• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.4 no.1_2
• /
• pp.55-65
• /
• 1989

Nevertheless the serious environmental pollution in Korea has been discussed in concern with health effect, the significant effect are not determined easily. Toxicological method has been used to establish safe levels of exposure for environmental pollutants to have threshold health effect below which significant effects are unlikely to occur. However the conventional method cannot to establish safe levels of exposure for non-threshold pollutants have been used to express comprehensive pollution degree, not in detailed toxic effects. Acceptable exposure or risk levels are decides by policymakers who consider descriptions and estimates of risks together with social and economic benefits. This paper focuses on the concept development of risk assessment and describes some risks of environmental pollution based on the surveyed date in Korea. The current concepts of risk assessment in policy descisions can be explored and areas for possible improvement, given current scientific knowledge are identified. The experience of foreign countries can provide a realistic basis for evaluating the existing data of environmental pollutants. To improve the environmental quality, risk regulation should be managed as soon as possible in Korea.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.449-461
• /
• 2013

As the hydrofluoric acid leak in Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do or hydrochloric acid leak in Ulsan, Gyeongsangnam-do demonstrated, chemical related accidents are mostly caused by large amounts of volatile toxic substances leaking due to the damages of storage tank or pipe lines of transporter. Safety assessment is the most important concern because such toxic material accidents cause human and material damages to the environment and atmosphere of the surrounding area. Therefore, in this study, a hydrofluoric acid leaked from a storage tank was selected as the study example to simulate the leaked substance diffusing into the atmosphere and result analysis was performed through the numerical Analysis and diffusion simulation of ALOHA(Areal Location of Hazardous Atmospheres). the results of a qualitative evaluation of HAZOP (Hazard Operability)was looked at to find that the flange leak, operation delay due to leakage of the valve and the hose, and toxic gas leak were danger factors. Possibility of fire from temperature, pressure and corrosion, nitrogen supply overpressure and toxic leak from internal corrosion of tank or pipe joints were also found to be high. ALOHA resulting effects were a little different depending on the input data of Dense Gas Model, however, the wind direction and speed, rather than atmospheric stability, played bigger role. Higher wind speed affected the diffusion of contaminant. In term of the diffusion concentration, both liquid and gas leaks resulted in almost the same $LC_{50}$ and ALOHA AEGL-3(Acute Exposure Guidline Level) values. Each scenarios showed almost identical results in ALOHA model. Therefore, a buffer distance of toxic gas can be determined by comparing the numerical analysis and the diffusion concentration to the IDLH(Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health). Such study will help perform the risk assessment of toxic leak more efficiently and be utilized in establishing community emergency response system properly.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.21 no.4 s.55
• /
• pp.331-335
• /
• 2006

The single dose toxicity of Buxus microphylla var koreana Nakai was evaluated in ICR mice. Twenty five mice of each sex were randomly assigned to five groups of 5 mice each and were administered singly by gavage at dose of 0, 222, 667, 2,000 and 5,000 mg/kg body weight. After single administration, signs of toxicity were observed every hour for the first 6 hours and every day for 14 days. At the end of 14-day observation period, all animals were sacrificed for gross postmortem examinations. Neither significant toxic signs nor death was observed during the observation period. In addition, no pathological changes were noticed in macroscopic examination at necropsy. These results indicate that the single oral administration of Buxus microphylla var. Koreana Nakai did not cause any toxic effect at the dose of 5,000 mg/kg body weight for both sexes and $LD_{50}$ of Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai is greater than 5,000 mg/kg body weight.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.189-196
• /
• 2007

[ $TiO_2$ ] is widely used because it is non-toxic. Recently, however, nanometer size $TiO_2$ particles (P-25) have been produced and used to increase the photo catalysis efficiency. Nanometer-sized $TiO_2$ is efficient, but due to its small size ($20{\sim}30\;nm$), it can flow into ecosystems and into cells. Thus, it may affect human health. Additionally, $TiO_2$ can produce a second contaminant, OH-radical, which is a health risk for all living organisms during photo degradation reaction. Hence, when nanometer-sized $TiO_2$ flows into natural streams and attaches to living organisms, it will create health risks. We investigated the biological toxicity of this condition in zebrafish embryos. We observed abnormal morphology, hatching rate, and measured the catalase activity to determine anti-oxidation at 100 post fertilization hours. Zebrafish were somewhat affected by $TiO_2$ nanometer sized particles under UV-A (a condition similar to sunlight). Powdered $TiO_2$ is toxic to the zebrafish fly. Even without light, $TiO_2$ particles attached to embryos and flies, having an effect on both.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.9
• /
• pp.1264-1270
• /
• 2012

