• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.346-353
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• 1999

For the non-destructive multi-elemental analysis of environmental and biological materials, instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied for the determination of toxic and trace elements in a set of three Algae samples provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The analytical quality control was evaluated by comparing the analytical results of two standard reference materials of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Oyster Tissue (SRM 1566a) and Citrus Leaves (SRM 1572). According to given analytical procedure, the concentration of 15-25 elements including spiked elements such as As, Cd, Cr and Hg in Algae samples were determined. To identify and validate these results, a data intercomparison program using more than 35 analytical methods in 150 laboratories was carried out and the estimated statistical data are summarized. Result of INAA is favorable, therefore, it is illustrated that can be applied for routine analysis of essential and toxic elements in algae samples as well as analytical quality assurance.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.167-171
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• 1999

Since toxic Alexandrium catenella and non-toxic A. fraterculus are morphologically similar, they are difficult to discriminate under the light microscope. However, a novel technology, such as fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated lectin probes enables easy and rapid differentiation. Toxic A. catenella bound seven different lectins, whereas the non-toxic A. fratercuzus did not bind Arachis hypogaea (PNA) lectin. In addition, Pseudo-nitrschia species in this study were also difficult to identify to species level with light microscope techniques, but it was possible to classify them using fluorescent lectins. Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata, P. subfraudulenta and P. pungens bound Canavalia ensiformis (ConA), whereas P. subpaclfica did not, and P. pungens also bound Ricinus communis (RCA). These results imply that lectin could be used as a critical tool in the differentiation of P. multistriata, P. subfraudulenta and P. pungens. However, P. subpacifica was not differentiated by the lectins tested. Therefore, it isconcluded that lectin probes are useful for discriminating toxic A. catenella from non-toxic A. fraterculus, and for the identification of some Pseudo-nitzschia species. In addition, this method has a great potential to speed and detection between non-toxic and toxic harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Korean biotoxin monitoring systems.

• ALGAE
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.471-477
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• 2006

Amphora costata W. Smith 1853 is a down thrown diatom species and also known as metal corrosive ship-fouling organism. A. costata was isolated from Alang ship breaking yard, Alang and evaluated the toxicity tolerance and growth responses of the cultures exposed to different doses of toxic and relatively accessible heavy metals, such as Fe, Mn, Cd, Co, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb in the constantly monitored laboratory culture conditions. The strongest toxic effect was observed on A. costata exposed to Cd even at relatively low concentrations as compared to other metals. The following trend of decreasing order of toxicity i.e. Cd>Zn>Ni>Co>Pb>Cu>Fe was observed, when they were exposed to equal concentration and expose time.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.243-255
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• 2015

In this investigation, ecotoxicity of nano and micro metal oxides, namely silica ($SiO_2$) and alumina ($Al_2O_3$), on the growth of green algae (Porphyridium aerugineum Geitler) is discussed. Effects of nano and micro particles on the growth, chlorophyll content and protein content of algae are analysed using standard protocols. Results indicate that $SiO_2$ nano and micro $SiO_2$ particles are non-toxic to P. aerugineum Geitler up to a concentration of 1000 mg/L. In addition, $Al_2O_3$ microparticles are less toxic to P. aerugineum Geitler, whereas $Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles are found to be highly toxic at 1000 mg/L. Moreover, $Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles decrease the growth, chlorophyll content, and protein content of tested algae. In addition, zeta potential and contact angle are also important in enhancing the toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles in aquatic environment. This study highlights a new insight into toxicity evaluation of nanoparticles on beneficial aquatic organisms such as algae.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2012

Algae are sensitive to a wide range of pollutants, and are effective bioindicators in ecotoxicity assessments. Here, we evaluated the sub-lethal sensitivity of the marine dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides upon exposure to copper (Cu), lead (Pb), bisphenol A (BPA), and Aroclor 1016 (polychlorinated biphenyl, PCB). Toxic effects were assessed by observations of the reduction in cell counts and chlorophyll a levels after exposure to each toxicant. C. polykrikoides displayed dose-dependent, sigmoidal responses when exposed to the tested chemicals. $EC_{50}$-72 h values for Cu, Pb, BPA, and PCB were 12.74, 46.70, 68.15, and $1.07mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. PCB, which is an endocrine-disrupting chemical, was the most sensitive, proving its toxic effect on the dinoflagellate. This study provides baseline data on the toxic effects of commonly used heavy metals and endocrine-disrupting chemicals to a marine dinoflagellate.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.250-254
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• 1998

Harmful micro algae isolated from Korean coastal waters, were tested with FITC-conjugated lectins and observed by epifluorescent microscopy to distinguish each other. Strain-specific sugar composition at the cell surface was suggested by the affinity of lectins to different microalgae. The micro algae Cochlodinium polykrikoides (CP-1) and Gymnodinium $A_3\;(GA_{3-1}\;1)$, are morphologically similar, but exhibited different binding activity with the lectins ECA, HPA and WGA. In Peridiniales, the micro alga Alexandrium tamarense (AT) bound HPA and WGA, but Scrippsiella trochoidea (ST-1) did not bind those lectins. Three species of Prorocentrum also exhibited different binding specificity with HPA, PHA and SBA. A non­toxic Korean isolate of Heterosigma akashiwo (HA-2) bound ConA, PEA and UEA. These results suggest that lectins are useful in discriminating morphologically similar species, as well as different species or strains within the same genus.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 2012

