Velvet antler is widely used as a traditional medicine, and numerous studies have demonstrated its tremendous nutritional and medicinal values including immunity-enhancing effects. This study aimed to investigate different deer velvet extracts (Sample 1: raw extract, Sample 2: dried extract, and Sample 3: freeze-dried extract) for proximate composition, uronic acid, sulfated glycosaminoglycan, sialic acid, collagen levels, and chemical components using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-light mass spectrometry. In addition, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect of the deer velvet extracts on BV2 microglia, HT22 hippocampal cells, HaCaT keratinocytes, and RAW264.7 macrophages using the cell viability MTT assay. Furthermore, we evaluated acute toxicity of the deer velvet extracts at different doses (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg) administered orally to both male and female ICR mice for 14 d (five mice per group). After treatment, we evaluated general toxicity, survival rate, body weight changes, mortality, clinical signs, and necropsy findings in the experimental mice based on OECD guidelines. The results suggested that in vitro treatment with the evaluated extracts had no cytotoxic effect in HaCaT keratinocytes cells, whereas Sample-2 had a cytotoxic effect at 500 and 1000 μg/mL on HT22 hippocampal cells and RAW264.7 macrophages. Sample 3 was also cytotoxic at concentrations of 500 and 1000 μg/mL to RAW264.7 and BV2 microglial cells. However, the mice treated in vivo with the velvet extracts at doses of 500–2000 mg/kg BW showed no clinical signs, mortality, or necropsy findings, indicating that the LD50 is higher than this dosage. These findings indicate that there were no toxicological abnormalities connected with the deer velvet extract treatment in mice. However, further human and animal studies are needed before sufficient safety information is available to justify its use in humans.

Collagen peptides have garnered significant attention as functional foods across multiple fields due to their capacity to regulate physiological and hormonal processes, offering numerous advantages. However, despite their broad range of applications, comprehensive research on the potential toxicity of these substances remains lacking. Therefore, this study sought to assess the acute oral toxicity of a collagen peptide derived from skate (Raja kenojei) skin (CPSS) in both rats and dogs. In the rat model, CPSS was orally administered at doses of 300 and 2,000 mg/kg to Sprague-Dawley rats. An escalating single-dose oral toxicity assessment at doses of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg was carried out in beagle dogs with 3-day intervals between doses. Throughout the 14-day post-administration assessment period, clinical signs, mortality rates, changes in body weight, and necropsy observations were closely monitored. After oral administration, no signs of toxicity associated with CPSS were observed in either rats or dogs. Therefore, the oral LD50 (approximate lethal dose for 50% mortality) for CPSS in rats was determined to exceed 5,000 mg/kg, and the maximum tolerated dose for dogs was estimated to be above 2,000 mg/kg. Consequently, this study offers safety data on the use of CPSS in functional foods and medicinal applications.

E171, a mixture of titanium dioxide, has been widely used as a food additive due to its whitening effect and low toxicity. However, it has been proven that E171 is no longer safe for public health. So far, there are insufficient studies on the toxic effects of E171 on organisms especially using standardized test methods. In this study, toxicity assessments of E171 to two aquatic species, water flea (Daphnia magna) and zebrafish (Danio rerio), were performed using modified standardized test methods based on the physicochemical properties of E171. The hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, and turbiscan stability index (TSI) were measured to ensure the dispersion stability of E171 in exposure media during the test period. The EC50 for immobilization of water flea was 141.7 mg L-1 while zebrafish was not affected until 100 mg L-1 of E171. Measurements of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant enzyme activities confirmed that E171 induced oxidative stress, leading to the activation of superoxide dismutase and catalase in both water flea and zebrafish, although the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes differed between species. These results suggested the potential risk of E171 to aquatic organisms and provided toxicological insights into the impacts of E171 on the environment.

