• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2005

Alpaca fibers have some distinct properties such as softness and warmth, which have not been fully understood in combination with the fiber internal structures. In the present investigation, the internal structures of alpaca fibers have been closely examined under the scanning electron microscope (SEM), especially in the longitudinal direction. The results showed that numerous pigment granules reside loosely inside pockets in brown and dark-brown alpaca fibers. These pigment granules were mainly distributed inside the cortical cells, the medullation regions as well as underneath the cuticles. Their size in the brown alpaca fibers was smaller and more uniformly round than in the dark-brown fibers. These granules in colored alpaca fibers loosen the bundle of cortical cells, providing many crannies in the fibers which may contribute to the superior flexibility, warmth and softness of the fibers. Moreover, there are no heavy metal elements found in the granules. The mordant hydrogen peroxide bleaching employed could eliminate the pigment granules and create many nano-volumes for further dyeing of fibers into more attractive colors.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 1997

The cycle of heavy metal, copper, was investigated in dynamic grassland ecosystems at a steady state in a Zoysia japonica and a Miscanthus sinensis ecosystem in Mt Kwanak, Korea. Total average storage amounts in Z. japonica and M sinensis grasslands were copper 23.92mg /$m^2$ and 51.82mg /$m^2$ respectively. Estimates of decay constants for based on experimental and mathematical model, were 0.18 in Z. japonica grassland, and 0.30 in M sinensis grassland. Decay half time of copper were 3.85 years in Z. japonica grassland and 2.31 years in A'. sinensis grassland. 95% decay times of initial copper amounts in Z. japonica and A'. sinensis were 16.68 and 9.99 years. Needed times to decay almost all of elements in Z. japonica and M sinensis grassland were 27.80 years and 16.65 years respectively. The copper was losed more rapidly in M. sinensis than in Z. japonica grassland.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.337-349
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• 2015

This study has focused on investigation of correlation for As and heavy metals in paddy soil and rice crops sampled in the vicinity of the abandoned Munmyung Au-Ag mine. Soil samples extracted by various methods including aqua regia, 1 M $MgCl_2$, 0.01 M $CaCl_2$ and 0.05 M EDTA were analyzed for As and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn). Rice grain samples grown on the soils were also analyzed for the same elements to evaluate the relationships between soils and rice crops. According to soil extraction methods, As and heavy metal contents in the soils were decreased in the order of aqua regia > 0.01 M $CaCl_2$ > 1 M $MgCl_2$ > 0.05 M EDTA. In addition to correlation analysis, statistically significant correlation with the four extraction methods (p<0.01) were found in the soil and rice samples. As calculation of biological accumulation coefficients (BACs) of the rice crops for As and heavy metals, the BACs for Cd, Zn and Cu were relatively higher than those for As and Pb. This study also carried out a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis to identify the dominant factors influencing metal extraction rates of the paddy soils. Furthermore, daily intakes of As and heavy metals from regularly consumed the rice grain (287 g/day) grown on the contaminated soils by the mining activities were estimated, and found that Cd and As intakes from the rice reached up to 73.7% and 51.8% for maximum allowance levels of trace elements suggested by WHO, respectively. Therefore, long-term consumption of the rice poses potential health problems to residents around the mine, although no adverse health effects have yet been observed.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2006

The present study was conducted to confirm that a bivalve Ruditapes philippinarum can be used as a biomarker for the monitoring of the heavy metal pollution in the silt of the marine environment. The clams were collected from the silt of Cheonsu-bay, Buheung-ri, and Tan-island of the West Sea, Korea. To observe the normal structures of the target organs (hepatopancreas and gill), they were dissected out for the immunohistochemical study and the electron microscopy with TEM, SEM, and SEM-EDS. The immunohistochemical study showed that the interdiverticular connective tissues of the hepatopancreas, and the outer epithelium of the gill lamellae was strongly reacted to anti-metallothionein (MT), indicating the presence of MT, a metal-binding protein, involved in metal detoxifying process. According to the examinations under the TEM, the epithelial cells of the hepatopancreas of the clams collected from polluted area (Tan-island) showed certain changes such as swollen rER, swollen nuclear envelope and inclusion bodies in the nulcei. In the SEM-EDS analysis, tissue of the hepatopancreas showed relatively higher concentration of S, Zn, and Cd. These elements are supposed to be concerning with the MT-reaction in the hepatopancreas. Considering that the coastal bivalve R. philippinarum showed immediate subcellular responses to heavy metal pollution in the overall experiments conducted, this species might act as one of efficient biomarkers for the heavy metal contamination in the marine environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2011

