• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.156-161
• /
• 2020

Since industrialization, the production and utilization of various chemicals has contributed to improving the quality of our lives, but the subsequent discharge of massive waste is inevitable, and environmental pollution is becoming more serious every day. Exposure to chemicals as a result of environmental pollution is having a negative effect on human health and the ecosystem, and cleaning up the polluted environment that can affect our lives is a very important issue. Toxic aromatic compounds have been detected frequently in soil, groundwater, and wastewater because of the extensive use of oil products, and phenol, which is used to produce synthetic resins, textiles, and dyes, is one of the major pollutants, along with insecticides and preservatives. Phenol can cause dyspnea, headache, vomiting, mutation, and carcinogenesis. Phenol-degrading bacterium DWB-1-8 was isolated from the activated sludge of textile wastewater; this strain was identified as Comamonas testosteroni by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The optimal culture conditions for the cell growth and degradation of phenol were 0.7% K₂HPO₄, 0.6% NaH₂PO₄, 0.1% NH₄NO₃, 0.015% MgSO₄·7H₂O, 0.001% FeSO₄·7H₂O, an initial pH of 7, and a temperature of 30℃. The strain was also able to grow by using other toxic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, or xylene (BTX), as the sole source of carbon.

• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.154-162
• /
• 2009

Purpose: Death is an important problem for physicians and parents in neonatal intensive care unit. This study was intended to evaluate the mortality rate, causes of death, and the change of mortality rate by year for infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: We retrospectively surveyed the medical records of the infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Asan Medical Center and who died before discharge between 1998 and 2007. Gestational age, birth weight, gender, time to death and the underlying diseases related to the causes of infant deaths and obtained from the medical records and analyzed according to year. Results: A total of 6,289 infants were admitted and 264 infants died during the study period. The overall mortality rate was 4.2%. For very low and extremely low birth weight infants, the mortality rate was 10.6% and 21.4%, respectively. There was no significant change in the mortality rate during the study period. Prematurity related complications and congenital anomalies were the conditions most frequently associated with death in the neonatal intensive care unit. of the infant deaths 37.1% occurred within the first week of life. Conclusion: Even though a remarkable improvement in neonatal intensive care has been achieved in recent years, the overall mortality rate has not changed. To reduce the mortality rate, it is important to control sepsis and prevent premature births. The first postnatal week is a critical period for deaths in the neonatal intensive care unit.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.71-79
• /
• 1999

As part of an on-going project investigating flux of materials in the Keum River Estuary, we have monitored seasonal variations of nutrients, suspended particulate matter (SPM), chlorophyll, and salinity since 1997. Meteorological data and freshwater discharge from the Keum River Dike were also used, Our goal was to answers for (1) what is the main factor for the seasonal fluctuation of nutrients in the Keum River Estuary? and (2) are there any differences in nutrient distributions before and after the Keum River Dike construction? Nitrate concentrations in the Keum River water were kept constant through the year. Whereas other nutrients varied with evident seasonality: high phosphate and ammonium concentrations during the dry season and enhanced silicate contents during the rainy season. SPM was found similar trend with silicate. During the rainy season, the freshwater discharged from the Keum River Dike seemed to dilute the phosphate and ammonium, but to elevate SPM concentration in the Keum Estuary. In addition, the corresponding variations of SPM contents in the estuarine water affected the seasonal fluctuations of nutrients in the Estuary. The most important source of the nutrients in the estuarine water is the fluvial water. Therefore, the distribution patterns of nutrients in the Estuary are conservative against salinity. Nitrate, nitrite and silicate are conservative through the year. The distribution of phosphate and ammonium on the other hand, display two distinct seasonal patterns: conservative behavior during the dry season and some additive processes during the rainy days. Mass destruction of freshwater phytoplankton in the riverine water is believed to be a major additive source of phosphate in the upper Estuary. Desorption processes of phosphate and ammonium from SPM and organic matter probably contribute extra source of addition. Benthic flux of phosphate and ammonium from the sediment into overlying estuarine water can not be excluded as another source. After the Keum River Dike construction, the concentrations of SPM decreased markedly and their role in controlling of nutrient concentrations in the Estuary has probably diminished. We found low salinity (5~15 psu) within 1 km away from the Dike during the dry season. Therefore we conclude that the only limited area of inner estuary function as a real estuary and the rest part rather be like a bay during the dry season. However, during the rainy season, the entire estuary as the mixing place of freshwater and seawater. Compared to the environmental conditions of the Estuary before the Dike construction, tidal current velocity and turbidity are decreased, but nutrient concentrations and chance of massive algal bloom such as red tide outbreak markedly increased.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.257-268
• /
• 2012

