• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.279-286
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• 1995

The amount of the high level radioactive wastes in Korea will be increased up to 14,297 MTU about 2010 year. Most of countries adopt the concept of deep burial repository in high level radioactive waste disposal. Because the high level radioactive wastes are very toxic in biosphere and to human, the data verifing its never return to the biosphere are requisite for the disposal. Presently, the evaluating techniques for the high level radioactive waste disposal are not fully developed. Therefore, in order to dispose the high level radioactive wastes in proper time the R & D of it is urged in our country. The R & D and/or the international joint research programme for the disposal of high level wastes have already been proceeded. In our country no plan for its disposal has been prepared. It is the time that the direction of the R & D is to be discused seriously. The R & D for the disposal of high level radioactive wastes in Korea is believed to be focused on developing the pecular techniques such as in situ characteristics of groundwater flowage, and change of properties of in situ rock mass at thermal effects.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.96-104
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• 2010

In this study, the effects of HP4060, a pomegranate extract, on Sprague-Dawley (SD) female rats were investigated. SD rats used in the experiment were divided into 3 groups: a control group, 100 mg HP4060/kg rat powder fed group, and 25 mg HP4060/kg rat liquid fed group. After 20 days of administration, the changes of the brain neurotransmitters were measured. The data showed that the concentration of the serotonin and the norepinephrine were increased, whereas that of the epinephrine was decreased in HP4060 administered groups. In addition, the improving effect of HP4060 on depression symptom of menopause women were shown by increased immobility time of the SD rates in a separate experiment. The uterus weight of HP4060 fed groups were also shown to be increased. In order to monitor toxic effect of HP4060, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels were measured, and the results showed that no significant difference in GOT and GPT levels among experimental groups implying no significant toxic side effects of HP4060. According to these results, it seems clear that HP4060 may improve symptoms of hot flush and depression caused by menopause without significant level of toxic effects.

• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.305-313
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• 2019

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) forage in agricultural areas, and are exposed to diverse pesticide poisoning. Toxic effects on Apis mellifera of different groups of pesticides were tested in the laboratory; fungicide (Metconazole), herbicide (Glyphosate), acaricide (Amitraz), organophosphate insecticide(Fenitrothion) and neonicotinoid insecticides(Thiacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Dinotefuran and Clothianidin). Commercial formulations were serially diluted from the recommended concentration (RC) to 10-6 times to carry out feeding and contact tests. Toxicity was transformed into lethal dose (LD50) and hazard question (HQ). The acute toxicity of pesticides showed similar patterns between feeding and contact tests. But feeding tests showed greater toxic to honey bee than contact test. The organophosphate and nitro-neonicotinoid insecticides were highly toxic with HQ values ranging greater than 1. However, cyano-neonicotinoids of Thiacloprid and Acetamiprid showed low toxicity. Even at the RC, 24 hr mortalities were 18 and 30%. The acaricide (Amitraz) showed intermediate level of toxicity at RC but negligible at the concentration lower than 10-1 times. A fungicide(Metconazole) and herbicide(Glyphosate) showed minimal impacts. The results imply that the selective use of pesticides could help conservation of pollinators in agricultural production systems.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was carried out to determine $LD_{50}$ of benzo[a]pyrene to decide the possibility to designate them as toxic substance on the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances, and to suggest that they should be managed in what level on the Chemical Control Act. Methods: Based on the result of a preliminary study, 300 mg/kg was set as the middle dose. A highest dose of 2,000 mg/kg and a lowest dose of 50 mg/kg were selected based on the OECD TG 423. Benzo[a]pyrene was orally administered once to female and male SD rats at dose levels of 50, 300, 2,000 mg/kg (body weight). All animals were monitored daily for clinical signs and mortality over 14 days. Also testicular spermatid count, motility and etc. were examined as well. Results: Under the condition of this experiment, $LD_{50}$ of benzo[a]pyrene was assumed to be >2,000 mg/kg. In the lesion according to autopsy, there were no specific symptoms in the control and experimental groups. At 2,000 mg/kg, a decrease in the sperm motility was observed. Benzo[a]pyrene should be designated to be toxic substance as the material assumed to be reproduction-toxicity on the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemicals. Therefore we should abide by legal procedures determined by Chemicals Control Act in treating it. Conclusion: Considering the significant result that sperm motility in the experimental group was inferior to that in the reference group, we suggest that benzo[a]pyrene be designated as a toxic substance.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2004

