• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.127-137
• /
• 2001

Polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) are halogenated aromatic compounds with the empirical formula $C_{12}$ $H_{10-n}$C $l_{n}$(n=1~10), and are a mixture of possible 209 different chlorinated congeners. PCBs were widely used as dielectric fluids for capacitors and transformers, plasticizers, lubricant inks and paint addirives. Once released into the environment, PCBs persist for years because they are so resistant to degradation. In addition to their persistence in the environment, PCBs in ecological food chains undergo biomagnification because of their high degree of lipophilicity. In 1970s, the worldwide production of PCBs was ceased and the import of PCBs was prohibited since 1983 in Korea. In spite of these actions, many PCBs seems 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 in the serum samples of 112 women by GC/MSD and GC/ECD. The main results of this study were as follows. 1. PCBs were detected in all samples. The mean $\pm$SD levels of PCBs in the serum were 3.613$\pm$0.759 ppb, and median were 3.828 ppb. 2. The correlation coefficients of the concentrations of 13 PCB congeners were from minimum, 0.7913 to maximum, 0.9985, and all was significant(p=0.0001). The correlation coefficient between the concentrations of PCBs and p,p'-DDE was 0.9641(p=0.0001). 3. There was a positive association between age and PCBs' concentrations (simple linear regression ; $R^2$=0.86, $\beta$=0.08023, p<0.001). 4. There was a positive association between total lipids in the serum and PCBs' concentrations (simple linear regression ; $R^2$=0.7058, $\beta$=0.00486, p<0.001). 5. For possible predictors of PCBs and p,p' -DDE levels in the serum, age adjusted model (Y=$\beta$$_{0}$+$\beta$$_1$age+ $B_2$X) was applied. For BMI, major residential area, wether to eat caught fish by angling, where to eat caught fish by angling(by parents in the past), fish consumption, meat consumption, meat consumption, and dairy consumption, there was no association. For total conception frequency and lactation frequency and lactation period, there was negative association.ion.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.330-342
• /
• 2008

A comprehensive quality survey for PCDDs/PCDFs and coplanar PCBs as well as heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in sediments has been investigated in August 2006, Korea. Monitoring was undertaken at five streams representing different surrounding environments throughout Juwang and Gapyeong streams (reference sites), Jungrang stream (dense population site), Ansan stream (mixed small population and industrial site), and Siheung stream (heavy industrial site). The levels of heavy metal in samples were found to be significantly higher in sediment from Siheung stream compared to those of other stream sites. The heavy metal concentrations (dry weight basis) in sediment from Siheung stream were as follows; Cd (3.7 ${\mu}g$/g), Pb (1,295 ${\mu}g$/g), Cu (713.4 ${\mu}g$/g) and Zn (358.1 ${\mu}g$/g). Among 12 coplanar PCBs and 17 PCDDs/PCDFs selected as target compounds in this study, PCB (IUPAC no. 118) and OCDD were the most abundant congeners found in all sediment samples, followed by 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD, OCDF and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8HpCDF as well as PCB (IUPAC no. 105). These results were shown to be in the same trend as the sediment samples of other countries. The levels of PCDDs/PCDFs/coplanar PCBs in sediment samples were expressed as concentrations and WHO- TEQ values. The PCDDs/PCDFs/coplanar PCBs concentrations and their WHO-TEQ values in sediment from Siheung stream were remarkably high. The levels detected were 788.16 pg/g and 36.080 pg WHO-TEQ/g dry weight for PCDDs/ PCDFs and 314 pg/g and 0.4189 pg WHO-TEQ/g dry weight for coplanar PCBs, respectively, beyond the safety level of sediment value 20 pg WHO-TEQ/g. Sediment samples of the five streams were also monitored by sensitive biomarkers using insect immune responses: hemocyte-spreading behavior and immune-associated enzyme activities of phospholipase A$_2$ (PLA$_2$) and phenoloxidase. Organic extracts of Siheung and Jungrang sediments significantly interfered with the hemocytespreading behavior, whereas those of Ansan, Gapyeong, and Juwang did not. These organic extracts did not inhibit the PLA$_2$ and phenoloxidase activities. However, phenoloxidase was highly susceptible to exposure to aqueous extracts in all site sediments. In comparison, PLA$_2$ activities of the hemocytes were significantly inhibited only by aqueous extracts of Siheung, Jungrang, and Gapyeong sediments, but not by those of Ansan and Juwang. Despite some disparity between bioand chemical monitoring results, the biomarkers can be recommended as a device warning the contamination of biohazard environmental chemicals because of a fast and inexpensive detection method.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.22 no.E1
• /
• pp.35-43
• /
• 2006

