• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.403-408
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• 2014

The toxicity of heavy metals (Zn, Pb) and diesel, in single and binary solution was investigated using the photobacterium Vibrio fischeri (Microtox test) as a test organism. In this experiment, the concentration of water soluble fraction of diesel was based on the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH). The toxicity of each single compound showed the following $EC_{50}$ (15min): Zn 1.90 mg/L, Pb 0.31 mg/L, TPH 2.09 mg/L. The observed toxicity of binary mixtures increased, depending on the concentration of the mixed substance. The effects were defined as synergistic, antagonistic, or additive, in accordance with the sign of difference between the predicted and observed toxicity at binary mixtures. The interactive effects between zinc and lead were synergistic, on the other hand, antagonistic and additive effects were found in each metal and TPH mixtures on the bioluminescence of V. fischeri.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.23-30
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• 2011

Risk based pollution level of Pb and Cd in metal contaminated soils depending on physicochemical properties of soil in a target site was assessed using biotic ligand model. Heavy metal activity in soil solution defined as exposure activity (EA) was assumed to be toxic to Vibrio fischeri and soil organisms. Predicted effective activity (PEA) determined by biotic ligand model was compared to EA value to calculate risk quotient. Field contaminated soils (n = 10) were collected from a formes area and their risk based pollution levels were assessed in the present study using the calculated risk quotient. Concentrations of Pb determined by aqua regia were 295, 258, and 268 mg/kg in B, H and J points and concentrations of Cd were 4.73 and 6.36 mg/kg in G and I points, respectively. These points exceeded the current soil conservation standards. However, risk based pollution levels of the ten points were not able to be calculated because concentrations of Pb and Cd in soil solution were smaller than detection limits or one (i.e., non toxic). It was because heavy metal activity in soil solution was dominant toxicological form to organisms, not a total heavy metal concentration in soil. In addition, heavy metal toxicity was decreased by competition effect of major cations and formation of complex with dissolved organic carbon in soil solution. Therefore, it is essential to consider site-specific factors affecting bioavailability and toxicity for estimating reliable risk of Pb and Cd.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.115-118
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• 1996

The study on the cytotoxicities of heavy metals, metal-metal and metal-chelator combinations was carried out to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of those on mouse L929 fibroblasts. The colorimetric assays (NR and MTT) were conveniently carried out in 96-well microtiter plates. The rank order was Cd > Zn Ni > Cr(III) for the heavy metals tested. Examination of the effect of metal-metal interaction on cytotoxicity showed a moderate reduction of cadmium toxicity by zinc. The colorimetric assays were also effectively used to investigate the effect of the chelators, ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) and chitosan. Reduction of heavy metal toxixity by chelator was efficient.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.89-90
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• 2006

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.519-527
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• 1996

To examine the possibility of biomonitoring of heavy metal removal ability and soil, a study was performed to investigate the heavy metal removal ability and metal-binding protein (MBP) as detoxification process using Oenanthe stolonifera. After O. stolonifera was exposed to individuals (cadmium, zinc) and mixture (cadmium+zinc)for 4 days, removal rate of heavy metal and pH in the treatment medium was measured. MBP was assayed by means of ion exchange column chromatography. The exposure to mixture (Cd:76.8%, Zn:75%) rather than individuals (Cd:82.9%, Zn:90.4%) showed a synergism raising the toxic effect. Initial removal rate was different for each heavy metal : in case of exposure to cadmium it was over 60% on day 1, while for zinc it was 75~90% on day 4. Throughout the experimental period, pH value of treatment medium continuously decreased, since cortex in the roots may secret organic acid to adjust and prevent toxicity of metals. The existence or MBP in the 70~80 fraction and the presence of Zn-enzyme pool was ascertained with the column chromatography. This study demonstrated a possibility that heavy utilized as a biomarker of heavy metal pollution.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.118-122
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• 2017

Bacterial growth inhibition by lead, zinc and cadmium was measured by using modified Tris minimal medium. The toxicity against Escherichia coli strain was in the order of zinc> cadmium> lead, and the Escherichia coli strain overexpressing iron-containing superoxide dismutase 2 of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) was found to have resistance to heavy metals.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1-8
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• 2011

