• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2003

To enhance the reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) under anaerobic conditions, we examined the adjunctive effects of cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni), which are the central metals of transition-metal cofactors of coenzyme F$\_$430/ and vitamin B$\_$12/, respectively, on the dechlorination of Aroclor 1248. After 32 weeks of incubation, the average numbers of chlorines per biphenyl in culture vials supplemented with 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mM of Co reduced from 3.88 to 3.39, 2.92, and 3.28, respectively. However, the numbers of chlorine after supplementing with Ni decreased from 3.88 to 3.43, regardless of the Ni concentrations. The observed congener distribution patterns of all vials with different conditions were similar to the pattern produced by the dechlorination process of H' after 21 weeks of incubation, and these patterns were unchanged up to week 32, except for vials supplemented with 0.5 and 1.0 mM of Co. In vials containing 0.5 mM of Co, meta-rich congeners, such as 25/ 25-,24/25-, and 25/23-chlorobiphenyls (CBPs), which were found as accumulated products of dechlorination in other conditions, were further dechlorinated, and 25/2-, 24/2-, and 2/2-CBPs were concomitantly increased after 32 weeks of incubation. In this case, the congener distribution was similar to the dechlorination pattern of process M. From these results, we suggested that the enrichment of cultures with Co might stimulate the growth of specific populations of meta-dechlorinators, and that populations might promote a change in the dechlorination process from H' to M, which is known to be less effective on the dechlorination of the more highly chlorinated congeners of PCBs.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.07a
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• pp.1-20
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• 2004

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), one a group of persistent and widespread environmental pollutants, have been considered to be involved in immunotoxicity, carcinogenesis, and apoptosis. However, the toxic effects and physical properties of a PCB congener are dependent on the structure. In the present study, we investigate the toxic effects and action mechanisms of PCBs In cells. Among the various congeners tested, 2,2',4,6,6'-PeCB-pentachlorobiphenyl (PeCB), a highly ortho-substituted congener having negligible binding affinity for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), caused the most potent toxicity and specific effects in several cell types. 2,2',4,6,6'-PeCB induced apoptotic cell death of human monocytic cells, suggesting that PCB-induced apoptosis may be linked to immunotoxicity. In addition, 2,2',4,6,6'-PeCB induced mitotic arrest by interfering with mitotic spindle assembly in NIH3T3 fibroblasts, followed by genetic instability which triggers p53 activation. Which suggests that 2,2',4,6,6'-PeCB may be involved in cancer development by causing genetic instability through mitotic spindle damage. On the other hand, 2,2',4,6,6'-PeCB increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) involved in cell survival through ERK1/2 MAPK and p53 in Rat-1 fibroblasts and mouse embryonic fibroblasts, triggering compensatory mechanism for abating its toxicity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PCB congeners of different structure have distinct mechanism of action and 2,2',4,6,6'-PeCB causes several toxicity as well as compensatory mechanism in cells.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.232-240
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• 2005

The total PCBs level in the transformer insulation oil samples using GC/ECD and HRGC/HRMS were ranged from 0.087 to $223.6{\mu}g/g$ and ranged from N.D. to $154.04{\mu}g/g$, respectively. The calculated TEQ values were ranged from 0.00067 to 6.8 ng WHO-TEQ/g. Among the samples, 6 samples showed higher than 2 ppm concentration (specific waste criterion of Korea). A variety in the concentration of total PCBs were observed between ECD and HRMS analysis. This is maybe due to quantification mehtod. The Aroclor 1248 wasn't present in the samples. The distribution pattern of Co-PCB congeners showed that the ratio of monoortho substituted congeners were higher than non-ortho substituted congeners. Among that, PCB-167 congener was predominant. In addition, the distribution of Co-PCBs congeners was different with that of flue gas and ambient air samples as well as commercial PCB formulations (Aroclor, Kanechlor).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.899-904
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• 2009

We purified crude urushiol from natural lacquer produced in Korea, China, and Japan and then isolated several urushiol congeners known to induce allergic reactions. The 3 major kinds of urushiol congeners that were isolated and purified were RV-l (C$_{21}$H$_{34}$O$_2$, M.W. 314.462), RV-2 ((C$_{21}$H$_{32}$O$_2$, M.W. 316.240) and RV-3 ((C$_{23}$H$_{34}$O$_2$, M.W. 342.515), occupying 80% of total crude urushiol. The content of RV-l was the highest in natural lacquer from China at 70.07%, and was the lowest in that from Japan at 62.38%. However, the content of RV-2 in natural lacquer from Japan was 9.25%, 2$\sim$3 times higher than those from Korea (4.28%) and China (3.09%). As an allergy inducing character, RV-l had strong inducing power and durability in the primary stage, showing slow recovery. RV-2 had weak power in the primary stage and also showed slow recovery. Although RV-3 had comparatively weak power at the primary stage, it induced the strongest allergy contact dermatitis after 48 hr. However, it recovered to nearly the same level as control group 72 hr after sensitization time. Accordingly, we found out that RV-1 is the most influential of urushiol congeners in inducing allergic reactions, natural lacquer from China having the most inducible strength and slowest recovery compared to those from Korea and Japan.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.58-64
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• 2001

