• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.669-675
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• 2012

Recently, there have been active researches regarding endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). In this study, fifteen small freshwater streams in Cholla-namdo province, South Korea were investigated with respect to the concentration of the endocrine disruptors - Bisphenol A (BPA), styrene monomer (SM), styrene dimer (SD), and styrene trimer (ST) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Measured concentration of the target compounds in the sampled water ranged from

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.893-904
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• 2006

To improve sensitivity of biosensor as yeast two-hybrid detection system for estrogenic activity of suspected chemicals, we tested effects of several combinations of the bait and fish components in the two-hybrid system on Saccharomyces cerevisiae inducted a chromosome-integrated lacZ reporter gene that was under the control of CYC1 promoter and the upstream Gal4p-binding element $UAS_{GAL}$. The bait components that were fused with the Gal4p DNA binding domain are full-length human estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$ and its ligand-binding domain. The fish components that were fused with the Gal4p transcriptional activation domain were nuclear receptor-binding domains of co-activators SRC1 and TIF2. We found that the combination of the full-length human estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$ with the nuclear receptor-binding domain of co-activator SRC1 was most effective for the estrogen-dependent induction of reporter activity among the two-hybrid systems so far reported. The relative strength of transcriptional activation by representative natural and xenobiotic chemicals was well correlated with their estrogenic potency that had been reported with other assay systems.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.21-36
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• 2017

Phthalates, known as typical endocrine disruptors, are plasticizers used to soften plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Because of their material properties, phthalates are used extensively in the production of toys, flooring, wood processing, detergents, and even cosmetics as lubricants and perfume solvents. Due to their endocrine disrupting effect and other adverse health effects published, recently, phthalates have been regulated in many countries. Besides, in an effort to replace phthalates, several chemical plasticizers such as trioctyltrimellitate (TOTM) and dioctylterephthalate (DIOP) have been used instead of the existing harmful phthalates, and novel alternatives are continuously being developed. Nonetheless, phthalates are still being detected in several plastic products, and the safety of alternatives that are considered safe is being questioned. In this review, we describe the adverse health effects of phthalates, their regulation and the current status of their alternatives.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.93-95
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• 2010

White rot fungi which have lignin degrading enzymes show high degrading activity to diverse recalcitrant compounds such as polycyclic aromatic compounds, dyes, explosives and endocrine disrupting chemicals. We have examined decolorizing activity of dyes by Phlebia tremellosa and two transformants which had genetically transformed using laccase or manganese peroxidase (MnP) gene. In case of methyl green, wild type strain showed 50% decolorization while laccase transformant (TF2-1) and MnP transformant (T5) showed more than 90% decolorization on day 3. Remazol brilliant blue R(RBBR) was decolorized up to 85% by two transformants while the wild type showed 67% decolorization on day 3. Transformants TF2-1 and T5 both showed increased laccase and MnP activity respectively during the whole growing phase.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.132-139
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• 2017

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interfere with endocrine system in organisms, and have different mode of actions compared to conventional chemicals. Therefore, EDCs specific ecotoxicity tests and assessments have been globally developed by some organizations such as OECD, ASTM, and USEPA. In Korea, researches on EDCs and monitoring of EDCs in domestic environments were also continued. However, Korean ecotoxicity test guidelines for EDCs are not suggested till date. The purpose of this study is to review and analyze international ecotoxicity test guidelines for EDCs and the compare ecotoxicity methods and toxicity endpoints among standard test guidelines. We found that there are very limited EDCs specific soil ecotoxicity test guidelines (only in ASTM) compared to aquatic ecotoxicity test guidelines. Currently, fish, amphibian, waterflea, copepoda, earthworm, white worm, springtail, nematode, mite, and midge are suggested as standard ecotoxicity test species for EDCs. Reproduction, hormones, growth, vitellogenin, sex retio and development were proposed as endpoints for EDCs ecotoxicity. This study provided the comparison of EDCs specific ecotoxicity methods and endpoints between standard test guidelines, and suggested the further research to develop the method for assesseing ecotoxicity of EDCs.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.323-333
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• 2009

