• ALGAE
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.265-275
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• 2011

This study examined the bioaccumulation of the heavy metals copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) by the giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, by exposing meristematic kelp tissue to elevated metal concentrations in seawater within laboratory aquaria. Specifically, we carried out two different experiments. The first examined metal uptake under a single, ecologically-relevant elevation of each metal (30 ppb Cu and 100 ppb Zn), and the second examined the relationships between varying levels of the metals (i.e., 15, 39, 60, 120, 240, and 480 ppb Cu, and 50, 100, 200, 300, 500, and 600 ppb Zn). Both experiments were designed to contrast the uptake of the metals in isolation (i.e., when only one metal concentration was elevated) and in combination (i.e., when both metals' concentrations were elevated). Following three days of exposure to the elevated metal concentrations, we collected and analyzed the M. pyrifera tissues using inductively coupled plasma atomic emissions spectroscopy. Our results indicated that M. pyrifera bioaccumulated Cu in all treatments where Cu concentrations in the seawater were elevated, regardless of whether Zn concentrations were also elevated. Similarly, M. pyrifera bioaccumulated Zn in treatments where seawater Zn concentrations were elevated, but this occurred only when we increased Zn alone, and not when we simultaneously increased Cu concentrations. This suggests that elevated Cu concentrations inhibit Zn uptake, but not vice versa. Following this, our second experiment examined the relationships among varying seawater Cu and Zn concentrations and their bioaccumulation by M. pyrifera. Here, our results indicated that, as their concentrations in the seawater rise, Cu and Zn uptake by M. pyrifera tissue also rises. As with the first experiment, the presence of elevated Zn in the water did not appear to affect Cu uptake at any concentration examined. However, although it was not statistically significant, we observed that the presence of elevated Cu in seawater appeared to trend toward inhibiting Zn uptake, especially at higher levels of the metals. This study suggests that M. pyrifera may be useful as a bio-indicator species for monitoring heavy metal pollution in coastal environments.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.518-524
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• 2014

Heavy metal pollution in agricultural field near at the abandoned metal mines has been a critical issue in Korea. In particular, bioaccumulation in plants can have detrimental effect on human health. Main objective of this research was to examine arsenic (As) concentration in soil with varied extraction methods and to determine bioaccumulation and biological transfer factor in different crops. Results showed that bioaccumulation ratio of As for total contents in soil was ordered leafy and stem vegetables (1.19%) > fruit bearing vegetables (0.79%) > pulses (0.40%) > root vegetables (0.36%) with different crop species. Among 6 different extraction methods, all of extraction methods showed high correlation ($R^2=0.87-0.97$) except DTPA ($R^2=0.25$) when comparing As concentration in soil extracted with different extractants and As concentration in each crops. Calculated biological transfer factor was ranged 0.002-0.018 depending on crop species. Overall, concentration of As in crops can be varied and best management practice for minimizing bioaccumulation of As should be considered depending on crop species.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.71-86
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• 2014

Macronutrients ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$), yield and yield components, bioaccumulation and translocation of metal in plant parts of three Vigna species (V. cylindrica, V. mungo, V. radiata) were evaluated at 0, 50, 100 and $150mgkg^{-1}$ soil of Nickel (Ni). A marked inhibition (p < 0.001) in the distribution of various macronutrients was noticed in these Vigna species except for $Mg^{2+}$ content of the shoot and leaves. Similarly, all species retained more $Ca^{2+}$ in their roots (p < 0.05) as compared to the aerial tissues. Ni induced a drastic decline (p < 0.001) for various yield and yield attributes except for 100 seed weight. Toxicity and accumulation of Ni in plant tissues considerably increased in a concentration dependent manner. Vigna species signify an exclusion approach for Ni tolerance as both bioaccumulation factor (BF) and translocation factor (TF) were less than 1.0. The Ni content of plants being root > shoot > leaves > seeds. Scoring for percentage stimulation and inhibition (respective to control) at varying levels of Ni revealed tolerance of the species in an order of V. radiata > V. cylindrica > V. mungo. The acquisition of Ni tolerance in V. radiata seems to occur through an integrated mechanism of metal tolerance that includes sustainable macronutrients uptake, stronger roots due to greater deposition of $Ca^{2+}$in the roots, restricted transfer of Ni to above ground tissues and seeds as well as exclusion capacity of the roots to bind appreciable amount of metal to them. Thus, metal tolerant potential of V. radiata could be of great significance to remediate metal contaminated soil owing lesser impact of Ni on macro-nutrients, hence the yield.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1279-1286
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• 2013

