• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2017

A huge number of chemicals are produced and used in the world, and some of them can have negative effects on the reproductive health of workers. To date, most chemicals and work environments have not been studied for their potential to have damaging effects on the workers' reproductive system. Because of the lack of information, many workers may not be aware that such problems can be related to occupational exposures. Newly industrialized countries such as Republic of Korea have rapidly amassed chemicals and other toxicants that pose health hazards, especially to the reproductive systems of workers. This literature review provides an overview of peer-reviewed literature regarding the teratogenic impact and need for safe handling of chemicals. Literature searches were performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Search strategies were narrowed based on author expertise and 100 articles were chosen for detailed analysis. A total of 47 articles met prespecified inclusion criteria. The majority of papers contained studies that were descriptive in nature with respect to the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords: "reproductive and heath or hazard and/or workplace or workers or occupations." In the absence of complete information about the safe occupational handling of chemicals in Republic of Korea (other than a material safety data sheet), this review serves as a valuable reference for identifying and remedying potential gaps in relevant regulations. The review also proposes other public health actions including hazard surveillance and primary prevention activities such as reduction, substitution, ventilation, as well as protective equipment.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.606-613
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• 1998

Cadmium is one of the well-known environmental toxicants and induces cancer in rodents and human, but its carcinogenic mechanism has not been well demonstrated until now. Genotoxic effects of cadmium in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100 and TA1535/pSK1002 or in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells were investigated to elucidate the tumor initiating effects of cadmium. TA98, TA100 and TA1535/pSK1002 tester strains were used to detect frameshift mutation, base-pair mutation and SOS repair response, respectively, in Salmonella mutation test. Reverse mutations from histidine to $histidin^+$ of Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 by $CdCl_2$ were not significantly different from control up to the maximum doses ($100{\mu}M$ and $200{\mu}M$ in TA98 and TA100, respectively) at which non-cytotoxicity was observed. DNA SOS repair responses(${\beta}$-galactosidase activity) generally did not show significant increases compared to control in both of the conditions with or without metabolic activation in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 by $CdCl_2$. But the activities of ${\beta}$-galactosidase by $400{\mu}M$ of $CdCl_2$ in metabolic activation condition and by 130 and $400{\mu}M$ of $CdCl_2$ in non-metabolic activation condition were more decreased than those of control. DNA single strand breaks for 4hrs were observed only in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells treated with $200{\mu}M$ of $CdCl_2$. As a conclusion, $CdCl_2$ did not induce gene mutation in microbials but induce DNA single strand breaks in rat liver epithelial cells.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.225-230
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate the radiation dose-response of micronucleus frequencies in Tradescantia pollen mother cells. The number of micronuclei increased in the tetrads as a result of chromosome deletion after irradiation. The maximal frequency of micronuclei showed a good dose-response relationship in the range of dose $0{\sim}50$ cGy. On the basis of the relationship, a dose of 1 cGy results maximally in two additional micronuclei in 100 tetrads. The radiation dose-response relationship of micronucleus occurrence is prerequisite to biological monitoring of radiations. The micronucleus assay can be applied to biological risk assessment of environmental toxicants, and to integrity test of water or soils of interest.

• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.35.1-35.11
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• 2012

The homeopathic remedy Chelidonium majus 200C (Chel-200) is traditionally used by homeopathic practitioners in liver ailments arising out of hepatotoxicity. The present investigation was aimed at examining whether vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid or AA), used in both traditional and orthodox medicines, can show better effects when used in combination with Chel-200, in favorably modifying the toxicological effects induced by the chronic feeding of p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB, initiator) and phenobarbital (PB, promoter) in mice for 7 days through 120 days to induce hepatotoxicity and liver tumors. Mice were euthanized at 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of carcinogen feeding to assess various cytogenetical, biochemical and histological changes occurring in them. In a placebo controlled study, Chel-200 or the respective placebo (Alcohol-200C or Alc, "vehicle" of homeopathic drug), was orally administered to toxicant-fed mice. Sub-groups of the mice receiving Chel-200 were also fed either AA or an Alc placebo and their individual and conjoint effects were studied against the respective controls, to evaluate if the combination therapy of Chel-200 with AA can be of additional help in the amelioration of the toxicities generated by the toxicants. The combined feeding of Chel-200 and AA appeared to reduce the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects significantly, when compared to either only the Chel-200 or AA fed group. A similar trend was also obtained in the results of scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies of the livers. Experiments in other mammalian models are warranted to confirm if these drugs in combination could be used in palliative care of human patients with liver diseases including cancer.

• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.16.1-16.5
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• 2012

Fever in cancer patients is often due to the following causes: evil qi and toxity stagnancy, disorders of qi and blood, deficiencies of zang and fu organs, and the disorder of yin and yang. The treatments given to cancer patients with a fever are according to five: (a) Excessive inner heat and toxicants: remove heat and the toxicant, induce purgation. We use Cheng-Qi-Tang plus Qing-Wen-Bai-Du-Yin. (b) Tangle of damp and heat, and qi stagnancy: remove damp and heat, smooth the qi channel. We use Gan-Lu-Xiao-Du-Dan or San-Ren-Tang. (c) Obvious blood and heat stagnancy: remove heat and blood stasis. We use Xue-Fu- Zhu-Yu-Tang. (d) Deficiency of spleen qi, inner heat caused by a yin deficiency: nourish spleen qi and yin to remove the inner heat. We use Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang or Xiao-Jian-Zhong-Tang. (e) Prominent yin deficiency and hectic fever: replenish yin and remove inner heat. We use Qing-Hao-Bie-Jia-Tang or Chai- Qian-Mei-Lian-San. The pathogenesis of fever in cancer patients is complicated. We can see both deficiency and excess in one differentiation. Therefore, we must make sure of it, then we can get the most effective treatment.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.345-353
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• 2014

