• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.271-280
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• 2024

This study examines the European Union (EU)'s policies on managing nitrate contamination in groundwater and provides implications for the future groundwater management in South Korea. Initiated by the 1991 Nitrate Directive, the EU has pursued a multifaceted approach to reduce agricultural nitrate pollution through sustainable ('good') farming practices, regular nitrate level monitoring, and designating Nitrate Vulnerable Zones. Further policy integrations, like the Water Framework Directive and Groundwater Directive, have established comprehensive protection strategies, including the use of pollutant threshold values. Recently, the 2019 Green Deal escalated efforts against nitrates, aligning with broader environmental and climate objectives. This review aims to explore these developments, highlighting key mitigation strategies against nitrate pollution, and providing valuable insights for the future sustainable groundwater nitrate management in South Korea, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures and collaborative efforts to restore and improve groundwater quality.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.307-308
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• 2000

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2000

In order to characterize the genetic diversity of bacterial community in groundwater, samples were collected from used for drinking water and polluted with heavy metal wastewater in Seoul city and natural cave of Kangwondo. The DNA was amplified with 165 rDNA-based primers by use of the PCR, and then analysed ARDRA (amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis). Restriction endonuclease analysis patterns of amplified 165 rDNA in drinking water and wastewater relatively showed high genetic diversity in situ and drinking groundwater. The number of DNA fragments varied with in situ and drinking water. This method of ARDRA of bacterial communities in groundwater could be used for a quick assessment of genotypic changes between different locations reflecting different environmental conditions and the diversity reflected pollution of groundwater (natural cave water>drinking water>waste water, as in order of grade). [Genetic diversity, Groundwater, 165 rDNA, PCR, ARDRA].

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.19-21
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• 2001

The Shiheung mine was closed in 1972 and has been abandoned since then. Although some restoration work has been done, there still remain mine failings in and around the mine, posing a potential environmental hazard. Mine tailings and the porewater extracted from the tailing were investigated to see any evidence of elemental release and migration to adjacent groundwater and soil in the field. The pHs of the tailing range from 6.24 to 7.23. Calcite in the studied area seems to influence on such neutral pH range. Depth profile of mine tailing demonstrate elements have been leached and removed as a consequence of weathering during disposal. This is also supported by the findings from porewater analysis, corresponding the trends in the mine tailings. The concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn in the tailing porewater exceed the standard value of EPA for drinking water and this implies groundwater can be contaminated through infiltration of the porewaters, which ultimately will be discharged as leachate from the mine tailing. Groundwater samples collected near the mine area do not show high metal concentrations, except for Fe, which were detected over drinking water standard.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1563-1573
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of vanadium in Jeju Island groundwater, focusing on the spatio-temporal patterns and geochemical controlling factors of vanadium. For this, we collected two sets of groundwater data: 1) concentrations of major constituents of 2,595 groundwater samples between 2008 and 2014 and 2) 258 groundwater samples between December 2006 and June 2008. The concentrations of groundwater vanadium were in the range of $0.2{\sim}71.0{\mu}g/L$ (average, $12.0{\mu}g/L$) and showed local enrichments without temporal/seasonal variation. This indicated that vanadium distribution was controlled by 1) the geochemical/mineralogical composition and dissolution processes of original materials (i.e., volcanic rock) and 2) the flow and chemical properties of groundwater. Vanadium concentration was significantly positively correlated with that of major ions ($Cl^-$, $Na^+$, and $K^+$) and trace metals (As, Cr, and Al), and with pH, but was negatively correlated with $NO_3-N$ concentration. The high concentrations of vanadium (>$15{\mu}g/L$) occurred in typically alkaline groundwater with high pH (${\geq}8.0$), indicating that a higher degree of water-rock interaction resulted in vanadium enrichment. Thus, higher concentrations of vanadium occurred in groundwater of $Na-Ca-HCO_3$, $Na-Mg-HCO_3$ and $Na-HCO_3$ types and were remarkably lower in groundwater of $Na-Ca-NO_3$(Cl) type that represented the influences from anthropogenic pollution.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2018

