• Advances in environmental research
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 2013

Urine is a widely used matrix in biomonitoring studies on the assessment of human exposure to environmental chemicals such as phthalate esters and bisphenol A (BPA). In addition to the need to apply valid analytical techniques, assurance of specimen integrity during collection and storage is an important prerequisite for the presentation of accurate and precise analytical data. One of the common issues encountered in the analysis of non-persistent contaminants is whether shipping and storage temperature and time since collection have an effect on sample integrity. In this study, we investigated the stability of phthalate metabolites and BPA in spiked and unspiked urine samples stored at room temperature ($20^{\circ}C$) or at $-80^{\circ}C$ for up to 8 weeks. Concentrations of phthalate metabolites declined, on average, by 3% to 15%, depending on the compounds, and BPA declined by ~30% after 4 weeks of storage of spiked urine samples at $20^{\circ}C$. In a test of 30 unspiked urine samples stored at $20^{\circ}C$ and at $-80^{\circ}C$ for 8 weeks, the concentrations of phthalate metabolites and BPA decreased by up to 15% to 44%, depending on the compound and on the samples. It was found that the small reduction in phthalate concentrations observed in urine, varied depending on the samples. In a few urine samples, concentrations of phthalate metabolites and BPA did not decline even after storage at $20^{\circ}C$ for 8 weeks. We found a significant relationship between concentrations of target analytes in urine stored at $20^{\circ}C$ and at $-80^{\circ}C$ for 8 weeks. We estimated the half-lives of phthalate metabolites and BPA in urine stored at $20^{\circ}C$. The estimated half-life of monoethyl phthalate (mEP) and mono (2-ethyl-5-carboxyphentyl) phthalate (mECPP) in urine stored at $20^{\circ}C$ was over two years, of mono (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (mEOHP) and monobenzyl phthalate (mBzP) was approximately one year, and of other phthalate metabolites was approximately 6 months. The estimated half-life of BPA in urine stored at $20^{\circ}C$ was approximately 3 months, which is much longer than that reported for aquatic ecosystems.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.64-69
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• 2006

Cytochrome P450 (CYP1A) gene expression in the liver and sex steroid levels in plasma were investigated in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to tributyltin (TBT) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). We constructed a cDNA library and cloned a 230-base sequence encoding partial CYP1A DNA. The CYP1A gene expression level was estimated using northern blotting. Hepatic CYP1A mRNA levels in fish injected with BaP at 10 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) increased for 48 h after injection. However, fish injected with both BaP and TBT at 10 mg/kg b.w. showed no significant changes in CYP1A mRNA level after 48 h. Plasma concentrations of testosterone and $17{\beta}$-estradiol were not significantly different in males and females injected with BaP and TBT. We suggest that TBT-induced suppression of BaP bioactivity should be interpreted with caution in biomonitoring field studies.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.118-126
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• 2004

Recombinant E.coli ACV 1003 (recA::lacZ) releasing ${\beta}$-galactosidase by a SOS regulon system, when exposed to DNA-damaging compounds, have been used to effectively monitor endocrine disruptors. Low enzyme activity of less than 10 units/mL, corresponding to a $\mu\textrm{g}$/L(ppb) range of an endocrine disruptor (tributyl tin, bisphenol A. etc.), can be rapidly determined, not by a conventional time-consuming and tedious enzyme assay, but by an alternative interferometric biosensor. Heavily boron-doped porous silicon for application as an interferometer, was fabricated by etching to form a Fabry-Perot fringe pattern, which caused a change in the refractive index of the medium including ${\beta}$-galactosidase. In order to enhance the immobilization of the porous silicon surface, a calyx crown derivative (ProLinker A) was applied, instead of a conventional biomolecular affinity method using biotin. This resulted in a denser linked formation. The change in the effective optical thickness versus ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity, showed a linear increase up to a concentration of 150 unit ${\beta}$-galactosidase/mL, unlike the sigmoidal increase pattern observed with the biotin.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.215-219
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• 2002

In mid-April, 2000, hundreds of thousands of fish floated dead on the Chungnang River, one of the small branches of the Han River in Seoul. We examined the causes of the accident in detail, through analysis of monitorinq data from the Han River Monitoring Project, which employed the transplanted aquatic moss, Fontinalis antipyretica. This allowed investigation of another possible cause of the fish kill: release of trace metals into the river from industrial sources during the rainfall event. In addition, we aimed to verify the usefulness of aquatic mosses as bioindicators of the event. Water samples collected 48 h after the fish kill exhibited low pH and high Total-N and Total-p, indicating that acidic compounds rich in nitrogen and phosphorus might be a major contaminant. BOD and COD were also very high. On the whole, the conditions of the river water were degraded at that time. Distinct trends were not observed in the chlorophyll phaeophy-tinization quotient and photosynthesis rate of transplanted mosses. How-ever mosses sampled soon after the accident exhibited the lowest values for those variables (P < 0.01), suggesting that stress factors in the river were diluted out over time. Heavy metals with characteristics of industrial effluents (Cr, Pb, Zn, Fe, Cu, and Cd) increased (p ＜ 0.01), indicating that they were unlikely to be major causes of the accident.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.231-240
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• 2009