This study was performed to evaluate the remediation efficiency by Helianthus annuus, Brassica juncea and Brassica campestris on the soil contaminated with nickel, zinc and lead, respectively. The growth rates fell down under 60% in the condition of over 700 mg/kg of zinc for Brassica campestris, 300 mg/kg of lead for Helianthus annuus, and 150 mg/kg of nickel for Brassica juncea on the basis of heavy metal concentration in the soil, because of its toxicity. Also, the hyperaccumulators showed the maximum heavy metal contents in their biomass after 90 days of cultivation. The accumulated heavy metal content per kilogram of hyperaccumulator was 0.65 mg of nickel in Brassica juncea, 0.14 mg of zinc in Brassica campestris, and 0.06 mg of lead in Helianthus annuus, respectively. Additionally, 73.2% of nickel accumulated in Brassica juncea and 95.1% of zinc accumulated in Brassica campestris were concentrated in the upper site of crop like stem and leaves. However, in the case of Helianthus annuus, 83.7% of lead was accumulated in the root.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.113-132
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• 2003

In May 2001, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) for phasing out and eliminating POPs was signed by 90 countries at the Diplomatic Meeting in Stockholm. In 1998, three years before the Convention, the protocols on POPs and heavy metals were adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe under the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. Growing attention on POPs and heavy metals during the past 10 years is primarily due to their toxicity in minute quantities. POPs and some metal compounds are even more toxic because of their bioaccumulation potentials associated with a high lipid solubility. Furthermore, owing to their persistence and semi - volatility, they are widely distributed in the environment, traveling great distances on wind and water currents. Recent international cooperation to address POPs and heavy metals has focused on these issues. Long -range transport of those pollutants are particularly concerned since Korea is located downwind of prevailing westerlies from China. In this paper, a review is provided to assess the properties, sources, emissions, and atmospheric concentrations on POPs and heavy metals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.196-201
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• 2000

The influence of adsorption on cadmium toxicity to soil microorganisms in smectite-rich soils and sediments was quantified as a function of solution and sorbent characteristics. Adsorption and surface complexation experiments were conducted to infer Cd sorption mechanisms to a reference smectite and three fractions of a Veritsol soil, and to elucidate the effects of the surface complexation on Cd bioavailability and toxicity in soils and sediments. Cadmium adsorption isotherms conformed to the Langmuir adsorption model, with adsorptive capacities of the different samples dependent on their characteristics. Equilibrium geochemical modeling (MINTEQA2) was used to predict the speciation of Cd in the soil suspensions using Langmuir and Triple Layer surface complexation models. The influence of adsorption and surface complexation on cadmium toxicity to soil microorganisms was assessed indirectly through the relative change in microbial hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) as a function of total Cd concentration and sorbent characteristics. Adsorption decreased the toxicity of Cd to soil microorganisms. Inner-sphere complexation is more effective than outer-sphere complexation in reducing the bioavailability and toxicity of heavy metals in soils and sediments.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

The success of stabilization treatment in heavy metal contaminated sediment depends on the heavy metal bioavailability reduction through the sequestration of the heavy metals. This study was performed to assess the changes in the bioavailability of Pb or Cd in the Pb or Cd contaminated sediments by using birnessite and hydroxyapatite as stabilizing agents. The toxicity tests were carried out using a microorganism (Vibrio fischeri), an amphipod (Hyalella azteca) and an earthworm (Eisenia foetida). With Vibrio fischeri, the toxicities of both Pb and Cd were reduced by more than ten times in the presence of birnessite and hydroxyapatite compared to that of in the absence of birnessite and hydroxyapatite. The concentrations of Pb and Cd in the contaminated sediments were lethal to Hyalella azteca, however, in the presence of birnessite and hydroxyapatite more than 90%, on average, of Hyalella azteca survived. With Eisenia foetida, the bioaccumulated concentrations of both Pb and Cd were reduced by more than 75%, on average, lower with the addition of birnessite and hydroxyapatite to the contaminated sediments. These results show that the addition of birnessite and hydroxyapatite can reduce the bioavailability of Pb and Cd in contaminated sediments. In addition, the in situ and ex situ performance of birnessite and hydroxyapatite as stabilizing agents can be verified using the toxicity tests with Hyalella azteca and Eisenia foetida, respectively.