• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.429-439
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• 2011

Objectives: Ethylene oxide (EtO) is classified as a human carcinogen, but EtO is still widely used to sterilize heat-sensitive materials in hospitals. Employees working around sterilizers are exposed to EtO after sterilization. The aim of the present study was to assess the exposure of EtO level, coupled with occupationally induced micronuclei from hospital workers. The influence of genetic polymorphisms of detoxifying genes (GSTT1 and GSTM1) and DNA repair genes (XRCC1 and XRCC3) on the frequencies of micronuclei in relation to exposure of EtO was also investigated. Methods: The study population was composed of 35 occupationally exposed workers to EtO, 18 student controls and 44 unexposed hospital controls in Korea. Exposure to EtO is measured by passive personal samplers. We analyzed the frequencies of micronuclei by performing cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN assay) and GSTM1, GSTT1, XRCC1, and XRCC3 were also genotyped by performing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: The frequencies of micronuclei in EtO exposure group, student controls and hospital controls were $18.00{\pm}7.73$, $10.47{\pm}7.96$ and $13.86{\pm}6.35$ respectively and their differences were statistically significant, but no significant differences according to the level of EtO were observed. There was a dose-response relationship between the frequencies of micronuclei and cumulative dose of EtO, but no significantly differences were observed. We also investigated the influence of genetic polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, XRCC1, and XRCC3) on the frequencies of micronuclei, but there were no differences in the frequencies of micronuclei by genetic polymorphisms. Conclusions: The frequencies of micronuclei in EtO exposure group was significantly higher than control groups. A dose-response relationship was found between the level of EtO exposure and the frequencies of micronuclei, but no statistically differences were observed. We also found that the frequencies of micronuclei were increased according to cumulative EtO level. There was no association of the genetic GSTM1, GSTT1, XRCC1, and XRCC3 state with the frequency of micronuclei induced by EtO exposure.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.623-632
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• 2011

To increase the anti-carcinogens phenylethylisothiocyanate (PEITC), myrosinase (MYR), and glutathione S-transferase (GST), genes related to PEITC pathway were isolated and the gene expressions were regulated by Agrobacterium transformation. Isolated cDNAs, MYR, and GST genes were 1,647 bp and 624 bp, respectively, and the protein expression was confirmed through pET system. Thereafter, we constructed a sense-oriented over-expressing myrosinase (pBMY) and RNAi down-regulated GST (pJJGST) binary vectors for the Chinese cabbage transformation. After the transformation, thirteen over-expressing transgenic Chinese cabbage plants (IMS) with pBMY and five down-regulated ones (IGA) with pJJGST were selected by PCR analysis. Selected $T_0$ transgenic plants were generated to $T_1$ plants by self-pollination. Based on the Southern blot analysis on these $T_1$ transgenic plants, 1-4 copies of T-DNA were transferred to Chinese cabbage genome. Thereafter, RNA expression level of myrosinase gene or GST gene was analyzed through real-time RT PCR of IMS, IGA, and non-transgenic inbred lines. In case of IMS lines, myrosinase gene was increased 1.03-4.25 fold and, in IGA lines, GST gene was decreased by 26.42-42.22 fold compared to non-transgenic ones, respectively. Analysis of PEITC concentrations using GC-MS it showed that some IMS lines and some IGA lines increased concentrations of PEITC up to 4.86 fold and up to 3.89 fold respectively compared to wild type. Finally in this study IMS 1, 3, 5, 12, and 15 and IGA 1, 2, and 4 were selected as developed transgenic lines with increasing quantities of anti-carcinogen PEITC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.391-395
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• 2014

Background: We aimed to evaluate the role of genetic polymorphisms in tobacco carcinogen-metabolizing genes and their interactions with smoking in a hospital-based case-control study of Japanese subjects. Materials and Methods: We examine the associations of pancreatic cancer risk with genetic polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1, phase II enzymes that catalyze the conjugation of toxic and carcinogenic electrophilic molecules. The study population consisted of 360 patients and 400 control subjects, who were recruited from several medical facilities in Japan. Unconditional logistic regression methods were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between genotypes and pancreatic cancer risk. Results: Among the control subjects, the prevalence of the GSTM1-null genotype and the GSTT1-null genotype was approximately 56% and 48%, respectively. Cases and controls were comparable in terms of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotype distributions. Neither of the deleted polymorphisms in GSTM1 and GSTT1 was associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer, with an age- and sex-adjusted OR of 0.99 (95%CI: 0.74-1.32) for the GSTM1-null genotype, and 0.98 (95%CI: 0.73-1.31) for the GSTT1-null genotype. The OR was 0.97 (95%CI: 0.64-1.47) for individuals with the GSTM1 and GSTT1-null genotypes compared with those with the GSTM1 and GSTT1- present genotypes. No synergistic effects of smoking or GST genotypes were observed. Conclusions: Our results indicate no overall association between the GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion polymorphisms and pancreatic cancer risk in the Japanese subjects in our study.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.399-408
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• 2019

