• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.397-403
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• 2015

Heavy metals reduce the photosynthetic efficiency and disrupt metabolic reactions in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, by replacing the metal ions in metalloproteins that use essential metal ions, such as Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe, as co-factors, heavy metals ultimately lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These, in turn, cause destruction of the cell membrane through lipid peroxidation, and eventually cause the plant to necrosis. Given the aforementioned factors, this study was aimed to understand the physiological responses of rice to cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) toxicity and the effect of essential metal ions on homeostasis. In order to confirm the level of physiological inhibition caused by heavy metal toxicity, hydroponically grown rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Dongjin) plants were exposed with $0-50{\mu}M$ cadmium (Cd, $CdCl_2$) and arsenic (As, $NaAsO_2$) at 3-leaf stage, and then investigated malondialdehyde (MDA) contents after 7 days of the treatment. With increasing concentrations of Cd and As, the MDA content in leaf blade and root increased with a consistent trend. At 14 days after treatment with $30{\mu}M$ Cd and As, plant height showed no significant difference between Cd and As, with an identical reduction. However, As caused a greater decline than Cd for shoot fresh weight, dry weight, and water content. The largest amounts of Cd and As were found in the roots and also observed a large amount of transport to the leaf sheath. Interestingly, in terms of Cd transfer to the shoot parts of the plant, it was only transported to upper leaf blades, and we did not detect any Cd in lower leaf blades. However, As was transferred to a greater level in lower leaf blades than in upper leaf blades. In the roots, Cd inhibited Zn absorption, while As inhibited Cu uptake. Furthermore, in the leaf sheath, while Cd and As treatments caused no change in Cu homeostasis, they had an antagonist effect on the absorption of Zn. Finally, in both upper and lower leaf blades, Cd and As toxicity was found to inhibit absorption of both Cu and Zn. Based on these results, it would be considered that heavy metal toxicity causes an increase in lipid peroxidation. This, in turn, leads to damage to the conductive tissue connecting the roots, leaf sheath, and leaf blades, which results in a reduction in water content and causes several physiological alterations. Furthermore, by disrupting homeostasis of the essential metal ions, Cu and Zn, this causes complete heavy metal toxicity.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.231-240
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• 1993

This study was carried out to find out the content of injurious heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic of marine fish which had been captured in adjacent sea of Korea. From March, 1 to April, 30 in 1993. 60 sample of fishes were collected the adult fish and young fish. These samples were analyzed by the Mercury Analyzer and Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectro Analyzer. The results of the study were summarized as follows: (1) The content of mercury in Therafra chalcograma was 0.112$\pm$0.034 ppm which was higher than other fishes, but Pseudosciaena manchurica and Pampus argenteus had lower (P<0.05). Although lead content of Trichiurus lepturus was 0.359$\pm$0.056 ppm, which was higher than other fishes. The lead content of Theragra chalcograma had lower to the almost same level. The cadmium content of the Theragra chalcograma was 0.069$\pm$0.010 ppm which was higher than other samples, but Pseudosciaena manchurica had 0.039$\pm$0.020 ppm to lower level. Though there was some fluctuation in the arsenic content which was 0.433~3.752 ppm, the arsenic content of Therafra chalcograma was 3.752$\pm$2.873 ppm which was the higher than any other fishes. But there are not statistical significances. (2) Heavy metal content by the maturity of the fishes: Mercury content of the old Pseudosciaena manchurica was 0.055$\pm$0.15 ppm comparing to the young's result of 0.030$\pm$0.009 ppm (P<0.05). Though there were some differences according to the maturity, but thee was no statistical significance. (3) In view of the correlation of the heavy metal content, for Pseudosciaena manchurica, high correlation was founded to r=0.6437 between mercury and cadmium (P<0.05). Though the content of mercury, arsenic cadmium and lead had positive correlation (r=0.2725) and negative correlation (r=-0.3958), but there was no significance at all. The other fishes were not found correlation between the heavy metal content. Positive correlation was found between age with mercury in Pseudociaena manchurica (r=0.7018, P<0.05). The negative correlation of age with lead content in the Pseudociaena Manchurica was signigicant (P<0.05). The correlation coefficient was r=-0.7623. The age with mercury content in Coloabis saira had high correlation (r=0.7201, P<0.05). Through the above analysis, it can get conclusion that injurious heavy metal content of the fishes in Korea such a mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic were at the level of natural content. At present, guidelines of maximum residue level allowed at foreign countries about the injurious heavy metal have been used according to the kinds of fish but our government guideline for the marine fishes in only total mercury below 0.7 ppm and lead below 2 ppm. So more aggressive guidelines for the allowance level of heavy metals in marine fishes are required for the safety of foods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2014

