• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.56-61
• /
• 2017

This study investigated the feasibility of a statistical approach for soil recycling through the prediction of BaP, DahA and total PAH (${\Sigma}PAH$) concentrations from BaA concentration. As results of regression, excellent linear correlations ($R^2$ > 0.90) were observed between BaA and BaP (or DahA) concentrations. When a developed prediction equation was applied to other investigations as a validation study, good prediction results were obtained. The predictive model showed very good correlation between the measured and calculated BaP. From this equation, BaA was an apparently important hydrocarbon for the prediction of PAHs. This model might provide a potentially useful tool for the calculation of average BaP, DahA and ${\Sigma}PAH$ without additional tests.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.312-316
• /
• 2015

Background: Unleaded petrol contains significant amounts of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX). Toxic responses following occupational exposure to unleaded petrol have been evaluated only in limited studies. The main purpose of this study was to ascertain whether (or not) exposure to unleaded petrol, under normal working conditions, is associated with any hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic response. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 200 employees of Shiraz petrol stations with current exposure to unleaded petrol, as well as 200 unexposed employees, were investigated. Atmospheric concentrations of BTX were measured using standard methods. Additionally, urine and fasting blood samples were taken from individuals for urinalysis and routine biochemical tests of kidney and liver function. Results: The geometric means of airborne concentrations of BTX were found to be $0.8mg\;m^{-3}$, $1.4mg\;m^{-3}$, and $2.8mg\;m^{-3}$, respectively. Additionally, means of direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea and plasma creatinine were significantly higher in exposed individuals than in unexposed employees. Conversely, serum albumin, total protein, and serum concentrations of calcium and sodium were significantly lower in petrol station workers than in their unexposed counterparts. Conclusion: The average exposure of petrol station workers to BTX did not exceed the current threshold limit values (TLVs) for these chemicals. However, evidence of subtle, subclinical and prepathologic early liver and kidney dysfunction was evident in exposed individuals.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.61 no.4
• /
• pp.335-340
• /
• 2018

Hemoglobin (Hb) is a member of heme-protein that can perform catalytic non-specific chain reaction in the presence of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$). Catalytic ability of Hb to degrade pyrene was demonstrated using soil contaminated with $^{14}C$ pyrene and 10 mg pyrene /kg soil. The composition of soil was similar to previously used soil except that it had lower organic carbon content. Bench scale laboratory tests were conducted in the presence of buffer only, $H_2O_2$ only, or Hb with $H_2O_2$ for 24 h. After 24 h reaction, 0.1 and 1.3% of $^{14}C$ pyrene in contaminated soil were mineralized with $H_2O_2$ only or Hb plus $H_2O_2$. No mineralization to $^{14}CO_2$ was detected with buffer only. Approximately 12.2% of pyrene was degraded in the presence of $H_2O_2$ only while 44.0% of pyrene was degraded in the presence of Hb plus $H_2O_2$ during 24 h of catalytic reaction. When degradation intermediate products were examined, two chemicals were observed in the presence of $H_2O_2$ only while 25 chemicals were found in the presence of Hb plus $H_2O_2$. While most degradation products were simple hydrocarbons, four of the 27 chemicals had aromatic rings. However, none of these four chemicals was structurally related to pyrene. These results suggest that Hb catalytic system could be used to treat pyrene-contaminated soil as an efficient and speedy remediation technology. In addition, intermediate products generated by this system are not greatly affected by composition change in soil organic matter content.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.52.3-53
• /
• 2018

We compare vertical profiles of the extraplanar $H{\alpha}$ emission to those of the UV emission for 38 nearby edge-on late-type galaxies. It is found that detection of the "diffuse" extraplanar dust (eDust), traced by the vertically extended, scattered UV starlight, always coincides with the presence of the extraplanar $H{\alpha}$ emission. A strong correlation between the scale heights of the extraplanar $H{\alpha}$ and UV emissions is also found; the scale height at $H{\alpha}$ is found to be ~0.74 of the scale height at FUV. Our results may indicate the multiphase nature of the diffuse ionized gas and dust in the galactic halos. The existence of eDust in galaxies where the extraplanar $H{\alpha}$ emission is detected suggests that a larger portion of the extraplanar $H{\alpha}$ emission than that predicted in previous studies may be caused by $H{\alpha}$ photons that originate from H II regions in the galactic plane and are subsequently scattered by the eDust. This possibility raise an advantage in studying the extraplanar diffuse ionized gas. We also find that the scale heights of the extraplanar emissions normalized to the galaxy size correlate well with the star formation rate surface density of the galaxies. The properties of eDust in our galaxies is on a continuation line of that found through previous observations of the extraplanar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emission in more active galaxies known to have galactic winds.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.7
• /
• pp.999-1010
• /
• 2021

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous in the environment. They are highly toxigenic and carcinogenic. Probiotic bacteria isolated from fermented foods were tested to check their ability to degrade and/or detoxify PAHs. Five probiotic bacteria with distinct morphologies were isolated from a mixture of 26 fermented foods co-cultured with benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) containing Bushnell Haas minimal broth. Among them, B. velezensis (PMC10) significantly reduced the abundance of BaP in the broth. PMC10 completely degraded BaP presented at a lower concentration in broth culture. B. velezensis also showed a clear zone of degradation on a BaP-coated Bushnell Haas agar plate. Gene expression profiling showed significant increases of PAH ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases and 4-hydroxybenzoate 3-monooxygenase genes in B. velezensis in response to BaP treatment. In addtion, both live and heat-killed B. velezensis removed BaP and naphthalene (Nap) from phosphate buffer solution. Live B. velezensis did not show any cytotoxicity to macrophage or human dermal fibroblast cells. Live-cell and cell-free supernatant of B. velezensis showed potential anti-inflammatory effects. Cell-free supernatant and extract of B. velezensis also showed free radical scavenging effects. These results highlight the prospective ability of B. velezensis to biodegrade and remove toxic PAHs from the human body and suggest that the biodegradation of BaP might be regulated by ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase-initiated metabolic pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.220-226
• /
• 2021

