• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 1983

A study was carried out to find drinking water qualities of 56 simple piped water supply systems and 37 water pumps in Chun Sung Conutry, Kang Won Province from 1st July to 30th August 1981. 1. The results of all kinds of water test are found to be safe at only one out of fifty six samples of simple piped water supply system at two out of thirty-seven samples of water pump and unsafe at the others. 2. In general Count of Bacteria test, twelve (21.4%) out of fifty six samples of the simple piped water are found to be safe for the legitimate standard of safty water, and five (13.5%) out of thirty=seven samples of pump water. 3. Escherichia coli group is negative at seven (12.5%) out of fifty-six samples of simple piped water, and eight (21.6%) out of thirty-seven samples of pump water. 4. The results of the physical and chemical examination of drinking water specimen are found to be safe at twelve out of fifty-six samples of simple piped water and at twenty-eight out of thirty-seven samples of pump water.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2016

Objectives: We investigated bacterial diversity in the Han River water resource protection area in order to provide basic microbiological information on the drinking water safety of the Seoul metropolitan region. Methods: Samples were collected in the spring and winter, but not during the rainy season. Pyrosequencing, gene amplification, and extraction of nucleic acids were employed in this study. Results: In total, 57 and 48 operational taxonomic units were respectively analyzed in samples collected during spring and winter. Proteobacteria were predominant in all samples. The samples contained phylogenetically diverse bacterial communities, with eleven major phyla and 36 genera. Cyanobacteria were predominant in the spring samples, but not in the winter samples. The predominant species in the samples collected during both seasons belonged to the genus Aquamicrobium and Bradyrhizobium. Moreover, no pathogenic bacteria were detected in the samples. Conclusion: Proteobacteria were predominant in the samples from the Han River water source protection area. Cyanobacteria were more predominant in the spring samples than in the winter samples, but Aquamicrobium and Bradyrhizobium were predominant in both sampling seasons.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.1207-1215
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• 2008

To investigate the occurrence and species diversity of mycobacteria in waters, surface water samples were collected monthly from the Han River and tap water samples at the terminal sites of the distribution system. Mycobacteria in each water sample were isolated by decontamination using cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and cultivation on Middlebrook 7H10 agar, and then identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PRA) and sequencing of the 65-kDa heat-shock protein gene (hsp65 gene). Mycobacteria were detected in 59% of the surface water samples and 26% of the tap water samples. Over half of the 158 isolates could not be identified by hsp65 PRA and gene sequencing, and several identification discrepancies were observed between the two methods. The most frequently isolated species was Mycobacterium gordonae in surface water and M. lentiflavum in tap water. M. avium complex (MAC), the most important pathogen among environmental mycobacteria, was detected in the surface water samples but not found in the tap water samples. The result demonstrated that water is an important environmental source of mycobacteria and the combined application of hsp65 PRA and sequencing was more reliable than hsp65 PRA alone to accurately identify mycobacteria present in water.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2016

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the degree of metal contamination of the Turag River water and its suitability for irrigation. Twenty water samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters and metals viz., calcium, magnesium, potassium (K), sodium, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni). All water samples were slightly alkaline to alkaline. Regarding electrical conductivity (EC), all samples were suitable for crop in soils with moderate permeability and leaching. Water samples were medium salinity and low alkalinity hazard classes. In terms of total dissolved solids (TDS), all samples were classified as freshwater. As per sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and soluble sodium percentage (SSP), all samples were classified as excellent. No residual sodium carbonate (RSC) was detected in any of the samples, indicating suitability for irrigation; and all samples were considered very hard. Cr and Mn contents in all samples were above FAO guideline values and, therefore, these metals were considered toxic. Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, and Ni concentrations were below acceptable limit for irrigation and do not pose a threat to soil environment. Significant relationships were found between EC and TDS, SAR and SSP, SAR and RSC, and SSP and RSC. The combinations of ions such as K-Zn, K-Fe, K-Cu, K-Mn, K-Pb, Zn-Fe, Zn-Cu, Zn-Mn, Fe-Mn, Cu-Mn, Cu-Pb and Mn-Pb exhibited significant correlation. This study revealed that Turag River water samples are contaminated with Cr and Mn. This fact should not be ignored because water contamination by metals may pose a threat to human health through food chain.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 1988

