• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.213-218
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• 2012

Abnormal dissolved oxygen concentration in aquatic habitat, both depletion and supersaturation, can be stress factor to aquatic animals. In this study the nationwide distribution of oxygen supersaturation was analyzed for three categories of streams (43 urban streams, 15 rural streams, and 14 forest streams) by using monitoring network data of the Korean Ministry of Environment. From the distribution analysis 30% of urban streams showed hyperoxic condition of eutrophic level, while no forest stream showed hyperoxic condition. The physiological effect of hyperoxia on fish was examined using two species of fish Zacco koreanus, which resulted in higher concentration of a stress hormone (cortisol) in fish exposed to hyperoxic concentration (196%) of oxygen. This study shows that hyperoxic condition is ubiquitous in urban and rural Korean streams, and it can be a stress factor to aquatic animals.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.129-137
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• 2012

Probabilistic ecological risk assessment (PERA) for deriving ecological protective concentration (EPC) was previously suggested in USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Netherland. This study suggested the EPC of cadmium (Cd) based on the PERA to be suitable to Korean aquatic ecosystem. First, we collected reliable ecotoxicity data from reliable data without restriction and reliable data with restrictions. Next, we sorted the ecotoxicity data based on the site-specific locations, exposure duration, and water hardness. To correct toxicity by the water hardness, EU's hardness corrected algorithm was used with slope factor 0.89 and a benchmark of water hardness 100. EPC was calculated according to statistical extrapolation method (SEM), statistical extrapolation $method_{Acute\;to\;chronic\;ratio}$ ($SEM_{ACR}$), and assessment factor method (AFM). As a result, aquatic toxicity data of Cd were collected from 43 acute toxicity data (4 Actinopterygill, 29 Branchiopoda, 1 Polychaeta, 2 Bryozoa, 6 Chlorophyceae, 1 Chanophyceae) and 40 chronic toxicity data (2 Actinopterygill, 23 Branchiopoda, 9 Chlorophyceae, 6 Macrophytes). Because toxicity data of Cd belongs to 4 classes in taxonomical classification, acute and chronic EPC (11.07 ${\mu}g/l$ and 0.034 ${\mu}g/l$, respectively) was calculated according to SEM technique. These values were included in the range of international EPCs. This study would be useful to establish the ecological standard for the protection of aquatic ecosystem in Korea.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.324-330
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• 2009

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation and elimination were assessed in the tissues of the clam R. philippinarum at four experimental concentrations (control, 10, 20, 100, and $200\;{\mu}g/L$) over an exposure period of 2 weeks and an elimination period of 1 week. Cd accumulated in the digestive gland, gill, and residual clam tissues, and accumulation increased with time of exposure and concentration (100 and $200\;{\mu}g/L$). After 2 weeks of Cd exposure, the order of Cd accumulation in tissues was gill > digestive gland > residual tissues. An inverse relationship was observed between concentration factor (CF) and exposure level, but the CF showed an increase with exposure time. During the depuration period, Cd concentrations in the digestive gland, gill, and residual tissues decreased immediately on the cessation of exposure, except in individuals at the $200\;{\mu}g/L$ concentration. The Cd elimination rate from tissues decreased in the order of digestive gland > gill > residual tissues during the depuration period.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2004

