• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.31-36
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• 1981

Heavy metals which are present as trace elements in human body have been known to modify various enzymatic reaction. These metals can be essential or non-essential. Zinc, copper and calcium are essential in maintaining some biological processes, whereas non-essential metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury produce accumulatve toxic effect. Cadmium accumulated in pancreas can cause toxicity and damage of pancreatic cells, thereby influencing CHO metabolism. Lead compounds are known to produce toxic effects on the kidney, digestive system and brain fellowed by inhibition of activity of ${\rho}-aminolevulinic$ acid and biosynthesis of hemoproteins and cytochrome. Evidence has been accumulated that zinc not only acts as a cofactor in enzyme reaction but also prevents toxic effect induced by heavy metal such as copper and cadmium. To demonstrate the effect of heavy metals on pancreatic secretion, part of uncinate pancreas was taken and incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer with heavy metals used. Additional treatment with CCK-OP was performed when needed. After incubation during different period of time, medium was analyzed for amylase activity using Bernfeld's method. The present study was attempted in order to elucidate the effect of several kinds of heavy metal on exocrine pancreatic secretion in vitro. The results obtained are as follows: 1) CCK-OP stimulated significantly amylase release from pancreatic fragments in vitro. 2) CCK-OP response of amylase release from pancreatic fragments was inhibited by treatmant with cadmium, especially high doses of cadmium. 3) CCK-OP response of amylase release from pancreatic fragments was inhibited when pretreated with $10^{-4}M$ copper chloride. 4) Lead chloride at the concentration of $10^{-3}M\;and\;10^{4}M$ stimulated the basal amylase release in vitro but CCK-OP response did not augment by lead chloride. 5) Zine chloride did not affect amylase release from pancreatic fragment in vitro. From the results mentioned above, it is suggested that CCK-OP response was inhibited it the amylase release from pancreatic fragments pretreated with cadmium and copper chloride.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.212-219
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• 2009

Emission characteristics of air pollutants from three commercially operating cement kilns co-burning waste were investigated. The major heavy metals emitted were mercury (Hg), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) Removal efficiency of the bag filter was above 98.5% for heavy metals (except Hg), and above 60% for Hg. Higher fractions of heavy metals entering the bag filter were speciated to cement kiln dust. On average, 3.3% of the -heavy metals of medium and low toxicity (Pb, Ni, and Cr) entering the bag filter were released into the atmosphere. Among highly toxic heavy metals, 0.14% of Cd, 0.01% of As, and 40% of Hg entering the bag filter were released into the atmosphere. In passing through the bag filter, the proportion of oxidized Hg in all cases increased. Emission variations of hazardous air pollutants in cement kilns tested were related to raw materials, fuel, waste feed and operating conditions. Volatile organic compounds detected in gas emissions were toluene, acrylonitrile benzene, styrene, 1,3-butadiene, and methylene chloride. Although hazardous air pollutants in emissions from cement kilns co-burning waste were within the existing emission limit, efforts are required to minimize their levels.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.135-144
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• 1999

The purposes of this study were to survey types of pretreatment methods adopted by industrial hygiene laboratories in Korea for extracting heavy metals in welding fume samples and to compare performances of two pretreatment methods, the acid extraction and the microwave digestion, in extracting heavy metals contained in the real workplace samples from various welding jobs including arc, argon, and carbon dioxide. A total of 25 analytical chemists in the industrial hygiene laboratories participating the quality control program directed by the Korea Industrial Safety Corporation were interviewed by telephone. For the purpose of comparing performance of extracting heavy metals from real workplace samples, a total of 53 welders from 21 workplaces located in Anyang, Uiwang, and Kunpo areas were sampled from the period of March 22, 1999 to April 20, 1999. It was found that the most frequently adopted method for samples from the quality control program was the acid extraction method(40%) followed by the NIOSH 7300 method(36%). The NIOSH method, however, was the dominant method(36%) for samples from workplace followed by the acid extraction method(28%). In this study, two extraction methods, the acid extraction and the microwave digestion, were compared in terms of recovery rate, accuracy, and precision for both manganese and chromium. Both methods produced comparable results for the samples prepared for the quality control program. In contrast, concentrations of two heavy metals determined from real workplace samples pretreated with the microwave digestion method were statis tically significantly higher, manganese(166%) and chromium (200%), than those of utilizing the acid extraction method. These findings were consistent regardless of types of welding techniques used. The results of this study clearly show the importance of verifying the analytical performances of extraction methods for heavy metals not only for the samples from the quality control program but also from the real world samples collected from welding jobs.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.79-86
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• 2017

