• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물공학회 2000년도 추계학술발표대회 및 bio-venture fair
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• pp.208-211
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• 2000

본 연구를 통해 환경 유해성을 평가하기 위한 동물세포를 개발했고 이를 이용한 모니터링 방법 연구와 다양한 독성 물질에 대한 반응성을 확인했다. 개발된 독성 모니터링 동물세포(KFC-A10)는 각 독성 물질에 따라 빛의 발현 양이 증가하는 성향을 가지므로 이번 실험에서 사용된 MMC, BPA, ${\gamma}-ray$에 농도 의존적으로 빛의 양이 증가함을 관찰할 수 있었다. 특히 BPA의 경우는 환경호르몬으로 알려진 바 그 estrogenic 효과를 관찰할 수 있었다.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.225-231
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• 1998

The studies on the potentiality of biomonitoring heavy metal pollution in coastal region of industrial complex were performed to investigate the heavy metal accumulation and induction of metal-binding protein (MBP) as detoxification process using Rumex maritimus. Bioconcentration in organs and MBP in root of R. maritimus was investigated for the research of the tolerance of heavy metals. The bioconcentration of cadmium and zinc in organs showed 3.6-8.0 times in root higher than in shoot, so it was found that heavy metal accumulated selectively in root. MBP increased absorbance in 254 nm and decreased in 280 nm, because it was composed of high cystein content and low aromatic acids, so absorbance had large difference between 254 nm and 280 nm. The existence of MBP in the 10-20 fraction was ascertained with anion exchange chromatography and it was identified that concentration of heavy metal increased according as an exposure concentration of medium increased in QAE Sephadex A-25 elution profile. These results suggested that MBP could play a role in biomarker determining the bioconcentration of plant. This study demonstrated a possibility that removal ability of heavy metal of R. maritimus resulted from detoxification process and MBP could be utilized as a biomarker of heavy metal pollution.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.265-271
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• 2009

Concentrations of industrial, agricultural and natural chemicals have been increasing in secondary effluents without their combined sub-lethal effects having been elucidated. In this study, two assays (the comet and acetylcholinesterase assays) were combined to evaluate the genotoxic and neurotoxic effects of effluent from the Noksan wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) on two local marine fish species (flounder and sea eel). The fish were exposed to WWTP secondary effluent that had been diluted with filtered seawater to final concentrations of 1%, 10% and 50%. Analysis of fish samples collected 3 and 5 days after exposure showed that DNA damage occurred in flounder exposed to 50% effluent and in sea eels exposed to 10% or 50% effluent. Furthermore, it was found that acetylcholinesterase (EC:3.1.1.7, AChE) activity decreased in both species when exposed to 10% effluent, indicating the presence of large amounts of genotoxic and neurotoxic chemicals in the effluent. Our results indicate that the comet and AChE assays are promising tools for biomonitoring of secondary effluents.

• 한국환경독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경독성학회 2004년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.47-60
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• 2004

Higher plants can be valuable genetic assay systems for monitoring environmental pollutants and evaluating their biological toxicity. Two assays are considered ideal for in situ monitoring and testing of soil, airborne and aqueous mutagenic agents; the Tradescantia stamen hair assay for somatic cell mutations and the Tradescantia micronucleus assay for chromosome aberrations. Both assays can be used for in vivo and in vitro testing of mutagens. Since higher plant systems are now recognized as excellent indicators and have unique advantages over in situ monitoring and screening, higher plant systems could be accepted by regulatory authorities as an alternative first-tier assay system for the detection of possible genetic damages resulting from the pollutants or chemicals used and produced by industrial sectors. It has been concluded that potential mutagen and carcinogen such as the heavy metals among indoor air particulates, volatile compounds in the working places, soil, and water pollutants contribute to the overall health risk. This contribution can be considerable under certain circumstances. It is therefore important to identify the level of genotoxic activity in the environment and to relate it to the biomarkers of a health risk in humans. The results from the higher plant bioassays could make a significant contribution to assessing the risks of pollutants and protecting the public from agents that can cause mutation and/or cancer. The plant bioassays, which are relatively inexpensive and easy to handle, are recommended for the scientists who are interested in monitoring pollutants and evaluating their environmental toxicity to living organisms.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.87-91
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• 2008

