Occurrence and accumulation features of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and synthetic musk compounds in finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from Korean coastal waters

Reports of the occurrence and accumulation patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and synthetic musk compounds (SMCs) in marine mammals are scarce. In this study, the concentrations and accumulation profiles of PAHs and SMCs were determined in blubber from finless porpoises in Korean coastal waters. Total concentrations of PAHs and SMCs ranged from 6.0 to 432 (mean: 160) ng/g lipid weight and from 17 to 144 (mean: 52) ng/g lipid weight, respectively. Residue levels of PAHs were lower than those reported from other studies, while residue levels of SMCs were relatively higher than those reported in other studies. Naphthalene was the most abundant PAH and HHCB was the dominant SMC observed in finless porpoises. The concentrations of PAHs and SMCs were not correlated with each other, but were significantly correlated within the same chemical groups. No correlations were found between body size and residue levels of PAHs and SMCs.     

Accumulation of butyltin compounds in cetaceans from Korean coastal waters

Data on the occurrence and accumulation profiles of butyltins (BTs), including tributyltin (TBT), in marine mammals are scarce. This is the first study to investigate residue levels and accumulation patterns of BTs in cetaceans from Korean coastal waters. The total concentrations of BTs (sum of mono- to tri-butyltins) in minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) ranged from 15.7 to 297 ng/g wet weight (mean: 100 ng/g wet weight) and from 59.0 to 412 ng/g wet weight (mean: 228 ng/g wet weight), respectively. Dibutyltin (DBT) accounted for 63% of the total BTs in all cetacean samples. Significant species-specific differences in BT concentrations, possibly due to the differences in their habitat and diet, were found between the two cetacean species. The concentrations of DBT and TBT in most cetacean samples exceeded the threshold value for cytotoxic effects in cetaceans, implying potentially adverse health risks from exposure to BTs.     

Macrobenthos habitat mapping in a tidal flat using remotely sensed data and a GIS-based probabilistic model

This paper proposes and tests a method of producing macrofauna habitat potential maps based on a weights-of-evidence model (a probabilistic approach) for the Hwangdo tidal flat, Korea. Samples of macrobenthos were collected during field work, and we considered five mollusca species for habitat mapping. A weights-of-evidence model was used to calculate the relative weights of 10 control factors that affect the macrobenthos habitat. The control factors were compiled as a spatial database from remotely sensed data combined with GIS analysis. The relative weight of each factor was integrated as a species potential index (SPI), which produced habitat potential maps. The maps were compared with the surveyed habitat locations, revealing a strong correlation between the potential maps and species locations. The combination of a GIS-based weights-of-evidence model and remote sensing techniques is an effective method in determining areas of macrobenthos habitat potential in a tidal flat setting.     

The impact of the risk environment and energy prices to the budget of Korean households

Energy is closely related to environmental risk. A rising fuel price in the 1970s had hurt consumers and caused disturbance to the natural environment. Households could not afford high imported energy prices and thus resorted to fuel wood. Land competed for fuel wood and agricultural crops, and thus high fuel prices strained the environment with respect to the use of land. If human health and safe housing were included in environmental risk, a high energy price would induce broader environmental risk. Households with limited income would not be able to use expensive fossil energy to warm their houses and would depend on only electric mats or blankets to keep warm. Such insufficient warming methods would not only threaten their health but would also worsen the condition of their houses. The abrupt increase in energy prices in 2007 and 2008 had significantly impacted environmental risk. It forced low income households to spend more on energy, leaving less for other expenditure segments, but had left high income households generally intact. This contrasting effect between different income groups had increased the sustainability of the energy risks at the high prices. This study shows how risks associated with the household economy have increased in response to the recent dramatic increases in energy prices. We develop a method for assessing risk by using the variance of ratios of energy expenditure to current income. We then examine how differently the economic change has increased risk across expenditure segments. We find energy expenditure as the biggest contributor to the risk. In addition, we illustrate how energy expenditure has changed the risk profile for each income group, with the first group (i.e., the lowest income group) experiencing the greatest increase. This group hurts the most during days of high energy prices.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in a benthic ecosystem in Gwangyang Bay, South Korea

Benthic ecosystem in Gwangyang Bay, a fast developing industrial area with steel production, port container handling, petroleum and other chemical processing in South Korea was studied. The average levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCB) in the benthic components were: seawater 2.99 ± 0.13 (ng/L); sediment 294 ± 118 (ng/g TOC); [biota=ng/g lipid] starfish 92; prawn 131 ± 2; mussels 127 ± 22; crab 182 ± 114; clam 187; polychaeta 215; sea cucumber 497 ± 90; squill 603 ± 38; fish 396 ± 159. Levels in the inner bay samples were higher than the outer bay samples suggesting land based pollution. Good correlation (r(2)=0.79; p<0.05) existed between PCB concentration and lipid content indicating partitioning processes in action. PCB signature in the abiotic and biotic components shows enrichment of lower chlorinated congeners emitted by a unique source nearby, viz. steel manufacturing plant.     

