sodium and exchangeable chlorine were remarkedly decreased during six years after reclamation but chemical properties of reclaimed soil was unsuitable status for tree growth. Exchangeable sodium perecnt was higher in the neighborhood parks and street tree sites than in the buffer green spaces and was higher in subsoil than in topsoil of profile in all sites. Content of soduim, chloride and sulfate in saturation extract were more than other ions. Content of soduim and chloride were higher in the neighborhood parks and street tree sites than in the buffer green spaces and were higher in subsoil than in topsoil. Content of calcium plus magnesium of soil was higher in the buffer green space than in the neighborhood park and street tree but content of calcium and magnesium in saturation extract were higher, as result from exchangeable sodium, in the neighborhood parks and street tree sites than in the buffer green spaces. Concentration of salt in soil showed the difference with mounding height and planting ground treatment. The lowest concentration of salt appeared in buffer green spaces and street tree sites was the highest. Salt interception by mounding height in the same planting ground treatment was more effective 120cm of mounding height than 70cm of mounding height.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.433-445
• /
• 2019

This study was designed to develop simple tools to easily and efficiently predict the occurrence of algal bloom in agricultural lakes. Physicochemical water quality parameters were examined to reflect the phytoplankton productivity in 182 samples collected from 15 agricultural lakes from April to October 2018. Total phytoplankton abundance was significantly correlated with chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) (r=0.666) and Secchi depth (SD) (r= -0.351). The abundances of cyanobacteria and harmful cyanobacteria were also correlated with Chl-a (r=0.664, r=0.353) and SD (r= -0.340, r= -0.338), respectively, but not with total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). The Chl-a concentration was correlated with SD (r= -0.434), showing a higher similarity than phytoplankton abundance. Therefore, Chl-a and SD were selected as diagnostic factors for algal bloom prediction, instead of analyzing the standing crop of harmful cyanobacteria used in algae alarm systems. Specifically, accurate diagnoses were made using realtime SD measurements. The algal bloom diagnostic tool is an inverse cone-shaped container with an algal bloom diagnosis chart that modified SD and turbidity measurement methods. Lake water was collected to observe the number of rings visible in the container or the number indicated in each ring, depending on the degree of algal bloom,and to determine the final stage of algal blooming by comparison to the colorimetric level on the diagnosis chart. For an accurate diagnosis, we presented 4-step diagnostic criteria based on the concentration of Chl-a and the number of rings and a fan-shaped algal bloom diagnosis chart with Hexa code names. This tool eliminated the variables and errors of previous methods and the results were easily interpreted. This study is expected to facilitate the diagnosis of algal bloom in agricultural lakes and the establishment of an efficient algal bloom management plan.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.645-655
• /
• 2008

The Cr(VI) concentrations at the shallow aquifer well (MPH-0-1) of the Moonpyung groundwater monitoring station were in the range of 0.5 to 3.1 mg/L exceeding 10 to 62 times the guideline for drinking-water quality, indicating continuous contamination. However, Cr was not detected at the deep bedrock well and the other subsidiary monitoring wells except for MPH-1 and 6. Cross-correlation analyses were conducted for rainfall and groundwater level time series, resulting in the mean time of recharge after precipitation events to be 5.6 days. For rainy season, the water level was raised and the Cr(VI) concentration was several times lower than that during dry season at well MPH-0-1 well. Correlation of the Cr(VI) concentration with the groundwater-level showed that the Cr(VI) reduction was closely related with the groundwater-level rise in the well. However, the groundwater level rise during high water season induced the lateral migration of the Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater at well MPH-4. We enriched and isolated a chromium reducing bacteria, Enterobacter aerogenes, from the Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater in the wells MPH-0-1 and MPH-1. The bacteria may play an important role for immobilizing Cr(VI) in the Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater. Therefore, the migration of the contaminant (Cr(VI) must has been restricted because of the natural attenuation by microbial reduction of Cr(VI) in the groundwater. This research suggests that the bioremediation of the Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater by the indigenous bacteria may be feasible in the Cr(VI) contaminated groundwater.

• Journal of Mushroom
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.261-267
• /
• 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of extracts of Protaetia brevitarsis larvae fed on fermented oak sawdust (FOS) or spent mushroom substrates (SMS, Pleurotus eryngii). Total polyphenol content was 32% higher in extracts of larvae fed on SMS (P. eryngii) (75.33±0.43 mg GAE/g) than in extracts of larvae fed on FOS (57.02±1.73 mg GAE/g). The flavonoid content of extracts of larvae grown on FOS and SMS (P. eryngii) was 24.6±0.28 mg/g and 25.4±0.75 mg/g, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity increased in an extract concentration-dependent manner, and the DPPH radical scavenging capacity of the extract of larvae produced on SMS (P. eryngii) was higher than that of the larvae produced on FOS. The reducing power of the larval extracts produced on FOS and SMS (P. eryngii) increased in an extract concentration-dependent manner, but there was no significant difference between them. The extract of larvae fed on SMS (P. eryngii) (66.55±0.99 uM TE/g) had a higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) than extracts of larvae grown on FOS (76.32±0.48 uM TE/g). The effect of larval extracts on cell proliferation was investigated using a WST-1 (4-[3-(4-iodophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulfonate) assay on RAW 264.7 cells. When cells were treated with larval extracts produced on FOS and SMS (P. eryngii) at concentrations of 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 40, and 64 mg/ml, RAW 264.7 cells proliferated at 90% or more. Therefore, larval extracts produced on FOS and SMS (P. eryngii) were not toxic to RAW 264.7 cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.11
• /
• pp.1544-1551
• /
• 2016

