• Title/Summary/Keyword: Environmental contamination

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Influence of Radioactive Contamination to Agricultural Products Due to Rain During a Nuclear Accident

  • Won Tae Hwang;Eun Han Kim;Kyung Suk Suh;Moon Hee Han;Han Soo Lee
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.34 no.5
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    • pp.415-420
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    • 2002
  • The previous dynamic food chain model was improved for the consideration of the influence of radioactive contamination to agricultural products due to rain during the environmental releases of radionuclides in a nuclear accident Wet interception coefficients for the agricultural plants were derived as a function of radionuclide and rainfall amount, and mathematical formulations of the previous model were modified. As a result, rain during accidental releases was influential in agricultural contamination. The contamination level of agricultural products decreased dramatically according to increasing rainfall amount. It means that predictive concentrations in agricultural products using the previous model, in which dry interception to the agricultural plants is only considered, can be overestimated. The influence of rainfall in agricultural contamination was the most sensitive for $^{131}$ I, and the least sensitive for $^{90}$ Sr among the radionuclides considered in this study.

Prediction of Surface Water Contamination with RDX Transported from Soil in a Neighboring Firing Range (포탄 사격장 토양의 RDX에 의한 인근 하천 오염 예측)

  • Park, Jungtae;Lee, Dong Soo
    • Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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    • v.22 no.6
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    • pp.832-840
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    • 2019
  • Recently, pollution from gunpowder due to shell shootings at military drilling sites has raised various environmental concerns. The purpose of this study is to predict the contamination level of RDX in the soil area of the firing range zone near Anwol river watershed, the study site, and the intake area, Anwol river and Imjin river, as a function of time and space. In this study, a multimedia model was developed to predict the variation of RDX contamination by rainfall. The range of the medium was limited to soil, water, and sediment, and excluded the atmosphere, taking into account the physical and chemical properties of RDX with low vapor pressure and low Henry's constant. The pollutant levels of the waters of compartments, including the last section of the Imjin River affecting the water intake, was compared with the environmental standard for RDX.

A Study on Effects of Oil Contaminated Soil on the Growth of Plant (유류오염토양이 식물식생에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Min-Zoo;Kim, Joo-Young;Kim, Jung-Hoon;Choi, Sang-Il
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.50-56
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    • 2010
  • Oil contamination soil has been one of the most environmental social issues for decades in the inside and outside of country. The law of soil environmental preservation was carried out in the 1990s and the government controlled not only soil environment management and the remediation of contaminated soil but also promoted the development of remedial technology and cleanup business of contaminated soil by national policy. In addition to agriculture areas, the main oil contaminated sites are a gas station, oil reservoir, petro-chemical complex, site of railway carriage base and military camp. The contamination-frequency of agriculture area and effect sites are low but it has significantly important area on account of producing food for human beings. Therefore, we should be concerned about oil contamination damage of agriculture area. The oil contamination damage of agriculture area influenced drop of birth and breeding since the oil directly adheres to seeds and farm products even diffusion of contaminated soil to cultivation area. The studies of the crops and the food vegetation has not enough detailed data caused by the incident of oil contamination. This study investigated the effect of oil in germination and growth of selected plant seeds. In this study, we try to verify whether the oil contamination by accidents on farmland influenced the damage of farm produce and the mutual relation both oil contaminated soil or the vegetation of crops. The impact of oil on plant development was followed by phytotoxicity assessments. The plants exhibited visual symptoms of stress, growth reduction and perturbations in developmental parameters. The increase of the degree of pollution induced more marked effects in plants, likely because of the physical effects of oil. The relationships between the phytotoxicity contents of plants and growth reduction suggest a chemical toxicity of fuel oil. In addition, while cleaned up the contaminated soil under the standard of contaminated soil we examined it was suitable for region standard and it may have practical possibility for fill material of construction of afforestation and molding soil of landfill.

A Study on Microbial Contamination according to Effective Management Strategies of Indoor Climbing Gym Holds (실내 클라이밍 짐 홀드의 관리방법에 따른 미생물 오염에 관한 연구)

  • Ji-In Kim;Hyejin Shin;Yujeong Jeong;Haesong Sher;Gitaek Oh;Yonghoo Park;Sungkyoon Kim
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.50 no.2
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    • pp.102-112
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    • 2024
  • Background: Despite the rise in the number of domestic indoor climbing gyms, there is a lack of specific hygiene standards and research on the holds installed in them. Holds can act as vectors for microbial transmission through the hands, posing a risk of infectious diseases, especially with damaged skin. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the contamination level and species of microorganisms on holds according to the management methods practiced in indoor climbing gyms and identify effective strategies for reducing microbial contamination. Methods: We investigated factors that may influence microbial contamination of holds, including hold management methods, user information, and hygiene management at three climbing gyms in Seoul. A total of 72 holds were sampled, 18 for each management method of brushing, high-pressure washing, and ethanol disinfection. Samples were cultured on LB and blood agar at 37℃ for 48 hours to calculate CFUs. PCR assay targeting 16S rRNA was carried out to identify microorganisms. Dunn-Bonferroni was employed to see the microbial reduction effect of the management method and the difference in microbial contamination by management method and climbing gym. Results: As a result of microbial identification, microorganisms such as Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Micrococcus, which were derived from various environments such as skin and soil, were discovered on the surface of the climbing hold. Among the discovered microorganisms, some species had potential pathogenic properties that could cause food poisoning, gastrointestinal disease, bacteremia, and sepsis. All hold management methods were effective in reducing microorganisms (p<0.05), with ethanol disinfection being the most effective (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our results indicate that there are potential pathogens on holds that demand thorough management for microbial prevention. Proposed methods include regular brushing and ethanol disinfection in addition to high-pressure washing with long cycles, which are the existing forms of hold management. Further studies on shoe management are advised to curb soil-derived microorganisms.

