• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2016

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the biodegradation rates of 8 perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) alternatives synthesized at the at Changwon National University in comparison to those of PFOS potassium salt and PFOS sodium salt. Methods: A biodegradability test was performed for 28 days with microorganisms cultured in the good laboratory practice laboratory at the Korea Environment Corporation following the OECD Guidelines for the testing of chemicals, Test No. 301 C Results: While $C_5H_8F_3SO_3K$, $C_8F_{17}SO_3K$ and $C_8F_{17}SO_3Na$ were not degraded after 28 days, the 3 alternatives were biodegraded at the rates of 31.4% for $C_8H_8F_9SO_3K$, 25.6% for $C_{10}H_8F_{13}SO_3K$, 23.6% for $C_{25}F_{17}H_{32}S_3O_{13}Na_3$, 20.9% for $C_{15}F_9H_{21}S_2O_8Na_2$, 15.5% for $C_{23}F_{18}H_{28}S_2O_8Na_2$, 8.5% for $C_{17}F_9H_{25}S_2O_8Na_2$ and 4.8% for $C_6H_8F_5SO_3K$. When the concentration was the same(500 mg/L), $C_{23}F_{18}H_{28}S_2O_8Na_2$ had the lowest tension with 20.94 mN/m, which was followed by $C_{15}F_9H_{21}S_2O_8Na_2$ (23.36 mN/m), $C_{17}F_9H_{25}S_2O_8Na_2$ (27.31 mN/m), $C_{25}F_{17}H_{32}S_3O_{13}Na_3$ (28.17 mN/m), $C_{10}H_8F_{13}SO_3K$ (29.77 mN/m) and $C_8H_8F_9SO_3K$ (33.89 mN/m). Having higher surface tension of 57.64 mN/m and 67.57 mN/m, respectively, than those of the two types of PFOS salts, $C_6H_8F_5SO_3K$ and $C_5H_8F_3SO_3K$ were found valueless as substitute for PFOS. Conclusion: The biodegradation test suggest that 6 compounds could be used as substitutes for PFOS. $C_{23}F_{18}H_{28}S_2O_8Na_2$ and $C_{15}F_9H_{21}S_2O_8Na_2$ were found to be the best substitutes based on biodegradation rate and surface tension, followed by $C_{25}F_{17}H_{32}S_3O_{13}Na_3$, $C_8H_8F_9SO_3K$ and $C_{10}H_8F_{13}SO_3K$. $C_{17}F_9H_{25}S_2O_8Na_2$ was found to have relatively low value as an alternative but it still had a potential to substitute the conventional PFOS.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.28-39
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• 2017

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can affect epigenetic mechanisms and obesity development. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)-widely used to make flames-are one of the important POPs. Prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as POPs, may affect global DNA methylation in long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1), increasing the risk of obesity later in life. Therefore, pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to elucidate whether BDE-47 and BDE-209 transferred through placenta and breast milk cause epigenetic changes in LINE-1 and increase genetic susceptibility to obesity as obesogen during the developmental periods. Global DNA methylation in LINE-1 and gene expression related to obesity were measured in dams and offspring, using a methylation-sensitive high resolution melting analysis (MS-HRM) and direct bisulfite sequencing and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), respectively. The results of MS-HRM showed global DNA hypomethylation patterns in LINE-1 of exposed offspring (2 of total 4) at PND 4, but bisulfite sequencing showed no difference in both the exposed and non-exposed groups. Gene expression in dams related to ${\beta}$-oxidation pathway and those related to adipokines showed different patterns between the two groups. On the contrary, gene expressions of offspring showed a similar pattern. Gene expressions related to ${\beta}$-oxidation pathway and obesity were significantly increased when compared with 'at birth', but not $PPAR-{\alpha}$. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the possibility that co-exposure to BDE-47 and BDE-209-via the placenta and breast milk-may affect epigenetic changes and modulate gene expression levels related to obesity.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.625-639
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• 2019