Stabilization of arsenic-contaminated mine tailings using natural and calcined oyster shells

Natural oyster shells (NOS) and calcined oyster shells (COS) were used to immobilize arsenic (As) from contaminated mine tailings. In addition, a blend of Portland cement (PC)/cement kiln dust (CKD) was used as a stabilizing agent. The Korean Standard Test (KST) method (1 N HCl extraction) was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. The experimental results showed that COS effectively immobilized As in treated mine tailings. Specifically, an As concentration less than 1 mg L⁻¹ was obtained following COS treatment at 25 and 30 wt%. However, all the samples subjected to NOS treatments failed the Korean warning standard of 1.2 mg L⁻¹ after 28 days of curing. All of the COS-PC treatments were successful meeting the Korean warning standard after 7 days of curing. However, the PC-only treatment failed to meet the Korean warning standard. Similarly, the CKD-only treatment was failed to meet the Korean warning standard after 7 days of curing. However, the COS-CKD treatment showed that when the COS content was greater than 20 wt%, less than 1 mg L⁻¹ of As leachability was obtained. Scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX) showed needle-like and torpedo-like Ca–As phases in the COS-treated samples suggesting that As was strongly associated with Ca and O. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analyses confirmed that As(V) was prevalent in the tailings and that there were no changes in As speciation following NOS or COS treatment.     

Sensitivity analysis for the GIS-based mapping of the ground subsidence hazard near abandoned underground coal mines

Ground subsidence around abandoned underground coal mines can cause much loss of life and property. We analyze factors that can affect ground subsidence around abandoned mines in Jeongahm in Kangwon-do by sensitivity analysis in geographic information system (GIS). Spatial data for the subsidence area, topography and geology and various ground engineering data were collected and used to make a factor raster database for a ground subsidence hazard map. To determine the importance of extracted subsidence-related factors, frequency ratio model and sensitivity analysis were employed. Sensitivity analysis is a method for comparing the combined effects of all factors except one. Sensitivity analysis and its verification showed that using all factors provided 91.61% accuracy. The best accuracy was achieved by not considering the groundwater depth (92.77%) and the worst by not considering the lineament (85.42%). The results show that the distance from the lineament and the distance from the drift highly affected the occurrence of ground subsidence, and the groundwater depth, land use and rock mass rating had the least effects. Thus, we determined causes of ground subsidence in the study area and this information could help in the prediction of ground subsidence in other areas.     

Design of the roll stabilization controller, using fin stabilizers and pod propellers

Ships experience roll motion due to waves in a seaway. Therefore, fin stabilizers are installed to stabilize such roll motion. A fin stabilizer is effective at reducing the roll motion at moderate speeds but not at low speeds. Recently, pod propellers have been used with fin stabilizers for roll stabilization. In the paper, a MIMO (multi-input multi-output) optimal control system that has two control inputs such as fin stabilizers and pod propellers is designed. The LQR (linear quadratic regulator) control algorithm is applied to reduce the roll motion of cruise ships in regular waves. Also, the nominal plant and the frequency-weighted LQR are applied to reduce the roll motion in irregular waves. The roll motion of cruise ships is effectively reduced when the fin and pod propeller are used as the control actuators at low speeds. The optimal control gain is easily found when the frequency-weighted LQR is applied.     

Lake Sihwa tidal power plant project

A Tidal Power Plant (TPP) is being constructed in the middle section of the existing Lake Sihwa dike located near the southern Incheon Port in Korea. The project, which will be completed in 2010, is to harness the largest tidal energy in the Kyeonggi Bay in the eastern Yellow Sea. While noting the current progress in terms of plant construction, this paper outlines the overall project in the tidal regime and uses predictive local flow modeling. The results of two-dimensional finite element method simulations that predict the real-time tidal characteristics during the construction and after the completion of the tidal power plant are presented, including a method to estimate the electricity output from the plant in the future.     

Lateglacial and early Holocene palaeoclimatic reconstruction based on glacier fluctuations and equilibrium‐line altitudes at northern Folgefonna,Hardanger, western Norway

Northern Folgefonna (c. 23 km²), is a nearly circular maritime ice cap located on the Folgefonna Peninsula in Hardanger, western Norway. By combining the position of marginal moraines with AMS radiocarbon dated glacier‐meltwater induced sediments in proglacial lakes draining northern Folgefonna, a continuous high‐resolution record of variations in glacier size and equilibrium‐line altitudes (ELAs) during the Lateglacial and early Holocene has been obtained. After the termination of the Younger Dryas (c. 11 500 cal. yr BP), a short‐lived (100–150 years) climatically induced glacier readvance termed the ‘Jondal Event 1’ occurred within the ‘Preboreal Oscillation’ (PBO) c. 11 100 cal. yr BP. Bracketed to 10 550–10 450 cal. yr BP, a second glacier readvance is named the ‘Jondal Event 2’. A third readvance occurred about 10 000 cal. yr BP and corresponds with the ‘Erdalen Event 1’ recorded at Jostedalsbreen. An exponential relationship between mean solid winter precipitation and ablation‐season temperature at the ELA of Norwegian glaciers is used to reconstruct former variations in winter precipitation based on the corresponding ELA and an independent proxy for summer temperature. Compared to the present, the Younger Dryas was much colder and drier, the ‘Jondal Event 1’/PBO was colder and somewhat drier, and the ‘Jondal Event 2’ was much wetter. The ‘Erdalen Event 1’ started as rather dry and terminated as somewhat wetter. Variations in glacier magnitude/ELAs and corresponding palaeoclimatic reconstructions at northern Folgefonna suggest that low‐altitude cirque glaciers (lowest altitude of marginal moraines 290 m) in the area existed for the last time during the Younger Dryas. These low‐altitude cirque glaciers of suggested Younger Dryas age do not fit into the previous reconstructions of the Younger Dryas ice sheet in Hardanger. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.