Congener-distribution patterns and risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls, dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in Korean human milk

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and biphenyls (PCBs) were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry in human milk samples from an urban and an industrial area in Korea. All PCB congeners were analyzed to characterize the congener distribution as well as to evaluate the toxic equivalent quotient (TEQ) values and the total concentration. In homologue distributions of PCBs, two distinct patterns were found. The mean concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were 15.13 and 5.64 TEQ pg/g fat (based on WHO TEF, 1997), respectively. The contamination in Korean human milk is comparable to that found in other countries. From these results a daily intake of 60 TEQ pg/kg/day for an infant was estimated. The assumptions were that the infant breast feeds for 1 year, has an average body weight of 10 kg during this period, and ingests 800 g/day of human milk containing a mean concentration of 20.84 TEQ (PCDD/Fs) pg/g fat (based on primipara mothers).     

Assessment of the daily intake of 62 polychlorinated biphenyls from dietary exposure in South Korea

The dietary intake of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was estimated using the sum of 62 PCB congeners (∑₆₂PCBs), including seven indicator PCBs and 12 dioxin-like PCBs, in the South Korea. In this study, 200 individual food samples belonging to 40 different foodstuffs were investigated to estimate the distribution of PCB congeners in five sampling cities. PCB exposure was estimated using Korean dietary habits as established by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The PCB concentrations in rice, the most frequently consumed food in Korea, was relatively low in whole food samples. The mean PCB levels measured in fish were the highest in this study, but each fish is consumed in relatively small amounts by the general population. Therefore, the daily dietary intake should also be considered with regard to human exposure to PCBs, especially with the consumption of contaminated foods. Dioxin-like PCB levels were also calculated using TEF values that were established in 2005. The average levels (pg TEQ/g) were 0.0002 for rice and 0.0098 for fish. The dioxin-like PCBs accounted for a relatively small percentage of the total PCBs, compared to previous studies. According to our research, the health risks associated with exposure to PCBs could be estimated using the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of the general population.     

Appropriate technology for municipal sewerage/excreta management in developing countries, Thailand case study

Design criteria for planning urban sewerage/excreta management systems appropriate for developing countries as distinguished from affluent industrialized country practices.     

Observations of Dust-Storms in China, Mongolia and Associated Dust Falls in Korea in Spring 2003

A joint monitoring of dust-storms that occurred in East Asia from March until May 2003 has been carried. Our discussions include dust-storm observations in the source areas of China and Mongolia, and measurements with satellites and ground monitors in central Korea. Differences were found in the definition and measurement of dust-storms. Over the source area of Mongolia there were 6 dusty days in March, 18 days in April, and 10 dusty days in May. In Inner Mongolia of northern China there were 4 dust-storms with 14 dusty days observed over the three months. In central Korea, a sink area, there were 4 cases of weak dust-storm and 17 dusty days in the spring of 2003. The highest PM10 value was 607 μgm⁻³ and PM 2.3 was 149 μgm⁻³, respectively. These observations identify the growing need for further universal observation practices and dust-storm reporting in future. Observations indicated that snow covered the central part of the Gobi Desert, near the boundary of China and Mongolia, from December until mid-March. This is in contrast to other years when the Gobi was relatively wet, producing unfavourable conditions for the formation of intense dust-storms. In addition, the very strong winds associated with intense cyclones and anticyclones were not apparent and the systems shifted northward during the spring. As a result, the frequency and intensity of observed dust-storms in 2003 in this region were very low. This confirms that there is variability in the frequency of dust-storm formation due to the current process of desertification and climate change.     

A case study of dioxin monitoring in and around an industrial waste incinerator in Korea

Many studies have been conducted that monitor and trace the sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furans (PCDD/Fs) by comparing congener patterns of environmental samples with those of possible sources. In this study, we measured PCDD/F concentrations and compared congener patterns of samples of various media found in and around an industrial waste incinerator in Korea, including stack gas, fly ash, bottom ash, ambient air, soil, pine needle, and human blood. We obtained reliable data on the relationship between the PCDD/F distributions in these sources and the environment, and thus found indicators with which to assess the impact of such sources on the surrounding environment. In addition, the difference between the levels of PCDD/Fs in the blood of short-term workers and long-term workers demonstrates that these workers are exposed to the compounds produced by the indicator.     

韩国地表水水质标准研究与启示

韩国现行地表水水质标准由保护人体健康的水质标准和保护生态环境的水质标准两部分组成。采用风险评价的方法制定有毒物质的水质标准,并根据美国EPA推导环境水质基准的公式,对制定水质基准的方法进行了改进。韩国环境部计划于2015年将水质标准扩展到30种化学物质,同时将推导得出的生态风险基准纳入水质标准,旨在推进我国地表水水质标准的制订与完善。     

1990-2015年朝鲜土地覆被变化及驱动力分析

基于Landsat TM/OLI遥感数据,采用面向对象的图像分析方法,提取1990年和2015年朝鲜土地覆被信息,定量描绘土地覆被变化。结果表明：25年间朝鲜土地覆被共变化1.1×10⁴ km²,林地和湿地分别减少4976.1 km²、203.3 km²,耕地和人工表面分别增加4821.5 km²、80 km²;耕地面积增加明显,94.6%的耕地来源于林地,两者的主要转化区在海拔为100~1000 m、坡度为 8°~35°的坡地;黄海北道的土地覆被变化最显著,其次是平安南道,两江道最不明显。人口增长、经济环境退化和宏观政策的调控等人为因素是推动朝鲜土地覆被变化的主要原因。本文弥补了朝鲜长时间尺度土地覆被变化研究的空白,同时为东北亚地区土地资源可持续利用和生态环境保护奠定了基础。     

日本、韩国环保产业发展经验对中国的借鉴

节能环保产业作为战略性新兴产业的七大重点领域之一,新形势下发展具备有利条件,特别是十二五以来我国环保产业得到了飞速发展,但是由于体制机制、技术、市场等多方面原因环保产业发展也面临诸多挑战和障碍。日本与韩国,环保产业已进入技术成熟期,逐渐成为本国国民经济的支柱产业和世界环保市场的主力,借鉴日韩环保产业的发展经验,提出中国推动环保产业发展的对策建议。     

中国、韩国1980～2006年能值足迹与能值承载力

根据基于能值分析理论改进的生态足迹计算模型——能值足迹和能值承载力模型,在空间尺度上从地区一级上升到国家尺度,探讨能值足迹和能值承载力在国家层面上若干年时间序列的变化趋势,并以中国和韩国为例,对两国在1980~2006年（韩国1980~2004年）期间的能值足迹和能值承载力进行了计算与分析,探讨中国和韩国的可持续发展状况.结果表明,中国人均能值承载力由1980年的2.7362hm2下降到2006年的2.0547hm2,同时,人均能值足迹却由1980年的1.7715hm2上升到2006年的5.7903hm2.中国自1987年以来出现能值足迹赤字,且赤字数额逐年增加,到2006年已达到-3.7356hm2.韩国人均能值承载力由1980年度3.1871 hm2下降到2004年度2.5271 hm2,人均能值足迹由1980的1.1339 hm2上升到2004年的4.2419 hm2,韩国自1992年出现能值足迹赤字,之后虽有小幅波动,但总体趋势与中国类似,赤字数额逐年上升,到2004年已达-1.7147hm2.目前,中国已不能满足基本可持续性的要求,而韩国能够满足这一要求.