• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.119-127
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• 2014

An epoxy coating applied to the concrete surface of a containment building deteriorates in hazardous environments such as those containing radiation, heat, and moisture. Unlike metals, the epoxy coating on a concrete liner absorbs and discharges moisture during the degradations process, so it has a different density and volume during service. In this study, acoustic impedance was adopted for characterizing the degradation of a glass-reinforced epoxy coating using the acoustic reflection coefficient (reflectance) on a rough epoxy coating. For estimating the acoustic reflectance on a wavy epoxy coating surface, a probabilistic model was developed to represent the multiple irregular reflections of the acoustic wave from the wavy surface on the basis of the simulated annealing technique. A number of epoxy-coated concrete specimens were prepared and exposed to accelerated aging conditions to induce an artificial aging degradation in them. The acoustic impedance of the degraded epoxy coating was estimated successfully by minimizing the error between a waveform calculated from the mathematical model and a waveform measured from the surface of the rough coating.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.36.1-36.11
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• 2018

Background: To confirm whether shellfish are suitable for consumption, the quality of seawater and shellfish in shellfish-producing areas must be assessed regularly. This study was conducted to evaluate the bacterial quality on the Changseon area, containing a designated shellfish-producing area, in Korea during 2011-2013. Result: Even though many inland pollutants near the area were identified, they showed no significant impact on the designated area and the shellfish therein. The concentrations of fecal bacteria in all the seawater and mussel samples from the designated area during the harvesting season were within the standards of various countries. Pathogenic bacteria were not detected in any of the mussel samples. In our previous study, the hazardous metal levels in all the mussels from the same area were also within the limits of different countries. Conclusion: The mussel products in this area are suitable for consumption based on fecal pollution, pathogenic bacteria, and also heavy metals.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Arsenic (As), which is ubiquitous throughout the environment, represents a major environmental threat at higher concentration and poses a global public health concern in certain geographic areas. Most of the conventional arsenic remediation techniques that are currently in use have certain limitations. This situation necessitates a potential remediation strategy, and in this regard bioremediation technology is increasingly important. Being the oldest representativse of life on Earth, microbes have developed various strategies to cope with hostile environments containing different toxic metals or metalloids including As. Such conditions prompted the evolution of numerous genetic systems that have enabled many microbes to utilize this metalloid in their metabolic activities. Therefore, within a certain scope bacterial isolates could be helpful for sustainable management of As-contamination. Research interest in microbial As(III) oxidation has increased recently, as oxidation of As(III) to less hazardous As(V) is viewed as a strategy to ameliorate its adverse impact. In this review, the novelty of As(III) oxidation is highlighted and the implication of As(III)-oxidizing microbes in environmental management and their prospects are also discussed. Moreover, future exploitation of As(III)-oxidizing bacteria, as potential plant growth-promoting bacteria, may add agronomic importance to their widespread utilization in managing soil quality and yield output of major field crops, in addition to reducing As accumulation and toxicity in crops.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.259-264
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• 2023

As the demand for lithium-ion batteries, a key power source in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, continues to increase for achieving global carbon neutrality, there is a growing concern about the environmental impact of disposing of spent batteries. Extensive research is underway to develop efficient recycling methods. While hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy methods are commonly used to recover valuable metals from spent cathode materials, they have drawbacks including hazardous waste and complex processes. Hence, alternative recycling methods that are environmentally friendly are being explored. However, recycling spent cathode materials still remains complex and energy-intensive. This study focuses on a novel approach called solid-state synthesis, which aims at regenerating the performance of spent cathode materials. The method offers a simpler process and reduces energy consumption. Optimal heat treatment conditions were identified based on experimental results, contributing to the development of sustainable recycling technologies for lithium-ion batteries.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 1999

Twenty organic chemical substances, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, m-xylene, isopropyl benzene, stylene, bromobenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, 2-chlorotoluene 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, p-isopropyltoluene, 4-chlorotoluene, n-butylbenzene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, naphthalene, tert-butylbenzene, sec-butylbenzene, phenol, isopropyl benzene hydroperoxide were isolated from untreated and treated wastewater collected at 76 companys of 9 types industry in the basin of Young San River. Their organic compounds were elucidated by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and by comparison with each standard reagents. Especially, phenol compound is detected from effluent water but not detected from plant wastewater in the chemical industry. Heavy metal, which are Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, Al and Fe, are contained in the plant wastewater of all industry, Fe, Al of them is more detected than the other metals in plant wastewater. Cr, Cd, Pb, As is contained much in plant wastewater of electricity and electron, metal molding industry. Nine metals is nearely treated when plant wastewater is treated, and then the concentration of each other metals is detected below water quality standard or not detected by using AA.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.245-253
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• 2007

This research was performed to evaluate the airborne personal concentration of hazardouse materials during the process of ship construction and surveyed from May 23 to June 30, 2007 in Kyungnam West Distirct, Korea. The subject was 94 ship construction workers exposed to welding fume and respirable particulate. The airborne concentrations of those were compared to Permissible Exposure Limit(PEL) from the Ministry of Labor in Korea. The airborne concentration of 23 samples(48.9%) of welding fumes was less than $5mg/m^3$, that of 16 (34.0%) was between 5 and $10mg/m^3$, and that of 8 (17.0%) was greater than $10mg/m^3$. The airborne concentration of 27 (57.4%) of respirable particulate masses was less than $5mg/m^3$ and the othere are greater than $5mg/m^3$. The welding fumes were identified containing the heavy metasl such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Mg, Ca, and Cu. The respirable particulates has similiar tendency with welding fumes in the component of heavy metals. But the concentration of Ca, Cu, Cr, and Ni turned out to be higher in welding fumes. Twenty (42.6%) of the 47 samples of welding fumes were exceeded PEL. In the heavy metals in welding fumes, ten (21.3%) of the 47 samples of Mn were exceeded PEL. Based on the results, the higher airborne hazardous materials were still exposed to wokers in ship construction process. It is suggested that the appropriate engineering control be applied to minimize the exposed cocnetration in ship building processes.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2020

