• Journal of Environmental Analysis, Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.252-263
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• 2018

Distributions of 15 PAHs and 82 PCBs were investigated in sediment and fish samples collected from the Suyoung Estuary of Busan, one of the most urbanized and newly contaminated areas in Busan. The concentrations of $S_{15}PAH$ in sediments ranged from 17.9 to 777 ng/g-dry and were mainly originated from combustion processes. The concentrations of $S_{82}PCB$ in sediments ranged from 0.55 to 12.5 ng/g-dry and were significantly correlated with those of 12 dioxin-like PCBs and 6 non-dioxin like PCBs. Higher concentrations of PAHs and PCBs were found in the upper river and the inner Suyoung Bay than in marina and the outer Suyoung Bay. No sites exceeded the ecotoxicological values of PAHs and PCBs in marine sediments. Benzo[a]-pyrene was not detected in fish samples and the concentrations of $S_4PAH$ (0.15~0.45 ng/g-wet) were lower than the maximum level set by EU. The levels of PCBs in fish samples were at less than 1% of the Korean maximum level and 2% of the EU maximum level. The concentrations of dioxin-like PCBs were $0.01{\sim}0.32pg-TEQ_{WHO-2005}/g-wet$, and the highest concentration was found in eels, which were at less than 5% of the EU maximum level. Dietary intakes of PAHs and PCBs through fish consumption were estimated, and their lifetime cancer risk and non-cancer risk were much lower.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2005

The elution patterns of seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDDs/Fs and 12 dioxin-like PCBs were studied by both manual open columns and automatic parallel LC columns in cleanup procedure. PCDDs/Fs and non-ortho-PCBs from other mono-ortho-PCBs were separated on automatic LC column, whereas they were not separated on an open manual column. The elution study on two cleanup methods was carried out using the PAR solution of unlabeled congeners and checked the recovery of each congener. Total recoveries of cleanup fractionation were ranged between 61.9 ~ 96.0% for PCDDs/Fs and 70.4 ~ 79.0% for PCBs by manual open columns and 71.8 ~ 104.5% for PCDDs/Fs and 61.3-120.3% for PCBs by automatic parallel LC columns, respectively. Unfortunately, #169-HxCB and 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD were not separated on DB-5MS capillary column. The ions of 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD were selected at M/M+2 instead of M+2/M+4 suggested by EPA method 1613. It is possible to discriminate 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and PCB #169 in HRGC/HRMS analysis.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.100-105
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• 2002

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.469-478
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• 2004

Atmospheric bulk (wet and dry) samples were monthly collected in an urban environment (Daeyeon-dong) of Busan over a year, to assess the deposition flux and seasonality of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DLPCBs) using stainless steel pots. Deposition fluxes of DLPCBs in bulk samples were determined using high resolution gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). Particle deposition fluxes in the urban environment varied from 23 to 98 $mg^2$/year (mean 41 $gm^2$/year). DLPCB deposition fluxes in atmospheric bulk samples ranged from 0.09 to 0.77 ng-$TEQ/m^2$/year (mean 0.35 ng-$TEQ/m^2$/year). Seasonal atmospheric deposition fluxes of DLPCBs were high in winter and low in summer. Atmospheric deposition fluxes of particles and DLPCBs in this study were comparable to or slightly lower values than those of different locations in the world. Monthly DLPCB profiles in deposition bulk samples were similar over a year. Non-ortho PCBs were higher contributions to the total DLPCBs fluxes than mono-ortho PCBs. In particular, PCB 126 had the highest concentrartion (>75%) in all deposition samples, followed by PCB 169 and PCB 156. A highly positive correlation was found among the deposition fluxes of DLPCB species, suggesting the possibility of that the DLPCB contamination originated from one source. The deposition fluxes of DLPCBs were not significantly correlated with temperature and the amount of precipitation even though the summer season with the highest temperature and the largest amount of precipitation showed the lowest DLPCB deposition flux.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2012

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent and bioaccumulative environmental pollutants. Recently, it is suggested that neurotoxic effects such as motor dysfunction and impairment in memory and learning have been associated with PCB exposure. However, structure relationship of PCB congeners with neurotoxic effects remains unknown. Since PKC signaling pathway is implicated in the modulation of motor behavior as well as learning and memory and the role of PKC are subspecies-specific, we attempted to study the effects of structurally distinct PCBs on the total PKC activity as well as subspecies of PKC in cerebellar granule cell culture model. Cells were exposed to 0, 25 and 50 ${\mu}M$ of PCB-126, PCB-169, PCB-114, PCB-157, PCB-52 and PCB-4 for 15 min. Cells were subsequently analyzed by [$^3H$] phorbol ester binding assay or immunoblotted against PKC-${\alpha}$ and -${\varepsilon}$ monoclonal antibodies. While non-dioxin-like-PCB (PCB-52 and PCB-4) induced a translocation of PKC-${\alpha}$ and -${\varepsilon}$ from cytosol to membrane fraction, dioxin-like PCBs (PCB-126, -169, -114, -157) had no effects. [$^3H$] Phorbol ester binding assay also revealed structure-dependent increase similar to translocation of PKC isozymes. While PCB-4 induced translocation of PKC-${\alpha}$ and -${\varepsilon}$ was inhibited by ROS inhibitor, the pattern of translocation was not affected in presence of AhR inhibitor. It is suggested that PCB-4-induced PKC activity may not be mediated via AhR-dependent pathway. Taken together, our findings suggest that chlorination of ortho-position in PCB may be a critical structural moiety associated with neurotoxic effects, which may be preferentially mediated via non-AhR-dependent pathway. Therefore, the present study may contribute to understanding the neurotoxic mechanism of PCBs as well as providing a basis for establishing a better neurotoxic assessment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1078-1085
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• 2010

