• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.787-799
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the accumulation of metallic elements and the control effect of marine pollution caused by ocean dumping in the sediments at a waste disposal area in the Yellow Sea. In July 2009, concentrations of organic matter and metallic elements (Al, Fe, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Hg, Ni, Mn, Pb, and Zn) were measured in surface sediments at the site. The ignition loss (IL) in the surface sediments showed a mean value of 15.4%, about 1.5 times higher than the mean value of the sediments in the coastal areas of Korea. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) at some disposal sites exceeded 20 mg $O_2/g{\cdot}dry$, which signifies the initial concentration of marine sediment pollutants in Japan. The disposal sites contain higher concentrations of Cr, Cu and Zn than the sediments of bays and estuaries that might be contaminated. The magnitude of both metal enrichment factors (EF) and adverse biological effects suggest that pollution with Cr and Ni occurred due to the dumping of waste in the study area. In addition, the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) showed that the surface sediments were moderately contaminated. By the mid-2000s, when the amount of waste dumped at this site was the highest, the concentration of metallic elements was higher than ever recorded. On the other hand, in 2008-09, the need for environmental management was relatively low compare with the peak. As a result, the quality of marine sediment has been enhanced, considering the effect of waste reduction and natural dilution in the disposal area.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2002

The physical and chemical properties of cover soils of 10 waste landfill sites in Kyonggi-Do area, where social circumstances at present forces to consider the reuse of landfill, were investigated to provide the informations of soil environment which are necessary to establish the appropriate ecological restoration plan of waste landfills. The pH and electrical conductivity of soils were higher in landfills sites than in reference sites (area around landfill sites), indicating the salt accumulation in surface soil. However, total-N and organic matter contents were lower in landfills sites than in reference sites. In landfill sites, the total-N and plant available-P contents were less than 0.15% and 20mg/kg, respectively. Exchangeable cations (K, Ca, Mg and Na) and heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) contents varied between the landfill sites, but were higher in landfills sites than in reference sites. The major exchangeable cation of soil was Ca. Heavy metal contents were much lower than the critical concentration which phytotoxicity is considered to be possible and the standard for agricultural land of Korean Soil Environmental Preservation Act. Therefore, the proper soil management plan to increase the soil fertility is recommended for the ecological restoration of landfill using natural or artificial vegetation.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.22 no.1 s.35
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• pp.87-95
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• 2006

Immunohistochemical and ultrastuructural experiments were conducted to find out heavy metal accumulation in the intestine of an Antarctic gastropod Nacella concinna. According to the immune-histochemical experiment the apical cytoplasm of the intestinal epithelium showed positive reactions to anti-MT (rnotallothionein), indicating the presence of MT, a metal-binding protein involved in metal detoxifying process. In the transmission electron microscopic observations, the epithelial cells of the intestine exposed to Cd for over three hours showed irregular nuclear membranes, secretory granules, and probable metal granules. According to the SEM-EDS experiments on the intestine, concentration of Pb in the apical epithelium was in inverse proportion to that in the intestinal lumen. After exposing to Cd for over three days, S was rapidly reduced. Ca and Zn were rapidly increased after exposure to Cd. These elements are supposed to be concerned with the MT-reaction in the intestine. laken together, these data suggest that N. concinna could be used as a potential biomarker species.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.213-223
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• 2021

To understand the sedimentary environment of Scirpus planiculmis habitat (Myeongji and Eulsuk tidal flats) in the Nakdong Estuary, this study analyzed the statistical parameters (sorting, skewness, and kurtosis) of grain size data and the major (Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Ti, and P), minor (Li, Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Zr, Cs, Pb, Th, and U), and rare earth elements (REEs) in sediment cores. For Myeongji, the sediment structure of the upper part of the cores was poorly sorted, more finely skewed, and more leptokurtic due to construction of the West gate. By contrast, the Eulsuk cores all differed due to the contrasting floodgate operation patterns of the West and East gates. The linear discriminate function (LDF) results corresponded to the statistical parameters for grain size. At the Eulsuk tidal flat (sites ES05 and ES11), elemental distributions were representative of Al-, Fe- and Ca-associated profiles, in which the elements are largely controlled by the accumulation of their host minerals (such as Na- and K-aluminosilicate and ferromagnesium silicate) and heavy detrital minerals at the sites. Detrital minerals including the aluminosilicates are major factors in the elemental compositions at ES05, diluting the REE contents. However, clay minerals and Fe-oxyhydroxides, as well as REE-enriched heavy minerals, appeared to be controlling factors of the elemental composition at ES11. Therefore, the mineral fractionation process is important in determining the elemental composition during sedimentation, which reflects the depositional condition of riverine-saline water mixing at both sites.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.336-341
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• 2005