This study was carried out not only to identify the optimum concentrations of sulfur powder and citric acid treated for improving arsenic absorption of Pteris multifuda known as hyperaccumulator of arsenic, but also to develop arsenic purification model in the forest soil. After applying sulfur powder (0, 30, 45, $60g{\cdot}m^{-2}$) and citric acid (0, 200, 400, $800g{\cdot}m^{-2}$) in the forest soil contaminated with heavy metals, P. multifuda was planted and cultivated for 16 weeks. And then the growth and arsenic contents of plants were analyzed. In the result of research, the growth of P. mulifuda, except plant width, cultivated in soils treated with sulfur powder and citric acid was relatively lower than control. The accumulated amount of arsenic in aerial parts of P. multifuda ($1822.2mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) cultivated in soils treated with $200g{\cdot}m^{-2}$ citric acid was improved 62.5% against the control. And the accumulated amount of arsenic per 1 $m^2$ ($20.1mg{\cdot}m^{-2}$) was the greatest in $200g{\cdot}m^{-2}$ citric acid treatment. Translocation rate (TR) was higher in all acid treatment compare to control, and was the best in $200g{\cdot}m^{-2}$ citric acid treatment (0.95) especially. It showed that the arsenic absorbed in underground parts was transferred fast to aerial parts. Therefore, $200g{\cdot}m^{-2}$ citric acid treatment in the soil is recommended for arsenic purification using P. multifuda.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.65-73
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• 2021

Since the amount of red mud, generated from aluminum smelting process as a by-product, has increased worldwide, the recycle and metal resource recovery from the red mud is becoming more important. In this study, in order to recycle the red mud as a soil stabilizer to remediate arsenic contaminated soils, neutralization of red mud was investigated. Red mud was neutralized by washing with distilled water and NaCl, CaCl₂, FeCl₃, and HCl solutions and heating at 200-800℃, and arsenic stabilization characteristics in soils were evaluated with the neutralized red mud. Although washing with distilled water was not effective in neutralizing red mud, the application of the washed red mud to soils lowered the soil pH compared to the application of untreated red mud. Among NaCl, CaCl₂, FeCl₃, and HCl solutions, washing with FeCl₃ showed the most effective in lowering pH of the red mud from pH 10.73 to pH 4.26. Application of the neutralized red mud in soils resulted in quite different arsenic stabilization efficiency depending on soil samples. In M1 soil, which showed relatively high arsenic stabilization efficiency by untreated red mud, the neutralization of red mud resulted in little effect on arsenic stabilization in soil. On the other hand, in M2 soil, which showed low arsenic stabilization efficiency by untreated red mud, the neutralization of red mud increased arsenic stabilization significantly. Soil characteristics such as clay minerals and pH buffering capacity seemed to affect reactions between red mud and soils, which resulted in different effects of the red mud application on soil pH and arsenic stabilization efficiencies.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.137-140
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• 2009

Chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a long history of successful preservative, have raised environmental concerns. Adsorption characteristics of domestic soils for chromium, copper, and arsenic were assessed by measuring distribution coefficient ($K_d$) values of these metal components in a laboratory scale. The results revealed that $K_d$ values were higher in chromium, followed by arsenic and copper in soil matrix. Different soil matrixes resulted in varying mobilities of CCA components. The values of $K_d$ for all three metals increased with organic matter contents. The results suggest that the mobility of metal components may be very limited to the surface area adjacent to CCA-treated wood due to their fairly large distribution coefficient ($K_d$). However, the metal components would be persistent and accumulated in the soil, resulting in high chemical concentration in service area of treated wood.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 1993

Health complaints among vinylhouse workers in Sungjoo county, Kyungpook province led to the investigation of heavy metal levels of air, soil and humans as well as physical conditions of the vinylhouse. The average temperature and humidity inside the vinylhouse were 8 higher and 10% point lower, respectively, as compared to the outside. While discomfort index(D. I.) outside was pleasant level(69.2), D. I. inside was 82 at which point 100% of people feels discomfort. Cadmium concentration of soils inside the vinylhouse(0.116 mg/kg) was 1.8 times higher than the soils outside. Arsenic concentration of soils inside the vinylhouse(4.882 mg/kg) was only slightly higher than the soils outside(4.182 ng/kg). However, both heavy metal concentrations detected in soils inside or outside the vinylhouse were within the normal range. Analysis of 10 air samples taken inside the vinylhouse showed that only one sample had a cadmium concentration above the detectable level and the rest of samples were below the detectable levels. While there were no difference of arsenic concentrations in urine between male and female, cadmium concentrations in urine samples of female (3.31 ug/l) was slightly higher than male(2.38 ug/l). Age-dependent increases of cadmium concentrations in urine samples were also observed. However, there was no concentration difference of these heavy metals in urine between vinylhouse workers and non-vinylhouse workers. Urine concentrations of cadmium and arsenic detected from vinylhouse workers or non-vinylhouse workers were within the normal range. The present study represents a first attempt to evaluate physical and environmental risk factors of the vinylhouse affecting the vinylhouse farmer's health. The study revealed that, while physical conditions of the vinylhouse such as temperature and humidity are the possible factors associated with the farmer's complaints, environmental contamination as judged from heavy metal levels in soil, air and humans is not a risk factor contributing to the vinylhouse farmer's health problem.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

