• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.388-398
• /
• 1998

A bacterium which is resistant to both mercury and cadmium, and also capable of utilizing phenol as a carbon and energy source, was isolated from the Kumho River sediments near Kangchang Bridge, Taegu, Korea. The isolate was labeled Pseudomonas sp. KM10 and characterized. The bacteria grew in 4 mM $CdCl_2$and in $70{\mu}M$ $HgCl_2$. The bacteria efficiently removed over 90% of 1 g/l phenol within 30 h. In the presence of 1.250 g/l phenol, the growth of the microorganism was slightly retarded and the microorganism could not tolerate 1.5 g/l phenol. Curing of plasmid from the bacteria was carried out to generate a plasmidless strain. Subsequent experiments localized the genes for phenol degradation in plasmid and the genes for mercury resistance and cadmium resistance on the chromosome. Dot hybridization and Southern hybridization under low stringent conditions were performed to identify the DNA homology. These results showed significant homologies between the some sequence of the chromosome of Pseudomonas sp. KM10 and merR of Shigella flexneri R 100, and between the some sequence of the chromosome of Pseudomonas sp. KM10 and cadA of Staphylococcus aureus pI258. The mechanism of cadmium resistance was efflux, similar to that of S. aureus pI258 cadA, and the mechanism of mercury resistance was volatilization, similar to that of S. flexneri R100 mer.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.9-24
• /
• 1987

This study was conducted to measure the diurnal variation and behaviour of atmospheric mercury in an urban area by gold amalgamation and cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results were as follows: 1. The Hg concentration in ambient air averaged. 21.13ng/m$^3$ for 111 determinations (C.V. 78.5) in urban area and 5.91ng/m$^3$ for 140 determinations (C.V. 21.3) in suburban area. The urban area concentration was significantly higher and fluctuated more than its rural counterpart. 2. Regression analysis of the interaction between mercury concentration and other components showed a significant correlation between mercury concentration and sulfur dioxide also, TSP were found. Mercury concentration was shown to have a similar behaviour, on the whole, with other air pollutants. 3. It demonstrated a positive correlation with sunlight (UV-ray), while it had a negative response to wind speed and humidity. Its concentration showed a tendensy to increase during calm weather specifically. 4. The Hg concentration at the Mt. Dok You inland clean area ranged from 1.33ng/m$^3$ to 2.0ng/m$^3$, with a mean value of 1.63ng/m$^3$.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.141-146
• /
• 2009

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) induce innate immune responses by recognizing conserved microbial structural molecules. All TLR signaling pathways culminate in the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-$\kappa$B) leading to the induction of inflammatory gene products such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Deregulated activation of TLRs can lead to the development of severe systemic inflammation. Divalent heavy metals, cadmium and mercury, have been used for thousands of years. While cadmium and mercury are clearly toxic to most mammalian organ systems, especially the immune system, their underlying toxic mechanism(s) remain unclear. Here, we report biochemical evidence that cadmium, but not mercury, inhibits NF-$\kappa$B activation and COX-2 expression induced by TLR2 or TLR4 agonists, while cadmium does not inhibit NF-$\kappa$B activation induced by the downstream signaling component of TLRs, MyD88. Thus, the target of cadmium to inhibit NF-$\kappa$B activation may be upstream of MyD88 including TLRs themselves, or events leading to TLR activation by agonists.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.76-82
• /
• 1987

Detoxication effect of red ginseng extract against toxicity of methly mercury on ultrastructure of mouse liver was studied by electron microscopy. The hepatocyte of methyl mercury treatment group showed partial rupture of nucleus, mitochondrial swelling, decrease of glycogen content, and appearance of a great number of large vacuoles. While, the hepatocyte of methyl mercury-red ginseng extract treatment group showed slight mitochondrial swelling and decrease of vacuoles in size and number than those of methyl mercury treatment group.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.684-689
• /
• 2012

In the present study, an efficient mercury-tolerant bacterial strain (RS-5) was isolated from heavy-metalcontaminated industrial effluent. Under shake flask conditions, 97% of the supplemented mercuric chloride was sequestered by the biomass of RS-5 grown in a tryptone soy broth. The sequestered mercuric ions were transformed inside the bacterial cells, as an XRD analysis of the biomass confirmed the formation of mercurous chloride, which is only feasible following the reaction of the elemental mercury and the residual mercuric chloride present within the cells. Besides the sequestration and intracellular transformation, a significant fraction of the mercury (63%) was also volatilized. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of RS-5 revealed its phylogenetic relationship with the family Bacillaceae, and a 98% homology with Lysinibacillus fusiformis, a Gram-positive bacterium with swollen sporangia. This is the first observation of the sequestration and volatilization of mercuric ions by Lysinibacillus sp.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.180-183
• /
• 2007

