• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.530-539
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• 2021

Background: In South Korea, areas around abandoned metal mines are designated as regions with high arsenic (As) contamination. However, studies assessing urinary As exposure, As metabolism, and relevant genetic polymorphisms in residents of these metal mine areas are lacking. Objectives: To identify factors associated with As exposure and evaluate the effects of MTHFR, As3MT, and GSTO1 genetic polymorphisms on As metabolism in residents of abandoned metal mine areas by measuring urinary As species. Methods: Urinary As species (arsenite [As³⁺], arsenate [As⁵⁺], monomethyl arsonic acid, and dimethylarsinic acid) were isolated using high-performance liquid chromatography in combination with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). Four genetic polymorphisms (MTHFR A222V, MTHFR E429A, GSTO1 A140D, As3MT M287T) were analyzed in 144 residents of four areas around abandoned metal mines. Results: The study sample was comprised of 34.7% men and 65.3% women, with a mean age of 70.7±10.9 years. The urinary inorganic As concentration was higher among those consuming more than half locally produced rice (0.31 ㎍/L) than those consuming less than half such rice (0.18 ㎍/L). The urinary dimethylarsinic acid concentration was higher in the group that had consumed seafood in the past day (31.68 ㎍/L) than in those who had not (22.37 ㎍/L). Furthermore, individuals heterozygous in the MTHFR A222V and GSTO1 A140D polymorphism had higher urinary arsenic species concentrations than did individuals with a wild type or homozygous for the variant allele. Conclusions: Consumption of locally produced rice was associated with inorganic As exposure, whereas seafood consumption was associated with organic As exposure among residents of abandoned metal mine areas. There was no clear association between MTHFR A222V and GSTO1 A140D polymorphisms and As metabolism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2007

The global environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate, despite of enhanced international environmental regulation. Many studies have been performed to reduce toxic pollutants. Recently, plant-based phytoremediation technology for moving toxic contaminants from soil and water has been receiving large attention. Arsenic-contaminated soil is one of the major pollutant sources for drinking water. Pteris erotica has been known as a hyper-accumulator of arsenic from soils. In this study, we investigated the effect of arsenic absorption on sap flow inside xylem vessels of Pteris. The synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique was employed to monitor the refilling process of water containing arsenic inside the xylem vessels of Pteris's leaves and stems non-invasively. The captured phase-contrast X-ray images show both anatomy of internal structure and transport of water inside Pteris. The exposure of Pteris to arsenic solution was found to increase largely the water raise speed in xylem vessels. The present results would provide important information needed for understanding the mechanisms of accumulation and transportation of toxic materials in plants.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.51-56
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• 2001

To evaluate the arsenic effect of fish endocrine disruption, crucian carp (Carassius auratus) were treated with 0.5 mg/L and 3.0 mg/L of As$_2$O$_3$ for 14 days and gonadal development was examined by histological analysis. In ovaries from female crucial carps exposed to 3.0 mg/L, immature follicles and atretic follicles were appeared while various normal developmental stages of oocytes were shown in control group. Body weight and Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) of treated carp were also decreased compared to control group. However, no other significant histological changes in liver or kidney were shown in this exposure scheme. This means that reproductive organs are more sensitive than other organs and arsenic may exert endocrine disrupting effect through inhibiting the development of reproductive organ in fish.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.618-622
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• 2010

This study examines the relationship between urinary arsenic concentration and urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentrations, an index of oxidative DNA damage, among women who live near abandoned metal mines. The sample consisted of 165 residents living near two abandoned metal mines located in Chungbuk Province. Demographic characteristics as well as environmental factors relevant to arsenic exposure were collected through interviews, and urinary arsenic concentrations and urinary 8-OHdG concentrations of the research subjects were measured. The collected data were subsequently analyzed using the statistics program SPSS 12.0. The geometric average of urinary arsenic concentrations among the research subjects was $5.65\;{\mu}g/g$ creatinine. In a correlation analysis between urinary arsenic and 8-OHdG concentrations, the correlation coefficient was significant (p<0.001) at 0.399. This study suggests that urinary 8-OHdG concentrations may be a DNA damage marker for chronic arsenic exposure in women.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.515-517
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• 2003

In order to assess the risk of adverse health effects on human exposure to arsenic and heavy metals influenced by past mining activities, environmental geochemical surveys were undertaken in the abandoned metal mine areas (Dongil Au-Ag-Cu-Zn, Okdong Cu-Pb-Zn, Songcheon Au-Ag, Dongjung Au-Ag-Pb-Zn, Dokok Au-Ag-Cu and Hwacheon Au-Ag-Pb-Zn mines). Arsenic and other heavy metals were highly elevated in the tailings from the Dongil, the Songcheon and the Dongjung mines. High concentrations of heavy metals except As were also found in tailings from the Okdong, the Dokok and the Hwacheon mines. These significant concentrations can impact on soils and waters around the tailing dumps. Risk compounds deriving from mine sites either constitute a toxic risk or a carcinogenic risk. The hazard index (H.I.) of As in the Dongil, the Okdong, the Songcheon and the Hwacheon mine areas was higher value more than 1.0. In the Okdong and the Songcheon mine areas, H.I. value of Cd exceeded 1.0. These values of As and Cd were the highest in the Songcheon mine area. Therefore, toxic risks for As and Cd exist via exposure (ingestion) of contaminated soil, groundwater and rice grain in these mine areas. The cancer risk for As in stream or ground water used for drinking water from the Songcheon, the Dongil, the Okdong, the Dongjung and the Hwacheon mine areas was 3E-3, 8E-4, 7E-4, 2E-4 and 1E-4, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.465-474
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• 2002

