• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.442-451
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• 2021

Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic with a size less than 5 mm. Ocean pollution by microplastics is now a worldwide concern in relation to marine ecosystems and human health. The widespread contamination by microplastics means that they can be ingested by and accumulated in diverse species of wildlife, such as fish, mussels, oysters, clams, and scallops. Once ingested, the microplastics can be observed in the intestines, liver, and kidney, and even in the brain. Seafood is one of the major sources of protein intake in humans; therefore, seafood consumption could be pathway for human microplastics exposure. Accumulating evidence indicates that repeated oral exposure to microplastics induces pathologic and functional changes in the reproductive, cardiac, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and even nervous systems of rodents. Maternal exposure to microplastics during gestation and lactation alters metabolic homeostasis in the offspring. Given that seafood provides more than 20% of the total protein intake by over 310 million people worldwide, a reasonable assumption is that microplastics could be substantially accumulated in the human body and impair physiological function. In this review, we have summarized the current status of microplastics contamination in the ocean, their accumulation and toxicities in marine animals and rodents, their exposure to humans, and their potential impacts on human health.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.255-263
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• 2015

Promoting the organic farming, much of the plant extracts used for controlling pests and fungi have been imported from China, India and Myanmar. But, it is so worrisome that aquatic animals such as muddy loach inhabiting in paddy field and common carps in river exposed to the pests and fungi likely be harmed. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the risks of aquatic animals influenced by the three plant extracts, i.e. Sophora flavescens, Azadirachta indica and Derris elliptica. The toxicities of common carp (Cyprinus Carpio), muddy loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) and PEC (Predicted environmental concentration) exposed to the three plant extracts were estimated by the typical spray volume method. Risks were determined by the toxicity value as 48-hr $LC_{50}$ (Lethal concentration, median) or NOEC (No observed effect concentration) into PEC. 48-hr $LC_{50}$ of Common carp and NOEC by Sophora flavescens extracts was 7.9 and 6.2 mg/L, 26.8 and 21.8 mg/L by Azadirachta indica extracts and 47.0 and < 24.0 mg/L by Derris elliptica extracts, respectively. 48-hr $LC_{50}$ of Muddy loach and NOEC by Sophora flavescens extracts was 16.9 and 10.0 mg/L, 35.6 and 30.0 mg/L by Azadirachta indica extracts, and 73.9 and < 40 mg/L by Derris elliptica extracts, respectively. Therefore, acute toxicities of the three plant extracts for aquatic animals were proved to be very low level. PEC of Sophora flavescens extracts in paddy, drainage and river water was 68.0~3.0, 11.33~0.50 and 3.0~0.0018 mg/L, respectively. TER of Sophora flavescens extracts in the three water was 0.2~5.6, 1.5~33.8 and 2.6~4388.9, respectively. PEC of Azadirachta indica extracts in paddy, drainage and river water was 90.9~1.2, 15.2~0.2 and 4.8~0.00075 mg/L, respectively. TER of Azadirachta indica extracts in the three water was 0.4~29.7, 2.3~178.0 and 4.5~35733.3, respectively. PEC of Derris elliptica extracts in river water was 0.0063 mg/L. TER of Derris elliptica extracts in river water was 5222~15667.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.625-639
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• 2019

Microplastics are one of the substances threatening the marine ecosystem. Here, we summarize the status of research on the effect of microplastics on marine life and suggest future research directions. Microplastics are synthetic polymeric compounds smaller than 5 mm and these materials released into the environment are not only physically small but do not decompose over time. Thus, they accumulate extensively on land, from the coast to the sea, and from the surface to the deep sea. Microplastic can be ingested and accumulated in marine life. Furthermore, the elution of chemicals added to plastic represents another risk. Microplastics accumulated in the ocean affect the growth, development, behavior, reproduction, and death of marine life. However, the properties of microplastics vary widely in size, material, shape, and other aspects and toxicity tests conducted on several properties of microplastics cannot represent the hazards of all other microplastics. It is necessary to evaluate the risks according to the types of microplastic, but due to their variety and the lack of uniformity in research results, it is difficult to compare and analyze the results of previous studies. Therefore, it is necessary to derive a standard test method to estimate the biological risk from different types of microplastics. In addition, while most of the previous studies were conducted mostly on spheres for the convenience of the experiments, they do not properly reflect the reality that fibers and fragments are the main forms of microplastics in the marine environment and in fish and shellfish. Furthermore, studies have been conducted on additives and POPs (persistent organic pollutants) in plastics, but little is known about their toxic effects on the body. The effects of microplastics on the marine ecosystems and humans could be identified in more detail if standard testing methods are developed, microplastics in the form of fibers and fragments rather than spheres are tested, and additives and POPs are analyzed. These investigations will allow us to identify the impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems and humans in more detail.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 2000

