• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.466-472
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• 2011

Hazardous chemicals, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals, are known as being harmful to human health were included in oils released by the Herbei Spirit Oil Spill accident in December 2007. To investigate changes of eating habits by the exposure to harmful substances, we conducted 5 focus group interviews for residents at Taean coast areas, who had experienced the oil spill accident. Participants included 46 women (mean age: $57.2{\pm}10.9$) who were mainly responsible for preparing family meals. Focus group discussions were audio-taped, transcribed and categorized by themes. Participants expressed more frequent illness symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, visual loss, and skin diseases after the accident. They mentioned that their worries about economic hardship and worsened health status since the accident induced mental problems, such as depression about their children. Regarding eating habits, participants reported less intakes of fishes and meats and relatively more intakes of vegetables and kimchi due to the lack of household incomes after the accident. Although the participants had been used to collecting or catching fish or shellfish for their consumption previously, they mainly purchased these foods from local markets after the accident. Changes of eating habits induced by the accident included drinking boiled water and having steamed or fried seafood rather than raw seafood. Changes of food intakes occurred less frequently in older adults due to their longterm fixed eating habits, although they felt uncomfortable for having raw fish. The findings of this study clearly present that the exposure of hazardous substances by the oil spill accident had a significant impact on changes in eating habits besides economic, physical, and mental problems among the residents in Taean. Continuous health and nutrition monitoring and support are needed.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.10 no.1_2
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• pp.1-14
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• 1995

The purpose of this research is to assess the health risk of pollutants in drinking water and recommend the guidelines and management plans for maintaining good quality of drinking water. This study has been funded as a national project for three years from 1992 to 1995. This study(the second year, 1993-1994) was conducted to monitor 32 species of carcinogenic chemicals such as volatile organic compounds(VOCs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs), pesticides and heavy metals of drinking water at some area in six cities of Korea, and evaluate health risk due to these chemicals through four main steps of risk assessment in drinking water. In hazard identification, 32 species of carcinogenic chemicals were identified by the US EPA classification system. In the step of exposure assessment, sampling of raw, treated and tap water from the public water supply system had been conducted from 1993 to 1994, and 32 chemicals were analyzed. In dose-response assessment, cancer potencies, unit risk estimates and virtually safe doses of carcinogens were obtained by TOX-RISK (Version 3.1). In risk characterization of detected chemicals, health risk due to carcinogens such as vinyl chloride, carbon tetrachloride, dichloromethane, 1, 2-dichloromethane, chloroform, benzene and arsenic of tap water in several cities exceeded 10$^{-5}$ level. We suggest that non-regulated chemicals which exceed 10$^{-5}$ excess cancer risk level, such as vinyl chloride, carbon tetrachloride and 1, 2-dichloroethane, should be monitored periodically and be regulated by the Drinking Water Management Act, and database for exposure parameter of our own situation should be established.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.500-505
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• 2004

While more attention has been paid in recent years to urban point source pollution control, no considerable measures have been taken to control urban non-point source pollution. Contaminants from non-point sources deposited on urban impermeable surfaces such as road and highway are easily released to the public waters by rainfall, leading to the deterioration in water quality in urban area. The present study investigated a system using filter media to reduce the level of contamination in urban road runoff. Three different media, designated as J-P (polypropylene, blowing type), B-P (polypropylene, fiber type), and P-F (Polyvinyl alcohol, cube and sheet type) were evaluated on the basis of pollutant removal efficiency as well as hydraulic property. Experiments were peformed using a 1/4-scale treatment unit at various pollutant roading and rainfall intensity with real rainwater runoff collected from road surfaces. The results at different rainfall intensities shows that the medium J-P is superior to the other media for water permeability. J-P was not blocked at 10 mm/hr rainfall and its permeability was stable. On the other hand, B-P and P-F resulted in substantial overflow ratio even at I mm/hr rainfall intensity. Comparing treatment efficiencies for suspended solids, all media showed similar removal ranged from 91 % to 95%. However, J-P seems to be better than the other media considering its higher water permeability. J-P and P-F, both hydrophobic, yielded over 76% of heavy metal removal. But, the hydrophilic media B-P showed much smaller removal ranging from 26% to 47%. This indicates that J-P and P-F are beneficial to remove heavy metal due to their hydrophobic property. The treatment efficiencies over PAHs (poly aromatic hydrocarbons) showed the similar removal efficiency ranging from 66% to 97% for all three media.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 1999

