• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제18권5호
• /
• pp.952-957
• /
• 2008

A Gram-negative bacterium, named LY402, was isolated from contaminated soil. 16S rDNA sequencing and measurement of the physiological and biochemical characteristics identified it as belonging to the genus Enterohacter. Degradation experiments showed that LY402 had the ability to aerobically transform 79 of the 91 major congeners of Aroclor 1242, 1254, and 1260. However, more interestingly, the strain readily degraded certain highly chlorinated and recalcitrant polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Almost all the tri- and tetra-chlorobiphenyls (CBs), except for 3,4,3',4'-CB, were degraded in 3 days, whereas 73% of 3,4,3',4'-, 92% of the penta-, 76% of the hexa-, and 37% of the hepta-CBs were transformed after 6 days. In addition, among 12 octa-CBs, 2,2',3,3',5,5',6,6-CB was obviously degraded, and 2,2',3,3',4,5,6,6'- and 2,2',3,3',4,5,5',6'-CB were slightly transformed. In a metabolite analysis, mono- and dichlorobenzoic acids (CBAs) were identified, and parts of them were also transformed by strain LY402. Analysis of PCB degradation indicated that strain LY402 could effectively degrade PCB congeners with chlorine substitutions in both ortho- and para-positions. Consequently, this is the first report of an Enterobacteria that can efficiently degrade both low and highly chlorinated PCBs under aerobic conditions.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• 제32권1호
• /
• pp.46-52
• /
• 2006

Results for the concentrations of total polychlorinated biphenyls (total PCBs) and the PCB profile with different types of leaves from four coniferous trees (pine needles) at the same sampling site are presented. Concentrations of total PCBs detected in pine needles were very similar among them regardless of their different types of leaves, which means a possibility for bio-monitoring regional contamination of PCBs. Correlation coefficients(r) of PCB congeners between pine needles were very significant (r>0.97, p<0.001), which showed that PCB congener's patterns of each pine needle were similar. Profiles of PCBs detected in pine needles showed correlation with gaseous phase PCBs in air, otherwise not with particle phase PCBs in air. Therefore, it was estimated that dry gaseous deposition was a principal pathway of PCBs accumulation in pine needles. In addition, although we analyse a different types of leaves in pine needles at the same region, they can be used to identify regional contamination patterns of PCBs for larger regions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
• /
• 제26권6호
• /
• pp.757-766
• /
• 2012

In this study, we have examined concentration distribution and patterns of PCBs in waters, sediments and soils in an agricultural area of South Korea to investigate the relationship between PCBs sources and concentration levels. The concentration of PCBs in water samples were ranged from lower values below detection limit to 8.25 ug/L and the concentration of PCBs in sediment samples were ranged from lower values below detection limit to 76.67 ug/Kg. The concentration of PCBs in soil samples were ranged from lower values below detection limit to 23.51 ug/Kg. These contamination levels were far below the guideline values suggested for environmental quality assessment. The homologue patterns in samples varied from sample to sample, but isomer patterns were very similar with each other. PCB-138 and PCB-153 were predominant congeners in the soil and sediment, which were similar to the results obtained from previous studies. With these results, the assessment of potential sources of PCBs contamination in the sediments of the Nakdong river basin was performed. The principal components were extracted by Principal Component Analysis(PCA). As the result of PCA, it could be expected that PCBs in samples of this study were more affected by PCB products than combustion processes and mostly affected by already-known sources. The PCBs in the soil and sediment samples were related with commercial PCB products.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• 제18권6호
• /
• pp.529-534
• /
• 2005

We collected seven species of shellfish; all originating from the southern coastal areas of Korea, from a market every three months from Dec. 2001 to Sept. 2002, and determined the total polychlorinated biphenyl(PCB) levels by the sum of 26 individual congener levels. A GC-ECD system was applied for identification and quantification of these PCB congeners. Mussel showed the highest level in Sept. 2002 at 34.5 ng/g dry weight(d.w.). All species except mussel showed the lowest total PCB level in Dec. 2001 and their levels in tissue ranged from 0.6 to 5.5 ng/g d.w. The total PCB levels ranged from 0.8 to 17.3 ng/g in Mar. 2002, 2.2 to 9.5 ng/g in June 2002, and 1.8 to 34.5 ng/g d.w. in Sept. 2002. The principal congener group was penta-CBs, which accounted for 32% of the total PCBs, followed by hexa-CBs at 23%, and tetra-CBs at 21%.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국생물공학회 2000년도 추계학술발표대회 및 bio-venture fair
• /
• pp.489-492
• /
• 2000