미역(Undaria pinnatifida) 포자를 사용한 생태독성 시험법은 연중 상시 이용하기에 어렵다. 미역 의 암배우체는 실험실에서 배양할 수 있기 때문에, 포자의 단점을 보완하고 상시 생태독성 시 험에 사용할 수 있다. 따라서 미역의 암배우체를 생태독성 시험에 활용하기 위해 다양한 환경 조건에 노출된 미역의 암배우체 생존율과 상대성장률의 변화를 분석하였다. 미역 암배우체는 염분(5~40 psu), 온도(5~30℃), pH (2~10), 광량(0~120 μmol photon m-2 s-1)에 노출되었다. 암배 우체의 생존율은 최고 평균값을 기준으로 온도 20℃, 염분 27.5 psu, pH 8, 광량 30 μmol photon m-2 s-1에서 가장 높았다. 상대성장률은 최고 평균값을 기준으로 온도 15℃, 염문 35 psu, pH 9, 광량 60 μmol photon m-2 s-1에서 가장 높았다. 본 연구결과를 통해 미역 암배우체의 생존율과 상대성장률을 활용하여 연안환경을 상시 신속하게 평가하기 위한 효율적인 방법으로 활용이 기대된다.

The surfactant, 2-{2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethan-1-ol, is used in detergents, pesticides, cosmetics, and disinfectants. Since it is found in products that can be inhaled, we evaluated its toxicity to humans upon exposure. A total of 18 rats were exposed to nasal inhalation for 4 hr to determine the acute inhalation toxicity of 2-{2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy) ethoxy]ethoxy}ethan-1-ol; the exposure concentrations were 5.0, 1.0, and 0.5 mg/L, with three males and three females at each concentration. After the end of the exposure, mortality, general symptoms, and weight changes were observed for 14 days, and autopsy findings were confirmed. The actual concentrations of the test substance in the chamber during the exposure were measured as 3.29, 1.03, and 0.52 mg/L, respectively. The delivered dose was 552.72, 173.04, and 87.36 mg/kg/day for males, and 829.08, 259.56, and 131.04 mg/kg/day for females. As a result of the test in the OECD Test Guideline 436, all animals exposed to a concentration of 3.29 mg/L died; three males and one female died out of six exposed to the 1.0 mg/L concentration. In addition, one died out of six males exposed to a 0.5 mg/L concentration. As a result, 2-{2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethan-1-ol was considered to be Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Category 2 (> 0.5–1 mg/L).

본 연구에서는 폐기물 배출해역의 퇴적물이 해양생물에 미치는 영향을 평가하기 위해 2016~2019년 3개 배출해역; 동해병, 서해 병, 동해정 해역의 9개 정점에서 채취한 퇴적물 시료들을 대상으로 국내 해양폐기물공정시험기준에 의거하여 저서성단각류(Monocorophium acherusicum)와 발광박테리아(Vibrio fischeri)를 이용한 독성시험을 수행하였다. 시험결과, 상대평균생존율(저서성단각류)과 상대발광저해율 (발광박테리아)이 각각 30 % 이하로서 ‘독성없음’으로 판정되었으나, t검정을 이용한 독성 평가 결과에서는 총 12개(2016년 6개, 2017년 1개, 2018년 1개, 2019년 4개)의 저서성단각류 시료에서 대조구와 유의한 차이를 나타내었다(p<0.05). 저서성단각류의 독성원인 탐색을 위해 퇴 적물 내 8종 중금속 함량(Cr, As, Ni, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg)과 저서성단각류 상대평균생존율의 단순선형회귀분석을 수행한 결과, Cr의 저서성 단각류 독성 기여도가 가장 높았다(p=0.000, R2=0.355). 또한, 매년 독성영향이 가장 높은 정점(DB-85)의 시료에서 Cr이 여전히 가장 높은 농 도로 검출되었으며, 해양환경기준을 매년 초과하였다. 해양폐기물공정시험기준의 생태독성판정 기준 적용 시 ‘독성없음’으로 평가되는 퇴 적물 오염도가 대조구와의 통계적 유의성 검정, 독성원인확인 평가를 적용할 경우 독성영향을 수용 가능한 수준으로 판단하기 어려우므로 향후 종민감도분포곡선을 활용한 정량적 위해성 평가를 통한 준거치를 도출하여 생태독성 영향 판단 기준의 재설정을 고려할 필요가 있다.

