• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.143-164
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• 2008

Concern about perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) is growing nationally as well as globally. PFCs could be considered emerging POPs due to their environmentally persistent, bioaccumulative, and potentially harmful properties. Moreover. perfluoroalkylates (PFAs) such as PFOS and PFOA are reported to experience long-range transport (LRT) to the Arctic in spite of their low volatility and strong solubility. The possible pathways contributing to LRT have been proposed but are still in debate in combination with unclear source definition and uncertain physico-chemical properties. The environmental fate of PFCs is more complicated because of the presence of precursors that are degraded to PFAs and are extremely different from their daughters, PFAs. in physico-chemical properties. To what extent and through what pathways are human and wildlife exposed is determined by the environmental fate and distribution of PFCs. To define uncertainties in fate and distribution thus is critical to prevent erroneous policy and/or determination related with exposure and risk reduction. This article aimed to review controversy and/or uncertain issues for the environmental fate and distribution of PFCs and to prospect research topics necessary to dissolve uncertainties.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2005.09b
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• pp.1189-1192
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• 2005

Due to their slow degradation properties, hydrophobic organic contaminants in estuarine sediment have been a concern for risks to human health and aquatic organisms. Studies of fate and transport of these contaminants in estuaries are further complicated by the fact that hydrodynamics and sediment transport processes in these regions are complex, involving processes with various temporal and spatial scales. In order to simulate and quantify long-term attenuation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in the Elizabeth River, VA, we develop a modeling approach, which employs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's water quality model, WASP, and encompasses key physical and chemical processes that govern long-term fate and transport of PAHs in the river. In this box-model configuration, freshwater inflows mix with ocean saline water and tidally averaged dispersion coefficients are obtained by calibration using measured salinity data. Sediment core field data is used to estimate the net deposition/erosion rate, treating only either the gross resuspension or deposition rate as the calibration parameter. Once calibrated, the model simulates fate and transport PAHs following the loading input to the river in 1967, nearly 4 decades ago. Sediment PAH concentrations are simulated over 1967-2022 and model results for Year 2002 are compared with field data measured at various locations of the river during that year. Sediment concentrations for Year 2012 and 2022 are also projected for various remedial actions. Since all the model parameters are based on empirical field data, model predictions should reflect responses based on the assumptions that have been governing the fate and sediment transport for the past decades.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.6C
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• pp.267-274
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• 2012

The conventional approach to evaluate the contaminant transport in soils adopts the macro-scale implementation while the pore configuration and network is a dominant factor to determine the fate of contaminant. However, the observation of fate and transport at pore scale may not be readily approachable because of the computational expenses to solve Navier-Stokes equation. We herein present the 2D Lattice-Boltzmann method that enables to assess the local fluid velocity and density efficiently for the case of single phase and multi-components. The solute fate spatio-temperal space is explicitly determined by the advection of fluid flow. Two different types of idealized pore space provides the path of fluid. Also, solute transport, the velocity field and average concentration of solute are computed in steady state. Results show that the pore geometry such as tortuosity mainly affect the solute fate. It highlights the significance of the pore configuration and shape in granular soils and rock discontinuity in spite of the equivalent porosity.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2022

To verify the fate and transport of engineered nanoparticles (ENP), it is essential to understand its interactions with organic matter. Previous research has shown that dissolved organic matter (DOM) can increase particle stability through steric repulsion. However, the majority of the research has been focused on model organic matter such as humic or fulvic acids, lacking the understanding of organic matter found in field conditions. In the current study, organic matter was sampled from wastewater treatment plants to verify the stability of engineered nanoparticles (ENP) under field conditions. To understand how different types of organic matter may affect the fate of ENP, wastewater was sampled and separated based on their size; as small organic particular matter (SOPM) and large organic particular matter (LOPM), and dissolved organic matter (DOM). Each size fraction of organic matter was tested to verify their effects on nano-zinc oxide (nZnO) and nano-titanium oxide (nTiO₂) stability. For DOM, critical coagulation concentration (CCC) experiments were conducted, while sorption experiments were conducted for organic particulates. Results showed that under field conditions, the surface charge of the particles did not influence the stability. On the contrary, surface charge of the particles influenced the amount of sorption onto particulate forms of organic matter. Results of the current research show how the size of organic matter influences the fate and transport of different ENPs under field conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.18-21
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• 2002

