• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.536-544
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• 2013

Even a small amount of hazardous air pollutants could have a harmful influence upon human beings, animals and plants. Hazardous air pollutants have the properties of toxicity, canceration and organism accumulation. They include heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxin, etc. The Clean Air Conservation Act has defined specific hazardous air pollutants and designated 35 pollutants, distinguishing them from common air pollutants for special control. This study investigates the history of the controls of specific hazardous air pollutants with reference to some relevant laws and regulations in Korea. It investigates the regulations at the permission stage, such as the restrictions on installation of emission facilities, the permission and reporting of installation of emission facilities, and the regulations at the operation stage, such as maintaining permissible emission levels, installation of measuring devices, dues for emission, self-measurement and securing environmental engineers. The current regulatory management is not so satisfactory in regards to the serious effects of specific hazardous air pollutants upon the human body. An advanced new concept, like the maximum available control technology in US, the facilities management standards, which will soon take effect, will be able to lessen the emissions of fugitive hazardous air pollutants. In addition, this study discusses some possible stricter controls on the emission facilities of specific hazardous air pollutants and proposes some measures to maintain and supplement the current systems.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.976-985
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• 2010

In this study, characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from Lake Paldang and seven other DOM sources (lake plankton, plants, soil, composite, treated sewage) were studied using XAD resin fractionation and 28-day microbial incubation experiment. Distribution patterns of DOM-fractions, which include hydrophilic acids (HiA), hydrophilic bases (HiB), hydrophilic neutrals (HiN), hydrophobic acids (HoA), hydrophobic neutrals (HoN) and the extent of DOM biodegradation (i.e., biodegradability) were different depending on the origins of the DOM samples. The DOM distribution pattern and the biodegradability were found to be effective for distinguishing the different DOM sources. The biodegradability (%) had negative correlations with the content (%) of hydrophobic fractions (Ho) and specific UV absorbance of DOM, which indicate that the Ho fractions contain more aromatic carbon structures and relatively stable during biodegradation, irrespective of the sources. To gain additional insight into the microbial transformation of the DOM, we also investigated the changes in the fraction's distribution for plankton, leaf litter and composite samples after the incubation. The results showed that biodegradation of hydrophilic fraction (Hi) causes an increase in the proportion of Ho (HoA, HoN), while biodegradation of HoA increases the HoN production.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.175-179
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• 2018

Humic substances that can be obtained from coal resources such as leonardite in a bulk scale have been employed as crop stimulators and soil conditioners. The polymeric organics containing a variety of aromatic and aliphatic structures are known to activate plants in a multifunctional way, thus resulting in enhanced germination rate and abiotic stress resistance concomitant with induction of numerous genes and proteins. Although detailed structural-functional relationship of humic substances for plant stimulations has not been deciphered yet, cutting-edge analytical tools have unraveled critical features of humic architectures that could be linked to the action mechanisms of their plant stimulations. In this review article, we introduce key findings of humic structures and related biological functions that boost plant growth and abiotic stress resistance. Oxygen-based functional groups and plant hormone-like structures combined with labile and recalcitrant carbon backbones are believed to be critical moieties to induce plant stimulations. Some proteins such as HIGH-AFFINITY $K^+$ TRANSPORTER 1, phospholipase A2 and $H^+$-ATPase have been also recognized as key players that could be critically involved in humic substance-driven changes in plant physiology.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.754-768
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• 2017

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a group of industrial aromatic organobromine chemicals that have been used since the 1970s as flame retardants in a wide range of consumer products and articles, including plastics, computers, textiles and upholstery. Commercial PBDEs were added to Annex A of the Stockholm Convention as persistent organic pollutants in May 2009. PBDEs are still frequently found in sludge and effluent from wastewater treatment plants, even though commercial PBDEs were prohibited or voluntarily phased out several years ago. Conventional wastewater treatment processes are not designed to effectively remove PBDEs. This indicates that there is an urgent need for new developments and improvements to enhance upon the treatment techniques which are currently available. Several studies have suggested the potential removal and degradation technologies for PBDEs in wastewater. In this study, the concentrations and compositional profiles of PBDE congeners in sludge and effluent are investigated by analyzing the relevant literature data in relation to their usage patterns in commercial products in North America and South Korea. The strengths and weaknesses of the current PBDEs removal techniques (i.e., biodegradation, zero-valent iron, photolysis, sorption, etc.) are discussed critically. In addition, future research direction regarding the treatment and removal of PBDEs from wastewater is also suggested, based on the literature review.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.207-211
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• 1981

The effect of plant populations - 16,667, 14,285, 12,499 or 10,7l4/10a on the agronomic characteristics of an aromatic tobacco, Sohyang was investigated for two years. The growth and number of suckers produced decreased as the population increased. The leaf area index (L.A.I) was higher in thinner planting, but there was no significant difference in weight per unit leaf area between treatments. Yield was highest, 1 24 kg/ l0a, in 16,667 plantings per l0a, but quality was not different among densitites tested. Similar trends were observed in monetary value per l0a. Concentrations of total alkaloids and nitrogen were low in denser planting, but no significant difference was observed in total sugar. The results suggest that about 16,000/10a more would be optimum number of plants for Sohyang.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.633-639
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• 2015

