• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.353-363
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• 2012

Methylmercury is a hazardous substance that is of interest with regard to environmental health, as inorganic mercury circulating in the general environment is dissolved into freshwater and seawater, condensed through the food chain, ingested by humans, and consequently affects human health. Recently, there has been much interest and discussion regarding the toxicity of methylmercury, the correlation with fish and shellfish intake, and methods of long-term management of the human health effects of methylmercury. What effects chronic exposure to a low concentration of methylmercury has on human health remains controversial. Although the possibility of methylmercury poisoning the heart and blood vessel system, the reproductive system, and the immune system is continuously raised and discussed, and the carcinogenicity of methylmercury is also under discussion, a clear conclusion regarding the human health effects according to exposure level has not yet been drawn. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives proposed to prepare additional fish and shellfish intake recommendations for consumers based on the quantified evaluation of the hazardousness of methylmercury contained in fish and shellfish, methylmercury management in the Korea has not yet caught up with this international trend. Currently, the methylmercury exposure level of Koreans is known to be very high. The starting point of methylmercury exposure management is inorganic mercury in the general environment, but food intake through methylation is the main exposure source. Along with efforts to reduce mercury in the general environment, food intake management should be undertaken to reduce the human exposure to methylmercury in Korea.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.175-183
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• 2004

The dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamiyavanichii Balech, a producer of toxins causing paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), has recently been considered as one of main organisms responsible for toxication of shellfish in Japan. In this study, A. tamiyavanichii was subjected to a molecular phylogenetic analysis inferred from 28S rDNA D1-D2 sequences and a species-specific LSU rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide DNA probe was designed to identify A. tamiyavanichii using the whole cell-FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization). The sequences of the 28S rDNA D1-D2 region of A. tamiyavanichii showed no difference from A. cohorticular AF1746l4 (present name A. tamiyavanichii) and formed a distinct clade from the 'tamarensis species complex'. The probe, TAMID2, reacted specifically with A. tamiyavanichii cultured cells, without any cross-reaction with other species belonging to the same genus, including A. tamarense, A. catenella, A. affine, A. fraterculus, A. insuetum and A. pseudogonyaulax. In a test of cross-reactivity with a field sample, TAMID2 reacted consistently with only A. tamiyavanichii, indicating that the present protocol involving the TAMID2 probe might be useful for detecting toxic A. tamiyavanichii in a simple and rapid manner.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.12a
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• pp.4-15
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• 2005

Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental pollutant with neurotoxic effects on the central nervous system. The major exposure route of MeHg to humans is via consumption of fish and shellfish which accumulate the chemical through the food web in an aquatic environment. Hair mercury level is an excellent marker for MeHg exposure. We have been conducting a survey on hair mercury contents among general populations from 14 districts to estimate the current Japanese MeHg exposure level. Total mercury levels of all hair samples collected (12923 in total) were analyzed by the oxygen combustion-gold amalgamation method using an atomic absorption mercury detector. Multiple regression analysis revealed that mercury levels were significantly correlated with several covariates, such as sex, age, the amount of daily intake of total fish/shellfish, a preference for certain fish such as tuna or bonito, and artificial waving. The geometric means for the population without artificial waving were 2.47 and 1.65 ${\mu}g/g$ for males (n = 5623) and females (n = 3470), respectively. Hair mercury levels varied with age, and the variations were more significant in males. Since the difference between sexes was not evident at younger ages, some hormonal control might also be involved in the mercury uptake by human hair. The average mercury levels in our hair samples varied among the sampling districts. Tuna is a major carnivorous fish with high mercury accumulations that is often consumed in Japan. The amount of fish consumption and the preference rate far tuna would appear to be responsible far the regional variation in hair mercury levels in Japan. Recently, a provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of MeHg was revised by 61st JECFA to 1.6 ${\mu}g/kg/week$, which was about half that of the Japanese standard, and corresponded to a hair level of 2.2 ppm. The distribution of hair mercury levels in Japanese populations in the present study indicated that 25% of the Japanese females of child-bearing age were estimated to be exposed to MeHg over the PTWI level. This would reflect the high Japanese consumption of marine products. However, not only mercury contamination, but also the nutritional benefit may have to be considered when discussing the risk involved in the current level of fish and shellfish consumption in Japan.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.178-182
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• 2006

We studied new observation method about take process of rotifer by marine fish larvae. Till now, we can not accurate observation and count of first rotifer feeding day and/or feeding numbers of rotifer by marine fish larvae. Because take rotifer is ingested and disappeared in the digestive system of fish larvae. However we suggest possible observation method for these problems. The trophi is mastication organ of rotifer, and has only one in each rotifer individual. The trophi is left in the mastication organ because sole indigestible organ of rotifer. Therefore we can accurate observation and count of first rotifer feeding day and/or feeding rotifer numbers of marine fish larvae by trophi observation method (RTCM; Rotifer Trophi Counting Method).