Particle size and metal species are important to both soil microbial toxicity and phytotoxicity in the soil ecosystem. The effects of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and microparticles (MPs) on soil microbial toxicity, phytotoxicity, and bioaccumulation in two crops (Cucumis sativus and Zea mays) were estimated in a soil microcosm. In the microcosm system, soil was artificially contaminated with 1,000 mg/kg CuO and ZnO NPs and MPs. After 15 days, we compared the microbial toxicity and phytotoxicity by particle size. In addition, C. sativus and Z. mays were cultivated in soils treated with CuO NPs and ZnO NPs, after which the treatment effects on bioaccumulation were evaluated. NPs were more toxic than MPs to microbes and plants in the soil ecosystem. We found that the soil enzyme activity and plant biomass were inhibited to the greatest extent by CuO NPs. However, in a Biolog test, substrate utilization patterns were more dependent upon metal type than particle size. Another finding indicated that the metal NP uptake amounts of plants depend on the plant species. In the comparison between C. sativus and Z. mays, the accumulation of Cu and Zn by C. sativus was noticeably higher. These findings show that metal oxide NPs may negatively impact soil bacteria and plants. In addition, the accumulation patterns of NPs depend on the plant species.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.569-575
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• 2007

This study was carried out to determine bioaccumulation levels of total mercury on various fish tissues in two streams (Banseok and Hasin Stream) and one lake (Yeongsan Lake) during April-May 2007. We also determined natural background levels of total mercury bioaccumulation to evaluate relative individual impacts of fish and compared the levels with reference sites as a preliminary study to evaluate heavy metal stressor using fish. For the study, we collected fishes in the sampling sites and analyzed the concentrations of total mercury in the liver, kidney, gill, vertebral column, and muscle tissues using Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA-80, US EPA Method 7473). The levels varied depending on the types of waterbody and tissues used. Concentrations of total mercury ranged between 5.1${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ and 108.6 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ in the streams and between 5.3${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ and 87.3 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ in the reservoir, and the values were highest in the muscle tissues. Levels of natural background levels of total mercury, even though the sampling number was few, averaged 23.6 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ in the study sites. The individual and mean values in each system was not so high in terms of US EPA criteria of fish health and human health, indicating that the impact was minor in the study site. Further studies should be done for the determination of mercury levels in the systems.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.19.1-19.7
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• 2016

A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine hexavalent chromium ($Cr^{6+}$) accumulation in the mullet and investigate $Cr^{6+}$ toxicity using a panel of biomarkers including metallothioneins (MTs), glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutases (SODs) for 4 weeks. $Cr^{6+}$ bioaccumulation in all tissues, except muscle, was consistently time- and dose-dependent. The accumulation of $Cr^{6+}$ for 4-week exposures was in the following order: $kidney{\approx}liver$ > $intestine{\approx}gill$ > spleen > muscle. Compared with the control, $Cr^{6+}$ bioaccumulation was increased in ${\geq}200{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ groups (P < 0.05). An independent relation was observed between accumulation factors (AFs) and exposure concentration. But AFs increased with exposure time. In the liver and gill, GST and SOD differed from the control at a high $Cr^{6+}$ concentration at 2 and 4 weeks (P < 0.05). This study indicated that the gills were as sensitive as the liver to $Cr^{6+}$ toxicity. However, the latter appeared to influence largely on the organism's adaptive response to $Cr^{6+}$, since $Cr^{6+}$ may elevate GSH and MT levels by enhancing the hepatic uptake of metal in the mullet.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.675-684
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• 2011

In nature, the overall effect of heavy metals on the biota can be influenced by a number of environmental factors like soil characteristics and air pollution by elevated $CO_2$. Pillbugs (Isopoda, Armadillium vulgare) take up heavy metals with their food and store them mainly in the vesicles of hepatopancreas. They accumulate certain metals, occur in relatively large numbers, are easily collected and identified, and provide sufficient material for analysis. The species are decomposing litter well and soil impurities into N and P. Therefore, it has been suggested that total body concentration of metals in pillbugs could be positively correlated to the levels of environmental exposure and that pillbugs could be used as biological indicators of metal pollution and global change by $CO_2$. The aim of the study is to determine effects of heavy metal concentrations in soil and elevated $CO_2$ on pillbugs' body accumulation of heavy metal and growth rate. In this study, the concentrations of six metals (Fe, Mg Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) have been determined. Pillbugs (N=287) were collected at five sites during Jul-Aug, 2006. Cu and Zn concentrations in the body were much higher than in the soils(1.39-41.70 times). This indicated that bioaccumulation of some of the heavy metals were increasing in the food-chain. The high bioconcentration of lead in Sangam may be partly associated with reclaimed land uses.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.136-145
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• 2002

