• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.173-177
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• 2004

The acute toxicities of two major anti-pathogenic veterinary medicines, i.e., ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin, and six benzimidazole anthelmintics, i.e., albendazole, thiabendazole, flubendazole, febantel, fenbendazole, and oxfendazole, were evaluated with a marine bacterium, Vibrio fischeri, and invertebrate Daphnia magna. These veterinary medical products have been widely used for farm animals, but their impact on aquatic fauna has seldom been investigated. In general, daphnids responded as much as 3 orders of magnitude more sensitively to the tested pharmaceuticals than the microbes. For Daphnia, the most toxic product among the tested anthelmintics was fenbendazole, followed by flubendazole > albendazole ${\approx}$ febantel > thiabendazole > oxfendazole. Daphnids' EC50 values obtained from 48 to 96 hrs of fenbendazole exposure ranged from 2.7 to 6.3 ug/L. The mixture toxicity of the test pharmaceuticals was generally additive in nature and was well predicted by a concentration addition model. Using the predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) of the benzimidazole derivatives estimated from this study, and predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) of these pharmaceuticals, the risk quotients of each anthelmintics were calculated. Most of the test anthelmintic compounds resulted in risk quotients greater than 1. Especially, risk quotient for fenbendazole was 2,791, which strongly indicates this compound might cause severe ecological consequences, should no future action be taken. This study is the first report on the aquatic toxicities and potential ecological risk of major anthelmintic and antimicrobial veterinary products in Korea. The result of this study provides information necessary for conducting more detailed ecological risk assessment of pharmaceutical products in ambient water and guiding proper management decision.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.327-337
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• 2007

Plankton communities have close relationships with environmental changes in water columns. Thus, the use of plankton as a biological tool for assessing the marine ecosystem health may be effective. Major issue regarding coastal pollution has been usually recognized as phytoplankton blooms or red tides caused by the eutrophication, an increase in concentration of inorganic nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. However, in order to understand the effects of the overall pollution on marine ecosystem, the organic pollutants as well as the inorganic nutrients should be also considered. For understanding the effects of the organic pollution, among the planktonic organisms, heterotrophic bacteria, heterotrophic flagellates and ciliates should be investigated. Generally, there are three approaches for assessing the marine ecosystem health using the plankton taxa or plankton communities. The first one is a community-based approach such as diversity index and chlorophyll a concentration which are common in analysis of the plankton communities. The second is an indiviual-based approach which is to monitor the pollution indicative species. This approach needs one's ability to identify the plankton to species level. The last approach is a bioassay of toxicity, which can be applied to the plankton. A pilot study in Masan Bay was conducted to assess the effects of the inorganic and organic pollution. In this article, a new approach using plankton communities was tentatively presented as a biological tool for assessing the ecosystem health of Masan Bay.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.47-66
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• 2020

