• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 2012

Various factors affecting on the bioassay were investigated. Experiments with a low mixture ratio (cell to toxicant solution) of 0.5 : 9.5 (v/v) produced observable bioluminescence intensity for assay. Both sodium lactate and potassium nitrate stimulate bioluminescence activity; 2.6~4.0 times of control. Distilled water and MSM, which gave non significant effects on the bioluminescence activity, were determined as proper diluent or extract solutions. A wide range of toxic responses of metals and organics were observed. In general, organics were much less sensitive than metals. Samples collected from eleven sites showed the bioluminescence activity ranging from 29 to 111% of the control. Significant correlation between toxicity and total metal contents was not observed, but the toxicity of two groups, sorted based on the contaminated arsenic concentration in soils, was 44% and 20%, showing considerable differences.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1315-1329
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate anticytotoxic and antioxidatative capacities of ethanol extracts from Acer tegmentosum Maxim (A. tegmentosum) stem in vitro. The extract at concentration of 200 ug/mL inhibited 10 and 20 ug/mL arsenic trioxide-induced cytotoxicity of HepG2 cells by 79.3 and 57.5%, respectively. The extract at concentration of 200 ug/mL inhibited 0.2 and 0.5 mM t-BHP-induced cytotoxicity of HepG2 cells by 66.3 and 35.7%, respectively. Antioxidative effects of the extract were examined via measurement of ABTS, superoxide, and peroxyl radical scavenging activities. ABTS radical scavenging activity of the extract was higher than that of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. Superoxide scavenging activity of the extract was higher than that of catechin. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity of the extract was higher than that of ascorbic acid. Cupric reducing antioxidant capacity of the extract was higher than that of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. The extract at concentrations of 100 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ inhibited 10 mM t-BHP-induced lipid peroxidation of HepG2 cells by 38.2 and 80.7%, respectively. The extract prevented supercoiled DNA strand breakage induced by hydroxyl or peroxyl radical. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract at concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$ were 71.3 nmol/mL gallic acid and 18.8 nmol/mL catechin equivalents, respectively. Thus, strong cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of A. tegmentosum stem extract seem to be due to, at least in part, the prevention from free radicals-induced oxidation as well as high levels in polyphenolic contents.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.144-144
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• 2017

Micronutrients such as zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) have important roles for development and growth in plants but it also have roles in animals and humans. In previous studies, a Korean weedy rice, KH2J was selected to have tolerance to heavy metal, lead (Pb) compared with a cultivar, Milyang23. To identify QTLs for micronutrients concentration in grain, an F2 population (120 plants) were developed from a cross between KH2J and an indica rice cultivar, Milyang23. To measure the concentration of eight ions, Zn, Fe, Mn, Pb, calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As), grains were collected and digested with 65% nitric acid, and the ion contents were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A total 27 putative quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected on 12 chromosomes by single point analysis and 22 putative QTLs were detected by composite interval mapping. The co-locations of QTL for Zn, Fe and Mn were observed on chromosome 5. The QTLs for Cd, Cu and Zn were co-localized on chromosome 10, and QTLs for Zn, As and Mn was on chromosome 12. The Zn concentration in F2 generation showed significant correlation with concentrations of As (r = -0.4), Cu (r = 0.5) and Fe (r = 0.2) (P < 0.01). Also, the Ca concentration was significantly related with Mn and Fe concentrations (P < 0.01). Fine mapping of these QTLs is underway to analyze their functional relationship.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.424-433
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to understand the changes on species composition of the epilithic diatoms and the appearance of morphological abnormalities in the upper region of the Nakdong River where heavy metal inflow is observed. The samples were collected once a week for a month of September 2016 from selecting 7 sampling stations. The heavy metals of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) were not detected during the survey period, but zinc (Zn) was detected in st.4 - st.6 with the range of $0.015{\sim}0.188mg\;L^{-1}$. Metal sensitive species such as Achnanthes convergens, Cocconeis placentula, Cocconeis placentula var. euglypta, Cocconeis placentula var. lineata showed high dominance in st.1 - st.3, st.7. However, metal tolerant species such as Nitzschia palea, Achnanthes minutissima showed high dominance in st.4 - st.6. It is concluded that heavy metal inflow directly affects the changes in species composition of epilithic diatoms. As a result of CCA, the characteristics of the sampling sites were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 was represented the non-detected Zn sites with C. placentula, C. placentula var. euglypta, C. placentula var. lineata. Group 2 was showed the detected Zn sites with Navicula minima and Nitzschia palea. Group 3 was included st.3 - st.7 on 4th week that was stabilized the community structure. Total 8 taxa of abnormal frustules observed. This occurrence of abnormal frustules reflected the temporal and quantitative indicators of heavy metal pollution, in particular, it was confirmed that genus Fragilaria, which has a high abnormality according to heavy metal pollution, can be used as an indicator species.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.524-530
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• 2016

