• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.147-155
• /
• 2008

A series of experiments were conducted to find standard test organisms and to develop test protocols for sediment toxicity tests using indigenous amphipods inhabited in Korean coastal environments. The indigenous amphipods Mandibulophoxus mai and Monocorophium acherusicum were well associated with various sediment substrates from sand to mud. The tolerance limits to various physico-chemical factors affecting bioassay results such as temperature, salinity and total ammonium as well as the sensitivities to contaminants in water and sediments were investigated using M. mai and M. acherusicum in the present study. These amphipods were tolerable to the adequate ranges of salinity ($10{\sim}30\;psu$), temperature ($10{\sim}25^{\circ}C$) and ammonia (<50 ppm). They have relevant sensitivities to the reference toxicants, dissolved cadmium as well as other metals and organic pollutants, when compared to the standard test species used in other countries. Field-sediment toxicity tests revealed that M. mai would be more sensitive to sediment-associated pollutants than M. acherusicum, while the sensitivity of M. acherusicum was comparable to those of other sediment test species in other countries. Overall results of this first attempt to develop an amphipod sediment toxicity test protocol in Korea indicated that M. mai and M. acherusicum should be applicable in the toxicity assessment of contaminated sediments, following the further evaluation encompassing various ecological and toxicological evaluation and the standardization of test method.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.23 no.1 s.29
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 1990

The protective effect of sodium selenite($Na_2SeO_3$) against the cytogenetic toxicity of heavy metals was investigated on human whole-blood cultures in relation to induction of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in secondary metaphase chromosome. Methylmercury chloride($CH_3HgCl$), cadmium chloride($CdCl_2$), potassium dichromate($K_2Cr_2O_7$), and sodium selenite caused to the typically dose-dependent increase in sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) by the concentrations ranging from $0.3{\mu}M\;to\;10{mu}M$. However, the inductions of sister chromatid exchanges by methylmercury chloride or cadmium chloride were inhibited by the simultaneous addition of sodium selenite $1.2{mu}M$. The frequencies of SCE were decreased to the level of control in the molar ratios as 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4 of selenium selenite vs. methylmercury chloride, and as 1:1 and 1:2 of selenium selenite vs. cadmium chloride, while the frequencies of SCE induced by potassium dichromate were not changed by the addition of sodium selenite in culture condition. Mitotic indices were decreased in the higher concentrations of chemicals and not significantly changed by the simultaneous addition of sodium selenite to the culture condition containing each chemicals.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.231-246
• /
• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of squalene (SQ) on the mouse hepatotoxicity induced by cadmium. ICR male mouse weighting about 30 gm were injected $CdCl_2$ (5.0 mg/kg) and SQ (180 mg/kg) into intraperitoneal. At the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 days, livers were treated with superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and transmission electron microscopical method and then observed with electron microscope. The results obtained were summarized as follows: SOD activity in the liver, Group A was higher than in normal. Group B was lower than in Group A. In the histological observation, nucleus of Group A showed irregular shape. Inner cavity of mitochondria swellen and development of cristae weakened. Swelling of Lamellae of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) showed. Nucleus of group B showed normal shape. Typical lamellae of RER were observed. These results described above treatment of SQ decreased the hepatotoxicity of the $CdCl_2$ and SOD activity in the mouse liver, and then it suggests SQ may be effective for the recovery of hepatic cell.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.157-162
• /
• 2010

In this study, we investigated the atmospheric heavy metal concentrations in the particulate matter inside the subway stations of Seoul. In particular, we examined the correlation between the heavy metals and studied the effect of the heavy metals on cell proliferation. In six selected subway stations in Seoul, particulate matter was captured at the platforms and 11 types of heavy metals were analyzed. The results showed that the mean concentration of iron was the highest out of the heavy metals in particulate matter, followed by copper, potassium, calcium, zinc, nickel, sodium, manganese, magnesium, chromium and cadmium in that order. The correlation analysis showed that the correlations between the heavy metals was highest in the following order: (Cu vs Zn), (Ca vs Na), (Ca vs Mn), (Ni vs Cr), (Na vs Mn), (Cr vs Cd), (Zn vs Cd), (Cu vs Cd), (Ni vs Cd), (Cu vs Ni), (K vs Zn), (Cu vs K), (Cu vs Cr), (K vs Cd), (Zn vs Cr), (K vs Ni), (Zn vs Ni), (K vs Cr), and (Fe vs Cu). The correlation coefficient between zinc and copper was 0.937, indicating the highest correlation. Copper, zinc, nickel, chromium and cadmium, which are generated from artificial sources in general, showed correlations with many of the other metals and the correlation coefficients were also relatively high. The effect of the heavy metals on cell proliferation was also investigated in this study. Cultured cell was exposed to 10 mg/l or 100 mg/l of iron, copper, calcium, zinc, nickel, manganese, magnesium, chromium and cadmium for 24 hours. The cell proliferation in all the heavy metal-treated groups was not inhibited at 10 mg/l of the heavy metal concentration. The only exception to this was with the cadmium-treated group which showed a strong cell proliferation inhibition. This study provides the fundamental data for the understanding of simultaneous heavy metal exposure tendency at the time of particulate matter exposure in subway stations and the identification of heavy metal sources. Moreover, this study can be used as the fundamental data for the cell toxicity study of the subway-oriented heavy metal-containing particulate matter.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.46-51
• /
• 1998

