• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.418-425
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• 2017

ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are mainly used in semiconductors, solar cells, biosensors, and cosmetics (sunscreen). In this study, we investigated the behavior of ZnO NPs in aquatic and soil environments and their effects on plants (Artemisia annua L.) in hydroponic cultivation. It was confirmed that the ZnO NPs size increased and their dissolution decreased with increasing in pH. Leaching distance of ZnO NPs was less than 2.5 cm, indicating that ZnO NPs had a little potential to leach into deeper soil layers. When ZnO NPs were exposed to plant, the total weights of plants decreased. The effects on the length of root and shoot were not observed. In addition large amount of ZnO NPs were adsorbed on the surface of plant root and didn't translocate into shoot. These results suggest that ZnO NPs block the pores of the root cell wall and decrease the bioavailability of plant nutrients. Therefore it can be speculated that the particles increase in size and settle down in the water environment and may adversely affect the plant growth by firmly adhering to the root surface when the ZnO NPs are exposed to the environment.

• Water Engineering Research
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2002

South Africa has developed a policy and law that calls and provides for the equitable and sustainable use of water resources. Sustainable resource use is dependent on effective resource protection. Rivers are the most important freshwater resources in the country, and there is a focus on developing and applying methods to quantify what rivers need in terms of flow and water quality. These quantified and descriptive objectives are then related to specified levels of ecological health in a classification system. This paper provides an overview of an integrated and systematic methodology, where, fer each river, and each river reach, the natural condition and the present ecological condition are described, and a level/class of ecosystem health is selected. The class will define long term management goals. This procedure requires each ecosystem component to be quantified, starting with the abiotic template. A modified flow regime is modelled for each ecosystem health class, and the resultant fluvial geomorphology and hydraulic habitats are described. Then the water chemistry is described, and the water quality changes that are likely to occur as a consequence of altered flows are predicted. Finally, the responses to the stress imposed on the biota (fish, invertebrates and vegetation) by modified flow and water quality are predicted. All of the predicted responses are translated into descriptive and/or quantitative management objectives. The paper concludes with the recognition of active method development, and the enormous challenge of applying the methods, implementing the law, and achieving river protection and sustainable resource-use.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.158-158
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• 2003

Bioassays using gametes of sea urchins are widely used in ecotoxicological assessments of marine environments. Since most of sea urchin species in Korean coastal water spawn from spring to autumn, bioassay with them during the winter is impossible. In the course of developing standard methods for bioassays with Korean species, we found a winter-spawning starfish, Asterias amurensis, Since reproductive mode of asteroids is similar to echinoids, the bioassay protocol for sea urchins could be applied similarly to the starfish. Here, we tested and determined several conditions for the acceptability of bioassay with A. amurensis. The least required time for formation of fertilization membrane of fertilized eggs to be easily distinguished from unfertilized ones was 60 min. The threshold of sperm to egg ratio that could make acceptable fertilization rates in controls was 3000. The allowed time for manipulation of sperm after dilution in seawater was at most 3 hr. The optimal exposure time of sperms when the response against toxicant solution was relatively stable was in the range of 20-60 min. The tolerance range of sperms to the salinity of test solution was 26-38 psu. The sensitivity of A. amurensis sperm was intermediate among marine organisms commonly used in aquatic toxicity tests. The sperm bioassay with A. amurensis can be satisfactorily applied to toxicity assessments of marine environments.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.207-210
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• 2007

The study was designed to determine the estrogenic effect of some penicillins on endocrine function in adult Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Vitellogenin (Vtg) produced in male fish has been used for a biomarker to study endocrine disrupters. $17\beta-estradiol\;(E_2)$ was used a positive control that was induced Vtg in male fish. Result of total protein qantification and ELISA for female and male fish were exposed to $17\beta-estradiol$ 10ng/ml for $3\sim5$ days. As a result, male fish exposed to amoxicillin respectively appeared 0.75, 0.23, 8.21 and $9.36\%_{\circ}$ of 1, 10, 100 and 1000 ppm respectively, that value was elevated compared with control male fish. Male fish exposed to ampicillin respectively appeared 1.85, 4.68, 0.85 and $39.59\%_{\circ}$ of 1, 10, 100 and 1000 ppm respectively, that value was elevated compared with control male fish. This study is one of the first reports suggesting potential endocrine disruption of some penicillins in aquatic ecosystem. These results suggest that vitellogenin and estrogen receptor induction patterns alter in male medaka treated with selected estrogenic compounds, and that these results may be useful molecular biomarkers for screening estrogenic EDCs (endocrine-disrupting chemicals) in the shortest possible time.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1557-1561
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• 2013

