• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.573-580
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• 2017

The oxicity assesment of Phenanthrene (PHE) has been investigated by using the rate (r) of survival and population growth in rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. The survival rate was determined after 24 h of exposure to PHE. The survival rate of PHE had no effect at a maximum of $300mg\;L^{-1}$. The r was determined after 72 h of exposure to PHE. It was observed that r in the controls (absence PHE) was greater than 0.5, but that it suddenly decreased with an increased concentration of PHE. PHE reduced r in a dose-dependent manner and a significant reduction occurred at a concentration of greater than $37.5mg\;L^{-1}$. The $EC_{50}$ value of r in PHE exposure was $63.7mg\;L^{-1}$. The no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC) of r in PHE exposure was $18.8mg\;L^{-1}$. The lowest-observed-effect-concentration (LOEC) of r in the PHE exposure was $37.5mg\;L^{-1}$. From the results, the concentration of PHE (greater than $37.5mg\;L^{-1}$) has a toxic effect on the r of B. plicatilis in natural ecosystems. These results(including NOEC, LOEC and $EC_{50}$) might be useful for the Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) toxicity assessment in marine ecosystems.

• Biomaterials Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 2018

Background: Biogenic fabrication of silver nanoparticles from naturally occurring biomaterials provides an alternative, eco-friendly and cost-effective means of obtaining nanoparticles. It is a favourite pursuit of all scientists and has gained popularity because it prevents the environment from pollution. Our main objective to take up this project is to fabricate silver nanoparticles from lichen, Usnea longissima and explore their properties. In the present study, we report a benign method of biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from aqueous-ethanolic extract of Usnea longissima and their characterization by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Silver nanoparticles thus obtained were tested for antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria and gram negative bacteria. Results: Formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by the appearance of an absorption band at 400 nm in the UV-vis spectrum of the colloidal solution containing both the nanoparticles and U. longissima extract. Poly(ethylene glycol) coated silver nanoparticles showed additional absorption peaks at 424 and 450 nm. FTIR spectrum showed the involvement of amines, usnic acids, phenols, aldehydes and ketones in the reduction of silver ions to silver nanoparticles. Morphological studies showed three types of nanoparticles with an abundance of spherical shaped silver nanoparticles of 9.40-11.23 nm. Their average hydrodynamic diameter is 437.1 nm. Results of in vitro antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyrogenes, Streptococcus viridans, Corynebacterium xerosis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae (gram positive bacteria) and Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneuomoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram negative bacteria) showed that it was effective against tested bacterial strains. However, S. mutans, C. diphtheriae and P. aeruginosa were resistant to silver nanoparticles. Conclusion: Lichens are rarely exploited for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles. In the present work the lichen acts as reducing as well as capping agent. They can therefore, be used to synthesize metal nanoparticles and their size may be controlled by monitoring the concentration of extract and metal ions. Since they are antibacterial they may be used for the treatment of bacterial infections in man and animal. They can also be used in purification of water, in soaps and medicine. Their sustained release may be achieved by coating them with a suitable polymer. Silver nanoparticles fabricated from edible U. longissima are free from toxic chemicals and therefore they can be safely used in medicine and medical devices. These silver nanoparticles were stable for weeks therefore they can be stored for longer duration of time without decomposition.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.642-649
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• 2021

Energy saving standard for buildings are strengthened, the application of exterior insulation finishing system and thickness of insulation materials are increasing. Most buildings with exterior insulation finishing system is applied organic insulating material. Organic insulating material have workability, economic feasibility, reduction in construction cost, and excellent thermal insulation performance. However, Organic insulating material is very vulnerable to heat, so when a fire occurs, rapid fire spread and toxic gas are generated, causing many casualties. Inorganic insulating material can be non-combustible performance, but it is heavy and has low thermal insulation performance. Mineral wool has higher thermal insulation performance than other types of inorganic insulating material, but mineral wool is disadvantageous to workability and vulnerable to moisture. Glass bubble are highly resistant to water and chemically stable substances. In addition, the density of the glass bubble is very low and the particles are spherical, fluidity is improved by the ball bearing effect. Glass bubbles can be used with cement-based ino rganic insulating material to impro ve the weight and thermal insulatio n perfo rmance o f cement-based inorganic insulation. This study produced a inorganic insulating materials were manufactured using cement-based materials and glass bubble. In order to evaluate the insulation performance and flame retardant performance of cement-based super light-weight inorganic insulating materials using with glass bubble, insulation performance or flame retardant and non-combustible performance were evaluated after manufacturing insulating materials using micro cement and two types of glass bubbles. From the test result, Increasing the mixing ratio of glass bubbles improved the insulation performance of cement-based super light-weight inorganic insulating materials, and when the mixing ratio of glass bubbles was 10%, it sho wed sufficient flame retardant and no n-co mbustible perfo rmance.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.80-87
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• 2021

