• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.272-279
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• 2016

Understanding sources and contributions of $PM_{2.5}$ mass and particulate PAHs from traffic-related pollution can provide valuable information for alleviating air contamination from car emissions in urban areas. Two sampling sites at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST, $35.228^{\circ}N$, $126.843^{\circ}E$) and National institute of environmental research NamBu Supersite (NNBS, $35.226^{\circ}N$, $126.848^{\circ}E$) were selected for comprehensive road-oriented-PM investigations. Continuous measurements from optical particle sizer (OPS) and optical particle counter (OPC) with 24 hr integrated filter based samplers for organic carbon, water soluble organic carbon, and Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were conducted during Nov. 3 through 22 in 2014. As a result, $PM_{2.5}$ mass concentrations using OPC and OPS in NNBS presented about twice higher than in GIST due to road dust impacts based on wind direction analysis. In addition, ratios of elemental carbon (EC) to organic carbon (OC) and water insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) to organic carbon (OC) supported an additional evidence of the primary pollutant contributions oriented from road dust. PAHs related to 5 rings such as benzo(e&a)pyrene indicates higher associations.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.141-151
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• 2004

We exposed juvenile puffer fish, Takifugu obscurus(30 days after hatching) to various aqueous pollutants including 4 kinds of inorganic metals (Ag, Cd, Cu and Hg), 2 organotin compound.; (tributyltin ［TBT］ and triphenyltin［TPhT］) and 5 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds (chrysene, fluoranthene, naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene) to estimate median lethal concentrations (LC50s) of each pollutant after the 96-hour acute exposure. Among the inorganic metals, Hg (52 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L; 96-h LC50) was most toxic to test animals and followed by Ag (164 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L), Cu (440 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L) and Cd (1180 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L). Aqueous TBT was more toxic between the two organotins; the 96-h LC50 for TBT (5.1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L) was 3 times lower than that of TPhT (17.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L). The acute toxicity of PAH compounds was highest for chrysene (1.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L; 96-h LC50) and decreased in the order of pyrene (65 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L) > fluoranthene (158 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L) > phenanthrene (432 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L) > naphthalene (8690 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L). The toxicity of PAH compounds wat closely related to their physico-chemical characteristics such as $K_{ow}$ and water solubility, and well explained by simple QSAR relationship. The sensitivity of puffer fish to various inorganic and organic pollutants was generally comparable to various fish species widely used as standard test species in previous studies and further evaluation should be conducted to develop adequate testing procedure for T. obscurus when used in various toxicity tests.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.213-219
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• 2005

In this study, we try to Quantitatively assess the micropollutants in Gwangyang bay, Gamag bay and Yeoa bay, using simultaneous analytical method fir 310 chemicals. In the results, several dozen organic pollutants were detected in sampling sites, and the major chemicals detected were CH type chemicals, such as aliphatic and polycyclic compounds, and CHN(O) type chemicals, such as aromatic ammines and nitro compounds. The concentration of organic pollutants was higher in summer than in winter. However, there was no association of species of organic pollutants with season. The total concentration of pesticides at each sampling site was measured within the range of $ND{\sim}9.11{\mu}g/L$. Insecticides and fungicides of pesticide type were detected in Gwangyang bay and Gamag bay, while six kinds of endocrine disrupter were detected in southern coastal waters. From the results of this study, we should estimated that the insecticides, the fungicides, and a few of the endocrine disrupters are major pollutant factors in southern coastal waters.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.261-266
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• 2014

