• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.2 s.95
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• pp.123-131
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• 2007

Many environmental contaminants including several metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pharmaceuticals, have been identified to be phototoxic in the water environment. Concerns regarding photo-enhancement of toxicity of several environmental contaminants have been increasing because of the increased level of ultraviolet irradiation on the earth surface. However, there exist arguments that there might be certain defense mechanisms taking place in the aquatic ecosystem, which may include behavioral characteristics or genetic acclimation. This study was conducted to understand the potential responses of aquatic receptors to several phototoxic metals in the real environment, where long-term acclimation of such organisms to low dose UV-B may take place. For this purpose, water flea Daphnia magna was acclimated to environmentally relevant dose of UV-B (12 to $18uW/cm^2$) for >11 generations. The differences in developmental and life history characteristics, and toxicity responses were evaluated. Acclimation did not affect the daphnids' growth, longevity, and reproduction characteristics such as time to first brood, and brood size: After 21 d, survival of D. magna was not influenced by UV-B acclimation. When the number of young per female was compared. the daphnids acclimated for 11 generations tend to produce less number of neonates than the un-acclimated individuals but with no statistical significance (p>0.05). Four metals that were reported to be phototoxic elsewhere were employed in this evaluation, that include As, Cd. Cu, and Ni. UV-B level being applied in acclimation did increase the toxicity of Cd and Cu, significantly (p<0.05). However, the toxicities of As and Ni were not affected by irradiation of UV-B. Phototoxic responses were evaluated between the acclimated and the un-acclimated daphnids. For Cu, UV-B acclimation led to reduction of the photo-induced toxicity $(p\approx0.1)$ in daphnids. Non-acclimated Daphnia were affected by 50% at 4.18 ug/l Cu. but UV-B acclimated individuals exhibited $EC_{50}$ of 5.89 ug/l. With Cd, UV-B acclimation appeared to increase phototoxicity (p>0.05). With As and Ni, UV-B acclimation did not influence photo-induced toxicity. This observation may be in part explained by the type of reactive oxygen species that were generated by each metal. Similar to UV-B light, Cu is known to generate superoxide anion by acting as redox cycling toxicant. This is one of the first studies that employed_laboratory based UV-B acclimated test species for photoenhanced toxicity evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.236-240
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• 2011

Mercury known as quicksilver, is the most common cause of heavy metal toxicity. Toxicity caused by excessive mercury exposure is now being recognized as a widespread environmental problem and is continuing to attract a great deal of public concerns. The mercury genotoxicity could be its effect on DNA repair mechanisms, which constitute the defense system designated to protect genome integrity. The objective of this study is to confirm that mercuric chloride inhibits the repair of gamma ray-induced DNA damage. The earthworm of Eisenia fetida was chosen for this study because it is an internationally accepted model species for toxicity testing with a cosmopolitan distribution. Experiments were done to identify the levels of DNA damage and the repair kinetics in the coelomocytes of E. fetida irradiated with 20 Gy gamma rays alone or with gamma rays after 40 mg $kg^{-1}$ $HgCl_2$ treatment by means of the single cell gel electrophoresis assay. The Olive tail moments were measured during 0~96 hours after irradiation. The repair time in the animals treated with the combination of $HgCl_2$ and ionizing radiation was nearly five times longer than that in the animals treated with ionizing radiation alone. Also, E. fetida exposed to mercury showed a statistically lower repair efficiency of gamma ray-induced DNA damage. The results suggest that the mercury could even have deleterious effects on the DNA repair system. Influence of mercury on the DNA repair mechanisms has been confirmed by this study.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.933-937
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• 2012

In the present study, we evaluate the sensitivity and optimal stripping voltammetry (SV) conditions of copper (Cu), which is one of the main trace heavy metals inducing the environmental contamination, using carbon nanotube (CNT) electrode. In addition, the reaction mechanism of stripping reaction of Cu is investigated. The electrochemical analyses such as squarewave stripping voltammetry (SWSV) and linear scan voltammetry (LSV) are used for the evaluations. As a result of that, the best SWSV conditions like squarewave amplitude of 15 mV, frequency of 60 Hz, deposition potential of -1.0V vs. Ag/AgCl and deposition time of 200s are determined with the measured Cu sensitivity of $1.824{\mu}A/{\mu}M$. As a driving force affecting the stripping reaction of Cu, surface reaction is more dominant one than diffusion. These results are compared with other reference results and it is confirmed that our suggested CNT electrode gives rise to better Cu sensitivity result than other references.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.211-216
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• 2008

