• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.1270-1276
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• 2013

Laver, a red algae belonging to the genus Porphyra tenera, is one of the most widely consumed edible seaweeds in Korea, China, and Japan. Lavers are usually consumed in dried, roasted, and seasoned forms to improve their palatability. We evaluated the composition of amino acids, minerals, and trace heavy metals in these three differently cooked forms of laver. The moisture and ash contents of three differently cooked lavers ranged from 1.49~9.69% and 6.07~10.31%, respectively. The crude protein and lipid content ranged from 17.24~36.88% and 0.52~42.42%, respectively. Dried laver was found to be a good source of amino acids such as taurine, alanine, and glutamic acid (871.10 mg, 833.53 mg, and 719.77 mg per 100 g dry weight, respectively). Laver was a good source of macro and micro minerals such as K, Ca, Mg, Na, P, I, and Fe, although laver more extensively cooked (roasted and seasoned) contained less minerals compared to the dried form. Mercury levels in the three differently cooked forms of laver were all less than 100 ng/g dry weight (the limit of detection with our methodology). The levels of arsenic were the most abundant elements in the differently cooked laver. There was a clear variation, depending on the cooking process, in terms of amino acid, mineral, and trace metal contents of laver.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated the chemical characteristics of soils collected from the several deserts and loess in China known as the typical source areas of Asian dust (the Taklamakan desert, the Alashan desert, the Ordos desert and the Loess Plateau). Based on our analysis, we examined the possibility of adverse effects on environments and human health. In each desert and loess, major elemental compositions of soils did not show large variations, implying that the long-periodic mixing of soils in each area made their chemical compositions homogeneous. Minor elements of soils in each desert and loess showed more complicated patterns with strong correlations each other (e.g., Cr, Cu, As, Co, Ni, V, Y, Sc, Sn, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cs, Li, Th, U). These results thus enable us to discriminate the soil of the Loess Plateau from those of the other deserts in China. The results of sequential extraction experiments for soils showed that the chemical speciation of Fe was dominant in residual fraction (>85%) in all deserts and loess, but the fractions of Mn and Ca chemical speciations were very different in each area. In the case of Mn, the fraction of amorphous Fe-Mn hydroxides (55.4%) in the Central Loess Plateau and the carbonate fraction (33.8%) in Taklamakan desert were higher as much as 2 to 5 times than other deserts. The chemical speciations of Ca are dominant in carbonate fraction in Taklamakan (75.9%) and Alashan (50.5%) deserts, but carbonate fractions of Ca in the Loess Plateau and Ordos deserts were low (6.6% and 2.1%, respectively). According to the mobility of trace elements inferred from the results of sequential extraction procedure, we could classify them into five groups, and the mobility of Cd, Pb and Cu are more than 87%, 33% and 30%, respectively. Therefore, Cd, Pb and Cu in soils of deserts and loess could be easily dissolved when interacted with surface water. As such, they could give adverse effects on surficial environments and human health.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 2001

Environmental pollution of the Tohyun mine creek area was investigated on the basis of geology, mineralogy and geochemistry. In soils and sediments of the mine area, ${Al_2}{O_3}/{Na_2O}$ and ${K_2}O/{Na_2}O$ ratios are partly negative correlation against ${SiO_2}/{Al_2}{O_3}$, respectively. Geochemical characteristics of some trace and rare earth elements such as V/Ni, Ni/Co, La/Ce, Th/Yb, Th/U, La/Th, ${La_N}/{Yb_N}$, La/Sc and Sc/Th are revealed a narrow range and homogeneous compositions may be explained by simple source lithology. These results suggest that sediments source of the host shale around the mine area could be originated by basic to intermediate igneous rocks. Mineral compositions of soil and sediment near the mine area were partly variable mineralogy, which are composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, chlorite, clay minerals and some pyrite. Soils and sediments with highly concentrated heavy minerals, gravity separated mineralogy, are composed of some pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, goethite and various kinds of hydroxide minerals on the polished sections. As normalized by bed rock composition, average enrichment indices of major elements in sediments, precipitates, farmland soils and paddy soils are 1.0, 1.7, 0.9 and 0.8, respectively. Maximum concentration of environmental toxic elements in the mine creek are detected with Ag = 186 ppm, As = 17,100 ppm, Bi = ]27 ppm, Cd = 77 ppm, Cu = 12,299 ppm, Pb = 8,897 ppm, Sb = 1,350 ppm, W = 599 ppm and Zn = 12,250 ppm, which are increasing with total FeO increasing, and extremely high concentrations of surface sediments and precipitates near the waste rock dump. These toxic elements (As, Bi, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, W and Zn) of the samples, normalizing by host rock concentration, revealed that average enrichment index is 106.0 for sediments, 279.6 for precipitates, 3.5 for farmland soils and 1.6 for paddy soils. However, on the basis of EPA values, enrichment indices of all the samples are 40.7, 121.4, 1.3 and 0.6, respectively.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.337-349
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• 2015