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2015

VHSV is a major viral agent that affects freshwater and marine fish, causing serious economic losses in aquaculture in the world. Due to their filter-feeding activity, bivalve mollusks may act as viral transmitters after accumulation of the fish viruses released into seawater from infected fish. Amplification by RT-PCR was carried out to investigate the presence of VHSV in pacific oysters (Crassotrea gigas) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), inhabiting regions around aquatic farms in Korea. Primers designed from conserved regions of VHSVs allowed us to detect four different types of VHSV in a single PCR. Twenty two of the eighty four samples showed positive results of VHSV in a 2-step RT-PCR. Using six positive samples from three different regions in Korea, we cloned and sequenced the glycoprotein (G) gene (467-bp long) of VHSVs. Genetic analysis of the VHSVs detected in shellfish in various geographical areas of Korea showed highly restricted results to VHSV type Iva. This was in agreement with the reports showing only a single genotype of VHSV (Iva genotype) in outbreaks in cultured or wild fish in Korea. Consequently, we investigated VHSVs carried by bivalve mollusks inhabiting the vicinity of aquatic farms, and revealed correlationship between the type of viral accumulated in shellfish by filter-feeding, and those detected in disease outbreaks in fish.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.360-369
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• 2021

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) and tetrodotoxin (TTX) are neurotoxins that display pharmacological activity that is similar to that of specific sodium channel blockers; they are the principle toxins involved in shellfish and puffer fish poisoning. In Korea, puffer fish is a very popular seafood, and several cases of accidental poisoning by TTX have been reported. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether puffer fish poisoning incidents are caused by PSTs or by TTX. In this study, we used mouse bioassay (MBA) and liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to determine the presence of PSTs and TTX in puffer fish from an area near Mireuk-do, Tong-Yeong on the southern coast of Korea from January through March, 2014. The toxicity of PSTs and TTX extracts prepared from three organs of each specimen was analyzed by MBA. Most of the extracts killed mice with typical signs of TTX and PSTs. The LC-MS/MS analysis of seven specimens of Takifugu pardalis and Takifugu niphobles, each divided into muscles, intestines, and liver, were examined for TTX. In T. pardalis, the TTX levels were within the range of 1.3-1.6 ㎍/g in the muscles, 18.8-49.8 ㎍/g in the intestines, and 23.3-96.8 ㎍/g in the liver. In T. niphobles, the TTX levels were within the range of 2.0-4.5 ㎍/g in the muscles, 23.9-71.5 ㎍/g in the intestines, and 28.1-114.8 ㎍/g in the liver. Additionally, the toxicity profile of the detected PSTs revealed that dcGTX3 was the major component in T. pardalis and T. niphobles. When PSTs were calculated as saxitoxin equivalents the levels were all less than 0.5 ㎍/g, which is below the permitted maximum standard of 0.8 ㎍/g. These findings indicate that the toxicity of T. pardalis and T. niphobles from the southern coast of Korea is due mainly to TTX and that PSTs do not exert an effect.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.211-215
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• 1989

The fatty acid composition of lipids separated from 14 kinds of canned fish and shellfish products from the market were examined. The crude lipid contents of canned fish and shellfish products showed wide difference (1.3-15.2%) depending on raw materials and kinds of products. Fatty acid composition of products were mainly consisted of polyenoic acid(34.5-61.4%), and followed by saturated acid(24.5-47.8%), monoenoic acid(12.4-32.0%). The major fatty acids were palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid oleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. In case of canned tuna in oil and canned smoked oyster in oil, linoleic acid was the most predominant component(48.2%, 34.6%). Judging from the results, canned fish and shellfish products were abundant of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in spite of the high temperature sterilization and lone storage periods.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.109-117
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• 2009

The following concentrations of some PAHs were investigated; [benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo (b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzo(g, h, i)perylene, indeno (1,2,3-c,d)pyrene] in fish(n=168) and shellfish(n=40). The methodology involved saponification and extraction with n-hexane, clean-up on Sep-Pak Florisil Cartridges and determination by HPLC/FLD (High Performance Liquid Chromatograph/Fluorescence Detector). Overall method recoveries for 8 PAHs spiked into these products ranged from 88 to 112%. The mean level of benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k) fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene and indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene in cooked fish was ND, ND, 0.0009, ND, 0.01, ND, ND, ND and in cooked shellfish was 1.84, 3.51, 0.81, 0.38, 0.39, 0.04, 0.20, ND, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Hygiene and Safety Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.74-77
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• 2001

In order to investigate the distribution of paralytic shellfish poison, we examined the toxicity during from February to October in 2000. Of 591 shellfish samples, $17(2.88\%)$ samples were detected. Scapgarca broughtonii was highest collected $14.29\%(2/14)$. In the monthly detection rate of PSP, April was highest $13.3\%(8/60)$, in the regional collecting rate, Cheon-nam coastal area was highest $3.82\%(10/262)$, and in cases of imported area, China was $8.3\%(1/12)$. Imported area as well as domestic area samples should be strengthen to examine enduringly.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2010

A Sanitary survey in an Important shellfish-growing area of Biin Bay in Seocheon-gun Korea, was conducted to evaluate bay conditions and compliance with the bacteriological criteria for areas designated for the production of shellfish for export. Seawater samples were collected monthly at 55 sampling stations established in the survey area from January 2006 to December 2008. Bacteriological water quality did not change in response to a small rainfall (10.0 mm), but it increased abruptly in response to rainfall to 62.5 mm The most probable number (MPN) value for total coliforms and fecal coliforms in 1, 980 seawater samples ranged from <1.8 to >1, 600 MPN/100mL and from <1.8 to 330 MPN/100mL, respectively. The geometric mean and estimated $90^{th}$ percentile value for total coliforms ranged from 2.0 to 10.3 MPN/100mL and from 7.0 to 42.6 MPN/100mL respectively. The geometric mean and estimated percentile value for fecal coliforms ranged from 1.8 to 4.0 MPN/100mL and from 1.9 to 18.3 MPN/100mL, respectively. Accordingly, the bacteriological water quality of Biin Bay met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) and Korea Shel1fish Sanitation Program(KSSP) criteria for areas designated for shellfish production for export in Korea.