We observed the concentrations of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) in coastal seawater and groundwater around a volcanic island, Jeju, Korea. The sampling of surface seawater and coastal groundwater was conducted in Woljeongri, Pyoseon, and Kwakgi beaches, in three sampling campaigns (June, July, and October 2016). The concentrations of DOC in groundwater were relatively higher in June and October than in July. Salinity and DOC concentrations in the coastal groundwater of Woljeongri and Pyoseon beaches did not show a marked relationship, whereas those in Kwakgi beach showed a good positive correlation (July: $R^2=0.64$, P < 0.01; October: $R^2=0.95$, P < 0.01). In addition, the concentrations of CDOM (C and M peaks) in the groundwater of Woljeongri and Pyoseon beaches, where saline groundwater discharge dominates, were relatively higher than those of Kwakgi beach, where fresh groundwater discharge dominates. The relatively higher DOC concentrations in the coastal groundwater of Woljeongri and Pyoseon, with higher CDOM concentrations, seem to be mainly from anthropogenic sources such as local pollution sources (i.e., aquaculture wastewater or domestic sewage). In order to understand the behavior of DOC in the coastal groundwater of a volcanic island, extensive studies are necessary in the future over a larger-area and greater time-scales using various isotopic tracers.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.677-682
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• 2007

This study was performed to provide the basic information on characteristics of groundwater pollution in Gyeongsan city. Forty two groundwater samples were collected, and pH, DO, COD, $NH_3-N,\;NO_3^--N$, T-N, $PO_4^{3-}-P$, Cl, Ca, Mg, hardness, evaporate residues and others were investigated. And, ANOVA analyses were carried out to reveal the differences in water pollution indicator values of by industry, commerce/residence and agriculture areas. The results were as follows. 1. The mean values of pH, DO, COD, $NH_3-N,\;NO_3^--N$, T-N, $PO_4^{3-}-P$, Cl, evaporate residues, Ca and hardness were 6.9, $7.9mg/\ell,\;0.4mg/\ell,\;2.44mg/\ell,\;2.73mg/\ell,\;6.06mg/\ell,\;0.82mg/\ell,\;32.72mg/\ell,\;381.67mg/\ell,\;41.53mg/\ell,\;177.17mg/\ell$, respectively. 2. As groundwater became deeper, the values of Cl, Ca, Mg, Na, hardness and evaporate residues remarkably increased, but those of COD, $NH_3^--N,\;NO_3^--N,\;NO_2^-N$, T-N decreased. 3. The values of COD, Cl, Ca, Mg, Na, hardness and evaporate residues were very high in industrial area, and those of $NH_3-N,\;NO_2^--N$, T-N were very high in commercial/residential area, and those of $NO_3^--N$ were a little high in agricultural area. 4. The correlations between depth and each value of Mg, Na, Fe, hardness and evaporate residues were highly positive, and those between DO and each value of Mg, Cu, Fe, hardness and evaporate residues were highly negative. 5. According to ANOVA analyses, the differences in three area groups (industry, commerce/residence and agriculture) on the values of $NH_3-N$, T-N, evaporate residues, hardness, Ca, Mg, K and Fe were significant at 1% level.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.23-30
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• 2011