In this study, three different sizes of cerium oxide ($CeO_2$) nanoparticles were synthesized and exposed to Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate the potential harmful effect of $CeO_2$ nanoparticles on the environment. The effects of the $CeO_2$ nanoparticles on C. elegans were assessed at multiple levels, such as with respect to stress response gene expression, growth, reproduction and mortality. Moreover, to test the ecotoxicological relevance of $CeO_2$-induced gene expression. The overall results suggest that $CeO_2$ nanoparticles may provoke ecotoxicity in C. elegans especially with respect to gene expression, reproduction and survival, which can comprise an important contribution to knowledge on the ecotoxicity of $CeO_2$ nanoparticles, about which little data are available. This is particularly valuable in the biomarker research on ecotoxicology, as ecological relevance is a crucial criterion for the applicability of the biomarker in field biomonitoring and ecological risk assessment.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2005

환경오염의 조기 경보 시스템으로 생체지표를 이용한 생태독성 모니터링이 최근 널리 연구되고 있다. 환경내의 생물종에서 측정한 생체지표를 이용한 환경 모니터링은 생태계 수준의 영향에 대한 예측 정보를 제공해 줄 수도 있다. 이를 위해서는 생체지표와 개체군 수준에서의 반응과의 인과관계가 밝혀져야 한다. 오염물질에 대한 생체의 반응은 분자, 세포, 생화학, 생리적, 개체, 개체군, 군집 수준에서 나타나게 되며, 이러한 각 단계별 반응은 반응 시간의 규모와 독성학적, 생태적 관련성에 따라 구분 지어 볼 수 있다. 각 개별 수준에서의 반응을 종합하면 오염물질에 노출된 생체의 전제적인 영향을 이해할 수 있으며, 이러한 이해를 바탕으로 개체군에서 나타나는 영향에 대한 인과관계를 추론할 수 있다. 생체지표와 개체군 수준의 반응과의 인과관계 정립은 효율적인 환경오염 예방기능 수행에 필수적인 과정이며, 다단계 생체 지표는 각 단계별 반응의 인과관계를 밝히기 위해 가장 적절한 접근 방법이다. 수서 무척추 생물인 Chironomus의 유충은 이러한 다단계 바이오마커 연구에 매우 적절한 생물학적 모델이다. 이 논문의 첫 번째 부분은 생체지표를 이용한 환경 모니터링을, 두 번째 부분은 Chironomus의 유충에서 생체지표의 적용에 대해서 다룬다.

• 방사선산업학회지
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

In spite of colossal efforts taken for safe handling and storage of radioactive waste, the uncontrolled release of radiocesium ($^{137}Cs$ and $^{134}Cs$ isotopes) into the natural environment is inevitable. $^{137}Cs$ is of particular concern because of its long half-life, ability to transfer into biota through food chains, as well as its great mobility, bioavailability, and chemical and ecophysiological similarity with potassium. Radiocesium is released anthropogenically into the environment. Mushrooms are known for their ability to accumulate radionuclides, particularly radiocesium, which is heterogeneously distributed in the individual parts of mushrooms, and it is found that mushrooms are a hyper-accumulator of radiocesium from their environment than other vegetation. Mushrooms play a major role in the mobilization, accumulation, and translocation of cesium, i.e., decontamination of soils (mycoextraction) polluted with cesium radioisotopes, and this capacity appears to be a relevant bioindicator of cesium contamination in the environment. Moreover, the extension of mycelium into the soil makes the use of mushrooms as bioindicators of radiocesium possible. This paper reviews the potential of mushrooms in the accumulation of radiocesium from the environment, and dissertates the salient features to support the employment of mushrooms in environmental biomonitoring as a sensitive bioindicator of radiocesium contamination.