Jellyfish envenomation is a world-wide health problem, which often seriously affect the fishery and bathing activities. To date, few individual jellyfish venoms proteins have been thoroughly characterized yet. In this work, four species of scyphozoan jellyfish (Nemopilema nomurai, Cyanea nozakii, Aurellia aurita and Rhopilema esculentum) are compared according to their, cytotoxicity, hemolytic potency, brine shrimp toxicity and protein components. Jellyfish venoms showed higher cytotoxicity in H9C2 heart myoblast than in C2C12 skeletal myoblast, with the exception of C. nozakii venom. This result suggests that the selective cytotoxic effects may be possibly related to their in vivo effects of cardiac tissue dysfunction. On the other hand, hemolytic activity could be also observed from all tested jellyfish venoms. N. nomurai jellyfish venom displaying the greatest hemolytic activity. As an alternative method of evaluating the toxicities of jellyfish venoms, the toxicity on brine shrimp was examined with the four jellyfish venoms. From this, the venom of N. nomurai showed higher toxicity against brine shrimp than the other jellyfish venoms, which is consistent with the results of cytotoxicity assay as well as hemolysis assay of the present study. SDS-PAGE analysis of four jellyfish venoms showed the similar pattern with molecular weight of around 40 kDa, and appeared to be the major protein components. These results provided that N. nomurai jellyfish venom was potently toxic than other scyphozoan jellyfish venoms and may explain to some extent the deleterious effects associated with human envenoming.

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.

해산로티퍼 (Brachionus plicatilis)의 생존 및 개체군 성장률 (r)을 사용하여 Zinc undecylenate (ZU)에 대한 독성평가를 실시하였다. 24 h 동안 ZU에 노출된 B. plicatilis의 생존율은 실험 최고농도 100 mg L-1에서도 영향이 나타나지 않았으나, ZU에 72 h 노출된 개체군 성장률 (r)은 농도 의존적으로 감소하는 경향을 나타내, 12.5 mg L-1 에서 유의적인 감소를 나타냈고 최고농도 50.0 mg L-1에서 개체군 성장률이 90% 이상 감소되었다. ZU에 노출된 B. plicatilis의 개체군 성장률의 반수영향농도 (EC50)값은 26.4 mg L-1, 무영향농도 (NOEC)는 6.3 mg L-1, 최소영향농도 (LOEC)는 12.5 mg L-1로 나타났다. 자연생태계 내에서 ZU 물질이 해수 중에서 12.5 mg L-1 이상을 초과하여 나타낼 때 B. plicatilis와 같은 동물성플랑크톤의 개체군 성장률이 영향을 받을 것으로 판단되며, 이러한 연구결과는 신방오도료물질의 생태안정성 평가를 위한 기준치 설정 및 다른 방오도료물질과의 독성치를 비교할 수 있는 유용한 자료로 활용될 것으로 판단된다.

Recently, a low-impact development (LID) technic such as a wetland has been proposed as a Nature-friendly process for reducing pollutants caused by livestock wastewater. Therefore, the Daphnia magna toxicity was analyzed for livestock wastewater samples, to determine if a wetland system would also be effective in reducing this ecotoxicity. In the present study, acute D. magna toxicity was not significantly dependent on the presence and type of reed, nor type of media. However, when treated with construction wetlands, ecotoxicities decreased as well as TN, TP and COD concentrations. Therefore, it is considered that a construction wetland system with bio reeds and bio-media as well as general reeds would be effective to reduce the ecotoxicity of livestock wastewater. To apply a wetland system as the subsequent treatment process to a livestock waste water treatment facility, it is necessary to perform an integrated evaluation such as treatment efficiency and the ecotoxicity test for various characteristics of livestock wastewater.

The oxicity assesment of Phenanthrene (PHE) has been investigated by using the rate (r) of survival and population growth in rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. The survival rate was determined after 24 h of exposure to PHE. The survival rate of PHE had no effect at a maximum of 300 mg L-1. The r was determined after 72 h of exposure to PHE. It was observed that r in the controls (absence PHE) was greater than 0.5, but that it suddenly decreased with an increased concentration of PHE. PHE reduced r in a dose-dependent manner and a significant reduction occurred at a concentration of greater than 37.5 mg L-1. The EC50 value of r in PHE exposure was 63.7 mg L-1. The no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC) of r in PHE exposure was 18.8 mg L-1. The lowest-observed-effect-concentration (LOEC) of r in the PHE exposure was 37.5 mg L-1. From the results, the concentration of PHE (greater than 37.5 mg L-1) has a toxic effect on the r of B. plicatilis in natural ecosystems. These results (including NOEC, LOEC and EC50) might be useful for the Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) toxicity assessment in marine ecosystems.