Objectives The purpose of this study is to evaluate the bone healing effect of Dohongsamul-tang (Taohongsiwu-tang; DH) on femur fractured mice. Methods Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (naive, control, positive control and DH). All groups except naive group were subjected to bone fracture on both hind limb femurs. Naive group received no treatment at all. Control group was fed with normal saline, and positive control group was orally medicated with tramadol. DH-treated group was orally medicated with DH. We analysed the levels of BMP2, COX2, Col2a1, Sox9, Runx2, and Osterix genes on 3, 7 and 14 days after fracture. Alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured for safety assessment. Results In morphological, histological analysis, callus formation process of DH-treated group was faster than the control group. BMP2, Sox9 gene expression were significantly increased at 7 days after fracture compared to the control group. COX2, Col2a1 gene expression were significantly increased at 14 days after fracture compared to the control group. Total cholesterol was significantly increased by DH at 3 days. Triglyceride was significantly decreased by DH at 3, 7 days after fracture compared to the control group. Conclusions Dohongsamul-tang promoted bone healing process after fracture by stimulating the bone regeneration factors. And DH shows no hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and serum lipid abnormality. In conclusion, it seems that DH helps to promote fracture regeneration after bone fracture by regulating gene expressions related to bone repair.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.657-665
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• 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate whether supplementation of pentoxifylline (PTX; phosphodiesterase inhibitor) to thawed boar semen improves the post-thaw motility of sperm and affects the efficiency of artificial insemination (AI) and further development. To determine the concentration of PTX for AI, frozen-thawed semen was incubated with 0, 5, 10, and 20 mM PTX in an extender freezing medium, respectively, after thawing. Kinematic properties of sperm were examined with a computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) system. In addition, viability and mitochondrial activity were also tested by LIVE/DEAD and a MitoTracker kit. There were no significant differences in the kinetic parameters of thawed sperm between control and treatment groups, but overall assessment parameters such as motility and rapid progressive were higher in the 10 mM PTX group. In the viability and mitochondrial assay, there were no significant differences observed in the PTX treatment, compared to the control. For further analysis, artificial inseminations were performed using frozen semen and 10 mM PTX treated cryopreserved semen, respectively. There were no differences in pregnancy rates and fetus weights among the groups until 30 and 40 days, but litter size was reduced and relatively low-birth weight was observed in the PTX group. In summary, our findings suggest that enhancement of in vitro sperm quality or non-toxicity supplemented by PTX may have detrimental effects on fetus development.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.15-22
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• 2018

The main objective of this study was to analyse heavy metals in sediments obtained from Gwangan bridge and to evaluate pollution intensity of the sites. To evaluate pollution intensity of the sites, we used enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index, potential ecological risk factor (PERF), and mean PEL quotient. Pollution intensities of these sites were evaluated by above methods, and we found most dangerous heavy metal and polluted sites. All sites showed non polluted or low risk for the heavy metals such as Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, but all sites were categorized as minor enrichment for Cd. G4 was evaluated as moderately polluted by Cd ($I_{geo}$) but other sites were unpolluted by heavy metals. In summary, Cd was found to be higher concentrations for all sites. For G4 and G5 sites, Pb and Zn in addition to Cd were higher than other sites.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.211-218
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• 2007

Even though some standard developmental bioassay protocols for environmental assessment using sea urchins have already been described, there have not been many attempts to apply and modify these protocols with Korean species. Therefore, there is a strong need to establish standard bioassay protocols using sea urchins commonly found in Korea. Prior to developing a new protocol, it is essential to know the optimal conditions for the bioassay procedures. We investigated the optimal conditions (temperature, salinity, and embryo density) of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius. The ideal temperature for developmental bioassay of S. intermedius was determined to be $15^{\circ}C$ and the time required for the embryo to become pluteus larva was 72 hr. The optimal range of salinity for the embryo toxicity using S. intermedius was between 30 to 32 psu, which is similar to the range found in the natural habitats of adult populations. The optimum density of embryos at the beginning of bioassays was 100 embryos/mL. When the assays were carried out at higher densities, the proportion of normally developed larvae decreased significantly.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.396-401
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• 2014

Nanomaterials have been widely used in many fields. This study investigates the effects of metal oxide nanoparticles (CuO, NiO, $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$, $Co_3O_4$, ZnO) on germination and germination index (G.I.) of seeds, Lactuca and Raphanus. Under aqueous exposure, CuO on Lactuca shows the most significant impacts on activities compared to others, showing $EC_{50s}$ for germination and G.I. as 0.46 mg/L and 0.37%, respectively. The effects of nanoparticle phytotoxicity on seed Lactuca was much higher than that of Raphanus. In general, the toxicities on seed germination and germination index were as following orders : CuO > ZnO > NiO ${\gg}$ $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$, $Co_3O_4$. No measurable inhibition was observed at 1,000 mg/L (maximum exposure concentration) of $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$, $Co_3O_4$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.149-156
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• 1999

