• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.344-353
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• 2021

Juvenile olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (mean weight 66.7±7.1 g; mean length 19.2±0.9 cm) in a bio-floc environment were exposed to microplastic (PE: polyethylene, size 40-48 ㎛) at 0, 4, 20, 100, 500 and 2,500 mg L^-1 for 96 hours. No P. olivaceus deaths were observed following microplastic exposure. In the plasma components, calcium was significantly decreased whereas there was no significant change with magnesium following microplastic exposure. Glucose was significantly decreased with over 100mg L^-1 at 48 hours and 20mg L^-1 at 96 hours. Cholesterol was significantly decreased with over 20mg L^-1 after 48 hours, whereas there was no significant change in the total protein content. In enzymatic plasma components, the AST(Aspartate aminotransferase) was significant decreased by microplastic exposure. The results of this study indicate that acute exposure to microplastic induces blood physiological changes in P. olivaceus.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2023

Background: The existing research results on the combined toxicity of these pollutants using mammals, such as rodents, are insufficient, especially in relation to changes in the immune system. Objectives: This study aims at evaluating the cellular immune response to PE-MPs solely or when combined with Pb, which possess excellent adsorption capacity with PE-MPs and is commonly co-exposed in our daily lives. Methods: The study investigated the cellular immune function of 9-week ICR mice with 28 days exposure to PE-MPs (2 mg/mouse/day) and Pb (0.1 mM in distilled water) individually and in combination. PE-MPs were administered via gastric intubation while the lead intake was conducted via the oral drinking water route. Cellular immunity was evaluated by analyzing the production for T_H1 cytokines namely, TNF-α and IFN-𝛾 and T_H2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-6 in culture supernatants from polyclonally activated splenic mononuclear cells ex vivo. Results: Both the PE-MPs only and the PE-MPs+Pb exposure group revealed an increased T_H1 response with elevated TNF-α and IFN-𝛾 levels and downregulated T_H2 response with low IL-4, and IL-6 production levels compared to the control group. Furthermore, an increased IFN-𝛾/IL-4 ratio was found in the PE-MPs only and PE-MPs+Pb exposure groups, which indicated the skewedness to T_H1 response. Meanwhile, reduced blood hemoglobin levels and increased levels of IL-4, the dominant T_H2 cytokine in the Pb-only exposure group, were observed. Conclusions: Our current findings on the predominance of T_H1 immune response in the PE-MPs and PE-MPs+Pb groups suggest that PE-MPs could be responsible for the predominant induction of the cellular immune changes. This finding could be used as an important landmark in research related to T_H1 predominance, such as autoimmune diseases. It suggests that additional research on immune modulation using longer exposure durations or the same exposure route is required to elucidate stronger findings.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2022

The increased production and consumption of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-based products over the past several decades has resulted in the discharge of countless tons of PET waste into the marine environment. PET microparticles resulting from the physical erosion of general PET wastes end up in the ocean and pose a threat to the marine biosphere and human health, necessitating the development of new technologies for recycling and upcycling. Notably, enzyme-mediated PET degradation is an appealing option due to its eco-friendly and energy-saving characteristics. PETase, a PET-hydrolyzing enzyme originating from Ideonella sakaiensis, is one of the most thoroughly researched biological catalysts. However, the industrial application of PETase-mediated PET recycling is limited due to the low stability and poor reusability of the enzyme. Here we developed the whole-cell catalyst (WCC) in which functional PETase is attached to the outer membrane of Escherichia coli. Immunoassays are used to identify the surface-expressed PETase, and we demonstrated that the WCC degraded PET microparticles most efficiently at 30℃ and pH 9 without agitation. Furthermore, the WCC increased the PET-degrading activity in a concentration-dependent manner, surpassing the limited activity of soluble PETase above 100 nM. Finally, we demonstrated that the WCC could be recycled up to three times.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.149-149
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• 2023

