• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.88-93
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• 2001

To measure the levels of dioxins in food selling at local markets, meat was analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution ass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). The food samples were obtained from 5 large cities of Seoul, Chunchon, Daejon, Kwangju and Busan in Korea. All the samples were minced and extracted with Soxhlet extractor for 18 hours. After extraction, extracts were cleaned up by sulfuric acid impregnated silica gel, purified on a series of silica gel, alumina, carbon column chromatography and then analyzed by HRGC/HRMS. The contaminated levels were calculated as the TEQs by multiplying with the corresponding WHO-TEFs for each congeners. The overall recoveries were ranged from 80% to 153% and the limit of detection was about 0.01 ppt at S/N>3. The levels of PCDD/Fs for beef, pork and chicken were 0.018, 0.008 and <0.001 pgTEQ/g, respectively. In addition, the levels of non-ortho-co-planar PCBs for beef, pork and chicken were 0.008, 0.002 and 0.001 pgTEQ/g, respectively. Among food samples analyzed, chicken showed the lowest level of dioxin-like compounds. Regarding congener pattern, OCDD and PCB #77 were the highest contributing congeners.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to compare dioxin contents in spinach, soil and air and to evaluate the relation of dioxin concentrations in crop and its cultural environment. Sample weighing for the precise peak detection in dioxin analysis was also determined. The fragmentogram of HpCDFs, and especially OCDF, indicated different pattern from that of TeCDD/F, PeCDD/Fs and HxCDDs/Fs, which showed the same pattern. In case of field culture spinach (wet sample 2 kg) in Japan, peak of OCDF could be detected clearly, while market spinach (wet sample 1 kg) showed the only baseline detection. The result makes it possible to suppose the fact that production place of market spinach was not contaminated with OCDF, but atmospheric pattern of production place was similar to that of open field sample. So we could decide that the sample of agricultural crops were needed more than 2 kg in wet weight for the evaluation of precise peak The total tendency of dioxin concentration levels in field culture spinach may be affected by OCDD and HCDF distributed in soil. However, on the whole the major factor seems to be the atmospheric deposition.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.870-878
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• 2010

We investigated the concentration and the sources of ubiquitous persistent organic pollutants [i.e., 17 toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), 12 coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs), and 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)] in waste papers and lumbers from industrial complexes. The total concentrations in waste papers and lumbers ranged from 9.69~176.77 pg/g-dry and 0.14~0.25 pg/g-dry for 17 PCDD/Fs, 109.95~4097.25 pg/g-dry and 28.23~59.88 pg/g-dry for 12 Co-PCBs and 9.30~52.18 ng/g-dry and 0.82~1.82 ng/g-dry for 16 PAHs respectively. Generally, the concentration of these pollutants in waste papers was higher than those in waste lumbers. OCDD was dominant in waste papers and lumbers and the PCDD/F patterns of these samples were similar with that of stack gas. The distribution patterns of Co-PCBs in wastes were related with commercial PCB products, indicating the effect of commercial PCB products on ubiquitous environment. The diagnostic ratios of several PAH compounds in waste paper showed that they were related with pyrogenic sources.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2009

Reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and its toxicity change were predicted by the linear free energy relationship (LFER) model to assess the zero-valent iron (ZVI) and anaerobic dechlorinating bacteria (ADB) as electron donors in PCDDs dechlorination. Reductive dechlorination of PCDDs involves 256 reactions linking 76 congeners with highly variable toxicities, so is challenging to assess the overall effect of this process on the environmental impact of PCDD contamination. The Gibbs free energies of PCDDs in aqueous solution were updated to density functional theory (DFT) calculation level from thermodynamic results of literatures. All of dechlorination kinetics of PCDDs was evaluated from the linear correlation between the experimental dechlorination kinetics of PCDDs and the calculated thermodynamics of PCDDs. As a result, it was predicted that over 100 years would be taken for the complete dechlorination of octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) to non-chlorinated compound (dibenzo-p-dioxin, DD), and the toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) of PCDDs could increase to 10 times larger from initial TEQ with the dechlorination process. The results imply that the single reductive dechlorination using ZVI or ADB is not suitable for the treatment strategy of PCDDs contaminated soil, sediment and fly ash. This LFER approach is applicable for the prediction of dechlorination process for organohalogen compounds and for the assessment of electron donating system for treatment strategies.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.504-509
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• 2001

