• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.395-400
• /
• 2002

Lead is one of the most toxic metal and is detectable in practically all phases of environment and in all biological system. Transport, industrial and domestic waste products are the main sources of this pollutant. Ingested lead is rapidly absorbed and widely distributed throughout the body, causing extensive tissue damage. In this study, we chose the freshwater decapods Maceobrachium nipponnese as a sensitive indicator organism for environmental pollution. In order to investigate the possibility in use of $Na^+/K^+ATPase$ activity as a biomarker of lead pollution, we tested the acute toxicity of lead to Maceobrachium nipponnese. The $LC_{50}(96hr)$ value for lead in Maceobrachium nipponnese was found to be $446{\mu}g/L$ with the 95% confidence limits. The lead exposure group at $LC_{50}$ showed a significant $Na^+/K^+ATPase$ inhibition, depending on the exposure time. Comparision of several concentrations of lead revealed that the $Na^+/K^+ATPase$ activity in Maceobrachium nipponnese was significantly decreased in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that $Na^+/K^+ATPase$ activity in Maceobrachium nipponnese may possibly be used as a biomarker of lead pollution in aquatic ecosystem.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.15 no.s
• /
• pp.1-32
• /
• 1972

In order to utilize for the prevention and preservation of the Han River from the environmental pollution the present studies were carried out to clarify the microflora and estimation of the water pollution levels of the Han River. In addition to the above regional and seasonal fluctuation of the phytoplankton was also examined. Samples of phytoplankton were collected from 6 stations in the South Han River during the period from December, 1971 to October, 1972. The results obtained during the present studies are as follows: 1. The phytoplankton samples collected from 6 stations, Yeoju, Hajapo-ri, Yangpyeong, Daruraegi, Giduwon and Paldang were identified and classified by Engler's classification system(1954). It resulted in 2 phylum, 2 classes, 7 orders, 10 families, 29 genera, 137 species, 1 sub-species, 49 varieties, 6 forma and 2 variety-forma. The total numbers of phytoplankton identified were 195 species, of which 7 families, 27 species, 26 varieties, 4 forma and 2 variety-forma are new to Korea, that of 54 species are first described in Korea. 2. In lower area of the Han River it is found 53 species from Paldang and in middle area it is found 114 species from Giduwon, 95 species from Daruraegi, 66 species from Yangpyeong, 71 species from Hajapori and 81 species from Yeoju. In standpoint of seasonal fluctuation of phytoplankton, the total numbers of the plankton is more abundant in summer than in winter season and it shows bimodal pattern. 3. As compared with previous data which obtained from 30 stations covering estuary to upper area, both South and North Han River, during the period from 1965-1972 it is shown that 10 species of the South Han River and 11 species of the North Han River are found throughout all seasons. Among the above species two are common in both area. In the other hand it is found that 9 species in spring season and 6 species in fall season in the South Han River and 10 species in spring, 23 species in summer, 4 species in fall and 15 species in winter season in the North Han River shows their seasonal fluctuation in this area. Among the seasonal occurrence of phytoplankton 10 species were consider to be indicator for the estimation of biological water pollution levels. 4. According to Fjerdingstad's water pollution level system (1963) the total numbers of 1, 230 species which have been collected from the Han River since 1965 includes 27 species of phytoplankton as indicator; 3 species of blue-green algae, 20 species of diatom, and 4 species of green-algae. 5. With 27 indicator species new estimation of water pollution level system was arranged for water pollution in the Han River. 6. The lower part of the central area of the Han River indicates mesosaprobic. In central area of the Han River shows mesosaprobic and oligosaprobic, but predominant in mesosaporobic. And it is indicated that mesosaprobic, oligosaprobic, and polysaprobic factors mixed up in the North Han River. Compare with their water pollution level in the South and North Han River, with author's new system, it is estimated that North Han River is more polluted than South Han River. 7. The reason why North Han River is more polluted suggested that the selfpurification action was limited by their circulation speed. The rapid speed of water in the North Han River is mainly caused by their topography and water-drainage from waterpower plant. In conclusion the central area of the Han River consist of mesosaprobe zone, as a part with oligosaprobe zone. But the presence of polysaprobe zone in the North Han River gives us many problems in future for the nationa development programme and natural conservation in this area.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.71-80
• /
• 2014