Agricultural soils near or around industrial complexes can contain a certain amount of heavy metals that readily enter the food chain and negatively affect human health. Therefore, we conducted the study to investigate the distribution of selected heavy metals, including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and zinc (Zn), in farm-land soils around fifteen industrial complexes in the southwestern provinces, Korea. The concentrations of heavy metals in the soil samples were determined by the pseudo-total aqua regia (3 HCl : $1HNO_3$) digestion procedure. The heavy metal concentrations in most soils examined did not exceed the levels of Soil Contamination Warning Standard (SCWS) for agricultural lands (Region 1) presented in Soil Environment Conservation Law (SECL) established by Ministry of Environment (MOE), Korea. However, only one sampling site showed higher As amount ($27.1mg\;kg^{-1}$) than the SCWS level of As ($25mg\;kg^{-1}$). Pollution index (PI) for heavy metals did not exceed 1.0. The PI values were significantly positively correlated (p < 0.01) with the heavy metal concentrations. In particular, the values of correlation coefficient between the Cd and Pb concentrations and the PI values were higher than those estimated from other combinations, and thus the amounts of Cd and Pb in the agricultural soils highly affected the PI values for the heavy metals.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.342-346
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• 2003

This study was conducted to examine the contents of heavy metals in beverages and to estimate their intakes. The contents of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and tin (Sn) were determined in a total of 207 samples of beverages using atomic absorption spectrophotometer(AAS) and inductively coupled plasma spectrometer(ICP). Also a mercury analyzer was utilized for analysis of mercury. The values of heavy metals in beverages were as follows [min-max (mean), mg/kg]; Hg 0.0001-0.0025 (0.0004), As ND-0.0245 (0.0003), Pb ND-0.089 (0.004), Cd ND-0.006 (0.001), Sn ND-45.36 (1.97). Our results were similar to those reported by other countries. Our weekly intakes of heavy metals from beverages take $0.01%{\sim}0.06%$ of PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake) established by FAO/WHO.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.257-267
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• 2012

Occupational neurotoxic diseases have become increasingly common in Taiwan due to industrialization. Over the past 40 years, Taiwan has transformed from an agricultural society to an industrial society. The most common neurotoxic diseases also changed from organophosphate poisoning to heavy metal intoxication, and then to organic solvent and semiconductor agent poisoning. The nervous system is particularly vulnerable to toxic agents because of its high metabolic rate. Neurological manifestations may be transient or permanent, and may range from cognitive dysfunction, cerebellar ataxia, Parkinsonism, sensorimotor neuropathy and autonomic dysfunction to neuromuscular junction disorders. This study attempts to provide a review of the major outbreaks of occupational neurotoxins from 1968 to 2012. A total of 16 occupational neurotoxins, including organophosphates, toxic gases, heavy metals, organic solvents, and other toxic chemicals, were reviewed. Peer-reviewed articles related to the electrophysiology, neuroimaging, treatment and long-term follow up of these neurotoxic diseases were also obtained. The heavy metals involved consisted of lead, manganese, organic tin, mercury, arsenic, and thallium. The organic solvents included n-hexane, toluene, mixed solvents and carbon disulfide. Toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide were also included, along with toxic chemicals including polychlorinated biphenyls, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, organophosphates, and dimethylamine borane. In addition we attempted to correlate these events to the timeline of industrial development in Taiwan. By researching this topic, the hope is that it may help other developing countries to improve industrial hygiene and promote occupational safety and health care during the process of industrialization.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2014