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) are bioaccumulative chemicals that are considered to be toxic contaminants based on several epidemiological studies. These chemicals in colostrum were investigated and estimated for their residual consistencies by maternal characteristics like parity and maternal ages. Test subjects were healthy primipara and multipara mothers with a mean age of 31.5 (S.D=3.6) in 2007. Seven isomers of PCDDs, 10 of PCDFs, 4 of non-orthopolychlorinated biphenyls(non-ortho PCBs) and 8 of mono-orthochlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls (mono-ortho PCBs) were analyzed by HRGC/HRMS. From the analyzed data, the mean level of total WHO-TEQs was 9.41 pg TEQ/g lipid, which is significantly lower than the level found in individuals from other countries. The main contributors to the total WHO-TEQs with increasing percentages were 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and 3,3',4,4',5-PCB (#126), and they accounted for more than 60% of the total WHO-TEQs. PCDFs concentrations and total WHO-TEQs were negatively associated with parity (p<0.05), and maternal age was positively associated with total WHO-TEQs (p<0.01). However, the associations with body mass index (BMI) and fish intake during pregnancy were not significant. These results were suggested that parity and maternal age are an important factor affecting the concentrations of PCDD/DFs and dl-PCBs in these specimens.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.56-62
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• 2003

The liver progenitor cells could form a potential target cell population fore both tumor-initiating and -promoting chemicals. Induction of drug-metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes, including AhR-dependent CYP1A1, NQO-1 and AKR1C9, was detected in the rat liver epithelial WB-F344 "stem-like" cells. Additionally, WB-F344 cells express a functional, wild-type form of p53 protein, a biomarker of genotoxic events, and connexin 43, a basic structural unit of gap junctions forming an important type of intercellular communication. In this cellular model, two complementary assays have been established for detection of the modes of action associated with tumor promotion: inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and proliferative activity in confluent cells. We found that the PAHs and PCBs, which are AhR agonists, released WB-F344 cells from contact inhibition, increasing both DNA synthesis and cell numbers. Genotoxic effects of some PAHs that lead to apoptosis and cell cycle delay might interfere with the proliferative activity of PAHs. Contrary to that, the nongenotoxic low-molecular-weight PAHs and non-dioxin-like PCB congeners, abundant in the environment, did not significantly affect cell cycle and cell proliferation; however both groups of compounds inhibited GJIC in WB-F344 cells. The release from contact inhibiton by a mechanism that possibly involves the AhR activation, inhibition of GJIC and genotoxic events induced by environmental contaminants are three important modes of action that could play an important role in carcinogenic effects of toxic compounds. The relative potencies to inhibit GJIC, to induce AhR-mediated activity, and to release cells from contact inhibition were determined for a large series of PAHs and PCBs and their metabolites. In vitro bioassays based on detection of events on cellular level (deregulation of GJIC and/or proliferation) or determination of receptor-mediated activities in both ?$stem-like^{\circ}{\times}$ and hepatocyte-like liver cellular models are valuable tools for detection of modes of action of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. They may serve, together with concentration data, as a first step in their risk assessment.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.442-453
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• 2014

Objectives: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are known to be the detrimental chemicals in the body, even at low levels, and are stored in adipose tissue. Recently, POPs have been reported to be associated with chronic diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease, and aging and obesity are reported as common factors in chronic disease. However, there have been only a few studies on the associations of POPs with age and body mass index (BMI) in Korea. Therefore, we analyzed the associations of serum POPs levels with age and BMI in Korea. Methods: This cross-sectional study includes 444 subjects (253 men and 191 women) from the Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II (2004-2011). Serum levels of 33 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 19 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were measured by a gas chromatographer (Agilent 6890) coupled to high resolution mass spectrometer (JEOL JMS-800D). Results: Concentrations of PCB 153 (men: 12.26 ng/g lipid, women: 10.50 ng/g lipid) and p,p'-DDE (men: 94.66 ng/g lipid, women: 96.66 ng/g lipid) were the highest among serum PCBs and OCPs, respectively. PCBs and OCPs were significantly positively correlated with age in both sexes. After adjustment for age, non-dioxin like PCBs were significantly negatively correlated with body mass in women. However, cis-heptachlor epoxide was significantly positively correlated with body mass index in both sexes. When analyzed by sex, stronger associations were shown between POPs and age in men and POPs and BMI in women. Conclusion: These results may provide baseline data for the study of POPs and for the health management field in Korea.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.88-93
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• 2001

To measure the levels of dioxins in food selling at local markets, meat was analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution ass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). The food samples were obtained from 5 large cities of Seoul, Chunchon, Daejon, Kwangju and Busan in Korea. All the samples were minced and extracted with Soxhlet extractor for 18 hours. After extraction, extracts were cleaned up by sulfuric acid impregnated silica gel, purified on a series of silica gel, alumina, carbon column chromatography and then analyzed by HRGC/HRMS. The contaminated levels were calculated as the TEQs by multiplying with the corresponding WHO-TEFs for each congeners. The overall recoveries were ranged from 80% to 153% and the limit of detection was about 0.01 ppt at S/N>3. The levels of PCDD/Fs for beef, pork and chicken were 0.018, 0.008 and <0.001 pgTEQ/g, respectively. In addition, the levels of non-ortho-co-planar PCBs for beef, pork and chicken were 0.008, 0.002 and 0.001 pgTEQ/g, respectively. Among food samples analyzed, chicken showed the lowest level of dioxin-like compounds. Regarding congener pattern, OCDD and PCB #77 were the highest contributing congeners.