We explored collective behaviors of indicator species to elucidate the effect of the chemical stress. After the treatments of an insecticide, diazinon, at low concentrations (1.0 and 10.0 ${\mu}g/L$), spatial dispersion patterns of Daphnia magna were checked in a test chamber. The I-index was used to characterize the movement data before (0~1 h) and after (1~2 h) the treatments in laboratory conditions. The slopes of the frequency distribution of I-index in semi-log scale decreased significantly, and the test populations appeared to be more dispersed with a lower degree of aggregation after the treatments. The index was feasible in indicating decrease in the ability of the specimens to keep desirable distances with neighbor individuals under chemical stress and showed a possibility of monitoring presence of toxic chemicals in environment through group behavior measurement.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제29권
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• pp.19.1-19.10
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• 2014

Objectives Lysosome is the cell-organelle which is commonly used as biomonitoring tool in environmental pollution. In this study, the lysosomal proteomic of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was analyzed for utilization in the detection of toxic substances in mine water samples. Methods This work informs the expression of lysosomal proteomic in yeast in response with toxic chemicals, such as sodium meta-arsenite and tetracycline, for screening specific biomarkers. After that, a recombinant yeast contained this biomarker were constructed for toxic detection in pure toxic chemicals and mine water samples. Results Each chemical had an optimal dose at which the fluorescent protein intensity reached the peak. In the case of water samples, the yeast showed the response with sample 1, 3, 4, and 5; whereas there is no response with sample 2, 6, and 7. Conclusions The recombinant yeast showed a high ability of toxic detection in response with several chemicals such as heavy metals and pharmaceuticals. In the case of mine water samples, the response varied depending on the sample content.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.162-167
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• 2016

This study was conducted in an industrial city (Bilaspur) representative of subtropical area in central India. In order to assess the metal deposition on plant, concentrations of six target metals (i.e., Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Cd, and Cr) in both plant leaf and dust (deposited on its surface) samples were measured from six different sites. Metal concentrations in dust samples were found on the order of Fe>Mn> Cr>Pb>Cu>Cd. In contrast, the concentration of metals in plant leaves were seen on the order of Fe>Mn>Cr>Cd>Cu>Pb. As such, Cd showed significantly high concentration in leaves relative to their corresponding dust samples. A high accumulation potential for Fe and Cd was seen from Butea monosperma, while Mn and Pb were accumulated noticeably in Pongamia pinnata and Butea monosperma. Likewise, Cr and Cu were enriched in Calotropis procera, Alstonia scholaris, and Butea monosperma. The overall results of our study suggest that the foliar uptake pattern should vary considerably by an interactive role between plant and metal types.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.119-136
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• 2000

Being autotrophic, algae occupy a trategic place in the biosphere. They produce oxygen both directly and indirectly through the chloroplasts of all green plants. The chloroplasts are believed to have originated from archaic prokaryotic algae through endosymbiosis with primitive eukaryotic cells. Phytoplankton and other algae regulate the global environment not only by releasing oxygen but also by fixing carbon dioxide. They affect water quality, help in the treatment of sewage, and produce biomass. They can be used to produce hydrogen which is a clean fuel, and biodiesel, and fix $N_2$ for use as a biofertilizer. Some other services of algae to the environment include restoration of metal damaged ecosystems, reducing the atmospheric $CO_2$ load and citigating global warming, reclamation of saline-alkaline unfertile lands, and production of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) involved in the regulation of UV radiation. ozone concentration, and global warming. Algae can be valuable in understanding and resolving certain environmental issues.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.107-117
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• 2009

Metal pollution of aquatic ecosystems is a problem of economic and health importance. Information regarding molecular responses to metal exposure is sorely needed in order to identify potential biomarkers. To determine the effects of heavy metals on chironomids, the full-length cDNA of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH3) from Chironomus riparius was determined through molecular cloning and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The expression of ADH3 was analyzed under various cadmium and copper concentrations. A comparative and phylogenetic study among different orders of insects and vertebrates was carried out through analysis of sequence databases. The complete cDNA sequence of the ADH3 gene was 1134 bp in length. The sequence of C. riparius ADH3 shows a low degree of amino acid identity (around 70%) with homologous sequences in other insects. After exposure of C. riparius to various concentrations of copper, ADH3 gene expression significantly decreased within 1 hour. The ADH3 gene expression was also suppressed in C. riparius after cadmium exposure for 24 hour. However, the effect of cadmium on ADH3 gene expression was transient in C. riparius. The results show that the suppression of ADH3 gene by copper exposure could be used as a possible biomarker in aquatic environmental monitoring and imply differential toxicity to copper and cadmium in C. riparius larvae.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.519-527
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• 1996

To examine the possibility of biomonitoring of heavy metal removal ability and soil, a study was performed to investigate the heavy metal removal ability and metal-binding protein (MBP) as detoxification process using Oenanthe stolonifera. After O. stolonifera was exposed to individuals (cadmium, zinc) and mixture (cadmium+zinc)for 4 days, removal rate of heavy metal and pH in the treatment medium was measured. MBP was assayed by means of ion exchange column chromatography. The exposure to mixture (Cd:76.8%, Zn:75%) rather than individuals (Cd:82.9%, Zn:90.4%) showed a synergism raising the toxic effect. Initial removal rate was different for each heavy metal : in case of exposure to cadmium it was over 60% on day 1, while for zinc it was 75~90% on day 4. Throughout the experimental period, pH value of treatment medium continuously decreased, since cortex in the roots may secret organic acid to adjust and prevent toxicity of metals. The existence or MBP in the 70~80 fraction and the presence of Zn-enzyme pool was ascertained with the column chromatography. This study demonstrated a possibility that heavy utilized as a biomarker of heavy metal pollution.