Background: The manufacture of paint involves a variety of processes that present with medical hazards. Safety initiatives are hence introduced to limit hazard exposures and promote workplace safety. This aim of this study is to assess the use of available control measures/initiatives in selected paint factories in Lagos West Senatorial District, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 400 randomly selected paint factory workers were involved in the study. A well-structured World Health Organization standard questionnaire was designed and distributed to the workers to elicit information on awareness to occupational hazards, use of personal protective devices, and commonly experienced adverse symptoms. Urine samples were obtained from 50 workers randomly selected from these 400 participants, and the concentrations of the heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, and chromium) were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: The results show that 72.5% of the respondents are aware of the hazards associated with their jobs; 30% have had formal training on hazards and safety measures; 40% do not use personal protective devices, and 90% of the respondents reported symptoms relating to hazard exposure. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in the mean heavy metal concentrations in the urine samples obtained from paint factory workers as compared with nonfactory workers. Conclusion: The need to develop effective frameworks that will initiate the integration and ensure implementation of safety regulations in paint factories is evident. Where these exist, there is a need to promote adherence to these practice guidelines.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.186-192
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• 2017

The carbon paste electrode (CPE) was modified with the pristine bentonite and hybrid material (HDTMA-modified bentonite). The modified-CPEs are then employed as working electrode in an electrochemical detection of As(V) from aqueous solutions using the cyclic voltammetric measurements. Cyclic voltammograms revealed that As(V) showed reversible behavior onto the working electrode. The hybrid material-modified carbon paste electrode showed significantly enhanced electrochemical signal which was then utilized in the low level detection of As(V). Moreover, the studies were conducted at neutral pH conditions. The electrochemical studies were conducted with scan rates (20 to 200 mV/s) to deduce the mechanism of redox processes involved at the electrode surface. The anodic current was linearly increased, increasing the concentration of As(V) from 5.0 to $35.0{\mu}g/g$ using the hybrid material-modified electrode. This provided fairly a good calibration line for As(V) detection. The presence of varied concentrations of As(III) in the determination of total arsenic was studied. The influence of several cations and anions viz., Cu(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Fe(III), $Cl^-$, $NO_3{^-}$, $PO_4{^{3-}}$, EDTA and glycine in the detection of As(V) from aqueous solution was also studied. Further, in an attempt to simulate the real matrix analysis, the tap water sample was spiked with As(V) and subjected for As(V) detection using the modified-CPE.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.401-408
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• 2017

Organic amendments such as animal waste compost, lime-bordeaux mixture, and lime sulphur mixture contain heavy metal(loid)s which are toxic to human being, animal, and plant. The objective of this study was to compare heavy metal(loid)s contamination of soil between conventional and organic farm. Soil samples were collected from 10 conventional and 38 organic fruit farms. At each sampling point, top (0~15 cm) and sub soil (15~30 cm) were taken using hand auger. Total concentration for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nikel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in the collected soil were measured. The pollution index (PI) for heavy metal in organic farms indicated it was unpolluted area. However, mean value of PI for organic farms (0.143) was higher than that for conventional farms (0.122). High Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) for Cu, Pb, and Zn implied that grape farms were more polluted than others fruit farms because a lot of lime-bordeaux mixture and lime sulphur were applied in organic grape farms. Especially, top soils showed higher level of contamination than sub soil. Based on the above results, organic amendments might cause accumulation of heavy metals in soil. Therefore, particular attention should be paid for concentration of Cu, Pb, and Zn, when organic amendments are used in the organic fruit farms.