Chitosan, which is a biopolymer, composed of glucosamine units linked by β-l, 4 glycoside bonds, is rich in shells of crustacean such as crabs and shrimps. We examined effects of dietary chitosan on blood and tissue levels of lead, iron, zinc and calcium in lead administered rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups (n=32). Basal diet group was fed 3% cellulose diet and lead administered groups were fed 0%, 3% and 5% chitosan diets, respectively for 8 wks. To lead administered groups, lead (20㎎/day) was given three times per week by oral injection. Blood, liver, kidney and femur were collected for lead, iron, zinc, and calcium analyses. There was no significant difference in weight gain and food intake among groups. Blood and femur lead levels were lower in lead administered groups fed 3% and 5% chitosan diets than in lead administered control (0% chitosan diet) group (p＆lt;0.05). Blood and liver levels of iron and zinc in lead administered group fed 5% chitosan diet were significantly lower than those in basal diet group (p＆lt;0.05), but those in lead administered group fed 3% chitosan diet were not significantly different with those in basal diet group. These results show that chitosan diets have beneficial effects on lowering the accumulation of lead, but high chitosan diet may have negative effects on mineral levels.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.310-315
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Heavy-metal pollution represents an important environmental problem due to the toxic effects of metals, and their accumulation throughout the food chain leads to serious ecological and health problems. METHODS AND RESULTS: Optimum conditions in continuous-flow stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and packedbed column contactor (PBCC) using brown seaweed biosorbent were investigated. Under optimum conditions from both lab-scale biosorbent systems, removal efficiency of copper (Cu) in a large-scale PBCC system was investigated. Removal capacity of Cu using brown seaweed biosorbent in a lab-scale CSTR system was higher than that in a lab-scale PBCC system. On the other hand, over 48 L/day of flow rate in Cu solution, removal efficiency of Cu in a lab-scale PBCC system was higher than that in a lab-scale CSTR system. Optimum flow rate of Cu was 24 L/day, optimum Cu solution concentration was 100 mg/L. Removal capacity of Cu at different stages was higher in the order of double column biosorption system > single column biosorption system. Under different heavy metals, removal capacities of heavy metal were higher in the order of Pb > Cr > Ni > Mn ${\geq}$ Cu ${\geq}$ Cd ${\fallingdotseq}$ Zn ${\geq}$ Co. Removal capacity of Cu was 138 L in a large-scale PBCC system. Removal capacity of Cu a large-scale PBCC system was similar with in a lab-scale PBCC system. CONCLUSION(s): Therefore, PBCC system using brown seaweed biosorbent was suitable for treating heavy metal wastewater.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.145-151
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• 1996