Toxicity assessment of heavy metals (As, Cr and Pb) has been investigated by using the rate of survival and population growth(r) of marine rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis. The survival rate was determined after 24 hours of exposure to As, Cr and Pb. As and Cr reduced survival rate in dose-dependent manner and a significant reduction were occurred at concentration of greater than 30 and 150 mg L-1, but Pb had no effect on survival rate. The r was determined after 72 hours of exposure to As, Cr and Pb. As, Cr and Pb reduced r in dose-dependent manner and a significant reduction were occurred at concentration of greater than 5, 25 and 50 mg L-1. The toxicity of heavy metals were ranked As>Cr>Pb, with EC50 values of 12.98, 82.34 and 110.14 mg L-1, respectively. The no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC) of r in As, Cr and Pb exposure were 1, 12.5 and 50 mg L-1, respectively. The lowest-observed-effect-concentration (LOEC) of r in As, Cr and Pb exposure were 5, 25, and 50 mg L-1, respectively. From the results, the concentration of As, Cr and Pb (greater than 5, 25 and 50 mg L-1, respectively) have toxic effect on the r of B. plicatilis in natural ecosystems. These results (including NOEC and EC50) might be useful for the mixing toxicity assessment and toxic guide line of heavy metals in marine ecosystems.

Behavioral reaction can be measured as a sensitive endpoint for sublethal toxicity of copper, and can be used to obtain easily and quickly. Also behavioral endpoints may serve as a more insightful evaluation tool of the ecological effects of toxic chemicals. In this study, four invertebrates in freshwater which are usually used indicate species for water quality were selected as test species (Chironomus riparius, Heterocypris incongruens, Daphnia magna, and, Triops longicaudatus). Each test species was exposed to copper for 6 hours, and total distance, velocity, and, turn angle were measured for 1 hour using video analysis system (Ethovision : Noldus Information Technology) in laboratory condition. Each endpoints reflected effect of copper toxicity appropriately for all test species. These endpoint have possibility that can be used to identify characteristic behavioral responses to a metal toxicity. We viewed this study as a preliminary experiment for future research to investigate the significance of behavioral endpoints to various toxic chemicals.

해양생태 독성시험법의 중요성이 인식되면서 새로운 시험법의 개발과 더불어 유용수산생물을 이용하고자 하는 연구가 활발하게 진행되고 있으나, 대부분의 시험법은 유해물질에 대한 급성독성을 평가하고 있다. 해양생태계 내에서 오랫동안 아치사 농도로써 생물에게 영향을 미치는 유해물질을 평가하기 위한, 만성독성 평가기법은 그 수가 대단히 한정되어 있다. 유용수산생물 자원인 미역(U ndar ia pinnatifida )은 생산자로서 해양생태계 내에서 중요한 위 치를 차지하고 있을 뿐만 아니라, 유주자 방출, 발아, 수정 및 아포체 성장의 초기생활사 동안 실내배양이 가능하다. 실내 배양기간 동안 아포체 성장을 이용한 만성적 독성영향을 파악할 수 있어, 향후 해양생태 독성시험과 환경변화 등에 의해 발생하는 갯녹음 원인 구명에도 적절하게 이용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다. 성숙한 U . pinnatifida의 포자 엽으로부터 방출된 유주자를 6개 중금속(Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, As)에 노출시켜 21일간 배양한 후에 아포체 성장률을 측정하였고, 이들 결과를 바탕으로 무영향농도(NOEC), 최소영향농도(LOEC)를 나타내는 독성평가를 실시하였다. 중 금속에 노출된 U . pinnatifida의 아포체 성장률은 중금속 농도가 증가할수록 급격히 감소하는 농도 의존성을 나타냈 다. 중금속이 아포체 성장에 미치는 영향의 정도를 살펴보면, 대부분이 0.1ppb 미만의 낮은 농도에서 NOEC가 관찰 되었고 LOEC의 경우도 Cd, Cu 및 Pb는 0.1ppb에서, Zn, Cr 및 As는 1ppb 정도의 매우 낮은 농도를 나타내는 것을 알 수 있었다.