Toxicities to many organs caused by humidifier disinfectants have been reported. Recently, humidifier disinfectants have been reported to cause cardiovascular, embryonic, and hepatic toxicities. This study was designed to investigate the toxic mechanism of humidifier disinfectants and compare toxicity in a cellular model and a zebrafish animal model. Because brain toxicity and skin toxicity have been less studied than other organs, we evaluated toxicity in a human dermal cell line and zebrafish under various concentrations of humidifier disinfectants that included polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate (PHMG), oligo-[2-(2-ethoxy)-ethoxyethylguanidinium- chloride] (PGH) and methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT). A human dermal fibroblast cell line was treated with disinfectants (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 16 mg L-1) to compare their cytotoxicity. The fewest PHMG-treated cells survived (up to 33%), while 49% and 40% of the PGH- and CMIT/MIT-treated cells, respectively, survived. The quantification of oxidized species in the media revealed that the PHMGtreated cells had the highest MDA content of around 28 nM, while the PGH- and CMIT/ MIT-treated cells had 13 and 21 nM MDA, respectively. As for brain toxicity, treatment of the zebrafish tank water with CMIT/MIT (final 40 mg L-1) for 30 min resulted in a 17- fold higher production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than in the control. Treatment with PGH or PHMG (final 40 mg L-1) resulted in 15- and 11-fold higher production, respectively. The humidifier disinfectants (PHMG, PGH, and CMIT/MIT) showed severe dermal cell toxicity and brain toxicity. These toxicities may be relevant factors in understanding why some children have language disorders, motor delays, and developmental delays from exposure to humidifier disinfectants.

Artemisia annua (AA) is a well-known as a source of antimalarial drug (artemisinin), which also has been traditionally used as an antipyretic and hemostatic agent in Korea and China. In preclinical effective study, a water extract of Artemisia annua (WEAA) ameliorated weight gain and hepatic lipid accumulation in high-fat diet-fed mice. The plasma levels of triglyceride, AST, and ALT were reduced in the WEAA-treated group. Based on these results, the safety of WEAA as a functional ingredient for liver health was evaluated in this repeated dose oral toxicity study before the clinical trial. Sprague- Dawley (SD) rats were treated by gavage with 20 times (1,000 mg/kg) more than the effective dose for 13 weeks. All rats had survived at the end of the study, and there were no changes indicating obviously abnormal clinical sign and behavior. The treatment of WEAA were also observed no obvious toxicities in the body weights, urine, hematological, serum biochemical, ophthalmic and histopathological examinations. Based on the results of this study, the NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect level) of WEAA in SD rats was estimated to be 1,000 mg/kg. In conclusion, WEAA could be used as a safe functional ingredient for the improvement of liver health in individuals with hepatic diseases including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Enrofloxacin (EFX) is one of the 2nd generation quinolone antibiotics and is now widely used as a broad-spectrum antibiotic for industrial animals. Previous study showed that EFX reduces the cellular metabolic activity of spleen cells and modulates the inflammatory responses. However, little is known about its toxicity on bone marrow (BM) cells. In this study, BM cells were treated with EFX and cellular metabolic activity, cell death, the change of neutrophil (CD11b+Gr1+ cells) proportion, and antigen uptake ability of granulocytes were measured. Compared to the control, EFX-treated cells showed the decrease of cellular metabolic activity, the increase of cell death, and the decreased proportion of neutrophils. In contrast, the antigen uptake ability of granulocytes in BM cells was increased by EFX. These data suggest that EFX has only limited toxicity on BM cells. And also, EFX is safe on BM cells in a range of concentration, 6.25 – 25 μg/mL. This study can provide available data for the safety or toxicity of EFX.

Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai is a deciduous shrub of a flowering plant in Oleaceae. It is an important plant resource and consists of only one species in the entire world. A. distichum Nakai is well known an edible, medicinal herb in its habitat districts, but the toxicological evaluation for the safe use of its extract is still insufficient. The study characterized the toxicity of an Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai ethanol extract in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and determined the safe dosage levels in a 13 weeks toxicity study. Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai ethanol extract was orally administered once daily for 2 weeks at 0, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day to male and female SD rats. while recording the clinical signs of toxicity, body weight, food intake/consumption, eye test and urine analysis. Only the total protein frequency in the urine of male SD rats (p<0.05), the right ovary of the 500 mg/kg group (p<0.01) and the right adrenal gland of the 1,000 mg/kg group (p<0.05) in the female rats showed statistically significant changes. But no toxic effects were noted from repeated-dose administration of the Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai ethanol extract in the SD rats during the observation period. The post-mortem examinations showed no test substance-mediated changes. The hematological analysis and clinical blood chemistry data demonstrated no toxic effects from repeated-dose administration of Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai ethanol extract in the SD rats during the observation period. Based on these results, this data suggests that a dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day is a highest treatment to administer when conducting a further 13 weeks toxicity study.