Aromatic hydrocarbons which are not easily degraded by microorganisms can be accumulated in the conlaminated environment for a long lime, producing toxic effects on wild lives and humans. However, the sublethal concentrations of the chemicals induce the synthesis of stress-shock proteins in the cells and increase the adaptability of the organisms to the environmental stresses. In this study, therefore, the cells of Psezido~nonus sp. DJ- 12 treated with catechol at various concentrations were inveshgated for their survival, biodegtadability of catechol, production of stress-shock proteins, and cytological changes. The organisms were capable of degrading catechol at the range of 0.5 to 1.0 mM concentration wilhin 6 hours incubation, but they were killed by $10^2$-10$^3$ celllinl at 3 mM or higel- concentration without any catechol degradation. These cells treated with catechol begm lo produce DnaK and GroEL at 1 mM and 0.5 mM. respectively. Pseudumonas sp. DJ-12 treated with 10 mM catechol for I hour exhihiled some punctuated pores on the cell wall and contortion of the rod shape. The cells treated with he sublethal concentration of catechol showed the increased tolerance for suvival when exposed to the lethal concentration, and such tolerant effects were functioned crossly among benzoate, 4-chlorobenzoate, 'and catechol.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.169-177
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• 2005

This study focuses on investigating roles of microorganisms in decontamination of reed rhizosphere in Sunchon Bay, Korea, which is considered one of the marsh and mud environment severely affected by human activities such as agriculture and fisheries. In general, the bay is known to play the role of the buffering zone to reduce the sudden impact or change by environmental stresses. In our initial efforts to elucidate the microbial functions in decontamination process in reed rhizosphere, pure bacteria capable of degrading aromatic hydrocarbons were isolated from reed (Phragmites communis) rhizosphere of Sunchon bay by enrichment culture using either benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, or xylene (BTEX) as a sole source of carbon and energy. Measurement of the rates of BTEX degradation and cell growth during the incubation in BTEX media under several temperature conditions demonstrated maximized degradation of BTEX at $37^{\circ}C$ in both strains. Both strains were also resistant to all the heavy metals and antibiotics tested in this study, as well as they grew well at $42^{\circ}C$. Identification of the isolates based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, and a variety of phenotypic and morphologic properties revealed that the two strains capable of BTEX catabolism were among Microbacterium sp., and Rhodococcus sp. with over $95{\%}$ confidence, designated Microbacterium sp. EMB-1 and Rhodococcus sp. EMB-2, respectively This result suggested that in the rhizosphere of reed, one of major salt marsh plants they might play an important roles in decontamination process of reed rhizosphere contaminated with petroleum such as BTEX.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2014

Aromatic hydrocarbons are toxic environmental pollutants that are detrimental to the ecosystem and human health. Among them, chlorotoluene and nitrotoluene are toxic to hydrobios and irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory organs of humans. We herein report the development of recombinant microbial biosensors for cheap and rapid monitoring of chlorotoluene and nitrotoluene compounds. Plasmids were constructed by inserting the xylR regulatory gene for BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) degradation into upstream of Po' (the DmpR activator promoter Po with the deletion of its own upstream activating sequences) or Pu (the cognate promoter of XylR)::lacZ (the ${\beta}$-galactosidase gene) and transformed into Escherichia coli $DH5{\alpha}$. In the presence of inducers, the biosensor cells immobilized in agarose developed a red color in 1-2 h due to the hydrolysis of chlorophenol red ${\beta}$-D-galactopyranoside (CPRG), a substrate of ${\beta}$-galactosidase that was expressed by the inducers. Among BTEX, high responses were specifically observed with o-, m-, p-chlorotoluene ($0.1{\mu}M-100 mM$) and o-, m-, p-nitrotoluene (0.1 mM-100 mM). Po' demonstrated higher responses than those with Pu. The biosensors immobilized in agarose showed good stability after 21 days' storage at $4^{\circ}C$, and responses in untreated wastewater spiked with chlorotoluene and nitrotoluene, suggesting they can be used to detect compounds in wastewater.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.561-566
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• 2017

Dendropanax morbifera Lev. is known in Korea for its golden sap and medicinal properties. The many biological activities of the leaf and stem extracts suggest that this tree could be a valuable source of medicinal compounds for the treatment of various ailments such as dermatitis, migraines, dysmenorrhea, muscle pain, and infectious diseases. However, there is little information on the composition and biological activity of the volatile fraction of D. morbifera. Therefore, in this study, the volatile compounds in leaves, stems, and sap of D. morbifera were isolated using solvent and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to reveal their chemical composition and identify potential compounds of interest. Fifteen compounds were identified in the leaf extracts, whereas 29 and 3 compounds were identified in the stem and sap extracts, respectively. The volatile profiles obtained using solvent and SFE differed. Esters and aromatic hydrocarbons predominated in the solvent extract of leaves and SFE extract of stems, whereas the solvent extract of stems and SFE extract of leaves contained terpenoids. Limonene, ${\alpha}$-pinene, and ${\beta}$-myrcene were identified in the volatile extract of sap, with limonene representing 96.30% of the total peak area. In addition, the antiproliferative effects of the solvent extracts of leaves and stems were evaluated, revealing that these solvent extracts were particularly effective in decreasing the proliferation of HepG2 cells.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.21-26
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• 1984

