• Title/Summary/Keyword: Ecosystem health

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A Landscape Design of Metro-politan Resources Withdrawal Institution of East Area, Gyeonggi-Do (경기도 동부권 광역자원 회수시설 조경설계)

  • Lee Soo-Dong;Jang Jong-Su;Kang Hyun-Kyung
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.34 no.2 s.115
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    • pp.113-127
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    • 2006
  • As the local self-government are stabilized and the environmental value is becoming more important among local residents, the occurrence of the anti-movements against waste treatment facilities is getting more frequent. Opposing to build the reuse facilities of wastes takes place because of concerning of health and hygiene, as well as matters of unclear policy making process. However, these facilities must be built in somewhere for the convenience and profit of the public. The NIMBY phenomenon against reuse facilities of wastes could be a burden for the city operation system, and it could worsen citizens' quality of life in the long run. In these lights, reuse and recycling facilities of wastes in East region are necessary facilities improving citizens' quality of life and enhancing the growth of cities in the region. However, there have been concerning of deforestation during the construction process of the facilities. The landscape design presented here for these facilities considers the features of the environmental ecosystem and tries to establish a plan to preserve the natural environment of the City of Ichon. This paper presents methods minimizing adverse effects of the facilities on the existing environments and promoting the city image with integrating culture, tourism, landscape and environment of the city. The landscape design makes efforts to harmonize natural environments in the site, human activities and culture. Well-being park was aimed to lead healthy and energetic outdoor activities of local residents. Ecological park was aimed to enhance the ecological functions of the forests and restore the valley ecology. Culture park was aimed to capture the city identity by creating a place that contains all the variety of meanings of the City of Ichon.

EVALUATION OF GENETIC TOXICITY FROM ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS IN DAPHNIA MAGNA AND CHIRONOMUS TENTANS FOR APPLICATION IN ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT

  • Park, Sun-Young;Lee, Si-Won;Choi, Jin-Hee
    • Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.11 no.5
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    • pp.277-284
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    • 2006
  • The genetic toxicity of environmental pollutants, namely, nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol A (BPA) and chloropyriphos (CP) was investigated in aquatic sentinel species, freshwater crustacean, Daphnia magna, and larva of aquatic midge, Chironomus tentans, using Comet assay. Physiological effect of such pollutants was also investigated by studying the specimens' rates of reproduction, growth and survival. Acute toxicity results showed that, as expected, Daphnia was more sensitive than Chironomus to chemical exposure. The order of acute toxicity was CP > NP > BPA in D. magna and NP > CP > BPA in C. tentans. BPA may exert a genotoxic effect on D. magna and C. tentans, given that DNA strand breaks increased in both species exposed to this compound, whereas NP- and CP-induced DNA damage occurred only in C. tentans. In vivo genotoxic data obtained in aquatic sentinel species could provide valuable information for freshwater quality monitoring. The experiments with NP-exposed D. magna showed that the pollutant has long-term effects on reproduction, whereas no short-term effect on DNA integrity was found, being an example of a false-negative result from the biomarkers perspective. This result could be interpreted that other mechanism than genetic alteration might be involved in NP-induced reproduction failure in D. magna. False-positive results from the genotoxic biomarker obtained in BPA-exposed D. magna and in NP-exposed C. tentans make it difficult to use DNA integrity as an early warning biomarker. However, as the mere presence of genotoxic compounds, which are potentially carcinogenic, is of high concern to human and ecosystem health, it could also be important to rapidly and effectively detect genotoxic compounds in the aquatic system in ways that do not necessarily accompany a higher level of alteration. Considering the potential of D. magna and C. tentans as bioindicator species, and the importance of genotoxic biomarkers in ecotoxicity monitoring, DNA damage in these species could provide useful information for environmental risk assessment.

