• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.371-377
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• 1997

This paper presents the geophysical applications to the environmenml problem in an abandoned mine area. We would like to focus our attention on the mapping of the soil contamination and the detection of the buried mine tailings. For mapping the soil contamination. measurements of both in-situ magnetic susceptibility (k) and terrain conductivity were carried out. In-situ magnetic susceptibilities of the contaminated soil due to the acid mine drainage show higher values than those of the uncontaminated area. However. those data do not show the correlation with the degree of the soil contamination observed on the surface. The least-squares fitted formula obtained with the measured insitu magnetic susceptibilities is $k=4.8207{\times}W^{0.6332}$, where W is the $Fe^{+2}$ weight percentage. This weight gives most effect to magnetic susceptibility of the soil. Lateral variations of the soil contamination in the shallow subsurface can be detected by the electrical conductivity distributions from EM induction survey. TDIP (Time Domain Induced Polarization) and EM induction surveys were conducted to detect the buried mine tailings. From the results of TDIP, the spatial zone, which shows high chargeability-low resistivity, is interpreted as the buried mine tailings. Therefore, it is concluded that it is possible to discriminate the spatial zone from the uncontaminated ground.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.26-32
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• 1997

To evaluate the cytogenetic toxicity, of cadmium and the reducing effect of selenium or zinc on cadmium toxicity, the induction of SCEs in cultured human lymphocytes by the concentraion of 0.5 $\mu$M to 16.0 $\mu$M of cadmium chloride and those of cadmium chloride combined with sodium selenite or zinc chloride 1.2 $\mu$M, respectively was investigated. The induction of SCEs by cadmium chloride in the range of 0.5 $\mu$M to 16.0 $\mu$M increased in a dose-dependent manner. A notable increase in SCEs by sodium selenite as well as zinc chloride was also observed. However, the frequency of SCEs by cadmium chloride was inhibited by the simultaneous addition of sodium selenite and zinc chloride 1.2 $\mu$M, respectively. The mitotic index significantly decreased in higher concentration of cadmium chloride but not was significantly different in any concentration of cadmium chloride with the simultaneous addition of sodium selenite or zinc chloride. The results showed that the decreased additive SCE effect was observed when induced by the combined treatment which could suggest that sodium selenite and zinc chloride have a protective effect on cadmium chloride.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.239-243
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• 2002

Changes of plasma vitellogenin (VTG) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were examined for determining whether hepatocyte was damaged during the process of VTG induction in the juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli exposed to exogenous estrogen (estradiol-l7$\beta$, E$_2$). Rockfishes were intraperitoneally injected with E$_2$(5 mg/kg B.W.) in 70% ethanol and plasma sampling were extracted at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 days af-ter E$_2$administration. VTG and GPT were then analyzed by SDS -PAGE and Reitman -Frankel method, respectively. VTG band was detected at a molecular weight position of 175 kDa on Day 3 after E$_2$administration. This band became more distinct at 6 days, but its was gradually thinned with time -course, and not detected at 15 days. GPT was suddenly increased at 1 days after 22 administration and highest GPT was detected at 3 days. However. GPT was gradually decreased with time -course as the change of VTG. These results suggest that the process of VTG induction by exogenous E$_2$damage to hepatocyte, and plasma GPT was temporarily increased in the juvenile rockfish.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.7-11
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• 2003

Interactions of both feminizing and masculinizing chemicals inducing imposex in gastropod were investigated with a long-term exposure experiment. Imposex-free rock shell(Thais-clavigera)was exposed to TBT and other antagonistic chemicals (nonylphenol and DDT), P450 inducer (phenobarbital) and natural sex hormone (estrogen) mixtures for 60 days. None of imposexed-females were found in control, sham (ethanol) and testosterone exposure group, on the other hand imposex was induced in the TBT and all the TBT+antagonist mixture groups. After 60-day exposure, frequency of imposexed-female ranged from 31-68%. Female mean penis length (FMPL) of imposexed-female ranged from 0.87-2.58 mm, and relative penis length indices were from 7.2 to 21.2%. However, the degrees of imposex were different among the exposure groups. The FMPLS of three exposure groups (TBT+estrogen, + DDT and +nonylphe- not) were less than that of the TBT exposure group. Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities in gastropod decreased in the TBT and all the TBT+antagonist ekposure groups compared to the control group. A negative correlation was abtained between TBT body residue and EROD activity, while a positive relationship was obtained between 737 body residue and the degree of imposex except for the TBT +DDT exposure group. Although 737 concentration was relatively high in the TBT+DDT exposure group, the TBT +DDT exposure group demonstrated low EROD activity and low degree of imposex. These results indicate that a certain antagonistic effect of DDT occurred in induction of imposex by TBT.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.164-170
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• 2017