A study was carried out to find distribution of Legionella spp. in hot water supplying systems of buildings in Seoul. Water samples were taken from the hot water taps in three research institute buildings during the period from the 2nd to 27th February, 1987. And all of the three buildings were supplied with hot water from the same central hot water tank. GVPC BCYEa and blood agar were used for the isolation of Legionella pneurnophila and slide agglutination test (SAT) was performed to identify their strain types. Main findings were as follows 1. 44 samples taken from hot tap-water revealed 20% of positive culture and 44 samples taken from hot water spouts revealed 11% of positive culture. 2. The 78% of positive samples taken from hot water was obtained from 25.1$\circ$C~45.0$\circ$C temperature range. 3. Only, Legionella pneumophila serogroup 3 was identified and most of them has been than 2$\mu$m in length. 4. The densities of the Legionella pneurnophila isolated from hot water samples were within the range of $1.0\times 10^2$ to $1.1\times 10^3$ CFU/l and their densities isolated from hot water spouts were either 1 CFU/plate or 2 CFU/plate.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2003

There are lots of waterborne diseases which are caused by pathogenic microorganisms disseminated in contaminated environment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the status of water qualify and in order to investigate the sanitary condition of water purifier in northern part of Gyeonggi-do. We analyzed pathogenic microorganisms and 44 items of drinking water criteria from April to July in 2002. The results were as follows. 1. In 774 samples of water purifier, Pathogenic bacteria(salmonella, E coli O-157, O-26, O-111, shigella, pseudomonas etc.) were not isolated and total coliforms not detected. 2. About 76.5% of the water with purifier are found to be appropriated to the drinking water quality criteria. but 182 samples(23.5%) were without limits of drinking water criteria. 3. In the microbiological examination, 774 samples of purified water showed that 169 samples(21.9%) exceed the range of recommended limits(100 $CFU/m{\ell}$) to the total viable bacterial counts by pour plate method.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 1981

This study was carried out to investigate Water Temperature, Residual Chlorine, Coliform Groups, and the Standard Plate Counts of Water Supply Areas provided by 7 Water Purification Plant (W.P.P) in Seoul from September 20, 1979 through October 20, 1979. The results were summarized below: 1) The mean water temperature of the 63 Water Samples was 19.8$\circ$C, the mean pH 7.18, and the mean residual chlorine concentration 0.52 ppm by each Water Supply Areas. There is no statistically significant differences between the WPP Areas, but there is significant differences between water supply areas. 2) 30(47.6%) out of the 63 Water Samples were Standard Plate Counts free and 33 Samples (52.4%) were contaminated by Standard Plate Counts. 30 (47.6%) out of 33 samples showed the existence of Standard Plate Counts less than 15 and the other 3 samples 15-30. 3) 2 (3.2%) out of the 63 Samples had the coliform. Those 2 Samples had 2 and 6 coliform group counts per 50ml respectively both of them were 0.1ppm in residual chlorine. 4) There is correlation among Water Temperature, pH, Residual Chlorine, Standard Plate Counts, and Coliform Groups. The Coefficient of Correlation(r) between Water Temperature & Residual Chlorine was 0.147, 0.240 between Water Temperature & Standard plate Counts and 0.215 between pH & Standard Plate Counts. These correlations are statistically no significant, But the correlation of coefficient between pH & Residual Chlorine was -0.291 which is showed significant correlation at p<0.05. The coefficient of correlation between Residual Chlorine & Standard Plate Counts was -0.441 which is showed Negative Correlation Statistically Significant difference at p<0.01.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.94-101
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• 2000