Characterization and gene expression of heat shock protein 90 in marine crab Charybdis japonica following bisphenol A and 4-nonylphenol exposures

  • Park, Kiyun;Kwak, Ihn-Sil
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.29
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    • pp.2.1-2.7
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    • 2014
  • Objectives Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a highly conserved molecular chaperone important in the maturation of a broad spectrum of protein. In this study, an HSP90 gene was isolated from Asian paddle crab, Charybdis japonica, as a bio-indicator to monitor the marine ecosystem. Methods This work reports the responses of C. japonica HSP90 mRNA expression to cellular stress by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-nonylphenol (NP) using real-time. reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results The deduced amino acid sequence of HSP90 from C. japonica shared a high degree of homology with their homologues in other species. In a phylogenetic analysis, C. japonica HSP90 is evolutionally related with an ortholog of the other crustacean species. The expression of HSP90 gene was almost distributed in all the examined tissues of the C. japonica crab but expression levels varied among the different body parts of the crabs. We examined HSP90 mRNA expression pattern in C. japonica crabs exposed to EDCs for various exposure times. The expression of HSP90 transcripts was significantly increased in C. japonica crabs exposed to BPA and NP at different concentrations for 12, 24, 48 and 96 hours. The mRNA expression of HSP90 gene was significantly induced in a concentration- and time-dependent manner after BPA or NP exposures for 96 hours. Conclusions Taken together, expression analysis of Asian paddle crab HSP90 gene provided useful molecular information about crab responses in stress conditions and potential ways to monitor the EDCs stressors in marine environments.

Acute toxicity assessment of camphor in bio-pesticides by using Daphnia magna and Danio rerio

  • Yim, Eun-Chae;Kim, Hyeon-Joe;Kim, Seong-Jun
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.29
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    • pp.8.1-8.8
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    • 2014
  • Objectives An ecofriendly alternative to chemical pesticides is bio-pesticides, which are derived from natural sources. The interest in bio-pesticides is based on the disadvantages associated with chemical pesticides. Methods We conducted acute toxicity assessments of camphor, a major component of bio-pesticides, by using Daphnia magna (D. magna) as well as assessed the morphological abnormalities that occurred in Danio rerio (D. rerio) embryos. Results The median effective concentration of camphor on D. magna after 48 hours was $395.0{\mu}M$, and the median lethal concentration on D. rerio embryos after 96 hours was $838.6{\mu}M$. The no observed effect concentration and predicted no effect concentration of camphor on D. magna, which was more sensitive than D. rerio, were calculated as $55.2{\mu}M$ and $3.95{\mu}M$, respectively. Morphological abnormalities in D. rerio embryos exposed to camphor increased over time. Coagulation, delayed hatching, yolk sac edema, pericardial edema, and pigmentation of embryos mainly appeared between 24 and 48 hours. Further, symptoms of scoliosis and head edema occurred after 72 hours. In addition, bent tails, ocular defects and collapsed symptoms of fertilized embryonic tissue were observed after 96 hours. Conclusions The camphor toxicity results suggest that continuous observations on the ecosystem are necessary to monitor toxicity in areas where biological pesticides containing camphor are sprayed.

A Study on the Development of Eco-cultural City Evaluation Indicator Using AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) (AHP를 활용한 생태문화도시 평가지표 개발 연구)

  • Choi, Song-Hun;Koo, Bon-Hak
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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    • v.20 no.6
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    • pp.51-66
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    • 2017
  • This study was conducted to develop detailed evaluation indicator as a way for evaluating sustainable urban ecosystem health focused on ecological urban elements from an eco-cultural point of view after the appearance of Eco-cultural City to meet various needs. And this study was also conducted to search for ways to utilize the detailed evaluation indicator like institutionalization. Eco-cultural City was defined as a city where ecological environment and cultural environment coexist and was aimed to derive applicable planning indicators in Korea. For this, FGI was executed, planning indicators were derived, and suitability was examined. The weights were calculated based on the selected indicators through AHP expert survey. After getting the result of FGI, experts reviewed the adequacy of definition from Eco-cultural City and its necessity, and the applicability of planning indicators was examined with evaluation of suitability. As a result of evaluating suitability, it was judged that 41 indicators based on an overall average of 4 areas were relatively high on suitability and also important among sectors. As for the analysis result, the priority order in multistage classification was as followed : harmony between human and environment(B) 0.349, environmental resources(A) 0.266, city environment and quality of culture(C) 0.208, and role division and citizen participation(D) 0.177. In the second level of relative importance, environment protection and infra in the role and citizen participation section was the highest, 0.449, harmonization policy and system in calculating weights was the highest.