The Contamination Characteristics of BTEX and TPH Components in Silty Soils with the Oil Leakage Event from Point Source (점오염원 형태의 유류누출 사건에 의한 실트질 토양층에서 BTEX와 TPH 성분의 오염도 연구)

  • Kang, Dong-Hwan;Chung, Sang-Yong;Go, Dong-Ho
    • The Journal of Engineering Geology
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    • v.16 no.4 s.50
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    • pp.393-402
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    • 2006
  • The contamination characteristics of BTEX and TPH components in silty soils with the oil leakage event from point source were studied. The over ratios of three soil pollution standard for TPH component were $1.5{\sim}1.7$ times higher than that of BTEX component. The mean and maximum values of BTEX and TPH components with sample points were B-zone > A-zone > C-zone, and the highest concentrations were measured at $1{\sim}2m$ depth below surface. BTEX and TPH components were increased with linear distance in zone within 120 m and 80 m from point source. For the zone more than 120 m, BTEX and TPH concentrations were under soil pollution standard. The cutoff values of indicator kriging using BTEX and TPH components were defined as confirmative limit, warn- ing limit and counterplan limit. The variograms of indicator-transformed data were selected linear model. The contamination ranges of BTEX and TPH components using confirmative limit and warning limit were estimated similar, but the contamination range of those using counterplan limit was much reduced. The maximum contamination probabilities were estimated by probability maps usinB confirmative limit, warning limit and counterplan limit. The maximum contamination probabilities with three soil pollution standard were estimated 26%, 26% and 13% for BTEX component, and 44%, 38% and 26% for TPH component.

A Study on the Drinking Water Quality and Contamination Sources in a Rural Area (일부 농촌지역의 오염원 현황과 먹는 물 수질에 관한 조사연구)

  • 김탁수;이용미;김문선;김성연;신해철;최경호;정문호
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.98-103
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    • 2004
  • To evaluate the quality of drinking water and contamination sources in a rural community, this study was carried out on the summer of 2003 at Shin-Dong Myun, Chun-Cheon, Gang-Won province. Seventy three drinking water samples were collected from three different types of water supply systems. Sources of contamination were identified and the public perception of water quality area were evaluated. The findings of this study are as follows; Drinking water was mainly obtained from Local Water and Simple Piped Water Supply Systems, and pollution sources varied over the study area. Most of residents (>63%) were satisfied with the quality of drinking water and could not identify any contamination sources. Corresponding to this perception, measured water quality parameters generally met the Drinking Water Quality Standards (>64%). However, approximately 35.6% of samples exceeded the regulation for Nㅒ$_3$$^{-}$$_{-}$N, coliform, and general bacteria. The water quality was significantly different among the three water supply systems, and between the potentially contaminated areas and the rest of the areas (p<0.05). In the potentially contaminated areas, the levels of coliform and general bacteria contamination were significantly higher than the rest of the areas (p<0.05). The coliform and general bacteria values of Simple Piped Water were significantly higher than Own Piped Water's, and the NO$_3$$^{-}$$_{-}$N values of Own Piped Water were significantly higher than those of water's (p<0.05). Based on this study, NO$_3$$^{-}$$_{-}$N, coliform, and general bacteria were identified as a major problem of drinking water. To regularly manage drinking water supply systems, to identify contamination sources, and to add drainage systems are required in the study area.

The impact of municipal waste disposal of heavy metals on environmental pollution: A case study for Tonekabon, Iran

  • Azizpour, Aziz;Azarafza, Mohammad;Akgun, Haluk
    • Advances in environmental research
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    • v.9 no.3
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    • pp.175-189
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    • 2020
  • Municipal solid waste disposal is considered as one of the most important risks for environmental contamination which necessitates the development of strategies to reduce destructive consequences on the ecosystem as related especially to heavy metal accumulation. This study investigates heavy metal (i.e., As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) accumulation in the Tonekabon region, NW of Iran that is related to city waste disposal and evaluates the environmental impact in the Caspian Sea coastal region. For this purpose, after performing field studies and collecting 50 soil specimens from 5 sites of the study area, geochemical tests (i.e., inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectroscopy and x-ray fluorescence) were conducted on the soil specimens collected from the 5 sites (named as Sites A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5) and the results were used to estimate the pollution indices (i.e., geo-accumulation index, normalized enrichment factor, contamination factor, and pollution load index). The obtained indices were utilized to assess the eco-toxicological risk level in the landfill site which indicated that the city has been severely contaminated by Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. These levels have been developed along the stream towards the nearshore areas indicating uptake of soil degradation. The heavy metal contamination was classified to range from unpolluted to highly polluted, which indicated serious heavy metal pollution in the study area as related to municipal solid waste disposal in Tonekabon.

Waterborne viruses in drinking water in Korea: survey 1999 for enteric virus contamination in treated water and its source water

  • Rhie KT;Yoon JD;Chung HM;Kim HS;Jeong YS
    • Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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    • 2001.05a
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    • pp.142-142
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    • 2001
  • A national survey for enteric virus contamination in treated water and its source water was performed from March to November 1999. The water samples were subjected to virus filtration at the major water plants producing over 10$^5$ tons treated water per day. Twenty surveyed sites encompass most of heavily populated residential area except for Seoul and Pusan. (omitted)

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