A rapid and efficient in vitro regeneration system was established for Hibiscus syriacus L. The successful regeneration protocol employs induction of shoot organogenesis on leaf, petiole, and root explants. Among the various plant growth regulators evaluated, thidiazuron (TDZ) was the most effective for inducing rapid shoot formation. Most efficient shoot regeneration frequency was obtained from Murashige and Skoog (MS) media containing 0.01 mg/L TDZ. Regeneration efficiency was highest in the roots, and lowest in the leaves. A combination of 0.01 mg/L TDZ with benzyladenine (BAP) markedly improved the frequency of shoot differentiation from the root (up to 98%) and petiole (up to 88%) explants. Furthermore, leaf and petiole explants showed the highest frequency of shoot induction in half-strength MS media containing 0.01 mg/L TDZ and 1.0 mg/L BAP, while root explants formed the greatest number of shoots when 0.01 mg/L TDZ and 0.1 mg/L BAP were added to half-strength MS media. Although the frequency of shoot differentiation from leaf explants was only 50%, the leaf is considered the most efficient plant organ for use in tissue culture because leaves are easier to obtain than roots and petioles. Our findings show that various organs of H. syriacus can be used for plant regeneration, and the protocol developed in this study may be applicable in the horticulture industry.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.71-82
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• 1998

This study focuses on one of the most typical energy-intensive industries, the steel industry. The two-fold purpose of the study is to develop a model to assess measures to alleviate sulfur dioxide($SO_2$) emissions from the steel industry and to propose a concrete $SO_2$ emission reduction measure from the steel industry. This study partially employed and modified AIM(Asia-Pacific Integrated Model) developed by Japan National Environmental Research Institute to develop AIM/KOREA SULFUR model for simulation. In the study, a base scenario, which is BAU(Business As Usual) scenario, and mitigation scenarios(a use of low-sulfur contain fuel, fuel conversion to cleaner energy, an induction of desulfurization systems, and energy saving) were employed. The results of the simulation are summarized below: The sulphur dioxide emission from the steel industry in 1992 was estimated to be 252,000 metric tons; however, according to BAU scenario, sulphur dioxide emission is expected to be increased to 586,000 metric tons, which is 2.3 times greater than that in 1992 by year 2020. To alleviate such increasement, simulation results under various 7scenarios proved that some degrees of reduction may be possible by an induction of desulfurization systems although there may be numerous ways to interpretate the simulation results; however, the bottom line is that it appears to be difficult to achieve the Korean Ministry of Environment's policy goal-a mitigation of sulphur dioxide concentration to 0.01ppm.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.230-238
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• 2004

The adverse health effects of a number of environment pollutions are related to the formation of free radicals. Induction of antioxidant defensive system in the response to an oxidative attack is an essential element of the cell to survive. CYP2E1 is easily induced by organic solvents and induces continuous formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ${\gamma}$-Glutamyltranspeptidase (${\gamma}$GT) plays an important role in glutathione metabolism and xenobiotic detoxification. To evaluate the characteristic of oxidative stress which induces GGT expression and to understand human antioxidant defensive response against oxidative stress induced by CYP2E1, we studied regulation of ${\gamma}$GT enzyme expression in response to various oxidative stresses in human HepG2 cells. The ${\gamma}$GT activity was not modified after exposure of acute oxidative stress inducing agents (ferric nitrilotriacetate, cumene hydroperoxide, ADP-Fe, O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, tumor necrosis factor-alpha). To induce continuous exposure of cells to ROS, HepG2 cells were transfected by human CYP2E1 gene transiently. The CYP2E1 activity was verified with chlorzoxazone hydroxylation. Transfection of CYP2E1 showed continuous 60% increase in intracellular ROS and 240 % increase in microsomal ROS. CYP2E1 overexpressing cells showed increased ${\gamma}$GT activity (2.5-fold). The observed enhancement of ${\gamma}$GT activity correlated with a significant increase of ${\gamma}$GT mRNA (2.1-fold). Treatment with antioxidant strongly prevented the increase in ${\gamma}$GT activity. The CYP2E1 overexpression did not modify toxicity index and increased glutathione levels. These results show that continuous exposure of cells to ROS produced by CYP2E1 up-regulates ${\gamma}$GT; This may be one of the adaptive antioxidant responses of cells to oxidative insult. Present study also suggests that the induction of ${\gamma}$GT could be used as a marker of oxidative stress induced by exposure to organic solvents.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.185-189
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• 2007