In this study, experiments on total digestion and sequential extraction were conducted in order to understand total metal contents, and mobility, bioavaliability and toxicity of metals in marine dredged sediment from Busan New Port. The total concentrations of arsenic and heavy metals in the dredged sediment were relatively low as follows: Al (2.36~2.96 wt.%), As (1.6~3.3 mg/kg), Ba (30.0~33.8 mg/kg), Cd (0.12~0.18 mg/kg), Cr (27.5~35.0 mg/kg), Cu (11.3~15.0 mg/kg), Fe (2.91~3.51 wt.%), Mn (324~408 mg/kg), Ni (18.8~23.8 mg/kg), Pb (23.8~31.3 mg/kg), and Zn (70.0~86.3 mg/kg). In addition, it was found that most of Al (87.5~95.9%), As (74.1~93.8%), Ba (71.8~77.6%), Cr (69.5~94.3%), Cu (50.0~78.7%), Fe (70.8~87.6%), Ni (64.5~75.3%), Pb (53.4~64.3%), and Zn (62.5~81.7%) existed in the residual fraction, meaning that those elements might come from natural sources. On the other hand, Cd and Mn were present mainly in the non-residual fraction. Due to low concentrations of toxic heavy metals and high percentage of residual fraction, it could be possible to reuse the dredged sediment for bricks, pavement base material, etc.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.3 s.184
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• pp.263-275
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to show the pollution characteristics of hazardous elements from roadside dust in the Gwangju city. We collected 47 samples from November to December in 2004 and separated four groups such as residential area, industrialized area, downtown area and heavy traffic area fer characteristics comparison on hazardous elements. Roadside dust mostly consisted of quartz, albite, microcline, muscovite in XRD analysis. Content of hazardous elements varied: As $3.4{\sim}11.9 ppm$, Cd $0.2{\sim}28.2 ppm$, Co $32{\sim}526 ppm$, Cr $25{\sim}526 ppm$, Cu $11{\sim}375 ppm$, Ni $14{\sim}247 ppm$, Pb $13{\sim}413 ppm$ and Zn $101{\sim}972 ppm$. Average contents of hazardous elements of Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Co>Ni>Cd. Content of hazardous elements was low in residential area, whereas that of heavy metal was much the same in both in heavy traffic area. Content of hazardous elements such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn was found to be particularly high in industrialized area. According to these results it was possible to presume that industrialized area was affected by industry activity such as machinery, petrochemical, automobile and electronics industry. The SEM analysis, detected Pb, Cr, Ni, and Fe particles in samples of industrialized area contaminated by industry activity. The correlation coefficient table resulted from the samples of roadside dust showed that there was same direction increase of content between elements. In other words, when the content of Cd increase, Cr and Ni increase, as Cr increase, Cu and Ni increase, as Cu increase Ni increase and Pb increase Zn increase. Based on these results it was possible to predict and interpret similar contamination patterns in this study.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2011

Objectives: This study investigated the levels and components of floor-settled dust in two elementary schools located at different sites (one near the Shihwa industrial complex and the other in a rural area) in order to evaluate the amounts of trace metal elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and microorganisms. Methods: Over twenty settled-dust samples were collected from the two elementary schools. Trace metal elements were extracted from the dust using hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, and the amounts were measured by ICP-OES. Microbiological analysis was performed by bacterial culturing using R2A medium and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Results: The results showed that the amounts of three metal elements (Cr, Pb, and Zn) were significantly different between the schools (${\alpha}$=0.05, p<0.04). In addition, microbial communities in each school were highly correlated with one another. Among the identified microorganisms, a number of potentially opportunistic microorganisms, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii, were found. Conclusions: This study will provide preliminary data for assessing levels and types of chemical and microbiological agents in elementary schools and for further evaluating human health risks associated with the agents.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.353-362
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• 2009