The eventual goal of this study is to elucidate roles of plant terpenoids (e.g., cymene, limonene and others) as natural substrates in the cometabolic biodegradation of PCBs and to develop an effective PCB bioremediation technology. The aim of this study was to examine how plant terpenoids, as natural substrates or inducers would affect the biodegradation of PCB congeners. Various PCB degraders that could grow on biphenyl and several terpenoids were tested for their PCB degradation capabilities. The PCB congener degradation activities were first monitored through resting cell assay technique that could detect degradation products of the substrate. The congener removal was also confirmed by concommitant GC analysis. The PCB degraders, Pseudononas sp. P166 and Caynebacterium sp. T104 were found to grow on both biphenyl and terpenoids ((S)-(-) limonene, p-cymene and ${\alpha}-terpinene$) whereas Arthrobacter B1B could not grow on the terpenoids as a sole carbon source. The strain B1B grown on biphenyl showed a good degradation activity for 4,4'-dichlorobiphenyl (DCBp) while strains P166 and T104 gave about 25% of B1B activity. Induction of degradation by cymene, limonene and terpine was hardly detected by the resting cell assay technique. This appeared to be due to relatively lower induction effect of these terpenoids compared with biphenyl. However, a subsequent GC analysis showed that the congener could be removed up to 30% by the resting cells of T104 grown on the terpenoids. This indicates that terpenoids, widely distributed in nature, could be utilized as both growth and/or inducer substrate for PCB biodegradation.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 대한약학회 2001년도 Proceedings of International Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea
• /
• pp.171.2-172
• /
• 2001

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 대한약학회 2002년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.1
• /
• pp.132.3-133
• /
• 2002

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• 제27권2호
• /
• pp.170-176
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the level of PCBs and distribution of PCB congeners in the ambient air of Korea and Japan. The source of PCBs were also studied by a statistical method. The TEQ concentration of PCB in the ambient air of Korea and Japan were between 0.003 and $1.01\;pgTEQ/m^3$(mean value : $0.22\;pgTEQ/m^3$) and between 0.002 and $0.014\;pgTEQ/m^3$ (mean value: $0.007\;pgTEQ/m^3$), respectively. The ambient air of industrial area of Korea showed a fluctuation in PCB concentration than other sampling area. The isomer distribution patterns in the ambient air was more or less similar in all sampling places. In addition, highly chlorinated homologues ($7{\sim}10CB$) were detected in the only Korea industrial area. This observation suggests that there is a possibility of specific source of PCBs in the industrial area. The source identification of PCB in ambient air was performed using multivariate statistical analysis(principal component analysis). As a result, it is estimated that the Korean ambient air was more influenced by combustion process than the ambient air of Japan and also the effect of PCB commercial products was relatively a small.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• 제33권1호
• /
• pp.45-53
• /
• 2011

Distribution of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides in sediments, seawater and fish tissues were examined. Concentrations of ${\Sigma}PCBs$ and ${\Sigma}DDTs$ in the intertidal sediments of Asan Bay ranged from $1.90{\sim}3.27\;ng\;g^{-1}$ dw (dry weight) and $0.51{\sim}1.26\;ng\;g^{-1}$ dw, respectively. ${\Sigma}PCBs$ concentrations in the tissue of greenling (Hexagrammos otakii), olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and finespotted flounder (Pleuronichthys cornutus) were $1.27{\pm}0.55$, $1.30{\pm}0.71$ and $1.19{\pm}0.43\;ng\;g^{-1}$ ww (wet weight), respectively. The profile of PCBs in the sediments and the 3 species of fish differed as witnessed by the dominance of tetra- to penta-chlorinated congeners in sediments while penta- to hexa-chlorinated congeners dominated in fish. ${\Sigma}DDTs$ concentrations were $0.67{\pm}0.52$, $0.79{\pm}0.61$, $1.58{\pm}1.05\;ng\;g^{-1}$ ww respectively in the tissue of greenling, olive flounder and finespotted flounder. The p,p'-DDE appeared to be the most important metabolite of DDT in studied fishes. The concentrations of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides measured in this study for fish were generally lower than those of previous studies. Compared to the pollutant concentration quality guidelines in marine fish, the environment of Asan Bay appears to be in a healthy state.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• 제26권2호
• /
• pp.97-107
• /
• 2000

PCBs [Polychlorinated biphenyls] are halogenated aromatic compounds with the empirical formula C12H10-nCln(n=1~10), and are a mixture of possible 209 different chlorinated congeners. PCBs were widely used as dielectric fluids for capacitors, transformers, plasticizers, lubricant inks, and paint additives. once released into the environment, PCBs persist for years because they are so resistant to degradation. In addition to their high degree of lipophilicity. In 1970s, the worldwide production of PCBs seem to be still in use. The environmental load of PCBs was prohibited since 1983 in Korea. In spite of these actions, many PCBs seem to be still in use. The environmental load of PCBs will continue to be recycled through air, land, water, and the biosphere for decades to come. This study was conducted to measure the concentrations of PCBs I the serum samples of 112 women by GC/MSD(Hewlett Packard 5897 Gas Chromatography-Mass Chromatography Detector) and CG/ECD(Hewlett Packard 5890 series-II gas chromatography-Electron capture detector, U.S.A). The main results of this study were as follows; The mean and standard deviation of serum PCBs were 3.613, 0.759 ppb, respectively and median of it was 3.828 ppb. The correlation coefficients of the concentrations of 13 PCB congeners ranged from 0.7913 to 0..9985 and were significantly correlated between each items(p=0.0001). The PCB concentrations were positively associated with age(simple linear regression; R2=0.86, =0.08023, p<0.001) and with total lipids in serums(simple linear regression; R=0.7058, =0.00486, p<0.001). The age adjusted model (Y=$\beta$0+$\beta$1age+$\beta$2X) was applied for possible predictors of PCBs levels in serum. For BMI(Body Mass Index), major residential area, and fish, meat, and dairy consumption, there was no association with PCBs levels, Also there was negative association for the number of pregnancy and lactation period with PCBs levels.