In this study, the toxic effects of PFOA and PFOS potassium salt on Mesocentrotus nudus using 10 min-fertilization rate and 48 h-normal embryogenesis were confirmed through the calculation of toxicity values such as Non-observed effective concentration, Low-observed effective concentration, and 50% of effective concentration. The case of 10 min-fertilization rate and 48 h-normal embryogenesis showed the concentration-dependent reduction pattern when exposed to PFOA and PFOS potassium salt, in tested concentration, respectively. The EC50 values of 10 min-fertilization rates for PFOA and PFOS potassium salt were 1346.43 mg/l and 536.18 mg/l, respectively, and the EC50 values of 48 h-normal embryogenesis were 42.67 mg/l and 17.81 mg/l, respectively. Both toxicity test methods showed high toxicity sensitivity to PFOS potassium salt. Recent studies have shown that the concentration of PFOA and PFOS in the marine environment has continuously decreased, and it is not enough to show acute toxicity to sea urchin. However, PFOA and PFOS have a very long half-life and can accumulate throughout the life of marine life, so it is still observed at a high concentration in shellfish. Therefore, a study on chronic toxicity through the whole-life cycle of marine organisms in coastal environments should be needed.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.306-313
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is suggested to improve upon current existing methods of ammonia chemical accident prevention and damage reduction. Method: Ammonia is one of the most common toxic substances that causes frequent chemical accidents. And it was selected as leakage materials according to statistics on chemical accident. Based on actual cases of chemical accidents, CARIS modeling was used to compare the damage impact range of Ammonia and HCl and Cl. Also, find out problems with the current systems. Result: As a result of find out the range of accident influence that spreads to the surroundings when an ammonia chemical accident, it was longer than the range of influence of hydrochloric acid and shorter than that of chlorine. In addition, it was found that when chemical accident by ammonia, hydrochloric acid, or chlorine, there are apartments and schools, which can have an effect. Conclusion: It is decided that it is necessary to determine whether or not chemical accident prevention management plans and statistical investigations are submitted for workplaces dealing with ammonia, and detailed guidelines and reviews are necessary. In addition, it is judged that it is necessary to establish a DB for ammonia handling plants, and it is considered that information sharing and joint inspection among related organizations should be pursued.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.64-72
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• 2023

Biopolymer is a versatile material used in food processing, medicine, construction, and soil reinforcement. 𝛽-glucan is one of the biopolymers that improves the soil water content and ion adsorption in a drought or toxic metal contaminated land for plant survival. We analyzed drought stress damage reduction in sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L. cv. Sodammi) by measuring the growth and major protein expression and activity under 𝛽-glucan soil amendment. The result showed that sweet potato leaf length and width were not affected by drought stress for 14 days, but sweet potatoes grown in 𝛽-glucan-amended soil showed an effect in preventing wilting caused by drought in phenotypic changes. Under drought stress, sweet potato leaves did not show any changes in electrolyte leakage, but the relative water content was higher in sweet potatoes grown in 𝛽-glucan-amended soil than in normal soil. 𝛽-glucan soil amendment increased the expression of plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPase, but it decreased the aquaporin PIP2 (plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2) in sweet potatoes under drought stress. Moreover, water maintenance affected the PM H⁺-ATPase activity, which contributed to tolerance under drought stress. These results indicate that 𝛽-glucan soil amendment improves the soil water content during drought and affects the water supply in sweet potatoes. Consequently, 𝛽-glucan is a potential material for maintaining soil water contents, and analysis of the major PM proteins is one of the indicators for evaluating the biopolymer effect on plant survival under drought stress.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.701-716
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• 2023

Microplastics (<5 mm diameter) in aquatic environments adsorb heavy metals, potentially exposing humans to their toxic effects via food chains. We investigated factors influencing the adsorption of heavy metals on microplastics in aquatic environments, examining their adsorption processes and mechanisms. Adsorption characteristics vary with polymer type, crystallinity, particle size, and environmental conditions (pH, temperature, weathering), and the adsorption capacity for heavy metals increases with weathering and reduction in polymer particle size. However, correlations between environment temperature, polymer crystallinity, and adsorption capacity for heavy metals could not be confirmed. The adsorption behavior of heavy metals can be explained in terms of physicochemical adsorption processes and evaluated through adsorption kinetics and isothermal studies, with multiple mechanisms usually being involved. An understanding of the adsorption of heavy metals by microplastics should aid evaluation of the potential risks of microplastics in aquatic environments.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.524-533
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• 2008

