• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.1101-1107
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• 2013

In this study, total mercury and methyl mercury in whole blood of Korean was analyzed so as to investigate the correlation between total mercury (T-Hg) and methyl mercury (Me-Hg). 4000 whole blood samples were divided in four groups, according to T-Hg concentration in percentile: group I (p25-p50), group II (p50-p75), group III (p75-p95) and group IV (p95-p100). 100 samples were randomly selected from the each group, and Me-Hg concentration was measured. T-Hg concentration in whole blood was analyzed using a Direct Mercury Analyzer-80 and obtained limit of detection (LOD) was $0.2{\mu}gL^{-1}$. Me-Hg concentration was analyzed with ethylate derivatization using headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and obtained LOD of methyl mercury was $0.5{\mu}gL^{-1}$. The geometric means of T-Hg and Me-Hg were $6.35{\mu}gL^{-1}$ and $4.44{\mu}gL^{-1}$, respectively, and 71.91% of T-Hg was presented as Me-Hg.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.368-375
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• 2020

Objectives: Some animal studies have reported that methyl mercury causes developmental toxicities such as placental and fetal weight loss, but the mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the developmental toxicities of methyl mercury, focusing on placental endocrine function and fetal growth retardation in rats. Methods: Positively same-time-mated female Sprague-Dawley rats were purchased on gestational day (GD) eight and treated with 0, 5, 10 and 20 ppm of methyl mercury (n=5) dissolved in tap water from GD eight through 19. During treatment, the drinking water (methyl mercury) intake and body weight of each pregnant rat was measured daily. On day 19, caesarean sections were performed and blood samples were collected. Developmental data such as placental and fetal weights, fetus numbers, and placental efficiency (fetal weight/placental weight) were also collected. Placental prolactin-growth hormone (PRL-GH) family, such as placental lactogen (PL) -Iv, II, and prolactin-like protein (PLP) -B, levels in serum were analyzed by ELISA. Also, placental tissues were assigned to histochemistry. Results: The mean cumulative methyl mercury exposure for the 5, 10, and 20 ppm groups were 2.37, 4.63, and 9.66 mg, respectively. The mean daily exposure of the 5, 10, and 20 ppm groups were 0.24, 0.47, and 0.97 mg, respectively. Maternal body weight increased in accordance with GD. There was no significant difference in weight gain among the experimental groups. Histopathologic changes were not observed in placental tissues among the experimental groups. However, mean placental and fetal weights were lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups compared to the control. Placental efficiency was also lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups compared to the control. Serum PL-Iv and II levels were lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups than the control, in accordance with the changing pattern of placental and fetal weights and placental efficiency. Conclusion: The inhibitory effects of methyl mercury on the serum levels of placental PRL-GH family such as PL-Iv and II may be secondary leads to the reduction of placental efficiency and fetal growth retardation in rats.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.76-82
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• 1987

생쥐 간세포(肝細胞)의 미세구조(微細構造)에 미치는 메틸수은(水銀)의 독성적(毒性的) 영향(影響)과 이에 대한 홍삼(紅蔘) 추출물(抽出物)의 해독효과를 전자현미경적(電子顯微鏡的)으로 연구하였다. 대조군(對照群)의 간세포(肝細胞)에 비하여 메틸수은(水銀)만을 투여(投與)한 군(群)에서는 핵(核)의 일부가 붕괴(崩壞)되고, mitochondria의 팽대(膨大), cristae의 수축(收縮) 내지 손실(損失) 및 다수의 대형 강포(腔胞)의 출현(出現)이 일어나고 glycogen의 양(量)이 감소되었다. 메틸수은(水銀)과 홍삼(紅蔘) 추출물(抽出物)을 병행(倂行) 투여(投與)한 군(群)에서는 메틸수은(水銀)만을 투여(投與)한 군(群)에서보다 mitochondria의 팽대(膨大) 정도(程度)가 적고 강포(腔胞)의 크기와 수가 감소되었으며 정상(正常) 세포(細胞)와 비슷한 상태로 나타났다.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.205-213
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• 1987

In order to investigate the effects of red ginseng extract to methyl mercury toxicities in mice, the serum lipoproteins, tissure protein patternsm and growth rates were studied. Animals wee divided into 3 groups of the control, group I treated with methyl mercury chloride only, and group II treated together with methyl mercury chloride and red ginseng extract. In serum lipoprotein fractions of group I, beta lipoprotein fraction was increased and pre-beta lipoprotein fraction was decreased in comparision to those of the control. However, there was almost no difference in quantities of serum lipoprotein fractions between the control and group II. Total pretein contents of groups I and II were increased in liver and those of groups I and II in the kidney were decreased. However, in comparison to group I, total protein contents of group II in the liver and kidney were similar values with those of the control. Percentage of tissue protein fractions between control and group I in the liver and kindey showed considerable difference. On the other hand, the percentage of protein fractions of group II approximated to that of the control. Daily average growth rate of body weight in group II was similar to the control, but that of group I was decreased significantly in comparison to the other 2 groups.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.193-200
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• 1986

In order to investigate the antiotoxic effect of red ginseng extract on serum protein of mouse treated with methyl mercury playing a role as toxic contaminant in ecosystem, variations of the serum protein contents, electrophoretic patterns, and blood components were studied. Mice were divided into 3 groups: Control, group I treated only with methyl mercury, and group II treated together with methyl mercury and red ginseng extract. The total serum protein content of the control group was 5.8g/dl and those of groups I and II were slightly decreased as compared with the control. The control group showed 11 serum protein fractions and groups I and II showed 10 fractions except prealbumin. The amounts of albumin, ${\alpha}_1-$, ${\alpha}_2-$ globulin fractions were decreased and those $\beta$-, $\gamma$-globulin fractions were increased in groups I and II. The amount of each serum protein fraction in group II showed approximately the same level as the control. The hematocrit value and the number of white blood cells of groups I and II were increased, whereas the number of red blood cells showed the decrease as compared with the control.