Impacts of Aquatic and Riparian Environmental Factors on Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) Presence Characteristics in the Nakdong River Basin (낙동강 권역의 하천 수면공간 및 수변환경이 수달의 출현에 미치는 영향분석)

  • Shin, Geehoon;Rho, Paikho
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.26 no.12
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    • pp.1341-1353
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    • 2017
  • This study aimed to identify the aquatic and riparian factors associated with the presence/absence of the Eurasian otter in the Nakdong river basin, where the species is relatively more abundant than other otter species. Environmental factors and presence records were collected. Geographical Information System technology and chi-square test were used to compare environmental gradients in aquatic and riparian factors between presence and absence sites. Aquatic habitat attributes were evaluated with natural riverside sandbars and channel crossing artificial structures, the ratio of channel width to alluvial plain width, riverbed substrate, and flow diversity. Riverbank characteristics, bank materials, man-made embankment types, and land use/land cover of inland and riverside areas were selected as riparian habitat attributes. Compared to the aquatic attributes, riparian attributes were highly significant when assessing otter presence and absence sites, suggesting that conservation of suitable riparian areas to provide maternity and resting areas for otter species is essential in the Nakdong river basin. None of the aquatic attributes examined were statistically significant when evaluating otter presence or absence. These results indicate that the presence of suitable riparian area for resting and reproduction habitats is more critical to the presence of Eurasian otter than food availability in aquatic areas. To inform implementation of effective conservation actions, broad-scale factors, such as watershed attributes, would be needed to further assess habitat conditions of the Eurasian otter.

The Trend Analysis of Korea STS Education Movement and a survey Study on Applying STS Education in Korea (STS교육운동의 국내 연구 경향 분석과 적용방안에 관한 조사 연구)

  • Chung, Wan-Ho;Kwon, Yong-Ju;Kim, Young-Shin
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.66-79
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    • 1993
  • The purposes of this study are to analyse trend of STS movement in Korea and to collect basic data on application of STS to school science education. It investigated, from 1990 to March 1993, journals of 6 associations, a monthly magazine of science education, and printed materials of seminars or workshops about science education. It also surveied a question to 47 science teachers and 26 researchers who had experienced STS workshop. The results of the study are as follows: (1) The studies of STS increased since 1990, but they are made at a introduction or background of STS. (2) The 98.7% of the respondents want to apply STS in school science education. (3) They responded that a device for the application of STS which is added last part of each chapter or last chapter, will use the STS program that made by subject, still maintain current science curriculum. (4) They responded that the knowledge & compreshion domain and inquiry process domain contain more high than others. 5) The STS subjects for application to the school science education are as follows; Environment pollution, science for living, ethics of science, human health and disease, information communication, an ecosystem destruction, development and storage of natural resources. This study suggested that establishment of a research institute for systematic research of STS, in-service training, a new evaluation process, a balancing of other subjects and increasing learning hour and changing objectives.

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Analysis of Cutting Properties with Reference to Amount of Coolant used in an Environment-Conscious Turning Process

