• 환경정책연구
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.91-110
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• 2002

Ecosystem health assessment is an emerging concept regarded as a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating ecosystems. The stability of ecosystem is the main theme in the assessment. Generally, two components - resilience and resistance - are involved in the mechanism of ecosystem stability. In this study, relative degrees of the resistance and the resilience were quantified for most aquatic Insects Inhabiting running waters in Korea. A total of 34 groups were newly categorized based on previous studies, and a conceptual model has been produced. The model was applied for the aquatic insect communities inhabiting different streams and demonstrated that each stream ecosystem possessed different degrees of stability. This study also indicated that it was possible to compare stabilities of different ecosystems using relative degrees of resilience and resistance. Using the conceptual model, suitable conservation and management strategies could be recommended in ecological assessments. The model can be used as a stepping-stone for developing more comprehensive methodology that objectively diagnoses and evaluates the ecosystem stability.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.329-336
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• 2012

This study evaluated ecological health, using various biomarkers and bioindicators, of pale chub (Zacco platypus) as a sentinel species, in Daejeon Stream, South Korea, during AprilMay 2011. The biomarkers and bioindicators were compared among three sites of control: Reference ($C_z$), transition ($T_z$), and the urban zones ($U_z$); and the 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, DNA damage, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations were more significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. Also, physiological markers such as condition factor, liver somatic index, visceral somatic index, and gonad somatic index were significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. For the health assessments, three categorized parameters of blood chemistry, molecular biomarkers, and physiological bioindicators were standardized and calculated as a star-plot, representing values of Integrated Health Response (IHR). Values of IHR had more significant (P<0.05) increases in the $U_z$ than any other zones, indicating an impairment of ecological health by organic matter, nutrients (N, P), and toxic chemicals. This study is based on low levels of biological organization approach of molecular and physiological biomarkers and bioindicators, so further study of high-levels of biological organization approach such as community and population is required for overall range of health assessments. The approach of IHR values, however, may be useful in providing early warning of future impacts on ecological health.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.307-318
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were to identify multi-level stressors from blood biomarkers to community-level bioindicators and diagnose the stream ecosystem health in polluted streams. Blood chemistry such as total protein ($T_{Pro}$), blood urea nitrogen ($B_{UN}$), total cholesterol ($T_{Cho}$) and $A_{lb}$umin ($A_{lb}$) were analyzed from sentinel fish tissues; the functions of kidney, gill and liver were significantly decreased in the impacted zone ($I_z$), compared to the control zone ($C_z$). Histopathological analysis showed that fish liver tissues were normal in the $C_z$. Fish liver tissues in the $I_z$, however, showed large cell necrosis and degeneration and also had moderate lobular inflammation and inflammatory cell infiltration of lymphocytic histocytes. Species biotic index (SBI) at species level and stream health assessment (SHA) at community level indicated that chemical impacts were evident in the $I_z$ (ecological health; poor - very poor), and this was matched with the blood tissue analysis and histopathological analysis. The impairments of the streams were supported by water chemistry analysis (nitrogen, phosphorus). Tolerance guild analysis and trophic guild analysis of fish were showed significant differences (P < 0.01) between $C_z$ and $I_z$. Overall, multiple parameter analysis from biomarker level (blood tissues) to bioindicator level (community health) showed significantly greater impacts in the $I_z$ than $C_z$. This approach may be effective as a monitoring tool in identifying the multilateral and forthcoming problems related to chemical pollution and habitat degradation of stream ecosystems.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.19-28
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• 2010

Industrial Safety and Health Law (ISH Law) of Japan requires abnormalities identified in evaluations of worker health and working environments are reported to occupational physicians, and employers are advised of measures to ensure appropriate accommodations in working environments and work procedures. Since the 1980s, notions of a risk assessment and occupational safety and health management system were expected to further prevent industrial accidents. In 2005, ISH Law stipulated workplace risk assessment using the wording "employers shall endeavor." Following the amendment, multiple documents and guidelines for risk assessment for different work procedures were developed. They require ISH Laws to be implemented fully and workplaces to plan and execute measures to reduce risks, ranking them from those addressing potential hazards to those requiring workers to wear protective articles. A governmental survey in 2005 found the performance of risk assessment was 20.4% and common reasons for not implementing risk assessments were lack of adequate personnel or knowledge. ISH Law specifies criminal penalties for both individuals and organizations. Moreover, under the Labor Contract Law promulgated in 2007, employers are obliged to make reasonable efforts to ensure employee health for foreseeable and avoidable risks. Therefore, enterprises neglecting even the non-binding provisions of guidelines are likely to suffer significant business impact if judged to be responsible for industrial accidents or occupational disease. To promote risk assessment, we must strengthen technical, financial, and physical support from public-service organizations, encourage the dissemination of good practices to reduce risks, and consider additional employer incentives, including relaxed mandatory regulations.