• Carbon letters
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.238-246
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• 2014

People have been concerned about mercury emissions for decades because of the extreme toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation of methyl Hg transformed from emitted Hg. This paper presents an overview of research related to mercury control technology and identifies areas requiring additional research and development. It critically reviews measured mercury emissions progress in the development of promising control technologies. This review provides useful information to scientists and engineers in this field.

• 한국정밀공학회지
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• 제17권8호
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• pp.120-125
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• 2000

This paper proposes a tilt sensor made by MEMS technology. The sensor consists of an electrode glass a small mercury drop a circular channel and a cover glass. The mercury drop is used as medium of a current flow and in contact with two circular chromel electrodes used as an angular-motion resistance When this sensor inclines the mercury drop inside the circular channel moves into the bottom under the influence of gravity. A tilt angle can be measured by changed resistance as tilting this sensor, This sensor has a linear section between +50.$^{\circ}$ and -50.$^{\circ}$ with the accuracy of 2.$^{\circ}$. We are also studying about the enlargement of the linear section and the effect of the size of the mercury drop.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.187-192
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• 2008

To clerify the protective effect of omega-3 of polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the cytotoxicity induced by organic mercury in cultured NIH3T3 fibroblasts. The measurement of cell viability on ogranic mercury wad done by XTT assay after NIH3T3 fibroblasts were cultured with various concentrations of methyl mercuric chloride (MMC). And also, the effect of DHA on the MMC-mediated cytotoxicity was examined by cell viability, and antioxidant effect of DHA was also assessed by superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity and the lipid peroxidation activity in cultured NIH3T3 fibroblasts. In this study, MMC decreased cell viability and $XTT_{50}$ value was determined at $50{\mu}M$ of MMC in these culture. In the effect of DHA against the cytotoxicity induced by MMC, DHA significantly increased the cell viability damaged by MMC in cultured NIH3T3 fibroblasts. And also, DHA showed the antioxidant effect by showing the increase of SOD-like activity and the decrease of lipid peroxidation activity. From these results, it is suggested that organic mercury such as MMC has highly toxic effect on cultured NIH3T3 fibroblasts, and also, omega-3 of polyunsaturated fatty acid, DHA showed the protection on MMC-induced cytotoxicity and antioxidant effect.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.42-49
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• 2017

본 연구의 목적은 경기도 내 유통되고 있는 수산물(심해성 어류, 다랑어류 및 새치류) 및 어류가공품의 총수은 및 메틸수은 오염도를 알아보기 위해 실시하였다. 수산물 101건과 어류가공품 44건을 수거하여 수은분석기 및 가스크로마토그래피 전자포획검출기를 사용하여 분석하였다. 수산물은 모두에서 총수은이 검출되었고 메틸수은은 92건에서 검출되어 91.1%의 검출률을 나타내었다. 총수은과 메틸수은의 함량은 각각 새치류 $1.968{\pm}0.505$, $0.496{\pm}0.057mg/kg$, 심해성어류 $0.665{\pm}0.091$, $0.252{\pm}0.033mg/kg$, 다랑어류 $0.577{\pm}0.085$, $0.218{\pm}0.025mg/kg$순으로 높게 나타났으며, 황새치의 평균값이 총수은은 1.968 mg/kg, 메틸수은은 0.496 mg/kg으로 가장 높았다. 총수은 대비 메틸수은 함량은 심해성 어류인 쏨뱅이류가 66.5%로 가장 높았다. 어류가공품의 총수은 메틸수은함량은 원육함량 100%인 냉동식품이 가장 높았으며 원재료 함량과 비례하여 나타났다. 심해성 어류, 다랑어류 및 새치류를 통한 총수은 및 메틸수은의 주간섭취량은 JECFA에서 설정한 PTWI의 4.72, 5.24%로 조사된 어류를 통한 우리나라 국민들의 노출량은 안전한 것으로 나타났다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.451-456
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• 2005

Minamata disease made its first appearance in the world at Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture, in May 1956. In 1962 methyl mercury poisoning through the placenta was found for the first time in the world. This was called congenital Minamata disease. In all cases the clinical symptoms were consistent with those of cerebral palsy. The time and place of outbreak were the same as those for Minamata disease. Their mothers had eaten fish and shellfish during pregnancy. The principal symptoms of congenital Minamata disease are mentalretardation ($100\%$); primitive reflexes ($100\%$); disturbance of coordination ($100\%$); dysarthria ($100\%$); limb deformation (100%); growth disorders ($100\%$); nutritional disorders ($100\%$); chorea-athetose ($95\%$); and hypersalivation ($95\%$). However, today, when the world is polluted by mercury in various places and at various levels, the data we need is not represented by those severe cases, but rather by the chronic milder type. Even in Minamata, the issue of Minamata disease has not been resolved. And likewise, on a global scale the problem of Minamata disease is not yet over.