Carbonic anhydrase isozymes are a widespread, zinc-containing metalloenzyme family. The enzyme catalyzes the reversible inter-conversion of $CO_2$ and $HCO_3$. This reaction is the main role played by CA enzymes in physiological conditions. This enzyme has been found in virtually all organisms, and at least 16 isozymes have been isolated in mammals. Unlike mammals, there is little information available regarding CA isozymes in the tissues of non-mammalian groups, such as fish. Carbonic anhydrase is very important in the osmotic and acid-base regulation in fish. It is well-known that the gills of fish play the most important role in acid-base relevant ion transfer, the transfer of $H^+$ and/or $HCO_3^-$, for the maintenance of systemic pH. Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, is the most important freshwater fish species in the aquaculture industry of Korea, with annual production increasing each year. In addition, environmental toxicology research has shown that rainbow trout is known to be the species that is most susceptible to environmental toxins. Consequently, carbonic anhydrase was detected in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. The isolated protein showed the specific band with a molecular weight of 30 kDa and pI of 7.0, and it was identified as being carbonic anhydrase. The immunohistochemical result demonstrated that the carbonic anhydrase was located in the epithelial cells of the gills.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.271-277
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• 2012

The present study was conducted to assess the suitability of domestic natural waters as a Daphnia magna culture medium. In order to assess survival rate and reproductive output, young female daphnids (parent animals), aged less than 24 hours at the start of the test and produced in the Elendt M4 medium, were exposed to Elendt M4 medium, de-chlorinated tap water, and natural mineral water for 21 days. D. magna cultured in Elendt M4 medium (reference medium) and natural mineral water met the criteria of OECD No. 211, Daphnia magna Reproduction Test Guidelines in terms of percent adult survival, first day of reproduction, and average young production. However, the mortalities of adult daphnids observed in de-chlorinated tap water were more than 20% in two reproduction tests for 21 days. Mortality was observed on exposure days 13, 15, and 18 in de-chlorinated water. The use of D. magna is recommended in water of hardness >80 mg $CaCO_3\;L^{-1}$. However, the hardness of de-chlorinated tap water used in the present study was 50~53 mg $CaCO_3\;L^{-1}$. Therefore, it is judged that the delayed mortalities observed in de-chlorinated tap water were caused by a rapid decreased in hardness when the medium was changed from Elendt M4 to de-chlorinated tap water. When D. magna is cultured using domestic natural waters (underground water, surface water, and de-chlorinated water), the quality-control (QC) data should be maintained through a standardization for health assessment method, toxicity test method using reference chemical, test intervals of reference toxicant toxicity test, and data treatment and interpretation. In the long term, national research programs are needed for the development of test species which are representative of domestic aquatic environmental conditions among indigenous daphnids.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.235-245
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• 2007

Toxicity of nonlyphenol (NP) one of EDCs was studied with focus on reproduction of the crucian carp, Carassius auratus. Fishes were cultured under control and nonylphnol exposure conditions for 32 weeks. Experimental group was composed of total of 4 groups, 1 control condition and 3 nonylphenol exposure condition ($18\;{\mu}g\;NP\;L^{-1},\;37\;{\mu}g\;NP\;L^{-1}\;and\;83\;{\mu}g\;NP\;L^{-1}$). Survival rate was found to be similar in control and $18\;{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$. However, it is lower In the $37\;{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$ and $83\;{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$ in comparison to the control group. Deformation of gonads was the highest in the exposure condition of $18{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$ with the female illustrating higher ratio than the male. GSI was not much different in the male but in the female, NP exposure group illustrated lower value compared to the control group. HSI and GI did not illustrate any clear differences between the control and exposure group for both male and female. Intersex was 0% in the wild group, 4.16% in the laboratory control group, and 25.67% in the NP exposure condition with female illustrating higher compared to male. Concentration of blood vitellogenin in female illustrated no clear differences between the control and NP exposure group. However, in the male, it was higher in the NP exposure group in comparison to the control group, and illustrated higher values of vitellogenin compared to the figures found in the female of same con-centration condition.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2002