Objectives: The main purpose of this review is to introduce the current status of environmental health indicators of Korea and to share our experience of the developmental process of Korean version of environmental health indicators. Methods: This paper describes 1) the background of environmental health indicators; 2) the ways how we developed environmental health indicators of Korea; 3) the current status of selected indicators; and 4) suggestions for the further policy development. Results: The 6-year long project for the development of environmental health indicator systems in Korea could provide outputs on three major distinct aspects on the indicator issues. Firstly, we have developed the rational process/manual so that the government can select and advocate the potential indicators with a relatively objective manner. Secondly, we have suggested the potential candidate indicators which can be implemented immediately. We also pooled all indicators in order to evaluate the summary index which we expect to tell the status of environmental health. Third, we provided suggestions on the further utilization of this indicator system. Conclusion: The mission of environmental health policy is to resolve the public health problems occurring because of hazardous environment. In order to identify the environmental determinants of the community health problems and to evaluate the effectiveness of the policy implemented, these environmental indicators can be used. Therefore, the government should implement this ready-prepared system of environmental health indicators.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.1004-1013
• /
• 2006

To effective a watershed management, it is necessary to have one or more quantitative measures that can be used to evaluate the relationship between pollutant sources and their impact on water quality. Such measurable quantities are termed indicators. Once an indicator has been selected, a target value for that indicator must be established that seek to distinguish between the impaired and unimpaired state of the waterbody. Various factors will be considered for the selection of an appropriate watershed management indicator. For example, available data, application, management conditions, cost, etc. This paper lists various factors that should be addressed in choosing a watershed management indicators and investigates applicable indicators during watershed management period.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.793-801
• /
• 2004

A passive sampler has been developed for measuring formaldehyde in air using methyl yellow and methyl orange indicator. It is based on the color change of the TLC plate on reaction with formaldehyde. TLC plates impregnated with three kinds of solutions containing methyl orange, methyl yellow, mixing of methyl yellow and methyl orange were shown rectilinear response to formaldehyde concentration at constant exposure time. The color change of impregnated TLC plate with criteria air pollution, such as NO$_2$, SO$_2$, CO, $O_3$ was investigated. The color change of TLC plate with $O_3$ is larger than other gases.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.13-22
• /
• 2006

The Korean government adopted the integrated stream water management policy recently with growing perception that natural disasters and pollution in Korea have been due not only to such human factors as urbanization and industrialization, but also to the policy of functionally separated management of irrigation, flood control and ecological management. Contrary to its good intention, research result shows that it is not realistic to expect that this new integrated policy in Korea will work well. In order to be an effective policy and program evaluation, this paper suggests that evaluation indicator on related programs and projects should be made through bottom-up process. For example, environmental benefit should be taken into account rather than just economic benefit, and cultural and social characteristics in the project region should be also considered seriously.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.561-569
• /
• 2012

To evaluate the bacteriological water quality in Yongnam-Gwangdo, located in western Jinhae Bay, seawater samples were analyzed using sanitary indicator bacteria at 57 sampling stations. According to survey results from January 2007 to December 2009, the range of the geometric mean and the estimated 90th percentile for coliforms and fecal coliforms in the samples were <1.8-16.5 and 1.8-246.8 MPN/100 mL and <1.8-7.1 and 1.8-74.8 MPN/100 mL, respectively. The samples, including those taken from stations located in Wonmunman, Gwangdo, and Dangdong, showed high levels of microbial contamination caused by the climate and weather patterns in the marine environment. The bacteriological water quality in the area met Korean criteria for a designated shellfish growing area for export and National Shellfish Sanitation Program criteria for an approved shellfish growing area, except at station #49. A total of 24 direct pollution sources were discharged into the shellfish growing area. The radius of impact was calculated for each pollution source to assess the effect on the shellfish growing area. The calculated radius of impact for most of the pollution sources was below 300 m. However, the radius of impact for the combined pollution sources in Kyeonnaeryang was 93-1973 m. There were significant differences between the calculated closed sea area and actual monitoring results. The closed sea area values calculated from the fecal coliform load in drainage water tended to be higher than the actual monitoring results. Tidal currents and environmental factors such as salinity, water temperature, sunlight, and microbiological factors affect the survival of fecal indicator bacteria in seawater.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.145-154
• /
• 2011

