• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2020

Medical waste is any kind of waste that contains infectious material and recommended not to be transferred for infection control. As a means of disposal, incineration has better points than dumping or landfill in the quantity reduction, odorless and nonhazardous. However, open burning and incineration of health care wastes under bad circumstances, can result in the emission of environmental pollutants to air. A burial of biological waste brings pollution of soil and water. Most of sub divisional hospitals in Fiji transfer their medical wastes to divisional hospitals for incineration. In 2011, 62,518 kg of medical waste was incinerated in the three divisional hospitals. However, some medical wastes are considered as general waste and burnt or sent to landfill site, some are buried on site in some sub-divisional hospitals. In this regards, urgent education is necessary for awareness promotion to relevant personnel in medical waste treatment. On site incineration using small scale incinerator is more recommended than transportation of medical wastes treatment in Fiji. Moreover, remotely controllable and fixable small scale of incinerator is more desirable in sub-divisional hospitals. It is recommended that Fiji government to set up a legal framework for medical waste management (MWM), to develop specific guidelines for MWM, to set up a training system for MWM to ensure that all relevant personnel are trained, to develop a monitoring and supervision system for MWM, to clarify the future financing of MWM activities, and to improve the MWM infrastructure.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 2021

In 2012, the National Park Service conducted an ecological health assessment to efficiently preserve and manage the ecosystem. The need for improving pre-existing management indicators was recognized from the revised Natural Park Act because, while the indicators of the existing evaluation system focused on endangered species, ecosystem disturbance, diversity, water quality (BOD, DO), and habitat fragmentation, they did not reflect the lack of indicators for marine ecological assessment, policy changes, and the time demands. The evaluation results comprised a five-point grading system, which made the analysis of immediate changes, difficult. Therefore, the benthic pollution index (BPI) and habitat restoration indicators were added to improve the evaluation system. The National Park was assessed using 10 classifications, however, only four classifications were evaluated. The ratings were divided into five states, and ten classes were presented as pictograms. The assessment results showed a similar trend as the indicators were improved, increasing from level 3 to level 5. However, the results of the Wolaksan National Park after improvement in the indicators were lower than that before the improvement, whereas, for the Juwangsan National Park, it was higher. This study aims at contributing to the scientific and systematic management of the national park ecosystem by improving the ecological health assessment system.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.577-588
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• 2022

This study aims to identify the limiting nutrient for algal growth in the Geum River and the significant pollutant sources from the tributaries affecting the water quality and to provide a management alternative for an improvement of water quality. An eight-year of daily data (2013~2020) were collected from the Water Environment Information System (water.nier.go.kr) and Water Resources Management Information System (wamis.go.kr). 14 water quality variables were analyzed at five water quality monitoring stations in the Geum River (WQ1-WQ5). In the Geum River, the water quality variables, especially Chl-a vary greatly in downstream of the river. In the open weir gate operation, TP (total phosphorus) and water temperature greatly influence the growth of algae in downstream of the river. A correlation analysis was used to identify the relationship between variables and investigate the factor affecting algal growth in the Geum River. At the downstream station (WQ5), TP and Temp have shown a strong correlation with Chl-a, indicating they significantly influence the algal bloom. The principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to identify and prioritize the major pollutant sources of the two major tributaries of the river, Gab-cheon and Miho-cheon. PCA identifies three major pollutant sources for Gab-cheon and Miho-cheon, respectively. For Gab-cheon, wastewater treatment plant, urban, and agricultural pollutions pollution are identified as significant pollutant sources. For Miho-cheon, agricultural, urban, and forest land are identified as major pollutant sources. PCA seems to be effective in identifying water pollutant sources for the Geum River and its tributaries in detail and thus can be used to develop water quality management strategies.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2022