Various types of fermented soybean foods are consumed in various Asian countries, including China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Cheonggukjang is a Korean whole soybean paste fermented by Bacillus subtilis and regarded as a healthy food. The objective of this study was to investigate the Ca-bioavailability and anti-osteoporotic effects of cheonggukjang (CGJ) containing high poly-gamma glutamate (PGA) contents in an animal model. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h after a single oral dose in male rats. Ca-bioavailability in CGJ containing high PGA contents was approximately 3~5 times higher than that of natural CGJ. Female rats were either sham-operated (sham; n=5) or surgically ovariectomized (OVX; five animals per group) and then administered to OVX control, raloxifene hydrochloride (RLX) 1 mg/kg/d, or CGJ containing high contents of PGA (20 and 200 mg/kg/d) for 12 weeks. Serum osteocalcin concentration was significantly lower in the CGJ 200 mg/kg/d group compared with the OVX control group. Serum progesterone concentration was significantly higher in the CGJ 200 mg/kg/d group compared with the OVX control group. Reduction grade of the trabecular bone decreased in the RLX 1 and CGJ 200 mg/kg/d group compared with that of the OVX control group. In conclusion, CGJ 200 mg/kg/d may have inhibitory effects on osteoporosis in OVX rats, and Ca-bioavailability was improved in CGJ containing high PGA contents.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.260-269
• /
• 2009

Hwabuk Dam has been under construction to reduce flood damage in Nakdong River watershed and to supply stable water for middle area of Gyeongbuk Province. Therefore, fish investigation in up and downstream of the dam was conducted from 2004 to 2008 in order to determine any negative effect on fish community due to dam construction and to use as fundamental data for conserving species diversity and maintaining stream health. According to data analysis on water quality, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, suspended solids, and total E-coli had seasonal variation, but they did not significantly differ in sites. However, biological and chemical oxygen demand, chlorophyll-a, nitrogen, and phosphorus representing organic matter and nutrient concentration were higher in upper site and decreased to lower site so that they differed by site. Concentration of arsenic among the heavy metals was less than 0.05 mg $L^{-1}$, which is regulated for protection of human health in water quality standard, except for 0.092 mg $L^{-1}$ in June 2005. During the study period, the total number of fish caught from the 6 sites was 10,263 representing 7 families 19 species. Among them, dominant and subdominant species were Korean chub (Zacco koreanus, 62.5%) and Chinese minnow (Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, 10.6%) which inhabit mostly in mid and upper streams, Korea. Among the 19 species, Korean endemic species were 9 species (47.4%) including Korean slender gudgeon (Squalidus gracilis majimae), Korean dark sleeper (Odontobutis platycephala), and Korean shiner (Coreoleuciscus splendidus). There was several individuals of the $1^{st}$-class endangered species, Naktong nose loach (Koreocobitis nahtongensis), caught in 2005${\sim}$2007, and no introduced species of fish was found in entire sampling period. According to result of community analysis, dominance index decreased toward lower site, but diversity and richness indices increased toward lower site. The equation of length-weight relationship on the dominant species was TW=0.000003$(TL)^{3.2603}$. The parameter b in the equation was greater than 3.0 indicating good nutritional condition in the populations. Compared to populations of Korean chub in other streams, the population in Hwabuk Dam watershed had higher mean of condition factor by size indicating better growth rate. With fish fauna and multi-metric health assessment model in each sampling attempt, index of biotic integrity (IBI) was evaluated and it resulted mostly in good (26${\sim}$35) and excellent (36${\sim}$40) condition in all sites, and the mean of IBI was the highest in site 5. The results indicate that it is very important to study not only environmental impact assessment with fish composition but also stream health assessment in order to conserve healthy aquatic ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.734-744
• /
• 2011

A soil stabilization method is an effective and practical remediation alternative for arsenic (As) and heavy metal contaminated farmland soils nearby abandoned metal mine in Korea. This method is a technique whereby amendments are incorporated and mixed with a contaminated soil. Toxic metal bind to the amendments, which reduce their mobility in soil, so the successful stabilization of multi-element contaminated soil depends on the combination of critical elements in the soil and the type of amendments. The objective of this study is to investigate the treatment effects and applicability of limestone (LS) and steel refining slag (SRS) as the amendment for farmland soil contaminated with As and heavy metals, and a lab-column test was conducted for achieving this purpose. The result showed that soil treated with LS and SRS maintained pH buffer capacity and, as a result, the heavy metal leaching concentration was quite low below the water quality standard compared to untreated soil which leachate exceeding the water quality standard was observed, however, the arsenic concentration rather increased with increasing mixture ratio of SRS. This was believed to be related to phosphorus (P) contained in SRS, and dominancy in the competitive adsorption relation between As and P binding strongly to iron might be different according to soil characteristic. We suggested that LS is a effective amendment for reducing heavy metals in soil, and SRS should be used after investigating its applicability based on the adsorption selectivity of arsenic and phosphorus in selected soil.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.271-296
• /
• 2021