Environmental pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been implicated in cancer development and progression. However, the effects of PAHs on carcinogenesis are still poorly understood. Here, we characterized a mouse cancer cell line BNL 1ME A. 7R.1 (1MEA) derived by transformation of non-tumorigenic liver cell line BNL CL.2 (BNL) using 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), a carcinogenic PAH. RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis were used to determine the expression level of mRNA and proteins, respectively. To determine functionality, cell motility was assessed in vitro using a transwell migration assay. Both mRNA and protein levels of E-cadherin were significantly decreased in 1MEA cells in comparison with BNL cells. While the expression levels of mesenchymal markers and related transcription factors were enhanced in 1MEA cells, which could lead to increase in cell motility. Indeed, we found that 7-day exposure of BNL cells to 3-MC reduced the level of the adhesion molecule and epithelial marker E-cadherin and increased reciprocally the level of the mesenchymal marker vimentin in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results indicate that the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) may be activated during premalignant transformation induced by 3-MC. A mechanism study to elucidate the relation between 3-MC exposure and EMT is underway in our laboratory.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.61-75
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• 2014

Five on-road measurements were made using a mobile laboratory (ML) to characterize spatial and temporal air pollutant distributions over roads around a day-care center in urban area on 30 August 2013. Fixed monitoring was also done near the day-care center using the ML during the periods between on-road measurements. On-road air pollution monitoring route was classified into seven sections and three zones to identify severe polluted roads among many roads having different traffic volumes and directions. Typical pollutants emitted from vehicles such as $NO_x$, black carbon, particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and submicron particles including nanoparticles were monitored using real-time instruments. Peak concentration episodes were frequently observed during the on-road measurements and most peaks were simultaneously monitored at four pollutants. Colored on-road air pollution map for each pollutant provides an insight on spatial air pollution distribution, showing heavily polluted roads and sections. Average on-road $NO_x$ concentration of each run was similar to that monitored at the nearest roadside air monitoring station.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2005

This is a subsequent study to our previous finding that Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, gained a so-called upper plateau concentration, around 30,000 ng/g dry weight digestive gland for benzo(a)pyrene, showed reproductive behavior but produced their ensuing reproductive outputs damaged. A serial dilution of sediment elutriates from Jinhae Bay, Korea, where pollution was progressive, were exposed to gametes of the Pacific oyster for 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min to detail the pollutant effects on very young specimens. There was an apparent critical dilution over which adverse effects are evident. This was $10\%$ of the present sediment elutriate, corresponding to 0.3 ng/g on the basis of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for the oyster. Within the dilution the embryonic development was not influenced by the duration of exposure to its gamete stage. At higher dilutions over the critical dilution, occurrence of abnormality increased dependent on the pollutant dilution and the duration of exposure. Similar trends were also found in larval mortality. However, overall, the chemical toxicity was more significant to morphogenesis than to survival, suggesting a potential recruitment of the pollutants-induced abnormal larvae in the wild population to threaten the population integrity.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3755-3761
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• 2013

This study aims to assess the ecological risk of the hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) emitted in the semiconductor manufacturing processes in Korea by using Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR, EPA, US, EPI $Suite^{TM}$ 4.1). Owing to the absence of environmental standards of hazardous air pollutants in the semiconductor manufacturing processes in Korea, 18 HAPs in the semiconductor field included in both the US EPA NESHAPs and the hazardous air pollutant list of Ministry of Environment in Korea were selected. As a results 8 chemicals (44.4%) of the selected 18 HAPs were VOCs. Cyanides (cyanides) and ethylene oxides (epoxy resins), and tetrachloro-ethylene (aliphatic compounds, halides) showed long half-lives. Cyanide HAPs especially had the highest half-life with the estimated value of 356.533 days. Nickel compounds (heavy metal compounds) possessed the highest water solubility followed by acetaldehyde (aldehyde compounds), ethylene oxides, and 1,4-dioxanes. The halides, including tetrachloro-ethylenes, carbon tetra-chlorides, benzene (aromatic compounds), and lead (heavy metals), are estimated to take the longest time for biodegradation. Tetrachloroethylene, with the acute toxicity end point of 3.685-7.033 mg/L, was assessed to be the most highly toxic substance among the 18 HAPs. However, considering the absence of the HAPs in the common category of log $K_{ow}{\geq}4$and $BCF{\geq}500$, which indicates the standard of bioconcentration potentials, potentials of the bioconcentration are considered to be low.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.72-84
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• 2013

