• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.56-67
• /
• 1995

This study was carried out to observe how composting reaction proceed in the optimum composting condition and to understand the characteristics of final compost, when swine feces was amended with different bulking material. Sawdust, rice straw, and rice hull were selected as bulking materials and each of these was mixed with swine feces to obtain the optimum range of moisture contents and C:N ratio. To grasp the influence of newspaper on cornposting reaction when it flew into the composting site intentionally or accidentally, another composting reaction using newspaper as a bulking material was studied. In this experiment, raw material mixes containing the same amount of organic materials were put into 4 composting reactors and composted in the same environmental condition for 3 weeks from Aug. 1, 1994 to Aug. 22, 1994. The followings are the main results of this study. 1. The maximum temperatures reached at during cornposting reaction were 53.8$\circ$C, 51.9$\circ$C, 52.7$\circ$C, and 52.1$\circ$C in the reactor using sawdust, rice straw, rice hull, and newspaper as a bulking material respectively: Thermophilic temperatures were maintained for 72, 108, 108, and 111 hours in each reactor. Mean temperatures of reactors using sawdust, rice straw, rice hull, or newspaper as a bulking materials were 39.7$\circ$C, 39.5$\circ$C, 41.3$\circ$C, and 40.3$\circ$C, but no significant difference between these mean temperatures was observed(p>0.05). Each composter showed significant difference from room temperature(p<0.01), and the mean difference between them was 9.4$\circ$C. 2. Ash contents of each reactor increased rapidly in order of rice straw, rice hull, newspaper, and sawdust according to the pattern of second order function. This rate of increase seemed to result from structural characteristics of a bulking material. The absolute values of second order coefficient of these regression functions were 0.0199, 0.0159, 0.0157, and 0.0144 in each reactor using rice straw, rice hull, newspaper, or sawdust as a bulking material. 3. C:N ratio decreased as the reaction proceeded. Degree of decrease was in order of rice straw, rice hull, newspaper, and sawdust. This sequence was consistent with the increase rate of ash content. The ratios of initial C:N ratio to final C:N ratio were 0.45, 0.53, 0.64, and 0.75 in each reactor using rice straw, rice hull, newspaper, and sawdust as a bulking material respectively. From this ratios, it was possible to infer that all the composting reactions were completed. 4. Fertilizer content containing in the final compost was 1.61~2.20% of N, and 0.35~0.54% of P in dry weight base. According to the classification standard for compost constituent by Higgins, all composts had the intermediate grade of N, but below the low grade of P excepting the newspaper amended compost(fall into the range of the low grade). 5. Heavy metal contents contained in the composts were analyzed. In case of Cd, the range of 0.58~1.11 $\mu$g/g was observed, and in case of Pb, the range of 24.76~39.53 $\mu$g/g was observed(in wet weight base). These values are below the permissible heavy metal level for compost of foreign countries.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 1996

In order to determine the content of heavy metal in common salts, 35 bay salt samples, 7 refined salt samples, 7 fine salt samples, 5 bake salt samples and 5 bamboo bake salt samples were collected from old market in major cities. Heating bay salt 35 samples, it made heating bay salt of $500^{\circ}C$, /TEX>(34 samples), heating bay salt of $1000^{\circ}C$(35 samples). These were analysed for contents of lead(Pb), cadmium(Cd), iron(Fe) and zinc(Zn) by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results were as follows : Mean content of lead in bay salts was $0.124{\pm}0.035ppm$ refined salt was $0.130{\pm}0.019ppm$, fine salt was $0.073{\pm}0.036ppm$ bake salt was $0.097{\pm}0.023ppm$, bamboo bake salt was $0.117{\pm}0.020ppm$, heating bay salt was $0.063{\pm} 0.021ppm$ in $500^{\circ}C$, heating bay salt was $0.063{\pm}0.039ppm$ in $1000^{\circ}C$. And bay salt refined salt bamboo bake salt were not significant one another. Mean content of cadmium in bay salts was $0.031{\pm}0.008ppm$ refined salt was $0.032{\pm}0.003ppm$, fine salt was $0.037{\pm}0.005ppm$, bake salt was $0.169{\pm}0.117ppm$ bamboo bake salt was $0.079{\pm}0.052ppm$, heating bay salt of $500^{\circ}C$ was $0.030{\pm}0.029ppm$ heating bay salt of $1000^{\circ}C$ was $0.017{\pm}0.013ppm$. And bay salt refined salt, fine salt were not significant one another. Mean content of iron in bay salts was $1.025{\pm}0, 634ppm$, refined salt was $0.359{\pm}0.163ppm$ fine salt was $0.267{\pm}0.068ppm$, bake salt was $2.929{\pm}1.963ppm$, bamboo bake salt was $5.378{\pm}3.676ppm$, heating bay salt of $500^{\circ}C$ was $0.847{\pm}0.315ppm$ heating bay salt of $1000^{\circ}C$ was $0.991{\pm}0.868ppm$. And bay salt refined salt, fine salt, bake salt, bamboo bake salt were significant one another(p<0, 01). Mean content of zinc in bay salts was $0.253{\pm}0.154ppm$, refined salt was $0.263{\pm}0.091ppm$ fine salt was $0.187{\pm}0.015ppm$, bake salt was $0.166{\pm}0.034ppm$, bamboo bake salt was $0.282{\pm}0.064ppm$, heating bay salt of $500^{\circ}C$ was $0.253{\pm}0.085ppm$, heating bay salt of $1000^{\circ} C$ was $0.242{\pm}0.179ppm$. And bay salt refined salt fine salt, bake salt, bamboo bake salt were not significant one another.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.24 no.1 s.61
• /
• pp.38-45
• /
• 2006