The EFDC model with find grid resolution system connecting the Gyeong-Gi bay and Han River estuary was constructed to study on spring-neap variability of net volume transport at each channel of the Han River estuary. The simulation time of numerical model is 124 days from May to August, 2009 with freshwater discharge at Han, Imjin and Yeseong River. The calibration and verification of model results was confirmed using harmonic components of water level and tidal current. The net volume transport was calculated during 30 days with normal freshwater conditions at Seokmo channel and Yeomha channel around Ganghwado. The ebbing net volume transport of 44% and 56% is drained into Gyeong-Gi bay through Yeomha and Seokmo channel, respectively. The ebbing net volume transport nearby Seodo at Yeomha channel convergence flooding net volume transport at Incheon harbor, and drain (westward direction) through channel of tidal flat between Ganghwado and Yeongjongdo to the Gyeong-Gi bay. The averaged net volume transport during 4 tidal cycles was compared to variation of spring-neap periods of the Yeomha channel. The convergence position is moved up- and down-ward according to spring-neap variability. The movement of the convergence zone is appeared because 1) increasing of discharged rate tidal flat channel between Ganghwado and Yeongjongdo at the spring period, 2) The growth of barotropic forcing with downward direction at the spring tide, and 3) The strength of the baroclinic pressure gradient is greater than spring with mixing processes.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.279-287
• /
• 2010

This study was to evaluate ecological conditions of Hyeongsan River watershed from April to September 2009. The ecological health assessments was based on Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), water chemistry during 2000~2009, and the fish multi-metric model, Index of Biological Integrity (IBI). For the study, the models of IBI and QHEI were modified as 8 and 11 metric attributes, respectively. Values of IBI averaged 25.4 (n=6), which is judged as a "fair" condition (C) after the criteria of Barbour et al. (1999). The distinct spatial variation was found in the IBI. Physical habitat health, based on the values of QHEI, varied from 76 in the downriver (H6) to 150.5 in the headwater (H1) and was evidently more disturbed in the downriver reach. Values of BOD and COD averaged 2.4 $mgL^{-1}$ (range: 0.3~13.8 $mgL^{-1}$) and 4.3 $mgL^{-1}$ (scope: 0.6~12.8 $mgL^{-1}$), respectively during the study period. Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) averaged 3.0 $mgL^{-1}$ and 103.5 ${\mu}gL^{-1}$, respectively, indicating a severe eutrophication, and the nutrients increased more in the downriver than the headwater. Overall, physical, chemical and IBI parameters showed a typical downriver degradation along main axis of the river from the headwater-to-the downriver. This was mainly attributed to livestock waste and residential influences along with industrial discharge from the urban region.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.39 no.12
• /
• pp.664-671
• /
• 2017

Non-point source pollution is the emission source that unspecifically releases pollutants to water system from unspecific places such as cities, agricultural lands, mountains, and construction sites and its discharge path is not easily identified. Also, it is difficult to design and manage the reduction facilities for the emission quantity is primarily affected from weather conditions like rainfall. Since 2006, the significance of non-point source pollution reduction has been grown in Republic of Korea and this reinforces needs for the installation of reduction facilities. However, because the standards for the installation details and reduction efficiency are not clarified by law, people are preferring technologies that do not require particular maintenance and high expenses. The purpose of this study is to examine and maintain the efficiency of non-point source pollutants reduction facility which uses expended polypropylene as a media. The higher the depth of the media, the less range of variations in the reduction efficiency was observed and the final efficiency was also increased. When the media depth was 60 cm, the average reduction efficiency was 94% and 90% where linear velocities were 10 m/hr and 20 m/hr respectively. The results from 180 minutes operation in 10 m/hr and 20 m/hr of linear velocities were slightly different in head loss changes which were caused by media depth variations. The backwash experiments which were conducted in triplicate showed the reduction efficiency decreased as the time went on because of the media clogging. However, it was found that after the backwashing the reduction efficiency was increased as effective as the efficiency of the initial filtration.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.656-662
• /
• 2007

Fuel reformer using plasma and shift reactor for CO oxidation were designed and manufactured as $H_2$ supply device to operate a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). $H_2$ selectivity was increased by non-thermal plasma reformer using GlidArc discharge with Ni catalyst simultaneously. Shift reactor was consisted of steam generator, low temperature shifter, high temperature shifter and preferential oxidation reactor. Parametric screening studies of fuel reformer were conducted, in which there were the variations of the catalyst temperature, gas component ratio, total gas ratio and input power. and parametric screening studies of shift reactor were conducted, in which there were the variations of the air flow rate, stema flow rate and temperature. When the $O_2/C$ ratio was 0.64, total gas flow rate was 14.2 l/min, catalytic reactor temperature was $672^{\circ}C$ and input power 1.1 kJ/L, the production of $H_2$ was maximized 41.1%. And $CH_4$ conversion rate, $H_2$ yield and reformer energy density were 88.7%, 54% and 35.2% respectively. When the $O_2/C$ ratio was 0.3 in the PrOx reactor, steam flow ratio was 2.8 in the HTS, and temperature were 475, 314, 260, $235^{\circ}C$ in the HTS, LTS, PrOx, the conversion of CO was optimized conditions of shift reactor using simulated reformate gas. Preheat time of the reactor using plasma was 30 min, component of reformed gas from shift reactor were $H_2$ 38%, CO<10 ppm, $N_2$ 36%, $CO_2$ 21% and $CH_4$ 4%.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.149-157
• /
• 2013