A laboratory microcosm experiment was conducted to evaluate a major metal uptake route as well as chronic toxic effects of the clam, Macoma balthica exposed to Ag and Cu contaminated sediments. Twenty five clams were exposed to the sediments contaminated with four levels of Ag $Ag(0.01-0.87\mu{mol}\;g^{-1})$ and $Cu(0.75-5.55\mu{mol\;g^{-1})$ for 90 days. AVS (acid volatile sulfide) concentration in the sediments, considered as major factor controlling metal geochemistry and bioavailability, was manipulated to evaluate its effects on Ag and Cu bioaccumulation in M. balthica. Following 90-d exposure, the tissue Ag and Cu in M. balthica increased linearly with the Ag and Cu concentrations in sediments extracted with 1 N HCI (SEM, simultaneously extracted metals with AVS). The bioaccumulation of Ag and Cu in M. balthica was little influenced by difference in [SEM] - [AVS] values, suggesting a minor contribution of pore water metals to bioaccumulation. Tissue Ag and Cu concentrations directly influenced on the clearance rate and glycogen content of the clams. The clams with highest tissue Ag $(1.0\pm{0.2}\mu{mol}\;g^{-1})$ and Cu concentrations $(2.7\pm{0.3}\;\mu{mol}\;g^{-1})$ had only 18-43% of clearance of the clams exposed to uncontaminated sediments. Similarly, glycogen content of the exposed clams had a inverse relationship with tissue Ag and Cu concentrations. These results suggest that M. balthica exposed to Ag and Cu contaminated sediments accumulates metals largely by ingestion of contaminated sediments and can display chronic effects as reduced clearance rate and glycogen content.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.341-354
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• 2002

Heavy metal concentration/distribution in sediments and bivalves from the tidal flats in Saemankeum coastal area, western Korea, were investigated, Among 6 sampling sites, S2, S5 and S6 showed the higher levels of Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu and Cd contamination and S1 did the higher level of Pb contamination than other sites, while S-4 showed the lowest levels of these metal contamination. Overally, the levels of Zn, Cu and Pb concentrations in Sinonovacula constricta were estimated to be relatively high. The shell lengths of the collected mussels were linearly related to their dry weights of the whole soft parts, but the mussels collected from S3 were in a poor nutrition, resulting in the distinctively high levels of metal concentrations in the body. It was shown that in S. constricta, Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn are distributed equally into the whole soft parts or a little more into the flesh, after absorption, while Fe, Cd, Pb and Mn are transferred more into the non-flesh parts than into the flesh parts. In S. constricta, the heavy metal concentrations in the flesh increase with those in the whole soft parts. The bioaccumulation factors(heavy metal concentration in S. constricta/heavy metal concentration in sediment) showed that, of the examined metals, Cd is the most cumulative in the body of S. constricta, followed by Zn and Cu, while Mn, Cr, Ni and Pb are not cumulative.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.335-345
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• 2004

Total and extractable contents of heavy metals were measured in sediment and seafood from Bukhang and Boggil-ri tidal flats along the Mokpo coastal area, south-western part of Korean peninsular in order to assess the degree of metal pollution, metal bioavailability and metal hioaccumulation. The metal concentrations, except Pb were found to be greater than the background concentrations of sediments indicating the progress of cumulative contamination by anthropogenic origin of metals. The order of extractable metal concentrations in sediments were Mn(32-53 mg/kg)＞Zn(14-42 mg/tg)＞Cu(2.5-17.0 mg/kg)＞Pb(2.4-6.8 mg/kg)＞Cd(0.5-0.7 mg/kg). However, the amount of metals associated with extractable fraction of sediments were significantly high in Bukhang relative to Boggil-ri. Significant bioaccumulation of all metals, except Pb were observed in seaweed and benthos. The order of bioaccumulation of metals were: in concentration; all biota commonly, Mn(129-374 mg/kg)＞Zn(19-106 mg/kg)＞Cu(6-87 mg/kg)＞Cd(4.6-7.6 mg/kg)＞Pb(0.2-3.7 mg/kg), in BCF; Enteromorpha, Cd＞Mn＞Cu＞Zn＞Pb, Ilyoplax deschampsi, Cu＞Cd＞Mn＞Zn＞Pb, Urechis unicinctus, Cd＞Zn＞Mn＞Cu＞Pb. Some metal concentrations of Enteromorpha, especially Cu, Zn, weakly Pb in bukhang, Mn, Cd in boggili-ri, were correlate well with concentrations in sediment, indicating relatively more contaminated by the anthropogenic origin of metals in each tidal flat. The results clearly indicate that the seafood of bukhang, even of Boggili-ri known as clean area, are contaminated with metals.