Parabens are alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, which are widely used in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutic products as preservatives. Absorbed parabens are metabolized fastly and excreted. Actually human body is exposed to complex mixture of parabens. Safety assessment at various toxicological end points revealed parabens have a little acute, subacute and chronic toxicities. Some reports have argued that as parabens have estrogenic activity, they are associated with the incidence of breast cancer through dermal absorption by cosmetics. There is an inference that antiandrogenic activity of parabens may give rise to a lesion of male reproductive system, but also there is an contrary. At cellular level, parabens may inhibit mitochondrial function of sperms and androgen production in testis, but also there is an contrary. Parabens seem to have little or no toxicity in embryonic development. Parabens can cause hemolysis, membrane permeability change in mitochondria and apoptosis, suggesting cellular toxicity of parabens. Parabens evoked endocrine disruption in several fish species and have toxic effect on small invertebrates and microbes. Therefore, the toxicity of parabens should be considered as a potentially toxic chemical in the freshwater environment. In conclusion, though parabens may be considered as a low toxic chemical, more definite data are required concerning the endocrine disrupting effect of parabens on human body and aquatic animals according to route and term of exposure as well as the residual concentration of parabens.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2006

The use of underarm and body care cosmetics with oestrogenic chemical excipients (particularly the parabens) and the hypothesized association with breast cancer incidence, particularly in women. It is noted that the type of cosmetic product is irrelevant (e.g. antiperspirant/deodorant versus body lotion, moisturizers or sprays versus creams) and attention must focus on issues of actual exposure to chemicals through continued dermal application of body care products and the endocrine/hormonal activity and toxicity of the chemicals in the formulations. To evaluate the estrogenic activities of parabens such as ethylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben and isopropylparaben, we used recombinant yeasts containing the human estrogen receptor [Saccharomyces cerevisiae ER+LYS 8127], human breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines and human estrogen receptor ${\alpha}\;and\;{\beta}$. In E-screen assays, isopropylparaben is the most estrogenic paraben, and in ER competition assay, isobutylparaben is the most estrogenic paraben. We evaluated isopropylparaben was most active in the recombinant yeast assay, followed by propylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben and butylparaben. Results from this study demonstrate that parabens are observed in human endocrine system. Therefore, we have shown that the parabens is induced the estrogenic activities similar to $17{\beta}$-estradiol and Bisphenol-A.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.3 s.113
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• pp.304-312
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• 2005

Effects of two endocrine disrupters (EDs) , nonylphenol (NP) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), on the population growth and morphology of two freshwater HABs (harmful algal blooms) , Microcystis aeruginosa and Stephanodiscus hantzschii, which frequently evoked the hazard bloom in an eutrophic lakes and reservoirs worldwide, were examined with seven different concentrations of EDs (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 1,2, 2.5 and 3 ppm). Even at concentration below 0.01 ppm, NP strongly inhibited the algal growth of both M. aeruginosa and S. hantzschii, regardless of the algal growth phase. Morphologically, the algal cell treated with NP gradually lost green color in cytoplasm, became smaller in cell size, and then, was hardly seen in microscopic field. On the other hand, DEHP employed did not affect two algae at all concentrations, and rather stimulated the growth by about 10% with a treatment at 3.00 ppm compared to control. These results indicate that the continuous input of EDs, DEHP into the natural water system plays a crucial role to enhance or help an outbreak of algal bloom in eutrophic waters.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.3-19
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• 1995

