• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.196-199
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• 2005

Farmed red sea breams, Pagrus major, were fed for 60 days with pellets containing different concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene (0, 0.2, 2, 20 mg/kg) to generate a biomarker of the chemical toxicity in the fish. The fish exposed to the chemical concentrations did not show any significant difference in the weight gain, conditioning, factor, and hepatosomatic index. However, some haematological parameters, such as glucose, calcium, magnesium, GOT (glutamic oxalate transaminase), and GPT (glutamic pyruvate transaminase) were influenced by the chemical exposure. Of them, two enzymes, GOT and GPT, increased significantly 60 days after the exposure in a way of concentration dependence (P<0.05). In the study of ecotoxicological biomarker, sensitivity to adverse environments is one of the key available factors. The fish changes in GOT and GPT were an earlier and reliable sign of the fish response against the chemical exposure, rendering the two enzymatic factors as a useful biomarker at least to benzo(a)pyrene exposure in the farming waters.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.70-78
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the appropriate metabolite as biomarker for the biomonitoring of 1,3-butadiene(BD) inhalation exposure. We measured the hemoglobin adducts which were extracted from the blood of the ICR mice inhalation exposure with 100ppm and 500ppm 1,3-butadiene for 2 weeks(5 hr/day ${\times}$ 5 days/week). Hemoglobin adducts were the (N-2-hydroxy-3 -butenyl) valine (HB Val) and (N-2,3,4-trihydroxy-butyl)valine (THB Val). Body weights of the exposure groups were significantly lower from 11 exposure post-day in 100ppm BD inhalation mice and from 7 exposure post-day in 500ppm BD inhalation mice than in control. The levels of HB Val are 0.8~1.7pmol/mg globin for 100ppm BD inhalation exposure, and 2.1~4.4 pmol/mg globin for 500ppm BD inhalation exposure. The levels of THB Val are 15.0~22.0 pmol/mg globin in 100ppm BD inhalation exposure, and 34.8~45.7 pmol/mg globin for 500ppm BD inhalation exposure. So the levels of THB Val and HB Val are proportional relationship with BD exposure level. THB Val is 12.9~18.8 times higher level that HB Val in 100ppm BD exposure group and 10.4~16.6 times higher level than HB Val in 500ppm BD exposure group. We concluded that THB Val is an appropriate metabolite as biomarker for the biomonitoring for BD inhalation exposure.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.13.1-13.4
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• 2016

An analysis of patients and fatalities due to exposure to polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) shows that PHMG causes mainly lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis. However, no research on the other organs has been conducted on this matter yet. So, an in-depth discussion on toxicological techniques is needed to determine whether or not PHMG is toxic to organs other than just the lungs. For the test of target organ toxicity by PHMG exposure, a toxicokinetic study must first be conducted. However, measurement method for PHMG injected into the body has not yet been established because it is not easy to analyze polymer PHMG, so related base studies on analytical technique for PHMG including radio-labeling chemistry must come first. Moreover, research on exposure-biomarker and effect-biomarker must also be conducted, primarily related to clinical application. Several limitations seem to be expected to apply the biomarker study to the patient because much time has passed after exposure to the humidifier disinfectant. It is why a more comprehensive toxicological researches must be introduced to the causality for the victims.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.85-93
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• 1998

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.225-227
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• 2003

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity is a potential biomarker for phenanthrene exposure in aquatic organisms. Olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) were exposed to three different concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0, uM) of phenanthrene for four weeks. AChE activities in the brain, heart and eyes were documented. Inhibition of AChE activity was found significant in flounder treated with a concentration greater than $1.0 {\mu}M$ of phenanthrene. This indicates that a chronic exposure to phenanthrene induces damage in various organs (brain, heart and eyes) and changes of AChE activities might be a useful biomarker to assess the impacts induced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Evidence from this study confirms that the measurement of AChE in the brain and eyes of flounder is a valuable tool that along with other biomarkers can maximize an ecotoxicologists' confidence in assessing the impacts of oil and PAH pollution in the aquatic environment.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.171-173
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• 2004

Activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is well known as a biomarker of exposure to organophosphate compounds in aquatic organisms. However, the effect of diethyl phthalate (DEP), a widely used plasticizer, on the chance of AChE activity is not yet known. Olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) were exposed to DEP 300 and 1,000 mg DEP/kg b.w. through three times of intraperitoneal injection and effects were assessed in AChE activity of brain, muscle, heart and eyes of the exposed fish. AChE activity in various tissues of flounder was inhibited after exposure to DEP as a concentration-dependent manner, especially in brain, muscle and heart. Among tissues examined, heart is supposed to be a major part of body which is seriously damaged by DEP exposure. It indicates that DEP induces toxic effects in various organs (brain, muscle and heart), and changes of AChE activities. Such changed activities of AChE might be a useful biomarker to assess the impacts induced by phthalate esters including DEP.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2006

