• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.93-100
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• 2001

The concentrations of 20 congeners of PCBs were determined in surficial and dated sediments from Jinhae, Busan, Ulsan and Yeongil Bay of Korea to assess current distributions as well as historical trends. The concentration ranges of total CBs in sediments were nd-138.60 ng/g dry wt. The concentrations of total CBs were significantly different among bays in the southeastern coastal areas (Kruskal-Wallis Test, p=0.036), Showing the Order Of Busan>Ulsan>Yeongil>Jinhae Bay. Predominant PCB homologues were penta-, hexa- and hepta-CBs. The down-core distributions of PCBs showed that the highest concentrations occurred in the late 1960s, coinciding with the onset of industrialization of Korea. The compositions of PCB congeners in sediment among bays were uniform, suggesting that major sources were not changed over time.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.814-818
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• 1997

The chemical waste treatment, APEG (alkali/polyethylene glycol) process has been shown to be effective for the dechlorination of PCBs in transformer oil. Considerable amount of PCBs, however, still remains in the waste exceeding the 25-50 ppm limit set by regulatory agency. A new thermal regeneration technology has been developed in our laboratory for disposal of hazardous organic wastes. Due to the limited oxidation of carbon surface through the reverse movement of flame front to oxidant flow, this technology was termed counterflow oxidative system (COS). Specially, the oxidant flow in the COS process is a principal parameter which determines the optimum conditions regarding acceptable removal and destruction efficiency of adsorbed organic wastes at minimal carbon loss. The COS process, under optimum conditions, was found to be very effective and the removal and destruction efficiency of 99.99% or better was obtained for residual PCBs in the waste while bulk (≥90%) of carbon was recovered. Any toxic formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDFs) were not detected in the regenerated carbon and impinger traps. The results of surface area measurement showed that the adsorptive property of regenerated carbon is mostly reclaimed during the COS process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.810-820
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• 2012

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) contents in marine sediment and edible fish (4 species) from the estuary near the Yongho wharf in Busan were determined to assess their presence and their potential health risk to the local population through fish consumption was also assessed. Levels of ${\Sigma}PCBs$ and ${\Sigma}DDTs$ in marine sediment were 3.22~197.65 and 1.77~20.27 ng/g dw, respectively. HCHs and endosulfan sulfate concentrations in bottom sediment were 1.42~6.08, 0.56~13.89 ng/g dw, respectively. The bottom sediment in the offshore of the Yongho wharf may be characterized as semi-polluted status with potential adverse marine biological effects in terms of sediment quality guidelines of US NOAA. The mean concentrations of ${\Sigma}PCBs$ in the tissues of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii), file fish (Stephanolepis cirrhifer) and abbysal searobin (Lepidotrigla abyssalis) were 67.37, 10.20, 48.26, 22.81 ng/g lw, respectively. DDTs and HCHs were also detected in all fish samples. Lifetime cancer risk and target hazard quotient to local residents due to those fish consumption were found to pose negligible cancer and non-cancer risk.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.330-342
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• 2008

A comprehensive quality survey for PCDDs/PCDFs and coplanar PCBs as well as heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in sediments has been investigated in August 2006, Korea. Monitoring was undertaken at five streams representing different surrounding environments throughout Juwang and Gapyeong streams (reference sites), Jungrang stream (dense population site), Ansan stream (mixed small population and industrial site), and Siheung stream (heavy industrial site). The levels of heavy metal in samples were found to be significantly higher in sediment from Siheung stream compared to those of other stream sites. The heavy metal concentrations (dry weight basis) in sediment from Siheung stream were as follows; Cd (3.7 ${\mu}g$/g), Pb (1,295 ${\mu}g$/g), Cu (713.4 ${\mu}g$/g) and Zn (358.1 ${\mu}g$/g). Among 12 coplanar PCBs and 17 PCDDs/PCDFs selected as target compounds in this study, PCB (IUPAC no. 118) and OCDD were the most abundant congeners found in all sediment samples, followed by 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD, OCDF and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8HpCDF as well as PCB (IUPAC no. 105). These results were shown to be in the same trend as the sediment samples of other countries. The levels of PCDDs/PCDFs/coplanar PCBs in sediment samples were expressed as concentrations and WHO- TEQ values. The PCDDs/PCDFs/coplanar PCBs concentrations and their WHO-TEQ values in sediment from Siheung stream were remarkably high. The levels detected were 788.16 pg/g and 36.080 pg WHO-TEQ/g dry weight for PCDDs/ PCDFs and 314 pg/g and 0.4189 pg WHO-TEQ/g dry weight for coplanar PCBs, respectively, beyond the safety level of sediment value 20 pg WHO-TEQ/g. Sediment samples of the five streams were also monitored by sensitive biomarkers using insect immune responses: hemocyte-spreading behavior and immune-associated enzyme activities of phospholipase A$_2$ (PLA$_2$) and phenoloxidase. Organic extracts of Siheung and Jungrang sediments significantly interfered with the hemocytespreading behavior, whereas those of Ansan, Gapyeong, and Juwang did not. These organic extracts did not inhibit the PLA$_2$ and phenoloxidase activities. However, phenoloxidase was highly susceptible to exposure to aqueous extracts in all site sediments. In comparison, PLA$_2$ activities of the hemocytes were significantly inhibited only by aqueous extracts of Siheung, Jungrang, and Gapyeong sediments, but not by those of Ansan and Juwang. Despite some disparity between bioand chemical monitoring results, the biomarkers can be recommended as a device warning the contamination of biohazard environmental chemicals because of a fast and inexpensive detection method.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.309-319
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• 2003

