• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.207-217
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to garner useful information through a comparative analysis of health behaviors and health states between the young-old and old-old elderly in a rural Korean area. Methods: We define the young-old elderly as those 65 to 74 years of age, and the old-old as those over 70. The survey was administered in October and November of 2009 at senior citizen centers in Sangju City, Kyongsangbuk-do, South Korea. The number of subjects surveyed approximated the demographics of the aged population of the administrative district of centers of 24 eup, myeon, and dong. Results: Compared with the young-old elderly, the old-old were vulnerable to population sociological characteristics. While there were many cases of contraction of diseases, only a small percentage of old-old elderly were engaged in regular exercise. In addition, the old-old elderly lagged behind the young-old in terms of physical activity, mental and oral health, hearing, and vision. Conclusions: The vulnerability of the old-old elderly in terms of physical and mental health needs to be acknowledged as various characteristics of the elderly that appears according an age group. A variety of disease prevention and health promotion programs that focus on the health behavior and status of the young-old and old-old elderly need to be developed and put into practice.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.223-232
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• 2012

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between fish consumption and blood mercury levels in a sample of adult Koreans. Methods: The study subjects were 299 residents of Busan (male: 65, female: 234) and 185 residents of Namhae (male: 69, female: 116), South Korea. Demographic characteristics, current smoking, current drinking, fish consumption per week, past history of amalgam treatment, and residential district were recorded by trained interviewers in June and July, 2009. We considered a portion of fish to be equivalent to 70 gm weight, and calculated amounts of fish consumed per week. Using chi-square tests, t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis, we estimated the relationships between blood mercury levels and amount of fish consumed per week and other factors. Results: The mean blood mercury level of our subjects was 6.61 ${\mu}g/L$, higher than the criterion defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (5.8 ${\mu}g/L$). In multiple linear regression analysis, residential district and amount of fish consumed per week were associated with blood mercury levels. However, marital status, current drinking, and gender, and age were not associated with blood mercury levels. Conclusions: In conclusion, we suggest the implementation of systematic and periodic population-based studies to decrease the risks of mercury poisoning among South Koreans who consume fish as a regular part of the diet.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2013

Objectives: This study is to investigate the prevalence and related factors of metabolic syndrome among Korean adults aged 20 years and above. Methods: From the database of the $5^{th}$ Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V) conducted in 2010, data of 5,670 adults who responded to all the questionnaires of health interview and had metabolic syndrome in the health examination were included in this analysis. SAS 9.2 was used for statistical analysis with complex sample survey modules and commands. Results: The prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome based on the criteria proposed by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) was 18.8%. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in each group was: 20.7% of women, 43.1% among elderly over 70 years old, 40.6% of the divorced or the separated, 27.6% of recipients of economic support from the government, 23.6% of people who had alcohol dependency problem, and 43.7% of overweight or obese adults. Independent risk factors based on the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that prevalence of metabolic syndrome was associated with female (odds ratio 1.59 [95% confidence interval 1.20-2.11]), age (50s 3.95 [2.11-7.37], 60s 5.62 [2.98-10.61], 70s 10.56 [5.25-21.25]), high school education (0.52 [0.37-0.74]), clerk occupation (2.14 [1.27-3.60]), divorced marital status (1.72 [1.15-2.59]), alcohol dependency (1.86 [1.16-2.98]), higher BMI (14.08 [10.60-18.70]). Conclusions: The metabolic syndrome is prevalent among Korean adult population according to IDF criteria. Several demographic characteristics and potentially modifiable factors are associated with metabolic syndrome. Identification of this high-risk group and management of these modifiable factors are warranted to reduce the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.113-118
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• 2010