The concentrations and TEQ levels of PCDFs/PCDDs in human aipose tissue and first breast milk were analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry. The human adipose tissue samples measured in this study have been collected at hospital in Seoul. The total concentration and TEQ level of PCDFs were showed 5.812 pg/g and 1.485 pgTEQ/g. The total concentration and TEQ level of PCDDs were showed 26.648 pg/g and 1.176 pgTEQ/g, respectively. This paper also reported dioxin levels in 20 breast milks of Korean mothers from hospital in Seoul National University. Total concentration and TEQ levels of PCDFs were showed 7.019 pg/mL and 0.177 pgTEQ/mL, respectively. Total concentrations and TEQ levels of PCDDs were showed 14.224 pg/mL and 0.693 pgTEQ/mL, respectively. According to the contribution of dioxin congeners in samples, PCDDs was higher than PCDFs. And OCDD had the highest concentration.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.469-490
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• 2003

Atmospheric concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were measured at Gosan, Jeju in November 2001 and spring 2002, each time for two weeks. Primary target pollutants were organochlorine pesticides, coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (co- PCBs), and dioxin/furans listed in the Stockholm Convention adopted in May 2001. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also measured in order to understand the overall characteristics of the POPs distribution as well as PM$_{2.5}$, a potent carrier of POPs. In the latter part of the measurement period of November 2001, almost every pollutant of combustion origin including dioxin/furans went high probably due to influence of emissions in the nearby area. The characteristics of atmospheric environment at Gosan in this period were rather close to urban areas far from those of a background area. A severe dust storm swept for three days at the end of the measurement period of spring 2002. However, changes in pollutant concentrations were relatively small except PM$_{10}$. Nevertheless, increases in particulate PAHs and OCDD (octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins), mostly present in fine particles, were observed. Trends in organochlorine pesticide variations were mixed although possible volatilization of DDT residues from soil was inferred from the measurements of spring 2002.2.2.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.792-796
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• 2003

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) are extremely toxic and persistent environmental pollutants. Their chemical reactivities and other physicochemical/biological properties show a strong dependence on the chlorination pattern. With increasing the number of chlorines, dioxin congeners become more electronegative and gain higher electron affinities. The vertical electron affinities (VEA) are related with the LUMO energies of neutral molecules. LUMO energies of all PCDD congeners were calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G** level and those of some selected congeners at the level of B3LYP/6-311G**//B3LYP/6-31G** and B3LYP/cc-pvtz/ /B3LYP/6-31G**. The total energies of neutral and anionic species for dibenzo-p-dioxins (DD), 1469-TCDD, 2378-TCDD, and OCDD were calculated at the level of B3LYP/6-31G**, B3LYP/aug-cc-pvdz, and B3LYP/ aug-cc-pvtz//B3LYP/6-31G**. By using the four congeners with D2h symmetry as reference molecules, we could estimate VEA (B3LYP/aug-cc-pvdz) of 75 PCDD congeners based on the linear correlations between LUMO energy and VEA (B3LYP/6-31G**) and between VEA (B3LYP/6-31G**) and VEA (B3LYP/aug-ccpvtz// B3LYP/6-31G**). Results show that all PCDDs with the number of Cl ≥ 3 have positive electron affinities. The PCDD electron affinity values provided in this work can be a useful data set in understanding the congener-specific reactivities of dioxins in various environmental media.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.107-111
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• 2012

