• Title/Summary/Keyword: environmental actions

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Bioassays of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in ZR-75-1 Human Breast Cancer Cells

  • Min, Kyung-N.;Sheen, Yhun-Y.
    • Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.35-40
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    • 2003
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are frequently detected in food, water, soil, and sediment and are widespread environmental pollutants formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, woods and other organic matter. PAHs are considered to be probable human carcinogens. The mechanism of action of PAHs has been studied extensively, however it is not clear how PAHs turn on CYP1A1 in human breast cancer. Our laboratory have been studied the effect of PAHs in the human breast cancer cell MCF7. In this study, we examined the ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cells as a new system to evaluate bioactivity of PAHs. ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cell line responses to estrogen and progesteron. We have been able to estbilish long term culture system of this cells then used for the study to observe the effect of PAHs. We demonstrate that PAHs induced the CYP1A1 promoter and 7-ethoxyresolufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in a concentration-dependant manner. RT-PCR analysis indicated that PAHs significantly up-regulate the level of CYP1A1 mRNA. Some of PAHs showed stronger stimulatory effect on CYP1 gene expression than TCDD. Apparently, ZR-75-1 cells have Aryl hydrocarbon receptors, therefore it would be good experimental tool to study the cross-talk between PAHs and steroid actions.

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Evaluation of Diagnosis-based Control Strategy for NH4-N and NOX-N Removal of a Full-scale Wastewater Treatment Process (하수처리시설의 질산화 진단기반 제어 방법의 개발 및 실규모 플랜트 적용을 통한 평가)

  • Kim, Yejin;Kim, Hyosoo
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.27 no.6
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    • pp.447-456
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    • 2018
  • In this research, the target process was a modified type of a conventional aeration tank with four different influent feeding points and alternated aeration to obtain nitrogen removal. For more accurate switching of influent feeding, the process was operated under a designed control strategy based on monitoring of $NH_4-N$ and $NO_X-N$ concentrations in the tank. However, the strategy did have some limitations. For example, it was not sensitive to detecting the end of each reaction when losing the balance between nitrification and denitrification of each opposite part of biological tank. To overcome the limitations of the existing control strategy, a diagnosis-based control strategy was suggested in this research using the diagnosis results classified as normal (N), ammonia accumulation (AA) and nitrate accumulation (NA). Using the pre-designed rules for control actions, the aeration and volume of the aerated part of the reactor could be increased or decreased at a fixed mode time. In simulations of the suggested diagnosis-based control strategy, the $NH_4-N$ and $NO_X-N$ removal rates in the reactor were maintained at higher levels than those of the existing control strategy.

Environmental Pollution and Gene Expression: Dioxin

  • Kim, Ki-Nam;Kim, Meyoung-Kon
    • Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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    • v.1 no.2
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    • pp.78-86
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    • 2005
  • Dioxins, especially 2, 3, 7, 8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin), are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. TCDD is known that it has toxic effects in animals and humans, including chloracne, immune, reproductive and developmental toxicities, carcinogenicity, wasting syndrome and death. TCDD induces a broad spectrum of biological responses, including disruption of normal hormone signaling pathways, reproductive and developmental defects, immunotoxicity, liver damage, wasting syndrome and cancer. Many researches showed that TCDD induces gene expression of transcriptional factors related cell proliferation, signal transduction, immune system and cell cycle arrest at molecular and cellular levels. These toxic actions of TCDD are usually mediated with AhR (receptor, resulted from cell culture, animal and clinical studies). cDNA microarray can be used as a highly sensitive and informative marker for toxicity. Additionally, microarray analysis of dioxin-toxicity is able to provide an opportunity for the development of candidate bridging biomarkers of dioxin-toxicity. Through microarray technology, it is possible to understand the therapeutic effects of agonists within the context of toxic effects, classify new chemicals as to their complete effects on biological systems, and identify environmental factors that may influence safety.