This study attempted to compare the litter decomposition rate of Arundinella hirta and Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens which collected from serpentine soil acting potentially toxic concentration of heavy metals and non-serpentine soil by using the microcosm method for 192 days under constant humidity and $23^{\circ}C$. The contents of Ni, Fe, Mg and Cr in the serpentine and nonserpentine soil originated litter showed high differences between them. The litter samples from serpentine site have lower C/N than non-serpentine litter, but the soluble carbohydrate content was shown almost similar between two plant litter. The mass loss rates of leaf litter from serpentine area were slower than those from non-serpentine site. During the experimental period, the remained dry weight of A. hirta and M. sinensis var. purpurascens litter collected from serpentine site were 64.7%, 65.0% of initial dry weight and litter samples from non-serpentine site showed 54.2%, 50.7%, respectively. K and Na were leached rapidly at the initial decomposition periods, but Ca showed immobilization and other metal elements reserved at the decomposing litter for a long time. The decomposing A. hirta litter from non-serpentine soil showed higher values of $CO_2$ evolution, microbial biomass-C, and microbial biomass-N than those in serpentine soil originated litter acting nutrient stresses and exhibited rapid decay rate. The microbial biomass and microbial respiration of decaying litter were positively correlated with litter decomposition rate, and these relationships showed more rapid slope in non-serpentine soil originated litter than that in serpentine soil.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.633-644
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• 1999

Gully pot is a part of urban darainage system to butter the runoff water fluxes from road to rivers and to minimize environmental pollution by prevending over the surrounding area. A series of studies have been carried out concerning the physicochemical characteristics of the sewage sludge sediments sttling down in such a gully pot in order to over to evaluate the contamination for heavy metals such as pb, Zn, Cu and Cd. The roadside soil and sewage sludge samples from gully pots were characterized by XRD analyses and sequential extraction : Zn 2595.7$\mu$g/g; Cd9.8$\mu$/g; Cu602.5$\mu$g/g; Pb260.0$\mu$g/g),because of a long-term accumulation of vehicle- and industrial-related pollutants. Mean Zn concentration in Yeouido (3873$\mu$g/g) and Junggu(3262$\mu$g/g)areas are 4-5 times higher than those in Dobonggu area, suggesting that Zn may be derived from automobile traffic (including the rubber of automobile tires). The mean concentrations of Cu and Cr are very significantly high in Junggu and Gurogu areas, possibly due to the industrial activities in these areas. The low Pb levels throughtotut the whole study areas in Seoul can be accounted for the use of unleaded gasoline since 1987. Sequential extraction experiments illustrate that a major part of Zn is bound to FII and FIII, representing about 88% of the total Zn concentration. Fraction IV, related to orgnic matter, is mostly significant for Cu accounting for 60% of the total Cu, and FII is next in importance. The main carriers of Pb are the fractions III, II and FIV, and in that order. The behavior of Cd is quite different from other elements (Zn, Cu, Pb), and most of the Cd is associated with FV. Changes in the physicochemical environments (such as acidification) may result in severe environmental pollution of surface water and rivers with respect to heavy metals (especially Zn and Cu).

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.168-176
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• 2012

A total of 48 dust samples were collected from large shopping mall parking lots in Daegu metropolitan city in March 2011. Samples were sieved through a 100 ${\mu}m$ mesh and the concentration of 14 elements have been determined using by ICP after acid extraction. Results showed that Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and V were affected by natural sources while Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were affected by anthropogenic sources. The measured values were remarkably higher in components from natural sources than in components from anthropogenic sources. Anthropogenic trace element concentrations of ground roof dust were higher than those of ground and underground indoor dust. A large percentage of trace elements came from natural sources rather than anthropogenic sources. The percentage composition of chemicals of ground roof dust were higher than those of ground and underground indoor dust. This study showed that investigated parking lots were rarely contaminated with hazardous heavy metals. The heavy metal pollution of ground roof were higher than those of ground and underground indoors. The correlation analysis among trace elements suggest that components in ground roof were more highly correlated than those in ground and underground indoor. Also anthropogenic trace element levels were well correlated with parking lot age and parking density.