This study was performed to describe analysis method of 209 PCB congeners in ambient air samples. The samples were collected by high volume air sampler in Chonju city. Extracted samples were cleaned by silicagel cleanup modified with sulfuric acid and activated carbon cleanup processing. The cleaned samples were analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) with DB-5 column (60 m, 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 m film thickness) to analyze the 209 kinds of PCB congeners. PCBs levels of air samples were detected to the range between 0.003 and $0.163pg-TEQ/m^3$. The PCBs congener of 162 kinds were detected in samples analysed using DB-5 column and 37 kinds peaks were overlapped with congeners more than one. It is difficult to isolate PCB 118/106 and PCB 105/127 in coplanar PCB, so it is likely to overestimate the concentration.. The distribution of coplanar-PCB congeners in origin source samples (Kanechlor and exhaust gas from incinerator) was compared with that in air samples, and PCB 81, PCB 77, PCB 126, and PCB 169 were higher in incinerator samples.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.385-389
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• 2005

To understand the pollution level by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in ambient air of industrial area, PCBs concentrations were measured at Sihwa and Banwol industrial region, Korea. The concentrations of total PCB and WHO-TEQ ranged from 2,080 to $5820\;pg/m^3$ (median value is 2,760) and from 0.19 to $1.01\;pgTEQ/m^3$ (median value is 0.42), respectively. In terms of homologues composition the fraction of highly chlorinated biphenyls(from hexa-CB to deca-CB) were higher than the air samples of other regions such as jeonju and yokohama area. The cluster analysis was conducted to study the relation between the air samples and sources such as incinerator flue gases and Aroclor samples. The isomer fractions in the homologue were used as input variables. Based on the results, the industrial ambient air samples were divided from source samples with long Euclidian distance. This suggest that the ambient air samples of Sihwa and Banwol were not on the influence of Aroclor and incinerators. Therefore, further investigation on systematical air monitoring will be required to estimate the sources of PCBs in the above industrial areas.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2016

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants, found in the many environments. PCBs exerts various toxicological effects, including endocrine-disrupting activity. Most researches with these toxicants performed with soil matrix with mixtures of congeners, namely Aroclor, while the biological activities have been tested with animals. However, studies with pure congeners are limited. In this study, 5 congeners were synthesized and their fates (bioaccumulation, degradation, kinetics) were studied in carrot-soil system. The soil half-lives of biphenyl, PCB-1, PCB-3, PCB-77, and PCB-126 were 20.2, 16.0, 11.6, 46.5, 198.0 days, respectively. In general, the longer half-lives were observed with the higher hydrophoicity of PCBs. Times, required for maxium accumulation of PCBs in carrot (Tmax) were 10-20 days for most congeners and the concentrations were 0.4-2.6 mg/kg. The concentrations of PCBs in carrot were kept as constant after Tmax, except PCB-126. The concentration ratio between carrot and soil after 90 days of treatment were 1.7, 8.1, 1.9, 1.8, and 5.9 for biphenyl, PCB-1, PCB-3, PCB-77, and PCB-126. Because of the increase of biomass, the total residual amount of PCBs in carrots however, increased till the end of experiment. The portions of PCB-126 in carrot were 1.1% of the soil residues at 90 days after planting.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.206-218
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• 2020