The effects of aloe on the MDA(malondialdehyde) and the blood biochemical components of heavy metal poisoning in SD rat were examined and the following results were obtained. In rat liver homogenate intoxicated with $CdCl_2$, lipidperoxide was increased each 2.37times(24h), 3.31times(72h) but lipidperoxide In aloe administration groups was lower each 47% , 64% than in heavy metal group. In rat kidney homo- genate intoxicated with $CdCl_2$, lipidperoxide was increased 1.85times(24h), 1.33times(72h) but lipidperoxide in groups was almost the same as that of normal group. Lipidperoxide of kidney homogenate was slightly decreased as time passed. Also heavy metal poisoning rats showed high levels(1.38-2.50times) of serum AST, ALT and BUN. However. the administration of aloe significantly inhibited the reduction of them. These results suggest that Cd-induced hepatic and renal injury, via increase llpidpero)Ode and release of AST, ALT and BUN. Aloe may be used to inhibit or prevent the hepatic and renal toxicity which results from the heavy metal.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.115-118
• /
• 1996

The study on the cytotoxicities of heavy metals, metal-metal and metal-chelator combinations was carried out to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of those on mouse L929 fibroblasts. The colorimetric assays (NR and MTT) were conveniently carried out in 96-well microtiter plates. The rank order was Cd > Zn Ni > Cr(III) for the heavy metals tested. Examination of the effect of metal-metal interaction on cytotoxicity showed a moderate reduction of cadmium toxicity by zinc. The colorimetric assays were also effectively used to investigate the effect of the chelators, ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) and chitosan. Reduction of heavy metal toxixity by chelator was efficient.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.3.1-3.4
• /
• 2016

Consumption of herbal products from the medicinal plants contaminated with heavy metals can cause serious consequences on human health. This is a major concern for traditional and herbal medicine. The present study was carried out to analyze and quantify the levels of six potentially toxic heavy metals namely arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium and nickel in ten important Indian medicinal herbs. The air dried raw herbs were processed by microwave assisted wet digestion and analyzed by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with graphite tube atomizer. Except the chromium content in three plants, all the levels of six heavy metals analyzed were found to be quite below the permissible limits in all the ten raw medicinal herbs analyzed. The present work implies that, regular and systematic screening of raw medicinal herbs is necessary to check the levels of the heavy metal contaminants before using them for consumption or preparation of herbal formulations so that the possible contamination cannot cumulate up to the finished products.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.1 no.3
• /
• pp.346-353
• /
• 1996

The anthropometric measurements, nutrient intake, concentrations of minerals in scalp hair and urine and urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA) of 30 autistic children not taking psychoactive drugs and 30 nonautistic control children were determined. The autistic children were taking significantly lower amounts of vitamin A, niacin, ascorbic acid and iron. The intake of vitamin A, niacin, and iron in autistic children were found to be 22$\%$, 75$\%$ and 58 of RDA, respectively. The decreased anthropometric measurements in height and weight of autistic children seems partly due to lower intake of these micronutrients. The food intake in vitamin and mineral group of autistic children was significantly lower. It is probably related to decreased intake of fruit in autistic children. There was no toxicity of cadmium and aluminum in both groups according to their contents in scalp hair. Autistic children showed elevated levels of hair calcium and zinc but lowered levels of copper and iron. The urinary excretion urinary excretion of 5-HIAA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.575-580
• /
• 1996

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin E levels on the enzymes such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) and glutathione S-transferase (G57) involved in antioxidative defense system and lipid peroxidation in brain of cadmium administered rats. Sprague-Dawely male rats weighing $60\pm5g$ were divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental groups were divided into Cd-0E(vitamin E free diet), Cd-40E(40mg vitamin E/kg diet) and Cd-400E(400mg vitamin E/kg diet) according to the level of vitamin E supplementation. After each group was fed diet ad libitum for 2 or 4 weeks, 2.5mg cadmium per kg body weight was injected intraperitoneally once a day for 4 days. The rats were sacrificed for examination on the next day after the last injection of cadmium. The results are as follows: SOD activities of rat brain were lower in Cd-0E, but had a similar tendency to Cd-40E, Cd-400E groups compared with control group. GSH-Px acivities of rat brain were decreased in Cd-400E, Cd-40E and Cd-0E groups. GST activities of rat brain were decreased in Cd-0E, Cd-40E groups and not significantly different in Cd-400E compared with control group. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) of rat brain was increased in Cd-0E, Cd-40E, Cd-400E in that order, TBARS was lower in Cd-40E, and Cd-400E by 28.8% and 44%, respectively, than Cd-0E group. The present result suggests that high level of dietary vitamin E protects against lipid peroxidative damage in rat induced by cadmium.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.32 no.1 s.124
• /
• pp.61-67
• /
• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate the antitoxic agent in methanol extract of Houttuynia cordata $T_{HUNB}$. Detoxication effects By H. cordata $T_{HUNB}$ extract increased in proportion to the extract concentrations. When 40 mg/kg dosage of H. cordata $T_{HUNB}$ extract was administered, it showed the highest antitoxic effects in metallothionein induction. After the extract treatment, body weights generally increased in proportion to the extract concentrations. From the above results, H. cordata $T_{HUNB}$ extract increased metallothionein concentrations and decreased the toxicity of cadmium in rats. In vitro the antitoxic activity of methanol extract of H. cordata $T_{HUNB}$ on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts was evaluated by the MTT {3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazoliumbromide} and SRB (sulforhodamine B protein) assays. The light microscopic study was carried out to observe morphological changes of the treated cells, $10^{-2}\;mg/ml$ Concentrations of H. cordata $T_{HUNB}$ extract was shown significant antitoxic activity. The number of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts were increased and tend to regenerate. These results suggest that H. cordata $T_{HUNB}$ extract retains a potential antitoxic activity.