• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.109-120
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• 2016

This study aims to assess vulnerability in urban thermal environments of Seoul by using indicators frequently used in previous studies as well as effective indicators for spatial planning like urban and environmental planning. For this purpose, fifteen indicators that influence urban thermal environments such as heat waves, urban heat island effects, and urban micro-climates were identified based on literature reviews. Indicators for presenting urban structure and spatial properties were included; for example, building volume as 'exposure to climate', buildings completed before 1980 as 'sensitivity', and green space areas as 'adaptive capacity'. Among them, twelve indicators were applied to assess vulnerability in urban thermal environments of Seoul by using a GIS spatial analysis combined with fuzzy logic. The results show that the Gangnam area is identified as more vulnerable to a heat environment as compared to the Gangbuk area. In the Gangnam area, Seocho-gu, Gangnam-gu, Dongjak-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Gangseo-gu were relatively high in vulnerability, while Dongdaemun-gu, Gangbuk-gu, Gwangjin-gu, Jungrang-gu were relatively high in the Gangbuk area. Gwanak-gu, Dobong-gu, Eunpyeong-gu, and Nowon-gu, which include forested areas, have low vulnerability in the sectors of 'exposure to climate' and 'sensitivity' due to the impact of Gwanaksan and Bukhansan. However, some areas with high vulnerability like Seocho-gu and Gangnam-gu may have lower vulnerability if the indicator 'status of air conditioning' from the sector of 'adaptive capacity' is used. This study could support the establishment of a practicable thermal environment policy and spatial planning to reduce heat-related risks in the field of urban and environmental planning.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.279-288
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• 2013

Objectives: Effectiveness and conditions of vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide (VPHP) system on decontamination of Geobacillus stearothermophilus(GS) spores, Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Enterobacteria phage felix01 (felix01) were determined. Methods: The VPHP system was designed to vaporize 35% (w/w) solution of hydrogen peroxide, continuously to inject and withdraw VPHP. The system and VHP 1000ED (Steris) were operated such that dehumidification and conditioning were initiated without samples in the chamber. Then the samples were loaded into and removed. Coupons (glass, anodizing, silicon, viton) with GS spores ($1{\times}10^6$ colony forming unit/mL [CFU/mL]), E.coli ($1{\times}10^7$ CFU/mL) and felix01 ($1{\times}10^7$ plaque forming unit/mL[PFU/mL]), and Biological Indicator (BI) with GS spores ($1{\times}10^6$ CFU/mL) on stainless steel coupons were used. The tested samples were sonicated and vortexed, and then were plated for enumeration, followed by incubation at $55^{\circ}C$, 24 hr for GS spores, and at $37^{\circ}C$, 24 hr for E.coli and felix01. BI analysis in broth culture was only qualitative. Results: The efficacy of the VPHP system on decontamination was almost equivalent to that of VHP 1000ED. The conditions for complete decontamination with the VPHP system was as follows: concentration; 700~450 ppm, relative humidity; approximately 55%, and temperature; $34{\sim}32^{\circ}C$. When comparing the decontamination efficiency among different kinds of coupons, glass was the most effective, however, all kinds of coupons were decontaminated completely after 60 min exposure in both systems. Conclusion: The VPHP system can be recommended as an alternative system for traditional system using ethylene oxide, formaldehyde or chlorine dioxide.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.220-226
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• 2005

We investigated the effect of $O_3$ on the photosynthetic characteristics of oriental plane (Platanus orientalis L.) that is used as a side tree or ornamental tree in Korea. Two-year-old oriental plane seedlings were transplanted to pots and transferred into a closed $O_3$ chamber, Photosynthetic pigment content and photosynthetic characteristics of leaves were measured every three weeks during 100 ppb $O_3$ fumigation. There was no visible foliar injury by $O_3$ exposure and the content of photosynthetic pigments did not show significant differences between control and $O_3$-treated seedlings. But photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency in leaves of $O_3$-treated seedlings were reduced after six weeks of ozone fumigation. In addition, reduction of carboxylation efficiency and photochemical efficiency was observed in leaves of $O_3$-treated seedlings after three weeks and six weeks. In accordance with our results, carboxylation efficiency, the most sensitive parameter to $O_3$ stress, was considered to be a suitable indicator of $O_3$ sensitivity.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.6-10
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• 2003