Microplastics are one of the substances threatening the marine ecosystem. Here, we summarize the status of research on the effect of microplastics on marine life and suggest future research directions. Microplastics are synthetic polymeric compounds smaller than 5 mm and these materials released into the environment are not only physically small but do not decompose over time. Thus, they accumulate extensively on land, from the coast to the sea, and from the surface to the deep sea. Microplastic can be ingested and accumulated in marine life. Furthermore, the elution of chemicals added to plastic represents another risk. Microplastics accumulated in the ocean affect the growth, development, behavior, reproduction, and death of marine life. However, the properties of microplastics vary widely in size, material, shape, and other aspects and toxicity tests conducted on several properties of microplastics cannot represent the hazards of all other microplastics. It is necessary to evaluate the risks according to the types of microplastic, but due to their variety and the lack of uniformity in research results, it is difficult to compare and analyze the results of previous studies. Therefore, it is necessary to derive a standard test method to estimate the biological risk from different types of microplastics. In addition, while most of the previous studies were conducted mostly on spheres for the convenience of the experiments, they do not properly reflect the reality that fibers and fragments are the main forms of microplastics in the marine environment and in fish and shellfish. Furthermore, studies have been conducted on additives and POPs (persistent organic pollutants) in plastics, but little is known about their toxic effects on the body. The effects of microplastics on the marine ecosystems and humans could be identified in more detail if standard testing methods are developed, microplastics in the form of fibers and fragments rather than spheres are tested, and additives and POPs are analyzed. These investigations will allow us to identify the impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems and humans in more detail.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.317-322
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• 2016

While PFOS sodium salt ($C_8F_{17}SO_3Na$) was not degraded by microorganisms for 28 days, the 4 alternatives were biodegraded at the rates of 21.6% for $C_{25}F_{17}H_{32}S_3O_{13}Na_3$, 20.5% for $C_{15}F_9H_{21}S_2O_8Na_2$, 15.8% for $C_{23}F_{18}H_{28}S_2O_8Na_2$ and 6.4% for $C_{17}F_9H_{25}S_2O_8Na_2$, respectively. The acute toxicity test using Daphnia magna was conducted for 48 hours, the half effective concentration ($EC_{50}$) of PFOS sodium salt ($C_8F_{17}SO_3Na$) was evaluated in 54.5 mg/L. While the 4 alternatives did not show any effect at 500.0 mg/L. The surface tension of the PFOS salt ($C_8F_{17}SO_3Na$) is 46.2 mN/m at a concentration of 500.0 mg/L. While the surface tension of the 4 alternatives was found to be superior to PFOS sodium salt ($C_8F_{17}SO_3Na$). The surface tension of $C_{23}F_{18}H_{28}S_2O_8Na_2$ (20.9 mN/m) has the lowest, followed by $C_{15}F_9H_{21}S_2O_8Na_2$ (23.4 mN/m), $C_{17}F_9H_{25}S_2O_8Na_2$ (27.3 mN/m), $C_{25}F_{17}H_{32}S_3O_{13}Na_3$ (28.2 mN/m). The four kinds of alternatives ($C_{15}F_9H_{21}S_2O_8Na_2$, $C_{17}F_9H_{25}S_2O_8Na_2$, $C_{23}F_{18}H_{28}S_2O_8Na_2$, $C_{25}F_{17}H_{32}S_3O_{13}Na_3$) were found to be superior to PFOS sodium salt ($C_8F_{17}SO_3Na$) in terms of biodegradation, Daphnia sp. acute toxicity and surface tension, and thus they were considered applicable as PFOS alternatives. Especially biodegradation rate of $C_{15}F_9H_{21}S_2O_8Na_2$, $C_{23}F_{18}H_{28}S_2O_8Na_2$ and $C_{25}F_{17}H_{32}S_3O_{13}Na_3$ was relatively high as 15.8~21.6%, and Daphnia sp. acute toxicity and surface tension were considerably superior (surface tension 39~55%) to PFOS sodium salt. Therefore, these alternatives are considered to be available as an alternative of PFOS.