Numerous investigators have conducted extensive investigation in the search for biological markers in psychiatric illness. There are, as a test of q biological approach to the diagnosis of the psychiatric illness, tests for the neurotransmitters, their metabolites, and related enzymes, the neurotransmitter receptors, the neuroendocrine output and response, the membrane transport, peptides and eletrolytes. They are called the biological markers, and they are helpful for the diagnosis or differential diagnosis, choice of treatment or drugs, symptom improvement, predictor of recurrence and anticipation of suicidal attempt. These studies are among the main purposes that are pursued in the neuroscience and based on the potential utility of the biological markers mentioned above. Since 1970's, lots 01 biological markers' studies for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis or subtypes differentiation have been done but varieties of different opinions have been drawn since then through they could explain the charaters of main psychiatric illness(especially schizophrenia and mood disorder). But, the search for biological markers, including displines of neuroendoclinology and neurochemistry(neurotransmitter and thair metabolite), has yielded a number of putative trait merkers and state markers for psychayric illness. This paper aims to anticipate or evaluate the good response to the therapy(Therpeutic response) with lots of markers. Acoording to the diagnosis of lots of diseases or subtypes, we are going to review the papers, mainly concern with 'Is there any Marker' or 'Is any test possible to detect the improvement clinically?' 'Is it possible to predict the recurrence or good prognsis?' or 'Is it possible to select any drug or therapy to bring the good response?' The biological tests to review are mainly the metabolites of catecholamine neurotransmitter, and especially neuroendocrine test based on the knowledge that hormons of the adenohypophysis are influenced by activity of the cerebral or limbic neurons as well as the hypothalamus ones. Among them, author introduced some clinically available tests that are DST, TRH stimulation test(TRHST), GH stimulation test, and the urine MHPG test that can give us the evaluation of the treatment response, the predictor for recurrence or choice of drug that can bring a good response. So author discussed thair potential utility in clarifying, therapeutic, and prognostic issues in psychatric illness. We hope they'll be used and look forward to more active study on the different opinion.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2007

4-nonylphenol (4-NP)이 해산어류인 조피볼락, Sebastes schlegeli의 혈장 vitellogenin (VTG), alkaline-labile protein phosphorus (ALPP), calcium(Ca), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) 및 hepatosomatic index (HSI)에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 실험어에 3일간격으로 $estradiol-17{\beta}$ ($E_2$, 5 mg/kg B.W.) 또는 4-NP(0, 10, 50, 100및 200 mg/kg B.W.)을 복강에 2번 주사한 후, 7일째에 채혈과 적출을 통해 혈장과 간장을 수집해 분석이 실시되었다. 대조 실험어에는 용매로 사용된 70% 에탄올만이 투여되었다. $E_2$ 투여 실험어의 혈장 단백질을 전기 영동상으로 분석한 결과 약 170 kDa의 위치에서 짙은 VTG 밴드가 관찰되었으나, 용매만 투여한 대조 실험어의 혈장에서는 동일 밴드가 관찰되지 않았다. 4-NP 투여한 모든 실험어의 혈장 단백질에서는 $E_2$ 투여 실험어와 동일한 VTG 밴드가 관찰되었다. 혈장 ALPP와 Ca 농도도 4-NP 투여 실험어에서 $E_2$ 투여 실험어와 유사하게 증가하였으며, 이들 농도 변화는 VTG 합성과 더불어 증가하는 경향을 나타냈다. 혈장 전위효소인 GPT와 HSI도 $E_2$ 투여 실험어와 유사하게 4-NP가 투여된 모든 실험어에서 급격히 증가하였다. 이상의 결과로부터 연안생태계 내에서 서식하는 어류가 4-NP과 같은 내분비 장애물질(Endocrine Disrupting compounds, EDCs)에 의해 영향을 받는지를 규명하기 위한 생물학적 지표로서 VTG와 더불어 혈장 ALPP와 Ca이 사용가능 할 것으로 판단된다. 또한, 조피볼락과 같은 해산어가 EDCs에 노출되어 VTG가 합성될 때 간장 기능의 손상으로 혈장 전위효소인 GPT가 일시적으로 종가하고 간장도 비대해져 HSI가 높아지는 것으로 판단된다.