• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2001

Three Pseudomonas strains (Bk8, Bk9, Bk10) selected from soil for their ability to degrade herbicide diuron were tested for their heavy metal resistance. The growth of these catabolic strains on a minimal medium with various concentrations of $Cd^{2+},\;Zn^{2+},\;Ni^{2+}$, and $Hg^{2+}$ revealed a minimal effect on the carbon source for the inhibitory effect of the metals. One of these strains, namely, Bk8, exhibited a high resistance to the heavy metals as compared to the two other strains. This strain harbors plasmid pBk8 (110 kb) and contains at least fur determinants encoding heavy metal resistance. Nickel and zinc resistance are encoded by genes located on the chromosome, while cadmium and mercury resistance are on plasmid pBk8. Accordingly, the characteristics of strain Bk8 suggest that it would be useful in the bioremediation of aromatic compounds in the presence of toxic heavy metals as co-contaminants.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.231-235
• /
• 2020

Industrialization and modern developments have led to an influx of toxic heavy metals into the aquatic environment, and the accumulation of heavy metals has serious adverse effects on humans. Among the various heavy metal treatment methods, adsorption is very useful and frequently used. Plastic materials, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, have been widely used as filter media due to their mechanical and chemical stability. However, the surface of plastic material is inert and therefore the adsorption capability of heavy metals is very limited. In this study, granular media and fiber media composed of polypropylene and polyethylene are used, and the surface modification was conducted in order to increase adsorption capability toward heavy metals. Oxygen plasma generated hydroxyl groups on the surface of the media to activate the surface, and then acrylic acid was synthesized on the surface. The grafted carboxyl group was confirmed by FT-IR and SEM. Heavy metal adsorption capability of pristine and surface modified adsorbents was also evaluated. Overall, heavy metal adsorption capability was increased by surface modification due to electrostatic interaction between the carboxyl groups and heavy metal ions. Fibrous PP/PE showed lower improvement compared to granular PP media because pore blockage occurred by the surface modification step, thereby inhibiting mass transfer.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.293-298
• /
• 2004

This study was performed to compare the growth rates, cellular fatty acid compositions and morphology by using electron microscope of Escherichia coli (E. coli) grown in various conditions including different concentrations of phenol, CdCl₂ and HgCl₂. Ninety eight E. coli strains were isolated from Naktong river and human feces. The content of unsaturated fatty acids, especially 16:1ω7c and 18:1ωc increased as the concentration of phenol and CdCl₂ increased. The content of unsaturated fatty acid increased up to 50 ppb of HgCl₂, but decreased at 75 ppb of HgCl₂. There were more unsaturated fatty acids than saturated fatty acid in the presence of toxic substances. However, the ration was reversed when the affected E. coli was transferred to toxic substance free fresh trypticase soy broth medium. Also, by using transmission electron microscope these cells were observed to various morphological deformation by heavy metals and their deposition on the surface. From these results, we suggested that the changes of major fatty acids composition and morphology of E. coli may be considered to indicate contaminated levels of heavy metals or organic solvents. The information presented here may be useful in predicting effects of heavy-metal and organic solvent contamination in streams and provides a basis for further studies of metal or organic solvent effects on microbial communities.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.80-87
• /
• 1999

According to the fact that algae, which is usually used as a biosorbent, contains chlorophyll, we used the chlorophyll as an adsorbent. In this study, chlorophyll is immobilized by agar, which was made of platan, oak, ginkgo and pine. We investigated the removing capacity of biosorbents to toxic heavy metals (Pb, CU, Cd, Zn) in the single ion solution. Then the experimental parameters were pH, reaction time and concentration of heavy metal ions.The optimum conditions for the adsorption of heavy metals were as follows : pH range was 4~5, reaction time was 40mon, and the highest ratio of the removing rate was 50~70 ppm. The order of the amount of Pb, Cu and Cd removed was specified as oak > ginkgo > pine > platan in these conditions and as pine > ginkgo > oak > platan at Zn. Fro the results of the desorption experiments, we found that the heavy metal with the highest ratio of desorption in the single ion adsorbent was Cu.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.10 no.1 s.22
• /
• pp.67-77
• /
• 2007

Objectives : Heavy metal contents in cultivated wild ginseng from Korea and China were evaluated for the safety purpose. Methods : Arsenic(As), cadmium(Cd), lead(Pb), mercury(Hg), copper(Cu), chromium(Cr), and selenium(Se) from the root, stem, and leaves of the Korean cultivated wild ginseng and the root of the Chinese cultivated wild ginseng were analyzed for the existence of heavy metal contents. Results : Most of heavy metals weren't detected in all the samples. Copper and lead were found in very minute volume and didn't reach the toxic concentration level of 10mg/kg. Samples used in the test were grown in non-contaminated areas, free from heavy metal contamination. Conclusions : Based on above results, cultivated wild ginseng from Korea and China are relatively safe from the heavy metal exposure. But for more rigorous quality control, an epidemiological survey using the samples from more diverse areas should be conducted.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.393-397
• /
• 1999

