• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 1997

The study on the cytotoxicity of heavy metals was carried out to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of those on mouse L929 fibroblast cell in 96-well microtiter plates. The cytotoxicity was assayed by the neutral red, tetrazolium MTT, total protein, micronuclei test. The cytotoxicity of the heavy metals by neutral red and tetrazolium MTT was showed in order, cadmium > zinc > nickel for the cationic metals tested. The effect of metal-metal interaction on the cytotoxicity showed a marked reduction of cadmium toxicity by zinc, to a lesser degree, by nickel. The amount of total protein in treated group added heavy metals was less than that of the control and treated cadmium alone was less than those of combination with nickel or zinc. At midpoint cytotoxicity values of heavy metals, the frequency of micronuclei on the cell treated heavy metals was more than that of control and treated cadmium alone was more than those of combination with nickel or zinc. From those results, it could be suggested that the heavy metals decreased the viability of mouse fibroblast L929 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and have cytogenic toxic effects, but mixed group decreased the cytotoxic and cytogenic toxicity on L929 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.519-527
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• 1996

To examine the possibility of biomonitoring of heavy metal removal ability and soil, a study was performed to investigate the heavy metal removal ability and metal-binding protein (MBP) as detoxification process using Oenanthe stolonifera. After O. stolonifera was exposed to individuals (cadmium, zinc) and mixture (cadmium+zinc)for 4 days, removal rate of heavy metal and pH in the treatment medium was measured. MBP was assayed by means of ion exchange column chromatography. The exposure to mixture (Cd:76.8%, Zn:75%) rather than individuals (Cd:82.9%, Zn:90.4%) showed a synergism raising the toxic effect. Initial removal rate was different for each heavy metal : in case of exposure to cadmium it was over 60% on day 1, while for zinc it was 75~90% on day 4. Throughout the experimental period, pH value of treatment medium continuously decreased, since cortex in the roots may secret organic acid to adjust and prevent toxicity of metals. The existence or MBP in the 70~80 fraction and the presence of Zn-enzyme pool was ascertained with the column chromatography. This study demonstrated a possibility that heavy utilized as a biomarker of heavy metal pollution.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.31-36
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• 1981

Heavy metals which are present as trace elements in human body have been known to modify various enzymatic reaction. These metals can be essential or non-essential. Zinc, copper and calcium are essential in maintaining some biological processes, whereas non-essential metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury produce accumulatve toxic effect. Cadmium accumulated in pancreas can cause toxicity and damage of pancreatic cells, thereby influencing CHO metabolism. Lead compounds are known to produce toxic effects on the kidney, digestive system and brain fellowed by inhibition of activity of ${\rho}-aminolevulinic$ acid and biosynthesis of hemoproteins and cytochrome. Evidence has been accumulated that zinc not only acts as a cofactor in enzyme reaction but also prevents toxic effect induced by heavy metal such as copper and cadmium. To demonstrate the effect of heavy metals on pancreatic secretion, part of uncinate pancreas was taken and incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer with heavy metals used. Additional treatment with CCK-OP was performed when needed. After incubation during different period of time, medium was analyzed for amylase activity using Bernfeld's method. The present study was attempted in order to elucidate the effect of several kinds of heavy metal on exocrine pancreatic secretion in vitro. The results obtained are as follows: 1) CCK-OP stimulated significantly amylase release from pancreatic fragments in vitro. 2) CCK-OP response of amylase release from pancreatic fragments was inhibited by treatmant with cadmium, especially high doses of cadmium. 3) CCK-OP response of amylase release from pancreatic fragments was inhibited when pretreated with $10^{-4}M$ copper chloride. 4) Lead chloride at the concentration of $10^{-3}M\;and\;10^{4}M$ stimulated the basal amylase release in vitro but CCK-OP response did not augment by lead chloride. 5) Zine chloride did not affect amylase release from pancreatic fragment in vitro. From the results mentioned above, it is suggested that CCK-OP response was inhibited it the amylase release from pancreatic fragments pretreated with cadmium and copper chloride.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.640-648
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the inhibitory effect of heavy metals [Cd(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II)] on the growth of Rhodobacter species (Rhodobacter blasticus, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, and Rhodobacter capsulatus) and their potential use for Cd(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) bioremoval from liquid media. The presence of toxic heavy metals prolonged the lag phase in growth and reduced biomass growth for all three Rhodobacter species at concentrations of Cd, Ni, and Zn above 10 mg/L. However, all three Rhodobacter species also had a relatively high specific growth rate against each toxic heavy metal stress test for concentrations below 20 mg/L and possessed a potential bioaccumulation ability. The removal efficiency by all strains was highest for Cd(II), followed by Ni(II), and lowest for Zn(II), with the removal efficiency of Cd(II) by Rhodobacter species being 66% or more. Among the three strains, R. blasticus showed a higher removal efficiency of Cd(II) and Ni(II) than R. capsulatus and R. sphaeroides. Results also suggest that the bio-removal processes of toxic heavy metal ions by Rhodobacter species involve both bioaccumulation (intracellular uptake) and biosorption (surface binding).