Due to diverse soil-forming environments and different purposes of the soil classification, numerous soil classification systems have been developed worldwide. The World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) and the Soil Taxonomy of the United States are well-known in Korea. However, the German Soil Systematics based on somewhat different principles from the two former systems is little-known. The objective of this paper is therefore to give a short overview of the principles of the German Soil Systematics. The German Soil Systematics consists of a six-level hierarchical structure which comprises soil divisions, soil classes, soil types, soil subtypes, soil varieties, and soil subvarieties. Soils in Germany are firstly classified into one of four soil divisions according to the soil moist regime: terrestrial soils, semi-terrestrial soils, semi-subhydric/subhydric soils, and peats. Terrestrial soils are subdivided into 13 soil classes based on the stage of soil formation and the horizon differentiation. Semi-terrestrial soils are differentiated into four classes regarding the source of soil moist: groundwater, freshwater, saltwater, and seaside. Semi-subhydric/subhydric soils are subdivided into two classes: semi-subhydric and subhydric soils. Peats are classified into two classes of natural and anthropogenic origins. Classes can be compared to orders of the U.S. Taxonomy. Classes are subdivided into 29 soil types with regard to soil forming-processes for terrestrial soils, into 17 types with regard to the soil formation for semi-terrestrial soils, into five types with regard to the content of organic matter for semi-subhydric/subhydric soils, and also into five types with regard to peat-forming processes for peats. The soil mapping units in Germany are types, which can be additionally subdivided into ca. 220 subtypes, several thousands of varieties and subvarieties using detailed nuances of morphologic features of soil profile. Soil types can be compared to great groups of the U.S. Taxonomy.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 2010

Although several studies have reported that Cr, Cu and As can leach from CCA-treated woods, few studies have been conducted on this topic in Korea. Therefore, this study was conducted to monitor Cr, Cu and As leaching from CCA-treated wood products and to develop a rapid identification method for CCA-treated wood products by using indicators such as PAN stain. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0-70 cm and wood samples were collected by thickness of wood layer. The soil and wood samples were then digested and analyzed for Cr, Cu and As concentrations using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The As and Cu concentrations decreased sharply with depth from 34.38 and 33.65 mg $kg^{-1}$ at 0-1 cm to 1.72 and 7.84 mg $kg^{-1}$ at 70 cm, respectively. In general, As was more mobile than Cr and Cu in the soil. For wood samples, the Cr, Cu and As concentrations were higher in the outer layer (0-0.5cm) than the inner layers (0.6-4.5cm). Evaluation of rapid identification methods revealed that 100% acetone with 0.1% PAN indicator was the best combination for detection of CCA-treated wood in the field.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2010

Effect of flooding on the desalting efficiency and the growth of sudan grass, barnyard grass, sesbania and corn was studied in a sandy soil of the Iweon reclaimed tidal land. Flooding plots were treated by 400 (one time flooding), 800 (two times flooding), and 1,200 mm(three times flooding) of water, respectively, and then soil salinities of the treated plots were compared with salinity of the control plot (not flooded) for estimation of desalting effect. Desalting ratio of 1,200 mm treatment was 78.3% for depth 0-20 cm, 70.5% for depth 20-40 cm and 60.8% for depth 40-60 cm, and then the soil salinity reached at 3~6 dS $m^{-1}$. Consequently, it was considered that sandy saline soil was satisfactorily desalted for upland crops to be cultivated by 1,200 mm flooding, but insufficiently desalted by 400 mm and 800 mm flooding because of high salinity ranged 5~14 dS $m^{-1}$ even after flooding treatment. In addition, it was estimated that soil salinity should be controled lower than 7.7 dS $m^{-1}$ in order to obtain more than 80%of crop emergence when four crops are simultaneously cultivated by inter- or mixed cropping in a field. Dry matter yields (kg $10a^{-1}$) was 1,068 for sudan grass, 696for barnyard grass, 1,426 for sesbania, and 1,164 for corn by 1,200 mm flooding treatment, but only 46.8~74.3% by 800 mm flooding treatment and 2.9~25.5% by 400 mm flooding treatment. Therefore, it is concluded that the flooding treatment more than 1,200 mm is necessary for satisfactory desalinization in order for the low salt tolerance crops to be cultivated in the sandy reclaimed tidal land.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.434-451
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• 2017