The artificial lightweight aggregate (ALA) was manufactured in a rotary kiln at $1125^{\circ}C$ using green body formed by pelletizing the batch powder composing of coal bottom ash (CBA) produced from power plant, clay and dredged soil (DS). The TCLP (Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure) results showed that the dissolution concentration of heavy metal ions of ALA fabricated in this study was below the limitation defined by the enforcement regulations of wastes management law in Korea. The ALA containing 60$\sim$70 wt% CBA had a bulk density of 1.45$\sim$1.49 and a water absorption of 17.2$\sim$18.5 %. The impact values for oven-dry state and saturated-surface dry state of ALA were 27.4$\pm$1.3 and 23.4$\pm$2.6 % respectively. The 28-days compressive strength of concrete made with various ALA was $22.7\sim27.8 N/mm^2$. The slump of concrete with ALA containing CBA 60 and 70 wt% were 7.9 and 14.3 cm respectively. The unit weight of concrete made with any ALA fabricated in this study was satisfied with the standard specifications of lightweight concrete for the civil engineering and construction presented by Korea as below $1.84 ton/m^3$.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.149-155
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• 2016

To assess the effects of environmental factors on the sustainability of cultured ark shell Scapharca broughtonii production, we investigated the habitat characteristics of shellfish-farming bays (Gangjin Bay, Yeoja Bay, Keoje Bay and Deukryang Bay). We measured the physiochemical parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, chemical oxygen demand and Chlorophyll a) and the geochemical characteristics (chemical oxygen demand, ignition loss, C/N ratio and C/S ratio). Surface sediments were collected from several shellfish-farming bays to examine the geochemical characteristics of both the benthic environment and heavy metal pollution. The grain sizes for Gangjin Bay, Yeoja Bay and Keoje Bay were similar, at the ratio of silt and clay in comparison with Deukryang bay of it. The C/N ratio was more than 5.9, reflecting the range arising from the mix of marine organisms and organic matter. The C/S ratio (more than 4.2) showed that the survey area had anoxic or sub-anoxic bottom conditions. The index of accumulation rate (Igeo) of the metals showed that those research areas can be classified as heavily polluted, heavily to moderately polluted, or more or less unpolluted, respectively. We suggested that the growth of ark shell Scapharca broughtonii in the shellfish-farming bay was effected by the various environmental conditions.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2020

The protective effects of a Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb (CO) extract against manganese dioxide (MnO₂)-induced cytotoxicity in cultured C6 glioma cells were examined. This study assessed the antioxidative effects, including the suppressive ability of lipid peroxidation (LP), the inhibitory ability of xanthine oxidase (XO), and the cell viability. MnO₂ decreased the cell viability remarkably in a dose-dependent manner. The XTT₅₀ value was determined to be 146.7 μM in these cultures. The cytotoxicity of MnO₂ was calculated to be mid-toxic using Borenfreund and Puerner's toxic criteria. Kaempferol (KAE) increased the cell viability damaged by MnO₂-induced cytotoxicity significantly. Regarding the protective effects of the CO extract on MnO₂-induced cytotoxicity, the CO extract increased cell viability significantly compared to the MnO₂-treated group. The CO extract also had inhibitory abilities against lipid peroxidation (LP) and xanthine oxidase (XO). From these findings, oxidative stress is involved in the cytotoxicity of MnO₂. The CO extract effectively blocked the cytotoxicity induced by MnO₂ via its antioxidative effects. Conclusively, natural resources, such as the CO extract, might be a useful agent for the diminution or improvement of the heavy metal cytotoxicity correlated with disease through oxidative stress, such as MnO₂, a Parkinsonism inducer.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.481-487
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• 2016