This study was conducted to survey levels of heavy metals, benzopyrene and mycotoxins in teas purchased from online markets, supermarkets, and traditional markets in Gwangju, Korea. We examined the arsenic, cadmium and lead content in heavy metals. We also tested for benzo(a)pyrene, which is classified as a carcinogen. In addition, we tested for the mycotoxins aflatoxin (AFB₁, AFB₂, AFG₁, AFG₂), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisin (FUB₁, FUB₂), and zearalenone (ZON). According to our results, heavy metals were detected within the allowable range (below 5.0 mg/kg for lead) and all samples met with the standards for tea as presented in the Korean Food Code. The Benzo(a)pyrene showed a detection rate of 12.8% in 16 of 125 samples and mycotoxins showed 23.2% in 29 of 125 samples. However, safe levels regarding benzo(a)pyrene and mycotoxin in tea were not ascertainable since the standards are not set in the Korean Food Code.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2007

This study was investigated hazardous substances in agricultural products of baggage by Incheon Port from chinese. We tested 293 kinds of dried red pepper, cereal, sesame, bean, nut, herbal medicine and sesame oil for pesticides residue, mold, tar color, sudan I, II, III, IV, aflatoxin, Pb, Cd, Hg, As and sulfur dioxide residues. Violated samples over standard limits by Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) were 76 dried red pepper over the number of mold and 1 dried red pepper detected red 102 tar color and 1 dried red pepper over the number of mold and detected red 102 tar color simultaneously. And 2 rice, 1 sticky rice, 1 adlay and 1 millet were over lead. Violated herbal medicine were 2 Zizyphi Furctus and 2 Zingiberis Rhizoma over sulfur dioxide residue and 1 Zingiberis Rhizoma over sulfur dioxide residue and cadmium simultaneously. The contents of heavy metals in cereal were as follow; $Pb\;0.000{\sim}0.740mg/kg(0.191{\pm}0.209),\;Cd\;0.000{\sim}0.108mg/kg(0.007{\pm}0.020),\;Hg\;0.000{\sim}4.201mg/kg(0.162{\pm}0.319)$. The contents of heavy metals in herbal medicine were as follow; $Pb\;0.000{\sim}2.480mg/kg(1.130{\pm}0.730),\;Cd\;0.000{\sim}0.761mg/kg(0.044{\pm}0.122),\;Hg\;0.000{\sim}0.157mg/kg(0.022{\pm}0.033),\;As\;0.000{\sim}0.560mg/kg(0.040{\pm}0.082)$. Contents of $SO_2$ ranged $2.0{\sim}1459.4ppm(303.1{\pm}324.2)$.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.581-586
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• 2020

In this study, we investigated the illegal hazardous compounds in dietary supplements. We analyzed the contents of anti-obesity drugs, their analogues (orlistat, sibutramine, desmethylsibutramine, didesmethylsibutramine, chlorosibutramine, chlorosipentramine) and three heavy metals (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As)) in 62 other processed products (n=32), candies (n=7), weight control foods (n=10) and teas (n=13). Anti-obesity drugs or their analogues were not detected in any of the 62 samples. Three heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As) were detected in the range of ND-0.177 mg/kg, 0.002-0.233 mg/kg and 0.001-0.188 mg/kg in teas, ND-0.370 mg/kg, 0.003-0.057 mg/kg and 0.007-0.120 mg/kg in candies, ND-0.055 mg/kg, 0.012-0.045 mg/kg and 0.010-0.163 mg/kg in weight control foods, respectively. Heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As) were detected in the range of ND-2.324 mg/kg, 0.004-0.936 mg/kg and 0.003-21.247 mg/kg in other processed products that are not regulated by specification standards according to food types. These results show that regulations of heavy metals is required in other processed products for genuine food safety.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2017

A total of 100 seafoods commonly consumed in Gyeonggi-do were investigated to determine the concentration of lead (Pb), total mercury (Hg), methyl mercury (MeHg), cadmium (Cd) and selenium (Se). Concentration of heavy metals and selenium was measured by using mercury analyzer, ICP-MS and GC-ECD. The average content (mg/kg) of heavy metals in the seafood samples was as follows; Pb 0.0915 (0.0021-0.4490), Cd 0.0084 (ND-0.1773), and Hg 0.0412 (0.0013-0.3032). All the levels were below the recommended standards of the MFDS in Pb (0.5 mg/kg), Cd (0.2 mg/kg), Hg (0.5 mg/kg). The methylmercury was detected in the hairtail (0.0677 mg/kg) and cod (0.2941 mg/kg). After the average content of heavy metals in seafood was determined, the exposure assessment for heavy metals was conducted. Relative hazardous levels compared to PTWI were lower than the official standards of the JECFA for Pb (0.97%), Hg (3.42%) Cd (0.45%). In conclusion, the levels presented in this study are presumed to be safe for consumption.