• Advances in environmental research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.203-216
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• 2017

For survival of human beings clean water is an essential commodity whereas contamination in drinking water threatens to mankind. The main cause of water contamination is social and development activities of human being along with increasing population. The community in the study area has acute shortage of drinking water along with about 40 to 60% has no access to safe drinking water. This study indicates drinking water quality of two major sources of coastal belt of Karachi one is supplied by Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) as tap water and the other through groundwater. The physicochemical analysis was carried out by following the standard methods for checking the quality of drinking water. The analyzed results showed that the quality of groundwater was unfit as potable water. The most critical situation was observed as high level of contamination followed by high turbidity and increased salinity levels. TDS in surface water were found 12% above and TDS in groundwater was 20% below the National Drinking Water Quality Standards (NDWQS) of Pakistan as well as the permissible WHO drinking water quality guidelines.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.426-437
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• 2013

Objective: Gotjawal refers to a special geographical designation found in Jeju Province, Korea, where vegetation forms over a rocky area. Due to the important ecological value of Gotjawal, international concern about such areas is growing. However, only limited information is available regarding environmental contamination of Gotjawal. This study was conducted in order to investigate the levels of contamination and associated ecotoxicological effects of surface water bodies in Gotjawal. Methods: Surface water samples were collected at three sampling sites in two Gotjawal areas and were analyzed for several pharmaceuticals and pesticides in consideration of the potential sources of contamination. The ecotoxicity of the samples was measured using water fleas (Daphnia magna and Moina macrocopa) and zebrafish (Danio rerio). In addition, effects on the gene transcription of zebrafish were investigated following exposure to the samples. Results: Nine pharmaceuticals were detected in the samples, but none of the target pesticides were detected. Following acute exposure to two surface water samples, the survival of waterfleas was significantly reduced, but reproduction was not affected. In zebrafish, time-to-hatch was delayed and fry survival was decreased in some samples. On the other hand, at the transcriptional level, there were no genes significantly influenced by exposure to the samples. Conclusion: This is the first study investigating environmental contamination in Gotjawal areas and associated ecotoxicities. Further studies are warranted to identify the cause of acute Daphnia toxicity and to determine potential consequences of longer-term exposure in Gotjawal areas.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.296-305
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• 2021

This work investigated heavy metal pollution in surface sediments of rivers in Busan, Korea. Surface sediments were analyzed in order to conduct contamination assessment of organic matter, nutrients, and heavy metal concentrations. Contamination assessment of heavy metals was conducted using geoaccumulation index (I_geo), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (RI). Accumulation of organic matter and nutrients were affected by water discharged from sewage treatment plant. The concentrations of organic matter and nutrients were found to be greater in points which were close to the sewage treatment plant more than points furthest. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, and Ni were found to be greater in surface sediment more than in the background. The mean concentrations of heavy metals were in the order of Zn (323.5 mg/kg) > Cu (70.5 mg/kg) > Pb (39.8 mg/kg) > Cr (33.4 mg/kg) > Ni (13.5 mg/kg) > As (9.4 mg/kg) > Cd (0.84 mg/kg) > Hg (0.092 mg/kg). The result of geoaccumulation indices indicated that Hg > Cr > Cu > Ni > Zn > As > Pb > Cd were found in order of severe contamination by heavy metals. From PLI and RI analysis, it was evident that the Suyeonggang 2 was the most contaminated river.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.347-357
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• 2015

Baswflow is defined as short term discharge through groundwater caused by rainfall events. Impacts of baseflow is significant on water quality especially where pervious agricultural watershed as groundwater is more vulnerable to the contamination. In this study, the Cheongmicheon watershed was subjected to study to assess the impacts of baseflow on surface water quality, where more than 90% of pollutant load is originated from the livestock raising area, and very high probability of surface water contamination due to the baseflow. To estimate nutrient loading cased by baseflow, NI (Numerical Integration) model and LOADEST (LOADing ESTimation) model were used.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2024

This study aimed to investigate the effects of blood contamination on the Vickers hardness and the surface morphology of premixed MTA and compare them with the effects on conventional MTA. The Vickers microhardness of Endocem MTA Premixed Regular (EP) and ProRoot MTA (PM) was assessed after immersion in fetal bovine serum (FBS) and saline. Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) were seeded on MTA after immersion in FBS, saline, and deionized water (DW). Cell adhesion patterns and surface morphology were visualized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface microhardness of EP and PM in FBS was lower than in saline. However, short-term exposure of PM to FBS did not reduce the microhardness compared to saline. Angular crystals formed in water, while rounded crystals with more air voids appeared in FBS. Favorable SHED attachment occurred in all groups. Overall, the surface hardness of EP and PM decreased after FBS exposure, although PM was less influenced. We suggest minimizing the amount of bleeding when using MTA clinically; nevertheless, PM remains an option with more expected blood contamination than EP. In summary, exposure to FBS decreased mechanical performance but allowed cell adhesion for both MTAs, with PM being more resistant to these changes.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2016