Risk based pollution level of Pb and Cd in metal contaminated soils depending on physicochemical properties of soil in a target site was assessed using biotic ligand model. Heavy metal activity in soil solution defined as exposure activity (EA) was assumed to be toxic to Vibrio fischeri and soil organisms. Predicted effective activity (PEA) determined by biotic ligand model was compared to EA value to calculate risk quotient. Field contaminated soils (n = 10) were collected from a formes area and their risk based pollution levels were assessed in the present study using the calculated risk quotient. Concentrations of Pb determined by aqua regia were 295, 258, and 268 mg/kg in B, H and J points and concentrations of Cd were 4.73 and 6.36 mg/kg in G and I points, respectively. These points exceeded the current soil conservation standards. However, risk based pollution levels of the ten points were not able to be calculated because concentrations of Pb and Cd in soil solution were smaller than detection limits or one (i.e., non toxic). It was because heavy metal activity in soil solution was dominant toxicological form to organisms, not a total heavy metal concentration in soil. In addition, heavy metal toxicity was decreased by competition effect of major cations and formation of complex with dissolved organic carbon in soil solution. Therefore, it is essential to consider site-specific factors affecting bioavailability and toxicity for estimating reliable risk of Pb and Cd.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.48-59
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• 2018

Beryllium (Be), cobalt (Co), thallium (Tl) and vanadium (V) are candidates of 21 priority soil pollutants in Korea. The distribution of their concentration in soils from three contamination sources including industrial, roadside and mining areas was investigated. Concentrations of the metals were evaluated quantitatively using pollution indices and the fractionation of metals was conducted using modified SM&T (Standards Measurements and Testing programme) sequential extraction. Concentrations of the metals for all samples from industrial and roadside soils were within the range of natural background levels, while some of Be in soils from abandoned mines exceeded that the range. Enrichment Factor (EF) and Nemerow Integrated Pollution Index (NIPI) for Be, Co, Tl and V showed that there are effects or possibilities of anthropogenic activities. Pollution Load Index (PLI) analyses indicated all investigated sites needed further monitoring. The results of sequential extractions indicated mobile fractions (F1+F2) of Be, Tl and V were below 30% except some of Co in soil, which implies their low mobility to neighboring environment media. Variable tools like sequential extraction, comparison with background/actual concentration and pollution indices, as well as aqua regia extraction should be considered when evaluating Be, Co, Tl, V in soil.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.6 s.181
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• pp.753-770
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• 2006

In urban areas, groundwater pollution is heavily affected by urbanization with land use types. This study aims to characterize groundwater quality and contamination in Sasang industrial area of Busan Metropolitan City where metalworking, machinery and footwear factories are located. Busan Metropolitan City is the highest in the utilization of groundwater resources among the metropolitan cities in Korea. $K^+,\;Na^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+},\;Cl^-,\;SO_4^{2-}\;and\;HCO_3^-$ concentrations, and electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity are high in the areas near the Nakdong River. The results are attributed to the influence of salt water which intruded into the coastal sediments during sedimentation. In addition, the dominant chemical type of Ca-Cl indicates the influence of salt water in the geological formations as well as anthropogenic pollution. $SiO_2$ ion is interpreted to originate from both water-silicate mineral reactions and the decomposition of cement concretes. Trichloroethylene (TCE) was detected at 12 sites of total 18 sites. However, tetrachloroethylene (PCE) was detected at f sites and 1.1.1-trichloroethane (TCA) at 3 sites. According to the factor analysis, factor 1 was explained by 49.8%, factor 2 19.8%, and factor 3 11.0% with total 80.6% explanation. pH, TDS, salinity, $Ca^{2+},\;K^+,\;Mg^{2+},\;Na^+,\;Al^{3+},\;As^{3+},\;Cl^-\;and\;Fe^{2+}$ were positively highly loaded to factor 1. The chemical components loaded to factor 1 represent the chemical characteristics of both industrial pollution and influence by salt water. Based on the cluster analysis and distribution pattern of chemical components, the concentration of $Na^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;Cl^-,\;SO_4^{2-}\;K^+,\;and\;Mg^{2+}$ is high in the riverside area of the Nakdong River composed of coastal sediments that is influenced by salt water. The downstream area of the Hakjang Stream is judged to be affected by both salt water and artificial pollution. The other part of the study area is interpreted by anthropogenic pollution.