• Mycobiology
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• 제51권5호
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• pp.343-353
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• 2023

Lichens play crucial roles in the ecosystems, contributing to soil formation and nutrient cycling, and being used in biomonitoring efforts to assess the sustainability of ecosystems including air quality. Previous studies on heavy metal accumulation in lichens have mostly relied on manipulated environments, such as transplanted lichens, leaving us with a dearth of research on how lichens physiologically respond to heavy metal exposure in their natural habitats. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated lichens from two of South Korea's geographically distant regions, Gangwon Province and Jeju Island, and examined whether difference in ambient heavy metal concentrations could be detected through physiological variables, including chlorophyll damage, lipid oxidation, and protein content. The physiological variables of lichens in response to heavy metals differed according to the collection area: Arsenic exerted a significant impact on chlorophyll degradation and protein content. The degree of fatty acid oxidation in lichens was associated with increased Cu concentrations. Our research highlights the value of lichens as a bioindicator, as we found that even small variations in ambient heavy metal concentrations can be detected in natural lichens. Furthermore, our study sheds light on which physiology variables that can be used as indicators of specific heavy metals, underscoring the potential of lichens for future ecology studies.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.297-311
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• 2020

Objective: We compared the level of blood cadmium exposure with health impacts by using data from a survey of residents near an abandoned mine and a national health survey. Methods: For this study, we used data from 7,046 individuals who participated in the Health Effects Survey of Abandoned Metal Mines (AMS, 2008-2011) and 6,871 individuals who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV-VI (KNHANES, 2008-2013). To evaluate the health impacts, the quartiles (S1 to S4) were classified according to blood cadmium concentration, and then the odds ratios of S2 to S4 over S1 for exceeding the reference values of renal function, blood pressure, and bone density were compared. Similarly, the odds ratio of AMS over KNHANES was confirmed. Results: In the AMS, adjusted for general characteristics, the geometric mean of blood cadmium concentration was 1.34 ㎍/L, which was statistically significantly higher than that of the KNHANES 1.22 ㎍/L (p<0.001). In the integrated data of AMS and KNHANES, the estimated odds ratio of S4 over S1 for exceeding the reference value was found to be 1.70 for serum creatinine, 1.71 for hypertension, and a T-score 2.02 for the tarsal bone. They were all statistically significant. Conclusion: Residents around abandoned metal mines had a higher blood cadmium concentration than the general population, and the odds for exceeding the reference values were higher for some health indicators. Continuous biomonitoring should be conducted for vulnerable areas such as around abandoned metal mines, and measures to reduce cadmium exposure and management of chronic diseases are needed.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.145-153
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• 2003

The goal of this study is to develop a biomarker used in monitoring abnormal behaviors of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a model organism caused by hazardous chemicals. Japanese medaka was treated by copper of appropriate sublethal concentrations after starvation for 48 hr. The untreated individuals showed common behavioral characteristics (i.e. , smooth and linear movements). Locomotive activity of the fish was monitored using an image processing and automatic data acquisition system. When treated with copper (100 ppb), the fish showed shaking patterns more frequently. As the concentration of copper increased to 1,000 ppb, activity decreated, and the fish showed an erratic movement. Fish were exposed to copper at various concentrations (0,100 and 1,000 ppb) for 24 hrs, and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity was observed. When fish were exposed to 1,000 ppb of copper, the body AChE activities appeared to decrease but the head AChE activities showed little change. Expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein in the different organs from both head (brain) and body (kidney) portions affected by the copper treatment were analyzed using immunohistochemical technique compared with control. Five organs of the fish (olfactory bulb, hyothalamus, optic lobe, pons and myelencephalon regions) showed a relatively strong TH protein expression in the control experiment. A differential expression of TH, however, was observed in the treatment (100 ppb and 1,000 ppb). The treatment (1,000 ppb) significantly suppressed TH protein production in the brain regions. In kidney, however, the same treatment caused little suppression compared with the control. Copper appeared to be less effective in suppression of TH than diazinon, a known TH suppressor. It was concluded that TH could be used at a potential biomarker to monitor the acute copper toxicity in Japanese medaka.