Arbutin, which is used as a whitening ingredient, can produce hydroquinone, known as causing skin disease and carcinogen. Preservatives are essential to prevent microbial contamination during long-term storage and use of cosmetics, but safety issues such as toxicity and skin irritation are being raised. This study was conducted to determine hydroquinone and 21 preservatives levels in 40 arbutin-containing whitening functional cosmetics sold on-line and off-line. Result showed that 9 products contained hydroquinone. The concentrations in 7 products were ranged from 0.3 to 0.9 ppm, which were within the maximum allowed amount established by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. However, 2 products were 8.4 and 50.5 ppm and exceeded the allowed amount. Preservatives were detected 20 products. Detected items and ranges were phenoxy ethanol 0.1 ~ 0.7% (N = 15), Methyl paraben 0.19 ~ 0.21% (N = 2), Chlorphenesin 0.13% (N = 1), chlorhexidine 0.006% (N = 1), Propyl paraben 0.06% (N = 1), which were within maximum allowed amount established by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Also, in cases of functional cosmetics the phrase "functional cosmetics" should be expressed on the primary or secondary package of cosmetics by cosmetics act. However, 1 product did not state the phrase as functional cosmetics. This study suggest that preservatives were safely managed. However, hydroquinone in hydroquinone-detected products could be produced by the decomposition of arbutin. Thus, further studies on the decomposition of arbutin are required to improve the quality control of the cosmetics.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.929-935
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• 2014

Two types of nanosized titanium dioxide, anatase ($anTiO_2$) and rutile ($rnTiO_2$), are widely used in industry, commercial products and biosystems. $TiO_2$ has been evaluated as a Group 2B carcinogen. Previous reports indicated that $anTiO_2$ is less toxic than $rnTiO_2$, however, under ultraviolet irradiation $anTiO_2$ is more toxic than $rnTiO_2$ in vitro because of differences in their crystal structures. In the present study, we compared the in vivo and in vitro toxic effects induced by $anTiO_2$ and $rnTiO_2$. Female SD rats were treated with $500{\mu}g/ml$ of $anTiO_2$ or $rnTiO_2$ suspensions by intra-pulmonary spraying 8 times over a two week period. In the lung, treatment with $anTiO_2$ or $rnTiO_2$ increased alveolar macrophage numbers and levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG); these increases tended to be lower in the $anTiO_2$ treated group compared to the $rnTiO_2$ treated group. Expression of $MIP1{\alpha}$ mRNA and protein in lung tissues treated with $anTiO_2$ and $rnTiO_2$ was also significantly up-regulated, with $MIP1{\alpha}$ mRNA and protein expression significantly lower in the $anTiO_2$ group than in the $rnTiO_2$ group. In cell culture of primary alveolar macrophages (PAM) treated with $anTiO_2$ and $rnTiO_2$, expression of $MIP1{\alpha}$ mRNA in the PAM and protein in the culture media was significantly higher than in control cultures. Similarly to the in vivo results, $MIP1{\alpha}$ mRNA and protein expression was significantly lower in the $anTiO_2$ treated cultures compared to the $rnTiO_2$ treated cultures. Furthermore, conditioned cell culture media from PAM cultures treated with $anTiO_2$ had less effect on A549 cell proliferation compared to conditioned media from cultures treated with $rnTiO_2$. However, no significant difference was found in the toxicological effects on cell viability of ultra violet irradiated $anTiO_2$ and $rnTiO_2$. In conclusion, our results indicate that $anTiO_2$ is less potent in induction of alveolar macrophage infiltration, 8-OHdG and $MIP1{\alpha}$ expression in the lung, and growth stimulation of A549 cells in vitro than $rnTiO_2$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.77-88
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• 2016

