• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.164-173
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• 2015

To investigate the effect of lactic acid bacteria on the heavy metal adsorption from internal organs and blood, lactic acid bacteria were isolated from human feces. Some strains resistant to heavy metals were selected by incubation in agar media containing each of chrome and cadmium salts. Among them, a strain named KP-3 was ultimately chosen due to its higher growth rate in selective broth medium containing the heavy metals at the concentration of 0.01%. The strain was identified as Lactobacillus sp. based on its morphological, cultural and physiological characteristics. For evaluating the ability to prevent accumulation of heavy metals by selected Lactobacillus sp. strain in vivo, Sprague Dawley rats were fed with heavy metal salts (cadmium, chrome and lead) with or without cultured whole cells for 7 days. The amounts of heavy metals accumulated in liver, kidney and blood were analyzed. As a result, chrome was accumulated to kidney mostly, and lead was frequently found in liver and kidney. Experimental group (rats fed with lactic acid bacteria) showed less accumulation of heavy metal than control group (rats fed with saline solution). The inhibition rates of heavy metal accumulation were calculated to 41.8% (Cd), 33.4% (Cr) and 44.2% (Pb). Especially, feeding lactic acid bacteria strongly reduced accumulation of cadmium in blood. The results showed that feeding Lactobacillus sp. KP-3 could prevent the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the living body.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.487-493
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• 2017

Recent years have seen steadily increasing concerns about human exposure to heavy metals through seafood consumption. In Korea, the diverse dietary patterns of different bivalve shellfish necessitate tissue-specific evaluation of heavy metal contents for risk assessment. We analyzed the heavy metal contents of various tissues in scallops (Patinopecten yessoensis) and pen shells (Atrina pectinate). In both species, we found higher levels of cadmium (Cd) in the mantle than in the adductive muscle, while there was no significant difference between the two tissue types in total mercury (THg) and lead (Pb) (P<0.05). Levels of THg and Pb were acceptable by Korean standards. However, the level of Cd in pen shell mantle tissue exceeded the standard by 40%. The rate of heavy metal exposure from consumption of these species was shown to be 0.003-0.010% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake of THg and 0.312-0.600% of the provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTWI) of Cd as recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. These findings on the tissue-specific heavy metal contents of these species will be useful in assessing the health risks of Korean dietary habits.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.108-117
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• 2009

Objective: To compare the contents of heavy metals, residual pesticides and sulfur dioxide before/after a decoction. Methods: The heavy metal contents before/after a decoction were measured by inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) and mercury analyzer. In order to analyze pesticides in 5 samples we used simultaneous multi-residue analysis of pesticides by GC/ECD, which was followed by GC/MSD analysis to confirm the identity of the detected pesticide in each sample. In addition, the contents of sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$) were performed by Monier-Williams distillation method. Results: 1. The mean values of heavy metal contents (mg/kg) for the samples were as follows: Sipjeondaebo-tang (before decoction - Pb; 1.163, Cd; 0.257, As; 0.080 and Hg; 0.016, after decoction - Pb; 0.059, Cd; 0.007, As; 0.006 and Hg; 0.0003), Palmul-tang (before decoction - Pb; 1.181, Cd; 0.242, As; 0.152 and Hg; 0.014, after decoction - Pb; 0.067, Cd; 0.008, As; 0.008 and Hg; 0.0003), Sagunja-tang (before decoction - Pb; 1.285, Cd; 0.283, As; 0.063 and Hg; 0.012, after decoction - Pb; 0.047, Cd; 0.009, As; 0.004 and Hg; not detected) and Samul-tang (before decoction - Pb; 1.025, Cd; 0.169, As; 0.099 and Hg; 0.013, after decoction - Pb; 0.065, Cd; 0.007, As; 0.010 and Hg; 0.001). 2. Contents (mg/kg) of residual pesticides before/after a decoction were not detected in any samples. 3. Contents (mg/kg) of sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$) before a decoction in Sipjeondaebo-tang, Palmul-tang, Sagunja-tang and Samul-tang exhibited 5.0, 6.0, 14.0 and 6.9, respectively. However, contents of sulfur dioxide after a decoction were not detected in any samples. Conclusion: These results will be used to establish a criterion for heavy metals, residual pesticides and sulfur dioxide.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2011