Pathways both mediated by and independent of transferrin(Tf) and the TfR have been described for the accumulation of iron. Although it is not clear whether the same systems take up iron and gallium, these pathways may suggest the contention that uptake of Ga-67 can, in fact, occur by both Tf-independent and Tf-dependent systems and may share with Fe-59 in part the same mechanism for uptake. The predominant system by which uptake of both radiometals occurs may be different in the degree of the transformation of tumor. Transformed(MMSV/3T3) and untransformed(BALB/3T3) cells were incubated with luM of Ga-67-citrate of Fe-59-chloride for 15 min. at $37^{\circ}C$ in either the presence or absence of Tf. After then, the monolayers were washed with HBSS or PBS, and the cells were solubilized in 1% SDS for gamma well counting and protein determinations. There were similarities, as well as differences, in the pattern of uptake of Fe-59 and Ga-67 presented both in ionic from and as bound to Tf. Both radiometals appeared gain to cells in either ionic or Tf-bound forms. Transformed cells appeared to accumulate more radiometal, either Ga-67 or Fe-59 in the presence of Tf than do the their untransforemd counterparts. Conversly the presentation of either radiometal in ionic form resulted in significantly greater accumulation of metal by the untransformed cells than those transformed. The efficiency for uptake of Ga-67 or Fe-59 in the absence of Tf was greater than for uptake of the Ga-Tf or Fe-Tf. However, the magnitude of difference in efficiency of uptake was greater for Fe-59(10-fold) than for Ga-67 (3-fold). Our results Supports the theory that both Tf-independent and Tf-dependent systems for the uptake of Ga-67 both systems operate oppositely between transformed cells and those untransformed, with uptake by the predominating in transformed cells by the Tf-mediated system and in untransformed cells by the Tf-independent. The uptake of Ga-67 by tumor may share with Fe-59 in part the same mechanism.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of immature compost on the amount of nutrient content, heavy metal concentration, and application rate that were used for lettuce cultivation. The characteristics of the two composts (Compost A (CA) was immature compost and Compost B (CB) was mature compost) were evaluated upon mixing with commercial soil at 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% (w/w). The poor chemical characteristics were appeared by use of immature compost as soil amendment; the 50% and 75% rates were weakly acidic at pH 5.39 and 5.50, respectively. The total carbon content at using of 75% of the immature compost and mature compost increased the most to 14.5 and 6.5% and it significantly increased concentrations of the total nitrogen and phosphorus compared to control. As for 75% mature compost rate increased significantly the concentrations of Cu ($128mg\;kg^{-1}$), Zn ($260mg\;kg^{-1}$), Pb ($0.32mg\;kg^{-1}$) and, Cd ($0.48mg\;kg^{-1}$) compared to control, and the highest As concentration increased significantly at 75% and 50% (6.69 and $6.28mg\;kg^{-1}$) including in 25% immature compost as $6.48mg\;kg^{-1}$. However, all of the high compost rates significantly decreased the shoot biomass of lettuce. The immature compost was potentially amended at an application rate of 25% due to a slight salinity and low risk to heavy metal uptake on lettuce growth. This use may be available if the rate is lower than that used in this trial.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.561-577
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• 2015

The heavy metal accumulations of avian eggshells were studied in order to test a feral pigeon (Columba livia)'s eggshell as an indicator for the environmental monitoring of pollutants. The reviews on the eggs of the different 19 avian species showed that it is the eggshell rather than the egg content that can better reflect the heavy metals in the environment; in most cases the CVs (coefficients of variations) of the heavy metal concentrations in the eggshells were higher than those in the egg contents. This can indicate that the heavy metal accumulations are homeostatically controlled in the egg contents, but the accumulations in the eggshells are varied according to the environmental conditions. To test the reviews, the feral pigeon eggs from the two different sites, one representing urban and the other rural environment, were analyzed for lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). The result showed that the eggshells of the urban pigeons (Hangang) had the higher metal concentrations than those of the rural pigeons (Hampyeong). The same difference can also be found in the internal organs (liver, bone) and blood. However, the analyses of the egg contents between the two sites did not reveal the differences. In other words, the result suggests that the feral pigeons, like the other avian species, are able to control the heavy metals into the egg contents homeostatically. Therefore, it is more useful to use the feral pigeon eggshell rather than the egg content in case of monitoring heavy metals in different habitats.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.55-65
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• 2003

The combined effect of bioaugmentation of dechlorinating bacterial cultures and addition of iron powder($Fe^0$ on reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethylene(PCE) and other chlorinated ethylenes in a artificially contaminated soil slurry(60micromoles PCE/kg soil). Two different anaerobic bacterial cultures, a pure bacterial culture of Desulfitobacterium sp. strain Y-51 capable of dechlorinating PCE to cis-1,2-dechloroethylene(cis-DCE) and the other enrichment culture PE-1 capable of dechlorinating PCE completely to ethylene, were used for the bioaugmentation test. Both treatments introduced with the strain Y-51 and PE-1 culture (3mg dry cell weight/kg soil) showed conversion of PCE to cis-DCE within 40days. The treatments added with $Fe^0$(0.1-1.0%) alone to the soil slurry resulted in extended PCE dechlorination to ethylene and ethane and the dechlorination rate depended on the amount of $Fe^0$ added. The combined use of the bacterial cultures with $Fe^0$(0.1-1.0%)) showed the higher PCE dechlorination rate than the separated application and the pattern of PCE dechlorination and end-product formation was different from those of the separated application. When 0.1% of $Fe^0$ was added with the cultures, the treatments with the strain Y-51 and $Fe^0$ resulted in cis-DCE accumulation from PCE dechlorination, but the treatment with the enrichment culture and $Fe^0$ showed the more extended dechlorination via cis-DCE. These results suggested that the combined application of and the bactrial culture, specially the complete dechlorinating enrichment culture, is practically effective for bioremediation of PCE contaminated soil.