Chrysotile is a 1:1 sheet silicate mineral belonging to serpentine group. It has been highlighted studies because of uses, shapes and structural characteristics of the fibrous chrysotile. However, it was designated as Class 1 carcinogen, so high attentions were being placed on detoxification studies of chrysotile. The objectives of this study were to investigate changes of mineralogical characteristics of chrysotile and to suggest detoxification mechanism of chrysotile by thermal decomposition. Samples for this study were obtained from LAB Chrysotile mine in Canada. The samples were heated in air in the range of 600 to $1,300^{\circ}C$. Changes of mineralogical characteristics such as crystal structure, shape, and chemical composition of the chrysotile fibers were examined by TG-DTA, XRD, FT-IR, TEM-EDS and SEM-EDS analyses. As a result of thermal decomposition, the fibrous chrysotile having hollow tube structure was dehydroxylated at $600-650^{\circ}C$ and transformed to disordered chrysotile by removal of OH at the octahedral sheet (MgOH) (Dehydroxylation 1). Upon increasing temperature, it was transformed to forsterite ($Mg_2SiO_4$) at $820^{\circ}C$ by rearrangement of Mg, Si and O (Dehydroxylation 2). In addition, crystal structure of forsterite had begun to transform at $800^{\circ}C$, and gradually grown 3-dimensionally to enstatite ($MgSiO_3$) by recrystallization after the heating above $1,100^{\circ}C$. And then finally transformed to spherical minerals. This study showed chrysotile structure was collapsed about $600-700^{\circ}C$ by dehydroxylation. And then the fibrous chrysotile was transformed to forsterite and enstatite, as non-hazardous minerals. Therefore, this study indicates heat treatment can be used to detoxification of chrysotile.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.13-29
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• 1998

Recently, It is increasing popularity to research on the soil remediation in aspect of management by reason of the hazardous impact on the contaminated soil in Korea. It was investigated high levels of arsenic salts in soil near abandoned five mines(Darak, Daduk, Jingok, Dalsung, Ilkwang) located in Youngnam area. Arsenic, classified as group A(Human Carcinogens) from IRIS, have shown statistically significant increment in skin cancer with oral exposure. This paper was conducted to predict excess cancer risk value (to the skin cancer) based on multiple pathway such as soil ingestion, dermal uptake and food(plant) ingestion contaminated by arsenic, and also, to identify the remedial goal regarded in future land use. The mine having the highest arsenic level was Daduk(mean : 1950mg/kg) and the next rank was Jingok(1690mg/kg), Ilkwang(352.37mg/kg), Dalsung(86.08mg/kg), Darak(0.83mg/kg). The chronic daily intake to the multiple exposure were calculated using Monte-Carlo simulation regarded in future land use and used q: value was $1.5(mg/kg/day)^{-1}$ to the oral proposed by IRIS(1997). The computated excess cancer risk 95th value to all the mine regarding future land use as residential and rural area were more than $10^{-4}$. If the level of acceptable risk is aimed for 1$\times$$10^{-6}$, it could be used Darak as commercial and industrial area without soil remediation due to the lowest risk value(6$\times$$10^{-8}$ and 3$\times$$10^{-8}$). Computated remedial goal based on 1$\times$$10^{-6}$ of acceptable risk to the future land use as the residential, rural, commercial and industrial area were 0.02mg/kg, 0.003mg/kg, 97.31mg/kg and 194.62mg/kg, respectively.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.69-75
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• 2006

Improper disposal of petroleum and spills from underground storage tanks have created large areas with highly toxic contamination of the soil and groundwater. Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is widely used as a fuel additive because of its advantageous properties of increasing the octane value and reducing carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon exhausts. However, MTBE is categorized as a possible human carcinogen. This research investigated the Modified Photo-Fenton system which is based on the Modified Fenton reaction and UV light irradiation. The Modified Fenton reaction is effective for MTBE degradation near a neutral pH, using the ferric ion complex composed of a ferric ion and environmentally friendly organic chelating agents. This research was intended to treat high concentrations of MTBE; thus, 1,000 mg/L MTBE was chosen. The objectives of this research are to find the optimal reaction conditions and to elucidate the kinetic and mechanism of MTBE degradation by the Modified Photo-Fenton reaction. Based on the results of experiments, citrate was chosen among eight chelating agents as the candidate for the Modified Photo-Fenton reaction because it has a relatively higher final pH and MTBE removal efficiency than the others, and it has a relatively low toxicity and is rapidly biodegradable. MTBE degradation was found to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics. Under the optimum conditions, [$Fe^{3+}$] : [Citrate] = 1 mM: 4 mM, 3% $H_2O_2$, 17.4 kWh/L UV dose, and initial pH 6.0, the 1000 ppm MTBE was degraded by 86.75% within 6 hours and 99.99% within 16 hours. The final pH value was 6.02. The degradation mechanism of MTBE by the Modified Photo-Fenton Reaction included two diverse pathways and tert-butyl formate (TBF) was identified to be the major degradation intermediate. Attributed to the high solubility, stability, and reactivity of the ferric-citrate complexes in the near neutral condition, this Modified Photo-Fenton reaction is a promising treatment process for high concentrations of MTBE under or near a neutral pH.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.112-117
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• 1993