A Review of the Integrated Strategy for Climate Change and Air Pollution Management (기후변화와 대기환경의 통합적 관리에 대한 고찰)

  • Song, Chang-Keun;Lee, Suk-Jo;Yoon, Jong-Soo
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.27 no.6
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    • pp.805-818
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    • 2011
  • The unequivocal risk of climate change, the weakness of energy security, and the problem of air quality will be possibly accelerated by the same reason, the enhanced fossil fuel dependancy in the future. It is obvious that greenhouse gases and air pollutants are mainly emitted from same sources. Moreover, greenhouse gases and air pollutants have their adversed impacts on same socio-economical, and environmental sectors. With these regards, several but limited studies have emphasized on the importance of the integrated management of climate change and air quality problem. In this study, we address the current trend of energy consumption and the change of air quality condition. Also the related policies are checked out in order to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants in Korea. By surveying previous studies, it is shown that the cost of climate change actions can be reduced by air quality co-benefits and vis-a-versa. Also the integrated strategy for climate change and air quality is introduced in term of cost-effectiveness and co-benefit.

Localized deformation in sands and glass beads subjected to plane strain compressions

  • Zhuang, Li;Nakata, Yukio;Lee, In-Mo
    • Geomechanics and Engineering
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    • v.5 no.6
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    • pp.499-517
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    • 2013
  • In order to investigate shear behavior of granular materials due to excavation and associated unloading actions, load-controlled plane strain compression tests under decreasing confining pressure were performed under drained conditions and the results were compared with the conventional plane strain compression tests. Four types of granular material consisting of two quartz sands and two glass beads were used to investigate particle shape effects. It is clarified that macro stress-strain behavior is more easily influenced by stress level and stress path in sands than in glass beads. Development of localized deformation was analyzed using photogrammetry method. It was found that shear bands are generated before peak strength and shear band patterns vary during the whole shearing process. Under the same test condition, shear band thickness in the two sands was smaller than that in one type of glass beads even if the materials have almost the same mean particle size. Shear band thickness also decreased with increase of confining pressure regardless of particle shape or size. Local maximum shear strain inside shear band grew approximately linearly with global axial strain from onset of shear band to the end of softening. The growth rate is found related to shear band thickness. The wider shear band, the relatively lower the growth rate. Finally, observed shear band inclination angles were compared with classical Coulomb and Roscoe solutions and different results were found for sands and glass beads.

The "National Park Concept-Waste-Conservation" Model for the Environmental Education ("국립공원의 개념-훼손-보존" 모형의 환경교육적 접근)

  • 이민부;한주엽
    • Hwankyungkyoyuk
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.151-165
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    • 1995
  • 1. This paper suggests one educational model of National Parks. The model includes main themes such as (1) concepts, (2) waste types, and (3) conservation policies of National Parks for the application at the school environmental education classes. 2. The study describes the origin of the national park system and concepts or policies for the conservation of the parks with cases of Japan, Taiwan, Canada, Australia, Swiss, Russia, and International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources(IUCN). The main focuses of their concepts or policies are on the (1) public land, (2) conserved, (3) legally protected land, and (4) land for the education of the loving their country. 3. This research classifies wastes of parks as point, linear, areal, and cubic types, and explains wasting actions on each types, focused mainly on the mountainous national parks. 4. The suggested policies for the conserving national parks, in this paper, are (1) core-zoning policy, and (2) management policy within the core zone. 5. Some principles are suggested for the more effective realization of the policies: (1) enforcement, (2) abandonment,(3) restoration, (4) enlargement, (5) limitation, (6) incorporation, (7) monitoring, and (8) education. 6. Finally, the educational values of this model may be derived from concepts of (1) loving national land, (2) conservation of nature, (3) public responsibility for protection, and (4) education materials. Those concepts form the foundation of models for (1) civic education, (2) education of country, and (3) inquiry training.

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Service life prediction of a reinforced concrete bridge exposed to chloride induced deterioration

  • Papadakis, Vagelis G.
    • Advances in concrete construction
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    • v.1 no.3
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    • pp.201-213
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    • 2013
  • While recognizing the problem of reinforcement corrosion and premature structural deterioration of reinforced concrete (RC) structures as a combined effect of mechanical and environmental actions (carbonation, ingress of chlorides), emphasis is given on the effect of the latter, as most severe and unpredictable action. In this study, a simulation tool, based on proven predictive models utilizing principles of chemical and material engineering, for the estimation of concrete service life is applied on an existing reinforced concrete bridge (${\O}$resund Link) located in a chloride environment. After a brief introduction to the structure of the models used, emphasis is given on the physicochemical processes in concrete leading to chloride induced corrosion of the embedded reinforcement. By taking under consideration the concrete, structural and environmental properties of the bridge investigated, an accurate prediction of its service life is taking place. It was observed that the proposed, and already used, relationship of service lifetime- cover is almost identical with a mean line between the lines derived from the minimum and maximum critical values considered for corrosion initiation. Thus, an excellent agreement with the project specifications is observed despite the different ways used to approach the problem. Furthermore, different scenarios of concrete cover failure, in the case when a coating is utilized, and extreme deicing salts attack are also investigated.