Copper has been widely used to control algae and pathogens in fish culture ponds. However, its toxic effects on fish depend not only on its concentration in the water but also on the water quality. A laboratory experiment was conducted to assess copper toxicity in the black rockfish Sebastes schlegeli using a panel of antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), at different levels of copper at three water temperatures (WT, 18, 23, $28^{\circ}C$) for 4 days. After exposure to two copper concentrations (100 and $200{\mu}g/L$), GSH levels and GST activities increased significantly, depending on WT (P < 0.05) in the liver, gill, and kidney of the black rockfish. GPx and SOD activities decreased significantly with both increasing WT and copper treatment in the organs of black rockfish (P < 0.05). These changes can be seen as initial responses to temperature stress and as a sustained response to copper exposure. This also indicates that GSH and related enzymes activities were sensitive indexes to stress by toxicants such as copper. The present findings suggest that simultaneous stress due to temperature change and copper exposure can accelerate changes in enzymes activities in the black rockfish. This provides another example of synergism between environmental temperature and pollutants, which may have important implications for the survival of fish in polluted environments during seasonal warming and/or global climate change.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.10 no.1_2
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• pp.37-46
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• 1995

The purpose of this research is to estimate a safe environmental level of human exposure to thresholding-acting toxicants in drinking water and recommend the acceptable levels and management plans for maintaining good quality of drinking water' and protecting health hazard. This research has been funded as a national project for three years from 1992 to 1995. This study(the second year, 1993-1994) was conducted to monitor 39 species of noncarcinogenic chemicals such as volatile organic compounds(VOCs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbens(PAHs), pesticides and heavy metals of drinking water at some area in six cities of Korea, and evaluate health risk due to these chemicals through four main steps (hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose-response assessment and risk characterization) of risk assessment in drinking water. In hazard identification, 39 species of non-carcinogenic chemicals were identified by the US EPA classification system. In the step of exposure assessment, sampling of tap water from the public water supply system had been conducted from 1993 to 1994, and 39 chemicals were analyzed. Inclose-response assessment for non-carcinogens, reference doses(RfD) and lifetime health advisories(HAs) of lifetime acceptable levels were calculated. In risk characterization of detected chemicals, the hazard quotients of noncarcinogens were less than one except those of manganese and iron in D city.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.173-173
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• 2003

With the introduction of DNA microarrays, a high throughput analysis of gene expression is now possible as a replacement to the traditional time-consuming Southern-blot analysis. This cDNA microarray should be ahighly favored technology in the area of molecular toxicology or analysis of environmental stresses.In this study, therefore, we developed a novel cDNA microarray for analyzing stress-specific responses in japanese Medaka fish. In the design and fabrication of this stress specific functional cDNA microarray, 123 different genes in Medaka fish were selected from eighteen different stress responsive groups and spotted on a 25${\times}$75 mm glass surface. After exposure of the fish to bisphenol A which is the one of the well-known endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), over 1 or 10 days, the responses of the DNA chip were found to show distinct expression patterns according to the mode of toxic actions from environmental toxicants. As a results, they showed specific gene expression pattern to bisphenol A, additionally, the chemical spesific biomarkers could be suggested based on the chip analysis data. Therefore, this chip can be used to monitor stress responses of unknown and/or known toxic chemicals using Medaka fish and may be used for the further development of biomarkers by utilizing the gene expression patterns for known contaminants.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2005

Lots of waste are produced from cities and embeded at the depository. The waste produces chemicals and organic matters. Those toxicants contaminate air and water. The pollution causes the increase of insects thereby to spray pesticide on the depository as well as its outskirts. Chemicals and pesticide ingredients are accumulated on the depository and released into outskirts. Those toxic agents are assumed to generate DNA damage to animals exposed to the water and air pollutions. To prove the possibility of DNA damage to pollution, comet assay was conducted on lymphocytes of animals exposed to the pollution of a depository at Southern part of Seoul. Peripheral lymphocytes of animals were treated with endonuclease III and electrophoresed. Broken DNA was released and measured under fluorescence microscope. The measurement showed no statistically significant DNA damage but some individuals showed higher DNA damage than in that of control group. These experiments were carried out on rabbits and dogs, the most and the least contaminated, respectively. The rate of DNA damage of cows was in between that of rabbits and dogs.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.165-172
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• 2012

Raphanus sativus (Cruciferaceae), commonly known as radish is widely available throughout the world. From antiquity it has been used in folk medicine as a natural drug against many toxicants. The present study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of radish (Raphanus sativus) enzyme extract (REE) in vitro and in vivo test. The $IC_{50}$ values of REE in human liver derived HepG2 cells was over 5,000 ${\mu}g/ml$ in tested maximum concentration. The effect of REE to protect tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells was evaluated by MTT assay. REE showed their hepatoprotective activities on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity and the $EC_{50}$ value was 1,250 ${\mu}g/ml$. Silymarin, an antihepatotoxic agent used as a positive control exhibited 59.7% hepatoprotective activity at 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. Moreover, we tested the effect of REE on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver toxicity in rats. REE at dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg and silymarin at dose of 50 mg/kg were orally administered to $CCl_4$-treated rats. The results showed that REE and silymarin significantly reduced the elevated levels of serum enzyme markers induced by $CCl_4$. The biochemical data were supported by evaluation with liver histopathology. These findings suggest that REE, can significantly diminish hepatic damage by toxic agent such as tacrine or $CCl_4$.