In this research, a pilot scale hybrid rain garden system was developed in order to investigate the efficiency in the different components of the hybrid rain garden system and at the same time evaluate the initial efficiency of the system in treating urban stormwater runoff prior to its actual use in the field. Experimental runs were conducted using synthetic runoff having target concentrations similar to that of the typical runoff characteristics found in different countries and in Korea. With the employment of the hybrid rain garden system, hydrologic improvement was observed as the system demonstrates an approximately 95% reduction in the influent runoff volume with 80% retained in the system, and 15% recharged to groundwater. The reduction was contributed by the retention capabilities of ST and infiltration capabilities in PB and IT. With the combined mechanisms such as filtration-infiltration, biological uptake from plants and soil and phytoremediation that are incorporated in PB and IT, the system effectively reduces the amount of pollutant concentration wherein the initial mean removal efficiency for TSS is 87%, while an approximate mean removal efficiency of 76%, 46% and 56% was observed in terms of organics, nutrients and heavy metal, respectively. With these findings, the research helps in the further improvement, innovation and optimization of rain garden systems and other facilities as well.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 1998

Changes of chemical and physical properties of the butchery waste compost were assessed when the wastepaper was used as a bulking agent (BP). Temperature of compost, with frequent turnover, was increased up to $83^{\circ}C$ even during the winter. Canon exchange capacity of the compost was increased with composting time, but pH, water content, total carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratio and salt concentration were decreased to the extents showing a convergency. Heavy metal contents of BP-192 were lower than the standard criteria. Germination rate of cucumber seed, when BP-34 and BP-96 composts were applied more than 15 g, was under 40%, but those of BP-143 and BP-192 were 100%, irrespective of the amounts of compost used. The C/N ratio of the matured compost was 8.6. Results indicated that wastepaper might be employed as a bulking agent for butchery wastes composting.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.33-41
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• 2018

Large amounts of leaves from street trees fall onto the streets annually and need to be cleaned and treated. Cherry trees are common street trees in Korea. The adsorption characteristics of Pb(II) by cherry leaf (CL) and cherry leaf-derived biochar (CB) were studied through a series of batch experiments. CB was produced through the carbonization of CL at $800^{\circ}C$ for 90 min. Carbonization increased the C content and pH value, while decreased H and O contents. Well developed pore structure was observed at the surface of CB. The pseudo-second order model better described the kinetics of Pb(II) adsorption onto CL and CB, indicating that the rate-limiting step of the heavy metal sorption is chemical sorption. Fast adsorption rates and high adsorption capacities were obtained by the carbonization from CL to CB. Langmuir models better adequately described the Pb(II) adsorption onto CL and CB. Maximum adsorption capacities of Pb(II) expressed by Langmuir constant, $Q^0$ were 37.31 mg/g and 94.34 mg/g, when CL and CB were used as adsorbents, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.301-311
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• 2015

Objectives: Operators of overhead traveling crane in a ship assembly factory perform work to transmit large vessel blocks to an appropriate working process. Hazardous matters such as metal dusts, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, loud noise and fine particles are generated by variable working activities in the factory. The operators could be exposed to the hazardous matters during the work. In particular, welding fumes comprised of ultra fine particles and heavy metals is extremely hazardous for humans when exposing a pulmonary through respiratory pathway. Occupational lung diseases related to welding fumes are increasingly on an upward tendency. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess properly unknown occupational exposure to the welding fumes among the operators. Methods: This study intended to clearly determine an equivalence check whether or not chemical constituents and composition of the dusts, which existed in the driver's cab, matched up with generally known welding fumes. Furthermore, computational fluid dynamics program(CFD) was used to identify a ventilation assessment in respect of a contamination distribution of welding fumes in the air. The operators were investigated to assess personal exposure levels of welding fumes and respirable particulate. Results: The dust in an operation room were the same constituents and composition as welding fumes. Welding fumes, which caused by the welding in a floor of the factory, arose with an ascending air current up to a roof and then stayed for a long time. They were considered to be exposed to the welding fumes in the operation room. The personal exposure levels of welding fumes and respirable particulate were 0.159(n=8, range=0.073-0.410) $mg/m^3$ and 0.138(n=8, range=0.087-0.178) $mg/m^3$, respectively. They were lower than a threshold limit value level($5mg/m^3$) of welding fumes. Conclusions: These findings indicate that an occupational exposure to welding fumes can exist among the operators. Consequently, we need to be keeping the operators under a constant assessment in the operator process of overhead traveling crane.