Evaluation of ASCE 61-14 NSPs for the estimation of seismic demands in marginal wharves

  • Smith-Pardo, J. Paul.;Reyes, Juan C.;Sandoval, Juan D.;Hassan, Wael M.
    • Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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    • v.69 no.1
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    • pp.95-104
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    • 2019
  • The Standard ASCE 61-14 proposes the Substitute Structure Method (SSM) as a Nonlinear Static Procedure (NSP) to estimate nonlinear displacement demands at the center of mass of piers or wharves under seismic actions. To account for bidirectional earthquake excitation according to the Standard, results from independent pushover analyses in each orthogonal direction should be combined using either a 100/30 directional approach or a procedure referred to as the Dynamic Magnification Factor, DMF. The main purpose of this paper is to present an evaluation of these NSPs in relation to four wharf model structures on soil conditions ranging from soft to medium dense clay. Results from nonlinear static analyses were compared against benchmark values of relevant Engineering Design Parameters, EDPs. The latter are defined as the geometric mean demands that are obtained from nonlinear dynamic analyses using a set of 30 two-component ground motion records. It was found that SSM provides close estimates of the benchmark displacement demands at the center of mass of the wharf structures. Furthermore, for the most critical pile connection at a landside corner of the wharf the 100/30 and DMF approaches produced displacement, curvature, and force demands that were reasonably comparable to corresponding benchmark values.

An Assessment of How University Students Approach to Sustainable Development Goals: An Empirical Study from Vietnam

  • NGUYEN, Trong Luan;HUYNH, Minh Khang;HO, Nguyet Nuong;LE, Tran Gia Bao;DOAN, Nguyen Duy Hau
    • The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.333-343
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    • 2022
  • The UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (2018) were created to address environmental pollution and climate change (SDGs). The goal of this study is to find out how well-informed Vietnamese students are about the SDGs. Knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) questionnaires were used to survey 1,010 students across Vietnam's universities, and the data was analyzed using SPSS software version 20. The findings suggest that both knowledge and attitude have a positive impact on the practice level. However, when comparing the correlation between the variables and the level of practice, advantage belongs to the relationship between the attitude and the level of practice (r = 0.982**, n = 1010, p = 0.00), the correlation between knowledge and practice level is weaker (r = 0.616**, n = 1010, p = 0.00). Statistical data also show that many Vietnamese students do not have access to information about the SDGs. The majority of the target population who have been contacted and have a basic understanding of the SDGs have done so through their academic degree. From there, it is clear that education is the most effective strategy for Vietnamese students to modify their environmental understanding and actions.

Procedural Improvements to the Comprehensive Impact Assessment of IMO GHG Reduction Measures

  • Bo-Ram, Kim;Han-Seon, Park;Young-Kwon, Park
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.34 no.1
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    • pp.75-79
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    • 2023
  • The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) may adopt actions after completing impact assessments and reviewing results in accordance with the original strategy and impact assessment procedure (MEPC.1/Circ.885). The assessment of the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction measures is an important step in determining whether to implement GHG regulations. This study identifies and proposes improvements in the impact assessment procedure for future mid- and long-term measures. Improvements for future measures should start with a review of "the procedure for assessing impacts on states of candidate measures" and "the actual process of the comprehensive impact assessment for short-term measures in 2021." The procedural improvements were largely derived from the order and period of task performance, the clear definition of terms, and the review of task results through lessons learned, analysis, and expert workshops. The impact assessment of future mid- and long-term measures should be procedurally improved to ensure uniformity and consistency, which will provide objective results for Member States and industries to help smooth the adoption of measures.