Gene expression levels of choriogenin, vitellogenin and estrogen receptor were determined using Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR technique after exposure to estrogenic chemical bisphenol A in the Korean wild medaka (Oryzias sinensis). These genes have been known to be induced in male test fish when the fish are exposed to estrogenic chemicals. Therefore they can be suggested as a possible biomarker of endocrine disruption in fish, however, relatively little has been known about these genes expression by estrogenic chemicals in Korean wild fish. Mature male Oryzias sinensis were treated with bisphenol A at nominal concentrations of 0.02, 0.2 and 2 mg/L for 6 days and total RNA was extracted from the livers of treated fish for RT-PCR. When the five biomarker genes were amplified by RT-PCR in the same condition, mRNA induction level of each gene was elevated with different sensitivities. Conclusively, the results of this work indicated that measurement of vitellogenin and choriogenin using RT-PCR is effective as a simple tool for the screening of estrogenic chemicals and suggested that O. sinensis would be a suitable model fish for the environmental risk assessment of potential endocrine disruptors.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.1_2
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• pp.79-86
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• 1997

Inhibitory effects of tannic acid on skin toxicity and heat shock protein induced by UVB were investigated. Tannic acid was administered either topically or orally for 3 days to hairless mice, which were previously irradiated with UVB. UVB was found to cause skin erythema . However, the skin erythema was decreased when tannic acid was administered either topically or orally. The heat shock proteins, Hsp-78 kDa and 70 kDa, were induced by UVB irradiation, but the induction was decreased by treatment of tannic acid in both topically and orally administered groups. The hsp induction was more prominent in orally administered groups than in topically administerd groups. However, the difference between two groups was not statistically significant. The route of administrations, topical and oral, does not affect the activity of tannic acid. In the skin tissue observation, tannic acid regenerated the epithelial cells with 7-9 cell layers which were injured by UVB. In conclusion, tannic acid has an ability to protect against UVB irradiation and regenerate the skin.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2000

In previous study, both constitutive expression and 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC)-mediated elevation of CYP1A2 mRNA were demonstrated in human hepatoma HepG2 cells by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), suggesting that HepG2 cells would be appropriate for the study of human CYP1A2 regulation(Chung and Bresnick, 1994). Further studies were conducted to determine the basis of this induction phenomenon that is observed in HepG2 cells. Since CYP1A1 gene, another polycyclic hydrocarbon(PH)-inducible gene, is regulated by PHs through their interactions via receptors with cis-elements, the 5'-flanking region of human CYP 1A2 gene was analyzed to search such responsive elements. The promoter activity of various lengths of CYP1A2 gene sequence (-3203/+58bp) was measured in transiently-transfected HepG2 cells by fusion constructs containing the CAT, hGH or luciferase genes as a reporter. This region of the CYP1A2 gene, although containing a XRE, was only weakly responsive (less than 2 fold induction) to 10 nM of TCDD or 1 $\mu$M 3 MC treatment. This small enhancement of promoter activity is inconsistent with the previous observation, i.e., 12 to 14 fold-enhanced CYP1A2 mRNA from 1 $\mu$M 3 MC treated HepG2 cells, suggesting that additional mechanisms would exist for PH-mediated induction of CYP1A2 in these cells.