• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.146-158
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• 2010

In order to evaluate the characteristics of sediments and pollution by organic matter and metallic elements in intertidal sediments along the southwestern coast of Korea, we measured various geochemical parameters, including the mean grain size (Mz), water content (WC), ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and metallic elements (Al, Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Mn, Hg, As), in intertidal surface sediments. The Mz of the surface sediments ranged from 2.1 to 8.3$\phi$, indicating that the surface sediments consist of various sedimentary facies, such as sand, slightly gravelly mud, sandy mud, and silt. The IL and COD in surface sediment ranged from 0.8 to 5.5% (mean $2.9\pm1.2%$) and from 3.9 to $13.8\;mgO_2/g{\cdot}dry$ (mean $8.5\pm2.6\;mgO_2/g{\cdot}dry$), respectively, which were lower than the values for surface sediment in areas near fish and shellfish farms or industrial complexes. No AVS was detected at any sampling station, despite various sedimentary facies. Most of metallic elements in surface sediments showed relatively good positive correlations with Mz and IL, which imply that the concentrations of metallic elements are mainly controlled by grain size and the organic matter content. The concentrations of metallic elements, except As, at some stations were considerably lower than those in the Sediment Quality Guideline (Effect Range Low, ERL) proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States. Similarly, the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) class indicated that pollution by metallic elements in intertidal surface sediment, except As, was moderate or non-existent. Our results imply that the intertidal surface sediments along the southwestern coast of Korea are not polluted by organic matter and metallic elements and are healthy for benthic organisms.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.232-237
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• 2012

Total suspended solids (TSS), settleable suspended solids (SSS) and nonsettleable suspended solids (NSSS) were compared in streams and lakes during rain events. Samples were collected in Lake Soyang and nine agricultural streams during storm events over two years. To measure NSSS, samples were settled in 1 L cylinders for one hour and then 50% of the total sample volume was taken from the center of the cylinder. The SSS/TSS ratio in streams (0.50) was higher than in Lake Soyang (0.20). The ratio of TSS to turbidity decreased from 1.21 in the inflowing river to 0.69 in the reservoir outlet. Turbidity and NSSS showed higher correlation ($r^2$=0.82) compared with the correlation between turbidity and TSS ($r^2$=0.66). Median particle size decreased from $11.4\;{\mu}m$ in the inflowing river to $4.2\;{\mu}m$ in the lake outlet. The results indicate that only fine particles of less than $5{\sim}10\;{\mu}m$ can be transported downstream of the lake. Because fast-flowing water in streams includes not only fine particles but also coarse particles, an overestimation of suspended sediment concentration results if only TSS is measured. Consequently, TSS and NSSS should be measured separately to evaluate the effect of suspend sediment loadings of turbid streams on aquatic habitat during the monsoon season.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.303-308
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• 2000

Effects of the sediments on water quality, and the consequent survival and growth of cultured fleshy prawns, Penaeus chil1ensis were determined under selected sediment types for 6 weeks. Dissolved oxygen was 5.1-5.9 mgll in both the sediments containing sand alone, and soft sand (50%) and mud (50%). It decreased to 4.6 mgll in the mud after 6 weeks. Nitrite, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide of the seawater were 0.07-0.12, 0.16-0.29 and 0.009~0.014 mgll in both the sediments containing sand alone, and soft sand (50%) and mud (50%). The values, however, increased to 0.15, 0.36 and 0.018 mgll in the mud sediment, respectively. Survival of the prawn was below 60% in bare and mud sediments. It was above 70% in both the sediments containing sand alone, and soft sand (50%) and mud (50%). Growth and food efficiency of the prawn were significantly lower in the 100 % sand than in the sediment containing soft sand (50%) and mud (50%).

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.267-276
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• 2008

Acute and chronic toxicities of sediment elutriate and surface water samples collected at Lake Shihwa were evaluated using standard toxicity testing organisms including Vibrio fischeri, Daphnia magna and Moina macrocopa. Acute exposure resulted in toxic effects in all surface water or sediment elutriate samples, except for those collected from the reed swamp and Okgu stream. The rainy season influenced the toxicity of the water samples, presumably either by dilution of point discharge or through introduction of non-point source contaminants through runoff. In the sediment, elutriate and surface water samples, copper was detected above potentially lethal concentration, which may in part explain the observed toxicity. Considering acute toxicities of the surface water streams that direct to the Lake Shihwa, efforts should be warranted to control and reduce discharge of point and non-point sources along Lake Shihwa.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.200-206
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• 2005

We previously pointed out that the polluted sediment elutriate manifestly affected the early events of reproductive outputs in the Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas. A serial dilution of priority xenobiotic sediment elutriates determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were exposed to gametes of the oyster with different stress burdens to detail the maternal stress transfer to its reproductive outputs. There was an apparent critical concentration over which survival and morphogenesis were significantly affected with more profound damage in morphogenesis. The critical concentration which drives mortality and abnormal morphogenesis of the larvae corresponded to a dilution between 10 and 20% of our elutriate. The adverse effects of the early lives by the xenobiotic exposure over the critical concentration were magnified by the maternal stress from the exposed benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), one of the priority polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during the maturation condition. These results indicate that maternal transfer of the xenobiotic compounds from oysters living in the contaminated location might represent a significant adverse effect to their larval population of wild seeds.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.373-382
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• 1998