Located mostly inside the megacity of Busan, the Busan Southern Port is a multifunctional port with various nearby industry activities, including a joint fish market, ship repair facilities, and fishing boat facilities. If toxic chemicals generated by the industrial activities continue to flow into and accumulate in the sediment of the port, they can affect aquatic ecosystems and humans. Therefore, in this study, distribution levels and potential influent sources of organic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and butyltin compounds (BTs), in the sediment were investigated. The sediment samples were collected from eight sampling sites in November 2013 (first phase) and November 2014 (second phase). The mean concentrations of PAHs, PCBs, and BTs in the first and second sampling phages were 4174.0 ng/g-dry wt. and 1919.0 ng/g-dry wt., 166.3 ng/g-dry wt. and 21 ng/g-dry wt., and 50.9 ng/g-dry wt. and 30.8 ng/g-dry wt., respectively. The concentrations of the organic pollutants detected in the seabed sediments were lower in the second phase than in the first phase. In this study, the inflow sources of PAHs, PCBs, and BTs were found to be combustion, land, and municipal sewage or industrial wastewater, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.836-842
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• 2006

Pine needle samples(1 year, 2 year, 3 year old) were collected in Seoul and Ansung to investigate the deposition characteristics of atmospheric PCBs depending on exposure periods. Total PCBs concentration of pine needle samples in Seoul and Ansung showed 2,429, 1,198 pg/g DW(dry weight), respectively. PCB homologs concentration of pine needle samples decreased with increasing chlorine-substituted compounds. It showed that higher chlorine- substituted compounds in existing particle phase compared to lower chlorine-substituted compounds existing in gaseous phase were difficult to accumulate lipids of the pine needles samples. The results of regression analysis between exposure periods in the atmosphere and concentration of total PCBs measured in pine needles at two sites showed significant levels($R^2>0.94$, p<0.01), which implies that atmospheric PCBs accumulated on pine needles with positive linearity depending on exposure periods in this study. Therefore pine needle samples can be used as passive air sampler(PAS) for monitoring air contamination for a long time in different sites.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2006

Among poly aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxin and PCBs are the most controversial environmental pollutants in our modern life. These pollutants are known as human carcinogens, and liver is the most sensitive target in animal cancer models. Specific aims of the study were focused on the mechanism of carcinogenesis in hepatocytes and the structure-activity relation among these diverse environmental chemicals. Because key mechanisms of dioxin-induced carcinogenesis in human epithelial cell model are the alteration of signal transduction pathway and PKC isoforms, the alteration of the signal transduction pathways and other factors associated with carcinogenesis were studied. Rat hepatocytes cultured under the sandwich protocols were exposed with the various concentration of dioxins and PCBs, and signal transduction pathway, protein kinase C isoforms, oxidant stress, and apoptotic nuclei were evaluated. Since it is important to understand the structure-activity relation among these chemicals to properly assess the carcinogenic potentials, the study analyzed the parameters associated with carcinogenic processes, based on their structural characteristics. In addition, signal transduction pathways and PKC isoforms involved in inhibition of UV-induced apoptosis were also analyzed to elaborate the tumor promotion mechanism of these chemicals. Induction of apoptosis by UV irradiation was optimal at $60\;J/m^2$ in primary hepatocyte in culture. Compared to non coplanar PCBs such as PCB 114 and PCB 153, coplanar PCBs such as PCB 77 and PCB126 showed a stronger inhibition of apoptosis induced by UV irradiation. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was more stimulated by non-coplanar PCBs than coplanar PCBs with the most potent induction of ROS by chlorinated non-coplanar PCB. As compared to the level of induction by PCB126, non-coplanar PCB153 showed a higher increase of intracellular concentrations. Besides the alteration of intracellular calcium concentration, translocation of PKC from cytosolic fraction to membrane fraction was clearly observed upon the exposure of non-coplanar PCB. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that there is a potent structure-activity relationship among PCB congeners and the mechanism of PAH-induced carcinogenesis is structure-specific. The study suggested that more diverse pathways of PAH-induced carcinogenesis should be taken into account beyond the boundary of Ah receptor dogma to assess the health impact of PAH with more accuracy.