Aluminum flows into the river from the abandoned mine leachate, industrial wastewater, and sewage and is responsible for acute toxicity in aquatic organisms. Recently, the number of reports have indicated the increased toxicity in a variety of aquatic organisms’ due to the aluminum toxicity. In this study, we reviewed the toxicity of aluminum on aquatic invertebrates, fishes and amphibians and suggested the guideline for management of aluminum residues in aquatic environment and strategies for aluminum toxicity evaluation. In aquatic animals aluminum complexes evoke gill dysfunction primarily, the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, disruption of endocrine function, reproductive success, metabolism and homeostasis. Notably, at environmentally relevant concentration, aluminum complex can alter the hormone levels in fish in acidic condition. Further, since the solubility of aluminum is higher in the acidic and basic conditions, thus it is likely that the toxic effects of aluminum may not only occur in acidic water near the abandoned mines but also in lakes and rivers, where pH is raised by algal bloom.

목본식물에 대한 Al독성에 관한 기초자료를 얻고자, 이농도별(1.0, 2.5 및 5.0mM)수용액과 대조구로 지하수를 모래를 채운 화분에 삽목한 개나리와 플라타너스의 삽수에 1993년 4월 28일부터 6월 16일까지 주 3회씩 처리하였다. 6월 16일 삽목묘를 굴취하여 생장관련형질(신초의 생장, 엽수 및 엽록소함량)과 뿌리의 길이를 처리간 비교하였다. 모든 생장관련형질들(신초의 생장, 엽수 및 엽록소함량)에서 처리간 고도의 통계적 유의차가 인정되었으며, 뿌리생장의 경우 개나리삽목묘에서는 처리간 통계적 유의차가 인정되었으나, 플라타너스삽목묘에서는 처리간 유의차가 인정되지 않았다.

치매유발제인 알루미늄(aluminum, Al)에 대한 세포독성과 이에 대한 쇠비름(Portulaca oleracea L., PO)추출물의 영향을 배양 신경교종세포(C6 glioma)를 재료로 항산화 측면에서 조사하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 본 연구에서 염화알루미늄(AlCl3)을 배양 C6 glioma세포에 처리한 결과 처리 농도에 비례하여 세포생존율을 유의하게 감소시킴으로서 세포독성을 나타냈으며 XTT50값이 100uM 이상으로 나타남으로서 중간독성(mid-toxic)인 것으로 나타났다. 한편, 항산화제인 vitamin E는 AlCl3에 의하여 감소된 세포생존율을 유의하게 증가시킴으로서 AlCl3에 의한 세포독성을 방어하였다. 한편, AlCl3의 세포독성에 대한 PO추출물의 영향에 있어서, PO추출물은 AlCl3에 의하여 감소된 세포생존율을 유의하게 증가시킴으로서 AlCl3에 의한 세포독성을 방어하였으며, 또한 superoxide dismutase (SOD)-유사활성(SOD-like activity)과 지질과산화(lipid peroxidation, LP)억제능 및 lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)활성 감소를 나타냈다. 이상의 결과에서 AlCl3의 세포독성에 산화적 손상이 관여하고 있으며 PO추출물은 AlCl3에 의한 세포독성을 항산화 측면에서 유효하게 방어하였다. 따라서 PO와 같은 천연추출물은 산화적 손상에 의하여 매개되는 치매와 같은 병변의 예방이나 치유를 위한 소재로서의 활용성이 클 것으로 생각된다.

Effects of aluminium(Al), soil pH and calcium(Ca) on growth response and heavy metal accumulation and regulation of nitrogen fixation in Melilotus suaveolens seedlings, a biennial legume plant dominating in the disturbed area, were quantitatively analyzed during the growing periods. Accumulation of metals in each organ of M. suaveolens was increased with the lowering of pH. Al contents in leaf and root treated with 30ppm Al at pH 4.2 on the 28th day after treatment were 8 and 11 folds higher than those of control, while the contents with 100ppm Al were 21 and 24 folds as compared to control. The significent inhibition in Al contents was induced by 100ppm Al and Ca at pH 6.5. Increased metals inhibited height at pH 4.2 and the growth inhibition due to Al was reversed by the addition of Ca, suggesting that growth correlates to the pH value. Chlorophyll contents in leaves increased during growth stage were inhibited by Al treatments. The biomass was decreased with the lowering of pH and the increase of concentrations. 100ppm Ca treatment resulted in 5.1-5.9% increase of the biomass as compared to that of 100ppm Al. Specific nitrogen fixation activities in nodules in the 100ppm Al at pH 4.2 and pH 6.5 were reduced to 35. 2% and 52.2% of control, on the 28th day after treatment, while the combination of Al and Ca induced inhibition of activities to 4.6% and 69.9% of control, respectively. Total amount of nitrogen fixation was reduced by 10% as compared to control with the treatment of 100ppm Al at pH 4.2 due to the inhibition of nodule formation. However the stimulative effect of nodule formation was enhanced by the combination of 100ppm Al and Ca and lowering of pH.