• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.479-488
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• 2004

Five sediment cores from the tidal flat of artificial Lake Shihwa are analyzed in terms of sedimentology and geochemistry to evaluate the heavy metal contamination and redox condition of surficial sediment following the Shihwa seawall construction. The variability of concentrations of various elements depends on the depositional environment, and reflects the various redox conditions and sediment provenances. The amounts of Ti and Al and their ratio of Ti/ Al with respect to Li clearly indicate that there is an anthropogenic contribution to the surficial sediment. The high concentrations of heavy metals suggest an anthropogenic contribution at ST. 34 and ST. 22. Concentrations of most elements (Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb) are higher near the Shihwa-Banwol industrial complex than in the central part of Lake Shihwa. Concentrations of heavy metal in surficial sediment near the Shihwa-Banwol industrial complex are two to eight times higher than in the center of Lake Shihwa. Enrichment factors (EF), which are normalized by the unpolluted shale, suggests a significant metallic contamination near the Shihwa-Banwol industrial complex (SBIC). The redox condition is divided into two anoxic and mixed oxi $c_oxic zones based on the carbon:sulfur (C/S) ratios of organic matter and elemental relationships. Correlations among geochemical elements Mn, U and Mo are significantly different from site to site, and may therefore be an indicator of the spatial redox condition. Controlling factors for switching anoxic/oxic conditions are thought to be water depth and the differences in industrial effluent supply. The variations of the Cu/Mn ratio in the sediments confirms above mentioned spatial differences of a redox condition in part, and therefore shows a location-dependence redox condition in sediments at four other sites. The redox condition of the surficial sediment characteristics of the Shihwa Lake are controlled by its geographic location and water depth.th.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.266-271
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• 2011

Physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal content of soils located along the drainage way of an abandoned mine at Busan, Korea ($35^{\circ}31'N$, $129^{\circ}22'E$) (contaminated soil; CS) and uncontaminated soils (50-70 m apart from the drainage way) (NS) were examined. Growth of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicom cv. Rutgers) in CS and NS, development of the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) as root-knot gall formation on tomato plants, and non-parasitic nematode populations in soil were also examined. Growth of tomato plants, root-knot gall formation, and non-parasitic nematode populations were significantly reduced in CS with higher As content, lower pH, higher electrical conductivity (EC), and lower available phosphate (av. $P_2O_5$) than in NS. None of the other physicochemical characters examined differed significantly between CS and NS (low and no significance) and were above or below the critical levels detrimental to plant growth and nematode development, suggesting that As may be the primary hazardous heavy metal in CS. The toxicity of As might be enhanced at low pH in CS because exchangeable forms of some heavy metals increase with the decrease of soil pH. The heavy metals, especially As, may have contributed to increasing EC and decreasing av. $P_2O_5$. Therefore, the effects of mine drainage contamination from the abandoned mine were derived primarily from contamination by heavy metals such as As. These may have been enhanced in toxicity (solubility) by the lowered pH, increased soil salinity (EC) and decreased av. $P_2O_5$. Our results suggest synergistic adverse effects on the plant and the nematode by decreasing osmotic potential and nutrient availability.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.15-20
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• 2010

The contamination loadings generated in Changwon City are coming into Masan Bay through the Bongam tidal flat except the loadings collected and transferred by sewer lines to the wastewater treatment plant. The recovery of waterbirds, shellfishes, and fishes has been quite well recognized in recent years after the first implementation of Masan Bay TPLM (Total Pollution Loads Management) in Korea. This tidal flat has been conserved by the cooperation of several stakeholders and utilized as an ecosystem field site for in situ education. A large industrial complex has been operated since 1970's, therefore increasing the level of pollutants in estuary and costal sediments, especially by heavy metals. Zinc, copper, and lesd contamination of sediment was revealed at higher level by Clean-up guideline (MOMAF) or heavily polluted level by SQC (USEPA). There was a significant difference between two sites at the 95% confidence level, which implies no homogeneity in the processes of transport and deposition even at 500 m of distance. The heavy metal concentrations in the Bongam sediments have been gradually decreased with comparing the data of 2006, and 2009.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.204-209
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• 2007