Eight chlorobenzenes (out of a total of 12 in the congener series) were measured in the sediments from 21 stations in the southeastern coastal areas of Korea. The levels of total chlorobenzene isomers varied between 2.08 and 12.45 ng/g dry weight. The highest contents of total chlorobenzenes (CBs) were found in the sediments from Pohang coast. Trichloro­benzenes (the sum of 1,3,5-, 1,2,4- and 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene) were dominant classes among four congeners, whereas tetrachlorobenzenes (the sum of 1,2,3,5-, 1,2,4,5- and 1,2,3,4-tetra­chlorobenzene) and pentachlorobenzene were low levels. The contributions of total CBs showed similar patterns for all stations with positive significant correlation within CBs species. It means that CBs contamination in the southeastern coasts of Korea came from the similar source.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2001

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were measured in sediment samples from 19 stations in the coastal areas of Korea from February to July 2000. PCDDs and PCDFs were detected in all sediment samples. The concentrations of these con­taminants ranged from 18.2 to 804.0 pg/g dry weight and I-TEQ concentrations varied from 0.1 to 5.5 pg/g dry weight. Examination of homologue groups showed that octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) was predominant congener in Korean coast. This pattern was similar to homologue profiles of marine sediments in which the main source of PCDDs/DFs was derived from the atmospheric deposition of particulate matters generated from various industrial activities. Grain size and total organic carbon (TOC) distribution are one of the important factors governing PCDDs/DFs concentration in this study.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.239-245
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• 1997

The sorption kinetic was studied to evaluate feasibility of removing PCBs from mineral oil with activated carbon. Adsorption efficiency for Aroclor 1242 which is composed of lower chlorinated PCB formulations was $\geq$ 95%, whereas the adsorption efficiency for Aroclor 1260 having higher chlorinated constituents was considerably lower with the efficiency falling to 75%. The observed difference in the adsorption efficiency is attributed to the geometry of PCBs with non-planar and coplanar structure. The concentration of coplanar PCBs is appreciably higher in Aroclor 1242. Since toxicity is primarily associated with coplanar congeners, the preferential adsorption of coplanar congeners by activated carbon accounts for the fact that toxicity reduction can be achieved through this process. The efficiency of process was assessed in terms of Toxicity Equivalence Factor (TEF).

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.21 no.1 s.59
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• pp.1-11
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• 2006

This study was to investigate concentration characteristics of atmospheric PCBs in soil sample and pine needle at rural area. Profiles of PCB congener detected in pine needle and soil sample have a difference that low molecular PCBs mainly existed in pine needle, whereas high molecular PCBs were mainly existed in soil sample because of their different vapor pressure and octanol-air partitioning coefficient($K_{OA}$) of each congeners. Correlation coefficients(r) of PCB congeners simultaneously detected in soil and pine needle were significant (r>0.71, p<0.01), which showed that PCB congeners patterns of atmosphere could be estimated in using pine needle and soil sample indirectly. The contributions(%) of higher molecular PCBs(>penta-CB) to total PCBs in soil sample were higher than those of pine needle and the contribution of lower molecular PCBs(

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.1 s.88
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• pp.46-52
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• 2006

Results for the concentrations of total polychlorinated biphenyls (total PCBs) and the PCB profile with different types of leaves from four coniferous trees (pine needles) at the same sampling site are presented. Concentrations of total PCBs detected in pine needles were very similar among them regardless of their different types of leaves, which means a possibility for bio-monitoring regional contamination of PCBs. Correlation coefficients(r) of PCB congeners between pine needles were very significant (r>0.97, p<0.001), which showed that PCB congener's patterns of each pine needle were similar. Profiles of PCBs detected in pine needles showed correlation with gaseous phase PCBs in air, otherwise not with particle phase PCBs in air. Therefore, it was estimated that dry gaseous deposition was a principal pathway of PCBs accumulation in pine needles. In addition, although we analyse a different types of leaves in pine needles at the same region, they can be used to identify regional contamination patterns of PCBs for larger regions.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2011

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of "brominated" (bromine containing) man-made chemicals used as flame retardant additives in plastics, foams, and textiles. PBDEs are found in various environmental contaminants in air, soil, sediment, and water, and 209 individual forms (congeners) of PBDE exist. Among these, 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) is the dominant congener found in the environment. Exposure to BDE-47 is now worldwide, and levels of BDE-47 have been detected in the blood of animals, including humans. BDE-47 can adversely affect the developmental system in both humans and animals. BDEs have structural similarities to polychlorinated biphenyls and thyroid hormones. However, recent studies have shown that BDEs may act as hormonal disrupting chemicals with detrimental effects. Therefore, a reliable assessment of BDE-47 toxicological action is required to understand the detrimental impacts of BDE-47 on human health. In this review, we overview recent studies on the distribution and potential toxicological effects of BDE-47 in humans and animals.