• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 1999

Chlorinated aromatic compounds are one of the largest groups of environmental pollutants as a result of world-wide distribution by using them as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, solvents, hydraulic and heat transfer fluids, plasticizers, and intermediates for chemical synthesis. Because of their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation, the compounds contaminated ubiquitously in the biosphere has attracted public concerns in terms of serious influences to wild lives and a human being, such as carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and disturbance in endocrine systems. The biological recalcitrance of the compounds is caused by the number, type, and position of the chlorine substituents as well as by their aromatic structures. In general, the carbon-halogen bonds increase the recalcitrance by increasing electronegativity of the substituent, so that the dechlorination of the compounds is focused as an important mechanism for biodegradation of chlorinated aromatics, along with the cleavage of aromatic rings. The removal of the chlorine substituents has been known as a key step for degradation of chlorinated aromatic compounds under aerobic condition. This can occur as an initial step via oxygenolytic, reductive, and hydrolytic mechanisms. The studies on the biochemistry and genetics about microbial dechlorination give us the potential informations for microbial degradation of xenobiotics contaminated in natural microcosms. Such investigations might provide biotechnological approaches to solve the environmental contamination, such as designing effective bioremediation systems using genetically engineered microorganisms.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2007

Environmental and anthropogenic changes affect the health and stability of marine ecosystem. In this study we aimed to identify molecular biomarkers for ecotoxicological pollutants risk assessment in the rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli). We designed primers based on conserved sequences by multiple alignments of target genes from related species, and cloned the partial cDNAs of cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1), glutathione S-transferase (GST), metallothionein (MT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ubiquitin (UB), vitellogenin (VTG) and $\beta$-actin by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from S. schlegeli. Northern blot results indicated that these six genes expressions were significantly induced by benzo[a]pyrene (BaP, 1 ${\mu}M$) and that the level of each of their transcripts increased in BaP-exposed rockfish in a time-dependent manner. This study suggests that transcriptional changes in these six genes may be used for monitoring environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2003

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are frequently detected in food, water, soil, and sediment and are widespread environmental pollutants formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, woods and other organic matter. PAHs are considered to be probable human carcinogens. The mechanism of action of PAHs has been studied extensively, however it is not clear how PAHs turn on CYP1A1 in human breast cancer. Our laboratory have been studied the effect of PAHs in the human breast cancer cell MCF7. In this study, we examined the ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cells as a new system to evaluate bioactivity of PAHs. ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cell line responses to estrogen and progesteron. We have been able to estbilish long term culture system of this cells then used for the study to observe the effect of PAHs. We demonstrate that PAHs induced the CYP1A1 promoter and 7-ethoxyresolufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in a concentration-dependant manner. RT-PCR analysis indicated that PAHs significantly up-regulate the level of CYP1A1 mRNA. Some of PAHs showed stronger stimulatory effect on CYP1 gene expression than TCDD. Apparently, ZR-75-1 cells have Aryl hydrocarbon receptors, therefore it would be good experimental tool to study the cross-talk between PAHs and steroid actions.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 1991

Total suspended particulates (TSP) in the atmosphere was collected and size-fractionated by Andersen high volume air sampler for one year (Mar. 1987 $\sim$ Feb. 1988) in Seoul. The concentrations of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals were determined to investigate the atmospheric concentrations, seasonal variations and its relationship with the size distribution of suspended particulate matter. The arithmetic mean concentration of total suspended particulates was 200.44 $\mug/m^3$. The concentrations of heavy metals were 2433.80 for Fe, 629.49 for Zn, 600.71 for Pb, 143.87 for Cu, and 107.21 $ng/m^3$ for Mn, respectively. The concentrations of PAHs were 3.83 for benzo(a) pyrene, 2.95 for benzo(k)fluoranthene, and 4.42 $ng/m^3$ for benzo(ghi)perylene, respectively. PAHs, Pb and Zn abounded in particles below 2.0 $\mu$m, while Fe and Mn aboounded in particles above 2.0 $\mu$m. TSP and its chemical compositions showed the seasonal variations. The concentrations of anthrophogenic pollutants like TSP, PAHs and heavy metals in the fine particles were highest in winter and lowest in summer. PAHs and Pb analyzed showed significant correlations between each other and between TSP concentration in fine particles, indicating that the particles in which they are contained have a similar behavior in the atmosphere.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 1999

Surface sediment samples collected from the eastern half of the Yellow Sea proper in 1998 were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), ubiquitous pollutants. Total PAHs concentrations varied from 1.0 to $320.5ng\;g^{-1}$ dw. Relatively high concentrations of PAHs were found in the muddy central part of the Yellow Sea. Sedimentary total PAHs concentrations in the Yellow Sea proper were similar to those of Californian offshores and the central Mediterranean Sea, albeit an order of magnitude lower than the Yellow Sea nearshore areas. Phenanthene/Anthracene concentration ratio of PAHs in bottom sediments suggested that pyrolytic PAHs might be dominant over petrogenic ones in the eastern Yellow Sea. Downcore depth distributions of PAHs from the relatively undisturbed core samples of the central Yellow Sea showed decreasing PAHs concentrations with core depths and suggested that the Yellow Sea has been increasingly exposed to PAH for decades. Annual total PAH flux to these sediments was estimated to be $166{\mu}gm^{-2}yr^{-1}$ in the central part of the Yellow Sea for the recent decade.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.11
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• pp.1145-1157
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• 2003