We investigated the viral contamination of water environment including tap water in Korea. River water used for source water was analyzed about monthly between 1997 and 1999 over a period 26 months. A total of 22 tap water samples were collected in 10 sites in 2 urban areas between 1997 and 1998 over a 11 months. All samples were examined for infectious enteroviruses and adenoviruses by a cell culture technique followed by PCR amplification. To identify the recovered viruses from tap water, sequence analysis of PCR products was performed. Infectious viral particles were detected in river water all year round, ranging from 0.93 to 17.3 Most Probable Number of Infectious Unit (MPNIU) /100L. Tap water samples also contained infectious viral particles. The frequency of enteroviruses and adenoviruses in tap water were $50.0\%$ (11/22) and $36.7\%$ (8/22), respectively. Both enteroviruses and adenoviruses were detected in five tap water samples $(22.7\%)$. The level of viral contamination in tap water was quite high, ranging from 0.2 to 2.9 MPNIU/100L, far above the recommended virus level in drinking water set by the U.S. EPA. Poliovirus type 1 derived from vaccine was frequently detected and the remainder comprised coxsackievirus B type or echovirus type 6, which were causative agents of aseptic meningitis in Korea in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Several types of adenovirus were detected in tap water samples and some water samples were found to contain adenoviruses which were closely related to enteric adenovirus type 40 and 41. This stusy shows that surface water and tap water in Korea may be exposed to the risk of viral contamination, especially from recently recognized viruses and this constitutes a potential public health hazard.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.863-871
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• 2007

Spectroscopic characteristics of river water from four major watersheds in the Ulsan area were measured to examine their potential for estimating water quality parameters. The total 176 river samples were collected from 44 sites of small streams within the watersheds during the year 2006. Spectroscopic characteristics investigated included protein-like fluorescence (FLF) intensity, fulvic-like fluorescence (FLF) intensity, terrestrial humic-like fluorescence (TLF) intensity, UV absorbance at 254 nm, and UV absorbance difference at 220 nm and 254 nm. Protein-like fluorescence intensity showed linear relationships with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorous (TP) concentrations of the samples with the correlation of 0.784, 0.779, and 0.733, respectively. Due to the UV absorption characteristics of nitrate at 220 nm, UV absorbance difference at 220 nm and 254 nm was selected to represent total nitrogen (TN) concentration. Exclusion of some samples with PLF intensity higher than 5.0 improved the correlation between the UV absorbance difference and TN as demonstrated by the increase of the correlation coefficient from 0.392 to 0.784. Instead, for the samples with PLF intensity lower than 5.0, the highest correlation of TN was achieved with UV absorbance at 254 nm. The results suggest that PLF intensity could be used as the estimation index for BOD, COD, and TP concentration of river water, and as the primary screening index for the prediction of TN using UV absorbance difference. Some BOD-based water quality levels among the river water were statistically discriminated by the PLF intensity. Low p-values were obtained from the t-tests on the samples with the first level and the second level (p=0.0003) and the samples with the second and the third levels (p=0.0413). Our combined results demonstrated that the selected spectroscopic characteristics of river water could be utilized as a tool for on-site real-time monitoring and/or the primary estimation of water quality.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.12-15
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• 2014

Thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) was used to determine the concentration and isotope ratio of uranium contained in samples of soil and groundwater collected from Korea. Quantification of uranium in ground water samples was performed by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. A series of chemical treatment processes, including chemical separation using extraction chromatography, was applied to the soil samples to extract the uranium. No treatments other than filtration were applied to the groundwater samples. Isotopic analyses by TIMS showed that the isotope ratios of uranium in both the soil and water samples were indistinguishable from those of naturally abundant uranium. The concentration of uranium in the groundwater samples was within the U.S. acceptable standards for drinking water. These results demonstrate the utility of TIMS for monitoring uranium in environmental samples with high analytical reliability.