• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was carried out to examine whether the apparent photolysis with or without sensitizers [NaOH and humic acid (HA)] was prompted photodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in aqueous solution. Methods: PCBs photodegradation occurred using fluorescence black lamps at ${\lambda}_{max}=300nm$. PCB congeners were exposed in 10 ppm HA or 0.05N NaOH solutions, to investigate the decreasing profile of PCB concentration with time. The PCBs were then analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Reductive degradation profile of PCB congeners in the presence of both sensitizers under oxygen-saturated protic conditions was described using the wind-rose diagrams. Results: Use of HA or NaOH decreased PCB concentration with time in the dark and on irradiation, indicating that photolysis underwent through reductive dechlorination through energy transfer and possibly with reactive oxygens. The dechlorination was marked by a chromatographic shift, observed in the GC-MS plots. Therefore it is logical to assume that increasing the dose of sensitizers would increase the photodegradation rates of PCBs. The half-lives of pentachloro-PCB (penta-3) in 0.05N NaOH and 10 ppm HA were estimated at about 47 hours and 39 hours, respectively, under the same experimental conditions of photolysis. It was found that the rate of photolysis of pentachloro-PCB in aqueous solution followed apparent first-order kinetics compared to other congeners. Conclusion: Photochemical degradation (using 328 nm UV light) of penta- and hexa-PCBs in HA or alkaline solution is a viable method for pretreatment method. The results are helpful for the further comprehension of the reaction mechanism for photolytic dechlorination of PCBs in aquatic system.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.130-138
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• 2017

This study examined chemical characterization in commercial dark-fleshed fish (mackerel Scomber japonicus, Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius, and Pacific herring Clupea pallasii) to determine their suitability for use as raw materials for seafood products. The volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), heavy metal, radioactivity, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), benzo[a]pyrene, and histamine concentrations were measured. The VBN in all of the dark-fleshed fish was less than 20 mg/100 g, which is the limit for raw materials for seafood processing. Except for mackerel based on the lead (Pb) standards of the European Union (EU), Taiwan, and CODEX, and all fish based on the cadmium (Cd) standards for China and the EU, the commercial dark-fleshed fish were free from total mercury (Hg), Pb, and Cd based on domestic and foreign standards. The radioactivity, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), benzo[a]pyrene, and histamine concentrations of the commercial dark-fleshed fish all adhered to the domestic and foreign standards. The commercial dark-fleshed fish tested could all be used as raw materials for seafood products, except for some exported products.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.495-500
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• 2003

Tight junctions (TJ) between adjacent Sertoli cells in testis are important for the formation of the blood testis barrier (BTB). In an effort to verify the reproductive health risk of endocrine-active chemicals (EACs), changes in the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and the expression of TJ genes were examined by co-planar polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) treatment in cultured mouse Sertoli cells. Although the increase in TER of Sertoli cells was accelerated by 10 nM co-planar PCB, it was downregulated by 100 nM co-planar PCB. The expression of claudin-1 was downregulated by co-planar PCB in a concentration-dependent manner. On the contrary, the expression of claudin-1 was increased in the Sertoli cells by 10 nM co-planar PCB treatment. These results suggest that the structure and function of TJ may be targeted by co-planar PCB in Sertoli cells. Assessment of the structure and function of TJ in Sertoli cells might be useful for screening the reproductive health risk of EACs.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.E3
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• pp.143-151
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• 2002

Atmospheric concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were measured every two weeks from July, 1999 to January, 2000 at Hankyong University in Ansung, Kyounggi-do. Atmospheric concentrations of ∑$_{24}$PCB showed a range of 19.8～71.9 pg/m3. The highest concentration of PCB homolog was tri-CBs (sum of PCB 18, 27, 28, 33, 38) which had a comparatively higher vapor pressure than other homologs. The contribution ratio of lighter PCB homologs (tri-CBs) to total PCBs was 44.5%, and these homologs were the main components of PCBs. The ratio PCB homologs/deca-CB (PCB 209) suggested that the contribution of vapor phase PCBs increased greatly in summer relative to other seasons. In addition, the regression lines for PCB homologs/deca-CB (PCB 209) and temperature ($^{\circ}C$) appeared as an exponential function with high correlation (R2>0.67, p< 0.01). This suggests that the concentration of vapor phase PCB homologs increases steeply with increasing temperature.