Industrial wastewater generated in the electroplating and metal finishing industries typically contain toxic free and complex metal cyanide with various heavy metals. Alkaline chlorination, the normal treatment method destroys only free cyanide, not complex metal cyanide. A novel treatment method has been developed which destroys both free and complex metal cyanide as compared with Practical Plant(I). Prior to the removal of complex metal cyanide by Fe/Zn coprecipitation and removal of others(Cu, Ni), Chromium is reduced from the hexavalent to the trivalent form by Sodium bisulfite(NaHSO$_3$), followed by alkaline-chlorination for the cyanide destruction. The maximum removal efficiency of chromium by reduction was found to be 99.92% under pH 2.0, ORP 250 mV for 0.5 hours. The removal efficiency of complex metal cyanide was max. 98.24%(residual CN: 4.50 mg/L) in pH 9.5, 240 rpm with 3.0 $\times$ 10$^{-4}$ mol of FeSO$_4$/ZnCl$_2$ for 0.5 hours. The removal efficiency of Cu, Ni using both hydroxide and sulfide precipitation was found to be max. 99.9% as Cu in 3.0 mol of Na$_2$S and 93.86% as Ni in 4.0 mol of Na$_2$S under pH 9.0$\sim$10.0, 240 rpm for 0.5 hours. The concentration of residual CN by alkaline-chlorination was 0.21 mg/L(removal efficiencies: 95.33%) under the following conditions; 1st Oxidation : pH 10.0, ORP 350 mV, reaction time 0.5 hours, 2nd Oxidation : pH 8.0, ORP 650 mV, reaction time 0.5 hours. It is important to note that the removal of free and complex metal cyanide from the electroplating wastewater should be employed by chromium reduction, Fe/Zn coprecipitation and, sulfide precipitation, followed by alkaline-chlorination for the Korean permissible limit of wastewater discharge, where the better results could be found as compared to the preceding paper as indicated in practical treatment(I).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.353-360
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• 2016

Effect of heavy metals(Cd, Cu, Zn) on the survival and population growth rates(PGR) of marine rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis were examined. B. plicatilis were exposed to Cd, Cu and Zn for 24 h to determine their survival and 72 h to determine their PGR. Survival rates in the control groups were greater than 90%. They were decreased with increasing concentrations of Cd, Cu and Zn. Survival rates were reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. Significant reduction in survival rates after exposure to Cd, Cu and Zn at concentration greater than 40.00, 0.13 and $10.00mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. PGR in the control groups were greater than 0.50. They were decreased with increasing concentrations of heavy metals. PGR were reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. Significant reduction in PGR after exposure to Cd, Cu and Zn occurred at concentration greater than 12.5, 0.06 and $1.00mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The order of heavy metal toxicity based on PGR was Cu>Zn>Cd, with $EC_{50}$ (50% Effective Concentration) values of 0.12, 6.15 and $21.41mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The lowest-observed-effective-concentrations(LOEC) of PGR after exposure to Cd, Cu and Zn were 12.50, 0.06 and $1.00mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The No-observed-effective-concentrations(NOEC) of PGR after exposure to Cd, Cu and Zn were 6.25, 0.03 and $0.01mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively, in marine ecosystems have toxic effects on PGR of B. plicatilis. These results suggest that the PGR of B. plicatilis are useful tool to assess the effect of heavy metals on primary consumers in marine natural ecosystems.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.743-749
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• 2010

Objective of this research was to investigate the effect of various potassium concentrations in fertilizer solution on growth of and nutrient uptake by 'Chugyang' eggplant ($Solanum$ $melongena$ L.). Tissue analyses were conducted to determine the threshold levels of potassium in plants when disorders develop for potassium. The lower leaves of K deficient plants became spotted, yellowing in color, and finally necrosis occurred. The necrosis spread inward and upward. K toxic plants developed necrotic spot at the margin of old leaves and the surface of old leaves were twisted. The tissue K contents in the most recently fully expanded leaves and dry weight of full above ground plant tissue at 35 days after transplanting showed linear and quadratic response to elevated K concentrations with the equation of y=1.127+0.3147x ($R^2$=0.8916) and y=14.92+2.2743x-$0.1402x_2$ ($R^2$=0.8659). When 10% reduction in dry weight set to threshold levels, optimum tissue K contents are in the range from 2.1 to 5.1%. The yield through 150 days after transplanting and tissue K contents at 150 days after transplanting also showed quadratic and linear responses to elevated potassium concentrations in fertigation solution with the equation of y=153.24+345.5x-$18.46x^2$ ($R^2$=0.8620) and y=0.9921+0.3860x ($R^2$=0.9611), respectively. When the 10% reduction in yield is set to threshold levels, the tissue K contents for maximum yield should be around 3.4% to 5.9% in most recently fully expanded leaves.