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2009

The exposure of human beings to toxic trace metals (Cu, Zn) continues to be an important public health issue and concern. This study was conducted to assess the exposure to trace metals (Cu, Zn) in the general Korean population by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Serum samples were obtained from 40 healthy volunteers. Specimens were collected in special container and we applied sample processing to minimize contamination. We used ICP-MS and AAS to analyze simultaneously the concentration of metals including copper, zinc. Distribution of trace metal levels in the general healthy population showed lower values. The results in this study can provide background data for clinical studies associated with trace metal exposure in the korean population.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.267.2-267.2
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• 2016

Semiconductor photo-catalysis offers the potential for complete removal of toxic chemicals through its effective and broad potential applications. Various new compounds and materials for chemical catalysts were synthesized in the past few decades. As one of the most important II-VI group semiconductors, zinc sulfide (ZnS) with a wide direct band gap of 3.8 eV has been extensively investigated and used as a catalyst in photochemistry, environmental protection and in optoelectronic devices. In this work, the ZnS films and nanostructures have been successfully prepared by wet chemical method. We show that the agglomerates with four successive scales are always observed in the case of the homogeneous precipitation of zinc sulfide. Hydrodynamics plays a crucial role to determine the size of the largest agglomerates; however, other factors should be invoked to interpret the complete structure. In addition, studies of the photocatalytic properties by exposure to UV light irradiation demonstrated that ZnS nanocrystals (NCs) are good photo-catalysts as a result of the rapid generation of electron-hole pairs by photo-excitation and the highly negative reduction potentials of excited electrons. A combination of their unique features of high surface-to volume ratios, carrier dynamics and rich photo-catalytic suggests that these ZnS NCs will find many interesting applications in semiconductor photo-catalysis, solar cells, environmental remediation, and nano-devices.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.725-730
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• 1994

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary zinc (Zn) and/or cadmium (Cd) on hepatic microsomal and cytosol enzyme activities. Male Spraque-Dawley rats (110$\pm$10g ) received zinc (0, 30 and 300 ppm/) and Cd-treated groups were administered oral intubation with Cd chloride (5.0mg/kg of body weight 0 at the same time once a week. The effect of Cd on the activity of hepatic cytochromep-450 , xanthine oxidase(X. O) and superoxide dismutase (SOd) was studied in rats. Cd oral intubation resulted in a decrease in cytochrome P-450 content and SOD activity whereas a significant increase in the X.O. activity was observed was observed . Intake of excessive Zn led to an increased activity of microsomal alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) , whereas Zn deficiency group led to a decreased group. The mechanism by which Zn induces the decreasing of Cd toxicity in rats, seems to rely on the protection of the enzyme systems P-450, ADH, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and X.O. in the liver, possibly by forming non-toxic Cd metallothionein. These results indicate that Zn and Cd regulation might occur via inhibitory protein component of the $H_2O$$_2$ -generator system.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.115-119
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• 2010

Zinc (Zn) is an essential element required for growth and development of plants. However, Zn can be toxic to plants when it presents excessive amount. Phytoextraction is an economic and environment-friendly technique using plants to clean-up metal-contaminated soils. However, the technique cannot be applied in highly metal-contaminated areas because plants will not normally grow in such conditions. Therefore, this research focuses on identifying chelating agents which are biodegradable and applicable to highly metalcontaminated areas. Zn as a target metal and cysteine (Cys), histidine (His), malate, citrate oxalate, succinate, and ethylenediamine (EDA) as biodegradable chelating agents were selected. Plants were grown on agar media containing various chelating agents with Zn to analyze the effect on plant growth. Malate and His slightly increased the inhibitory effect of Zn on root growth of plants, whereas Cys, citrate, oxalate, and succinate did not show significant effects. However, EDA strongly diminished the inhibitory effect of Zn on root growth. The effect of EDA is correlated with decreased Zn uptake into the plants. In conclusion, as biodegradable chelating agents, EDA is a good candidate for growth of plants in highly Zn-contaminated areas.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2010

Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) such as tetrachloroethylene (PCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) are the contaminants most frequently found in soil and groundwater. They have a potential to be toxic to and persistent in environment. This study is focused on selection of zero-valent metal and ores for the removal of high concentration PCE or 1,1,1-TCA and mixture of two compound. For the screening of suitable metals, we measured dechlorination rate, removal capacities and economics by using batch reactor test. This results suggest that removal rate and dechlorination of high quality iron and zinc are higher than slag and nature ores like zinc and manganese. Among nature ores, zinc ores(64% purity) have highest removal capacities. And in economics zinc ores is 10 times better than high quality metal tested. We conclude zinc ore is most suitable metal for the removal of PCE or 1,1,1-TCA.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2019

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been recognized as both useful tools and potentially toxic materials in various industrial and medicinal fields. Previously, we found that zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs that are neurotoxic to human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells are mediated by lipoxygenase (LOX), not cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Here, we examined whether human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are different from neuroblastoma cells, might exhibit COX-2- and/or LOX-dependent cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs. Additionally, changes in annexin V expression, caspase-3/7 activity, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) induced by ZnO NPs and ZnO were compared at 12 hr and 24 hr after exposure using flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity was measured based on lactate dehydrogenase activity and confirmed by trypan blue staining. Rescue studies were executed using zinc or iron chelators. ZnO NPs and ZnO showed similar dose-dependent and significant cytotoxic effects at concentrations ${\geq}15{\mu}g/mL$, in accordance with annexin V expression, caspase-3/7 activity, and MMP results. Human MSCs exhibited both COX-2 and LOX-mediated cytotoxicity after exposure to ZnO NPs, which was different from human neuroblastoma cells. Zinc and iron chelators significantly attenuated ZnO NPs-induced toxicity. Conclusively, these results suggest that ZnO NPs exhibit both COX-2- and LOX-mediated apoptosis by the participation of mitochondrial dysfunction in human MSC cultures.