• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2008

Seasonal distribution of various microorganisms was investigated in the effluent water in various sewage treatment plants from January to November in 2007. The target microorganisms were composed of total heterotrophic bacteria, Escherichia coli, coliform and enteric bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Yeast and Mold. The number of total bacteria and the indicator microorganisms, such as E. coli, coliform, and Enterobacteriacea, were increased during the summer season. S. aureus, however, was not influenced by the weather, showing higher number even in November and January in most sewage treatment plants investigated. Meanwhile, disinfection methods employed in various plants had no direct relationship with the growth of microorganisms, and small-scaled plants were found to be more effective than large-scaled ones in the sterilization of microorganisms.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2006

Seventeen lactic acid bacterial strains (LAB) were isolated using MRS agar medium from Jeotgal, a Korean fermented food, purchased at the Jukdo market of Pohang. To identify the strains isolated, they were tested by examining their cell morphologies, gram-staining, catalase activity, arginine hydrolase activity, D-L lactate form and carbohydrate fermentation. According to the phenotypic characteristics, three strains were tentatively identified as Lactobacillus spp., ten were Enterococcus spp. (or Streptococcus spp., or Pediococcus spp.) and the rest were Leuconostoc spp. (or Weissella spp.). Five strains among 17 were chosen by preliminary bacteriocin activity test. Four bacterial strains which inhibited both indicator microorganisms were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. The results are as follows; Leuconostoc mesenteroides (HK 4), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (HK 5), Leuconostoc mesenteroides(HK 11), Streptococcus salivarius(HK 8). In order to check LAB which are showing a high survival rate in gut, we investigated three strains inhibiting both indicator microorganisms in artificial gastric acid and bile juice -all except HK8. The three strains mentioned above grew in extreme low acid conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 2009

In 2005, the 5.84-Km length of Cheonggyecheon stream, previously covered with concrete road, was uncovered in the middle of Seoul, Korea. We investigated microbial water quality in various sites in Cheonggyecheon stream. We took water samples on three different days. The sampling sites included inflow water from upper stream (Mojeongyo), midstream (Ogansugyo), and downstream (Muhakgyo). Fecal pollution indicator microorganisms were measured by both IDEXX $Colilert^{(R)}$ and $Enterolert^{(R)}$. Microbial community from these sampling sites was also characterized based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. The average concentrations of total coliform are 5 CFU/100 mL, 1474 CFU/100 mL, and 1776 CFU/100 mL at Mojeongyo, Ogansugyo, and Muhakgyo, respectively. The average concentrations of fecal coliform were 28 CFU/100 mL, 47 CFU/100 mL in Ogansugyo, and Muhakgyo, respectively. The concentrations of other fecal indicator microorganisms including E. coli and Enterococcus sp. increased in downstream. When we characterized the microbial community, unique microbial community were discovered at different sampling sites. This study suggests that Cheonggyechoen stream is likely affected by non-point fecal sources and has unique microbial environment as the river flows downstream.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2018

A few authors have already investigated microbial contamination of leafy vegetables in distribution condition and examined the effect of temperature abuse on microbial safety or product quality. But this study analyzed proliferation of indicator microorganisms and food poisoning bacteria in real situation in Korean agroindustry and investigated washing effect of micobial contamination on leaf surface. Leafy vegetables were found to be contaminated with aerobic bacteria at $0.1{\sim}0.32{\times}10^3CFU/g$. Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus were detected in leafy vegetables at $0{\sim}0.54{\times}10^3CFU/g$. However, Salmonella spp., Coliforms, Clostridium spp. and Listeria spp. were not detected in any samples. Indicator microorganisms and food poisoning bacteria on leafy vegetables increased at room temperature when simulatively distributed condition. After clean-up, the indicator microorganisms and food poisoning bacteria of kimchi cabbage, lettuce and perilla leaf were decreased to a very low level. This study suggests that it is necessary to improve the level of hygiene management such as use of cold chain system and hygiene management of transport tools during the distribution process for fresh leafy vegetables.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.36-36
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• 2004

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.125-132
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• 2010

Characterization of sediment quality is important for the proper management of surface water quality, yet sediment has not been monitored sufficiently. In this study, fecal indicator microorganism concentrations of sediments in the Geum River Basin were monitored. Sampling was carried out at one paddy field, one lakeshore and five monitoring stations in the lower reach of the Geum River Basin. Surface waters and sediments were sampled four times during rainy season. Total coliform concentrations of sediments were 12 times higher in average to those of surface waters while E. coli concentrations of sediments were six times higher. No correlation found between indicator microorganism concentration between surface waters and sediments.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.162-168
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• 2009