In the United States (U.S.), the monitored natural attenuation (MNA) approach has been used as an alternative remedial option for organic and inorganic compounds retained in soil and dissolved in groundwater. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines the MNA as“in-situ naturally-occurring processes include biodegradation, diffusion, dilution, sorption, volatilization, and/or chemical and biochemical stabilization of contaminants and reduce contaminant toxicity, mobility or volume to the levels that are protective of human health and the environment”. The Department of Soil Environment. National Institute Environmental Research (NIER) is in the process for demonstrating the MNA approach as a potential remedial option for the BTEX contaminated site in Uiwang City. The project is charactering the research site in terms of the nature and extend of contamination, biological degradation rate, and geochemical and hydrological properties. The microbial-degradation rate and effectiveness of nutrient and redox supplements will be determined through laboratory batch and column tests. The geochemical process will be monitored for determining the concentration changes of chemical species involved in the electron transfer processes that include methanogenesis, sulfate and iron reduction, denitrification, and aerobic respiration. Through field works, critical soil and hydrogeologic parameters will be acquired to simulate the effects of dispersion, advection, sorption, and biodegradation on the fate and transport of the dissolved-phase BTEX plume using Bioplume III model. The objectives of this multi-years research project are (1) to evaluate the MNA approach using the BTEX contaminated site in Uiwang City, (2) to establish a standard protocol for future application of the approach, (3) to investigate applicability of the passive approach as a secondary treatment remedy after active treatments. In this presentation, the overall picture and philosophy behind the MNA approach will be reviewed. Detailed discussions of the site characterization/monitoring plans and risk-based decision-making processes for the demonstration site will be included.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2011

Arsenic is one of the most abundant contaminant found in waste mine tailings and soil around refinery, Because of its carcinogenic property, the countries like United States of America and Europe have made stringent regulations which govern the concentration of arsenic in soil. The study focuses on solidification/stabilization for removal of arsenic from soil. Cement was used to solidify/stabilize the abandoned soil primarily contaminated with arsenic (up to 68.92 mg/kg) in and around refinery. Solidified/stabilized (s/s) forms in the range of cement contents 5-30 wt % were evaluated to determine the optimal binder content. Revised Korean standard leaching tests (KSLT), toxicity characteristic leaching procedures (TCLP), Old Korea standard leaching test and revised Korea standard leaching test were used for chemical characterization of the S/S forms. The addition of 10 % cement remarkably reduced the leachability of arsenic in contaminated soil. The concentration of As in leachate of TCLP, KSLT, and old KSLT for soil are below the standard. However that in leachate of revised KSLT is above the standard. Because of extraction fluid used in revised KSLT is very strong acid. It is arsenic in s/s with binder should be exhaustingly leached. Therefore S/S process would not be available for As treatment in soil in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.49-58
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• 2019

There was a difference in recognition of chemical substances according to cognitive level of GHS, knowledge level of organic solvents and each department of workers. they were showed higher recognition of chemical substances by research group, partially group and good group. To identify the relationship between types of job classification(group of department, group of GHS cognitive level and group of organic solvents knowledge level) and the levels of recognition of chemical substances, a total of 153 workers in a small and medium business workplace. Descriptive statistics(SAS ver 9.2)was performed. the results of recognition of chemical substances were analyzed the mean and standard deviation by t-test, and anova, (P=0.05). These results In general, small- and medium-sized workplaces have low levels of GHS awareness and organic solvents knowledge. The perception of chemical substances according to the departments. In general, the demand for chemical substances education was highly suggested regardless of the job type. There was a significant difference in the perception of health, safety and practice according to the level of GHS cognitive, and a high perception in the incomplete group. There was not much difference in average awareness of health, safety and practice according to organic solvents knowledge level, but there was a high perception in good group. It is very important to regularly check the worker's perception of the workplace and identify problems with the work environment and improve the work environment. In addition, each department presents appropriate safety and health education such as chemical process safety, toxicity of chemical substances and human exposure. We also propose a chemical substances assessment and management plan that integrates safety and health.