The surface sediments inside Hallim Harbor, one of the major harbors of Jeju Island, were sampled three times (June, September and December, 2001) and analyzed for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), recommended by US-EPA as priority pollutants, to assess their distribution levels and to suggest their possible origins. The concentrations of PAHs ranged from 19 to 496 ng/g on a dry weight basis with a mean value of 245 ng/g, and the levels were low to moderate in comparison with other areas in the world. Based on comparisons of individual and total PAH concentrations with effects-based and equilibrium partitioning-based on sediment quality guidelines, the potential for the biological effects were expected to be low. The sedimentary PAHs may be correlated with organic carbon and mud contents to some extent. From the examinations of the four PAH origin indices, such as LMW/HMW (low molecular weight 2-3 ring PAHs over high molecular weight 4-6 ring PAHs), phenanthrene/anthracene ratio, fluoranthene/pyrene ratio, chrysene/benzo〔a〕anthracene ratio, it can be concluded that the sediment PAH contaminations were ascribed to both pyrolytic and petrogenic origins.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2013

This study investigated the concentrations of odourous compounds in air, leachate, stream and well in and around Taju-Bello dumpsite. Meteorological parameters (temperature, relative humidity, wind velocity) and six odour families comprising sulphur ($H_2S$), ammonia ($NH_3$), aromatic (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, styrene, p-xylene, m-xylene), aliphatic (hexane), oxygenated (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde) and halogenated (tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, carbontetrachloride) compounds were measured. Meteorological parameters suggested low dispersal of pollutants at L1 with possible perspiration and suffocation from exposure to high temperature, relative humidity and low wind velocity. The trend of abundance of odourous compounds at studied locations is of the order dumpsite (L1) > leachate (L4) > 100 m away from dumpsite (L2) > 200 m away from dumpsite (L3) > stream (L5) > well (L6). $H_2S$, Oxygenated and aromatic compounds were the major contributors to odour strength in these locations. Correlation, factor and cluster analyses of the data revealed similarities of sources as biogenics and xenobiotics inherent in the wastes as the main sources of these odourous compounds.

• Clean Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.197-206
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• 2003

We performed removal of aromatic compounds, benzene and toluene, from soil and zeolite using supercritical carbon dioxide. Extraction was performed at $50^{\circ}C$ and 27.7 MPa with changing the extent of pollutant concentration and the results were compared and analyzed. Experiments were carried out using flow method and high pressure extractor of 1.27 cm in diameter and 25cm in length was used. The pollutants were sampled every ten minutes and their concentrations were analyzed with GC/FID. As a result, highly contaminated sample followed solubility/elution model and slightly contaminated sample followed desorption/kinetics model. At the same condition benzene was extracted faster than toluene. In the case of zeolite, more time is required to extract pollutants than soil. This phenomena was due to high adsorption capacity of zeolite. In the case of highly contaminated soil, we could correlate experimental data using simple Brady's fixed bed extractor model. But in the case of slightly contaminated soil, that was governed with desorption/kinetics model, there was some errors.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.527-537
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• 2012

The increasing consumption of pseudo-petroleum products (PPP) has been disturbing the national petroleum market. The use of PPP lead to tax evasion, disturbance of sound trading principles, component corrosion of cars, and explosion accident. Also, PPP have emitted hazardous air pollutants (HAP) including the carcinogenic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs and aldehydes more than regular-petroleum products. It thus has potentials to cause many environmental and health care problems. In this study, benzene, toluene and xylene emissions from road transport vehicles due to the use of pseudo-gasoline are estimated for the year 2008. The results of our study provide emission estimates of benzene, toluene and xylene for the year as 405, 1,711, 717 tonne/yr, respectively for regular-gasoline. BTX emissions are calculated as 452~515, 1,882~2,264 and 732~752 tonne/yr when the amount of pseudo-gasoline is estimated to account for 6~13% for regular-gasoline consumption. BTX emissions increased as much as 12~27, 10~32, 2~5% by using pseudo-gasoline. It is found that the pseudo-gasoline should be the key component to produce HAP in urban area.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2021

Environmental pollution is defined as contamination of the earth's environment with materials which interfere with human health, quality of life, or the natural functioning of the ecosystem. Whenever a prolonged and repetitive exposure to environmental stressors exceeds the skin's normal defensive potential, there is a disturbance in the skin barrier function leading to the development of various skin diseases. Major air pollutants which affect the skin are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, cigarette smoke, heavy metals and arsenic. Dermal uptake depends on the deposition of air pollutants on the skin surface, the composition of epidermal lipids, and the diffusion through the epidermis to the blood vessels.