The present study was performed to investigate the bioconcentration of phosphamidon and profenofos. The BCFs(bioconcentration factors), depuration rate constants and LC$_{50}$ for two pesticides in zebrafish(Brachydanio rerio) were measured by the flow-through system(OECD guideline 305). The results obtained are summarized as follows: The 24-hrs LC$_{50}$, 48-hrs LC$_{50}$, 72-hrs LC.n and 96-hrs LC$_{50}$ were more than 100 mg/l for phosphamidon. The concentration of phosphamidon in zebrafish reached an equilibrium in 12 hrs at low and high concentrations(0.2 mg/l and 1 mg/1). The average BCF values of phosphamidon were less than 1 at low(0.96, n=7) and high concentrations (0.89, n=7) after 12~168 hrs. Depuration rate constants of phosphamidon were 0.18 hr-1 and 0.21 hr-1, half-life of phosphamidon were 3.85 and 3.30 at low and high concentrations(0.2 mg/l and 1 mg/l), respectively, The concentrations of phosphamidon in zebrafish at low and high concentrations were rapidly decreased after 8(0.04 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g) and 12 hrs(0.07 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g). The 24-hrs LC$_{50}$, 48-hrs LC$_{50}$, 72-hrs LC$_{50}$ and 96-hrs LC$_{50}$ were 2.9, 2.6, 2.2 and 2.0 mg/1 for profenofos. The concentration of profenofos in zebrafish reached an equilibrium in 12 hrs at five-hundredth and one-hundredth concentration of 96-hrs LC$_{50}$(0.004 mgA and 0.02 mg/1). The average BCF values of profenofos were 141.9(n=7) and 111.3(n=7) at five-hundredth and one-hundredth concentration of 96-hrs LC$_{50}$(0.004 mg/l and 0.02 mg/1) after 12~168 hrs. Depuration rate constants of profenofos were 0.09 hr$^{-1}$ and 0.10 hr$^{-1}$, half-life of profenofos were 7.70 and 6.93 at five-hundredth and one-hundredth concentration of 96-hrs LC50(0.004 mg/l and 0.02 mg/1), respectively. The concentrations of profenofos in zebrafish at five-hundredth and one-hundredth concentration of 96-hrs LC$_{50}$ decreased agter 8(0.18 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g) and 12 hrs (0.19 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g). The LC$_{50}$ value in zebrafish showed that acute toxicity of profenofos was higher than that of phosphamidon. The BCF values of profenofos were 100 times higher than those of phosphamidon, and depuration rate of phosphamidon was two times faster than that of profenofos.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.789-795
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• 2008

To study the possible use of probiotics in fish farming, we evaluated antagonism of antibacterial strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H41 against the fish pathogenic bacterium Vibrio anguillarum NCMB1. The purification of growth inhibition factor produced by B. amyloliquefaciens H41 was achieved by obtaining supernatant of this bacterium. The growth inhibition factor was purified to homogeneity by 70% ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-sephadex A-50 ion exchange chromatography, sephadex G-200 gel filtration column chromatography, and sephadex G-50 gel filtration column chromatography with 40.8 fold of purification and 2.9% yield. The molecular weight of the purified growth inhibition factor was 48 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The optimum pH and temperature for the growth inhibition factor were pH 7.5 and $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. The activity of growth inhibition factor was enhanced slightly by some metal ions, such as $Mg^{+2}$, $Mn^{+2}$, but was inhibited by the addition of $Co^{+2}$, $Hg^{+2}$, $Zn^{+2}$ and $Ag^{+2}$. NaCl stability of the growth inhibition factor was observed with 50% residual activity at 3% NaCl concentration. Toxicity test showed that the purified B. amyloliquefaciens H41 growth inhibition factor did not affect the live of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and the effectiveness was 78% of residual lethality compared to commercial antibacterial agents.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2018

The utility of Bacillus spp. organisms for reduction of dissolved hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) in white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) culture was tested with different combinations of Bacillus spp. microorganisms: combination A (B. subtilis + B. licheniformis); combination B (B. licheniformis + B. amyloliquefaciens); combination C (B. subtilis + B. licheniformis + B. amyloliquefaciens). Of these 3 combinations, C was effective in few hours after addition whereas B needed longer time to be effective. The $H_2S-reducing$ effect of combination C was dependent on the amount of microorganisms added to $H_2S-containing$ test solution. Exposure of white leg shrimp to $H_2S$ at 8 mg/L for 7 days led to survival of 80% and 1 mg/L for 14 days it was 82.5%. The survival rate was 97.5% when combination C was simultaneously added to shrimp tanks during $H_2S$ exposure at 1 mg/L for 14 days. It was demonstrated that combination C microorganisms (B. subtilis + B. licheniformis + B. amyloliquefaciens) can reduce dissolved $H_2S$ concentrations, and this effect can be utilized to protect white leg shrimp from $H_2S$ toxicity.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.98-105
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• 1998

The effect of ammonia on survival and growth of the larval rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli was examined by a static renewal bioassay method. The tolerance of larvae to ammonia toxicity was more sensitive at the early larvae, but increased with the development of larvae. In 14 day-old-larvae after parturition, the mortality with treatment of each concentration of ammonia was 5% at control group and 0.0112 $NH_3$mg/l, whereas it was increased up to 27.5% at exposure group of 0.1230 $NH_3$mg/l with higher concentration. Regression equation between ammonium concentration(X) and mortality(Y) was followed; Y=0.516+3.482 X($r^2=0.4737$, P<0.01). The NOEC(no-observable-effect concentration) and LOEC (lowest-observable-effect concentration) to mortality compared to control group were 0.100 $NH_3mg/l$ and 0.1230 $NH_3$mg/l, respectively and chronic value(ChV) which is the geometric mean of the NOEC and LOEC was 0.1110 $NH_3$mg/l. Body length after 7-days exposure in control group, 0.0112 $NH_3$mg/l and 0.1230 $NH_3$mg/l were 7.8325mm, 7.700mm and 7.05mm, respectively. The NOEC, LOEC and chronic value(ChV) were 0.0335 $NH_3$mg/l, 0.0558 $NH_3$mg/l and 0.0432 $NH_3$mg/l, respectively.