The experience of natural dyeing is expected to be effective in promoting health through good exercise, in giving emotional stability based on the functional aromatic components of the dyeing material, and in improving self-esteem and increasing positive experiences through the behavior of creation. A natural dyeing material easily found around us, artemisia has long been used in food and Oriental medicine and was recently found to contain antioxidative, anticancer, deodorizing, antibacterial, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetes substances through chemical analysis. It has also been reported that group reminiscence therapy using the fragrance of artemisia is effective in relieving pain and depression and in promoting ego integrity in the elderly population. This study aimed to make a comparative analysis of dyeability, washing fastness, and deodorization between Artemisia princeps, Artemisia iwayomogi, and Artemisia annua, all of which are considered to be healthful and functional dyeing materials, among about thirty domestic plants in the genus of Artemisia and to provide basic data concerning natural dyeing in mind-peace education for the silver generation. The fabric dyed and post-mordanted at $80^{\circ}C$ for 40 minutes showed the greatest surface color variation; in this condition, artemisia princes (32.29) gave the greatest color difference, followed by artemisia iwayomogi (31.07) and artemisia annua (26.17). While all the types of artemisia were excellent in washing fastness, dry-cleaning fastness, and rubbing fastness at the fourth- or fifth-grade, light fastness was at the third grade for artemisia princes, at the second to third grade for artemisia annua, and at the second grade for artemisia iwayomogi; therefore, artemisia princes was found to give better fastness than the other two types of artemisia. In determining functionality of the fabric dyed with artemisia, deodorization test also found that the fabric dyed with artemisia princes had 20% higher deodorization.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.146-154
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• 2018

There are more than 25 species of Mentha plants, which are aromatic perennial herbs. Currently, these species are being widely used with great interest because of various clinical findings regarding their health benefits. This is due to the abundance of volatile compounds that could expedite environmental interactions such as protection against herbivores, parasites, pathogens, and so on. Therefore, in this study, the antimicrobial effect of Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil on Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Cronobacter sakazakii, and Salmonella Enteritidis were investigated using the spot-on-lawn method. The results show that Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil exhibited antimicrobial activities against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Cronobacter sakazakii; however, it did not inhibit the growth of Salmonella Enteritidis. This shows that the antimicrobial effect of Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil is effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Hence, in the present study, Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil was shown to have strong antimicrobial activities; it could be used as a potential food additive for improving the quality of various milk-based products due to its various bioactive properties. Future studies should be conducted for manufacturing functional dairy products with the addition of peppermint oil to prevent and/or alleviate specific diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.39-49
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• 2008

A study was carried out on the physico-chemical properties of soil and content of heavy metals and benzo(a)pyrene that might have been introduced through by-product fertilizers or air pollution to growing turfgrass at natural turfgrass playgrounds in elementary schools located at the western coast and eastern mountain areas in Jeollabuk-do, Korea. The soil of turfgrass playgrounds is composed of loamy sand, and the CEC and organic matters were very low. Compared to agricultural land in Korea, the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were very low, requiring control in terms of nutrients. The contents of total and fraction heavy metals in soil were found to be background level. The reason may lie in the fact that unpolluted sand soil or sand was used to construct the foundation for the natural grass playground in the first place. However, any change in oxidation-reduction conditions or acceleration of decomposition of organic compounds may release some heavy metals from the soil and be transformed into forms that may be easily absorbed by plants or grass. It is believed that sustained monitoring and environment impact assessments should be carried out. The contents of benzo(a)pyrene in soil showed an average 0.60ng/g with a range between 0.06 to 1.47ng/g. The detected contents were found as background level.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.130-139
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tire manufacturing work environments extensively and to identify workers' exposure to hazardous substances in various work processes. Methods: Personal air sampling was conducted to measure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon disulfide, 1,3-butadiene, styrene, methyl isobutyl ketone, methylcyclohexane, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, and rubber fume in tire manufacturing plants using the National Institute for Occupational Safety Health Manual of Analytical Methods. Noise, carbon monoxide, and heat stress exposure were evaluated using direct reading instruments. Past concentrations of rubber fume were assessed using regression analysis of total particulate data from 2003 to 2007, after identifying the correlation between the concentration of total particulate and rubber fume. Results: Workers were exposed to rubber fume that exceeded 0.6 mg/$m^3$, the maximum exposure limit of the UK, in curing and production management processes. Forty-seven percent of workers were exposed to noise levels exceeding 85 dBA. Workers in the production management process were exposed to $28.1^{\circ}C$ (wet bulb globe temperature value, WBGT value) even when the outdoor atmosphere was $2.7^{\circ}C$ (WBGT value). Exposures to other substances were below the limit of detection or under a tenth of the threshold limit values given by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Conclusion: To better classify exposure groups and to improve work environments, examining closely at rubber fume components and temperature as risk indicators in tire manufacturing is recommended.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.255-264
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• 1989

The minimum concentrations of organic solvents inducing phytotoxicity were investigated after spraying or flooding solvent solutions to annual plants. In the foliar treatment of upland test, solvents with high-boiling point or low-polarity induced severe phytotoxicity. Especially, aromatic solvents induced severe phytotoxicity. The most sensitive plant to phytotoxicity was soybean. In the pre-emergence treatment of upland test, the solvents with high-boiling point only induced phytotoxicity at high concentration. The degree of phytotoxicity induced by foliar spray in the condition of paddy field was similiar to that of upland test, but in the pre-emergence test, the former was more severe than the latter. Among 6 treatments, phytotoxicity induced by solvents was most severe in the pre-emergence test under the condition of flooding paddy field. Generally, alcohols induced severe phytotoxicity, especially, ethanol at 0.001%.