This study has focused on investigation of correlation for As and heavy metals in paddy soil and rice crops sampled in the vicinity of the abandoned Munmyung Au-Ag mine. Soil samples extracted by various methods including aqua regia, 1 M $MgCl_2$, 0.01 M $CaCl_2$ and 0.05 M EDTA were analyzed for As and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn). Rice grain samples grown on the soils were also analyzed for the same elements to evaluate the relationships between soils and rice crops. According to soil extraction methods, As and heavy metal contents in the soils were decreased in the order of aqua regia > 0.01 M $CaCl_2$ > 1 M $MgCl_2$ > 0.05 M EDTA. In addition to correlation analysis, statistically significant correlation with the four extraction methods (p<0.01) were found in the soil and rice samples. As calculation of biological accumulation coefficients (BACs) of the rice crops for As and heavy metals, the BACs for Cd, Zn and Cu were relatively higher than those for As and Pb. This study also carried out a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis to identify the dominant factors influencing metal extraction rates of the paddy soils. Furthermore, daily intakes of As and heavy metals from regularly consumed the rice grain (287 g/day) grown on the contaminated soils by the mining activities were estimated, and found that Cd and As intakes from the rice reached up to 73.7% and 51.8% for maximum allowance levels of trace elements suggested by WHO, respectively. Therefore, long-term consumption of the rice poses potential health problems to residents around the mine, although no adverse health effects have yet been observed.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.303-312
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• 2023

The determination of the oxidation states of metal elements in manganese nodules sheds light on the understanding of the formation mechanism of nodules, providing insights into the paleo-environmental conditions such as the redox potential of the aqueous system. This study aims to reveal the oxidation states and chemical bonding of manganese in the natural polymetallic nodules, utilizing conventional X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Specifically, shallow manganese nodules from the Siberian Arctic Sea, effectively recording mineralogical variations, were used in this study. Detailed analysis of XPS Mn 2p spectra showed changes in the manganese oxidation state from the center to the outer parts of the nodules. The central part of the nodules showed a higher Mn⁴⁺ content, approximately 67.9%, while the outermost part showed about 63% of Mn⁴⁺ due to an increase in the Mn³⁺+Mn²⁺. The decrease in the Mn oxidation state with the growth is consistent with the previously reported mineralogical variations from todorokite to birnessite with growth. Additionally, the O 1s spectra presented a predominance of Mn-O-H bonds in the outer layers compared to the center, suggesting hydration by water in the layered manganates of outer layers. The results of this study demonstrate that XPS can be directly applied to understand changes in paleo-environmental conditions such as the redox states during the growth of manganese nodules. Finally, future studies using high-resolution synchrotron-based XPS experiments could achieve details in oxidation states of manganese and trace metal elements.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 2015

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the surface treatment and shape of the dental alloy on the composition of the prosthetic work and its metallic ion release in a corrosive medium after casting. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Orion Argos (Pd-Ag) and Orion Vesta (Pd-Cu) were used to cast two crowns and two disks. One of each was polished while the other was not. Two as-received alloys were also studied making a total of 5 specimens per alloy type. The specimens were submersed for 7 days in a lactic acid/sodium chloride solution (ISO standard 10271) and evaluated for surface structure characterization using SEM/EDAX. The solutions were quantitatively analysed for the presence of metal ions using ICP-MS and the results were statistically analysed with one-way ANOVA and a Tukey post-hoc test. RESULTS. Palladium is released from all specimens studied (range $0.06-7.08{\mu}g{\cdot}cm^{-2}{\cdot}week^{-1}$), with the Pd-Cu alloy releasing the highest amounts. For both types of alloys, ion release of both disk and crown pairs were statistically different from the as-received alloy except for the Pd-Ag polished crown (P>.05). For both alloy type, disk-shaped pairs and unpolished specimens released the highest amounts of Pd ions (range $0.34-7.08{\mu}g{\cdot}cm^{-2}{\cdot}week^{-1}$). Interestingly, in solutions submerged with cast alloys trace amounts of unexpected elements were measured. CONCLUSION. Shape and surface treatment influence ion release from dental alloys; polishing is a determinant factor. The release rate of cast and polished Pd alloys is between $0.06-0.69{\mu}g{\cdot}cm^{-2}{\cdot}week^{-1}$, which is close to or exceeding the EU Nickel Directive 94/27/EC compensated for the molecular mass of Pd ($0.4{\mu}g{\cdot}cm^{-2}{\cdot}week^{-1}$). The composition of the alloy does not represent the element release, therefore we recommend manufacturers to report element release after ISO standard corrosion tests beside the original composition.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.102-121
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• 2010