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the degree of metal contamination of the Turag River water and its suitability for irrigation. Twenty water samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters and metals viz., calcium, magnesium, potassium (K), sodium, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni). All water samples were slightly alkaline to alkaline. Regarding electrical conductivity (EC), all samples were suitable for crop in soils with moderate permeability and leaching. Water samples were medium salinity and low alkalinity hazard classes. In terms of total dissolved solids (TDS), all samples were classified as freshwater. As per sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and soluble sodium percentage (SSP), all samples were classified as excellent. No residual sodium carbonate (RSC) was detected in any of the samples, indicating suitability for irrigation; and all samples were considered very hard. Cr and Mn contents in all samples were above FAO guideline values and, therefore, these metals were considered toxic. Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, and Ni concentrations were below acceptable limit for irrigation and do not pose a threat to soil environment. Significant relationships were found between EC and TDS, SAR and SSP, SAR and RSC, and SSP and RSC. The combinations of ions such as K-Zn, K-Fe, K-Cu, K-Mn, K-Pb, Zn-Fe, Zn-Cu, Zn-Mn, Fe-Mn, Cu-Mn, Cu-Pb and Mn-Pb exhibited significant correlation. This study revealed that Turag River water samples are contaminated with Cr and Mn. This fact should not be ignored because water contamination by metals may pose a threat to human health through food chain.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.165-174
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• 1999

This study was conducted to analyze the priority of environmental problems in Korea by investigating the environmental professionals' perception. The delphi technique was applied to identify their risk perception towards some specific items related with pollution. A standardized questionnaire on environmental problems and their priorities was used to 74 subjects. In the questionnaire, the environmental problems were divided into the general ones,9 items, and the specific ones,30 items. Also, the perception was associated with two points of view which were the risk on general human health or ecosystem, and on the present situation in Korea. The priority of risk from general environmental problems on human health or ecosystem was analyzed in the order of 'water pollution', 'air pollution', 'soil contamination', 'waste', 'toxic chemical pollutants', 'food contamination', 'ocean contamination', 'odor pollution', and 'noise pollution'. The priority of risk on the present situation in Korea was analyzed in the order of 'water pollution','air pollution','waste','toxic chemical pollutants','food contamination','soil contamination','ocean contamination','odor pollution', and 'noise pollution'. And these priorities were significantly related with the characteristics of respondents such as sex, age, and major concerned area. However, for the first five priorities of risk from the specific environmental problems on human health or ecosystem, the environmental professionals agreed with 'automotive vehicle exhaust', 'domestic and industrial source pollutants to surface water', '$CO_2$nd g1oba1 warming effect','toxic air pollutant' and 'industrial source air pollution'. The priorities of risk on the present situation in Korea were similar to these results.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.679-688
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• 1997

In order to analyze the water quality variation of surface water around the Sudokwon landfill site, seasonal variations of water temperature, pH, DO. HOD, COD, SS, NH3-N, NO2-N, and NO3-N were examined at 10 sites from January to December, 1996. It was found that the estimates of COD, DO. SS, and $NH_3-N$ were Increased compared with the results of environmental Impact assessment carried out In 1988. Higher estimates of COD, DO, and SS were due to Industrial and agricultural wastewater, and the Increase of NH3-N at Jangdo reservoir strate was due to the leachate from the landfill. In particular, the estimate of 55 was found to be increased by the soil wash from the landfill during the heavy rainy days.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.236-243
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• 2010

Fecal sterols, nonylphenolic compounds (NPs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in surface water from Masan Bay and its adjacent rivers in February 2005. Concentrations of coporstanol (Cop), an indicator of fecal pollution, in surface water ranged from <10 to 13,853 ng/L, and concentrations of nonylphenol, the most toxic of the NPs, ranged from 10.2 to 481 ng/L, and concentrations of PAHs ranged from 8.61 to 223 ng/L. The concentrations of the compounds measured in this study were lower than or comparable to those at other locations in Korea and other countries. The contamination of Cop and PAHs in surface water was associated with the discharge from rivers passing through cities and/or industrial complexes. The NP contamination was associated with wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents through outfalls as well as riverine discharge. Compared to ecotoxicological values, the concentrations of NPs from rivers, the mouths of rivers, and WWTP outfall areas exceeded guidelines, suggesting that hot spot areas may pose a potential risk to sensitive species.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.207-210
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• 1998

Surface electrical conduction in insulator is most important factor to assess the insulation performances of outdoor insulating materials. In this paper, contamination performance of the widely used materials for outdoor insulator - porcelain, EPDM, Silicone rubber - were discussed by measuring properties of average leakage current and scintillation discharge pulses under artificial contamination conditions. The artificial contaminations used were deionized distilled water fog, 0.5wt% NaCl salt fog of light pollution and 2wt% NaCl salt fog of medium pollution. The average leakage current was appeared linearly with applied voltage at dry and clean surface condition. The magnitude of leakage current was almost same at different kinds of samples. In case of deionized distilled water fog, the characteristics of leakage current and applied voltage was most different to that in case of dry and clean condition. In case of salt fog pollution condition. The leakage current was increased above critical voltage. The scintillation discharges were also activated at the level the leakage current and scintillation discharges were increased with increasing pollution degree. The resistance to pollution properties of silicone rubber appeared excellent among them.