• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.279-285
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• 2007

Toxicity evaluations using oxygen uptake rate (OUR) on activated sludge process were investigated. On toxicity evaluations of heavy metals, all toxicants in experiments decreased OUR with respect to the concentrations of the toxicants, while high toxicities with cyanide and mercury were observed respectively. On toxicity evaluations of composite heavy metals, composite toxicities had similar results as to the total sum of each toxicants that presents accurate toxicity evaluation using OUR. From these results, it is concluded that activated sludge is effective indicator for toxicity evaluation on wastewater of biological treatment plants.

• ALGAE
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.471-477
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• 2006

Amphora costata W. Smith 1853 is a down thrown diatom species and also known as metal corrosive ship-fouling organism. A. costata was isolated from Alang ship breaking yard, Alang and evaluated the toxicity tolerance and growth responses of the cultures exposed to different doses of toxic and relatively accessible heavy metals, such as Fe, Mn, Cd, Co, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb in the constantly monitored laboratory culture conditions. The strongest toxic effect was observed on A. costata exposed to Cd even at relatively low concentrations as compared to other metals. The following trend of decreasing order of toxicity i.e. Cd>Zn>Ni>Co>Pb>Cu>Fe was observed, when they were exposed to equal concentration and expose time.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2007

Transporters are membrane proteins that mediate the transfer of substrate across the cellular membrane. In this overview, the characteristics and the toxicological relevance were discussed for various types of transporters. For drug transporters, the overview focused on ATP-binding cassette transporters and solute carrier family 21A/22A member transporters. Except for OCTN transporters and OATP transporters, drug transporters tend to have broad substrate specificity, suggesting drug-drug interaction at the level of transport processes (e.g., interaction between methotrexate and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents) is likely. For metal transporters, transporters for zinc, copper and multiple metals were discussed in this overview. These metal transporters have comparatively narrow substrate specificity, except for multiple metal transporters, suggesting that inter-substrate interaction at the level of transport is less likely. In contrast, the expressions of the transporters are often regulated by their substrates, suggesting cellular adaptation mechanism exists for these transporters. The drug-drug interactions in drug transporters and the cellular adaptation mechanisms for metal transporters are likely to lead to alterations in pharmacokinetics and cellular metal homeostasis, which may be linked to the development of toxicity. Therefore, the transporter-mediated alterations may have toxicological relevance.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.172-177
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• 2015

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cell toxicity due to ion release caused by galvanic corrosion as a result of contact between base metal and titanium. MATERIALS AND METHODS. It was hypothesized that Nickel (Ni)-Chromium (Cr) alloys with different compositions possess different corrosion resistances when contacted with titanium abutment, and therefore in this study, specimens ($10{\times}10{\times}1.5mm$) were fabricated using commercial pure titanium and 3 different types of Ni-Cr alloys (T3, Tilite, Bella bond plus) commonly used for metal ceramic restorations. The specimens were divided into 6 groups according to the composition of Ni-Cr alloy and contact with titanium. The experimental groups were in direct contact with titanium and the control groups were not. After the samples were immersed in the culture medium - Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium[DMEM] for 48 hours, the released metal ions were detected using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test (P<.05). Mouse L-929 fibroblast cells were used for cell toxicity evaluation. The cell toxicity of specimens was measured by the 3-{4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl}-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. Results of MTT assay were statistically analyzed by the two-way ANOVA test (P<.05). Post-hoc multiple comparisons were conducted using Tukey's tests. RESULTS. The amount of metal ions released by galvanic corrosion due to contact between the base metal alloy and titanium was increased in all of the specimens. In the cytotoxicity test, the two-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of the alloy type and galvanic corrosion for cytotoxicity (P<.001). The relative cell growth rate (RGR) was decreased further on the groups in contact with titanium (P<.05). CONCLUSION. The release of metal ions was increased by galvanic corrosion due to contact between base metal and titanium, and it can cause adverse effects on the tissue around the implant by inducing cytotoxicity.

• ALGAE
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 2005

Uptake kinetics of Cd and Zn by leaves and rhizome of the seagrass Zostera marina were examined in controlled laboratory radiotracer experiments. Subsequently, acute toxicity of Cd, Cu and TBT on photosynthetic quantum yield (ΔF/Fm’ of Z. marina were determined, and the differential sensitivities of rapid light curve (RLC) to those harmful substances were also compared. All measurements on photosynthetic activity were determined by chlorophyll a fluorescence method using pulse amplitude modulation (PAM). Metal uptake by Z. marina was saturated with increasing exposure time in leaves and rhizomes. Uptake of Zn by Z. marina was faster than that of Cd. Metal uptake rates in Z. marina decreased with the increase of dissolved metal concentrations and also with the increase of biomass. The adverse effect of TBT on effective quantum yield was stronger than other pollutants. Average acute toxicity on the RLC of the seagrass exposed to TBT and two heavy metals (Cd and Cu) was going to decrease as follows: TBT > Cd > Cu. Our preliminary results in this study suggested that Z. marina potentially can be used as a biomonitor of harmful substances contamination in coastal waters.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.243-255
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• 2015