• 환경생물
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.8-18
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• 2019

본 연구에서는 만경강 본류에서 2009~2016년 동안 어류의 트로픽 길드, 오염도, 내성도 및 어류평가지수(Fish Assessment Index; FAI)에 기반을 둔 다변수 생태건강도에 대한 화학적 수질 영향을 분석하였다. 수질 지표로서 전기전도도, 총인(TP) 및 암모니아성 질소($NH_4-N$) 농도는 최하류지점에서 가장 악화되는 것으로 나타났다. 어류현장 조사 결과, 8년간 만경강 본류에서는 총 14과 50종이 채집되었으며, 우점종은 내성종으로 잘 알려진 피라미(Zacco platypus)로서 22.9%를 차지하여 트로픽 특성의 악화현상을 보였고, 최류역에서는 비정상어종의 상대빈도가 가장 높게 나타나 생태교란이 아주 심각한 것으로 나타났다. Pearson 상관도 분석에 따르면, 내성어종 및 잡식어종의 상대빈도는 전기전도도, BOD 및 $NH_4-N$와 통계적으로 유의한 상관관계(r>0.30, p<0.05)를 보였고, 민감어종 및 충식어종의 상대빈도는 이들 변수들과 유의한 역상관 관계(r<-0.3, p<0.01)를 보였다. 어류 다변수 모델(FAI)을 이용한 생태건강도로서 평가된 FAI 모델 값은 평균 47(n=40)로서 건강도는 "보통상태(C)"로서 나타났고, 하류역(S3~S5) 지역에서 모델값은 모두 "나쁜상태(D)"로 나타나 수질악화에 의한 영향으로 평가되었다.

• 환경생물
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.307-315
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• 2022

본 연구에서는 서식지 질적 평가에 대한 추진체계를 6단계로 구분하고, 평가 대상지 선정 방법과 서식지 질적 평가 항목을 제시하였다. 서식지 질적 평가 항목은 서식지의 건강성, 안정성, 단절화 및 파편화 정도, 서식지 적합성, 위협 정도 등에 대한 종합적인 평가가 가능하도록 구성되었다. 그러나 현시점에서는 자료부족으로 인하여 서식지 질적 평가 체계가 적용 가능한 멸종위기종이 극히 일부에 해당된다. 서식지 질적 평가 체계는 향후 멸종위기종들에 관한 서식환경자료가 축적되고 이를 기반으로 평가항목들에 대한 정량적 기준 및 가중치가 부여되면 멸종위기종별 주요 서식지에 대한 보전방안 마련에 크게 기여할 것으로 기대된다.

• 생태와환경
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• 제39권1호통권115호
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• pp.62-72
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• 2006

수환경의 생물학적 건강도는 다양한 생물상을 이용하여 평가가 이루어져 왔으며 특히, 어류는 수환경의 건강성 평가를 위한 가장 좋은 생물종 중의 하나이다. 해부학적 기초에 의한 건강성 평가방법을 시도한 이번 예비실험의 목적은 대전시 갑천에 위치한 하수종맡처리장의 방류수가 수환경의 건강성에 어떤 영향을 미치는지 평가해 보는 것이다. 이러한 영향을 분석하기 위해 어류의 흉선(Thymus), 지느러미 (Fins), 지라 (Spleen), 후장 (Hindgut),신장 (Kidney), 피부 (Skin), 간 (Liver), 눈 (Eyes), 아가미(Gill), 및 헛아가미 (Pseudobranch)의 해부학적인 10개 메트릭을 이용하였다. 각각 2개의 대조군(control)과 처리군 (Treatment)으로 실험용 수조를 분리하여, 처리군에는 하수종말처리장의 방류수를 사용하였고 대조군에는 자연수를 사용하였으며, 각각의 수조에 버들치 (Rhynchocypris oxycephalus)를 5개체 씩 투여하였다. 투여한 버들치는 해부학적 측면의 관찰을 실시하였고, 이후 처리군의 죽은 버들치와 대조군의 개체를 각각 해부하고 10개 기관부위를 분석하여 HAI 건강도지수를 산정하였다. 해부하적 분석결과에 따르면, 3개의 대조군의 HAI지수는 0으로 나타나 최적상태로 판명되었고, 4 대조군은 40 ${\sim}$ 150점으로서 모두 악화상태로 나타났다. 또한, 생물통합지수 분석, 종풍부도분석, 내성도 및 트로픽길드 분석에 의거한 다양한 건강도 분석은 HAI 분석결과를 지지하였다. 본 HAI 기법은 현재 국내에서는 적용 평가된바 없어, 기존의 유수생태계의 건강도 평가에 상호보완적지수로의 활용도 가능할 것으로 사료된다.