Disodium disulphite, the HPV chemical, was assigned to Korea in order to implement OECD SIDS program in 1999. It was produced about 3,200 ton/year in 1998. This report evaluates the toxic potency of disodium disulphite based on the environmental and mammalian effects as well as human exposure. Oral $LD_{50}$ in rats is 1,540 mg/kg b.w. and effects was observed to the stomach, liver and the GI track that was filled with blood. For repeated dose toxicity, the predominant effect was the induction of stomach lesion due to local irritation. The no observed adverse effect lever for local (stomach irritation) was about 217 mg/kg bw/day. There is no evidence that disodium disulphite is genotoxic in vivo. No reproductive or developmental toxicty of disodium disulphite was observed for the period up to 2 yr and over three generation. In humans, urticaria and asthma with itching, edema, rhinitis, and nasal congestion were reported. Disodium disulphite is unlikely to induce respiratory sensitization but may enhance symptom of asthma in sensitive individuals. This chemical would be mainly transported to water compartment when released to environmental compartments since it is highly water soluble (470 g/l at 20). Low K oc (2.447) indicates disodium disulphite is so mobile in soil that it may not stay in the terrestrial compartment. The chemical has been tested in a limited number of aquatic species. hem acute toxicity test to fish, 96 hr-$LC_{50}$ was > 100 mg/1. For algae, 72 hr-$XC_{50}$ was 48.1 mg/1. For daphnid, the acute toxicity value of 48 hr-$EC_{50}$ was 88.76 mg/1, and chronic value of 21day-NOEC was > 10 mg/1. Therefore, PNEC of 0.1 mg/l for the aquatic organism was obtained from the chronic value of daphnid using the assessment factor of 100. Based on these data the disodium disulphite was recommended as low priority for further post-SIDS work in OECD.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 1993.06a
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• pp.4-5
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• 1993

Toxicity tests in our laboratory are conducted usually with mass-reared organisms. They are under the same environmentel conditions throughout seasons and are supplied at specific age. A total of 38 species of aquatic organisms are being reared. We have attempted to establish pruified strains or to select clones of various parthenogenic organisms. The merits or demerits of our culturing test organisms are discussed. The differences in the susceptibility among clones or strains of test organism are also discussed. For a single species test, algae, daphnia, fish are often used. However, we usually use early stages, but occasionally, adults fish are used for reproduction tests. As an another important aspect, the toxicity through food chains has been studied. In this study, we select a pair of species belonging different trophic levels. The differences between single species tests and multispecies tests will be discussed. Even a single species test intends to assess the effects of chemicals on ecosystem levels, however, this idea is not applicable to ecosystems. Single species tests with standard organisms and multispecies tests are contradictory in concept. One type of multispecles tests is indoor microcosms being composed of severel species artificially assembled, and another is composed of natural components (both indoor and outdoor). We have used three types of outdoor mesocosms using ponds and three types of artificial streams. The mesocosms is useful to not only to analyze the floral or faun61 changes but also to study the fate or behaviour of chemicals in naturd environments. Lastly, usefulness of the field observation or experiments or semi-field experiments will be discussed. This will enhance the exploitation of early warning systems utilizing indicator organisms or animal behaviour.aviour.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2006

Benzo[a]pyrene is a representative ecotoxicant in marine environment and a model compound of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which has an ability to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms. This study aimed to identify molecular biomarkers suitable for assessing environmental pollution using a microarray technique. We examined the effects of benzo[a]pyrene on gene expressions in the rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli. We constructed the subtractive cDNA library with hepatic RNA from benzo[a]pyrene-exposed and non-exposed control fish. From the library 10,000 candidate clones were selected randomly and cDNA microarray was constructed. We determined benzo[a]pyrene-responsive genes using a high-density microarray. Statistical analysis showed that approximately 400 genes are significantly induced or reduced by benzo[a]pyrene treatment ($2\;{\mu}m$). Especially gene expression changes of 4 candidate clones among the up- or down-regulated genes were investigated in 6, 12 and 24 hr BaP-exposed fish groups. Many methods have been developed to monitor marine environmental status, which depend on quantifying the levels of the toxic components in polluted seawater or on ecological accessing, such as species diversity or richness. However, those methods could not provide information on physiological or genetic changes induced by such environmental stresses. Comparing with the conventional methods, these data will propose that benzo[a]pyrene-responsive genes can be useful for biological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on marine organism at molecular level.