Three bronze bells excavated from the Hoeamsa temple site were investigated for their microstructures and chemical compositions in an effort to understand the technology applied in fabrication, which may represent the related industry established in the early Joseon period. The result shows that the bells were cast from alloys of approximately 85% copper-8% tin-7% lead. The chemical analysis for ten trace elements shows that they were all kept below 0.3 weight %, suggesting that the alloys were made of relatively well-refined copper, tin and lead. The presence of sulfur and iron indicates that chalcopyrite or chalcocite may have been used in the smelting of copper. Evidence has been found that the bells were cast by pouring the liquid metal from the top of the sand molds that were set up in an upright position. No additional treatments, thermal or mechanical, other than a little grinding were applied upon the completion of casting. After the shaping process, a balancing plate was attached to the top of the bell using a steel connection ring. The connection assembly was then fixed to the main body by using molten bronze as a solder. The surface inscription was found carved using different techniques. The differences in the order of strokes and the calligraphic style indicate that the carving was carried out by more than one master. In the absence of documentary evidence on past bronze technology, the present bronze bells with known chronology, provenance and the main agent of production, prove to be a rare and valuable archaeological material for the understanding of the related technology in use in the early Joseon period.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.95-106
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• 1984

To acquire the essential basic data to the establishment of control measure for the hazardous health effect that could be caused by harmful metals, the author measured the concentrations of trace metals in whole blood of women of $20{\sim}39$ years old living in urban and rural area using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The summarized results were as follows; 1. The mean concentration of zinc in whole blood was $10.69{\pm}8.07{\mu}g/ml$ in rural area. The frequency distribution by zinc concentration level was nearly L-type and the cumulative frequency distribution was showed bimodal type in both area. 2. The mean iron concentration in whole blood was $323.09{\pm}87.15{\mu}g/ml$ and $322.07{\pm}104.74{\mu}g/ml$ in urban and rural area, respectively. The frequency distribution was similar to normal distribution type in both area, but the cumulative distribution was unimodal type in urban area and bimodal type in rural area. 3. The mean magnesium concentration was $41.08{\pm}19.58{\mu}g/ml$ and $40.28{\pm}16.82{\mu}g/ml$ in the area, respectively. The frequency distribution type had skewness to the right and the cumulative frequency distribution was unimodal type in both area. 4. The mean copper concentration was $1.417{\pm}0.761{\mu}g/ml$ and $1.375{\pm}0.743{\mu}g/ml$ in the area, respectively. The frequency distribution type had skewness to the right and the cumulative frequency distribution was bimodal type in both area. 5. The mean manganese concentration was $0.079{\pm}0.039{\mu}g/ml$ and $0.07{\pm}0.058{\mu}g/ml$ in the area, respectively. The frequency distribution type had skewness to the right in both area but slight irregular in rural area and the cumulative distribution was unimodal and bimodal type in urban and rural area, respectively. 6. The mean cadmium concentration in whole blood was $0.031{\pm}0.026{\mu}g/ml$ in urban and $0.028{\pm}0.023{\mu}g/ml$ in rural area. The frequency distribution type had skewness to the right and cumulative frequency distribution was bimodal type in both area.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.157-167
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• 2021

Lead (Pb) is one of the key trace elements, exhibiting a peculiar partitioning behavior into silicate melts in contact with minerals. Partitioning behaviors of Pb between silicate mineral and melt have been known to depend on melt composition and thus, the atomic structures of corresponding silicate liquids. Despite the importance, detailed structural studies of Pb-bearing silicate melts are still lacking due to experimental difficulties. Here, we explored the effect of lead content on the atomic structures, particularly the evolution of silicate networks in Pb-bearing sodium metasilicate ([(PbO)_x(Na₂O)_1-x]·SiO₂) glasses as a model system for trace metal bearing natural silicate melts, using ²⁹Si solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. As the PbO content increases, the ²⁹Si peak widths increase, and the maximum peak positions shift from -76.2, -77.8, -80.3, -81.5, -84.6, to -87.7 ppm with increasing PbO contents of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.67, 0.86, and 1, respectively. The ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectra for the glasses were simulated with Gaussian functions for Qⁿ species (SiO₄ tetrahedra with n BOs) for providing quantitative resolution. The simulation results reveal the evolution of each Qⁿ species with varying PbO content. Na-endmember Na₂SiO₃ glass consists of predominant Q² species together with equal proportions of Q¹ and Q³. As Pb replaces Na, the fraction of Q² species tends to decrease, while those for Q¹ and Q³ species increase indicating an increase in disproportionation among Qⁿ species. Simulation results on the ²⁹Si NMR spectrum showed increases in structural disorder and chemical disorder as evidenced by an increase in disproportionation factor with an increase in average cation field strengths of the network modifying cations. Changes in the topological and configurational disorder of the model silicate melt by Pb imply an intrinsic origin of macroscopic properties such as element partitioning behavior.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1974

1. The mycelial growth and sporulation of Mycogone perniciosa was compared on modified Czapek's media deficient in carbon source, nitrogen source, K,Mg, P or the heavy metal elements. The mycelial growth was significantly reduced in solution cultures lacking Mg, K or P and only a trace of growth occurred in solutions lacking carbon source or nitrogen source. Most sparse sporulation and smaller chlamydospores than on any of deficient agar media occurred on agar media dificient in carbon source or nitrogen source. 2. In both potato dextrose agar and malt extract solution, growth of the fungus was optimum at $25^{\circ}C$, and undetectable at $10^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$. 3. Optimum pH for growth of this fungus was 7.0. 4. This fungus was killed in soil when exposed to $50^{\circ}C$ or higher for 20 minutes or more.