This research investigates how using algae as an ecotoxicological test species is easier than using daphnia for identifying toxic causative substances. From the results of the ecotoxicity measurements on the Shihwa lake and its tributaries, heavy metals were considered as one of major factors in causing toxicity. The algae ecotoxicity value was 9.6 while the daphnia ecotoxicity value was 0.8 in the Jeongwang stream. By using algae as the test species, we could identify the toxicity that causes heavy metals which might otherwise have been missed with only daphnia. The results from the EDTA addition test showed that zinc and copper were the main toxic causative substances in the Jeongwang stream and Gunja stream.

• ALGAE
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.319-323
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• 2007

This study was conducted with using chlorophyll a fluorescence (indicated as photosynthetic activity) to examine the toxic effect of 96 h exposure of heavy metals and herbicides on the benthic diatom Nitzschia sp. which was isolated from pristine sediment in Pamquat Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada. Samples of benthic diatom were exposed to 0, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg L–1 of copper, 0, 1, 10 and 100 mg L–1 of chrome (VI), 0, 2.45, 24.5 and 245 mg L–1 of paraquat dichloride, and 0, 4.37, 43.7 and 437 mg L–1 of alachlor during 96 hours. The effective quantum yield of photochemistry (ΔF/Fm’) was evaluated by subjecting light acclimated samples to saturating pulses of light using a pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometer. The impact of heavy metals on Nitzschia sp. photosynthesis was not severe in < 1 mg L–1 but in the high concentrations (> 1 mg L–1) clearly increased toxic stress during 96 h. Herbicides had a limited impact during the exposure period but clearly increased stress on the benthic diatom with increasing concentrations. Acute response of Nitzschia sp. to selected heavy metals and herbicides was characterized, and the capacity of a benthic diatom to tolerate and recover from toxic stress was assessed.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2004

Two methods, a Ceriodaphnia algal uptake suppression test (CAUST) and a new toxicity test based on temperature control (TTBTC) which are based on feeding behaviour and temperature control, respectively, were developed and compared for the adoption as the better methodology for short-term toxicity screening. As previously published by Lee et aI., (1997), the CAUST method is based on the feeding behaviour of C. dubia and requires as little as 1 hour of contact time between C. dubia neonates and toxicant. However, even though CAUST requires only 1 hour of contact time, this method still take many hours for the preparation and measurement. Before the test starts, neonate digestive tracts were cleared by feeding yeast to the daphnids, Neonates were then exposed to toxicant, followed by addition of Scenedesmus subspiatus into the bioassay vessels. Daphnids were examined under the bright-field microscope with the presence of algae (indicated by a green colored digestive tract) or the absence of algae. Uptake indicated no toxic effect, whereas, absence of uptake indicated toxic inhibition. Unlike CAUST, the newly developed method (TTBTC) is based on just temperature control for the toxicity test of C. dubia. Initially, neonates are exposed to toxicants while the temperature of water bath containing media increased to $35.5^{\circ}C$. After 1.25 hour of contact time, the number of the daphnids, either live (no toxic effect) or dead (toxic effect), is counted without the aid of any instrument. In both methods, median effective concentrations ($EC_{50}$ values) were computed based on the results over a range of dosed toxicant concentrations. It showed that TTBTC was as sensitive as the standard 48-hour acute bioassay and CAUST. TTBTC and CAUST were much more sensitive than the I-hour I.Q. test and 30-minute Microtox. This study indicates that TTBTC is an easier and more rapid toxicity test than the standard 48-hour acute bioassay and even CAUST.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.311-319
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze water treatment characteristics, including the efficiency of removing algae from water purification plants, by installing a demonstration facility for decontamination of algae, including natural algae remover injection equipment, in the water purification plant. Jar-test showed that the optimum injection of natural decontaminant was 20 mg/L. Of the water contaminant treatment efficiency of the intake and water purification plants, Chl-a averaged 74.0% elimination efficiency from $5.0mg/m^3$ to $1.3mg/m^3$ and the maximum treatment efficiency was 91.5% removal efficiency when the inflow concentration of Chl-a was $11.8mg/m^3$. In addition, 51.2% and 47.1% of the taste and odor indicator items, geosmin and 2-MIB, resulted from the overgrowth and decaying of algae, respectively, to identify toxic substances and odor reduction effects. In addition, elimination efficiencies of SS and Turbidity materials were higher than 70.0%. In the injection of natural algae remover, no effects such as sudden changes in water quality due to secondary reactions were found, and appropriate levels were maintained under water treatment conditions.