• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.38-52
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• 2011

Sorption and sequential desorption experiments were conducted for Zn using a natural soil (NS) in background status by aging (1, 30 and 100 days). The sorption isotherm showed that Zn had high sorption capacity but low sorption affinity in NS. Sequential desorption was biphasic with appreciable amount of sorbed Zn residing in the desorption-resistant fraction after several desorption steps. The biphasic desorption behavior of Zn was characterized by a biphasic desorption model that includes a linear term to represent labile or easily-desorbing fraction and a Langmuirian-type term to represent desorption-resistant fraction. The biphasic desorption model indicated that the size of the maximum capacity of desorption-resistant fraction ($q^{irr}_{max}$) increased with aging in NS. Desorption kinetics and desorption-resistance of Zn in the soils collected from mine tailings (MA, MB and MC collected from surface, subsurface soils and mine waste, respectively) were investigated and compared to the bioavailability to earthworm (Eisenia fetida). Desorption kinetic data of Zn were fitted to several desorption kinetic models. The ratio ($q_{e,d}/q_0$) of remaining Zn at desorption equilibrium ($q_{e,d}$) to initial sorbed concentration ($q_0$) was in the range of 0.53~0.90 in the mine tailings which was higher than that in NS, except MA. The sequential desorption from the mine tailings with 0.01M Na$NO_3$ and 0.01M $CaCl_2$ showed that appreciable amounts of Zn are resistant to desorption due to aging or sequestration. The SM&T (Standard Measurements and Testing Programme of European Union) analysis showed that the sum of oxidizable (Step III) and residual (Step IV) fractions of Zn was linearly related with its desorption-resistance ($q^{irr}_{max}$) determined by the sequential desorption with 0.01M Na$NO_3$ ($R^2$= 0.9998) and 0.01M $CaCl_2$ ($R^2$= 0.8580). The earthworm uptake of Zn and the desorbed amount of Zn ($q_{desorbed}$ = $q_0-q_{e,d}$) in MB soil were also linearly related ($R^2$ = 0.899). Our results implicate that the ecological risk assessment of heavy metals would be possible considering the relation between desorption behaviors and bioavailability to earthworm.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.212-217
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• 2010

Soil pollution by heavy metals has become a significant environmental concern due to a variety of human activities. Specially toxicity caused by excessive mercury exposure is now being recognized as a widespread environmental problem and is continuing to attract a great deal of public concerns. The earthworms are very important animals that aerate the soil with their burrowing action and enrich the soil by decomposing organic matters. Especially the earthworm Eisenia fetida is routinely used in ecotoxicological studies. The levels of DNA damage in earthworms treated with HgCl2 and ionizing radiation were investigated in this study. Genotoxic effects were evaluated in the earthworm's coelomocytes using the comet assay (Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis; SCGE). The results showed that the mercury chloride and radiation were responsible for the genotoxic effects on earthworms. The level of DNA damage significantly increased after the treatment of mercury chloride combined with ionizing radiation. The combined treatment of $HgCl_2$ and ionizing radiation had a greater genotoxicity. This study is amenable to further study such as enzyme activation assay.

• The Korean Journal of Soil Zoology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2000

Disposing technique for dairy cattle manure using earthworms and the possibility of utilizing earthworms in poultry feed were investigated. In addition, chemical properties of manure and cast of earthworms were investigated. Temperature in the vinyl-house for earthworm nursery was able to be maintained above 0$\^{C}$ in winter and 25-28$\^{C}$ in summer. In closed-covering method, the number of escaped earthworms was the highest among three covering methods. The time was longer after manure excretion, the numbers of escaped earthworm were higher. There were some incidences of mortality of earthworm in closed-covering site. The amount of manure ingested by earthworm was increased in order of non-covering, closed-covering and gap-covering method. Fresh manure was more ingested than old one by earthworm. Earthworms reduced manure about 50% on the dry weight base and reduced total amounts of N, P$_2$O$\_$5/ and K$_2$O of manure by 41, 50 and 60%, respectively. Earthworm could be utilized by adult poultry (>60 g) for feeding. However, adverse effect of live earthworm was observed with young poultry (<450 g).