In this investigation, ecotoxicity of nano and micro metal oxides, namely silica ($SiO_2$) and alumina ($Al_2O_3$), on the growth of green algae (Porphyridium aerugineum Geitler) is discussed. Effects of nano and micro particles on the growth, chlorophyll content and protein content of algae are analysed using standard protocols. Results indicate that $SiO_2$ nano and micro $SiO_2$ particles are non-toxic to P. aerugineum Geitler up to a concentration of 1000 mg/L. In addition, $Al_2O_3$ microparticles are less toxic to P. aerugineum Geitler, whereas $Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles are found to be highly toxic at 1000 mg/L. Moreover, $Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles decrease the growth, chlorophyll content, and protein content of tested algae. In addition, zeta potential and contact angle are also important in enhancing the toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles in aquatic environment. This study highlights a new insight into toxicity evaluation of nanoparticles on beneficial aquatic organisms such as algae.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.851-855
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• 2002

A comparison of Daphnia magna, Ceriodaphnia dubia and Simocephalus mixtus toxicity test was performed to study the relative sensitivities and discrimination abilities with both pore and elutriate water of Woopo wetland sediments. Sediment risk assessment has been done by standardized preparation method of pore and elutriate water described in the joint US EPA-US Army Crops of Engineers manual. Simocephalus mixtus which was obtained from Woopo wetlands in Korea was cultured and applied to sediment toxicity test. Water quality in Woopo wetland had great site and seasonal variations. S. mixtus was more sensitive than D. magna in heavy metal toxicity test. The toxicity results with S. mixtus reflected the water quality of elutriate and pore water. The results also suggested that S. mixtus could be used as a test organism in estimating potential risk of contaminated sediments.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1269-1275
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• 2014

Ecotoxicity assessments with the physiochemical water quality items and the bioassay test using Daphnia magna were conducted for 18 selected effluents of 6 industrial types (metal processing, petroleum refining, synthetic textile manufacturing, plating, alcohol beverage manufacturing, inorganic compound manufacturing) being detected toxicity from industrial effluent in Ulsan city, and the interrelationship between total toxic unit (${\Sigma}TU$) and concentrations of Water Quality Conservation Act in Korea were investigated. The average toxic unit(TU) of effluents for 6 industrial types displayed the following ascending order: petroleum refining (0.2) < synthetic textile manufacturing (0.6) < alcohol beverage manufacturing (0.9) < metal processing (1.3) ${\leq}$ inorganic compound manufacturing (1.3) < plating (3.0). These values were less than effluent permission standard. Based on the result of substances causing ecotoxicity, the correlation analysis was not easy because most of heavy metals were not detected or were less than effluent permission standard. Toxicological assessment of industrial effluent was suitable for the evaluation of the mixture toxicity for pollutant. The whole effluent toxicity test using a variety of species was needed for the evaluation of industrial wastewater.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.403-408
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• 2014

The toxicity of heavy metals (Zn, Pb) and diesel, in single and binary solution was investigated using the photobacterium Vibrio fischeri (Microtox test) as a test organism. In this experiment, the concentration of water soluble fraction of diesel was based on the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH). The toxicity of each single compound showed the following $EC_{50}$ (15min): Zn 1.90 mg/L, Pb 0.31 mg/L, TPH 2.09 mg/L. The observed toxicity of binary mixtures increased, depending on the concentration of the mixed substance. The effects were defined as synergistic, antagonistic, or additive, in accordance with the sign of difference between the predicted and observed toxicity at binary mixtures. The interactive effects between zinc and lead were synergistic, on the other hand, antagonistic and additive effects were found in each metal and TPH mixtures on the bioluminescence of V. fischeri.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1279-1286
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• 2013

Particle size and metal species are important to both soil microbial toxicity and phytotoxicity in the soil ecosystem. The effects of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and microparticles (MPs) on soil microbial toxicity, phytotoxicity, and bioaccumulation in two crops (Cucumis sativus and Zea mays) were estimated in a soil microcosm. In the microcosm system, soil was artificially contaminated with 1,000 mg/kg CuO and ZnO NPs and MPs. After 15 days, we compared the microbial toxicity and phytotoxicity by particle size. In addition, C. sativus and Z. mays were cultivated in soils treated with CuO NPs and ZnO NPs, after which the treatment effects on bioaccumulation were evaluated. NPs were more toxic than MPs to microbes and plants in the soil ecosystem. We found that the soil enzyme activity and plant biomass were inhibited to the greatest extent by CuO NPs. However, in a Biolog test, substrate utilization patterns were more dependent upon metal type than particle size. Another finding indicated that the metal NP uptake amounts of plants depend on the plant species. In the comparison between C. sativus and Z. mays, the accumulation of Cu and Zn by C. sativus was noticeably higher. These findings show that metal oxide NPs may negatively impact soil bacteria and plants. In addition, the accumulation patterns of NPs depend on the plant species.