Benzoyl peroxide is a High Production Volume Chemical, which is produced about 1,371 tons/year in Korea as of 2001 survey. The substance is mainly used as initiators in polymerization, catalysts in the plastics industry, bleaching agents for flour and medication for acne vulgaris. In this study, Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR) are used for getting adequate information on the physical -chemical properties of this chemical. And hydrolysis in water, acute toxicity to aquatic and terrestrial organisms for benzoyl peroxide were studied. The physical -chemical properties of benzoyl peroxide were estimated as followed; vapor pressure=0.00929 Pa, Log $K_{ow}$ = 3.43, Henry's Law constant=3.54${\times}$10$^{-6}$ atm-㎥/mole at $25^{\circ}C$, the half-life of photodegradation=3 days and bioconcentration factor (BCF)=92. Hydrolysis half-life of benzoyl peroxide in water was 5.2 hr at pH 7 at $25^{\circ}C$ and according to the structure of this substance hydrolysis product was expected to benzoic acid. Benzoyl peroxide has toxic effects on the aquatic organisms. 72 hr-Er $C_{50}$ (growth rate) for algae was 0.44 mg/1.,48 hr-E $C_{50}$ for daphnia was 0.07mg/L and the 96hr-L $C_{50}$ of acute toxicity to fish was 0.24mg/L. Acute toxicity to terrestrial organisms (earth worm) of benzoyl peroxide was low (14 day-L $C_{50}$ = > 1,000 mg/kg). Although benzoyl peroxide is high toxic to aquatic organisms, the substance if not bioaccumulated because of the rapid removal by hydrolysis (half-life=5.2 hr at pH 7 at $25^{\circ}C$) and biodegradation (83% by BOD after 21 days). The toxicity observed is assumed to be due to benzoyl peroxide rather than benzoic acid, which shows much lower toxicity to aquatic organisms. One can assume that effects occur before hydrolysis takes place. From the acute toxicity value of algae, daphnia and fish, an assessment factor of 100 was used to determine the predicted no effect concentration (PNEC). The PNEC was calculated to be 0.7$\mu\textrm{g}$/L based on the 48 hr-E $C_{50}$ daphnia (0.07 mg/L). The substance shows high acute toxicity to aquatic organisms and some information indicates wide-dispersive ore of this substance. So this substance is, a candidate for further work, even if it hydrolysis rapidly and has a low bioaccumulation potential. This could lead to local concern for the aquatic environment and therefore environmental exposure assessment is recommended.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.453-461
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• 2009

Killifish (Oryzias latipes) were exposed to an organophosphate pesticide, pirimiphos-methyl, in a flow-through system to determine the bioconcentration factor (BCF) following GLP (Good Laboratory Practice). This study was conducted at two different concentrations (1 and $10\;{\mu}$g/L) of $^{14}C$-labeled pirimiphos-methyl for 28 days uptake and 14 days depuration according to the OECD 305 test guideline. The $BCF_{ss}$ for total radioactive residues in whole fish were 1,251 and 1,277 for low and high concentrations, respectively. The $BCF_k$ based on the uptake and depuration rate constants were 1,200 for both low and high concentrations. During the depuration phase, the accumulated test substance was rapidly depurated from fish. Greater than 95% of the residue at steady-state was depurated after 2 days. Although the measured BCF values were high, pirimiphos-methyl could be evaluated as a low risk from bioaccumulation by aquatic organisms due to the short depuration period and low amount of bound residue (1.5%). We suggest that in evaluating bioaccumulation, not only the BCF should be considered, but also depuration time and bound residue in aquatic organisms give an indication of the potential environmental risks.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.297-309
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• 1990

The distribution of aquatic macrophytes in TanChon basin, a stream of the Han River, were investigated in terms of environmental gradient from June 1989 to March 1990. In the basin, 12 species of aquatic macrophytes were listed and four communities of Potamogeton crispus community. $P. octandrus$ community, $Hydrilla verticillata$ community and $Vallisneria$ asiatica community were recongized by character species. $P. crispus, P. octandrus$ and $V. asiatica$ were found in rapids while $H. verticillata , Ceratophyllum demersum$ and $Trapa japonica$ were done in pools. The depth of sediment $TanCh\u{o}n$ was showed as a exponential function of water velocity, Bd=exp (-K Wv). The values of Biochemical Oxygen Demand(BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD) and Suspendid Solid(SS) were recorded as range of 3.2~121.0mg/1, 4.2~54.5mg/1 and 4.1~114.0mg/1, respectively. And the linear positive correlation between BOD(X) and COD(Y) were expressed as Y=3.904+0.4308 X with $R^2$=0.9808 and also the correlation between BOD value(X) and SS value(Y) were done as Y=5.333+0.9606X with $R^2$=0.9700. In two dimensional analysis of BOD and water velocity, their clusters were showed similar types matching to communities classified by character species. However, no aquatic macrophyes were found at the site with BOD$\geq$50mg/l or DO$\leq$0.2mg/l.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.3 s.104
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• pp.242-256
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• 2003