다환방향족탄화수소류(PAHs)는 해양 환경에 오랜 기간 잔류하며 해양 생태계에 유해한 보편적 인 환경 오염 물질이다. PAH류는 대부분 해양 환경에서 금속을 비롯한 다양한 오염 물질과 복 합적으로 존재하지만 혼합 오염 물질이 개체에 미치는 영향에 대한 연구는 부족하다. 본 연구 는 HgCl2와 Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)이 해양 생물에 미치는 영향을 개체 수준에서 평가하기 위하 여 기수산 물벼룩(Diaphanosoma celebensis)을 이용하여 단일 및 혼합 급성 독성 시험을 진행 하였다. 혼합 독성 평가에 사용한 혼합물의 농도는 단일 독성 시험을 통하여 얻은 각각의 LC50 을 기준으로 3:7 (Mixture A), 5:5 (Mixture B), 7:3 (Mixture C)의 비율로 혼합하여 결정하였다. 실 험 결과 B[a]P와 HgCl2의 48 h - LC50은 각각 25.75 μg l-1와 3.6 μg l-1로 나타났다. 혼합 독성 평 가 결과 Mixture A, B, C에서 TU는 각각 1.06, 0.83, 0.96로 나타났다. 이는 Mixture A, B, C가 CA 모델에 따라 작용함을 보여주며, HgCl2와 B[a]P의 상호작용을 연구하기 위해 CA 모델을 사용 하는 것이 적합할 것으로 생각된다. 본 연구는 금속과 PAH류의 혼합 독성 평가를 위한 기초 자료가 될 수 있을 것이다.

This study was carried out to investigate the acute oral toxicity of Chamaecyparis obtusa (C. obtusa) essential oil (CBE) in New Zealand white male and female rabbits. Acute oral treatment with the CBE did not reveal any sign of toxicity or mortality in treated rabbits. The body weight of the rabbits was not affected after a single oral administration of the CBE during the 14-day observation period. In both the hematological and blood biochemical analysis, all parameters of the treated group with 2,000 mg/kg body weight of the CBE were not significantly different than those of the control group. Therefore, the lethal dose 50 of the CBE was estimated to be greater than 2,000 mg/kg body weight in rabbits, which indicated that the CBE is non-toxic. In conclusion, this study suggests that oral administration of the CBE is safe on rabbits.

국내 농작물에 발생하는 주요 해충인 진딧물류의 방제를 위해 기생성 천적을 활용하여 생물적 방제를 하는 방법이 사용되고 있다. 그러나 농작물에 국부적으로 진딧물이 대량 발생할 경우에는 화학적 방제를 사용하는 것이 효과적이다. 따라서 진딧물류의 효율적인 방제를 위해 진딧물 천적에 영향이 적은 저독성 약제를 선발하여 생물적, 화학적 방제의 혼합사용 방안을 마련하고자 한다. 이를 위해 기생성 천적인 B. communis 머미에 대하여 진딧물 등록약제인 스트레이트 외 31가지의 약제를 처리하여 저독성 약제를 선발하였다. 상온에서 B. communis 머미를 사각 페트리디쉬(72×72×100mm, SPL 310075)에 10개씩 넣고, 대상 약제를 추천배수로 희석한 후 분무법으로 살포하였 다. 처리 후 1, 3, 5일 후 B. communis 머미에서 우화한 성충수를 조사하였으며, 3반복으로 실시하였다. 아타라 외 4가지 약제는 머미의 우화율이 50% 이하였으나 나머지 26개 약제는 50% 이상의 우화율이 나타났다.

Comparative toxicity of different groups of pesticides on Apis mellifera L. were tested in the laboratory. Commercial formulations dissolved in water from the highest dose level marked on the label were serially diluted to 10^(-6) times to carry out oral trials on each pesticide. Fungicide (Metconazole), herbicide (Glyphosate), acaricide (Amitraz) and 3 insecticides (organophosphate Fenitrothion, neonicotinoids of Thiacloprid and Thiamethoxam) were compared. Thiamethoxam and fenitrothion caused higher mortality, and amitraz showed intermediate level of mortality while herbicide and fungicide showed minimal impacts. Among neonicotinoids, Thiamethoxam was highly toxic but thiacloprid showed mortality less than 25% even at the highest concentration. LC50 values were estimated as Amitraz 197.70, Fenitrothion 2.20, and Thiamethoxam 0.188 ppm at 24 h after treatment. Fungicide, herbicide and a neonicotinoid thiacloprid were all showed low oral toxicity. This study confirmed that the old pesticide, organophosphate was highly toxic and two different toxic path way exist for neonicotinoid pesticides.