Ecological characteristics of microbial populations inhabiting heavy metal polluted soil were investigated. The samples were collected from 293 sites around an factory and industry at Gyeoungsangbuk-do. We measured the contents of seven heavy metal elements (Cd, Cu, As, Hg, Pb, $Cr^{6+}$, CN), seven sites have been seriously contaminated by mercury and chrome. A quantitative evaluation of microbial populations in mercury and chrome contaminated soil was examined by using plate count method. Bacterial numbers in polluted soil samples ranged from $7.4X10^5\;to\;9.3X10^7\;cfu\;g^{-1}$, about $10\sim100$ fold less than the count for the unpolluted soil. Moulds were not detected in chrome polluted soil. The log values of actinomycetes of each contaminated soil samples were log ranged from 6.18 to 7.52. The ratio of actinomycetes was similar to unpolluted soil. The investigation showed actinomycetes to be the major microbial population inhabiting the mercury and chrome polluted soil. Thirty-one isolates among the total isolates were examined for antibacterial activity. These isolates were identified based on a phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequences, they were categorized in three major phylogenetic groups, belong to the Streptomyces (6 strains), Saccharopolyspora (3 strains), Nocardiodes (1 strain). On the phylogenetic tree, the clade consisting of five isolates were distantly related to all of the established Streptomycetes genera, indicating the possibility as members of new species.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.53-62
• /
• 2002

The physical and chemical properties of cover soils of 10 waste landfill sites in Kyonggi-Do area, where social circumstances at present forces to consider the reuse of landfill, were investigated to provide the informations of soil environment which are necessary to establish the appropriate ecological restoration plan of waste landfills. The pH and electrical conductivity of soils were higher in landfills sites than in reference sites (area around landfill sites), indicating the salt accumulation in surface soil. However, total-N and organic matter contents were lower in landfills sites than in reference sites. In landfill sites, the total-N and plant available-P contents were less than 0.15% and 20mg/kg, respectively. Exchangeable cations (K, Ca, Mg and Na) and heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) contents varied between the landfill sites, but were higher in landfills sites than in reference sites. The major exchangeable cation of soil was Ca. Heavy metal contents were much lower than the critical concentration which phytotoxicity is considered to be possible and the standard for agricultural land of Korean Soil Environmental Preservation Act. Therefore, the proper soil management plan to increase the soil fertility is recommended for the ecological restoration of landfill using natural or artificial vegetation.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.47-54
• /
• 1996

Soil pollution indices (SPI) were designed for estimating quality of soil polluted with arsenic and heavy metals. Applying the quality reference value of soil based on its multifunctional purpose was a key step. For considereing multifunctions of soil, soil was classified into 4 groups-agricultural land, residential area, recreational area, factorial site. Then, each concentration of arsenic and each of five heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) in soils grouped was transformed to a mathematical value based on the soil quality reference value which may stand for ecological impact. Soil pollution score (SPS) was the addition of the 6 values transformed, and the range of the SPS was divided into 4 Soil Pollution Classes (SPC). The SPC 1, 2, 3, and 4 were SPS <100, SPS 100-200, SPS >200-300, and SPS >300, repectively. SPS and SPC were evaluated with the results of the data from employing the Soil Network of 1994. Based on the soil quality reference values, SPS and SPC of the Soil Network's data were transformed and classified, respectively. Then, SPS and SPC were compared with arsenic and the 5 heavy metal contents of their reference values resulted from the Soil Network's. From this method, soil quality of most of the Soil Network area was estimated to be healthy. However, ca. 3.0~4.0% of the Soil Network area was determined in a range of slightly and heavily polluted. As the mean value of SPS of the Soil Network's was 66.2 which indicates most of soil evaluated was healthy. When the SPSs of the data were divided into 4 groups of SPC, Class 1 (Good quality of soil), Class 2 (Need to be checked area 1), Class 3 (Need to be checked area 2) and Class 4 (Polluted area) were 87.0, 9.4, 2.4, 1.2%, respectively. Using SPI were comparable to those of heavy metal contents in soils, and would be comprehenve to determine the status of soil qulity. Methodology of the developing SPI would be applicable to the other soil pollutants such as organic and inorganics than arsenic and 5 heavy metals used here.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.248-256
• /
• 2021