In 2021, the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP), a U.N. advisory research institute, cited container loss as one of six sources of marine litters in shipping. The sinking of the X-P ress Pearl in May 2021 caused a catastrophic environmental pollution accident in which the loaded containers were moved to the shore, and the plastic pellets were loaded inside covered the coast of Sri Lanka. With this history, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will discuss prevention and follow-up measures for container loss during ship voyages, as an agenda at the 8th Sub Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers meeting in September 2022. To establish Korea's response direction at the IMO meeting, this study identified major causes of container loss accidents, and considered the response through analysis based on the accident investigation report and related professional data. As a result, it was found that the major cause of container loss during voyages was the enlargement of container ships, bad weather, and poor loading of containers. In particular, the need to prepare countermeasures for the deterioration of the operational safety of large container ships due to bad weather was identified. Additionally, integrated monitoring of the implementation of international conventions is required, for the safe sea transportation of container cargo. In particular, in terms of preservation of the marine environment, it is necessary to supplement the system for the recovery of lost containers. Finally, it was found that it is necessary to establish systems that can complement each other in the shipbuilding and shipping industries, in terms of shipbuilding as well as ship operation, to fundamentally prevent container loss accidents at sea. It is judged that it is difficult to resolve the various factors of container loss at sea during voyages, by responding from an individual perspective.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.spc
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

As the volume of marine hazardous and noxious substances (HNSs) transported in domestic and overseas seas increases, the risk of HNS spill accidents is gradually increasing. HNS leaked into the sea causes destruction of marine ecosystems, pollution of the marine environment, and human casualties. Secondary accidents accompanied by fire and explosion are possible. Therefore, various types of HNSs must be rapidly detected, and a control strategy suitable for the characteristics of each substance must be established. In this study, the ground HNS spill experiment process and application result of detection algorithms were presented based on hyperspectral remote sensing. For this, styrene was spilled in an outdoor pool in Brest, France, and simultaneous observation was performed through a hyperspectral sensor. Pure styrene and seawater spectra were extracted by applying principal component analysis (PCA) and the N-Findr method. In addition, pixels in hyperspectral image were classified with styrene and seawater by applying spectral matching techniques such as spectral distance similarity (SDS), spectral correlation similarity (SCS), spectral similarity value (SSV), and spectral angle mapper (SAM). As a result, the SDS and SSV techniques showed good styrene detection results, and the total extent of styrene was estimated to be approximately 1.03 m². The study is expected to play a major role in marine HNS monitoring.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2023

Background: When particles are absorbed into the human body, they penetrate deep into the lungs and interact with the tissues of the body. Heavy metals in PM_2.5 can cause various diseases. The main source of PM_2.5 emissions in South Korea's atmosphere has been surveyed to be places of business. Objectives: The concentration of heavy metals in PM_2.5 near the Ulsan Industrial Complex was measured and a health risk assessment was performed for residents near the industrial complex for exposure to heavy metals in PM_2.5. Methods: Concentrations of heavy metals in PM_2.5 were measured at four measurement sites (Ulsan, Mipo, Onsan, Maegok) near the industrial complexes. Heavy metals were analyzed according to the Air Pollution Monitoring Network Installation and Operation Guidelines presented by the National Institute of Environmental Research. Among them, only five substances (Mn, Ni, As, Cd, Cr⁶⁺) were targeted. The risk assessment was conducted on inhalation exposure for five age groups, and the excess cancer risk and hazard quotient were calculated. Results: In the risk assessment of exposure to heavy metals in PM_2.5, As, Cd, and Cr⁶⁺ exceeded the risk tolerance standard of 10^-6 for carcinogenic hazards. The highest hazard levels were observed in Onsan and Mipo industrial complexes. In the case of non-carcinogenic hazards, Mn was identified as exceeding the hazard tolerance of 1, and it showed the highest hazard in the Ulsan Industrial Complex. Conclusions: This study presented a detailed health risk from exposure to heavy metals in PM_2.5 by industrial complexes located in Ulsan among five age groups. It is expected to be utilized as the basis for preparing damage control and industrial emission reduction measures against PM_2.5 exposure at the Ulsan Industrial Complex.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.140-150
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• 2023