This research was to examine the biological pollution class by color of the polluted section and calculate the biological pollution coverages of 9 stone heritages in Korea, from June to November 2008. Three storied stone pagoda in Mulgeol-ri, Hongcheon, Three storied stone pagoda in Suta Temple and Stupa to Hongudang in Sutasa Temple showed 90% biological pollution coverage and each stone cultural heritages showed 15~23% range of Bryophyte coverage, proving severe biological pollution. The Four-lion three storied stone pagoda of Gwaeseok-ri, Three storied stone pagoda in Suta Temple and Stupa to Hongudang in Sutasa Temple showed the worst biological pollution class by color of class 5. Three storied stone pagoda in Chang-ri showed satisfactory level of class 2. The result of the correlation analysis between biological pollution class and the biological pollution coverage of lichen showed high correlation coefficient of 0.91, however, the correlation analysis between biological pollution class and bryophyte or aerial algae coverage showed the low correlation coefficient. Eight taxa among all the aerial algae, Cosmarium decedens, Chlorella ellipsoidea, Anabaena fertilissima, Botryococcus braunii, Chroococcus turgidus, Navicula cryptocephala and Xenococcus acervatus showed high correlation coefficient of 0.56~0.85 with biological pollution coverage of bryophyte, in the correlation analysis. The correlation coefficient between biological pollution coverage of lichen, Trebouxia sp. and Chroococcus varius, had a range between 0.43 to 0.50. The correlation coefficient between biological pollution coverage of aerial algae, Achnanthes laterostrata and Ulothrix zonata showed a range of 0.57 to 0.76. Since the aerial algae with high correlation between biological pollution coverage showed clear appearance tendency, they can be used as indicator.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.16 no.4 s.50
• /
• pp.393-402
• /
• 2006

The contamination characteristics of BTEX and TPH components in silty soils with the oil leakage event from point source were studied. The over ratios of three soil pollution standard for TPH component were $1.5{\sim}1.7$ times higher than that of BTEX component. The mean and maximum values of BTEX and TPH components with sample points were B-zone > A-zone > C-zone, and the highest concentrations were measured at $1{\sim}2m$ depth below surface. BTEX and TPH components were increased with linear distance in zone within 120 m and 80 m from point source. For the zone more than 120 m, BTEX and TPH concentrations were under soil pollution standard. The cutoff values of indicator kriging using BTEX and TPH components were defined as confirmative limit, warn- ing limit and counterplan limit. The variograms of indicator-transformed data were selected linear model. The contamination ranges of BTEX and TPH components using confirmative limit and warning limit were estimated similar, but the contamination range of those using counterplan limit was much reduced. The maximum contamination probabilities were estimated by probability maps usinB confirmative limit, warning limit and counterplan limit. The maximum contamination probabilities with three soil pollution standard were estimated 26%, 26% and 13% for BTEX component, and 44%, 38% and 26% for TPH component.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.715-722
• /
• 2015

Four major river basin in Korea has been managed with Total Maximum Daily Load(TMDL) System. Water quality indicators as targeted pollutants for TMDL were BOD and TP. In order to satisfy water quality criteria, government allocation using public treatment facilities and its action plan has been used. However, the role to improve water quality were recently faced to its limitation. It is time to require the role of non-government allocation in private discharge facilities to control good water quality. This study investigated three different scenarios in reduction demands of non-government allocations about industry and private sewages. The three different scenarios were discharge under 1) legal water quality standard, 2) water quality level in 2011 and 3) current water quality level with maximum value in group. The results showed that reduction potential in water discharge for TP indicator was 1,118kg/day, under second scenario with 20% of deduction. This results arrived at 42% of whole reduction potential costs and 0.012mg/L improvement in water quality. In conclusion, to intrigue voluntary participation in non-government allocation, various benefits such as tax reduction, tax exemption, and water quality trading should be provided.