A total of 120 samples corresponding to 12 categories of dried processed fishery products distributed in Gyeonggi-do were examined for radioactivity contamination (¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs, ¹³⁷Cs) and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury). One natural radioactive material, ⁴⁰K, was detected in all products, while the artificial radioactive materials ¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs were not detected at above MDA (minimum detectable activity) values. The detection ranges of heavy metals converted by biological basis were found as follows: Pb (N.D.-0.332 mg/kg), Cd (N.D.-2.941 mg/kg), As (0.371-15.007 mg/kg), Hg (0.0005-0.0621 mg/kg). Heavy metals were detected within standard levels when there was an acceptable standard, but the arsenic content was high in most products, although none of the products had a permitted level of arsenic. In the case of dried processed fishery products, there are products that are consumed by restoring moisture to its original state, but there are also many products that are consumed directly in the dry state, so it will be necessary to set permitted levels for heavy metals considering this situation in the future. In addition, Japan has decided to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, so there is high public concern about radioactivity contamination of food, including fishery products. Therefore, continuous monitoring of various food items will be necessary to ease consumers' anxiety.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.25-41
• /
• 2002

In order to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics and contamination of dissolved major ions and heavy metals in the Tancheon River, river water and sediment samples were collected at 18 locations, along a distance of 69 km, between Yongin-si in Kyunggi-do and Samsung-dong in Seoul on October in 2000 and April in 2001. After appropriate sample preparation, waters were analyzed for the dissolved constituents and sediments. The pH values of river waters were in the range of 7.0 to 9.3 and could be plotted in the area of surface environment. The level of $Ca^{2+}$, , CI-, sol-, N0$_{3}$ and HC0$_{3}$ in the Tancheon River were higher than those in world average river water. Most of dissolved constituents in the river waters increased toward downstream from upstream. In particular, high concentrations of Zn2+, Na$_{+}$, CI$^{-}$, SO$_{4}^{2-}$ and N03- were found near densely residential areas and the Sungnam waste water treatment plant. The relative ion enrichment was caused by the inflow of local domestic and industrial sewages. Also, Ca2+ and HC03- concentrations were enriched in the middle of the Tancheon River due to the dissolution of cements. This indicates that the apartment complexes were built on a large scale in the upriver since these ten years and large amounts of construction materials such as cements were flowed into the Tancheon River. Concentrations of heavy metals (Mn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) in sediments from the Tancheon River exceeded the lower limit of tolerence level in bottom sediment established by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (OME) of Canada. In particular, these metals were highly elevated in sediment (TSM-12) collected from near the Sungnam waste water treatment plant. Heavy metals were higher enriched in sediments collected from dry period rather than wet period.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.84 no.3
• /
• pp.286-298
• /
• 1995

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of forest soil acidification on the distribution of exchangeable cations($Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Al^{3+}$) and heavy metals(Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd) in soil, and to understand the relation of the soil chemical properties and the distribution of nutrients and hear metals in fine root and foliage. The results through survey on the long - term change of soil pH and the contents of nutrient and heavy metal in soil, fine root and foliage by 2 sites near Ulsan - Onsan industrial estate and 2 sites in limited development district are summarized as follows : 1. The average forest soil pH(A horizon) in Ulsan had been proceeded down to 3.73 in deciduous forest and 3.86 in coniferous forest in 1994 from 4.45 and 4.78 in 1987, respectively, which indicated serious soil acidification. As comparing soil pH among sites, Dongcheon coniferous forest(pH 4.57) in limited development district showed the highest values and Dangwol deciduous forest(pH 3.19) near Onsan industrial estate showed the lowest values in 1994. 2. Contents of exchangeable calcium in forest soils of limited development district where showed much higher soil pH than industrial estate were 3.5 times more in deciduous forest soil and 11 times more in coniferous forest soil than in industrial estate, and contents of exchangeable magnesium were also 4.5 and 5 times more in limited development district than in industrial estate, respectively. However contents of exchangeable aluminium which had been supposed more in forest soil of industrial estate were more in limited development district. 3. Contents of calcium and magnesium in fine root of deciduous trees(A hirsuta. Q. acutissima) were 3.6 and 1.7 times more in limited development district than in industrial estate, respectively, and those of coniferous trees(P. rigida, P. thunbergii) were 4.6 and 1.5 times more in Limited development district than in industrial estate, respectively. Also contents of calcium and magnesium in foliage of deciduous trees were 1.1 and 2.2 times more in limited development district than in industrial estate, respectively, and those of coniferous trees were 1.8 and 3.3 times more in limited development district, respectively. And contents of aluminium in fine root and foliage were nearly as same as in soil. 4. Ca/Al molar ratios in soil and fine root, which could be related with the dgree of soil acidification and Al toxicity on trees, were Less than 1 in all sites except Dongcheon, suggesting that the soil and fine root in the sites have high sensitivity to soil acidification and the decrease in nutrient uptake and root enlargement. The Ca/Al molar ratios in soil and fine root in coniferous forest were highly correlated with the soil pH one another. 5. Contents of Cu, Zn and Pb in soil, fine root and foliage were more in industrial estate than in limited development district in both deciduous and coniferous forests, however, oppositely contents of Mn and Cd in soil were more in limited development district than in industrial estate.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.230-234
• /
• 2011

