• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2 s.53
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• pp.103-113
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• 2006

This study examined effects of crude oil on the phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (UDPGT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in mussel Mytilus edulis and rockfish Sebastes schlegeli, a representative bivalve and a culture fish, respectively. This work also intended indirectly to evaluate the post impact recovery from the massive oil tanker spillage accidents occurred during the summer of 1995 in the sea area off Yosu City, Chonnam. For these, enzyme activities of UDPGT and GST were examined in the fish and mussel following laboratory exposure to fresh crude oil, weathered oil, field-obtained oil residues, or in the field biota samples. Decreased GST activity was observed in rock fish following exposure to oil-soluble fraction (OSF) of fresh oil. A similar diminished GST activity was also observed after OSF of artificially weathered oil. OSF of field oil residues retrieved from the spillage area approximately 1 year later also exerted a slight inhibition of GST to rockfish. There was neither a change in UDPGT in rockfish, nor were there changes in mussel in both enzymes to any oil fractions. We could not observe any difference in the two enzymes either in rockfish or mussel sampled from the field during $1.5{\sim}2.0$ years post spillage, indicating that their enzyme systems might had been recovered by the sampling time. In conclusion, it seems that the inhibition of GST activity in rockfish is a biomarker response to crude oil exposure. The results, however, must be interpreted with care, as the inhibition nay reflect various factors such as oil concentration, duration and water temperature.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2004

Benzoyl peroxide is a High Production Volume Chemical, which is produced about 1,371 tons/year in Korea as of 2001 survey. The substance is mainly used as initiators in polymerization, catalysts in the plastics industry, bleaching agents for flour and medication for acne vulgaris. In this study, Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR) are used for getting adequate information on the physical -chemical properties of this chemical. And hydrolysis in water, acute toxicity to aquatic and terrestrial organisms for benzoyl peroxide were studied. The physical -chemical properties of benzoyl peroxide were estimated as followed; vapor pressure=0.00929 Pa, Log $K_{ow}$ = 3.43, Henry's Law constant=3.54${\times}$10$^{-6}$ atm-㎥/mole at $25^{\circ}C$, the half-life of photodegradation=3 days and bioconcentration factor (BCF)=92. Hydrolysis half-life of benzoyl peroxide in water was 5.2 hr at pH 7 at $25^{\circ}C$ and according to the structure of this substance hydrolysis product was expected to benzoic acid. Benzoyl peroxide has toxic effects on the aquatic organisms. 72 hr-Er $C_{50}$ (growth rate) for algae was 0.44 mg/1.,48 hr-E $C_{50}$ for daphnia was 0.07mg/L and the 96hr-L $C_{50}$ of acute toxicity to fish was 0.24mg/L. Acute toxicity to terrestrial organisms (earth worm) of benzoyl peroxide was low (14 day-L $C_{50}$ = > 1,000 mg/kg). Although benzoyl peroxide is high toxic to aquatic organisms, the substance if not bioaccumulated because of the rapid removal by hydrolysis (half-life=5.2 hr at pH 7 at $25^{\circ}C$) and biodegradation (83% by BOD after 21 days). The toxicity observed is assumed to be due to benzoyl peroxide rather than benzoic acid, which shows much lower toxicity to aquatic organisms. One can assume that effects occur before hydrolysis takes place. From the acute toxicity value of algae, daphnia and fish, an assessment factor of 100 was used to determine the predicted no effect concentration (PNEC). The PNEC was calculated to be 0.7$\mu\textrm{g}$/L based on the 48 hr-E $C_{50}$ daphnia (0.07 mg/L). The substance shows high acute toxicity to aquatic organisms and some information indicates wide-dispersive ore of this substance. So this substance is, a candidate for further work, even if it hydrolysis rapidly and has a low bioaccumulation potential. This could lead to local concern for the aquatic environment and therefore environmental exposure assessment is recommended.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.461-469
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• 2014

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent pollutants in aquatic environments, often causing the decline or disappearance of wild populations. In this study, we used a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay to evaluate the effects on the genomic DNA of olive flounder embryo and larval stages of exposure to Aroclor 1254 at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 20, and $40{\mu}g/L$. We compared RAPD fingerprints of exposed and non-exposed samples. Polymorphisms were revealed as the presence and/or absence of DNA fragments between the two samples. A dose-dependent increase in the number of polymorphic bands was observed with Aroclor 1254 treatment. Also, RAPD profiles of animals exposed to Aroclor 1254 exhibited an increase in the frequency values (FV) compared to the control. A phenogram constructed using neighbor-joining method indicated that genomic template stability in developing embryo and larval stages was significantly affected at ${\geq}5{\mu}g/L$. This study suggested that DNA polymorphisms detected by RAPD analysis could be used as an investigative tool for environmental toxicology and as a useful biomarker in early life stages for the detection of potential genotoxicants.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.188-197
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• 2003

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can alter hormone regulation that control reproductive system in animals. The effects of endosulfan, molinate, and alachlor that suspected to have examined disruption EDCs effect on a fish species of interest, Xiphophorus helleri (swordtail fish), were studied using vitellogenin (Vtg) and aromatase as diagnostic biomarkers. Induction of Vtg proteins was detected by RT-PCR in male fish treated with alachlor, and mixture of endosulfan and molinate in dose response manner. Also, induction of aromatase was detected by RT-PCR in male fish treated with alachlor, endosulfan, and mixture of endosulfan and molinate in sinlilar manner. In this study, swordtail fish exposed to endosulfan or molinate individually did not show any adverse effects. However, Vtg and aromatase expressions and apoptosis were detected in swordtail. fish exposed to the mixture of endosulfan and molinate. These results suggested that low concentrations of mixture of molinate and endosulfan individually do not affect swordtail fish, but may influence genital system, and induce apoptosis.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.28
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• pp.16.1-16.8
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• 2013