Eight marine sediments from Busan port in Korea were annually analyzed to examine the concentration distribution of dioxins from 2006 to 2010. Yearly mean concentration of dioxins ranged from 186.3 to $383.3pg\;g^{-1}$ in real values and 5.087 to 8.541 pg-TEQ (Toxicity equivalency) based on dry weight of samples. The dioxin concentration at the site near fishing market was the highest concentration among all sampling sites. Also the dioxin concentration at the sites with various pollutant sources such as large ships, sewage influx and thermal power station as well as fishing market was higher than that of the sites without specific pollutant sources. Another main factor that affects the dioxin concentration is topography characteristics of the bay. The bay has relatively high dioxin concentration because of the lack of the pollutant diffusion. This study demonstrated that the dioxin concentration in the site with pollutant sources and the lack of the pollutant diffusion was relatively high as compared with the other sites. As a result of contribution ratio of dioxin congeners, OCDD (Octachlorodibenzodioxin) in all sites was major contributor in real value, in contrast, dioxin congeners in TEQ values were dominated by 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2012

Dioxins are chemical substances that are not properly decomposed degradation under natural photochemical, biological and chemical conditions in the environment, and bio-accumulate through the food chain, so pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. Ninety seven percent of human exposure to dioxins comes through meat, fish, dairy consumption and so on. Pork is the largest proportion meat aspect of daily intake in the Korean food. Pigs are three times more than Cattle in terms of breeding population and production amount in the world, and the amount is increasing every year. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the exposure level of dioxins in pig's body. Also, it is required to evaluate the presence of these chemical substances in the pig's feed grain such as corn, soybeans, and tallow. The purpose of this study was to evaluate PCDD/Fs in pig's feed to search the origin of PCDD/Fs. Feed samples obtained were wheat from East Europe, corn from South America and America, soybean meal from Korea, America, South America and India and tallow from Korea. The preparation of samples was based on the EPA method 1613. Instrumental analysis was based on the use of high resolution gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). The concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD), which are the most toxic potent dioxins, were not observed in any of the samples. However OCDD was detected in most of the samples. The TEQs in the feed samples were ranged from 0 pg TEQ/g to 0.09841 pg TEQ/g. Especially, the high level of TEQs was observed in the samples of wheat from East Europe and soybean meal from Korea.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2006

The levels of total PCBs, Co-PCBs and PCDD/Fs in the transformer insulation oil samples obtained using GC/ECD and HRGC/HRMS were ranged from N.D. to 77.3 ppm, from 0.0863 to 2.49 ppm and from N.D. to 0.00241 ppm, respectively. In terms of WHO-TEQ values, Co-PCBs and PCDD/Fs were ranged from 23.3 to 600 pgTEQ/g and from N.D. to 128 pgTEQ/g, respectively (${\Sigma}Co$-PCBs+PCDD/Fs concentration was calculated 24.4~728 pgTEQ/g). Although, the contribution of PCDD/Fs was below 12% in total TEQ concentration, it is suggested contamination of PCDD/Fs in transformer insulation oils. Among 10 samples, 4 samples showed higher concentration than 2 ppm (specific waste criterion of Korea) and Aroclor 1242, 1248, 1254 and 1260 was detected in samples as a single or mixture of Aroclor. It was shown reliable relationship between concentration of Co-PCBs and those of PCDD/Fs (p<0.003), however, was not shown between production year of transformer and concentration of PCBs. The distribution pattern of Co-PCB congeners showed that the ratios of mono-ortho substituted congeners were higher than non-ortho substituted congeners. Among that, PCB-118 congener was predominant. In addition, the OCDD congener was predominated in PCDD/Fs congeners as above 53%. Moreover, the congener pattern of Co-PCBs was similar to that of Aroclor as well as ambient air, which suggested that PCBs volatilization from transformer insulation oil affected the pattern of Co-PCBs in ambient air.