• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.23-30
• /
• 2011

Risk based pollution level of Pb and Cd in metal contaminated soils depending on physicochemical properties of soil in a target site was assessed using biotic ligand model. Heavy metal activity in soil solution defined as exposure activity (EA) was assumed to be toxic to Vibrio fischeri and soil organisms. Predicted effective activity (PEA) determined by biotic ligand model was compared to EA value to calculate risk quotient. Field contaminated soils (n = 10) were collected from a formes area and their risk based pollution levels were assessed in the present study using the calculated risk quotient. Concentrations of Pb determined by aqua regia were 295, 258, and 268 mg/kg in B, H and J points and concentrations of Cd were 4.73 and 6.36 mg/kg in G and I points, respectively. These points exceeded the current soil conservation standards. However, risk based pollution levels of the ten points were not able to be calculated because concentrations of Pb and Cd in soil solution were smaller than detection limits or one (i.e., non toxic). It was because heavy metal activity in soil solution was dominant toxicological form to organisms, not a total heavy metal concentration in soil. In addition, heavy metal toxicity was decreased by competition effect of major cations and formation of complex with dissolved organic carbon in soil solution. Therefore, it is essential to consider site-specific factors affecting bioavailability and toxicity for estimating reliable risk of Pb and Cd.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.16-28
• /
• 2017

In an aquatic environment, toxicity of metals to organisms depends on external factors (type of metal, exposure concentration and duration, environmental parameters, and water quality) and intracellular processes(metal-binding sites and detoxification). Toxicity of copper(Cu) on the marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica was investigated in this study. Dose-dependent (Cu concentration dependent) inhibition of growth and cell division, as well as, variation of intra- and extra-cellular Cu, Fe and Zn content was observed. T. suecica was sensitive to Cu; the 96 h $EC_{50}$ (concentration to inhibit growth-rate by 50%) of growth rate (${\mu}$) ($21.73{\mu}M\;L^{-1}$), cell division $day^{-1}$ ($18.39{\mu}M\;L^{-1}$), and cells $mL^{-1}$ ($13.25{\mu}M\;L^{-1}$) demonstrate the toxicity of Cu on this microalga. High intra-($19.86Pg\;cell^{-1}$) and extra-cellular($54.73Pg\;cell^{-1}$) Cu concentrations were recorded, on exposure to 24.3 and $72.9{\mu}M\;L^{-1}$ of Cu.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.145-149
• /
• 2006

Textile and pigment wastewater samples collected from an industrial complex showed toxic effect on Daphnia magna. For textile wastewater, 48 h acute toxicity of effluent was not detected while toxic unit (TU) of influent was 1.79. The toxicity of influent was completely disappeared by gamma-ray treatment at 10 kGy or by suspended solids (SS) removal. In case of pigment wastewater, both influent and effluent were toxic to D. magna though the effluent satisfied current water quality standards. Gamma-ray treatment had little effect on the toxicity reduction of pigment wastewater since the toxicity was mainly caused by metal ions, in particular, Cr(VI). This work suggests the bioassay technique for monitoring adverse effects of wastewater should be introduced, and also shows the usefulness of gamma-rays as an advanced treatment technique for textile wastewater.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.156-163
• /
• 2001

Vanadium has been known as environmental polluants resulted from the burning of fossil fuels in nature. It led to toxic responses by prooxidant activity, inducing free radicals and the accumulation in the tissues. Recently, there has been growing interest in an essential nutritional requirement of vandium and especially the treatment of diabetes. But because of its strong toxicity, thease chemicals have narrow safety margin. In order to reduce metal toxicity, and increase absorption and biological activities, metal ions such as selenium and chromium were uptaken in yeast cells. In this study, Vanadium yeast was prepared by uptaking vanadate in yeast cells. Vanadate induced hematological and biochemical changes in the experimental rat blood were inhibited by the treatments of vanadium yeast. Lipid peroxidation and catalase activity were significantly increased in kidney and liver after a single intraperitoneal injection of vanadate to rats. However, these observations were apparently reduced in the vanadium yeast treated group. Vanadium amount in blood, kidney and liver after a single intraperitoneal injection of vanadium yeast was significantly reduced than that of vanadate treated group. In conclusion, vanadium yeast uptaken vanadate in yeast cells could reduce toxic effects of vanadate.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.118-122
• /
• 2017

Bacterial growth inhibition by lead, zinc and cadmium was measured by using modified Tris minimal medium. The toxicity against Escherichia coli strain was in the order of zinc> cadmium> lead, and the Escherichia coli strain overexpressing iron-containing superoxide dismutase 2 of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) was found to have resistance to heavy metals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 1998.06a
• /
• pp.463-465
• /
• 1998

