• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 2008

Differential gene expression profiling was carried out in the hepatic tissue of medaka fish, Oryzias latipes, after exposure to an organophosphorus pesticide (OPP), Iprobenfos (IBP), a widely used pesticide in agri- and fish-culture, using a medaka cDNA micro array. Twenty six kinds of differentially expressed candidate genes, with 15 and 11 induced and repressed in their gene expressions, respectively, were associated with cytoskeleton (3.8%), development (7.7%), immune (7.7%), metabolism (30.8%), nucleic acid/protein binding (42.3%) and reproduction (7.7%). Of these genes, changes at the transcription level of five were re-evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Considering the known function of authentic genes, the effects of IBP on the biological activity and pathological aspects in medaka fish were discussed. The identified genes could be used as molecular biomarkers for biological responses to OPPs contamination in an aquatic environment.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.20 no.4 s.51
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• pp.333-341
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• 2005

In order to know whether polychaetes could be used as an appropriate organism for the detection of genotoxicity, DNA strand breaks were evaluated in blood cells of a nereidae worm (Perinereis aibuhitensis) exposed to various aquatic chemical pollutants (e.g. Cd, Pb, Pyrene, Benaor[a]pyrene). Hydrogen peroxide increased DNA strand breaks up to the highest concentration (10 $\mu$M). Higher concentration than 0.1 $\mu$M showed a significantly more DNA damage than control. Cadmium and lead also showed higher DNA damage than control, over 1.0 and 1 $\mu$g/L, respectively. In case of pyrene, DNA damage was detected even at 0.001 $\mu$g/L. However, DNA damage decreased due to apoptosis at the highest concentration of pyrene and Pb. This study suggested that the polythaetous blood cells could be used effectively for screening genotoxic contaminants in the environment.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2010

Discharged materials from the point or non-point source are released into the sea, and as the results, marine environment is directly affected. We must estimate the impacts of contaminants to marine pollution rapidly and accurately. Therefore, it is needed on early warning system for appreciating marine environmental impacts, and required a bioassay to evaluate abnormal changes. A bioassay test was developed to examine the effects of heavy metal contaminants on the early life stages of the marine annimals. We have studied the effects of metals on early development of a sea urchin species, Strongylocentrotus intermedius. S. intermedius embryos were tested with six metals (Cu, Ag, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni) and showed the highest sensitivity to Cu as well as the lowest sensitivity to Cd. The order of biological impact for metals was Cu>Ag>Ni>Zn>Cr>Cd. In accordance with the results, sea urchins embryos can provide biological criteria for seawater quality assessment. The sensitivity of developmental bioassay whith S. intermedius is at intermediate level among marine organisms commonly used in aquatic bioassays. And this sea urchin can be routinely employed as a test organism for ecotoxicity assays.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.287-294
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study was to verify the intersexuality of Crassostrea gigas and Ruditapes philippinarum in southern coastal waters of Korea. Methods : Specimens of Crassostrea gigas (n=363) were collected from six areas of Tongyeong, Geoje and Yeosu. Ruditapes philippinarum (n=221) was collected from five areas of Yeosu. The sex ratio and intersexuality were determined after observing gonad preparations. Results : The rate of intersexuality in Crassostrea gigas was 16.25%, with females (24.79%; n=30/121) exhibiting a higher rate than males (11.98%; n=29/242). The rate of intersexuality in Ruditapes philippinarum was 24.43%, with females (37.76%; n=37/98) exhibiting a higher rate than males (13.82%; n=17/123). Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that intersexuality is induced by aquatic pollutants such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.12 no.3_4
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• pp.55-59
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• 1997

Furfural, an organic solvent, is widely used as synthetic component material in producing chemical products. However, furfural has been reported that it shows strong toxicities to human being showing intense stimulus to skin, eyes, mucous membrane and nerve system. It is also known to cause anemia, liver cirrhosis, kidney failure and genetic toxicity in the human being working in the exposed area. LD$_{50}$ of furfural for peritoneal injected mouse has been known around 20mg/kg, but the acute toxicity on aquatic organisms such as fish, daphnid or algae are not well known, compared to those on rodents. In this experiment, we studied on the fish toxicity of furfural using Japanese Medaka (Orvzias latipes) and Common Carp (Cvprinus carpio). We also observed histological changes in the fish organs. The LC$_{50}$ were 12. Smg/L in Japanese Medaka and 21.8 mg/L in Common Carp, respectively. When Common Carps were exposed to 120mg/L of furfural concentration for 30 minutes, blood congestion in gills and lysis of secondary lamella were shown. Though the muscle of caudal fin was not completely eroded, its epidermic cells were shown to be necrotic in various parts. Tissue atrophy and cell necrosis were also shown in the liver of Common Carps exposed to furfural. From these results, furfural seems to cause histological damages on liver, an internal organ as well as on external organs such as gills and fins eventhough the fish were exposed for a short-term.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 2003