This paper describes the ecological structure and function of riparian zone, and their historical changes with land-use. The riparian zone consists of valley floor landform and riparian vegetation. The functions discussed are attenuation of sunlight energy, input of leaves and needles, contribution of woody debris to streams, and retention of flowing material out of transport. These primary functions directly or indirectly influence water and sediment qualities of streams, bars and floodplains, and thereby aquatic biota. Temporal changes in a hydrological system and riparian ecosystem were examined with reference to land-use conversin in order to understand the linkages between these two systems in Toikanbetsu River. The influences of channelization and land-use on discharge of suspended sediment and wetland vegetation was also investigated in Kushiro Marsh. These two examples suggested that the ecological functions of riparian zone have been degraded as flood control and reclamation works have expanded in the past twenty years The author proposes river restoration planning by preserving or creating landscape elements based on the concepts of sustaining physical and ecological linkages.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.680-687
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• 1999

To understand the role of shelf sediment in phosphorus biogeochemical cycle, we carried out sequential sediment extraction (SEDEX) of P and porewater analysis on 14 core samples collected in the South Sea of Korea, SEDEX classified P-pools into 5 phases and results are grouped into two categories: reactive P (loosely sorbed-P and Fe bound-P) and refractory P (detrital inorganic-p, authigenic mineral-P and organic-P). Total P concentrations are decreased with sediment depth in all samples as a result of dissolution to porewater. Reactive P comprises about $20\~50\%$ of total P, and iron bound-P is the major form consisting $70\~80\%$ of reactive P-pool. Iron bound-P decreases sharply with depth. Depth profiles of dissolved P concentration in porewater show mirror image of iron bound-P, revealing the role of FeOOH as a regulator of reactive P supply to overlying water column. Authigenic mineral-P consists less than $5\%$ of total P, thus removal of reactive P by converting into refractory P seems inefficient in shelf sediment. This implies that continental shelf sediment sequesters P temporarily rather than permanently. Results show local variation. Nakdong estuary receiving large amount of terrigenous input shows the highest concentration of total P and reactive P. Here iron oxyhydroxides at the surface sediment control the water column flux of P from sediment. Although total P content at the surface is comparable (500$\~$600 ${\mu}g{\cdot}g^{-1}$) between the South Sea and East China Sea, the former contains more iron bound-P and less derital inorganic-P than the latter. Reasons for the difference seem due in part to particle texture, and to biological productivity which depends roughly on the distance from land.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.607-617
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• 2019

This study examined the habitat distribution characteristics of Aquatic Oligochaeta according to the construction of weirs in the four major rivers in South Korea. The area was investigated 10 times from March to October in 2018 and a total of 18 species and 35,390 ind. m^-2 were sampled. The dominant species by number was Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri(77.1%) and the subdominant species was Branchiura sowerbyi(9.5%). A total of 32.418 g m^-2 dry weight was analyzed. The correlation analysis showed that the number of Aquatic Oligochaeta individuals correlated with the sediment depth, clay ratio, silt ratio, sand ratio, cobble ratio, pebble ratio, pH and TOC mg L^-1. Specifically, the clay ratio and sediment depth were associated with increases in the number of individuals. The total organic carbon(TOC) increased from March to October and, conversely, the number of individuals tended to decrease.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.548-555
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• 2018

Objectives: We conducted ecological risk assessment for cadmium, a heavy metal and carcinogen, to identify safety standards by environmental media and to determine its impact on ecosystems by estimating and evaluating exposure levels. Methods: Species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) were generated using ECOTOX DB. A hazardous concentration of 5% (HC5) protective of most species (95%) in the environment was estimated. Using this estimate, predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) were calculated for aquatic organisms. Based on the calculated PNECs for aquatic organisms, PNEC values for soil and sediment were calculated using the partition coefficient. Predicted exposure concentrations (PECs) were also calculated from environmental monitoring data with hazard quotients (HQs) calculated using PNECs for environmental media. Results: Chronic toxicity data were categorized into four groups and 11 species. In species sensitivity distribution (SSD) analysis, HC5 was $0.340{\mu}g/L$. Based on this value, the PNEC value for aquatic organisms was calculated as $0.113{\mu}g/L$. PNEC values for soil and sediments using a partition coefficient were calculated as 15.02 mg/kg and 90.61 mg/kg, respectively. In an analysis of environmental monitoring data, PEC values were calculated as $0.017{\mu}g/L$ for water, 1.01 mg/kg for soil, and 0.521 mg/kg for sediment. Conclusions: HQs were 0.150, 0.067 and 0.006 for water, soil and sediment, respectively. HQs of secondary toxicity were 0.365 for birds and 0.024 for mammals. In principle, it is judged that an HQ above 1 indicates a high level of risk concern while an HQ less than 1 indicates an extremely low level of risk concern. Therefore, with HQs of cadmium in the environment being <1, its risk levels can be considered low for each media.