In this study, the correlations of concentrations in sediment heavy metals between two pretreatment methods, total digestion and aqua regia digestion, have been investigated. Total 43 samples had been collected from streams and lakes in Yeongsan and Seomjin watersheds. They were decomposed in two pretreatment methods and five metal components (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn) were analyzed. Overall average concentrations of heavy metals were Zn>Cr>Pb>Ni>Cd in the order. The concentrations of aqua regia digestion were 35.0% (Cd), 53.8% (Cr), 66.2% (Ni), 64.4% (Pb) and 76.4% (Zn) of the concentrations of total digestion and heavy metal concentrations of total digestion were higher. Heavy metal concentrations in sediments from lakes were higher than those from streams. The correlation equations between the concentrations of total digestion and aqua regia digestion were obtained. The concentrations of Zn and Ni, which showed strong linear correlations, increased in aqua regia digestion as the concentration in total digestion increased. The linear correlation coefficients between two digestion methods for most analyzed metals were above the average correlation. However, these results can be applied with limitations due to heterogeneity of sediments.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.670-676
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• 2011

Artificially metal-contaminated soils have been widely used for lab-scale soil washing and soil toxicity experiments. The artificial soil contamination methods consist of 1) first equilibrating soils with heavy metal solution, 2) filtrating or centrifuging soils from the mixture and 3) finally drying the soils. However, some of those artificially contaminated soil experiments have not clearly shown that the soils were thoroughly rinsed with water prior to conducting experiments. This study investigated the amount of heavy metal release from the artificially metal-contaminated soil by pre-water-rinsing. Three different artificially metal-contaminated soil preparation methods were first evaluated with Cd and Pb concentrations of soil. Then, this study investigated the effect of pre-water-rinsing on the Cd and Pb concentration of the artificially contaminated soil. Heavy metal concentrations of the soil produced by equilibrating and drying the metal solution-soil were significantly reduced by pre-water-rinsing. The results of the study implied that experimental results would be significantly distorted when the artificially heavy metal-contaminated soils were not thoroughly water-rinsed prior to conducting experiments. Therefore, the initial heavy metal concentration of the artificially contaminated soil should be determined after thoroughly rinsing the soil that was previously obtained through the adsorption and dry stages.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 2021

Heavy metals exist in soils in various chemical forms including free metal ions and organo-metal complexes. The ratio of free metal ions has been known to be highly associated with the plant absorption of heavy metals. This study aims to understand the effect of free ions and organo-metal complexes on the absorption of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) by plants. For this, lettuce grown in a hydroponic system for 28 days was consequently grown another 48 hours using Pb and Cd solutions. The ratios of free ion to organo-metal complexes in the solutions were adjusted at 100:0, 90:10, 70:30, 60:40 by four different organic acids (citric, oxalic, acetic, and humic acid). After that, the concentration of Pb and Cd in lettuce were analyzed. The Pb and Cd absorption by lettuce was more relied on the types of organic acids treated and the type of metals rather than the ratio of free metal ions. For example, citric acid increased the Pb absorption while it decreased the Cd absorption by lettuce. There was no significant relationship between free metal ion ratios and both Pb and Cd uptake by lettuce. It could be explained that citric acid, a relatively higher molecular weight organic acid, has higher ion binding capacity, so it forms organo-Pb complex easily due to the higher affinity of Pb on the binding site in comparison with Cd. Consequently, this complexation would assist Pb uptake by lettuce.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.90-96
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• 2011

