• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6121-6125
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• 2014

Background: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a potential biomarker for early detection of prostate cancer (PCa) but its level is known to be affected by many background factors and roles of ubiquitous toxicants have not been determined. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are ubiquitous reproductive toxicants used in consumer products, which promote tumor formation in some reproductive model systems by binding to AhR, but human data on its expression in prostate cancer as well as its association with PSA levels are not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of AhR and its association with serological levels of PSA and to detect possible effects of background factors and EDC exposure history on PSA levels in PCa cases. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the tissue levels of AhR and serum levels of PSA in 53 PCa cases from 2008-2011 and associations between each and background and lifestyle related factors were determined. Results: Although the AhR was overexpressed in PCa and correlated with the age of patients, it did not correlate with PSA levels.Of nutritional factors, increased intake of polysaturated fats and fish in the routine regimen of PCa cases increased the PSA levels significantly. Conclusions: AhR overexpression in PCa pontws to roles of EDCs in PCa but without any direct association with PSA levels. However, PSA levels are affected by exposure to possible toxicants in foods whichneed to be assessed as possible risk factors of PCa in future studies.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2004

A method for rapid acute toxicity test based on temperature control of Ceriodaphnia dubia has been developed and evaluated. A new toxicity test based on temperature control (TTBTC) which are based on temperature control, was developed and compared for the adsorption of the better methodology for short-term toxicity screening. Initially, daphnid larval are exposed to toxicants and at the same time the temperature of the water bath containing media is increased to high temperature $(35.5^{\circ}C).$ After 1.25 hrs of contact time, the number of the daphnids, either living (no toxic effect) or dead (toxic effect), is counted by the naked eyes. Effect of exposure time on test sensitivity was not significantly different between 1 to 1.5 hr. Comparison of the rapid 1.25 hr acute toxicity test developed in this study and the standard 48 hr acute toxicity test using heavy metals, cyanide and pentachlorophenol indicated that the 1.25 hour test provides an acceptable level of sensitivity in toxicity test for C. dubia.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was performed to provide workplaces with political guidelines that apply international CMRs (Carcinogens, Mutagens, Reproductive toxins) information to Public Notice of TLVs (Threshold Limit Values). We analyzed information supply status about CMRs of international agencies and compared substances for which TLVs are set in KMoEL (Ministry of Employment and Labor in Korea). Methods: We referred to the reliable literature about classification criteria of CMRs corresponding to UN GHS (Globally Harmonized System of classification and Labeling of chemicals) and Public Notice No. 2009-68 'Standard for Classification, Labeling of Chemical Substance and Material Safety Data Sheet' in KMoEL. The classification system of CMRs in professional organizations (IARC, NTP, ACGIH, EU ECHA, KMoEL, etc.) was investigated through the internet and literature. Conclusions: 191 chemical substances among total 650 substances with TLVs are classified as carcinogens. Also, 43 substances classified as mutagens, and 44 as reproductive toxicants. These results suggest that the information of CMRs in Public Notice of TLV will be reorganized to 191 carcinogens, 43 mutagens, and 44 reproductive toxicants.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1773-1781
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• 2015

Environmental security is one of the major concerns for the safety of living organisms from a number of harmful pollutants in the atmosphere. Different initiatives, legislative actions, as well as scientific and social concerns have been discussed and adopted to control and regulate the threats of environmental pollution, but it still remains a worldwide challenge. Therefore, there is a need for developing certain sensitive, rapid, and selective techniques that can detect and screen the pollutants for effective bioremediation processes. In this perspective, isolated enzymes or biological systems producing enzymes, as whole cells or in immobilized state, can be used as a source for detection, quantification, and degradation or transformation of pollutants to non-polluting compounds to restore the ecological balance. Biosensors are ideal for the detection and measurement of environmental pollution in a reliable, specific, and sensitive way. In this review, the current status of different types of microbial biosensors and mechanisms of detection of various environmental toxicants are discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.190-191
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• 2003

