A total of 187 samples of leafy vegetables and fruits were acquired at traditional markets and department stores in Seoul, Korea. Samples were tested for microorganism distributions and for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. The aerobic mesophilic counts ranged between 2.5 and 9.4 log CFU/g, with the highest count recorded from the dropwort. Counts of psychrotrophic microorganisms were as high as those of the mesophilic microorganisms. Total coliform populations between 1.0 and 7.8 log CFU/g were found in 90.9% of the samples. Microbiological counts for fruits were very low. Escherichia coli was isolated in 24 (12.8%) samples. Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium perfringens contamination were found in 15 (8.0%) and 20 (10.7%) samples. Salmonella species and Listeria monocytogenes were detected in 2.7 and 0.5% of samples, respectively. Among the total 187 samples, 8 samples were contaminated by more than two pathogens. E. coli O157:H7 was not detected in any of the samples. The microbial contamination levels determined in the present study may be used as the primary data to execute microbial risk assessment of fresh vegetables and fruits.

A study on phytoplankton community was carried out from June, 1992 to May, 1993 at selected stations in Hoedong Reservoir. The phytoplankton are identified as 176 taxa including 5 phylum, 67 genera. The important species in this reservoir were Asterionella formosa, C. meneghiniana, Dictyasphaerium pulchellum, Fragilaria crotonensis, Melosira distans, M. granulata, M. granulata var. angustissima, M. granulata var, angustissima f. spiralis, Micractiniurn pussillum, Microcystis aeruginosa, Pandorina morum, Pediastrum boryanum, P. duplex, Peridinium sp., Scenedesmus quadricauda, Synedra acus, S. rumpens and S. ulna. The causative species of water bloom were identified as Microcystis aeruginosa, Trachellomonas hispida, Ceratium hirundinella, Peridinium sp., Melosira italica, Staurastrum dorsidentiferum var. ornatum in the area. During the study periods standing crops of phytoplankton were maximum in August, 1992 and minimum in December, 1992. The species dominance index and diversity index were ranged 24.7-99.9, 0.001-3.06, respectively.

Identified 7 species of the genus Prorocentrum which have been obtained from the southern coast area for 4 years from 1990 to 1994 can be summarized as followed. P.balticum is rare species, causing a red tide, and P.dentatum, P.micans, P.minimum, P.triestinum are cosmopolitan species often causing a red tide in the study area. P.gracile and P. lima are very rarely showed up, the former is recorded at first in domestic and later is benthic attached species which has diarrheic shellfish poison.