• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.870-878
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• 2010

We investigated the concentration and the sources of ubiquitous persistent organic pollutants [i.e., 17 toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), 12 coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs), and 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)] in waste papers and lumbers from industrial complexes. The total concentrations in waste papers and lumbers ranged from 9.69~176.77 pg/g-dry and 0.14~0.25 pg/g-dry for 17 PCDD/Fs, 109.95~4097.25 pg/g-dry and 28.23~59.88 pg/g-dry for 12 Co-PCBs and 9.30~52.18 ng/g-dry and 0.82~1.82 ng/g-dry for 16 PAHs respectively. Generally, the concentration of these pollutants in waste papers was higher than those in waste lumbers. OCDD was dominant in waste papers and lumbers and the PCDD/F patterns of these samples were similar with that of stack gas. The distribution patterns of Co-PCBs in wastes were related with commercial PCB products, indicating the effect of commercial PCB products on ubiquitous environment. The diagnostic ratios of several PAH compounds in waste paper showed that they were related with pyrogenic sources.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.198-205
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• 2004

Cytochrome P4501B1(CYP1B1) is known to be inducible by xenobiotic compounds such as policyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAH) and dioxins such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD). And these induction of CYP1B1 is also regulated by many categories of chemicals. In order to investigate the effects of several chemicals on CYP1B1 gene expression in Hepa-I and MCF-7 cells, 5' flanking DNA of human CYP1B1 was cloned into pGL3 basic vector containing luciferase gene, and then transfected into these cells. After treatment of chemicals, the luciferase activity was measured. CYP1B1 enzyme metabolize PAHs and estradiol. CYP1B1 metabolize estradiol to 4-hydrozyestradiol that is considered as carcinogenic metabolite. Recent industrialized industrialized society, human has been widely been exposed to widespread environmental contaminants such as PAHs(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) that are originated from the imcomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. PAHs are known to be ligands of the AhR(aryl hydrocarbon receptor). Induction of cytochrome P4501B1(CYP1B1) in cell culture is widely used as a biomarker for PAHs. Therefore we have studied the effect of PAHs in the human breast cancer cells MCF-7 to evaluate bioactivity of PAHs. We have used the United State of America EPA selected 13 different PAHs, PAHs mixtures and extracts from environmental samples to evaluate the bioassay system. We examined effects of PAHs on the CYP1B1-luciferase reporter gene and CYP1B1 mRNA level. Benzo(k)fluoranthene and dibenzo(a, h)anthracene showed strong response to CYP1B1 promoter activity stimulation, and also CYP1B1 mRNAs increase in MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. RT-PCR analysis indicated that PAHs significantly up-regulate the level of CYP1B1 mRNA. Some flavonoids such as genistein, daidzein, chrysin, naringenin and morin were also investigeted. These flavonoids decreased B(k)F infuced luciferase activity at low concentration. But, these flavonoids exhibited stimulatory effect at high concentration.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2015

Background: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor, binds to a wide variety of synthetic and naturally occurring compounds. AhR is involved in the regulation of inflammatory response during acute and chronic respiratory diseases. We investigated whether nuclear receptor coactivator 7 (NCOA7) could regulate transcriptional levels of AhR target genes and inflammatory cytokines in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-treated human bronchial epithelial cells. This study was based on our previous study that NCOA7 was differentially expressed between normal and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease lung tissues. Methods: BEAS-2B and A549 cells grown under serum-free conditions were treated with or without TCDD (0.15 nM and 6.5 nM) for 24 hours after transfection of pCMV-NCOA7 isoform 4. Expression levels of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), IL-6, and IL-8 were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The transcriptional activities of CYP1A1 and inflammatory cytokines were strongly induced by TCDD treatment in both BEAS-2B and A549 cell lines. The NCOA7 isoform 4 oppositely regulated the transcriptional activities of CYP1A1 and inflammatory cytokines between BEAS-2B and A549 cell lines. Conclusion: Our results suggest that NCOA7 could act as a regulator in the TCDD-AhR signaling pathway with dual roles in normal and abnormal physiological conditions.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.16-29
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• 2009

This paper describes characteristics of pollutants in wastewater from the pulp and paper industry and biological technologies for the wastewater treatment. The wastewater from the pulp and paper industry contains high concentrations of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) and shows high toxicity and strong black-brown color. In particular, organic chlorinated compounds such as dioxins and furans may be formed by the chlorination of lignin in wood chips. Thus the pulp and paper industry is recently trending toward total chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching processes. All biological technologies for pulp and paper wastewater treatment are based on the contact between wastewater and bacteria, which feed on organic materials in the wastewater, thus they reduce BOD concentration in it. Both aerobic and anaerobic treatments were found to be effective for the wastewater treatment. Furthermore, advanced technologies such as fungal application and combined biological-filtration process have been also introduced to the wastewater treatment field. These technologies would be useful for water recycling to reduce water consumption throughout pulp and paper making process.