The present study was conducted to investigate the potential subacute toxicity of CKD-602 by a 5-day repeated intravenous administration in Sprague-Dawley rats. CKD-602 was administered intravenously to male rats at dose levels of 0, 0.08, 0.2, and 0.5 mg/kg for 5 days. Studies included general observation, body weight changes, ophthalmoscopic examination, hematology, se겨m biochemistry, gross findings at necropsy and organ weight measurement. There were no deaths in any treatment group and treatment related clinical sign was depilation in the 0.5 mg/kg groups. The decrease or suppression of body weight was also observed dose-dependently in all treatment groups. Decreased leukocyte in all treatment groups, decreased platelet in the above 0.2 mg/kg groups and increase in the serum levels of total cholesterol in the 0.5 mg/kg group were considered as a treatment related toxic effects. Decreased weight of thymus in all treatment groups anti decreased weight of spleen in the above 0.2 mg/kg group were observed. The intravenous administration of CKD-602 caused depilation and decreased weight and had toxic effect on the leukocyte, platelet, spleen and thymus. In the condition of this study, the target organs were spleen and thymus and the toxic effect level was determined to be 0.2 mg/kg, but no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be lower than 0.08 mg/kg.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.893-899
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• 1996

The studies on the detoxification of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP)-infested blue mussels, Mytilus edulis and oyster, Crassostrea gigas were performed for using of available processing resource. Toxic blue mussel and oysters from Nampo in Masan Bay, Hachong in Koje Bay and Woepori in Koje were used for experimental samples. The toxicity of low toxic blue mussel $(A,\;84{\mu}g/100g;\;B,\;166{\mu}g/100g;\;C,\;295{\mu}g/l00g;\;D,\;557{\mu}g/100g)$ and oyster $(740{\mu}g/100g)$ were reduced below the regulation limit of PSP $(80{\mu}g/100g)$ or undetected level by mouse bioassay after boiling at $98^{\circ}C$ for 10 min and retorting at $115^{\circ}C$ for 70 min, while the toxicity of high toxic blue mussel $(E,\;8,760{\mu}g/100g)$ remained beyond the regulation limit after boiling and retorting at same condition. These results suggested that the regulation limit of PSP could be level up from $(80{\mu}g/100g)$ to about $160{\mu}g/100g$.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.352-360
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• 2011

Standard combination chemotherapy including isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol is very effective against tuberculosis. But, these medicines can cause hepatotoxicity which is the main reason for treatment interruption or change in drug regimen. In order to identify risk factors associated with hepatotoxcity in Koreans and assess elevated baseline LFTs' contributions to hepatotoxicity, a retrospective case control study was performed. The medical records of 277 patients who diagnosed with tuberculosis at a community hospital from January 1st, 2007 to June 30th, 2010 were reviewed. Patients were categorized into 3 groups (non toxic group, patients without increase in LFT levels; mild to moderate hepatotoxic group and severe hepatotoxic group). And the correlation between risk factors and hepatotoxicity was analyzed by using SPSS program. The overall incidence of hepatotoxicity was 18% and 8.7% of patients developed severe toxicity. Patients in the severe toxic group had the longest treatment period among the three groups. In 75% of severe toxic group, hepatotoxicity occurred within 18.3 days after starting medication. Hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin <3 g/dl) was a significant risk factor for development of severe toxicity. Elevated baseline transaminase (except ALT), total bilirubin, and preexisting hepatitis were also risk factors which were more than twice as likely to increase risk of severe hepatotoxicity (p>0.05). In conclusion, hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin level <3 g/dl) was a significant risk factor for anti-tuberculosis druginduced severe toxicity. Therefore, before starting antituberculosis chemotherapy, serum albumin level should be assessed at baseline. In high-risk patients (hypoalbuminemia, elevated LFTs) for hepatotoxicty, liver function should be closely monitored up to at least 21 days after taking medication.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.867-874
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• 2021