Background Radioiodine ($^{131}I$), a major component of nuclear fallout and a valuable therapeutic agent for thyrotoxicosis and thyroid cancer, has been regarded as a mutagen or a carcinogen without any convincing evidence. To evaluate the genotoxicity of radioiodine ($^{131}I$) we performed a micronuclei test in mice bone marrow. Materials and methods : Mice (ICR strain, $25{\sim}30 g$) were divided to 4 groups: control, group 1 (0.17 mCi/kg, usual therapeutic dose for thyrotoxicosis), group 2 (1.67 mCi/kg, usual therapeutic dose for thyroid cancer), and group 3 (16.67 mCi/kg, usual accumulated dose causing bone marrow suppression). $^{131}I$ was administered intraperitoneally. Ten mice of each group were sacrificed at days 1 and 3. Bone marrow were smeared and stained with May-Grunwald Giemsa method. One thou-sand polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) and normochromatic erythrocytes (NCE) were counted under the light microscope, and the number of micronucleated PCEs were recorded. Results : The frequency of micronuclei in PCE (and NCE in parenthesis) in the control group was $0.25{\pm}0.07$ ($0.23{\pm}0.07$)% in day 1 and $0.24{\pm}0.07$ ($0.21{\pm}0.07$)% in day 3. Those in group 1 was $0.27{\pm}0.1$ ($0.23{\pm}0.09$)% in day 1 and $0.28{\pm}0.07$ ($0.25{\pm}0.06$)% in day 3. Micronuclei was noted in $0.29{\pm}0.08$ ($0.26{\pm}0.09$)% in day 1 and $0.31{\pm}0.05$ ($0.29{\pm}0.06$)% in day 3 in group 2, and in $0.32{\pm}0.06$ ($0.25{\pm}0.09$)% in day 1 and $0.33{\pm}0.08$ ($0.3{\pm}0.06$)% in day 3 in group 3. There was no difference in the frequency of micronuclei between each groups (p> 0.05). Conclusion : Radioiodine ($^{131}I$) did not cause any genotoxicity in mice bone marrow even at the large dose (16.67 mCi/kg).

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.227-249
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• 2016

Arsenic and its compounds vary in their toxicity according to the chemical forms. Inorganic arsenic is more toxic and known as carcinogen. The provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of $15{\mu}g/kg$ b.w./week established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has been withdrawn, while the EFSA panel suggested $BMDL_{0.1}$ $0.3{\sim}8{\mu}g/kg\;b.w./day$ for cancers of the lung, skin and bladder, as well as skin lesions. Rice, seaweed and beverages are known as food being rich in inorganic arsenic. As(III) is the major form of inorganic arsenic in rice and anaerobic paddy soils, while most of inorganic arsenic in seaweed is present as As(V). The inorganic arsenic in food was extracted with solvent such as distilled water, methanol, nitric acid and so on in heat-assisted condition or at room temperature. Arsenic speciation analysis was based on ion-exchange chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. However, there has been no harmonized and standardized method for inorganic arsenic analysis internationally. The inorganic arsenic exposure from food has been estimated to range of $0.13{\sim}0.7{\mu}g/kg$ bw/day for European, American and Australian, and $0.22{\sim}5{\mu}g/kg$ bw/day for Asian. The maximum level (ML) for inorganic arsenic in food has established by EU, China, Australia and New Zealand, but are under review in Korea. Until now, several studies have conducted for reduction of inorganic arsenic in food. Inorganic arsenic levels in rice and seaweed were reduced by more polishing and washing, boiling and washing, respectively. Further research for international harmonization of analytical method, monitoring and risk assessment will be needed to strengthen safety management of inorganic arsenic of foods in Korea.