The aim of this study is to investigate microbial sanitary condition of public baths in Seoul, Korea. A total of 28 water samples were collected from 14 different public baths and sudatoriums. The prevalence of fecal indicator microorganisms such as total coliform, fecal coliform, and Escherichia coli was characterized. In addition, bacteria in water was membrane filtered by 0.45um nitrocellulose membrane, and the filter was analyzed by both cultivation and PCR amplification of partial 16S rRNA gene. The levels of chlorine were measured for each of water samples. More than 40% of 14 collected water samples, the concentrations of total coliform bacteria exceeded the water quality for bath water guideline. There was no significant correlation between chlorine residue and the presence of total coliform. Various microorganisms including pathogenic microorganisms were identified from cultivation and subsequent analysis of 16s rRNA gene sequences. Our results suggest that appropriate hygiene practice and continuous monitoring is needed for reducing health risk associated with public bathhouses.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.1 s.106
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• pp.112-121
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• 2004

A study was performed to examine the effects of UV-disinfected reclaimed water on microorganism concentration during rice culture. Four treatments were used and each one was triplicated to evaluate the changes of microorganism concentrations: stream water irrigation (STR), biofilter effluent irrigation (BE), UV-disinfected water irrigation with dose of 6 mW ${\cdot}$ s $cm{-2}$ (UV-6), and UV-disinfected water irrigation with dose of 16 mW ${\cdot}$ s $cm{-2}$ (UV-16). The indicator microorganisms of interest were total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC), and E. coli. The biofilter effluent from 16-unit apartment sewage treatment plant was used as reclaimed water and flowthrough type UV-disinfection system was used. Concentrations of indicator microorganisms in the treatment plots ranged from $10^2$ to $10^5$ MPN/100 mL during 24 hours after irrigation in May and June, where initial irrigation water for transplanting reparation was biofilter-effluent without UV-disinfection. It implies that initial irrigation using only non-disinfected reclaimed water for puddling in paddy field can be health-concerned because of more chance of farmer's physical contact with elevated concentration of microorganisms. The concentrations of microorganisms varied widely with rainfall, and treatments using UV-disinfected water irrigation showed significantly lower concentrations than others and their levels were within the range of paddy rice field with normal surface water irrigation. The mean concentrations of STR and BE during growing season were in the range of 4 ${\times}\;10^3$ MPN/100 mL for TC, and 2${\times}\;10^3$ MPN/100 mL for FC and E, Coli, While mean concentrations of UV-S and UV-lS were less than 1${\times}\;10^3$ MPN/100 mL for all the indicator microorganisms. Overall, UV-disinfection was thought to be feasible and practical alternative for agricultural reuse of secondary level effluent in Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.87-97
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to compare crop contamination between two irrigation methods using microbial-contaminated water. The effect of relative humidity on microbial survival of the three indicator microorganisms was also investigated. Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Clostridium perfringens ATCC 3624, and coliphage PRD1 were applied to irrigation water to grow cantaloupe, lettuce, and bell pepper. Half of the sixteen plots were subsurface drip irrigated (SDI) and the other half were furrow irrigated (FI). Two relative humidity levels were controlled at 15-65 % and 55-80 % for the dry and humid condition experiments, respectively. Samples of produce, surface soil, and subsurface soil at a depth of 10 cm were collected over a two-week period following the application of the study microorganisms. Overall, greater contamination of both produce and soil occurred in the FI plots. For the SDI plots, preferential water paths and resulting water appearance on the seed beds seemed to be responsible for produce contamination. Relative humidity levels did not appear to affect microbial survival in soil. PRD 1 showed lower inactivation rates than 5. coli in both dry and humid conditions. C. perfringens did not experience significant inactivation over the experimental period, suggesting this microorganism can be an effective indicator of fecal contamination.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.500-506
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• 2017

Kimchi cabbage is one of the four major vegetable crops in Korea. The total annual production of kimchi cabbage, the main material of kimchi, was 20,559 tons in 2015. Kimchi cabbage is one of the majer crops produced by farmers which accounts for about 80% of the total leaf vegetable production in Korea. As the consumption of environmental-friendly agricultural products increases, food safety is one of the major public health concerns. We analyzed the biological hazards of kimchi cabbage produced by two types of cultivation methos such as organic farming and conventional farming using various culture media and microscopy. A total of 432 samples were analysed for presence of sanitary indicator microorganisms (aerobic plate count, coliform count, yeast & mold) and food-borne pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, environmental Listeria, Bacillus cereus). The population of sanitary indicating microorganisms and food borne pathogens was under 5 Log CFU/g in all tested samples. The results of total microorganism numbers of leaf surface showed a positive correlation to those of soil samples. Additionally, we examined chemical factors such as pesticide residues and heavy metals in soil samples. All tested samples did not shown contamination levels higher than the standard limit.