Agricultural area in the vicinity of the ${\triangle}{\triangle}$ smelting factory in Kyeongbuk province, the third largest zinc smelting factory in the world, was contaminated by high concentration of heavy metals. However, the heavy metals source was not yet directly traced and thus, resulted to a conflict between the factory and residents within its vicinity. In order to determine the level of heavy metal contamination in the arable lands located at the north eastern part of the factory, soils were sampled systematically. To find out the major reason for the occurrence of this problem, waters and aerosols were sampled with constant intervals to the upward and downward direction from the factory and were analyzed to find out the heavy metal concentrations. Cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) of the heavy metals were highly accumulated more than the Korean warning criteria (Cd 1.5, Zn 300 mg $kg^{-1}$) with mean values 1.7 and 407 mg $kg^{-1}$, respectively, at the surface soils (0-20 cm), and heavy metal concentration significantly decreased with increasing soil depth In addition, the concentration of both metals slightly decreased with increasing distance from the factory to the surface soils. Cadmium and Zn were detected in the upward stream water with low concentration and concentrations increased significantly in the downstream after passing across the factory. Aerosol samples also showed traces of Cd and Zn which could be attributed to the contamination of the water system and the surface soils. Conclusively, Cd and Zn emitted from the ${\triangle}{\triangle}$ smelting factory moved with the aerosol in the atmosphere and thus, contaminated the agricultural areas and the water system within it vicinity.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.155-166
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• 2013

A preliminary investigation to establish the status of contamination of trace metals in the Western coast of Ghana was conducted prior to the commercial production of crude oil in the area. The study revealed the presence of heavy metals such as Pb (4.00-79.64 mg/kg), As (8.81-236 mg/kg), Cu (12.86-108.06 mg/kg), V (28.07-953.32 mg/kg), Zn (7.08-264.25 mg/kg), Cr (101.69-1366.62 mg/kg), Ni (42.41-451.43 mg/kg), Mn (16.77-1890.45mg/kg), Br (7.66-142.78 mg/kg), Ti (542.03-19960 mg/kg) and Fe (7472.88-97120 mg/kg) at six sites sampled along the coast. With the exception of Ti and Fe which showed no variation in metal concentration, the rest of the metals varied significantly among the sampled locations. Potential ecological risk of metals particularly of Co, As and Br which exhibited extreme enrichment of the sediments indicates considerable metal pollution in the studied areas. The degree of contamination is of particular concern especially to benthic biota that inhabit this environment for survival.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.64-78
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• 2019

The background concentrations of heavy metals in Korean coastal sediments were estimated using heavy metal data for 495 sediments obtained from 'National Marine Ecosystem Survey (Coastal ecosystem) in 2016-2017' and the extent of contamination was assessed. Al, Cs, and Li are chosen as appropriate indicators for sediment grain size. In the relationships between heavy metal and indicators concentrations, the lowest slope data were selected through the outlier removal and residual analysis, and the background concentrations were presented as a linear regression line between metal and indicator. Comparing the previous studies for the background concentrations of heavy metals in Korean coastal sediments, concentration levels were generally consistent but those for As and Cd were presented for the first time, and the background concentration using Li as the indicator was presented for the first time.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.123-128
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• 2013

