• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.364-369
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• 2013

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been studied during the past few decades because of their potential impacts on the environment and human health. PCBs are toxic environmental pollutants and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This study was carried out to assess the dietary exposure and risk to PCBs for the general Korean population through food intake. Various samples (n=389) covering 28 kinds of food were collected from 5 cities in Korea. The PCB content was not detected-$182.4{\mu}g/kg$ (mean of $5.4{\mu}g/kg$) in the food. The mean dietary exposure of PCBs for the general population was 9.54 ng/kg bw/day with an intake of 0.19% of tolerable daily intake (TDI) ($5{\mu}g/kg$ bw/day). Therefore, the level of overall dietary exposure to PCBs for the Korean population through food intake is below the recommended TDI levels.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2015

This study examined remediation of soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other persistent organic pollutants by using subcritical water. Our results showed that removal efficiency of PCBs from soil and treatment temperature were linearly proportional under subcritical conditions. The removal efficiency as increased as reacting period increased. PCBs contaminating fine particles in soil were less effectively removed than those in entire contaminated soil. Reaction of the zero-valent iron and PCBs under subcritical condition produced dechlorinated product, where most of the PCBs were oxidised while little remained as dechlorinated. Other organic pollutants, such as TPH, BTEX, TCE/PCE, and chlorpyrifos, were removed by more than 90% at $300^{\circ}C$. Considering removal efficiency and identification of by-products, we suggest that subcritical water treatment may be effectively applied to soils contaminated with various persistent organic pollutants.

• Journal of Environmental Analysis, Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.252-263
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• 2018

Distributions of 15 PAHs and 82 PCBs were investigated in sediment and fish samples collected from the Suyoung Estuary of Busan, one of the most urbanized and newly contaminated areas in Busan. The concentrations of $S_{15}PAH$ in sediments ranged from 17.9 to 777 ng/g-dry and were mainly originated from combustion processes. The concentrations of $S_{82}PCB$ in sediments ranged from 0.55 to 12.5 ng/g-dry and were significantly correlated with those of 12 dioxin-like PCBs and 6 non-dioxin like PCBs. Higher concentrations of PAHs and PCBs were found in the upper river and the inner Suyoung Bay than in marina and the outer Suyoung Bay. No sites exceeded the ecotoxicological values of PAHs and PCBs in marine sediments. Benzo[a]-pyrene was not detected in fish samples and the concentrations of $S_4PAH$ (0.15~0.45 ng/g-wet) were lower than the maximum level set by EU. The levels of PCBs in fish samples were at less than 1% of the Korean maximum level and 2% of the EU maximum level. The concentrations of dioxin-like PCBs were $0.01{\sim}0.32pg-TEQ_{WHO-2005}/g-wet$, and the highest concentration was found in eels, which were at less than 5% of the EU maximum level. Dietary intakes of PAHs and PCBs through fish consumption were estimated, and their lifetime cancer risk and non-cancer risk were much lower.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.568-578
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• 2010

In this study, the possibility of biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by various white rot fungi was evaluated, and outstanding white rot fungi for the degradation of PCBs were selected. Seven white rot fungi were used to degrade Aroclor 1254 and 1260, which are widely considered to be toxic and difficult to degrade. And the degradation rates of Aroclors by selected white rot fungi were performed by GC analysis. Through the resistance test of white rot fungi on different concentrations of PCBs, the inhibition of mycelial growth of Cystidodontia isubellina was much less than that of others, and this fungus grew faster than others, relatively. Based on this result, it was considered that C. isubellina was selected as degrading fungus for Aroclors. As a result of biodegradation rate of Aroclors by Cystidodontia isubellina, the degradation rate of Arolor 1254 was reached to 57.57% in 13 days, which showed very high degradation rate. Also the degradation rate of Aroclor 1260 by C. isubellina had a tendency of increasing along with increasing incubation day. Maximal degradation rate of Aroclor 1260 was 49.43% at 13 days. Based on this results, it indicated that in comparison with a previous study, high degradation rate was obtained by C. isubellina.

• 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.