A rapid, inexpensive enzymatic method is proposed for indirect water quality testing in terms of heavy metal toxicity. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was applied for heavy metal toxicity test as an effective criterion in water quality. The toxicity of Pb (lead) and Cd (cadmium) for water flea, Moina macrocopa, were evaluated for 2-8 days with variables of mobilization ability. And the reproduction impairment of Moina macrocopa were investigated as the parameter of chronic toxicity test for Pb and Cd. As a result, the EC$_{50}$ for immobilization of Moina macrocopa were Pb and Cd were 1.6749 and 0.4683, respectively. The values of reproductive impairment to Moina macrocopa for Pb and Cd were 9.5938 and 8.3264 in EC$_{50}$ A significant alteration of G6PDH (Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) activity of Moina macrocopa was observed when Cd and Pb were treated in media. The results obtained indicate that G6PDH activity of Moina macrocopa can be used as an indicative parameter in aquatic toxicity tests for heavy metals.als.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 1988

Prolonged aquatic toxicity tests (7-days) of six pesticides to the freshwater fish Oryzias latipes were performed to confirm the adequacy of the exposure times, 48-hr or 96-hr, which has been required by the protocols for the aquatic acute toxicity test. The toxicity curves were plotted for each chemical, and the significance of the difference between lethal threshold concentrations and 48-hr or 96-hr LC50's was analysed statistically. The lethal threshold concentrations of butachlor, fenobucarb, and chlorothalonil were clearly defined on the 5th day, 2nd day, and 2nd day at 0.53mg/1, 10.3mg/l, and 0.085mg/1, respectively. But the toxicity curves of alachlor, diazinon, and iprobenfos continued with no threshold for 7 days. Four out of six test pesticides failed to show the threshold concentration during the 96-hr exposure time. Therefore, the results of the acute toxicity test using 48-hr or 96-hr exposure time would not describe the ideal toxicity of pesticides. It is recommended that the prolonged exposure should be continued long enough to define the threshold adequately.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.488-493
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• 1996

As a first step of pesticide runoff studies, runoff losses of captafol were measured under natural rainfall conditions in apple orchard area. The maximum concentration of captafol was 180 ppb at 5 th sampling period when the rainfall occurred within 24 hours after captafol was applied, and the concentration of samples from other periods was below than 20 ppb. Total runoff loss of captafol was below 0.1%. About 10 fold of dilution factor was observed at the merging point with stream near outlet from orchard and about 50 fold was observed at the next merging point which is located further down. Therefore, captafol will not harm the aquatic organisms due to dilution factor$(10{\sim}50\;fold)$ and rapid hydrolytic degradation rate even when it was run off into a stream nearby.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.418-434
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• 2010

As concerns regarding water pollution grow, the need increases for a fast and accurate assessment of ecological risk. In this context, many studies have been conducted to identify biomarkers which can sensitively indicate exposure to and effects of various contaminants in a water environment. However, the utility of most such biomarkers in the real water environment is not yet validated. In this paper, we conducted a thorough review of publications that were related to developing or evaluating molecular and biochemical biomarkers of freshwater fish in ecological risk assessment, and evaluated whether these biomarkers of interest could link to the effects on higher biological levels, such as histopathology and above. Biomarkers of interest included those associated with metabolism, oxidative stress, reproduction and endocrine disruption, genotoxicity, and defense against heavy metal exposure. We found that, when used alone, most molecular and biochemical biomarkers are not sufficient to understand the effects of toxic substances in higher biological levels, due to defense or acclimation mechanisms of organisms. Moreover, some biomarkers respond not only to hazardous substances but also to the changes in water quality and disease outbreak. Molecular and biochemical biomarkers may be most useful in understanding the potential biological effects of toxic compounds when used in parallel with relevant endpoints of higher biological levels.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.241-249
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• 2009

Heavy metal contaminants on the aquatic environment are of interest because they can have severe effects on economy and public health. Recently, the studies for monitoring of heavy metals try to do on aquatic system to assess safety and health of ecosystem by heavy metals. Thus, biological responses were investigated on Korean fairy shrimp Branchinella kugenumaensis exposed to cadmium (Cd) or copper (Cu) for long-periods (30 days). The survival rate decreased significantly (p<0.05) on B. kugenumaensis exposed to Cd and Cu at all concentrations. Especially, the highest decrease was observed at the relatively high concentration of Cd and Cu (p<0.01) and the response by Cd exposure was at dose-dependent. The growth rates were also decreased significantly (p<0.05) on B. kugenumaensis exposed to Cd and Cu for at all concentrations. Then, the reproduction rate, numbering cyst, was decreased significantly (p<0.01) on B. kugenumaensis after Cd or Cu exposures. Long exposure of the relatively high concentration Cd and Cu can have severe effects on the reproduction, while exposures of Cd and Cu can not have effects on sex ratios of B. kugenumaensis. Additionally, asymmetric telson deformity was only observed after Cd exposure. Therefore, these results suggest that B. kugenumaensis is a sensitive bio-indicator of heavy metal exposure and these biological responses of B. kugenumaensis give important information for long-term monitoring on aquatic ecosystem.