Over the last century the mercury (Hg) concentration in the environment has been increased by human activities with inputs from sources such as atmospheric deposition, urban runoff, and industrial effluents. Mercury can be transformed to methylmercury (MeHg) in anaerobic conditions by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and sediments are the principal location for MeHg production in aquatic environments. Interest in bioaccumulation of Hg and MeHg into lower trophic levels of benthic and pelagic organisms stems from public health concerns as these organisms provide essential links for higher trophic levels of food chains such as fish and larger invertebrates. Fish consumption is the major exposure route of MeHg to humans. Recently, it was reported that blood samples in Korea showed much higher Hg levels (5-8 times) than those in USA and Germany. Although this brings much attention to Hg research in Korea, there are very few studies on Hg biogeochemical cycling and bioaccumulation in aquatic environments. Given the importance of Hg methylation and MeHg transfer through food chains in aquatic environments, it is imperative that studies should be done in much detail looking at the fate, transport, and bioaccumulation of Hg and MeHg in the environment. Moreover, there should be long-term monitoring plans in Korea to evaluate the environmental and health effects of Hg and MeHg.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.110-114
• /
• 2000

Determination of mercury(II) using Nafion-EDTA-modified glassy carbon electrodes is proposed. it is based on the chemical reactivity of an immobilized modifier, Nafion-EDTA. Differential pulse voltammetry is employed, and the oxidation of complexes, at +0.43V vs. Ag/AgCl, is observed. For a 5-min preconcentration period, a linear calibration curve is obtained for mercury(II) concentrations ranging from 1.0$\times$ 10$^{-8}$ to 1.0$\times$10$^{-6}$ M. Further, when an approximate amount of copper(II) is added to the test solution, We demonstrate that at a preconcentration time of 5 min the Nafion-EDTA-modified glassy carbon electrode has a dynamic range of 2 orders of magnitude(from 10$^{-10}$ to 10$^{-8}$ M) and the detection limit is as low as 0.5$\times$ 10$^{-10}$ M(0.01 ppb). This method is applied to the determination of mercury(II) in sea water(4.0$\times$10$^{-10}$ M, 0.08ppb). The result agrees satisfactorily with the value(below 0.1 ppb) measured by using ICP/MS.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2006.12a
• /
• pp.91-95
• /
• 2006

In whole world consciousness of environment maintenance have increased very quickly for the end of the 20th century. To use and disuse toxic substances have been controled at the field of industry. Also the field of lighting source belong to environmental control. And in the future the control will be strong. In radiational mechanism of fluorescence lamp mercury is the worst environmental problem. In radiational mechanism of fluorescence lamp mercury is the worst environmental problem root. In the mercury free lighting source system the Xe gas lamp is one type. And the Ne:Xe mixing gas lamp improvements firing voltage of Xe gas lamp. Purpose and subject of this study are understand, efficiency, ideal of Ne:Xe plasma which mercury free lamp. Before ICP was designed, basic parameters of plasma, which are electron temperature and electron density, were measured and calculated by langmuir probe data. Property of electron temperature and electron density were confirmed by changing ratio of Ne:Xe.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.1 no.4
• /
• pp.231-251
• /
• 2010

The sulfatation of chitosan, by reaction with chlorosulfonic acid under controlled conditions, allowed increasing the pH range of chitosan solubility. The biopolymer was characterized using FTIR and $^{13}C$-NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and titration analysis and it was tested for mercury recovery by polymer enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF). In slightly alkaline conditions (i.e., pH 8) mercury recovery was possible and at saturation of the polymer the molar ratio $-NH_2$/Hg(II) tended to 2.6. Polymer recycling was possible changing the pH to 2 and the polymer was reused for 3 cycles maintaining high metal recovery. The presence of chloride ions influences metal speciation and affinity for the polymer and "playing" with metal speciation allowed using the PEUF process for mercury separation from cadmium; at pH 11 the formation of hydroxo-complexes of Hg(II) limits it retention. Cake formation reveals the predominant controlling step for permeation flux.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.54-62
• /
• 2019

The effects of UV wavelength and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on the formation of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) were investigated in a controlled environment. To remove any other influences than UV wavelength and DOC, purified water was used as the working solution. DGM was instantly produced with irradiation of all UV lights even without DOC; whereas, there was no noticeable increase of DGM during irradiation of visible light. The amount of formed DGM increased as the DOC concentration increased even in dark conditions; however, UV-B irradiation significantly promoted DGM production with DOC present. The rate constants of reduction ranged from $1.4{\times}10^{-6}s^{-1}$ to $3.5{\times}10^{-5}s^{-1}$, with the lower values occurring under the dark condition without DOC and the higher values resulting under UV-B irradiation and high DOC concentration. However, DGM production was not linearly correlated with the DOC concentration at higher range of DOC in this study. Future studies should investigate the effects of DOC concentration on mercury (Hg) reduction over the broad range of DOC concentrations with different DOC structures and with other influencing parameters.