For this study, groundwater samples for 3 years from 2011 through 2013 were collected at 106 groundwater monitoring site in Korea. These groundwater samples were analyzed for 13 pesticides such as cabofuran, pentachlorobenzene, hexachlorobenzene, simazine, atrazine, lindane (gamma-HCH), alachlor, heptachlor, chlordane (total), endosulfan (1, 2), dieldrin, endrin, 4,4-DDT. The objectives of this study were to determine the detection frequency and their concentrations of 13 pesticides and evaluate the health risk level considering ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact using concentrations of 13 pesticides in groundwater samples. An analysis was used for the simultaneous determination for 13 pesticides using GC-MS. GC-MS was performed on HP-5ms, using helium ($1ml\;min^{-1}$) as carrier gas. The average recoveries of the pesticides were from 92.8% to 120.8%. The limits of detection (LODs) were between $0.004{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ and $0.118{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were between $0.012{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ and $0.354{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. 106 groundwater wells were selected. 54 wells were from well to monitor background groundwater quality and 52 wells were from well to monitor groundwater quality in industrial or contamination source area. Eight pesticides including pentachlorobenzene, lindane (Gamma-HCH), heptachlor, chlordane (total), Endosulfan (1, 2), dieldrin, endrin, and 4,4-DDT were not detected in groundwater samples. The detection frequency for hexachlorobenzene, alachlor, carbofuran and simazine was 23.4%, 11.4%, 7.3%, and 1.0%, respectively. Atrazine was detected once in 2011. The average concentrations were $0.00423{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ for carbofuran, $0.000243{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ for alachlor, $0.00015{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ for simazine, and $0.00001{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ for hexachlorobenzene. The detection frequency of hexachlorobenzene was high, but the average concentration was low. In the contaminated groundwater, the detection frequency for hexachlorobenzene, alachlor, carbofuran, simazine and atrazine was 26.1%, 21.3%, 7.1%, 1.9% and 0.3%, respectively. In the uncontaminated groundwater, detection frequency for hexachlorobenzene, carbofuran and alachlor were 20.2%, 7.5%, and 1.9% respectively. Simazine and atrazine were not detected at uncontaminated groundwater wells. According to the purpose of groundwater use, atrazine was detected for agricultural groundwater use. Hexachlorobenzene showed high detection frequency at agricultural groundwater use area where the animal feeding area and golf course area were located. Alachlor showed more than 50% detection frequency at cropping area, pollution concern river area, and golf course area. Atrazine was detected in agricultural water use area. By land use, the maximum detection frequency of alachlor was found near an orchard. For human risk assessment, the cancer risk for the 5 pesticides was between $10^{-7}$ and $10^{-10}$, while the non-cancer risk (HQ value) was between $10^{-4}$ and $10^{-6}$. For conclusion, these monitoring study needs to continue because of the possibility of groundwater contamination based on various purpose of groundwater use.

• Clean Technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.122-131
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• 2016

Caesium radioisotopes, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs which come from the atmospheric nuclear tests and discharges from nuclear power plants, are very important to study artificial radioactivity. In this work, in order to lower the minimum detection activity (MDA) we investigated environmental radioactivity according to the Environment Measurement Laboratory procedure by ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³⁴Cs which is similar to chemical and environmental behaviors of ¹³⁷Cs. The environmental soils in high mountain areas near nuclear power plant were collected, and an Ammonium Molybdophosphate (AMP) precipitation method, which showed high selectivity toward Cs⁺ ions, was applied to chemically extract and concentrate Caesium radioisotopes. Radioactivity was estimated by a gamma-ray spectrometry. In gamma energy spectrum, with an increasing of ⁴⁰K radioactivity, it increased the MDA of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs. Therefore, if the natural radionuclides were removed from the soil samples, the MDA of Caesium may be reduced, and the contents of ¹³⁷Cs of in the environmental soils can effectively be estimated. In the standard soil sample of Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, radioactivity of ⁴⁰K was removed more than 84% on average, and the MDA of ¹³⁴Cs was reduced 2 times. The content of ¹³⁷Cs was recovered over 84%. On the other hand, in environmental soils, AMP precipitation method showed removal ratio of ⁴⁰K up to 180 times, which reduced the MDA about 5 times smaller than those of Direct method. ¹³⁷Cs recovery ratio showed from 54.54% to 70.06%. When considering the MDA and recovery ratio, AMP precipitation method is effective for detection of Caesium radioisotopes in low concentration.