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 1997

This study was performed to investigate the growth response of earthworm (Eisenia foetida) in cow manure added Cadmium (Cd) and therefore, to estimate the toxic threshold level of Cadmium and the levels of Cadmium in cow manure for obtain-ing the maximum Cadmium-concentration enable to accumulate in earthworm tis-sue. Seven different concentrations of Cadmium added in cow manure were 0 (control), 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 mg/kg, respectively. Survival rate (SR), mean fresh weight of adult worm at final time ($FW_2$), increasing rate (IR), number of cocoon (NC), number of young worm (NY) and residual matter (RW) were not significantly different among Cadmium concentrations in cow manure. Of the measured growth-characteristics, survival rate (SR) had a significantly positive correlation (p<0.001) with number of cocoon (NC). But mean fresh weight of adult worm at final time ($FW_2$) had a significantly negative correlation (p<0.05) with residual matter of cow manure. The maximum Cadmium concentration accumulated in tissue was ranged from 283.8 mg/kg to 396.2 mg/kg. It was obtained at the level of 956.5 mg/kg and 1116.6 mg/kg in cow manure added Cadmium, respectively.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 2012

In the course of this study aimed at the development of functional food ingredients from seaweeds, the in vitro antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts prepared from 35 different seaweeds (17 phaeophyta, 11 rhodophyta and 7 chlorophyta) were determined against food-borne diseases and pathogenic microorganisms including multi-drug resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas sp. and Candida sp. Based on disc-diffusion assays at 500 g/disc concentration of the methanol extracts, Ishige okamurai, I. foliacea, Sargassum confusum, and S. yamade exhibited strong antibacterial activities in a broad-spectrum, except against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition to the latter four seaweeds, Ecklonia stolonifera, E. cava and Eisenia bicyclis also demonstrated antifungal activity against C. albicans. Among these 8 selected seaweeds, I. okamurai, I. foliacea, and S. yamade exhibited strong hemolytic activity (55-93%) at 500 g/ml against human RBC. Organic solvent sequential fractions using hexane, ethylacetate and butanol, and water residues were prepared from the 8 selected seaweeds and their anti-Candida sp. activities were further determined. The ethylacetate and butanol fraction of I. okamurai, and the hexane fraction of I. foliacea demonstrated antifungal activity against MDR-pathogenic Candida sp. Although the solvent fractions had no activity against MDR-Pseudomonas sp., our results suggest that seaweeds, especially Ishige okamurai, I. foliacea, S. confusum, and S. yamade could be developed as broad-spectrum antimicrobial ingredients.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2014

The present study was conducted to provide basic data for environmentally friendly treatment of manure using vermicomposting. This was done by investigating the influence of physiochemical property change during the composting period on the survival of earthworms after mixing cow manure in different levels (0(CRH0), 10(CRH10), 20(CRH20), 30(CRH30), and 40%(CRH40)) with the rice hull that is generally added for composting manure. As composting proceeds, earthworms were able to survive in all conditions after 3 weeks. In terms of the C/N ratio by treatment groups, the rice hull mix treatments were significantly higher than the CRH0 treatment. Among rice hull mix treatments, the treatments with 30~40% rice hull level (CRH30 & CRH40) showed the highest ratio out of all composting periods (p<0.05). The C/N ratio in the 3rdweek when earthworms started surviving was 23.26~34.44. As composting progressed, pH and electrolytic conductivity (EC) were the highest in the CRH0 treatment (p<0.05) and tended to decrease with higher proportion of rice hull in the mix. It was found that pH and electrolytic conductivity (EC) that earthworms start to survive are 7.58~7.74 and 0.41~1.17 mS/cm, respectively. To summarize, when composing cow manure with various levels of rice hull mix, all physiochemical property changes turned out to allow the survival of earthworms, but the results suggest that efficient vermicomposting requires the tests to examine the growth and reproduction according to the rice hull mix ratio.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.183-195
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• 2014