According to the Codex committee, the maximum allowable level for lead in fruits is 0.1 mg/kg. This survey was conducted as a surveillance program following the establishment of safety guideline for fruits in Korea. Concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) were measured in 927 samples using a ICP-MS and a mercury analyzer. The recoveries of microwave digestion method were 86.0-110.4% for Pb, 81.0-104.0% for Cd and 82.0-104.7% for As by standard addition method. The recovery of direct mercury analyzer was 106.5% for Hg. The average levels of Pb in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $10.0{\pm}12.8$ for apple, $8.8{\pm}10.9$ for pear, $4.1{\pm}4.4$ for persimmons, $14.9{\pm}12.3$ for mandarin, $7.1{\pm}6.5$ for orange, $3.1{\pm}3.3$ for banana, $8.8{\pm}8.9$ for kiwi, and $9.3{\pm}9.7$ for mango. The average levels of Cd in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $0.4{\pm}0.3$ for apple, $2.0{\pm}1.6$ for pear, $0.3{\pm}0.3$ for persimmon, $0.1{\pm}0.1$ for mandarin, $0.1{\pm}0.1$ for orange, $1.3{\pm}1.8$ for banana, $0.5{\pm}0.5$ for kiwi, and $0.7{\pm}0.6$ for mango. The average levels of As in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $2.0{\pm}2.1$ for apple, $1.2{\pm}1.3$ for pear, $1.5{\pm}1.2$ for persimmon, $0.8{\pm}0.3$ for mandarin, $1.5{\pm}0.5$ for orange, $1.8{\pm}1.2$ for banana, $1.6{\pm}1.5$ for kiwi, and $1.2{\pm}1.5$ for mango. The average levels of Hg in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $0.5{\pm}0.4$ for apple, $0.3{\pm}0.2$ for pear, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ for persimmon, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ for mandarin, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ for orange, $0.2{\pm}0.0$ for banana, $0.2{\pm}0.2$ for kiwi, and $0.6{\pm}0.2$ for mango. Based on the Korean public nutrition report 2005, these levels (or amounts) are calculated only at 0.17% for Pb, 0.013% for Cd and 0.006% for Hg of those presented in provisional tolerable weekly Intake (PTWI) which has been established by FAO/WHO. Therefore, the levels presented here are presumed to be adequately safe.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.121-128
• /
• 2008

As an aquatic ecotoxicity test method, a bioassay using the inhibition of sporualtion of the green macroalga, Ulva pertusa, has been developed. Optimal test conditions determined for photon irradiance, pH, salinity and temperature were $100\;{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, $7{\sim}9$, $25{\sim}35\;psu$ and $15{\sim}20^{\circ}C$, respectively. The validity of the test endpoint was evaluated by assessing the toxicity of four metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) and elutriates of sewage or waste sludge collected from 9 different locations. When the metals were assayed, the $EC_{50}$ values indicated the following toxicity rankings: Cu ($0.062\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) > Cd ($0.208\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) > Pb ($0.718\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) > Zn ($0.776\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$). When compared with other commonly used bioassays of metal pollution listed on US ECOTOX database, the sporualtion test proved to be the most sensitive. Ulva sporulation was significantly inhibited in all elutriates with the greatest and least effects observed in elutriates of sludge from industrial waste ($EC_{50}=6.78%$) and filtration bed ($EC_{50}=15.0%$), respectively. The results of the Spearman rank correlation analysis for $EC_{50}$ data versus the concentrations of toxicants in the sludge presented a significant correlation between toxicity and four heavy metals(Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn). The method described here is sensitive to toxicants, simple to use, easy to interpret and economical. It is also easy to procure samples and maintain cultures. The present method would therefore probably make a useful assessment of aquatic toxicity of a wide range of toxicants. In addition, the genus Ulva has a wide geographical distribution and species have similar reproductive processes, so the test method would have a potential application worldwide.