The peculiarities of the polyvinylpyrrolydone (PVP) interaction with transition metal ions of the first row in solution were studied. It was shown that PVP macromolecules due to their swelling conformation in organic solvents form the stable metal complexes. Metal ions were bond with oxygen and nitrogen atoms of PVP lactam rings. In water solution every metal ion interacts with one or two oxygen atoms out of 10-12 monomer units of the polymer. The additional contraction of PVP macromolecule coils in water have been found out by dissolving of the polymer metal complexes (PMC) synthesized in organic media. Toxicity, blood forming and immune stimulating activity and pharmaco-kinetic too of obtained polymers and their metal completes have been investigated. The factors and effects that responsible fur changing of PMC physical-chemical and biological properties have been estimated.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.98-105
• /
• 1997

The study on the cytotoxicity of heavy metals was carried out to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of those on mouse L929 fibroblast cell in 96-well microtiter plates. The cytotoxicity was assayed by the neutral red, tetrazolium MTT, total protein, micronuclei test. The cytotoxicity of the heavy metals by neutral red and tetrazolium MTT was showed in order, cadmium > zinc > nickel for the cationic metals tested. The effect of metal-metal interaction on the cytotoxicity showed a marked reduction of cadmium toxicity by zinc, to a lesser degree, by nickel. The amount of total protein in treated group added heavy metals was less than that of the control and treated cadmium alone was less than those of combination with nickel or zinc. At midpoint cytotoxicity values of heavy metals, the frequency of micronuclei on the cell treated heavy metals was more than that of control and treated cadmium alone was more than those of combination with nickel or zinc. From those results, it could be suggested that the heavy metals decreased the viability of mouse fibroblast L929 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and have cytogenic toxic effects, but mixed group decreased the cytotoxic and cytogenic toxicity on L929 cells.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.31 no.12
• /
• pp.1069-1074
• /
• 2009

This study investigated soil microbial community and growth of Zea mays to compare the toxicity of nano and micro-sized Cu and Zn oxide particles in microcosm system. In the presence of nanoparticles, biomass of Zea mays reduced by 30% compared with micro-sized particles and inhibited growth. Dehydrogenase activity was inhibited by CuO nano although it was increased by ZnO nano particles. According to the Biolog test, the microbial diversity was decreased after exposed to CuO nanoparticles and ZnO microparticles. Therefore, though it is widely recognized that nanoparticles are more harmful than microparticles, we can conclude that the diversity of microbial community does not always influenced by the size of particles of nano and micro.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2012

The success of stabilization treatment in heavy metal contaminated sediment depends on the heavy metal bioavailability reduction through the sequestration of the heavy metals. This study was performed to assess the changes in the bioavailability of Pb or Cd in the Pb or Cd contaminated sediments by using birnessite and hydroxyapatite as stabilizing agents. The toxicity tests were carried out using a microorganism (Vibrio fischeri), an amphipod (Hyalella azteca) and an earthworm (Eisenia foetida). With Vibrio fischeri, the toxicities of both Pb and Cd were reduced by more than ten times in the presence of birnessite and hydroxyapatite compared to that of in the absence of birnessite and hydroxyapatite. The concentrations of Pb and Cd in the contaminated sediments were lethal to Hyalella azteca, however, in the presence of birnessite and hydroxyapatite more than 90%, on average, of Hyalella azteca survived. With Eisenia foetida, the bioaccumulated concentrations of both Pb and Cd were reduced by more than 75%, on average, lower with the addition of birnessite and hydroxyapatite to the contaminated sediments. These results show that the addition of birnessite and hydroxyapatite can reduce the bioavailability of Pb and Cd in contaminated sediments. In addition, the in situ and ex situ performance of birnessite and hydroxyapatite as stabilizing agents can be verified using the toxicity tests with Hyalella azteca and Eisenia foetida, respectively.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.27-33
• /
• 2017

In this study, toxicities of seven metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, As(III), As(V), Zn, Ni) and five metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs: CuO, ZnO, NiO, $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$) were evaluated based on the growth of Chlorella vulgaris. Effect on algae growth was evaluated by integrating the results of absorption, chlorophyll content, and cell count. The toxicity rankings of metals was observed as Cr ($0.7mgL^{-1}$) > Cu ($1.7mgL^{-1}$) > Cd ($3.2mgL^{-1}$) > Zn ($3.9mgL^{-1}$) > Ni ($13.2mgL^{-1}$) > As(III) ($17.8mgL^{-1}$) ${\gg}$ As(V) (> $1000mgL^{-1}$). Slightly different orders and sensitivities of metal toxicity were examined depending on endpoints of algal growth. In case of NPs, regardless of endpoints, similar toxicity rankings of NPs ($TEC_{50}$) were observed, showing ZnO ($2.4mgL^{-1}$) > NiO ($21.1mgL^{-1}$) > CuO ($36.6mgL^{-1}$) > $TiO_2$ ($62.5mgL^{-1}$) > $Fe_2O_3$ ($82.7mgL^{-1}$). These results indicate that an integrating results of endpoints might be an effective strategy for the assessment of contaminants.