Phytoremediation which uses plants to enhance the bioremediation through stimulation of microbial activity and root uptake, has been a topic of increasing interest. Mathematical model were developed that can be applied to various bioremediation methods in the unsaturated zone, especially phytoremediation, for simulating the fate and transport of contaminants under field conditions. A 2-year field study was conducted using 72 (1.5m long and 0.1 m diameter) column lysimeters with four treatments: Johnsongrass; wild rye grass; a rotation of Johnsongrass and wild rye grass; and unplanted fallow conditions. The developed model represented the fate and transport of contaminant both in vegetated and unplanted soils satisfactorily for field applications. Parameters related to the contaminant concentration in the water phase were the main parameters determining the contaminant fate in the vadose zone and indicated that the bioavailability can be the most important factor in the success of phytoremediation as well as bioremediation applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.314-317
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• 2003

Plants may enhance the remediation of munitions at contaminated soils using various natural processes. A computer model can be used as a valuable tool for assisting phytoremediation by predicting the transport and fate of target contaminants at remediation sites. For this research, modeling of phytoremediation and bioremediation of soil contaminated with 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was studied. Indian mallow (Abutilion avicennae) was grown in columns packed with 126mg TNT/kg contaminated soils for 50 days and a simulation model was developed to simulate the transport and fate of TNT and its breakdown products interacting with plant roots in a partially saturated soil. The column test showed the substantially enhanced reduction of TNT and greater soil microbial activity in Indian mallow planted soil compared to unplanted soil. The model successfully simulated the fate of TNT and by-products in phytoremediation. The results suggested that plants could provide favorable environments for reduction of TNT.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2007

This study reviewed the overall process of application of contaminant fate and transport model as part of risk assessment. Site characterization and establishment of a conceptual model prior to establishing or selecting a appropriate model were described. Types of models, model selection guidance, and generic site conditions for model application were presented, the process of model calibration, validation, and sensitivity analysis were reviewed. Objectives of modeling should be defined before model selection, and the complexity of selected models should balance the quantity and quality of available input data with the desired model output. If model output is highly sensitive to an assumed or default value of input parameter, or fate and transport models cannot be adequately calibrated or validated, consideration should be given to other options such as using measured data or using another model.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.49-56
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• 2005

Contamination in the drainage channels and creeks with pesticides used in agriculture is of a major concern in many countries. In this study the stream pesticide model RIVWQ (chemical transport model for riverine environments) was assessed for its applicability in simulating pesticide fate in drainage channels. The model was successfully calibrated against field data collected on flows and pesticide concentrations for a drainage channel from a small catchment in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area of southwestern New South Wales. The effects of different pesticide loading scenarios from farm fields on channel water quality were analysed by the calibrated model. The model simulated the flow rates and the pesticide concentrations in the drainage channel well. The results of the model simulation suggest that the RIVWQ model can be effectively used for predicting pesticide fate in the drainage channels and exposure assessment of pesticide in the agricultural environment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.335-343
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• 2012

Mercury is emitted to the atmosphere from various natural and anthropogenic sources, and degrades with difficulty in the environment. Mercury exists as various species, mainly elemental ($Hg^0$) and divalent ($Hg^{2+}$) mercury depending on its oxidation states in air and water. Mercury emitted to the atmosphere can be deposited into aqueous environments by wet and dry depositions, and some can be re-emitted into the atmosphere. The deposited mercury species, mainly $Hg^{2+}$, can react with various organic compounds in water and sediment by biotic reactions mediated by sulfur-reducing bacteria, and abiotic reactions mediated by sunlight photolysis, resulting in conversion into organic mercury such as methylmercury (MeHg). MeHg can be bioaccumulated through the food web in the ecosystem, finally exposing humans who consume fish. For a better understanding of how humans are exposed to mercury in the environment, this review paper summarizes the mechanisms of emission, fate and transport, speciation chemistry, bioaccumulation, levels of contamination in environmental media, and finally exposure assessment of humans.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2009

The main objective was to develop and assess a dynamic fate and transport model for lead in air, soil, sediment, water and vegetation. Daejeon was chosen as the study area for its relatively high contamination and emission levels. The model was assessed by comparing model predictions with measured concentrations in multi-media and atmospheric deposition flux. Given a lead concentration in air, the model could predict the concentrations in water and soil within a factor of five. Sensitivity analysis indicated that effective compartment volumes, rain intensity, scavenging ratio, run off, and foliar uptake were critical to accurate model prediction. Important implications include that restriction of air emission may be necessary in the future to protect the soil quality objective as the contamination level in soil is predicted to steadily increase at the present emission level and that direct discharge of lead into the water body was insignificant as compared to atmospheric deposition fluxes. The results strongly indicated that atmospheric emission governs the quality of the whole environment. Use of the model developed in this study would provide quantitative and integrated understanding of the cross-media characteristics and assessment of the relationships of the contamination levels among the multi-media environment.