The Hangang River^* is necessary to manage the water environment of severe pollution due to the high density of residential areas, parks, and agriculture and the large population concentrated there. Benthic macroinvertebrates, such as chironomids larvae, are bioindicator species that reflect environmental changes and are crucial for water quality monitoring. In this study, we investigated morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of the chironomids larvae inhabiting the Hangang River area for water environment surveys. For this research, 20 rivers, lakes, and urban area in the Hangang River basin were selected. Chironomids larvae were collected from July to September 2022, and their appearance and characteristics were identified through morphological identification. In addition, phylogenetic analysis was performed based on the mtCOI gene sequences of the collected chironomids larvae, and identification at the genus level was confirmed. As a result, 32 species and 18 genera of 3 subfamilies of Chironomidae larvae were identified, and Stictochironomus sp. dominated most sites(6 sites). The morphological characteristics of the identified chironomids larvae, such as the mentum, ventromental plate, and antenna, were organized into table and pictorial keys, and a Bayesian inference molecular phylogeny was presented. These results provide basic morphological information for genus-level identification and can be used as fundamental information for water quality management.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2009

Four heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, and Hg) in 38 species (total 325 samples) of oriental animality medicines were monitored by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and automatic mercury analyzer (AMA). The detected concentration range of Pb, Cd, As was presented as $0.02{\mu}gkg^{-1}$ $(D.L){\sim}11.29mgkg^{-1}$, $0.01{\mu}gkg^{-1}$ $(D.L){\sim}2.50 mgkg^{-1}$, $0.12{\mu}gkg^{-1}$ $(D.L){\sim}5.27mgkg^{-1}$, respectively. In case of Hg, it the concentration range was $0.01{\sim}77.11mgkg^{-1}$ except one sample which exceeded detection limit. In all samples of Amydae Carapax and Gallnut, it was not detected over the maximum residue limits of metals. Pb is in charge of the greatest portion of contamination in 22 species of animality medicines, and in case of Hg, 54.46% of total samples were over the maximum residue limits. Therefore, environmental levels of Pb and Hg are needed to continue the researches and the studies for tracking pollution source are required.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.2B
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• pp.225-231
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• 2006

The nonpoint source control is based on TPLMS (Total Pollution Load Management System) program. Recently, the Ministry of Environment in Korea has programed TPLMS for 4 major large rivers to improve the water quality in rivers by controling the total pollutant loadings from the watershed area. Usually the urbanization is the main pollutant sources, particularly for nonpoint pollutants, because of high imperviousness and high pollutant mass emissions. The stormwater runoff from urban areas is containing various pollutants such as sediments, metals and toxic chemicals due to human and vehicle activities. Of the various landuses, the highways are highly polluted landuses because of high pollutant accumulation rate by vehicle activities during dry periods. Therefore, this research is achieved to provide pollutant EMCs (Event Mean Concentrations) and mass loadings washed-off from highways during rainfall periods. Five monitoring locations were equipped with an automatic rainfall gage and an flow meter. The results show that the EMC ranges for 95% confidence intervals in highway land use are 45.52-125.76 mg/L for TSS, 52.04-95.48 mg/L for COD, 1.77-4.48 mg/L for TN, 0.29-0.54 mg/L for TP. The ranges of washed- off mass loading are $712.7-2,418.4mg/m^2$ for TSS and $684.1-1,779.6mg/m^2$ for COD.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2023

Recently, water shortages have occurred due to climate change, and the need for water management of agricultural water has increased due to the occurrence of algal blooms in reservoirs. Existing algae prevention is operated by putting many people on site and misses the optimal spraying time due to movement through boats. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to block contamination in advance and move within time to uniformly spray complex microorganisms uniformly. Control drones are used for pesticide spraying and can be applied to algae prevention work by utilizing control drones. In this paper, basic research for the establishment of a marine control system was conducted for application to the reservoir environment, and as one of the results, the characteristics of a drone nozzle, a core technology that can be used for control drones, were calculated. In particular, it was found that the existing agricultural control drones had a disadvantage that the concentration was non-uniform within the suggested spraying interval, and to compensate for this, nozzle positioning and nozzle spraying uniformity were calculated. Based on the experimental results, we develop a core algorithm for establishing an algal bloom monitoring system in the reservoir environment and propose a precision control technology that can be used for marine control work in the future.