Biomarkers identify various stages and interactions on the pathway from exposure to disease. The three categories of biomarkers are those measuring susceptibility, exposure and effect. Susceptibility biomarkers are identifiable genetic variations affecting absorption, metabolism or response to environmental agents. Biomarkers of exposure indicate the amount of a foreign compound that is absorbed into the body. Biological measurements performed on human tissues are vastly expanding the capabilities of classical epidemiology, which has relied primarily on estimates of human exposure derived form chemical levels in the air, water, and other exposure routes. Biomarkers of exposure indicate the amount of a foreign compound that is absorbed into the body. Biological measurements performed on human tissues are vastly expanding the capabilities of classical epidemiology, which has relied primarily on estimates of human exposure derived form chemical levels in the air, water, and other exposure routes. The biomarker response is typical of chemical pollution by specific classes of compound, such as (i) heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, zinc), responsible for the induction of metallothionein synthesis, and (ii) organochlorinated pollutants (PCBs, dioxins, DDT congeners) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which induce the mixed function oxygenase (MFO) involved in their bio transformations and elimination. Currently genomic researches are developed in human cDNA clone subarrays oriented toward the expression of genes involved in responses to xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, cell cycle components, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, DNA repair genes, estrogen-responsive genes, oxidative stress genes, and genes known to be involved in apoptotic cell death. Several research laboratories in Korea for kicking off these Environmental Genomics were summarized.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.81-91
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• 2000

Residents who live near petrochemical industrial areas are exposed to a variety of petrochemicals, including benzene or benzene-containing liquids. It is a serious concern because some VOCs are carcinogens naturally present in petroleum and gasoline. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to VOCs, measured by personal/indoor/outdoor air sampling, and to estimate the relationship between the air samples and biological monitoring data. Through biological monitoring, we investigated VOCs in blood and s-phenylmercapturic acid (s-PMA) , minor urinary metabolites of benzene. The external benzene exposure of subjects was measured using passive dosimeters and urinary s-PMA and blood-benzene were determined by GC/MS. More than 80% of subjects were detected for m-xylene, ethylbenzene, and toluene in blood samples and not detected at all for chloroform, 1 , 1 , 1 -trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene. The mean concentration of benzene in the breathing zone of residents was 6.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/m$^3$, personal, indoor and outdoor concentrations were strongly correlated to each other. s-PMA detected in all subject samples was affected by personal exposure (p< 0.05) and the level was different by age (p< 0.01). Blood benzene was not affected by external benzene during these periods .

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.185-189
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• 2007

Gene expression levels of choriogenin, vitellogenin and estrogen receptor were determined using Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR technique after exposure to estrogenic chemical bisphenol A in the Korean wild medaka (Oryzias sinensis). These genes have been known to be induced in male test fish when the fish are exposed to estrogenic chemicals. Therefore they can be suggested as a possible biomarker of endocrine disruption in fish, however, relatively little has been known about these genes expression by estrogenic chemicals in Korean wild fish. Mature male Oryzias sinensis were treated with bisphenol A at nominal concentrations of 0.02, 0.2 and 2 mg/L for 6 days and total RNA was extracted from the livers of treated fish for RT-PCR. When the five biomarker genes were amplified by RT-PCR in the same condition, mRNA induction level of each gene was elevated with different sensitivities. Conclusively, the results of this work indicated that measurement of vitellogenin and choriogenin using RT-PCR is effective as a simple tool for the screening of estrogenic chemicals and suggested that O. sinensis would be a suitable model fish for the environmental risk assessment of potential endocrine disruptors.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.408-414
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• 1999

A number of chemical released into the environment eliciting their effects by disrupting normal hormonal pathways. Endocrine disrupting compounds are present in the aquatic environment and pose potential health consequences to wildlife and humans. This review are designing fur xenobiotic estrogens based on induction of the egg-yolk precursor protein vitelloge-nin. In fish of aquatic environment, it may result in decrease fertility and egg production in females or lead to reduced gonad size or feminization of genetic male fish. It has been known that male fish exposed to estrogenic compounds show induced production of vitellogenin. Vitello-genin production is normally restricted to adult females, which have elevated estrogen levels during egg production. However, vitellogenin can be induced in males by Pollution of environmental endocrine disruptors. Consequently, the presence of vitellogenin in male fish can serve as an indicator of exposure of environmental endocrine disrupting compounds. In immature fish pol-luted at low levels of environmental endocrine disrupter, vitellogenin can serve as a reliable biomarker for exposure to endocrine disrupter. This review demonstrates the utility of vitellogenin as a biomarker fur exposure to estrogenin agents in auqatic environment.