• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.168-173
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• 2021

The treatment of plated wastewater is subject to various and complex processes depending on the pH, heavy metal, and cyanide content of the wastewater. Alkali chlorine treatment using NaOCl is commonly used for cyanide treatment. However, if ammonia and cyanide are present simultaneously, NaOCl is consumed excessively to treat ammonia. To solve this problem, this study investigated 1) the consumption of NaOCl according to ammonia concentration in the alkaline chlorine method and 2) whether ferrate (VI) could selectively treat the cyanide. Experiments using simulated wastewater showed that the higher the ammonia concentration, the lower the cyanide removal rate, and the linear increase in NaOCl consumption according to the ammonia concentration. Removal of cyanide using ferrate (VI) confirmed the removal of cyanide regardless of ammonia concentration. Moreover, the removal rate of ammonia was low, so it was confirmed that the ferrate (VI) selectively eliminated the cyanide. The cyanide removal efficiency of ferrate (VI) was higher with lower pH and showed more than 99% regardless of the ferrate (VI) injection amount. The actual application to plated wastewater showed a high removal ratio of over 99% when the input mole ratio of ferrate (VI) and cyanide was 1:1, consistent with the molarity of the stoichiometry reaction method, which selectively removes cyanide from actual wastewater containing ammonia and other pollutants like the result of simulated wastewater.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.37-49
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• 2021

There is domestic Soil Contamination Warning Standard (SCWS) as remediation standard concentration of contaminated soils. No risk should be observed at soil concentration less than SCWS. Therefore, SCWS was evaluated to confirm the risk assessment. Background Concentration of Soil (BGC) and target remediation concentration were also assessed. The results show that Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) of SCWS was the highest in the groundwater intake pathway (Adult: 6.27E-04, Child: 2.81E-04). Total Cancer Risk (TCR) was 7.76E-04 and 4.30E-04 for adult and child, exceeding reference value (10^-6). Hazard Quotient (Non-Carcinogenic Risk, HQ) was the highest in the indoor air inhalation pathway (Adult: 3.64E+03, Child: 8.74E+02). Hazard Index (Total Non-Carcinogenic Risk, HI) exceeded reference value 1. ECR of the BGC was the highest in the groundwater intake pathway (Adult: 1.71E-04, Child: 7.67E-05). TCR was 2.12E-04 for adults and 1.17E-04 for children, exceeding the reference value (10^-6). HQ was the highest in groundwater intake pathway (Adult: 4.10E-01, Child: 1.84E-01). HI was lower than reference value 1 (Adult: 4.78E-01, Child: 2.50E-01). The heavy metal affecting ECR was Arsenic (As). The remediation-concentration of As was 7.14 mg/kg which is higher than BGC (6.83 mg/kg). TCR of As should be less than reference value (10^-6), but it was higher for all of SCWS, BGC and target remediation concentration. Therefore, it is suggested that risk assessment factors should be re-evaluated to fit domestic environmental settings and SCWS should be induced to satisfy the risk assessment.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.430-440
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• 2022

Selenium is an important trace mineral that plays an essential role in maintaining the body's immunity with oxidative stress defense and antioxidant activity, immunity, thyroid hormone control, defense against drug or heavy metal harm, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. A selenium deficiency increases the risk of various chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological disease, osteoarthritis, muscle necrosis and weakness, thyroid disease, and inflammatory diseases. This paper explains the criteria for establishing and revising selenium in the 2020 Dietary Reference Intake for Koreans (KDRIs) and reviews the current status of the selenium database and suggestions for setting the 2025 KDRIs in the future. In the 2020 KDRIs, the selenium intake with the maximum plasma selenoprotein P level was used as the criteria. The weight and coefficient of the variation were applied to the Chinese' reported values. Compared to 2015 KDRIs, there were some revisions in the selenium dietary reference intakes by gender and age according to the change in reference weight. To improve and revise selenium dietary reference intakes in the future, a selenium intervention study is needed to determine the maximum level of plasma selenoprotein P in Koreans. In addition, a revision of the selenium database of the nutritional assessment program (CAN-Pro 5.0) is needed. An analysis of the selenium content of foods should be expanded to assess the selenium intake accurately. In addition, research on the relationship between selenium intake and the biological indicators in the body is required for healthy people and subjects of special environments, such as patients and athletes with various oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.298-306
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• 2022