The role of particulate matter (PM) in health problems including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and pneumonia is becoming increasingly clear. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, major components of PM, bind to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhRs) and promote the expression of CYP1A1 through the AhR pathway in keratinocytes. Activation of AhRs in skin cells is associated with cell differentiation in keratinocytes and inflammation, resulting in dermatological lesions. Oleanolic acid, a natural component of L. lucidum, also has anti-inflammation, anticancer, and antioxidant characteristics. Previously, we found that PM10 induced the AhR signaling pathway and autophagy process in keratinocytes. Here, we investigated the effects of oleanolic acid on PM10-induced skin aging. We observed that oleanolic acid inhibits PM10-induced CYP1A1 and decreases the increase of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 6 induced by PM10. A supernatant derived from keratinocytes cotreated with oleanolic acid and PM10 inhibited the release of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in dermal fibroblasts. Also, the AhR-mediated autophagy disruption was recovered by oleanolic acid. Thus, oleanolic acid may be a potential treatment for addressing PM10-induced skin aging.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.391-396
• /
• 2011

Recently it revealed that urban runoff was one of the major source that contaminates the river, lake and estuary because it contains toxic compounds such as heavy metals and Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as suspended solids, organic compounds and nutrients. The engineered polymetric media in this research were developed for reducing pollutants in urban runoff and would be used to be charged in the storm water treatment equipment. The engineered media that were composed of the polypropylene was foamed to have the buoyancy and then shattered by mechanical for the efficient filtration. In this study, Spherical Expanded Polypropylene Media (SEPM), Crushed Polypropylene Media (CPM), Large Crushed Expanded Polypropylene Media (LCEPM), Small Crushed Expanded Polypropylene Media (SCEPM) were made from polypropylene. Surface characteristics of the developed media were determined by scanning electron microscopy analyses. Also, removal efficiencies of SS, $COD_{Cr}$ in the artificial road runoff and the bed headloss by media and particle pollutants captured by media were examined. Results on the surface characteristics of media indicated that SCEPM had the largest specific surface area, $0.80m^2/g$, the lowest specific gravity, 0.091, and the biggest porosity, 0.63, because of crushing the media at the process of manufacturing. And the SCEPM's removal efficiencies of TSS and $COD_{Cr}$ in the artificial road runoff were 92.9% and 83.6%, respectively and the headloss of SCEPM was the least of them.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.227-234
• /
• 2022

Background and Purpose: In 2021, lung cancer in school food workers was first recognized as an occupational cancer. The classification of the carcinogenicity of cooking fumes by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was based on Chinese epidemiological data. This study aimed to determine the hazard levels of school cooking fumes in Korea. Materials and Methods: Based on public school cafeterias in one area, 25 locations were selected for the survey according to the number per school type, ventilation states, and environmental pre-assessments of cafeterias. Two inside cooking areas using a heat source and one outside cooking area were selected as control measurement points. Measurements of CO, CO₂, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), including benzene, formaldehyde, and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1, respectively), were taken. The concentrations and patterns of each substance in the kitchens were compared with the outdoor air quality. Result: Known carcinogens, such as the concentrations of PAHs, formaldehyde, TVOC (benzene), and particulate matter in school cooking fumes, were all detected at similar or slightly higher levels than those found outside. Additionally, substances were detected at relatively low concentrations compared to the Chinese cooking fumes reported in the literature. However, the short-term exposure to high concentrations of CO (or composite exposure with CO₂) and PM2.5 in this study were shown. Conclusion: The school cooking fumes in South Korea was a relatively less harmful than Chinese cooking fumes, however short-term, high exposure of toxic substances can cause a critical health effect.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.899-905
• /
• 2022

Seawater management via Total Pollutant Load Management System (TPLMS) is crucial because it enables local governments to optimally allocate pollutant loads in order to best reduce pollutant load burden while supporting reasonable development. This study analyzed the feasibility of introducing a TPLMS on Gwangyang Bay, a specially managed sea area. We researched the inflow of pollutants and analyzed the present state of seawater quality in Gwangyang Bay and then discussed our findings and reviewed other specially managed sea area with the Gwangyang Bay Advisory Committee. We conclude that TPLMS on Gwangyang Bay is needed and suggest checking economic feasibility, ef iciency, and conducting continuous monitoring of seawater quality indicators such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), heavy metals and polcyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) prior to introducing a TPLMS in Gwangyang Bay.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.96-101
• /
• 2023

Particulate matter is an air pollutant composed of various components, and has adverse effects on the human body. Particulate matter is known to induce cell death by generating an imbalance in the antioxidant system; however, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. In the present study, we demonstrated the cytotoxic effects of the size and composition of particulate matter on small intestine cells. We found that particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5) with extraction ion (EI) components (PM_2.5 EI), is more cytotoxic than PM containing only polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Additionally, PM-induced cell death is characteristic of ferroptosis, and includes iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Furthermore, ferroptosis inhibitor as liproxstatin-1 and iron-chelator as deferiprone attenuated cell mortality, lipid peroxidation, iron accumulation, and ROS production after PM_2.5 EI treatment in human small intestinal cells. These results suggest that PM_2.5 EI may increase ferroptotic-cell death by iron accumulation and ROS generation, and offer a potential therapeutic clue for inflammatory bowel diseases in human small intestinal cells.