This study was conducted to elucidate microplastics detection of freshwater ecosystems in Geum river. Samples are collected at 6 points in freshwater, 5 points in fishes. Freshwater was sampled 100 L per each points and fish species were Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, Hemibarbus labeo, Pseudogobio esocinus, Zacco platypus, Micropterus salmoides and Cyprinus carpio. FTIR analyis was adopted to identify microplastic types. Extracted microplastics were PES (polyester), PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) in freshwater, and PES, PE, PP, PET, PVC in fishes. Our results were expected to be used basic research information for further study in microplastics of freshwater ecosystems.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of 128 MDCT (multi-detector computed tomography) for reducing the CareDose 4D dose and comparing the image quality with the fixed tube current technique. For this purpose, we conducted the phantom and clinical studies to evaluate the exposure dose and image of the subject before and after applying the CareDose 4D system in abdominal examination using 128 MDCT. In the phantom study, ROI (Region of interest) was located at the center, 3, 6, 9, 12 o'clock, into two groups: group A without CareDose 4D and Group B applied were measured. In the clinical study, ROI was located at the liver 8 segments, divided into two groups too. The measured items were CT number, noise, and dose length product (DLP) dose. The result of CTDIvol (CT Dose Index volume) measurements in phantom and clinical studies were lower than those before CareDose 4D application, and dose and effective dose were also measured lower (p<.05). There was no difference in CT number before and after application (p>.05). In conclusion, using CareDose 4D, we can obtain optimal image information without deteriorating image quality while reducing patient dose.

This study investigates leaching and thermal treatment characteristics of mercury in waste phosphor powder from UV lamp for industrial use. Waste phosphor powder contaminated with mercury compounds requires proper treatment for final disposal. A sequential extraction procedure was conducted in order to estimate the stability of mercury compounds in waste phosphor powder. The fraction of mercury compounds leached in initial steps by ion-exchangeable and low acidic solutions was 62%, which would be unstable. Finally 36% of mercury compounds was left as a strongly stable form before last step of acid digestion by aqua regia. Mercury was decomposed rapidly during initial period in thermal treatment. However, the decomposition rate reached in steady later. Correlation of mercury content in residues with concentration of leaching extract was attempted in order to set a thermal treatment condition. When mercury content in residue of phosphor powder could be lowed up to about 13 mg-Hg/kg by thermally with satisfying the Korean leaching standard limit of 0.005 mg-Hg/L.