• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.348-355
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• 2017

Human activities have resulted in soil pollution problems to us. Human and ecological risk assessment have been suggested as an efficient environmental management strategy for protecting human and ecosystems from soil pollution. However, Korean environmental policy is currently focused on human protection, and fundamental researches for ecology protection are required for institutional frameworks. In this study, we developed a schematic frame of Korean soil ecological risk assessment, and suggested the basic information for its application. This study suggested a soil ecological risk assessment scheme consisting of 4 steps for derivation of Predicted-No-Effect-Concentration (PNEC): 1) ecotoxicity data collection and reliability determination, 2) data standardization, 3) evaluation of data completeness for PNEC calculation, and 4) determination of ecological-risk. The reliability determination of ecotoxicity data was performed using Reliability Index (RI), and the classification of domestic species, acute/chronic, toxicity endpoint, and soil properties was used for data cataloging. The PNEC calculation methodology was determined as low-reliability, middle-reliability, and high-reliability according to their quantitative and qualitative levels of ecotoxicity data. This study would be the introductory plan research for establishment of Korean soil ecological risk assessment, and it can be a fundamental framework to further develop guidelines of Korean environmental regulation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.377-385
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the ecotoxicological response on Gammarus sobaegensis Ueno with acid stress. Mean value of $LT_{50}$ (lethal time 50%) under pH 3 condition as acute ecotoxicity test was observed to be 0.271 ($\pm$0.146) day. And 0.812 ($\pm$0.377) day under pH 4, respectively. Mean value of $LT_{50}$ under pH 3 and 5 were 6.313 ($\pm$0.828), and 9.475 ($\pm$4.881) day, respectively. Variance in chronic ecotoxicity test pH (F ratio: 11.240, P< 0.0005) and times (F ratio: 2.916, P< 0.0005) as single factor were revealed to be the major factor for determining LT$_{50}$ with acid depression. The variation of secondary gill surface with acid stress to be certain that wrinkle phenomenon. Being weak tolerance of G. sobaegensis against the acid stress, it shows the possibility to be examined as an aquatic toxicity test organism.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.117-127
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• 2008

Green algae are important primary producers in aquatic ecosystem, and they are sensitive test species in bioassay. Green algae are broadly used to assess the adverse effects of various chemicals by measuring the inhibition of metabolism, reproduction and survival. In this study, we extensively gathered domestic and foreign toxicity test methods conducted using green algae, which are distributed in Korean water environment. Selected eight domestic green algae were Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Desmodesmus subspicatus (=Scenedesmus subspicatus), Scenedesmus abundans, Scenedesmus acutus, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Podohedriella falcata (=Ankistrodesmus falcatus), Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (=Selenastrum capricornutum), and Chlorella vulgaris. Forty four test methods were collected from the standard test ones, government reports, SCI papers and Korean research papers. P. subcapitata and D. subspicatus are the most common test species recommended by the standard test methods. Initial cell density and dilution water were the main differences among the test methods we collected. We proposed the suitable ecotoxicity test methods based on domestic green algae in Korea. This study could be a fundamental basis to establish the ecotoxicity test methods by green algae distributed in Korea.

• Clean Technology
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.89-95
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• 2016

The nanotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles used in cosmetics and tire industry is one of emerged issues. Herein, the removal of ZnO nanoparticles dispersed in aqueous phase and its ecotoxicity were investigated. In the short-term exposure for fertilized eggs (O. latipes), the deformity was observed at 5 mg L⁻¹ of ZnO nanoparticles in some individuals and delayed hatching of eggs by retarded growth was observed at 10 mg L⁻¹ of ZnO nanoparticles. This result show that ZnO nanoparticles have cytotoxic effect to the organisms lived in water phase. Therefore, herein, the removal of ZnO nanoparticles in aqueous phase by chemical precipitation was investigated. After addition of Na₂S and Na₂HPO₄, the precipitated ZnO was transformed to ZnS and Zn₃(PO₄)₂ particles, respectively. The removal efficiency of ZnO was reached to almost 100% for two cases. In addition, the toxicity tests about ZnS and Zn₃(PO₄)₂ particles showed no acute toxicity for D. magna. This implies that transformation of ZnO to ZnS and Zn₃(PO₄)₂ particles with very low ionization constant might decrease effectively the toxicity of ZnO.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.357-369
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• 2007

Water fleas are very important organisms in aquatic ecosystem because they are key constituents of food webs as either glazers or foods for predators. Daphnia magna is a representative test species and it has been extensively used in ecotoxicity evaluation. However, Daphnia magna has not been found yet in Korean water environment. There are limitations of using the foreign species such as Daphnia magna to reflect domestic situations in Korea. Consequently it is mandatory to find domestic species suitable for bioassay, and to develop corresponding toxicity test methods using the domestic species. In this study, we widely collected the domestic and foreign toxicity test methods performed by using domestic water fleas in Korea. The 58 test methods were collected from the standard methods (OECD, US EPA, ASTM), government reports, SCI papers and domestic papers. Ten domestic water fleas selected were Bosmina longirostris, Ceriodaphnia dubia, Ceriodaphnia reticulata, Daphnia obtusa, Daphnia puex, Moina macrocopa, Moina micrura, Simocephalus mixtus, Simocephalus serrulatus, and Simocephalus vetulus. We suggested the domestic ecotoxicity test methods using domestic water fleas in Korea through providing a range of test conditions, and future directions for toxicity test using water flea. This study could be a useful basis for establishing the aquatic toxicity test methods with domestic organisms in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• 제34권8호
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• pp.528-532
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• 2012