In order to reflect variability due to exposure factors as well as to assess uncertainty associated with cancer risk posed by airborne trace metals, a Monte Calro analysis has been made in this study. Input parameters for Monte Carlo analysis were developed or adjusted using body weight, lifetime, and exposure frequency of Koreans. Ambient distributions of toxic metals were founded to be lognormal distributions for most of them using goodness-of-fit tests. Thus, the 95% UCL and 95% LCL of carcinogenic metals were estimated by H-statistic method for lognormal distribution, respectively. The results of Monte Carlo analysis of 95% UCL showed that the 95th percentile risks for men and women were 1.2 and 1.1 times higher than an acceptable risk of 10$^{-5}$ , respectively. The probabilities which those risks exceed the acceptable risk were estimated to be 8% and 6%, respectively, while to be 95% and 94%, respectively on the basis of the minimum acceptable risk of 10$^{-6}$ , respectively. Approximately 90% of total cancer risk came from human carcinogens such as arsenic and hexavalent chromium. Therefore, it is necessary to properly manage both arsenic and hexavalent chromium emissions in the study area.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.261-266
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• 2010

In the workplace, the arsenic is used in the semiconductor production and the manufacturing of pigments, glass, pesticides and fungicides. Therefore, workers may be exposed to airborne arsenic during its use in manufacturing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential toxicity of particulate matters (PMs) doped with arsenic (PMs-Arsenic) using a rodent model and to compare the genotoxicity in various concentrations and to examine the role of PMs-Arsenic in the induction of signaling pathway in the lung. Mice were exposed to PMs $124.4{\pm}24.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (low concentration), $220.2{\pm}34.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (middle concentration), $426.4{\pm}40.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (high concentration) doped with arsenic $1.4\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (Low concentration), $2.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (middle concentration), $5.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (high concentration) for 4 wks (6 h/d, 5 d/wk), respectively in the whole-body inhalation exposure chambers. To determine the level of genotoxicity, Chromosomal aberration (CA) assay in splenic lymphocytes and Supravital micronucleus (SMN) assay were performed. Then, signal pathway in the lung was analyzed. In the genotoxicity experiments, the increases of aberrant cells were concentration-dependent. Also, PMs-arsenic caused peripheral blood micronucleus frequency at high concentration. The inhalation of PMs-Arsenic increased an expression of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt: protein kinase B) and phpsphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) at high concentration group. Taken together, inhaled PMs-Arsenic caused genotoxicity and altered Akt signaling pathway in the lung. Therefore, the inhalation of PMs-Arsenic needs for a careful risk assessment in the workplace.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.13 no.3_4
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• pp.95-104
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• 1998

INTRODUCTION : Arsenic is a ubiquitous element present in various compounds throughout the earth's crust. The use of arsenic compounds increased greatly during the 18th and 19th centuries, including its use in pigments and dyes, as a preservative of animal hides, in glass manufacture, agricultural pesticides, and various pharmaceutical substances. The causal association between human arsenic exposure, usually in the form of inorganic compounds containing trivalent arsenite (As$^{III}$) or pentavalent arsenate (As$^V$), and various forms of human cancer has been known for many years.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2010

Objectives : Arsenic (As) is ubiquitously distributed in the environment and has been known as a human carcinogen. The main source of arsenic exposure in general population is an oral route through As-contaminated water and foods. This study was performed to estimate the daily intake of As from diet and associated factors in Korean adults. Methods : We investigated 590 adults, 249 males and 341 females, with age of 20 years and older, who had not been exposed to the As occupationally. Study subjects were interviewed for demographic characteristics, lifestyles and diets during the last 24 hours. The estimation of As intake daily was based on amount of food consumption and As concentration in each food by using database of As concentrations in 117 food species. Results : Daily As intake was estimated as $56.46\;{\mu}g$/day, $56.60\;{\mu}g$/day in male and $56.36\;{\mu}g$/day in female. As intake was not significant from sex, age group, smoking and alcoholic habits, while was by occupation with the most intake of As in fishery. The daily As intakes was positively correlated with the total food consumption, specifically related with fishes and shellfishes, seaweeds, oils, grains and flavors. About 75% of As intake from diet was contributed by seafoods, such as $32.07\;{\mu}g$/day from fishes & shellfishes and $10.05\;{\mu}g$/day from seaweeds. However, it is necessary to evaluate if the dietary As intake affects on the levels of As in the body. Conclusions : The amount of As intake daily in Korean adults was estimated as $56.46\;{\mu}g$/day, and is determined mainly by diet behavior. The seafoods, such as fishes & shellfishes and seaweeds, is major source of As exposure from diet in Korean.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.148-152
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• 2010

Domestic studies for identification of causality between children exposure to toxic chemicals, such as arsenic (As) and resulted hazardous effects were not implemented. This study was conducted to probabilistically estimate dietary As intake and health risk assessment for young children and all age-specific populations from the consumption of As-contaminated rice of Korea. Arsenic intakes for young children (1 to 6 years old) from As-contaminated rice were higher than other age-specific groups, based on a dose-per-body weight basis. Based on the current EPA cancer slope factor for As, estimated cancer risks (to the skin cancer) associated with dietary intake of As-contaminated rice for 1 to 2 years old group and 3 to years old group are 1.76 per 10,000 and 3.16 per 10,000, respectively, at the 50th percentile. Based on possible reference levels (0.005 mg/kg/day) for children, mean and $95^{th}$ percentile value of HQ from rice for young children are very below 1.0, which is a regulatory limit of non-carcinogenic risks for human.