Epalrestat (EPS) is a brain penetrant aldose reductase inhibitor, an approved drug currently used for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. At near-plasma concentration, EPS induces glutathione biosynthesis, which in turn reduces oxidative stress in the neuronal cells. In this study, we found that EPS reduces neurodegeneration by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative injury, mitochondrial membrane damage, apoptosis and tauopathy. EPS treatment up to 50 µM did not show any toxic effect on SH-SY5Y cell line (neuroblastoma cells). However, we observed toxic effect at a concentration of 100 µM and above. At 50 µM concentration, EPS showed better antioxidant activity against H₂O₂ (100 µM)-induced cytotoxicity, ROS formation and mitochondrial membrane damage in retinoic acid-differentiated SH-SY5Y cell line. Furthermore, our study revealed that 50 µM of EPS concentration reduced the glycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK3-β) expression and total tau protein level in H₂O₂ (100 µM)-treated cells. Findings from this study confirms the therapeutic efficacy of EPS on regulating Alzheimer's disease (AD) by regulating GSK3-β and total tau proteins phosphorylation, which helped to restore the cellular viability. This process could also reduce toxic fibrillary tangle formation and disease progression of AD. Therefore, it is our view that an optimal concentration of EPS therapy could decrease AD pathology by reducing tau phosphorylation through regulating the expression level of GSK3-β.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.420-443
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• 2012

An Individual-Based Model (IBM) was developed by employing natural and toxic survival rates of individuals to elucidate the community responses of benthic macroin-vertebrates to anthropogenic disturbance in the streams. Experimental models (dose-response and relative sensitivity) and mathematical models (power law and negative exponential distribution) were applied to determinate the individual survival rates due to acute toxicity in stressful conditions. A power law was additionally used to present the natural survival rate. Life events, covering movement, exposure to contaminants, death and reproduction, were simulated in the IBM at the individual level in small (1 m) and short (1 week) scales to produce species abundance distributions (SADs) at the community level in large (5 km) and long (1~2 years) scales. Consequently, the SADs, such as geometric series, log-series, and log-normal distribution, were accordingly observed at severely (Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP<10), intermediately (BMWP<40) and weakly (BMWP${\geq}50$) polluted sites. The results from a power law and negative exponential distribution were suitably fitted to the field data across the different levels of pollution, according to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The IBMs incorporating natural and toxic survival rates in individuals were useful for presenting community responses to disturbances and could be utilized as an integrative tool to elucidate community establishment processes in benthic macroin-vertebrates in the streams.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.439-443
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• 2007

The effects of the methanol extract of the leaves of Brassica juncea and isorhamnetin $3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$, major compound isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of this plant on hepatic lipid peroxidation and drug-metabolizing enzymes, were evaluated in rats treated with bromobenzene. The extract and isorhamnetin $3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ of oral administration did not show any significant effects on activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase, enzymes forming toxic epoxide by bromobenzene as well as on glutathione content. However, both methanol extract and isorhamnetin $3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ significantly recovered the decreased activities of glutathione s-transferase and epoxide hydrolase, and also reduced the lipid peroxide level in rats treated with bromobenzene. From the results, the protections of this plant against bromobenzene-induced hepatotoxicity are thought to be via enhancing the activities of epoxide hydrolase and glutathione s-transferase, enzymes removing toxic epoxide, and reducing the lipid peroxide level.