• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.406-416
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• 2014

When abnormal taste and odor were detected in the tap water of the North-Han river watershed during the dry season in late 2011, excessive nutrients with algal growth in the Lake Uiam and weather factors were considered to be among its causes. The nutrients, in particular, originated from domestic sewage in the Chuncheon area. This study was conducted to investigate relations between the algal growth in the Lake Uiam and the contribution of nutrients from public sewage treatment works (PSTWs) in Chuncheon city, and based on this to analyze the environmental impact. Nutrients in the Lake Uiam have already been accumulated to the level of eutrophication. Even in winter, the conditions in the lake such as retention time and water temperature were favorable to boost algal growth. After phosphorus treatment processes were introduced, the PSTWs in the Lake Uiam watershed were able to reduce the total phosphorus loads by 43%. The algal concentrations in the Lake Uiam also dropped by about 7%. The nitrogen treatment efficiencies in the PSTWs, on the other hand, remained almost the same after the introduction of the phosphorus treatment processes. To solve these problems more efficiently, it is necessary to develop management strategies for the upstream area of the Lake Uiam and set plans to improve nitrogen treatment operation and management for the PSTWs in Chuncheon.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.716-729
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• 2015

Small-scale household digesters have been promoted across Asia as a sustainable way of handling manure. The major advantages are that they produce biogas and reduce odor. However their disadvantages include the low recycling of nutrients, because digestate is dilute and therefore difficult to transport, and the loss of biogas as a result of cracks and the intentional release of excess biogas. In this study, life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was used to assess the environmental impacts associated with biogas digesters in Vietnam. Handling 1,000 kg of liquid manure and 100 kg of solid manure in a system with a biogas digester reduced the impact potential from 4.4 kg carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) equivalents to 3.2 kg $CO_2$ equivalents compared with traditional manure management. However, this advantage could easily be compromised if digester construction is considered in the LCA or in situations where there is an excess of biogas which is intentionally released. A sensitivity analysis showed that biogas digesters could be a means of reducing global warming if methane emissions can be kept low. In terms of eutrophication, farms with biogas digesters had 3 to 4 times greater impacts. In order to make biogas digesters sustainable, methods for recycling digestates are urgently required.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.76-85
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• 2012

Geochemical and ecological properties of remediated soil and gas exhausted from a low-temperature thermal desorption (LTTD) process were analyzed to assess the environmental impact of LTTD treatment. Soil characteristics were examined with regard to the chemical (EC, CEC, and organic matter) and the ecological (dehydrogenase activity, germination rate of Brassica juncea, and growth of Eisenia andrei) properties. The exhaust gases were analyzed based on the Air Quality Act in Korea as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and mixed odor. Level of organic Organic matter of the soil treated by LTTD process was slightly decreased compared to that of the original soil because the heating temperature ($200^{\circ}C$) and retention time (less than 15 minutes) were neither high nor long enough for the oxidation of organic matter. The LTTD process results in reducing TPH of the contaminated soil from $5,133{\pm}508$ mg/kg to $272{\pm}107$ mg/kg while preserving soil properties. Analysis results of the exhaust gases from the LTTD process satisfied discharge standard of Air Quality Law in Korea. Concentration of VOCs including acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde and valeraldehyde in circulation gas volatilized from contaminated soil were effectively reduced in the regenerative thermal oxidizer and all satisfied the legal standards. Showing ecologically improved properties of contaminated soil after LTTD process and environmentally tolerable impact of the exhaust gas, LTTD treatment of TPH-contaminated soil is an environmentally acceptable technology.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.818-825
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• 2023

The surge in online seafood consumption has increased parcel delivery, leading to a need to implement effective preservation methods. As the cold chain system is not fully established in Korea, styrofoam boxes and cold packs are commonly used for low-temperature seafood distribution. The impact of cold packs on product preservation depends on the number utilized. Herein, the freshness of vacuum-packed frozen fish fillets (Paralichthys olivaceus and Scomber japonicus) stored at 25±0.5℃ for up to 84 h was measured. Chemical (pH and volatile base nitrogen), microbiological (viable cell count), and physical (odor intensity) properties were assessed using 2 or 4 cold packs in a styrofoam box. Four cold packs yielded lower values, indicating superior freshness, and extended fish freshness by approximately 12 h compared with two cold packs. Therefore, it is recommended to use a minimum of 4 cold packs (-350 g/cold pack) in a styrofoam box for distributing approximately 300 g of frozen fish fillets at room temperature during the summer, considering an average delivery period of 2 days in Korea.