미세플라스틱은 입자크기가 5 mm 이하인 플라스틱으로 정의되며, 수계로 유입된 미세플라스틱은 내분비계 교란물질로 작용하여 생태계에 환경독성을 유발하고 오염물질을 흡착·운반할 수 있는 독성 물질의 매개체로서 미세플라스틱의 위해성에 대한 우려가 증가하고 있다. 본 연구는 수용액에서 다양한 미세플라스틱의 납(Pb) 흡착특성을 평가하고 미세플라스틱의 비표면적에 따른 흡착 효과를 비교하고자 하였다. 플라스틱 종류 중 HDPE (High-density Polyethylene)와 PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)를 각각 세 가지 크기(Group 1: 2.5 mm - 1.0 mm, Group 2: 1.0 mm - 0.3 mm, Group 3: < 0.3 mm)로 제조하여 분류하였으며, 미세플라스틱 입자크기의 비표면적은 BET(Brunauer, Emmett, Teller)분석을 통하여 측정하였다. 담수환경 조성을 위해 pH 7로 조절한 Pb 용액의 농도(0, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 30 mg/L)별 흡착실험을 수행하였으며 실험결과를 3가지 흡착등온식(Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips 모델)을 사용하여 미세플라스틱에서 Pb 흡착 거동을 나타내었다. BET 분석 측정결과, PVC의 경우 Group 3 > Group 2 > Group 1 순으로 PVC의 입자크기가 작을수록 비표면적이 크게 나타났으며, HDPE 비표면적 또한 비슷한 경향을 보였다. HDPE와 PVC에서 Pb의 흡착은 Langmuir 모델(R² > 0.97)과 Freundlich 모델(R² > 0.82)보다 Sips 모델(R² > 0.98)이 흡착 거동을 설명하기에 가장 적합하였다. 최대흡착능(Q_m) 상수는 입자크기가 작아질수록 흡착능이 높아지는 추세를 보였으며, 흡착세기(K_F)와 흡착강도(n^-1)는 각 플라스틱의 Group 3(HDPE K_F = 0.028, PVC K_F = 0.032; HDPE n^-1 = 0.225, PVC n^-1 = 0.547)에서 가장 높게 나타났다. 본 연구를 통해 HDPE와 PVC에서 Pb의 흡착특성은 Sips모델로 설명이 가능했으며, 이에 따라 Pb 흡착과정에 복수의 흡착메커니즘이 작용하고 있음을 유추해볼 수 있었다. 미세플라스틱의 입자크기와 비표면적이 Pb 흡착량에 영향을 미치는 것을 알 수 있었으며, 미세플라스틱이 중금속을 흡착하여 생물체 내로 전이시킬 수 있는 매개체 역할의 가능성을 확인하였다.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.243-251
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• 2019

Microplastics (MP) are found in large quantities in the oceans, posing a major threat to the ecosystem. In Korea, MPs have been reported to be detected in sea salts. In order to analyze MPs, information on their composition, size, and shape is required. FT-IR microscopy is used frequently to measure sizes larger than 20 ㎛. Recently, however, Raman microscopy, which can analyze ultrafine plastics below 20 ㎛, has been applied extensively. In this study, 10.0 g samples of commercially available salts were dissolved and filtered through a 45 ㎛ mesh filter with a size of 25.4 mm × 25.4 mm. These filtered samples were then analyzed by both FT-IR microscopy and Raman microscopy. A total of four MPs, including three polyethylene (PE) of size 70-100 ㎛ and a polypropylene (PP) of size 170 ㎛, were detected by FT-IR microscopy, while 10 MPs, including nine PE of size 10-120 ㎛ and one polystyrene (PS) of size 40 ㎛, were detected by Raman microscopy. Approximately, 1,000 MPs/kg was estimated, which was almost two times higher than the previous reported levels (~550-681 particles/kg in sea salts); this is because Raman microscopy can detect much smaller MPs than FT-IR microscopy. A total of 113 particles were found using Raman microscopy: Carbon (35, 31.5 %), minerals (28, 25 %), and glass (16, 14.4 %) were dominant, forming around 70% of the total, but MPs (10, 8.8 %) and cellulose (5, 4.5 %) were also found. Raman microscopy has great potential as an accurate method for measuring MPs, as it can measure smaller size MPs than FT-IR microscopy. It also has a reduced sample preparation time.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2020

Most studies defined microplastic (MP) as plastic particles less than 5 mm. The ubiquity of MP is raising awareness due to its potential risk to humans and the environment. MP can cause harmful effects to humans and living organisms. This paper review aimed to provide a better understanding of the sources, pathways, and impacts of MP in the environment. MP can be classified as primary and secondary in nature. Moreover, microplastic can also be classified as based on its physical and chemical characteristics. Stormwater and wastewater are important pathways of introducing MP in large water bodies. As compared to stormwater, the concentrations of MP in wastewater were relatively lower since wastewater treatment processes can contribute to the removal of MP. In terms of polymer distribution, wastewater contains a wider array of polymer varieties than stormwater runoff. The most common types of polymer found in wastewater and stormwater runoff were polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The continuous discharge and the increasing number of MP in the environment can pose greater hazards and harmful effects on humans and other living organisms. Despite the growing number of publications in relation to MP, further studies are needed to define concrete regulations and management strategies for mitigating the detrimental effects of MP in the environment.