Ambient particle size distributions of PCBs and their dry deposition fluxes were measured at a site in Seoul to quantify dry deposition fluxes of PCBs and size characteristics of PCBs in the air, and to estimate ambient concentrations of gaseous PCBs and dry deposition fluxes. The dry deposition plate was used to measure dry deposition fluxes of particulate mass and PCBs and a cascade impactor and rotary impactor were used to measure ambient particle size distributions for small ($D_p<9{\mu}m$) and large ($D_p>9{\mu}m$) particles, respectively. Six sample sets were collected from April to July 1999. The fluxes of particulate total PCBs (the sum of 43 congeners) ranged from 160 to $607ng\;m^{-2}day^{-1}$. The size distribution of total PCBs was bimodal with two peaks in small particle size ($D_p{\sim}0.6\;and\;6{\mu}m$, respectively) and, thus, mass concentration being dominant in small particles. The mean particulate PCBs concentration was $6.9{\mu}g$ PCBs/g. The concentrations of PCB homologues in the gas phase were estimated based on the particle/gas partition coefficient ($K_p$) with the measured values of particulate PCBs in this study and they were comparable to those observed in other previous studies. Dry deposition fluxes were estimated by calculating dry deposition velocities.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.206-215
• /
• 2005

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were commercially produced as complex mixtures beginning in 1929. The PCBs manufactured commercially are known by a variety of trade names including; Aroclor (USA), Phenoclor (France), Kaneclor (Japan), Sovol (USSR) and so on. PCBs are a class of 209 congeners that were widely used in a wide variety of applications, including dielectric fluid in transformers and large capacitors; heat transfer fluids; hydraulic fluids; lubricating and cutting oils; and as additives in pesticides, paints, adhesives, sealants, and plastics. The quantification methods of peak matching and coefficient comparison were compared using the Aroclor 1242, 1248, 1254, 1260 standards. Also, six transformer oils were analyzed as a main source of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) emission into the environment. The transformer oils contained the pure and mixed of Aroclor 1242, Aroclor 1254, and Aroclor 1260. The analytical results using two quantification methods showed the little difference between the measured results.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.520-533
• /
• 2000

We analyzed the PCDD/Fs and PCBs in human milk samples from a city and an industrial region by HRGC/HRMS. The average concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in human milk were 15.13 TEQ pg/g fat and 5.64 TEQ pg/g fat respectively. We discovered two kinds of homologue distributions. We compared congeners of each distributions with those of the commercial PCBs products. The daily intake of infant was predicted to be 60 TEQpg/kg/day according to the mean concentration of PCDD/Fs based on primipara. This value is much higher than the estimated range for background exposure to adult in the USA (1-3 TEQ pg/g fat).

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.56-62
• /
• 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 Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.316-322
• /
• 2005

In this study, the concentration of 17 dioxin congeners in the soil samples near a waste incinerator with respect to distance from incinerator and wind directions were investigated. The effect of PCB source was investigated using the cluster analysis method. The total concentration and I-TEQ concentration of dioxin ranged from 31.065 to 7,257.499 pg/g(dry weight) and from 0.099 to 35.191 pg I-TEQ/g(dry weight.), respectively. There was a weak correlation(not statistically significant) observed between soil concentration and wind direction, and the distance from the incinerator. The reason may be due to the presence of the local combustion sources other than the target incinerator. The fraction of PCDFs and PCDDs was also examined to study the effect of incinerator. The fraction of PCDFs was decreased with the distance from the incinerator. The influence of target incinerator was found within a 500-meter radius. The high concentration in the for site was due to small incinerators and the use of agricultural chemicals such as PCP. To investigate the relationship between soil near the incinerator and the sources, the cluster analysis was conducted using the congener pattern. As a result soil samples were divided into four groups and were qualitatively estimated the influence of sources such as incinerator and PCP by comparing the congener pattern of each roups. It was thought that a cluster analysis was a useful statistical method for the source estimation of dioxin.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.758-766
• /
• 2008

To evaluate homologue patterns and removal efficiency before and after water treatment, the concentrations of dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs) were determined in 122 samples from 42 drinking water treatment plants throughout Japan over a two year period. The mean concentrations and toxic equivalent (TEQ) values of dioxins in raw and treated waters were 60.24 pg/L (0.14 pg-WHO-TEQ/L) and 4.15 pg/L (0.016 pg-WHO-TEQ/L), respectively. The dioxins contribution ratio of drinking water in relation to dioxins tolerable daily intake (TDI, 4 pg-TEQ/kg/day) was 0.016%. The mean TEQ removal rate of dioxins by drinking water treatment was over 88%. However, the mean removal rate of 2, 3, 7, 8-TeCDF (tetrachlorodibenzofuran) by water treatment in the 122 samples was minus 17%. Therefore, to identify which process affected the level of 2, 3, 7, 8-TeCDF, the removal efficiencies at both the advanced and conventional water treatment plants were investigated. For the TEQ removal rate across the processes, the dioxin congeners, TeCDF and non-ortho-PCBs remarkably indicated minus values after chlorination in both the advanced and conventional water treatments plant. From this study, the level of 2, 3, 7, 8-TeCDF was found to be increased as a result of chlorination.