This study sought to evaluate the mechanism of cellular injury caused by ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄) and the protective effects of Parnassia palustris L. (PP) extract against FeSO₄-induced cytotoxicity of cultured C6 glioma cells. FeSO₄ is known to cause neurotoxicity and induce Parkinson's disease. The antioxidative effects of PP, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like and superoxide anion-radical (SAR)-scavenging activities, as well as effects on cell viability, were studied. FeSO₄ significantly decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and the XTT₅₀ value, the concentration of FeSO₄ which reduced the cell viability by half, was measured at 63.3 μM in these cultures. FeSO₄ was estimated to be highly cytotoxic by the Borenfreund and Puerner toxicity criteria. Quercetin, an antioxidant, significantly improved cell viability, damaged by FeSO₄-induced cytotoxicity. While evaluating the protective effects of the PP extract on FeSO₄-induced cytotoxicity, it was observed that the extract significantly increased cell viability compared to the FeSO₄-treated group. Also, the PP extract showed superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like and superoxide anion radical (SAR)-scavenging activities. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that FeSO₄ induced oxidative stress-related cytotoxicity, and the PP extract effectively protected against this cytotoxicity via its antioxidative effects. In conclusion, natural antioxidant sources such as PP may be agents useful for preventing oxidative stress-related cytotoxicity induced by heavy metal compounds such as the FeSO₄, a known Parkinsonism inducer.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.48-56
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• 2023

Background: Few studies have assessed exposure to chemicals in the context of environmental vulnerability with a focus on exposure among populations living in certain geographical areas. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate cadmium exposure levels and kidney damage indices in environmentally and socioeconomically vulnerable populations, with further subgrouping according to economic status. Methods: Four areas were selected to represent geographical vulnerability (two environmentally vulnerable populations and two socioeconomically vulnerable populations). Among them, population groups with lower socioeconomic status (SES) were separately classified. Urinary cadmium (UCd), beta2-microglobulin (β2-MG), and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) levels were analyzed in samples from 245 residents of these four areas. Results: Geometric means of concentrations of UCd (0.97~2.02 ㎍/g creatinine) in all selected populations (N, 245; mean age, 67.8~70.9 years old) were higher than the national reference values (0.39 for adults and 0.78 ㎍/g creatinine for people in their 60s). Participants with a lower SES had higher UCd and NAG concentrations than did non-low SES participants. In the lower SES group, there was a significant association between UCd and NAG concentrations; however, there was no such correlation in the non-low SES group. Conclusions: Consistent with the findings of previous studies evaluating chemical exposure and associated health effects in specific populations, the findings of this study suggest that individuals with a low SES may be more vulnerable to exposure and related health effects.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.61-68
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• 2010

A pilot-scale model test was performed to estimate the availability of new material, Fe-loaded zeolite, as the filling material in permeable reactive barrier (PRB) against the contaminated groundwater with both Cd and Cr(VI). Aquifer was simulated by filling up a large scale soil tank with sands, and mobilizing the water flow by the head difference of water level in both ends of the tank. Then, the mixture of concentrated Cd and Cr(VI) solution was injected into the aquifer to form a contaminant plume, and its behavior through Fe-loaded zeolite barrier was monitored. The test results showed that Fe-loaded zeolite barrier successfully treated the contaminant plume containing both Cd and Cr(VI) and that the immobilized contaminants in the barrier were not desorbed or released. The results indicated that the Fe-loaded zeolite could be a promising material in PRBs against the multiple contaminants with different ionic forms like Cr(VI) and Cd.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.74-80
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• 2018