Endometriosis is classically defined as the growth of endometrial glands and stroma at extrauterine sites. Although it is a common gynecological problem accompanied by chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and adhesion formation, the etiology of this disease is unknown. Endometriosis pathogenesis may involve endocrine and immune dysfunction since uterine endometrial growth is regulated by sex hormones in concert with bioactive mediators produced by uterine immune and endocrine cells. Thus, exposure to environmental toxicants disrupting endocrine and immune responses potentially affect the development and progression of endometriosis.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2002

As concerns on the effects of soil contamination on human health have grown, more efforts have been made to quantify the effects. One of such efforts is the development of risk assessment methodology. The fundamental objectives of this approach is to investigate the alternative options that reduce the risk of hazardous chemicals results from environmental pollution, which will eventually lead to an accomplishment of removement of identified toxicants in polluted environment. The U.S. EPA Risk Assessment guidance for the superfund (RAGS) provides a methods for assessing the health risk of contaminated soils and determining the preliminary remediation goals (PRGs). Using this approach, we assessed the health risk and preliminary remediation goals of petroleum contaminated site in Kyounggi province.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.311-324
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• 2018

Arsenic is one of the most toxic environmental toxicants. More than 150 million people worldwide are exposed to arsenic through ground water contamination. It is an exclusive human carcinogen. Although the hallmarks of arsenic toxicity are skin lesions and skin cancers, arsenic can also induce cancers in the lung, liver, kidney, urinary bladder, and other internal organs. Arsenic is a non-mutagenic compound but can induce significant cytogenetic damage as measured by chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, and micronuclei formation in human systems. These genotoxic end points are extensively used to predict genotoxic potentials of different environmental chemicals, drugs, pesticides, and insecticides. These cytogenetic end points are also used for evaluating cancer risk. Here, by critically reviewing and analyzing the existing literature, we conclude that inorganic arsenic is a genotoxic carcinogen.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

Environmental toxicants such as toxic metals can alter epigenetic regulatory features such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA expression. Heavy metals influence gene expression by epigenetic mechanisms and by directly binding to various metal response elements in the target gene promoters. Given the role of epigenetic alterations in regulating genes, there is potential for the integration of toxic metal-induced epigenetic alterations as informative factors in the risk assessment process. Here, we focus on recent advances in understanding epigenetic changes, gene expression, and biological effects induced by toxic metals.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.119-122
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• 2002

Soil contaminants are common in industrialized sites, They can affect directly soil and indirectly ground water and food. Soil mutagens and carcinogens are of great interest due to their potentially hazardous effects on human health. The aim of this study was to monitor the genotoxicity of contaminated soils, Soil leachates were collected from two polluted sites and one control site in Cheongju. Tradescantia BNL 4430 clone was used as experimental matierials. Chromosomal damages induced by soil leachates were detected by the Tradescantia-micronucleus assay. It is known from the result that Tradescantia-micronucleus assay is an excellent botanical tool for detection of biological risk due to environmental toxicants.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.347-351
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• 2004

A battery of sediment bioassays was performed for the sediments from the intertidal flat zone along the middle west coast of Korea to assess their potential toxicity. In the bioassays, three crustaceans, Daphnia magna, Nitocra spines, and Hyalella aztec a were exposed to $16\%$ sediments (wet weight) collected from 14 sites. Immobility($\%$) was checked as an endpoint after 24- and 48-h exposure of Daphnia magna and after 96-h exposure of Hyalella azteca and Nitocra spines. Among the three bioassays, the 48-h Daphnia bioassay showed the most distinct differential sensitivity in relation to sediment contamination, while the Nitocra and the Hyalella bioassays failed to show the differential sensitivity properly among the sites classified as polluted. Significantly different levels of immobility ($\%$) were obtained between the sites classified as chemical/nutrient polluted and the sites classified as non-polluted in the Daphnia bioassays, but not in the Nitocra bioassay and the Hyalella bioassay. Some differences of toxic response to the same sediments among bioassays were observed, suggesting that there may be a chemical specificity of response sensitivity to sediment toxicity, due to differences in bio-availability of sediment toxicants among test species.