• Journal of Korea Society of Waste Management
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.744-753
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• 2018

The Stockholm Convention, which was adopted in Sweden in 2001 to protect human health and the environment, includes regulations for Persistent Organic Pollutant Rotors such as toxic and bioaccumulatives. Currently, there are 28 types of materials. This prohibits and limits the production, use, and manufacture of products. Korea is a member of the Convention, and it is necessary to prepare management and treatment plans to address the POP trends. Thus, we experimentally investigate whether the environmentally stable incineration is achieved when the sample is thermally treated using the Lab-scale (1 kg/hr). The target samples is pesticides in liquid phase and solid phase. In this study, organic chlorinated pesticides and their thermal characteristics were analyzed. We calculated the theoretical air volume based on the element analysis results. Because the interior of the reactor is small, more than 10 times of the air ratio was injected. The retention time was set to at least 4 seconds using a margin. The incineration temperature was $850^{\circ}C$ and $1100^{\circ}C$. Thus, we experimentally investigated whether the environmentally stable incineration was achieved when the sample was thermally treated using the Lab-scale (1 kg/hr). We analyzed five types of exhaust gas; the 02 concentration was high, but the CO amount decreased. Complete combustion is difficult because of the small size of the furnace due to the nature of Lab-scale. The organic chlorine-containing pesticide had an average decomposition rate of 99.9935%. Considering the decomposition rates of organic chlorine-containing pesticide in this study, the incineration treatment at over 2 ton/hour, which is typical for a conventional incinerator, is possible. Considering the occurrence of dioxins and unintentional persistent organic pollutants, it can operate at more than $1,100^{\circ}C$.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.376-385
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• 2009

In our study, the accuracy for measurement of seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDDs/PCDFs in certified reference material (CRM) which is the sample of homogeneous sediment matrix taken from an area known to have significant chemical contamination, particularly PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), was evaluated. Though the methodology in this study followed the official method of unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants (UPOPs) announced by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea in 2007, there were slight changes using additional purification step by activated carbon column because the interferences of sample were not sufficiently removed when only multi-silica column and alumina column have been used for purification. The |En| number proposed by the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science was used for a valuation basis of the accuracy. The |En| numbers of seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDDs/PCDFs have been indicated as 1 and below, they were decided "Pass" in this test, when DB-5MS column and SP-2331 column were used together. Because 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and #169-HxCB were not separated on DB-5MS column, the ions of 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD were selected at M/M+2 instead of M+2/M+4 suggested by EPA 1613. It is possible to distinguish them in HRGC/HRMS analysis.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.349-355
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• 2012

In this study, we configured a system which ranks hazardous chemicals to determine their management priorities based on experts' opinions and the existing CRS (chemical ranking and scoring). Aggregate exposure of food, health functional food, oriental/herbal medicine and cosmetics have been taken into account to determine management priority. In this study, 25 hazardous chemicals were selected, such as cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic, etc. These 25 materials were ranked according to their 1) risk (exposure or hazard) indexes, 2) exposure source-based weight, and 3) public interests, which were also formed based on the existing priority ranking system. Cadmium was scored the highest (178.5) and bisphenol A the lowest (56.8). Ten materials -- cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, tar, acrylamide, benzopyrene, aluminium, benzene, and PAHs -- scored higher than 100. Eight materials -- aflatoxin, manganese, phthalate, chromium, nitrate/nitrite, ethylcarbamate, formaldehyde, and copper -- recorded scores in the range from 70 to 100. Also evaluated as potential risks were 7 materials; sulfur dioxide, ochratoxin, dioxins, PCBs, fumonisin, methyl mercury, and bisphenol A, and these materials were scored above 50. Then we compared risk index and correlation coefficient of total scores to confirm the validity of the total scores; we analyzed correlation coefficient of parameter and indicator. We discovered that the total score and weight, which has incorporated public interests, were high and statistically significant. In conclusion, the result of this study contributes to strengthening risk assessment and risk management of hazardous chemicals.