This study aimed to determine the relationship between rainfall-discharge patterns and maior aquatic environmental factors in a river-type reservoir. Specifically, daily monitoring was conducted in Paltang Reservoir from January 1999 to December 2001. Observation of the daily changes of the environment factors showed that natural meteorological factors and hydrological factors causing the change of water discharge had a major effect on the aquatic environment. Rainfall was the main source of hydrological changes, with its frequency a possible direct variable governing the range of discharge changes. Rainfall was weak in November${\sim}$May and heavy in June${\sim}$October (heavist in summer). The range of water discharge was greatest during summer (July to September) and lowest during winter (January to February). A principal component analysis (PCA) showed that aquatic environmental factors could be classified into three different types in the pattern of annual variation. First, type I included water temperature, turbidity, water color and organic matter (COD), which increased with increasing water discharge. Second, type ll consisted of DO and pH, which decreased with increasing water discharge. Third, type III included conductivity, alkalinity and chloride ion, which showed middle values with increasing water discharge. Monthly variation of aquatic environments explained by the first two dimensions of the PCA suggests that aquatic environments of Paltang Reservoir may have annual cycle typical of river-type reservoirs depending on hydrological factor such as water discharge.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: The stabilities of the two alkaloidal insecticides of S. flavescens including matrine and oxymatrine are important factor to establish expiry date and usage manual for crop protection. However, the environmental stability of the compounds had not been studied with the extract and its commercial biopesticide. METHODS AND RESULTS: The environmental stabilities of the two alkaloids were performed with extract of S. flavescens, and its two commercial biopesticides both in controlled aquatic and soil conditions. The half-lives of the total matrines for the extract and its two commercial biopesticides were estimated over 200 days both under aerobic and anaerobic water condition. Under dry soil condition, the initial decay rates of the matrines were calculated 0.0804-0.1275 ($t_{1/2}$ 5.4-8.6 days), and the half-lives under wet soil condition were calculated 33.0-231 days. Total soil bacteria on the wet soil ranged 6.0-8.0 log CFU/g-soil during the experiments period. CONCLUSION: The aquatic mixture of the extract showed excellent stability both with the extract and its biopesticides, however, the stability of soil mixture were shorter than the aquatic mixture, suggesting that soil metal consider as a catalyst for the degradation of the two alkaloids.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2018

Objectives: The pathogenic Vibrios genus denotes halophilic bacteria that are distributed in aquatic environments, including both sea and freshwater. Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus are the most important species since they can be potent human pathogens and leading causes of septicemia, wound infections, and seafood borne gastroenteritis. The recent emergence of a potential pandemic clone, V. cholera serotype O1 and the cholera outbreak in South Korea in 2016 indicates the importance of consistent surveillance of pathogenic Vibrio genus within coastal areas. Methods: The present study was undertaken to determine where and how vibrios live in the aquatic environment adjacent to coastal areas of South Korea. For this survey, a total of 838 samples were obtained at 35 different sites in South Korean coastal areas during the period from January 2016 to December 2016. Pathogenic vibrios was determined using the real-time PCR method, and its clones were isolated using three selective plating media. We also monitored changes in seawater and atmospheric temperature, salinity, turbidity, and hydrogen ion concentration at the collection points. Results: The total isolation rates of V. vulnificus, V. cholera (non-pathogenic, non-O1, non-O139 serogroups), and V. parahaemolyticus from seawater specimens in 2016 were 14.2, 13.48, and 67.06%, respectively. Conclusions: The isolation rates of pathogenic vibrios genus showed a positive correlation with temperature of seawater and atmosphere but were negatively correlated with salinity and turbidity.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.767-787
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• 2016

In this study, we analyzed on-site monitoring data for 15 tributaries in Geumho watersheds for 3 years (2011-2013) in order to sort out priorities on water quality characteristics and improvement. As a result of estimating contribution to contamination of the tributary rivers, Dalseocheon showed the highest load densities, despite the smallest watershed area, with 22.7% $BOD_5$, 30.7% $COD_{Mn}$, 31.3% TOC and 47.6% TP. After conducting PCA (principal component analysis) and FA (factor analysis) to analyze water quality characteristics of the tributary rivers, the first factor was classified as $COD_{Mn}$, TOC, EC, TP and $BOD_5$, the second factor as pH, Chl-a and DO, the third factor as water temperature and TN, and the fourth factor as SS and surface flow. In addition, arithmetical sum of each factor's scores based on grading criteria revealed that Dalseocheon and Namcheon were classified into Group A for their highest scores - 96 and 93, respectively -, and selected as rivers that require water environmental management measures the most. Also, water environmental contamination inspection showed that Palgeocheon had the most number of aquatic factors to be controlled: $BOD_5$, $COD_{Mn}$, SS, TOC, T-P, Chl-a, etc.