This study was conducted to select the ozone tolerant individuals of Cornus controversa Hemsl., and to use malondialdehyde (MDA) content as an indicator of plant damage level for several oxidative stress levels. Seeds of C. controversa were collected at 9 provinces in Korea. One-year-old seedlings were grown in greenhouses and exposed to 100 pub ozone concentration for 8h day$^{-1}$ for 10 weeks. At the termination of ozone exposure, heights of seedlings were measured and MDA contents in the leaves were analyzed. Tolerant, intermediate, and sensitive individuals were selected using the standardized indices of height and MDA content. Height and MDA content of C. controversa exposed to ozone were significantly different among individuals and provinces. MDA content showed negative correlation (r=-0.531, p$\leq$ 0.001) with height growth performance. Height and MDA content of tolerant individuals presented significant differences from those of sensitive individuals. As a result, MDA content may be suitable for the evaluation of the damage level of plants by oxidative stress.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.856-865
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• 2012

We describe the construction and immunobiological properties of a novel whooping cough vaccine candidate, in which the aroQ gene, encoding 3-dehydroquinase, was deleted by insertional inactivation using the kanamycin resistance gene cassette and allelic exchange using a Bordetella suicide vector. The aroQ B. pertussis mutant required supplementation of media to grow but failed to grow on an unsupplemented medium. The aroQ B. pertussis mutant was undetectable in the trachea and lungs of mice at days 6 and 12 post-infection, respectively. Antigen-specific antibody isotypes IgG1 and IgG2a, were produced, and cell-mediated immunity [CMI], using interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma as indirect indicators, was induced in mice vaccinated with the aroQ B. pertussis vaccine candidate, which were substantially enhanced upon second exposure to virulent B. pertussis. Interleukin-12 was also produced in the aroQ B. pertussis-vaccinated mice. On the other hand, neither IgG2a nor CMI-indicator cytokines were produced in DTaP-vaccinated mice, although the CMI-indicator cytokines became detectable post-challenge with virulent B. pertussis. Intranasal immunization with one dose of the aroQ B. pertussis mutant protected vaccinated mice against an intranasal challenge infection, with no pathogen being detected in the lungs of immunized mice by day 7 post-challenge. B. pertussis aroQ thus constitutes a safe, non-reverting, metabolite-deficient vaccine candidate that induces both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses with potential for use as a single-dose vaccine in adolescents and adults, in the first instance, with a view to disrupting the transmission cycle of whooping cough to infants and the community.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.317-318
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• 2023

This study is part of the carbonation degree DB accumulation through quantitative analysis of carbonation depth, Ca(OH)₂ and CO₂ according to the type of finish and years of use of old concrete structures in order to predict the amount of CO₂ that can be absorbed through carbonation of concrete. To this end, the depth of carbonation of the concrete core specimen is measured using an indicator, and the dry amount of water combined with CO₂ in the sample is measured using a differential thermal gravimetric analyzer for samples in the carbonation area and non-carbonated area classified by the indicator, and the absorption compared to the weight of the sample. The amount of absorbed CO₂ was calculated. In addition, the degree of carbonation was calculated through quantitative comparison of Ca(OH)₂ in the carbonation section and non-carbonation section. In the future, we will continue to add the survey and analysis data of dismantled structures and use them as basic data for estimating the amount of carbon dioxide that can be absorbed according to the exposure conditions and years of use by concrete mix.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.241-249
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• 2009

Heavy metal contaminants on the aquatic environment are of interest because they can have severe effects on economy and public health. Recently, the studies for monitoring of heavy metals try to do on aquatic system to assess safety and health of ecosystem by heavy metals. Thus, biological responses were investigated on Korean fairy shrimp Branchinella kugenumaensis exposed to cadmium (Cd) or copper (Cu) for long-periods (30 days). The survival rate decreased significantly (p<0.05) on B. kugenumaensis exposed to Cd and Cu at all concentrations. Especially, the highest decrease was observed at the relatively high concentration of Cd and Cu (p<0.01) and the response by Cd exposure was at dose-dependent. The growth rates were also decreased significantly (p<0.05) on B. kugenumaensis exposed to Cd and Cu for at all concentrations. Then, the reproduction rate, numbering cyst, was decreased significantly (p<0.01) on B. kugenumaensis after Cd or Cu exposures. Long exposure of the relatively high concentration Cd and Cu can have severe effects on the reproduction, while exposures of Cd and Cu can not have effects on sex ratios of B. kugenumaensis. Additionally, asymmetric telson deformity was only observed after Cd exposure. Therefore, these results suggest that B. kugenumaensis is a sensitive bio-indicator of heavy metal exposure and these biological responses of B. kugenumaensis give important information for long-term monitoring on aquatic ecosystem.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 2022