The present study was conducted to provide basic data for environmentally friendly treatment of manure using vermicomposting by investigating the influence of physiochemical property change during the composting period on the survival of earthworms after mixing cow manure in different levels (0(CSD0), 10(CSD10), 20(CSD20), 30(CSD30), and 40%(CSD40)) with the sawdust that is used bedding in livestock pens. As composting proceeds, earthworms were able to survive in all treatments after 3 weeks. In terms of the C/N ratio by treatment groups, the sawdust mix treatment was significantly higher than the CSD0 treatment (p<0.05). The C/N ratio in the 3rdweek when earthworms started surviving was 23.26-61.05. As composting progressed, pH and electrolytic conductivity were highest in the CSD0 treatment and tended to decrease with higher proportion of sawdust in the mix. It was found that pH and electrolytic conductivity that earthworms starting to survive are 7.4-7.7 and 0.28-1.17 mS/cm respectively. To summarize, when composing cow manure with various levels of sawdust mix, all physiochemical property changes turned out to allow the survival of earthworms, but the results suggest that efficient vermicomposting requires the tests to examine growth and reproduction according to the sawdust mix ratio.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.421-431
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• 2006

This study was conducted to develope efficient vermicomposting using of different mixture ratios of cow manure and rice hull by feeding these to earthworm and then by studying the growth and reproductive efficiency of earthworm, and the chemical composition of worm cast and its production. The results are summarized as follows. C/N ratio of feed was $20.43{\sim}31.16$ and it increased according to the higher proportion of rice hull, and survival of earthworm was $97.6{\sim}98.4%$. Number of young worms were significantly higher in $10{\sim}40%$ addition of rice hull(number of $824{\sim}844$) than number of 769 of real cow manure treatment(P<0.05). Fresh weight of young worms was $8.00{\sim}11.8g$ and it was significantly higher in 40% addition of rice hull than for other treatments(P<0.05). The cast production of earthworm was significantly lower in the 40% addition of rice hull than for other treatments(P<0.05). But digested matters were showed in the tendency of becoming higher in the 40% addition of rice hull than in $10{\sim}30%$ addition of that. C/N ratio of worm cast was significantly higher in 40% addition of rice hull than for other treatments(P<0.05). Heavy metal concentrations of worm cast were showed in the tendency of becoming lower in the 40% addition of rice hull than in addition of that.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.76-85
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• 2012

Geochemical and ecological properties of remediated soil and gas exhausted from a low-temperature thermal desorption (LTTD) process were analyzed to assess the environmental impact of LTTD treatment. Soil characteristics were examined with regard to the chemical (EC, CEC, and organic matter) and the ecological (dehydrogenase activity, germination rate of Brassica juncea, and growth of Eisenia andrei) properties. The exhaust gases were analyzed based on the Air Quality Act in Korea as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and mixed odor. Level of organic Organic matter of the soil treated by LTTD process was slightly decreased compared to that of the original soil because the heating temperature ($200^{\circ}C$) and retention time (less than 15 minutes) were neither high nor long enough for the oxidation of organic matter. The LTTD process results in reducing TPH of the contaminated soil from $5,133{\pm}508$ mg/kg to $272{\pm}107$ mg/kg while preserving soil properties. Analysis results of the exhaust gases from the LTTD process satisfied discharge standard of Air Quality Law in Korea. Concentration of VOCs including acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde and valeraldehyde in circulation gas volatilized from contaminated soil were effectively reduced in the regenerative thermal oxidizer and all satisfied the legal standards. Showing ecologically improved properties of contaminated soil after LTTD process and environmentally tolerable impact of the exhaust gas, LTTD treatment of TPH-contaminated soil is an environmentally acceptable technology.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.1263-1269
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• 2013

This study was conducted in order to investigate the inhibitory effects of natural materials on histamine production in mackerel. Antimicrobial activities on Photobacterium phosphoreum of medicinal herbs and seaweeds were investigated using the paper disc assay and MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) test. According to the results, Sargassum sagamianum and Ecklonia cava ethanol extracts exhibited antibacterial activity. In particular, Sargassum sagamianum ethanol extract showed excellent antibacterial activity at 0.015625 mg/mL by the MIC test. Anti-histamine release activities of natural materials were further investigated by examining their inhibitory effects on histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity in the crude enzyme preparation from Photobacterium phosphoreum. The ethanol extracts of Ecklonia cava and Eisenia bicyclis exhibited the strongest HDC inhibitory activity, with 32% and 22%, at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, respectively. Therefore, natural materials may reduce histamine poisoning through decrease of histamine production in mackerel.