• Clean Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.379-389
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• 2012

Environmental issues are being paid more attention due to income growth, urban overcrowding, and population growth in Korea. Among the various environmental problems, odor damage is the one of the serious factors. To take example for food waste combination treatment in Su-young wastewater treatment plant in Busan, many complaints occurred because this plant locate around residential areas. The purpose of this work is not only to analyze odorous elements and their contributions but also to evaluate odor quotient (OQ), sum of odor quotient (SOQ), and treatment efficiency of bio-filter. The results of dilution sensory test of complex odor, grinder, leachate, hopper indicated higher order complex odors happen in July and August. The main odorous elements consisted of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methly mercaptan and acetaldehyde, which were analyzed by instrumental detection method, and methyl mercaptan was exceeded over 3,571 times of threshold. In addition, result of contribution of odor was methyl mercaptan (49.95 to 59.08%), hydrogen sulfide (20.43 to 29.27%), trimethylamine (8.82 to 13.42%) and acetaldehyde (9.17 to 11.35%). Other facilities were compared with the contribution of the odor using OQ and SOQ during the process. Sulfur compounds, acetaldehyde, and trimethylamine are high contribution of odor using OQ as well as odor intensity of grinding process is highest. As a result, sulfur compounds (e.g., methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide) are highest for OQ and SOQ of grinding process is highest as 7,067. The removal efficiency of deodorization equipment was more than 90.00% in ammonia and amines, but the average efficiency of sulfur compounds was 53.51%. Thus, this facility is more higher contribution of acetaldehyde and trimethylamine than other treatment facilities. And food waste treatment in environmental area needs to consider appropriate capacity and refers to other bio-filter operating conditions.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.189-201
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• 2014

Partial oxidation, $CO_2$ reforming and the oxidative $CO_2$ reforming of $CH_4$ to produce synthesis gas over supported Ni hydrotalcite-type ($Ni_{0.5}Ca_{2.5}Al$ catalyst) catalysts were carried out and the effects of metal supports (i.e.; Mg and Ca) on the formation of a stable double-layer structure on the catalysts were evaluated. The $CH_4$ reforming stability was determined to be affected by the differences in the interaction strength between the active Ni ions and support metal ions. Only a Ni-Mg-Al composition produced a highly stable hydrotalcite-type double-layered structure; while the Ni-Ca-Al-type composition did not. Such structure provides excellent stability for the catalyst (-80% efficiency) as confirmed by the long-term $CO_2$ reforming test (-100 h), while the Ni-Ca-Al catalyst exhibited deactivation phases starting at the beginning of the reaction. The interaction strength between the active metal (Ni) and the supporting components (Mg and Al) was determined by temperature-programed reduction (TPR) analyses. The affinity was also confirmed by the TPR temperature because the Ni-Mg-Al catalyst required a higher temperature to reduce the Ni relative to the Ni-Ca-Al catalyst. The highest initial activity for synthesis gas production was observed for the $Ni_{0.5}Ca_{2.5}Al$ catalyst; however, this activity decreased quickly due to coke formation. The $Ni_{0.5}Ca_{2.5}Al$ catalyst exhibited a high reactivity and was more stable than the other catalysts because it had a higher resistance to coke formation.