This study investigated the possibility of phosphogypsum (PG) recycle as an embankment material by eco-toxicity experiments for S. capricornutum, T. suecica and D. magna. The eco-toxicity experiment was studied according to column leachates from PG mixing ratio, and a specific growth rate of S. capricornutum was usually higher than that of T. suecica. For D. magna, 0.3 of toxicity unit was obtained, which indicated the below of toxicity value of 1 at PG50 condition during a 48-hr test. A minor effect of column leachate samples on three organisms was observed. This study suggested that PG was satisfied with the criteria of waste recycle and could be reused at PG30 condition.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제28권2호
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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.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.75-80
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• 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate effect of chemical amendments on reducing bioavailable fraction of heavy metals in soil along with ecotoxicological effect on earthworms, Eisenia fetida. Three different chemical amendments, lime (L), steel slag (SS), and acid mine drainage sludge (AMDS), were applied with varied application ratio (1, 3, 5%). Heavy metal contaminated soil was mixed with chemical amedments and earthworms, Eisenia fetida, were cultivated for 28 days. Bioavailable fraction of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) extracted with 0.1N HCl was monitored and also, mortality, growth, and metal concentration in earthworm were assessed. Result showed that all three amendments had high efficiency to reduce bioavailable fraction of heavy metals in soil. In particular, lime showed the highest reduction rate of Cu (63.9-87.7%), Pb (7.90-24.65%), and Zn (40.83-77.60%) among three amendments. No mortality of earthworm was observed during experimental period except 3% and 5% AMDS treatment indicating that application of chemical amendments is safe in terms of ecotoxicological aspect. However, no positive correlation was observed between reduction of bioavaialble fraction of heavy metals in soil and earthworms. Overall, application of chemical amendments in agricultural field can be adapted for reducing bioavailable fraction of heavy metals and detoxification in soil.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.313-319
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• 2012

Various nanomaterials may flow into the aquatic ecosystem via production, use, and treatment processes. Especially, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were categorized as manufactured nanomaterials presented by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (OECD WPMN) in 2010. AuNPs have been used in medical area, however, they were reported to induce cytotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage, as well as down-regulation of the DNA repair gene in mice and human cell lines. In this study, the aquatic toxicity data of AuNPs and gold ions were collected, with the specific test methods analyzed with respect to the form and size of AuNPs, test species, exposure duration, and endpoints. Currently, aquatic toxicity data of AuNPs and gold ions have been presented in 14 studies including 4 fish, 6 crustacean, 2 green algae, and 2 macrophytes studies, as well as a further 8 studies including 4 fish, 4 crustacean, 1 platyhelminthes, and 1 green algae, respectively. The AuNPs were 0.8-100 nm in size, as gold nanoparticles, gold nanorod, glycodendrimer-coated gold nanoparticles, and amine-coated gold nanoparticles. The tested endpoints were the individual toxicities, such as mortality, malformation, reproduction inhibition, growth inhibition and genetic toxicity such as oxidative stress, gene expression, and reactive oxygen species formation. The accumulation of AuNPs was also confirmed in the various receptor organs. These results are expected to be useful in understanding the aquatic toxicity of AuNPs and gold ions, as well as being applicable to future toxicity studies on AuNPs.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.226-233
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• 2018

Small-scale wastewater discharge facilities account for 98% of all workplaces, but in the generation and emission of major pollutants, they account for 27.5 % and 23.5 %, respectively. Since the proportion of the emission load of the small-scale workplace is not large, the national environmental policy has been established mainly around large-scale wastewater discharge facilities. However, in the case of specific hazardous substances in water, the amount of the discharge load of the small-scale wastewater discharge facility was 2.4 times higher than that of the generation load. Certain types of specific hazardous substances in water, which have a higher discharge load than large-scale wastewater discharge facilities, account for 24 ~ 32 %. There are also cases in which the discharge load from a small-scale discharge facility is more than four times higher, depending on the specific kind of water pollutant. As a result of inspections, the violation rate of the small-scale wastewater discharge facility among the total violations by facilities is 93.9 ~ 97.5 %. As a result, the ecotoxicity value of small-scale wastewater discharge facilities was high in most industries, and there was a fluctuation in the measured value. This indicates that the ecological integrity of the water system can be largely influenced by small-scale wastewater discharge facilities. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the environmental management of small-scale wastewater discharge facilities, and in some cases, the effect of the improvement in quality may be more significant than in the management of large-scale wastewater discharge facilities.