• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2010

Although copper and zinc are essential metals for human health, excessive level of these metals is toxic. Besides, aluminum is known to induce various adverse health effects including neurological disorders. Therefore, monitoring the human body burden of these metals is important in preventing adverse health effects. In this study, we assessed the exposure to copper, zinc, and aluminum among an adult population residing in Daegu and Kyungbuk areas. Based on data from 171 participants, we found that the geometric mean copper, zinc, and aluminum concentrations in hair were $15.1\;{\mu}g/g$ [95% confidence interval (CI): 13.1~17.5], 76.9 (95% CI: 70.4~84.1), and $1.11\;{\mu}g/g$ (95% CI: 0.81~1.51), respectively. The copper concentrations in hair were significantly related to age, education, and residence area. In addition, zinc concentrations in hair were significantly related to age, whereas higher hair aluminum concentrations were related to alcohol drinking. Correlations between copper and zinc in hair had a significant positive correlation. Our findings suggest that the body burden of copper, zinc, and aluminum varies according to demographic factors, and hair could be used as a valuable biological medium for metal exposure.

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

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.23 no.3 s.59
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• pp.315-321
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• 2005

The population of river otter (Lutra lutra) has been declined most of the world due to hunting, habitat destruction and indirect or direct influences of eutrophication, acidification and toxic chemicals. This study is conducted to identify the population decline of river otter in Korea with relation to environmental pollution caused by accumulation of heavy and flared metals. The field survey was conducted during Jan~Dec, 2004 at a monthly basis by collecting spraints. A total of 228 spraints were collected and analysis was done by ICP-AES. The concentrations of fourteen metals (Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Fe, Co, Mn, Mg, Cu, Al, Ba Hg, As) have been determined. Annual concentrations of Cd $(1.38{\mu}g\;g^{-1}),\;Zn\;(599.06\;{\mu}g\;g^{-1}),\;Pb\;(5.54\;{\mu}g\;g^{-1})$ at Gucheon were higher than those of Yeonchocheon. Concentrations of $Cr\;(5.01{\mu}g\;g^{-1}),\;Ni\;(1.91{\mu}g\;g^{-1}),\;Co\;(0.25{\mu}g\;g^{-1})$ were higher at Yeonchocheon. Most metals in winter were significantly increased (P<0.05) as season progressed from spring to winter. $Pb\;(15.58{\mu}g\;g^{-1}),\;Cu\;(15.15{\mu}g\;g^{-1}),\;a;Guchoen\;and\;Cr\;(5.77{\mu}g\;g^{-1})$ at Yeonchocheon were high in the downstream of winter.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.265-268
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• 2004

Larva of Carassius auratus and Pungtungia herzi were exposed to mercury ($HgCl_2$), lead ($PbCl_2$) and copper ($CuSO_4$) to determine acute toxicity. The toxicity tests were conducted triplicate and the $LC_{50}$ values (24, 48, 72 and 96 hours) were determined for two species. Data obtained from the toxicity tests were evaluated using the probit analysis. Although sensitivities of two species to mercury were relatively similar, C. auratus was more susceptible than P. herzi to the exposure of lead but P. herzi was more sensitive than C. auratus on copper. The sensitivity on three metals tested may be ranked in the following order from highest to lowest toxicity on larval stage of these fish: mercury > copper > lead. It is suggested that acute toxic test at the larval stage of C. auratus and P. herzi, indigenous species in Asia area, is an important part of the ecotoxicological assessment of some heavy metals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 2009

The metals such as Al, Ag, Au, Cu, Cd, Co, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn, etc are present at very low concentration in seawater and are classified as so-called trace metals. Whiles some of them are used in metabolism of living organism as a micronutrient, they may show toxic effects on organisms in case of a limited threshold concentration of them Plenty of studies on trace metals have been performed bemuse trace metals have a persistent influence and an adverse effect on marine environment and ecosystem. For long years, when the concentration of trace metals in natural waters such as seawater and fresh water are measured with high precision and accuracy, some systematic errors have been recognized to be present in measurements. Since 1975 in US and European countries, the measured concentration of trace metals in seawater have been found to be lower by factors of 10-1,000 than the previous data of trace metals measurements and the vertical profiles of the measurements have been shown to reflect well-known biological, physical and geochemical processes. These results are attributed to great advances in analytical instrumentation and methodology for trace metals measurements. Precautions against the contamination of samples are required to be taken in the process of sampling, storage, and analysis of samples. However, in Korea, erroneous data of trace metals with regard to ocean and marine environment related survey and investigations are reported The lock of exact understanding and information regarding precautions in sampling, storage and analysis of samples lead to the deterioration of data quality, especially in the analysis of trace metals. The major procedures to obtain the accurate data of trace metals in natural waters are introduced for applying to the study and assessment of marine environments.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.417-425
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• 1994

Leachate from municipal landfill site is known to be hard to treat because it commonly contains various toxic material and heavy metals. In addition, portions of biodegradable organic substances in leachate are decreasing in the course of wastes stabilization, which is one of the critical reason for inefficient biological treatment at the end stage of landfill site operation. So this study was conducted to examine the feasibility of municipal lanuill leachate pretreatment using electrolysis. The optimum electrode combination was made. The optimum electrode combination was found to be lead and graphite.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Industrial Safety Conference
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• 1999.06a
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• pp.127-132
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• 1999

도시 대기중의 중금속의 농도는 낮지만 독성이 크기 때문에 이로 인한 인체 위해도는 그 밖의 유해 대기오염물질로 인한 것보다 작지가 않다. 특히. 공단지역의 경우 발암금속으로 인한 인체 위해도는 상당히 크리라 예상되지만. 공단지역을 대상으로 독성금속의 장기간 농도 분포는 국내에서 거의 조사된 바 없다. (중략)

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.150-151
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• 2003

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.247-248
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• 2000

본 연구는 대전 3, 4 공단 지역을 대상으로 발암 금속 6종(As Be, Cd, Cr, Ni, 및 Pb)을 포함한 15종의 독성 금속을 선정하여 3, 4 공단과 주변 지역내 5개 지점에서 유도결합 플라스마 분광법(ICP-MS)을 이용하여 계절별 3회씩 1년간 분석하고 이 농도 자료에 근거하여 위해도 평가를 하고자 한다 대전 3. 4공단 지역은 110여개의 생산업체가 밀집되어 있는 지역으로 대전 1, 2 공단 지역과 더불어 대전시내 대기중 독성 금속의 오염이 가장 심하리라 예상되는 지역이다.(중략)

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.199-199
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• 2003

During the cleanup of US Department of energy facilities, contaminated materials, toxic and hazardous radionuclides (e.g., Th, Cs, and U) and heavy metals (e.g., Cr, Hg, Pb, and Ni)-laden ultrafine particles are generated. The size of the particles is up to about 200 nm. Understanding of the production of these nanometer size particles is critical in determining the surface cleaning efficiently. (omitted)