Background: Abandoned metal mines are classified as vulnerable areas with the highest level of soil contamination among risk regions. People living near abandoned metal mines are at increased risk of exposure to toxic metals. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between soil contamination levels in areas around abandoned metal mine and the blood lead levels of local residents. Moreover, we assess the possibility of using soil contamination levels as a predictive indicator for human exposure level. Methods: Data from the Survey of Residents around Abandoned Metal Mines (2013~2017, n=4,421) and Investigation of Soil Pollution in Abandoned Metal Mines (2000~2011) were used. A random coefficient model was conducted for estimation of the lower level (micro data) of the local resident unit and the upper level (macro data) of the abandoned metal mine unit. Through a fitted model, the variation of blood lead levels among abandoned metal mines was confirmed and the effect of the operationally defined soil contamination level was estimated. Results: Among the total variation in blood lead levels, the variation between abandoned mines was 18.6%, and the variation determined by the upper-level factors such as soil contamination and water contamination was 8.1%, which was statistically significant respectively. There was also a statistically significant difference in the least square mean of blood lead concentration according to the level of soil contamination (p=0.047, low: 2.32 ㎍/dL, middle: 2.38 ㎍/dL, high: 2.59 ㎍/dL). Conclusions: The blood lead concentration of residents living near abandoned metal mines was significantly correlated with the level of soil contamination. Therefore, in biomonitoring for vulnerable areas, operationally defined soil contamination can be used as a predictor for human exposure level to hazardous substances and discrimination of high-risk abandoned metal mines.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.430-439
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• 2023

UV and O₃ are materials used in the water treatment process, and many studies have been reported to remove organic matters, contaminants, and microorganisms. In this study, we were investigated effects of Chirnomidae (Chironomus flaviplumus, Chironomus riparius), which are contamination indicator species to exposure UV and O₃ for the survival rate, body color change and gene expression response. The survival rate of C. flaviplumus exposed to UV decreased to about 70% after 24 hours, and C. riparius about 50%. There was no change in the survival rate of C. flaviplumus exposed to O₃, and C. riparius decreased to 95% after 10 minutes of exposure, but there was no change during the subsequent exposure time. In addition, UV and O₃ exposure to the two species in body color faded in a time-dependent. In the HSP70 gene expression, C. riparius showed an increase in expression after UV exposure compared to the control group, and a significant difference was shown 12 hours after exposure (P<0.05). C. flaviplumus exposed to O₃ showed a relatively low expression compared to the control group, and showed a significant difference at 10 minutes and 1 hour after exposure (P<0.05). These results reported the ecotoxicological effects on Chironomidae according to UV and O₃ exposure. Therefore, the results of this study can be used as basic data to understand the effects of UV and O₃, which are disinfectants used in water treatment plants, on Chirnomidae entering plants.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.293-301
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• 2016

Objectives: This paper presents the current development progress of environmental health indicators (EHIs) in the Republic of Korea and discusses the utilization, limitations and prospects of EHIs. Methods: The development process and assessment criteria of EHIs were established based on the DPSEEA (Driving force-Pressure-State-Exposure-Effect-Action) framework with reference to that of the World Health Organization-Europe. In order to explore the applicability of EHIs, a case study was performed to compare the atmospheric environmental health status between the Republic of Korea and European region countries using six indicators. Results: Through the development process, 23 indicators in five areas including air quality, indoor air quality, climate change, chemicals, and water quality were developed, mostly using national statistical data. As a result of the case study comparing environmental health indicators in air quality between the Republic of Korea and Europe, it could be useful to understand the different situation of air pollution source, emission, exposure and health effects. Conclusion: In order for EHIs to compare environmental health status and be used as an environmental health policy development tool for vulnerable areas and related factors, it is necessary to develop further indicators for various issues other than air quality and conduct additional research on their interpretation and related implications, such as policy implementation effects.