  • Yang, Seung-Han;Lee, Young-Moon;Kim, Young-Suk
    • Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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    • v.18 no.12
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    • pp.2182-2189
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    • 2004
  • In the recent years, environmentally conscious design and manufacturing technologies have attracted considerable attention. The coolants, lubricants, solvents, metallic chips and discarded tools from manufacturing operations will harm our environment and the earth's ecosystem. In the present work, the Tukey method of multiple comparisons is used to select the minimum level of coolant required in a turning process. The amount of coolant is varied in 270 designed experiments and the parameters cutting temperature, surface roughness, and specific cutting energy are carefully evaluated. The effects of coolant mix ratio as well as the amount of coolant on the turning process are studied in the present work. The cutting temperature and surface roughness for different quantity of coolant are investigated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) - test and a multiple comparison method. ANOVA-test results signify that the average tool temperature and surface roughness depend on the amount of coolant. Based on Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) method, one of the multiple comparison methods, the minimum level of coolant is 1.0 L/min with 2% mix ratio in the aspect of controlling tool temperature. F-test concludes that the amount of coolant used does not have any significant effect on specific cutting energy. Finally, Tukey method ascertains that 0.5 L/min with 6% mix ratio is the minimum level of coolant required in turning process without any serious degradation of the surface finish. Considering all aspects of cutting, the minimum coolant required is 1.0 L/min with 6% mix ratio. It is merely half the coolant currently used i.e. 2.0 L/min with 10% mix ratio. Minimal use of coolant not only economically desirable for reducing manufacturing cost but also it imparts fewer hazards to human health. Also, sparing use of coolant will eventually transform the turning process into a more environment-conscious manufacturing process.

Acute Toxicity Assessment of New Algicides of Thiazolidinediones Derivatives, TD53 and TD49, Using Ulva pertusa Kjellman

  • Yim, Eun-Chae;Park, In-Taek;Han, Hyo-Kyung;Kim, Si-Wouk;Cho, Hoon;Kim, Seong-Jun
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.273-278
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    • 2010
  • Objectives : This study was aimed to examine the acute toxicity assessment of two new algicides, thiazolidinediones derivatives (TD53 and TD49), which were synthesized to selectively control red tide, to the marine ecosystem. Methods : The assessment employed by a new method using Ulva pertusa Kjellman which has been recently accepted as a standard method of ISO. The toxicity was assessed by calculating the $EC_{50}$ (Effective Concentration of 50%), NOEC (No Observed Effect Concentration) and PNEC (Predicted No Effect Concentration) using acute toxicity data obtained from exposure experiments. $EC_{50}$ value of TD49 and TD53 was examined by 96-hrs exposure together with Solutol as a TD49 dispersing agent and DMSO as a TD53 solvent. Results : $EC_{50}$ value of TD53 was $1.65\;{\mu}M$. From the results, values of NOEC and PNEC were calculated to be $0.63\;{\mu}M$ and 1.65 nM, respectively. DMSO under the range of $0{\sim}10\;{\mu}M$, which is same solvent concentration used in examining TD53, showed no toxic effect. $EC_{50}$ value of TD49 was $0.18\;{\mu}M$ and that of Solutol was $1.70\;{\mu}M$. NOEC and PNEC of TD49 were $0.08\;{\mu}M$ and 0.18 nM, respectively and those for Solutol were $1.25\;{\mu}M$ and 1.25 nM, respectively. Conclusions : From the values of NOEC, PNEC of TD53 and TD49, TD49 showed 9 times stronger toxicity than TD53. On the other hand, DMSO showed no toxicity on the Ulva pertusa Kjellman, but Solutol was found to be a considerable toxicity by itself.

Determination of personal care products in aquatic environmental samples by GC/MS (GC/MS를 이용한 수질환경시료 중 personal care products의 분석)

  • Lee, In-Jung;Lee, Chul-Gu;Heo, Seong-Nam;Lee, Jae-Gwan
    • Analytical Science and Technology
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    • v.23 no.5
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    • pp.477-484
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    • 2010
  • Personal care products are a diverse group of synthetic organic chemicals such as antimicrobial compounds, UV filters and organo-phosphate flame retardants and derived from individual usages of soaps, toothpaste and cosmetics. It has been detected in municipal sewage effluent and various environmental samples such as surface water, marine, soil, sediment and aquatic biota in many countries. The occurrence of personal care products in environmental samples could negatively impact the health of the ecosystem and humans, due to persistent, long-term chronic exposure of aquatic organisms. In this study, fifteen personal care products in aquatic environmental samples were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with liquidliquid extraction (LLE). Method detection limits were in the range of $0.004\sim0.273\;{\mu}g/L$. Two compounds (TCEP, TCPP) were detected in surface waters and seven compounds (triclosan, 4-MBC, EHMC, BP-3, TCEP, TPP, TBEP) were detected in sewage treatment plants (STP) influents or effluents.