Objectives Fish vitellogenin (VTG) is produced in the female liver during oogenesis through the estradiol cycle and produced in the male liver by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as alkylphenols. In this study, we propose that the VTG concentration in the pale chub could be detected using monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies against vitellin (Vn) in a VTG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system. Methods Monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies were produced using the Vn extracted from the matured ovum of the ovary. The VTG was extracted from the plasma of the male pale chub. The Vn and VTG were confirmed by measuring the molecular weight of their proteins using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the specificity of the antibodies was checked through western blotting methods. The assay system was validated with respect to optimal assay concentrations, specificity, recovery, and intra- and inter-assay variations. Results The Vn consisted of two protein bands with apparent molecular weights of 64 and 37 kDa. The SDS-PAGE indicated protein weights of 146 and 77 kDa in the VTG. The assay range was 15.6 ng/mL to 2,000 ng/mL, and the value of the intra- and inter-assay variations were within 10.0% and 14.7%, respectively. The recovery rate was $99.5{\pm}5.5%$. Conclusions A sandwich ELISA was developed that could be used to qualify the VTG of pale chub in screening for EDCs. Pale chub is an ideal species for observing estrogen activity in the environment because of its extensive habitat and extensive food chain. The ELISA developed here would be more favorable than those for other species for determining the effect of long-term food chain accumulation of EDCs in aquatic environments.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.357-362
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• 2002

Tests for the toxicity of tributyltin (TBT) were conducted on mysid collected from Dadepo beach, Pusan, Korea. The toxic effects of tributyltin on the survival, growth and oxygen consumption of the mysid, Neomysis awatschensis have been evaluated. Mysids were exposed to several concentrations of TBT (0, 0.56, 1.15, 3.07 and 6.12 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L) for 6 weeks. Survival rate was decreased with increases in concentration and exposure time and the reduction of more than 40％ occurred at TBT concentration greater than 1.15 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L after 6 weeks. Growth rate was significantly decreased at concentrations greater than 1.15 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L. Oxygen consumption rate was also decreased in a concentration-dependent way and significantly decreased to 39,47 and 69％ of the control at 1.15, 3.07 and 6.12 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L, respectively. These results indicate that the contamination of aquatic environment by TBT has the potential to significantly reduce coastal and estuaries recruitment of mysids.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.171-179
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• 2001

A new passive sampler was developed, improving SPMD (Semipermeable Membrane Devices) that contained triolein in nonporous, low-density polyethylene layflat tubing. Experiments to measure PAHs concentration were carried out at four sites (Dukpo, Sochi, Sohwonggando, Yeonmok) on the southern coast of Korea that were contaminated by oil spills. Passive samplers were deployed at 4 and 8 week intervals at each site. Results showed that bioconcentration levels of PAHs were increased in proportion to exposure duration from all sample sites and accumulation in the passive sampler was much higher than in biota at the Dukpo site. Results of these tests suggest that new passive sampler is a useful tool for measuring bioconcentration organic compounds in aquatic environments.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.205-209
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• 2001

Lemna gibba was newly cultured and provided for toxicity tests. In this study, the chromate toxicity tests for Lemna gibba were performed according to the OECD Lemna growth inhibition test guideline. The test species was Lemna gibba, and the tests were repeated 5 times. To evaluate the toxicity test results, the average specific growth rate, EC50, 95％ confidential limit, and variances were calculated. The test performance was analyzed by the doubling time and test statistics. The average values of EC50 data determined by logistic and linear interpolation curves were 25.9 ppm and 35.4 ppm respectively (by chromate concentration). The doubling time of all controls were below 2.5 day, so all tests passed the criteria for the test performance. This study introduced a new test method, Lemna growth inhibition test, which is provided for the hazard assessment of aquatic environment.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2010

Ecological risk assessment (ERA) has been used to establish environmental quality standards or evaluate ecological risk in site-specific areas. The scope of ERA was expanded based on regions, and the concept of regional-scale ecological risk assessment was recently introduced in developed countries. In the present study, regional ERA approaches of relative risk model (RRM), contaminants in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (CATS) model, and procedure for ecological tired assessment of risks (PETAR) in advanced countries were extensively investigated. Regional ERA was compared with traditional ERA process. Stressors, receptor and response in traditional ERA were replaced with sources of stressors, habitats, and ecological impacts, respectively in regional ERA. This study introduces the concept and assessment process of regional ERA, and provides a wide perspective how the relative ERA could be applied in Korean ecosystem.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.20 no.3 s.50
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• pp.223-228
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• 2005

Rockfish Sebastes schlegeli was exposed to fluoranthene, a ubiquitous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, at 1 and 10 $\mu$g/L for 4 weeks followed by depuration period of 8 weeks. Although the fluoranthene in the p]asma reached only 1.8$\~$1.9 times seawater concentration, it was 6.5 $\~$ 15.7 times higher in the liver, spleen and bile indicating efficient accumulation in the lipid -containing body tissues. When the exposed fish were then maintained in clean water, rapid fluoranthene decline occurred in the initial 2 weeks followed by a rather slow phase. This result suggests that fluoranthene accumulates efficiently provided the existence in the culture medium, but the contaminant disappears rapidly once the chemical source is removed. The fluoranthne residue in fish tissues my be a good indifator for relent PAHs exposure.