본 연구는 실리콘계 소포제가 해양으로 배출되었을 때 소포제 내에 존재하는 주요 성분들이 해양 저서환경에 서식하는 생물에게 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위해 실리콘 및 알코올계 소포제에 대해 저서성단각류(Monocorophium acherusicum)와 발광박테리아(Vibrio fischeri)를 이용하여 해양생태독성실험을 수행하였고 실리콘계 소포제의 주요성분인 디메틸폴리실록산(PDMS)에 대한 수중생물 독성영향을 조사하였다. 실리콘 및 알코올계 소포제에 대한 발광박테리아와 저서성단각류를 이용한 독성실험결과, 실험생물별 독성영향은 발광박테리아가 저서성 단각류에 비해 알코올계 소포제에서 최대 9배까지 민감한 독성영향을 보였으며 소포제 종류별 독성영향은 실리콘계 소포제가 알코올계 소포제에 비해 최대 400배 이상 높은 독성영향이 나타났다. 실리콘계 소포제의 주요성분인 PDMS가 수중생물에 미치는 영향을 조사한 결과, 식물플랑크톤, 무척추동물 및 어류에 대한 반수치사농도(LC50)및 반수영향농도(EC50)값은 10 ~ 44,500 μg/L의 범위로 나타났다. 물질의 정성적인 특성을 나타내는 지표인 PBT(P: persistency, B: bioaccumulation, T: toxicity)특성을 PDMS에 적용한 결과, 지속성(P)과 생물농축성(B)의 특성을 가지는 것으로 나타나 PDMS가 해양으로 배출될 경우 생물농축 및 먹이사슬을 통한 상위 영양단계로 축적될 가능성이 존재하며 저서생물에게 부정적인 영향을 미칠 수 있을 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구결과로 향후 실제 해양으로 배출되는 다양한 소포제가 해양생태계에 미치는 영향조사시 소포제 내 주요성분을 고려한 보다 객관적이고 과학적인 위해성평가에 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

The purpose of this study was to assess cross-generational effects of bisphenol A exposure in benthic copepods, Tigriopus west. Nauplii (<24 hours old) were exposed to graded concentrations of bisphenol A, and toxicity end-points such as survival, development, sex ratio, and fecundity were measured. F1 generations were grown under innoxious conditions, and similarly assessed. Significant differences were observed in development of nauplii and copepodites, between exposed and non-exposed copepods; however, there were no differences in survival of nauplii or copepodites, sex ratio, or brooding rate in parental generation. In contrast, in the F1 generation, there were significant differences between the control group and exposed group in survival and development of nauplii. Length, width, and biomass of parental and F1 generations were reduced in the exposed group compared to the control group. In addition, some deformities, such as swelling of the prosome, abnormally shaped egg sac, and dwarfism were observed after exposure to bisphenol A. So, our study demonstrates that a cross-generation toxicity test and monitoring of morphological deformities in harpacticoid copepods, can be useful for development of potential bioindicators for environmental monitoring, and assessment of chemical impact.

This study examined the overdose toxicity of Super-Neophensan, containing florfenicol and acetaminophen, upon pigs. SNP-3.0 (n=10) was administered at the dosage level of 3 kg/ton feed for 7 consecutive days, which is 3 times the recommended dose based on the guidelines of the manufacturer, and the control group (CON) (n=10) was administered the normal diet without the drug. The body weight, weight gain and feed efficiency in SNP-3.0 treated with the drug for 14 days post-administration showed no significant differences compared with those in CON. In hematological and blood biochemical analyses, all parameters were not affected by over-dosage of the drug. In the same way, there were no significant differences between SNP-3.0 and CON on markers for liver and kidney functions. As no adverse effects were observed with the drug in an overdose oral toxicity test, this study suggests that the drug was identified as a safe agent in pigs administered with three times the recommended dose.

Disulfiram is a drug used to treat alcohol dependence. Recent studies have shown that disulfiram also has anti-cancer effects. Considering that many anti-cancer agents have side effects, including immunosuppression, it is important to check if disulfiram has some cytotoxicity to immune cells. In this study, mouse spleen cells were treated with disulfiram and the metabolic activity was measured. Disulfiram increased the cell death of spleen cells according to annexin V-FITC/PI staining analysis. In addition, disulfiram decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential of spleen cells. The toxicity of disulfiram was concentration dependent. Interestingly, disulfiram affected the population of lymphocytes and the subset of spleen cells was altered. This study provides clinicians and researchers with valuable information regarding the toxicity of disulfiram to mouse spleen cells, particularly lymphocytes.