In the study, pollution levels of indoor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in public facilities (vapor phase or particulate phase) were evaluated, and a health risk assessment (HRA) was carried out based on exposure scenarios. Public facilities in Korea covered by the law, including underground subway stations, funeral halls, child care facilities, internet cafes (PC-rooms), and exhibition facilities (6 locations for each type of facility, for a total of 48 locations), were investigated for indoor assessment. For the HRA, individual excess cancer risk (ECR) was estimated by applying main toxic equivalency factor (TEF) values suggested in previous studies. Among the eight public facilities, internet cafes showed the highest average $PM_{2.5}$ concentration at $110.0{\mu}g/m^3$ (range: $83.5-138.5{\mu}g/m^3$). When assuming a risk of facility exposure time based upon the results of the surveys for each public facility, the excess cancer risk using the benzo(a)pyrene indicator assessment method was estimated to be $10^{-7}-10^{-6}$ levels for each facility. Based on the risk associated with various TEF values, the excess cancer risk based upon the seven types cancer EPA (1993) and Malcolm & Dobson's (1994) assessment method was estimated to be $10^{-7}-10^{-5}$ for each facility. The excess cancer risk estimated from the TEF EPA (2010) assessment was the highest: $10^{-7}-10^{-4}$ for each facility. This is due to the 10-fold difference between the TEF of dibenzo(a,e)fluoranthene in 2010 and in 1994. The internet cafes where smoking was the clear pollutant showed the highest risk level of $10^{-4}$, which exceeded the World Health Organization's recommended risk of $1{\times}10^{-6}$. All facilities, with the exception of internet cafes, showed a $10^{-6}$ risk level. However, when the TEFs values of the US EPA (2010) were applied, the risk of most facilities in this study exceeded $1{\times}10^{-6}$.

• Clean Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.197-206
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• 2003

We performed removal of aromatic compounds, benzene and toluene, from soil and zeolite using supercritical carbon dioxide. Extraction was performed at $50^{\circ}C$ and 27.7 MPa with changing the extent of pollutant concentration and the results were compared and analyzed. Experiments were carried out using flow method and high pressure extractor of 1.27 cm in diameter and 25cm in length was used. The pollutants were sampled every ten minutes and their concentrations were analyzed with GC/FID. As a result, highly contaminated sample followed solubility/elution model and slightly contaminated sample followed desorption/kinetics model. At the same condition benzene was extracted faster than toluene. In the case of zeolite, more time is required to extract pollutants than soil. This phenomena was due to high adsorption capacity of zeolite. In the case of highly contaminated soil, we could correlate experimental data using simple Brady's fixed bed extractor model. But in the case of slightly contaminated soil, that was governed with desorption/kinetics model, there was some errors.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.77-80
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• 2001

Groundwater, contaminated predominantly with aromatic compounds and chlorinated ethylene, could be biologically treated in a fluidized-bed reactor with immobilized cells. The decomposition efficiency for the aromatics was over 90% at the retention time of 2.5 h. The chlorinated ethylenes, especially trichloroethylene (TCE) and cis-dichloroethylene (DCE), could be decomposed only insufficiently. No anaerobic methane formation was observed for this groundwater even at a very low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration of 0.75 mg/L. The variation of DO concentration resulted in an optimal value of 1.5 mg/L. The recycle of air waste could increase the utilization of oxygen. The amount of low boiling pollutants stripped out remained constant with the recycle, while for the higher boiling pollutants the stripping slightly increased. Using air instead of oxygen increases the flow rate of air waste, which is connected to a higher stripping of pollutants. In this investigation, the pollutant concentration in the air waste remained constant. The stripping of main pollutants did not exceed 0.3 %.