The ecotoxicological effects of nanomaterials on animal, plant, and soil microorganisms have been widely investigated; however, the nanotoxic effects of plant-soil interactive systems are still largely unknown. In the present study, the effects of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on the soil-plant interactive system were estimated. The growth of plant seedlings in the presence of different concentrations of ZnO NPs within microcosm soil (M) and natural soil (NS) was compared. Changes in dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and soil bacterial community diversity were estimated based on the microcosm with plants (M+P) and microcosm without plants (M-P) in different concentrations of ZnO NPs treatment. The shoot growth of M+P and NS+P was significantly inhibited by 24% and 31.5% relative to the control at a ZnO NPs concentration of 1,000 mg/kg. The DHA levels decreased following increased ZnO NPs concentration. Specifically, these levels were significantly reduced from 100 mg/kg in M-P and only 1,000 mg/kg in M+P. Different clustering groups of M+P and M-P were observed in the principal component analysis (PCA). Therefore, the M-P's soil bacterial population may have more toxic effects at a high dose of ZnO NPs than M+P's. The plant and activation of soil bacteria in the M+P may have a less toxic interactive effect on each of the soil bacterial populations and plant growth by the ZnO NPs attachment or absorption of plant roots surface. The soil-plant interactive system might help decrease the toxic effects of ZnO NPs on the rhizobacteria population.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.316-323
• /
• 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the potential allergenicity and oral toxicity of the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) protein expressed in Zoysia japonica, a herbicide-tolerant genetically modified (GM) zoysiagrass. In silico analysis of PAT showed no similarities with any known allergenic or toxic proteins, with <35% amino acid sequence homology with known allergens across a length of 80 amino acids and no continuous eight amino acid identity with known allergens. The PAT protein expressed in Z. japonica degraded very rapidly in the simulated gastric fluid in the presence of pepsin, and, no glycosylation of PAT was observed. The oral toxicity test revealed no mortality or toxic effect in mice following PAT administration at 4,000 mg/kg body weight. Our findings indicate that the PAT protein expressed in Zoysia japonica does not exhibit allergenic or toxic properties.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.31
• /
• pp.13.1-13.4
• /
• 2016

An analysis of patients and fatalities due to exposure to polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) shows that PHMG causes mainly lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis. However, no research on the other organs has been conducted on this matter yet. So, an in-depth discussion on toxicological techniques is needed to determine whether or not PHMG is toxic to organs other than just the lungs. For the test of target organ toxicity by PHMG exposure, a toxicokinetic study must first be conducted. However, measurement method for PHMG injected into the body has not yet been established because it is not easy to analyze polymer PHMG, so related base studies on analytical technique for PHMG including radio-labeling chemistry must come first. Moreover, research on exposure-biomarker and effect-biomarker must also be conducted, primarily related to clinical application. Several limitations seem to be expected to apply the biomarker study to the patient because much time has passed after exposure to the humidifier disinfectant. It is why a more comprehensive toxicological researches must be introduced to the causality for the victims.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.184-191
• /
• 2004

In this study, the separation of toxic dioxin 2,3,7,8-congeners by DB-5MS and SP-2331 GC columns which are widely used in HRGC/HRMS analysis was examined. Through the dioxin analysis of column performance check standard solution and fly ash sample, the isomer specific separation of 2,3,7,8-substituted dioxins from tetra to hexa-isomers on DB-5MS and SP-2331 columns were studied. The effect of I-TEQ value by these columns was also studied. The total concentrations of toxic dioxins for the column performance check standard solution were 508.4 ng/mL analyzed by DB-5MS and 515.8 ng/mL analyzed by SP-2331, respectively. The I-TEQ value obtained by both columns was shown to be almost equivalent for the column performance check standard solution and fly ash sample.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.182-187
• /
• 2020

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been manufactured in recent years and widely used in various fields. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which occur in AgNPs, destroy cell membranes. It is widely accepted that ROS generated in this manner inhibit microorganisms growth and causes toxic effects, However, it does not affect cell membranes directly but positively affects growth in plants with cell walls. The nanoball used in this experiment is a new material that generates ROS stably and is used in aqueous solution. Results of this study indicate a 30% increase in yield of Ginseng mixed with culture soil. The analysis of soil condition after cultivation showed that the possibility of repetitive cultivation in soil mixed with Nanoball was high. This suggests that Nanoball is an antimicrobial active material due to the microbial / extermination effect of pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, there may be potential applications in agricultural cultivation sites as a repetitive cultivation technology that reuses soil.

• Advances in materials Research
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.207-214
• /
• 2015

It has been reported in the technical literature that orotic acid can be used in order to induce improved crystallization of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers like poly(L-lactic acid), polyhydroxybutyrate and poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexaonat). The expected advantage of the changed crystalline structure is a reinforcing effect of the polymers. A lot of papers reported about the application of inorganic and organic agents for acceleration of heterogeneous nucleation. This study reports on an attempt to use orotic acid as appropriate non-toxic nucleating agent for improving mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene. Special attention is given to demonstrate the effect of nucleation in a typical melt spinning process in order to improve the mechanical properties. The effects were demonstrated using rheology, thermal analysis and tensile testing.