Since the thermal stratification in a reservoir inhibits the vertical mixing of the upper and lower layers and causes the formation of a hypoxia layer and the enhancement of nutrients release from the sediment, changes in the stratification structure of the reservoir according to future climate change are very important in terms of water quality and aquatic ecology management. This study was aimed to develop a data-driven inflow water temperature prediction model for Daecheong Reservoir (DR), and to predict future inflow water temperature and the stratification structure of DR considering future climate scenarios of Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP). The random forest (RF)regression model (NSE 0.97, RMSE 1.86℃, MAPE 9.45%) developed to predict the inflow temperature of DR adequately reproduced the statistics and variability of the observed water temperature. Future meteorological data for each RCP scenario predicted by the regional climate model (HadGEM3-RA) was input into RF model to predict the inflow water temperature, and a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model (AEM3D) was used to predict the change in the future (2018~2037, 2038~2057, 2058~2077, 2078~2097) stratification structure of DR due to climate change. As a result, the rates of increase in air temperature and inflow water temperature was 0.14~0.48℃/10year and 0.21~0.41℃/10year,respectively. As a result of seasonal analysis, in all scenarios except spring and winter in the RCP 2.6, the increase in inflow water temperature was statistically significant, and the increase rate was higher as the carbon reduction effort was weaker. The increase rate of the surface water temperature of the reservoir was in the range of 0.04~0.38℃/10year, and the stratification period was gradually increased in all scenarios. In particular, when the RCP 8.5 scenario is applied, the number of stratification days is expected to increase by about 24 days. These results were consistent with the results of previous studies that climate change strengthens the stratification intensity of lakes and reservoirs and prolonged the stratification period, and suggested that prolonged water temperature stratification could cause changes in the aquatic ecosystem, such as spatial expansion of the low-oxygen layer, an increase in sediment nutrient release, and changed in the dominant species of algae in the water body.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2016

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the biodegradation rates of 8 perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) alternatives synthesized at the at Changwon National University in comparison to those of PFOS potassium salt and PFOS sodium salt. Methods: A biodegradability test was performed for 28 days with microorganisms cultured in the good laboratory practice laboratory at the Korea Environment Corporation following the OECD Guidelines for the testing of chemicals, Test No. 301 C Results: While $C_5H_8F_3SO_3K$, $C_8F_{17}SO_3K$ and $C_8F_{17}SO_3Na$ were not degraded after 28 days, the 3 alternatives were biodegraded at the rates of 31.4% for $C_8H_8F_9SO_3K$, 25.6% for $C_{10}H_8F_{13}SO_3K$, 23.6% for $C_{25}F_{17}H_{32}S_3O_{13}Na_3$, 20.9% for $C_{15}F_9H_{21}S_2O_8Na_2$, 15.5% for $C_{23}F_{18}H_{28}S_2O_8Na_2$, 8.5% for $C_{17}F_9H_{25}S_2O_8Na_2$ and 4.8% for $C_6H_8F_5SO_3K$. When the concentration was the same(500 mg/L), $C_{23}F_{18}H_{28}S_2O_8Na_2$ had the lowest tension with 20.94 mN/m, which was followed by $C_{15}F_9H_{21}S_2O_8Na_2$ (23.36 mN/m), $C_{17}F_9H_{25}S_2O_8Na_2$ (27.31 mN/m), $C_{25}F_{17}H_{32}S_3O_{13}Na_3$ (28.17 mN/m), $C_{10}H_8F_{13}SO_3K$ (29.77 mN/m) and $C_8H_8F_9SO_3K$ (33.89 mN/m). Having higher surface tension of 57.64 mN/m and 67.57 mN/m, respectively, than those of the two types of PFOS salts, $C_6H_8F_5SO_3K$ and $C_5H_8F_3SO_3K$ were found valueless as substitute for PFOS. Conclusion: The biodegradation test suggest that 6 compounds could be used as substitutes for PFOS. $C_{23}F_{18}H_{28}S_2O_8Na_2$ and $C_{15}F_9H_{21}S_2O_8Na_2$ were found to be the best substitutes based on biodegradation rate and surface tension, followed by $C_{25}F_{17}H_{32}S_3O_{13}Na_3$, $C_8H_8F_9SO_3K$ and $C_{10}H_8F_{13}SO_3K$. $C_{17}F_9H_{25}S_2O_8Na_2$ was found to have relatively low value as an alternative but it still had a potential to substitute the conventional PFOS.