Simultaneous removal of heavy metals (Cd, Pb) and diesel-fuel from a soil column was evaluated by respectively flushing with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution, mixture of SDS and sodium iodide (SDS + NaI), and surfactant foam (SDS + NaI foam). First, this study evaluated these flushing methods to the heavy metals only-contaminated soil for removal of heavy metals from the heavy-metal only contaminated soil column. After 7 pore volume flushing of the soil column, Cd removal efficiencies from the soil were 40% by SDS solution, 50% by SDS + NaI mixture, and 60% by surfactant foam. The flushing results implied that anionic surfactant and ligand can be efficiently applied to extraction of Cd from the heavy metal contaminated soil. Furthermore, surfactant foam flushing showed an increased flushing efficiency with enhancing the contact between surfactant solution and soil. However, Pb removal efficiency by these flushing methods did not show any difference unlike those of Cd. Second, this study eventually evaluated flushing methods for simultaneous removal of heavy metals and diesel-fuel from the soil column with 7 pore volume flushing. Diesel-fuel removal efficiencies were 50% by SDS + NaI flushing and 90% by SDS + NaI foam flushing. Cd removal efficiency by the foam flushing reached to 80% which was higher than the result of the previous heavy metals onlycontaminated soil experiment. This result implied that diesel-fuel could act as a metal-solvent while it contacted to heavy metals present in the soil. This study clearly showed that surfactant foam flushing simultaneously removed heavy metals and diesel fuel from the soil column.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.155-163
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• 1999

Heavy metal accumulation in living organisms through food-wed can give serious damage on physiological responses for vital activities. The initiation of heavy metal supposed to begin from the bio-accumulation of plants. To establish basic data fur heavy metal contents in plants at the area without artificial contamination, both woody and herb plants at Mt. Kwang-Duk were studied. The content of heavy metals in various organs of plants were analyzed by ICP. The range of heavy metals in plants for Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe. Mn, Pb, Se and Zn were 1.019∼257.200ppm, O∼2.929ppm, 0∼0.079ppm, 0∼0.054ppm, 0.023∼3.007ppm, 0∼1.997ppm, 2.031∼148.500ppm, 1.069∼51.320ppm, O∼126.900ppm, 0.708∼4.927ppm and 0.846∼4.949ppm, respectively. The amount of heavy metals in plants are much less than that of soil except some species. In woody plants, it was detected that the metal contents of leaves were higher than that of stems especially in case of Al and Fe with statistical significance. There were significant differences between shoots and roots of herb plants in metal content of Al, Co and Fe. Those metals have more accumulated in roots comparing with shoots. Some species of plants had shown the difference tendency of heavy metal accumulation. Generally, most species had not exceeded over twice of mean value each other, and had various difference according to the kinds of heavy metals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1378-1384
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• 2010

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of heavy metal contamination in the aquatic environment on the fishes (Opsariichthys bidens, Cyprinus carpio, Hemiculter eigenmanni and Culter brevicauda) inhabiting Andong and Imha reservoirs by comparing and analyzing the heavy metal contents accumulated in their tissues. Heavy metal contents were shown to be higher in the Andong reservoir than in the Imha reservoir. Accumulated heavy metals, Cr, Cu and Pb, were detected in tissues and bone tissues, but Cd was also found in the kidneys. Zn content was the highest among accumulated metals, whereas Cu content was the lowest in all tissues from the fishes in the Andong and Imha reservoirs. However, the amount of Cr in the tissues showed a twofold higher level in the Andong reservoir than that in Imha reservoir. The heavy metal contents of fish inhabiting the Andong reservoir were detected to be higher than those in the Imha reservoir. We also proposed that heavy metal contamination in water and its inhabiting fish is attributed to various heavy metals derived from water and sediments in the water environment of the Andong reservoir.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 1995

The removal of heavy metals from synthetic wastewater containing Pb, Cr, Cd using previously washed and dried exhausted coffee was studied varying cohcentration, pH and temperature. All the heavy metals were removed in 3.0 minutes and the removal efficiency was maximum 80~90% with different pH and temperature conditions. The differences in removal efficiency between exhausted coffee and activated carbon under the same conditions were not seen. The removal efficiency was slightly increased with increasing pH in Cd and increasing temperature in Cr, respectively. The batch adsorption kinetics and adsorption equilibrium were examined and described by a first order reversible reaction and Freundlich isotherm, respectively. And the removal of Pb was found to have the best removal efficiency.