Water quality and contamination of sediment is a growing concern in the Iksan stream of Korea. Heavy metal contamination and changes in the physicochemical properties of the stream were evaluated. Water and sediment samples were collected from six sites during the dry and rainy seasons; pH, DO, EC, ORP, turbidity, $PO_4$-P, $NO_3$-N and selected heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, As, Zn, Cd, Hg) were measured. Results showed almost no change in pH between seasons. DO was highest at site 2 (~2.63 mg/L) in the dry season; EC (1,540 ms/m) was greatest at site 1 in both seasons. The ORP gradually increased from the dry to rainy season at most of the sites and was highest at site 5. Turbidity was highest at site 1 and gradually decreased from the dry to rainy season at all sites except site 3. $PO_4$-P ranged from a high of 1,193mg/L at site 1 to in the dry season to a low of ~1.2 mg/L at site 4. In contrast, $NO_3$-N was highest at site 3 in the rainy season (12,531 mg/L). Among the heavy metals measured, Cu and Zn concentrations were highest at all sediment sites. Cu and Zn are added to livestock feed to improve reproductive rates and can be carried to the stream with manure. Transport of sediment and heavy metals during the rainy season is the major source of stream contamination and it is important to continue monitoring and take necessary action in these areas.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.208-213
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• 2018

Epitaxial ($11{\bar{2}}0$) a-plane GaN films were grown on a ($1{\bar{1}}02$) R-plane sapphire substrate with photoresist (PR) masks using metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The PR mask with striped patterns was prepared using an ex-situ lithography process, whereas carbonization and heat treatment of the PR mask were carried out using an in-situ MOCVD. The heat treatment of the PR mask was continuously conducted in ambient $H_2/NH_3$ mixture gas at $1140^{\circ}C$ after carbonization by the pyrolysis in ambient $H_2$ at $1100^{\circ}C$. As the time of the heat treatment progressed, the striped patterns of the carbonized PR mask shrank. The heat treatment of the carbonized PR mask facilitated epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) of a-plane GaN films without carbon contamination on the R-plane sapphire substrate. Thhe surface morphology of a-plane GaN films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The structural characteristics of a-plane GaN films on an R-plane sapphire substrate were evaluated by ${\omega}-2{\theta}$ high-resolution X-ray diffraction. The a-plane GaN films were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to determine carbon contamination from carbonized PR masks in the GaN film bulk. After $Ar^+$ ion etching, XPS spectra indicated that carbon contamination exists only in the surface region. Finally, the heat treatment of carbonized PR masks was used to grow high-quality a-plane GaN films without carbon contamination. This approach showed the promising potential of the ELO process by using a PR mask.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.311-324
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• 2004

We investigated the contamination and behavior of heavy metals in stream sediments within the watershed of Juam Reservoir. Many abandoned mines within the reservoir can act as a potential contaminant source for water quality. Heavy metal concentrations (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in stream sediments from watershed are very low, indicating that content of heavy metals in the sediments probably do not affect the water quality in Juam Reservoir. However Pb concentration in the stream sediments increases downward streams, suggesting the possible diffusion of Pb contamination. According to the leaching ratio for stream sediments at a strong acidic condition in the abandoned mine areas, the relative mobility for metals decreases in the order of Pb＞Zn=Cu＞Ni＞Cr, indicating that Pb can have a bad effect upon the water quality in Jum Reservoir. Moreover, if contaminated sediment is placed in the bottom of reservoir (i.e., reducing condition), the relative mobility of Pb is the highest, indicating that Pb in the bottom sediments can be leached to water at interface between water and sediment with changing in physicochemical conditions.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.332-335
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• 2011

As our interests in eco-friendly materials have been significantly increased, the utilization of porous zeolite concrete that has structural functionality and permeability has been increased. In this paper, the mixture of porous concrete and zeolite, which can be used as multirole boulders, was investigated for the suitability of an environment-friendly product by evaluating of the water purification ability. The contamination removal rates of BOD, TOC, T-N, and T-P in stagnant water tank were 70.6, 67.0, 57.7, and 50.6%, respectively. Also for the non-point source pollution with the inflow and the outflow, the removal rates of Zn, Pb, BOD, and COD were 99.9, 90.0, 69.2, and 33.5%, respectively. The performance of the heavy metal contamination removal for the porous zeolite showed better than that of stagnant system. Therefore, it is expected that the installation of the porous zeolite concrete can play a role as an eco-friendly products by its high contamination removal.