Among various reactions which metal sulfides can undergo in the reducing environment, the lattice exchange reaction was examined in a attempt to selectively remove heavy metal ions contained in the Fe-Coagulants acid solution. We have examined Zeta potential along with pHs to investigate surface characteristics of ${FeS}_{(s)}$. As a result of this experiment, zero point charge(ZPC) of FeS is pH 7 and zeta potential which resulted from solid solution reaction between Pb(II) and ${FeS}_{(s)}$ is similar to that of ${PbS}_{(s)}$. Solubility characteristics of ${FeS}_{(s)}$ is appeared to that dissolved Fe(II) concentration increased in less than pH 4, and also increased with increasing heavy metal concentration. Various heavy metal ions(Pb(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)) contained in Fe-coagulants acid solution were removed selectively more than ninety-five percent in the rang of pH 2.5~10 by ${FeS}_{(s)}$. From the above experiments, therefore, We could know that the products of reaction between heavy metal ions and $FeS_{(S)}$ are mental sulfide such as $PbS_{(S)}$, $CuS_{(S)}$ and $ZnS_{(S)}$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2004.09a
• /
• pp.290-292
• /
• 2004

Heavy metal contamination has been increased in aqueous environments near many industrial facilities, such as metal plating facilities, mining operations, and tanneries. The soils in the vicinity of many military bases are also reported to be contaminated and pose a risk of groundwater and surface water contamination with heavy metals. The biological removal of metals through bioaccumulation has distinct advantages over conventional methods; the process rarely produces undesirable or deleterious chemical byproducts, it is highly efficient, easy to operate and cost-effective in the treatment of large volumes of wastewater containing toxic heavy metals. In addition, a recent development of molecular biology shed light on the enhancing the microorganism's natural remediation capability as well as improving the current biological treatment. In this study, characteristics of the cell growth and heavy metal accumulation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains expressing phytochelatin syntahse (PCS) gene were studied in batch cultures. The AtCRFI gene was demonstrated to confer substantial increases in metal tolerance in yeast. PCS-expressing cells tolerated more Cd$^{2＋}$ than controls.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.93-103
• /
• 2009

Evidences from various countries suggest that toxic heavy metals in herbal medicine may constitute a serious health problem. In order to evaluate whether the toxic heavy metals caused by herbal medicine intake, blood samples collected from 222 patients taking herbal medicine were analyzed. In average levels of analyzed metals, $0.4{\sim}33.9%$ of total samples for 8 metals such as Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn except Cr and Fe exceeded the upper limit for WHO reference value. In analysis of regression coefficients indicating the levels of metals increased or decreased after taking herbal medicine for one month, however, there were different aspects by intake types for herbal medicine. For example, the metals increased by taking decoction in blood samples were as follows; Cd and Pb whether Mn, Ni and Pb as increased metals were identified in the group taking pill and decoction(combined intake group). The odds ratio showing values higher than 1 indicating that people who take herbal medicine would have possibility higher for metal accumulation in blood than that from people who do not take herbal medicine. The metals showing the odds ratio higher than 1 were Hg and Ni in decoction group, and Cd and Hg in combined intake group. However, eight of the total, 10 metals showed the odds ratios lower than 1 by taking herbal medicine. Thus, this may explain the possible role of herbal medicine as a chelator for heavy metals in body.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.31-36
• /
• 1981

Heavy metals which are present as trace elements in human body have been known to modify various enzymatic reaction. These metals can be essential or non-essential. Zinc, copper and calcium are essential in maintaining some biological processes, whereas non-essential metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury produce accumulatve toxic effect. Cadmium accumulated in pancreas can cause toxicity and damage of pancreatic cells, thereby influencing CHO metabolism. Lead compounds are known to produce toxic effects on the kidney, digestive system and brain fellowed by inhibition of activity of ${\rho}-aminolevulinic$ acid and biosynthesis of hemoproteins and cytochrome. Evidence has been accumulated that zinc not only acts as a cofactor in enzyme reaction but also prevents toxic effect induced by heavy metal such as copper and cadmium. To demonstrate the effect of heavy metals on pancreatic secretion, part of uncinate pancreas was taken and incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer with heavy metals used. Additional treatment with CCK-OP was performed when needed. After incubation during different period of time, medium was analyzed for amylase activity using Bernfeld's method. The present study was attempted in order to elucidate the effect of several kinds of heavy metal on exocrine pancreatic secretion in vitro. The results obtained are as follows: 1) CCK-OP stimulated significantly amylase release from pancreatic fragments in vitro. 2) CCK-OP response of amylase release from pancreatic fragments was inhibited by treatmant with cadmium, especially high doses of cadmium. 3) CCK-OP response of amylase release from pancreatic fragments was inhibited when pretreated with $10^{-4}M$ copper chloride. 4) Lead chloride at the concentration of $10^{-3}M\;and\;10^{4}M$ stimulated the basal amylase release in vitro but CCK-OP response did not augment by lead chloride. 5) Zine chloride did not affect amylase release from pancreatic fragment in vitro. From the results mentioned above, it is suggested that CCK-OP response was inhibited it the amylase release from pancreatic fragments pretreated with cadmium and copper chloride.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 2014

The object of this study was to evaluate the combined toxic interactions of the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) with six heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Hg, and Pb). The individual and combined toxic effects were assessed using the Vibrio fischeri assay. In case of the individual toxicity, PFOA was higher toxic than PFOS and toxicity of PFOA and PFOS were lower than heavy metal. In the toxicity of heavy metals, the $Hg^{2+}$ was found to be most toxic followed by $Pb^{2+}$, $Cr^{6+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, and $Cd^{2+}$. The combined toxicity of PFOA or PFOS with $Cr^{6+}$ were synergistic effect because the $EC_{50}$ mix values were less than 1 TU. PFOA + $Zn^{2+}$, PFOS + $Zn^{2+}$, PFOA + $Cd^{2+}$ and PFOS + $Cd^{2+}$ produced addictive effect. Except in these case, all of binary mixtures show antagonistic effect. This study proved potential risk of coexistent with perfluorinated compounds and heavy metals in water environment.