Aflatoxin $M_1$ ($AFM_1$) after its bioconversion from aflatoxin $B_1$ in animal liver becomes the part of milk while heavy metals get entry into milk and milk products during handling in the supply chain. Aflatoxin $M_1$ and heavy metals being toxic compounds are needed to be monitored continuously to avoid any ailments among consumers of foods contaminated with such toxicants. Thirteen commercially available infant formula milk (IFM) brands available in Pakistani markets were analyzed for the quantitative determination of $AFM_1$ and heavy metals through ELISA and atomic absorption spectrophotometer, respectively. $AFM_1$ was found positive in 53.84% samples while 30.76% samples were found exceeding the maximum EU limit i.e. $0.025 {\mu}g/kg$ for $AFM_1$ in IFM. Heavy metals lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were found below the detection limits in any of the sample, whereas the concentrations of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni) ranged between 45.40-97.10, 29.72-113.50 and <$0.001-50.90 {\mu}g/kg$, respectively. The concentration of Fe in all the tested brands was found in normal ranges while the concentrations of Zn and Ni were found exceeding the standard norms. Elevated levels of $AFM_1$, Zn and Ni in some of the tested IFM brands indicated that a diet completely based on these IFM brands might pose sever health implications in the most vulnerable community i.e., infants.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.190-200
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate and analyze TSP of the PC rooms. The concentration of the total suspended particulate and heavy metals contained in the total suspended particulate of the 15 PC rooms located in one local city were measured. The statistical correlation coefficients between the total suspended particulate and factors of the indoor condition (number of fan or size of pc room, illumination), between the heavy metals and factors of the indoor condition were studied. The results are as follows: 1. The factors of the indoor condition of the 15 PC rooms are as follows. Average illumination was 24 luxes. Average number of computers installed were 37. Average number of the fans was 7. and the size of investigated PC rooms was $139.94m^2$. 2. The mean age of the subjects was 21.8 years old. they $(51.5\%)$ used the 15 pc rooms for fewer than 2 hours per one day. 3. The mean concentration of total suspended particulate (TSP) is lower in the evening ${139.085\;(2.462)\;{\mu}g/m^3}$ than the night ${166.216(2.609){\mu}g/m^3}$. 4. The mean concentration of total suspended particulate was industrial work area) residential area) commercial area. 5. The distribution of heavy metals were indicated as Zn>Cr>Pb>Cd in the indoor air at PC rooms. and the concentration rate of Zn was the highest among heavy metals. but this increase didn't show any relationship with many factors of indoor condition (number of fan or size of pc room, lighting) 6. The concentration of TSP & heavy metals didn't have any relationship between the factors of indoor environment (number of fans, size of pc room, lighting).

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.489-494
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• 2016

Carbon-based sorbents such as biochar and activated carbon have been proven to be cost-effective in removing pollutants containing heavy metals from wastewater. The aim of this study was using batch experiment to evaluate the adsorption characteristics of heavy metals in single-metal conditions onto reed biochar for treating wastewater containing heavy metals. The removal rates of heavy metals were in the order of Pb > $Cu{\fallingdotseq}Cd{\fallingdotseq}Zn$, showing the adsorption efficiency of Pb was higher than the other heavy metals. Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms were used to model the equilibrium adsorption data obtained from adsorption of Pb on reed biochar. For reed biochar, the Langmuir model provided a slightly better fit than the Freundlich model. Lead was observed on the biochar surface after adsorption by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The main functional groups of reed biochar were aromatic carbons. Overall, the results suggested that reed biochar could be useful adsorbent for treating wastewater containing Pb.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.299-305
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• 1978