This study assessed the feasibility of iron oxide nanoparticles impregnated with biochar (INPBC), derived from woody biomass, as a stabilizing agent for the stabilization of farmland soil in the vicinity of an abandoned mine through pot experiments with 28 days of lettuce growth. The lettuce grown in the INPBC amended soils increased by more than 100% and the concentrations of inorganic elements (Cu, Ni, Zn) decreased by more than 40%. As, Cd and Pb were not transferred properly from the soils to the lettuce biomass. The bioavailability of arsenic and heavy metals in the INPBC amended soils were decreased by 26%~50%. It seems that the major mechanisms of stabilization were arsenic adsorption on iron oxides, heavy metal precipitation by soil pH increasing and heavy metal adsorption on organic matter. These results revealed that the lower bioavailability of the inorganic pollutants in the soils stabilized using INPBC induced lower transfer to the lettuce. Thus, INPBC could be used as an amendment material for the stabilization of farmland soils contaminated by arsenic and heavy metals. However, a pre-review of the chemical properties of the amended soil must be performed prior to applying INPBC in farmland soil because the concentration of the nutrients in the soil such as available phosphates and exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K) could be decreased due to adsorption on the surface of the iron oxides and organic matter.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.6-11
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• 2011

In this report, we provide experimental evidence that heavy metal ions could be removed using Pachymeniopsis sp., particularly soluble arsenic in leachate from soil contaminated by arsenic. We performed pilot scale of soil washing process based on our results. The adsorption of arsenic by Pachymeniopsis sp. indicated that it could be described with the Langmuir Model and the maximum adsorption capacity increased with decreasing pH (pH 3: 102.48 mg/g, pH 5: 98.32 mg/g, pH 7: 57.70 mg/g, pH 9: 43.34 mg/g) and increasing temperature (10$^{\circ}C$ : 60.38 mg/g, 20$^{\circ}C$ : 76.39 mg/g, 30$^{\circ}C$ : 112.12 mg/g). Our results revealed that soluble arsenic in leachate was removed from 24.03 mg/L to 0.6 ${\pm}$ 0.1 mg/L by Pachymeniopsis sp. for 48hours on pilot scale of soil washing process.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.283-288
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• 2020

This study investigated the purification process of groundwater contaminated with zinc and arsenic using a permeable reactive barrier with a zero-valent iron/pumice mixture. We determined the removal rates of the contaminants for 30 days. In this study, column reactor filled with the zero-valent iron/pumice reactive mixture was used. Experimental results showed that the mixture exhibited an almost complete removal of the zinc and arsenic ions. Arsenic was removed via co-precipitation and adsorption processes while zinc ions were asorbed in active sites.The purification process of water from the metal ionscontinued for 30 days with constant hydraulic conductivity because of the enhanced porosity of the pumice and interparticle distance between the zero-valent iron and pumice. Contaminants removal rates and the remediation mechanism for each reactive system are described in this paper.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.201-210
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• 2017

Objectives : To report the patient suspected chronic arsenic intoxication after Korean medicine treatment. Methods : One patient with highly suspected chronic arsenic intoxication was selected. He was suspected to be chronic arsenic intoxication because symptoms and hair heavy metals test. Acupuncture was applied for twice a day and herbal medicine(Pyeonghyeol-eum) was administered in 28 days. Evaluation method applied to xeroderma, pruritus, psoriasis were overall dry skin score(ODS), visual analogue scale(VAS), pruritus grading system(PGS). Results : Pyeonghyeol-eum, acupuncture and the other Korean medicine treatments improved xeroderma, pruritis, psoriasis after 28 days of treatment. ODS decreased from 3 to 2. VAS of Pruritus decreased from 8 to 1. PGS decreased from 15 to 4. Adverse effects were not reported. Conclusions : This study shows that the Korean medicine treatment was effective in impoving symptoms of chronic arsenic intoxication. But the additional study will be conducted for revealing dermatitis caused by chronic arsenic intoxication.