• 생태와환경
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.24-34
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• 2010

This study was carried out to analyze some influences on ecological health conditions, threaten by various stressors such as physical, chemical and biological parameters. We collected samples in 2008 from three zones of upstream, midstream and downstream, Gap Stream. We applied multi-metric fish assessment index (MFAI), based on biotic integrity model to the three zones along with habitat evaluations based on Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI). We also examined fish fauna and compositions, and analyzed relations with MFAI values, QHEI values, and various guild types. Chemical parameters such as oragnic matter (BOD, COD), nutrients (TP, $NH_3$-N), coli-form number (as MPN), and suspended solids (SS) were analyzed to identify the relationship among multiple stressor effects. Using the sentinel species of Zacco platypus, the population structures and condition factors were analyzed along with DNA damages related with genotoxicant effects by comet assay. This study using all these parameters showed that stream condition was degraded along the longitudinal gradient from upstream to downstream, and the downstream, especially, was impacted by nutrient enrichment and toxicant exposure from the point source, wastewater treatment plant. Overall results indicated that our approaches applying various parameters may be used as a cause-effect technique in the stream health assessments and also used as a pre-warning tool for diagnosis of ecological degradation.

• 환경영향평가
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.631-648
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• 2012

The integrative ecological approaches of chemical assessments, physical habitat modelling, and multi-metric biological health modelling were applied to Gwanpyeong Stream within Gap-Stream watersheds to evaluate environmental impacts on the constructions of residential and commercial complex. For the analysis, the surveys conducted from 45 sites of reference streams within the Gap-Stream watershed and 3 regular sites during 2009 - 2010. Physical habitat health, based on the habitat model of Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index(QHEI) declined from the headwaters(good - fair condition) to the downstream(poor condition). Chemical water quality, based turbidity and electric conductivity(EC), was degraded toward to the downstream, and especially showed abrupt increases, compared to the values of control streams(CS). Also, concentrations of chlorophyll-a in the downstreams were greater compared to the control stream(CS), indicating an eutrophication. Biological health conditions, based on the Index of Biological Integrity(IBI) using fish assemblages, averaged 19.3 which is judged as a fair condition by the biological criteria of the Ministry of Environment, Korea. The comparisons of model metric values in sensitive species and riffle-benthic species on the Maximum Species Richness Line(MSRL) of 45 reference streams indicated a massive disturbances in all sampling locations. Also, tolerance guild and trophic guild analyses suggest that dominances of tolerant species and omnivores were evident, indicating a biological degradation by habitat disturbances and organic matter pollutions. There was no distinct longitudinal variations of IBI model values from the headwater to the downstream in spite of slight chemical and habitat health gradients among the sampling sites. Overall, integrative ecological health(IEH) scores, based on the chemical, physical, and biological parameters, were low compared to the 45 reference streams due to physical and chemical disturbances of massive constructions of the residential and commercial complex. This stream, thus showed a tendency of typical urban streams which are disturbed in the chemical water quality, habitat structures, and biological integrity. Effective stream management plans and restoration strategies are required in this urban stream for improving integrative stream health.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.768-783
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• 2006

Biological stream environment assessment has been an essential trend of aquatic ecosystems among advanced countries, because the chemical water quality assessment has limitations that only represent temporal water environmental status. Benthic macroinvertebrates are the most popular bioindicator group useful to biological water quality assessment for a long time. In addition, a number of indices using benthic macroinvertebrates have recently been developed not only for water quality assessment but also for ecological health assessment. In this paper Korean Saprobic Index (KSI) based on Zelinka-Marvan's saprobic valency concept is developed by applying DIN 38410 in Germany. The KSI value was widely applicable to most Korean streams with the exception of sand-based large streams, for example main stream of Nakdong River. But as a result of non-linear regression analysis the correlation between KSI and $BOD_5$ concentration was high and KSI reflected water quality alteration for mid and long-term period. In spite of applicability of KSI, it should be supplemented and developed to make it strong by accumulating field data as well as to manage integrated water environment in general through continuous biomonitoring.