According to the milling degree (unhulled, brown, 70% polished, and 90% polished rice), cropping areas (Sabong, Myeungsuk, Hadong, and Sanchung), and variety of rices (Yusin and Milyang), the contents of copper, lead, zinc, nickel, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and manganese were analyzed in order to investigate heavy metals in the rice of Kyeong Nam district for two years(1976-1977) by the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The contents of heavy metals in all the sample rices observed in this experiment were decreased with the increase of milling degree, but significant difference of the heavy metals was not observed among the cropping areas and variety of rices. 2. The contents of heavy metals were copper, 0.80-2.89 ppm; zinc, 3.23-17.60 ppm; manganese, 6.72-70.25 ppm; and lead, ND-0.64 ppm. 3. The contents of nickel and chromium in unhulled rice were in the range of 2.04-40.64 and 5.09-39.95 ppm, respectively, but these heavy metals were in trace for 90% polished rice. 4. The mercury and cadmium were in trace for some unhulled rice, but they were not detected in polished rice.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.267-275
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• 2009

To investigate the possible applications of plants to remediate heavy-metal-contaminated soil, a pilot experiment was performed for four years in a reclaimed dredging area using two Alnus species, i.e., Alnus firma and Alnus hirsuta. In a comparison of phytomass of the two species at two different planting densities, the phytomass of Alnus planted at low density was twice as high as that of Alnus planted at high density after four years. The Alnus species showed active acclimation to the heavy-metal-contaminated soil in a reclaimed dredging area. A. hirsuta showed greater accumulation of phytomass than A. firma, indicating that it is the better candidate for the phytoremediation of heavy-metal-contaminated soils. In the pilot system, Alnus plants took metals up from the soil in the following order; Pb > Zn > Cu > Cr > As > Cd. Uptake rates of heavy metals per individual phytomass was higher for Alnus spp. planted at low density than those planted at high density in the pilot system. Low plant density resulted in higher heavy metal uptake per plant, but the total heavy metal concentration was not different for plants planted at low and high density, suggesting that the plant density effect might not be important with regard to total uptake by plants. The quantity of leached heavy metals below ground was far in excess of that taken up by plants, indicating that an alternative measurement is required for the removal of heavy metals that have leached into ground water and deeper soil. We conclude that Alnus species are potential candidates for phytoremediation of heavy-metal- contaminated surface soil in a reclaimed dredging area.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.166-173
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• 2008

Chemical forms and release potential of heavy metals were studied in the lime treated sediment of lake Chungcho. Chemical forms of heavy metals were analyzed using a sequential extraction method, and release potential of heavy metals was evaluated by the ratio of the content of labile forms to total metal one. Dominant form of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the untreated sediments was organic/sulfidic form that is stable in the reducing environment such as the bottom of Lake Chungcho. With liming of the sediment, the chemical forms of studied metals were greatly changed from organic/sulfidic form to adsorbed and reducible form, especially Cd and Cu to adsorbed and reducible form, but Pb and Zn to reducible form. It is believed that increase of unstable form of heavy metals in the sediments by liming was caused by the increase of pH of the pore water at the expense of organic/sulfidic form. Thus, we concluded that the liming approach currently used in the treatment of dredged sediments might cause the increase of labile form which is easily dissolved, and may increase the release of metals from the sediment into overlying water.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.141-149
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• 2010

A concern of safety issue for traditional herbal medicine is the possibility of some herbs containing heavy metals responsible for several cases of metal poisoning. In our previous study, the physiological levels of heavy metals, such as Cd, Cu, Hg and Pb, were examined to evaluate a potential risk in patients taking herbal medicine. In this study, the levels of 12 heavy metals, including non-metallic element, Se, were analyzed in hair and compared to the results from the previous study. In the previous study, the levels of Cd, Cu, Hg and Pb in hair showed a significantly lower odds ratio than 1. In this study, however, all metals did not show any significant odds ratio higher or lower than 1 even if 5 of 12 metals showed lower odds ratio than 1. In addition, the levels of metal concentrations, especially for Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn, exceeding the WHO reference values were observed in hair. However, any evidence for metal accumulation in hair caused by taking herbal medicines for long duration was not observed in analysis of multiple regression and odds ratio from case-control study. This result would show another possibility for a role of herbs as a non-enzymatic chelator inhibiting the gastrointestinal absorption of heavy metals.