• 한국환경농학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.07a
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• pp.128-135
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• 2011

Consortia demonstrated the high capacities of anaerobic degradation of various aromatic compounds, which were successfully enriched from gley paddy soils under different conditions. Phenol and cresol was decomposed anaerobically using nitrate, ferric oxide or sulfate as electron acceptors. Biphenyl was degraded to $CO_2$, especially without addition of external electron acceptor. Alkylphenols with middle length of alkyl chain, were co-metaboliocally degraded with the presence of hydroxylbenzoate as the co-substrate under nitrate reducing conditions. The microorganisms responsible for the anaerobic co-metabolism was Thauera sp. Reductive dechlorination activity was also observed for polychlorophenols, fthalide, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins with the presence of lactate, formate or $H_2$ as electron donor. The fthalide dechlorinator was classified as Dehalobacter sp. Coupling of two physiologically-distinct anaerobic consortia, aromatic ring degrader and reductive dechlorinator, resulted in the mineralization of pentachlorophenol under anaerobic conditions. These results suggested that gley paddy soils harbored anaerobic microbial community with versatile capacity degrading aromatic compounds under anaerobic conditions.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 1994

The pcb genes of Pseudomonas sp. DJ-12 coded for the catabolism of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) and biphenyl. The products of the pcbCD genes were 2,3-dihydroxy-4'-chlorobiphenyl dioxygenase and meta-cleavage product (MCP) hydrolase, which acted on degradation of 2,3-dihydroxy-4'-chlorobiphenyl to 4-chlorobenzoate. The pcbCD genes were cloned in E. coli XLl-Blue, and then the pcbD gene was further subcloned. As a metabolite transformed from 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl by the cloned cell of E coli CU103, benzoate was detected by the resting cell assay. The enzyme activities of 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygease and MCP hydrolase produced in the cloned cells E. coli CU103 and CU105 were about 17 and 3 times higher than those of Pseudomonas sp. DJ-12, respectively.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2001

The aim of this study was to examine how plant terpenoids, as natural growth 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. Degradation activities of the PCB congeners, 4,4-dichlorobiphenyl (4,4-DCBp) and 2,2-dichlorobiphenyl (2,2-DCBp), were initially monitored through a resting cell assay technique that could detect their degradation products. The PCB degraders, Pseudomonas ((S)-(-) limonene, p-cymene and $\alpha$-terpinene) whereas Arthrobacter sp. B1B could not grow on the terpenoids as a sole carbon source. The B1B strain grown on biphenyl exhibited good degradation activity for 4,4-DCBp and 2,2-DCBp, while the activity of strains P166 and T104 was about 25% that of the B1B strain, respectively. Concomitant GC analysis, however, demonstrated that strain T104, grown on (S)-(-) limonene, p-cymene and $\alpha$-terpinene, could degrade 4,4-DCBp up to 30%, equivalent to 50% of the biphenyl induction level. Moreover, strain T104 grown on (S)-(-) limonene, could also degrade 2,2-DCBp up to 30%. This indicates that terpenoids, widely distributed in nature, could be utilized as both growth and/or inducer substrate(s) for PCB biodegradation in the environment.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.739-746
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• 2004

Concentrations of PCBs in the sediment of the Kumho River was determined. Samples were collected at 23 locations along the river. Total PCB levels ranged from 2.7 to 87.6 ng/g dry weight. The site near the Keomdan factory district had the highest concentrations. The levels of PCB congeners significantly correlated with the total organic carbons in the sediment. The major fractions of PCBs were congeners containing 4, 5, or 6 chlorine atoms per biphenyl molecule.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.568-578
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• 2010

In this study, the possibility of biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by various white rot fungi was evaluated, and outstanding white rot fungi for the degradation of PCBs were selected. Seven white rot fungi were used to degrade Aroclor 1254 and 1260, which are widely considered to be toxic and difficult to degrade. And the degradation rates of Aroclors by selected white rot fungi were performed by GC analysis. Through the resistance test of white rot fungi on different concentrations of PCBs, the inhibition of mycelial growth of Cystidodontia isubellina was much less than that of others, and this fungus grew faster than others, relatively. Based on this result, it was considered that C. isubellina was selected as degrading fungus for Aroclors. As a result of biodegradation rate of Aroclors by Cystidodontia isubellina, the degradation rate of Arolor 1254 was reached to 57.57% in 13 days, which showed very high degradation rate. Also the degradation rate of Aroclor 1260 by C. isubellina had a tendency of increasing along with increasing incubation day. Maximal degradation rate of Aroclor 1260 was 49.43% at 13 days. Based on this results, it indicated that in comparison with a previous study, high degradation rate was obtained by C. isubellina.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2007

Global fates of polychlorinated biphenyl(PCB) were investigated with a fugacity based multimedia transport and fate model, Globe-POP(persistent organic pollutant). The accumulation of PCB was directly affected by the emission patterns of PCB into the atmosphere and surface areas of environmental compartments. Partition coefficients and reaction rates also influenced on the accumulation patterns of PCB. The emission patterns of PCB in 10 climate zones were consistent for the past 70 years, while the contribution of PCB in high-latitude zones to the globe has increased by cold condensation. Considering the amounts of emission and accumulation of PCB, the North temperature zone is regarded as an important source and sink of PCB. Meanwhile, in spite of no significant sources, POPs accumulate in Antarctic environments mainly due to extremely low temperature. Finally we suggested that a global water balance accounting for snow/ice should be incorporated into multimedia environmental models for high-latitude zones and polar regions with the seasonal snow pack and/or permanent ice caps. The modified model will be useful to evaluate the influence of climate change on the fate of POPs.