The weirs built so far are mainly overflow type weirs overflowing to the upstream. Main advantages of overflow type weirs are, effective water resources management and easy design, construction and maintenance due to many accumulated studies. However, due to the special feature of the overflow type weir where water overflows through the upstream of the weir, the silt coming from the upstream is not discharged to the downstream of the weir. This increases the river bed and reduces the reservoir capacity, and as a result, the weir loses its function. A underflow type weir with a water gate has been implemented in order to solve such sediment deposit and weir maintenance problems. However due to the design problem of recently constructed underflow type weirs, the river bed of the downstream of a weir has been scoured. And this leds to a structural problem. In this study, the flow characteristics of overflow type weirs and underflow type weir, hydraulic jump length analysis depending on change of water depth and the amount of specific energy loss generated per unit length depending on a weir type have been compared and analyzed, for the effective design and management of the weirs. The experiment results show that, when identical upstream conditions of underflow type weir and an overflow type weir were maintained, the hydraulic jump length was up to twice longer with Fr(Froude number) 3.5 of the hydraulic jump length at the underflow type weir, and the hydraulic jump length gradually decreased as the downstream water depth increased. The comparative analysis result of the amount of specific energy loss generated per unit length showed that the amount of energy loss per unit length was twice higher for an overlfow type weir than a underflow type weir. Therefore, in case of a underflow type facility, an additional energy reduction facility is determined to be necessary for safety of water construction structures.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2022

The total maximum daily load (TMDL) implemented in Korea mainly manages the mainstream considering a single common pollutant and river discharge, and the river system is divided into unit watersheds. Changes in the water quality of managed rivers owing to the water quality management in tributaries and unit watersheds are not considered when implementing the TMDL. In addition, it is difficult to consider the difference in the load of pollutants generated in the tributary depending on the conditions of the water quality change in each unit watershed, even if the target water quality was maintained in the managed water system. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce the total maximum load management at tributaries to manage the pollution load of tributaries with a high degree of pollution. In this study, the HSPF model, a watershed runoff model, was applied to the target areas consisting of 53 sub-watersheds to analyze the effect of water quality changes the in tributaries on the mainstream. Sub-watersheds were selected from the three major areas of the Paldang water system, including the drainage basins of the downstream of the South Han-River, Gyeongan stream, and North Han-River. As a result, BOD ranged from 0.17 mg/L to 4.30 mg/L, and was generally high in tributaries and decreased in the downstream watershed. TP ranged from 0.02 mg/L - 0.22 mg/L, and the watersheds that had a large impact on urbanization and livestock industry were high, and the North Han-River basin was generally low. In addition, a pollution source reduction scenario was selected to analyze the change in water quality by the amount of pollution load discharged at each unit watershed. The reduction rate of BOD and TP according to the scenario changes was simulated higher in the watershed of the downstream of the North Han-River and downstream and midstream of the Gyeongan stream. It was found that the benefits of water quality reduction from each sub-watershed efforts to improve water quality are greatest in the middle and downstream of each main stream, and it is judged that it can be served as basic data for the management of total tributaries.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.57-69
• /
• 2023

The objectives of this study were to analyze the fish community structures and distribution characteristics of fisheries resources in the Osip Stream and Wangpi Stream, fishery resources protection areas. For the study, we conducted fish samplings four times in the two streams from April to October 2019. In Osip Stream and Wangpi Stream, we sampled 31 species and 29 species and the dominant species were Zacco platypus (28.6%) and Squalidus multimaculatus(41.7%), respectively. According to the life type of fish species, primary freshwater species were collected 18 species(58.1%) and 21 species(72.4%), and migration fishes were sampled 4 species (12.9%) and 6 species (20.7%) in Osip Stream and Wangpi Stream, respectively. Fisheries resources species showed high relative abundance in June, and the fish biomass was highest in October. As a results of comparing the previous studies with this study, both rivers showed high biodiversity and were found to maintain stable populations of fishes. According to analysis of tolerance guilds, the proportion of tolerant species, based on the number of individuals, was composed of 14.4% and 1.1% in Osip Stream and Wangpi Stream, respectively. This very low ratio of tolerant species confirmed that both streams have very good physiochemical environment conditions. From the above results, it was judged that the fishery resource protection areas of Osip Stream and Wangpi Stream have high ecological function and preservation value. For sustainable use and management of fishery resource protection areas of Osip Stream and Wangpi Stream, it is suggested that biological disturbance management, fish discharge projects considering environmental capacity, efforts to improve the habitat environment, and establishing a fishery resource protection areas management system were necessary as considerations.