The balance between metabolic activation of xenobiotics and detoxification of their active metabolites may playa vital role in controlling mutagenic and carcinogenic processes. To assess the possible role of P. ginseng C.A. Meyer in detoxification of xenobiotics, we studied the effects of ginseng on several parameters of the monooxygenasd system, including benzo(a) pyrene monooxygenase(AHH) and benzo(a) pyrene epoxide hydratase(EH) as well as effects of ginseng on the conjugation system. Test animals receiving ginseng saponin-fraction induced epoxide hydratase activity to over $150\%$ (20mg/kg b.w.) of the control and increased glutathione transferase activity (GSH-T) up to $140\%$ (20mg/kg b.w.) of the control, whereas no significant changes were observed in the benzopyrene monooxygenase activity (AHH). Such a selective induction of the inactivation enzyme epoxide hydratase, combined with a marked elevation of the detoxifying enzyme glutathione transferase, without a concurrent induction of benzopyrene monooxygenase which is responsible for the formation of carcinogenic intermediates, demonstrates that ginseng has the potential to alter the metabolic course of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and thereby enhance detoxification. Thus, ginseng may play an important role in the prevention of tumors caused by carcinogens.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 1989

The binding of bay region diol-epoxides of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to target tissue DNA is thought to be essential for the initiation of cancer by these compounds. In this study we investigated the effect of polyacetylenes such as panaxynol and panaxydol on the formation of benzo(a)pyreno (BP)-metabolite-DNA adduct in the liver of ICR mice. Treatment of mice by i.p. administration of polyacetylenes produced a marked reduction in BP metabolite binding to DNA in vitro. Following i.v. administration of (3H)BP(300, ${\mu}$Ci/21 nmoles/0.1 nt DMSO) to mice, radioactivity was detected in the DNA of the liver in vivo. The result of tentative identification of the 4 peaks between the two standard markers for high pressure liquid chromatography showed that the peaks. I, II, III, and IV were BP-phenol oxide-DNA adduct (or BP-diol-epoxide-dCyt. adduct), (-) BP$.$diolepoxide I:dGuO adduct, (+) BP-diol-epoxide I: dGuo adduct, and BP-diol-epoxide II:dGuO adduct, respectively. The minor adduct, (-) BP-diol epoxide I: dGuo was reduced to 6971 of the amount of the control, while the major adduct, (+) BP-diolepoxide I: dGuO(peak II) which was produced from (-) BP-7, 8-diol was reduced to 78% of that of the control. The amount of the minor adduct, BP-diol-epoxide II:dGuo adduct(peak IV) which formed from (+) BP-7, 8-diol was 58% of the control. These results show that the panaxydol is more related to inhibition of the formation of the minor ad- ducts than of the major adducts, which were generally produced from ($\pm$) BP-7, 8-dihydro-dials.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.192-199
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• 2006

Pseudomonas putida KL47 is a natural isolate that assimilates benzene, 1-alkylbenzene $(C_1-C_4)$, biphenyl, p-cumate, and p-cymene. The genetic background of strain KL47 underlying the broad range of growth substrates was examined. It was found that the cym and cmt operons are constitutively expressed due to a lack of the cymR gene, and the tod operon is still inducible by toluene and biphenyl. The entire array of gene clusters responsible for the catabolism of toluene and p-cymene/p-cumate has been cloned in a cosmid vector, pLAFR3, and were named pEK6 and pEK27, respectively. The two inserts overlap one another and the nucleotide sequence (42,505 bp) comprising the cym, cmt, and tod operons and its flanking genes in KL47 are almost identical (>99 %) to those of P. putida F1. In the cloned DNA fragment, two genes with unknown functions, labeled cymZ and cmtR, were newly identified and show high sequence homology to dienelactone hydrolase and CymR proteins, respectively. The cmtR gene was identified in the place of the cmtI gene of previous annotation. Western blot analysis showed that, in strains F1 and KL47, the todT gene is not expressed during growth on Luria Bertani medium. In minimal basal salt medium, expression of the todT gene is inducible by toluene, but not by biphenyl in strain F1; however, it is constantly expressed in strain KL47, indicating that high levels of expression of the todST genes with one amino acid substitution in TodS might provide strain KL47 with a means of adaptation of the tod catabolic operon to various aromatic hydrocarbons.