Mercury (Hg) poses a threat to marine ecosystem due to continuous inflow from various industries and bioaccumulation to higher trophic level via food web. Mercury can adversely affect growth, development, reproduction and metabolism to aquatic organisms. In the present study, acute toxicity and oxidative stress markers (total glutathione content, and activities of GST, GR and GPx) were investigated in brackish water flea Disphanosoma celebensis exposed to HgCl₂ for 24 h. As results, Hg showed negative effect in survival of D. celebensis. 24 h-LC₅₀ value was determined as 0.589 mg/l (95% C.I. 0.521~0.655 mg/l). After exposure to Hg (0.08 and 0.4 mg/l) for 24 h, total glutathione content was significantly decreased, whereas GST, GPx and GR activities were enhanced. These findings indicate that Hg induced oxidative stress in D. celebensis, and oxidative stress markers may be involved in cellular defense against Hg - mediated toxicity. This study provides a better understanding of molecular mode of action of Hg toxicity in this specie and potent of molecular markers for heavy metal monitoring in marine ecosystem.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.3C
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• pp.159-165
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• 2010

The problems such as natural resource exhaustion, pollutant emission and waste generation are increasing worldwide with the industrial development. The quantity of the industrial by-product in Korea is 6 million tons a year, and even its basic treatment processes including landfill, incineration and storage have reached their limits. In this study, fly ash and silica fume were applied to shotcrete to develop a method for the reuse of resources and to increase the use of fly ash, which is an industrial waste. An environmental hazard evaluation is a must to actively address the worldwide environmental problems, though. Therefore, an environmental impact assessment was conducted using the chemical content analysis test and heavy metal exudation test, for ten mixtures that were obtained through the pre-mixing and compressive strength tests. The results of the compressive strength test showed that all mixtures satisfied national and international standards. Cr, Cd and Hg were not detected, and Pb was detected only in some cases with fly ash. Cu and As were detected in all mixtures, but all of them satisfied national and international standards.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.663-671
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• 2023

This research experimentally evaluated the recyclability of four varieties of lignocellulosic fly ash(FA), a by-product from three power plants employing lignocellulosic biomass(Bio-SRF, wood pellets) as a fuel source. Comprehensive analyses were conducted on FA, encompassing both physical parameters (particle shape, size distribution, fineness, and density) and chemical properties(chemical composition and heavy metal content). Mortar test specimens, with FA mixing ratios ranging from 5 to 20%, were produced in compliance with KS L 5405 standards, and their flow and compressive strength were subsequently measured. The test results indicated that the four types of FA exhibited particle sizes approximately between 20~30㎛, densities around 2.3~2.5g/cm³, and a fineness range of 2,600~4,900cm²/g. The FA comprised approximately 50~90% of components such as SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, and CaO, displaying characteristics akin to type-II and type-III FA of KS L 5405 standards, albeit with differences in chlorine and SiO₂ content. From the mortar tests, it was observed that the compressive strength of the mortar ranged between 34~47MPa when the pellet combustion FA was mixed in proportions of 5~20%. FA, produced exclusively from the combustion of 100% lignocellulosic fuel, is assessed to possess high recyclability potential as a substitute for conventional admixtures.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2024

In this study, the applicability of CCMs (Carbondioxide conversion capture materials) manufactured by reacting carbon dioxide gas with DG (Desulfurization gypsum) as a cement substitute for secondary concrete products were evaluated and the basic physical properties of CCMs-mixed mortar and concrete specimens were measured to derive the optimal mixing ratio. The main chemical oxides of CCMs were CaO and SO₃, and the main crystalline phases were CaSO₄·2H₂O, Ca(OH)₂, CaCO₃, and CaSO₄. In addition, by the results of particle size analysis and heavy metal measurement, the applicability of CCMs as a cement substitute for secondary concrete products was confirmed. As a result of measuring the strength behavior using mortar and concrete specimens with CCMs, the compressive and flexural strength decreased as the mix ratio of CCMs increased, but requirements by the standards for interlocking blocks and retaining wall blocks, which are target products in this study, were satisfied up to the optimal mixing ratio of 10 wt.% substitution. Therefore, its applicability as a cement substitute for secondary concrete products was confirmed.