Bisphenol-A, also known as BPA, is commonly used as a building block for epoxy and polycarbonate plastics. However, it has been recently identified as a major source of water pollution due to its release into the water from plastic products. BPA-based resins can also contaminate the water with high concentrations of BPA, which can enter the water bodies through production units and wastewater discharge. Photocatalysis, particularly the photo-Fenton process, is an effective method for wastewater treatment and degrading pollutants. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is usually chosen based on its high photocatalytic properties and high performance. However, its wide band gap energy is a major issue for the photocatalytic process. This means that the catalyst can only exhibit high photocatalytic performance under UV-light irradiation and usually requires an acidic pH, which limits its use. In order to address the aforementioned issues, a visible-light photoactive photo-Fenton reaction has been successfully developed to degrade bisphenol A at natural pH using H2O2. The process was highly efficient, achieving complete degradation of phenol in just three hours of visible light irradiation with Cu-MOF. This environmentally friendly Fenton process has the advantage of occurring at natural pH levels with the presence of H2O2, providing a new perspective for efficient degradation. The photocatalyst was characterized using single X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS).

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in many commercial products may interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system and are unsafe because of their cumulative effect on the human body. However, little is known about the effects of combinations of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in humans. Methoxychlor and bisphenol A are toxic to male reproductive organs. Therefore, we studied the effects of methoxychlor and bisphenol A on male reproductive function. Male mice were divided into four treatment groups: control, 400 mg methoxychlor, 1 mg bisphenol A, and 400 mg methoxychlor + 1 mg bisphenol A/kg/day. Methoxychlor and bisphenol A were dissolved in sesame oil and acetone and administered orally for 4 weeks. After administration, the weight and histological changes in the testicles and epididymis, sperm count and health were observed biochemical tests and whole blood counts were performed. The results showed that the mice in the bisphenol A and methoxychlor + bisphenol A groups gained more weight than those in the control and methoxychlor group. The weights of the testes and epididymis were higher in the experimental groups than in the control. Sperm motility and progression were significantly reduced in the bisphenol A and methoxychlor + bisphenol A groups. Histological observation showed a reduced number of sperm, smaller seminiferous tubules, and destroyed lumen in the methoxychlor + bisphenol A group compared to the other groups. In conclusion, our study showed that methoxychlor and bisphenol A destroy male reproductive tissues and decrease sperm quality.

본 연구는 십자화과 채소인 갓(Brassica juncea) 추출물 을 이용하여 지표성분인 sinigrin의 함량을 분석하고, 내분비계 교란물질 환경호르몬인 비스페놀 A (BPA)로 분화를 유도한 3T3-L1 전구지방세포에서 갓 추출물과 sinigrin 처 리에 대한 지방세포 분화 및 활성산소종(ROS) 생성 억제, 지방 생성 전사인자(PPARγ, C/EBPα, aP2)의 단백질 발현 감소 효능을 평가하였다. 연구 결과에 따르면 HPLC를 이용하여 측정한 갓 추출물 중 sinigrin의 함량은 21.27±0.2 mg/g 인 것으로 나타났다. BPA로 유도된 3T3-L1 전구지방세포에 서 XTT assay 결과 sinigrin 180 μM 및 갓 추출물 300 μg/ mL 농도에서 세포 독성을 보이지 않았으며, 지방세포 분화과정 중 세포 내 지방 축적량과 ROS 생성량을 비교하였을 때 갓과 sinigrin을 처리한 지방세포의 경우 지방축 적량 및 ROS 생성량 모두 유의적으로 감소시키는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 갓 추출물 및 sinigrin을 처리하였을 때 지 방세포 분화를 조절하는 전사인자 PPARγ, C/EBPα 및 aP2 의 발현이 억제됨을 확인하였다. 이 결과를 통해 갓은 환 경호르몬 비스페놀 A로 유도된 지방세포 내 지방 축적 억제와 더불어 ROS 저감에 효과적으로 작용함을 확인하였다. 향후 sinigrin을 함유한 갓은 BPA로 인한 지질 대사 장애를 예방하는 천연물 유래 기능성 식품 소재로 활용할 가능성이 높은 것으로 기대되며, 추가로 임상 연구 및 작용기전 입증을 위한 in vivo 모델에서의 후속 연구가 진 행되어야 할 것으로 사료된다.

흰구름버섯 (Trametes hirsuta)의 균사체는 CR, CV, RBBR 등 방향족 염료가 함유된 고체와 액체 배지에서 이들 염료를 효과적으로 탈색하였으나 MB의 탈색은 저조하였다. 각각 CR, MB, CV 및 RBBR 등 4종류의 염료가 함유된 액체배지에서 흰구름버섯의 균사체를 10일 간 배양했을 때 laccase, LiP, MnP 등 세 종류의 효소를 모두 생산하였으며 이들 효소 중 laccase의 활성도가 가장 높았으며 LiP와 MnP의 활성도laccase에 비해 낮았다. 따라서 흰구름버섯 균사체에 의한 방향족 염료의 탈색에는 laccase가 주로 사용되고 LiP나 MnP는 보조적인 역할을 하는 것으로 사료된다. 또한 비스페놀 A가 0, 25, 50, 100, 200 ppm의 농도로 함유된 PDA 배지에 균사체를 접종하여 배양한 결과 비스페놀 A의 농도가 증가함에 따라 균사체의 생장은 농도 의존적으로 저해되는 것으로 나타 났다. 또한 비스페놀 A가 100 ppm 함유된 YMG 액체배지에 균사체를 접종하고 비스페놀 A의 분해율을 측정한 결과 배양 12시간 후 72.3%, 배양 24시간 후 95.3%, 그리고 배양 36시간 후에는 100% 분해된 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 본 연구 결과는 우리나라의 산업 활동 과정에서 생산되고 자연계로 배출되어 생물체에 큰 피해를 주는 합성염료와 내분비계 장애물질인 비스페놀 A를 친환경적으로 제거할 수 있는 기술의 개발에 도움이 될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a representative endocrine disrupting chemicals, has adverse effects on growth, development and reproduction in aquatic organisms. The object of this study was to investigate the modulation of antioxidant enzyme - coding genes using quantitative real time RT - PCR (qRT - PCR), enzyme activity and total protein content, to understand oxidative stress responses after exposure to BPA for 48 h in brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis. The BPA (3 mg L-1) significantly upregulated the expression of Cu / Zn - SOD, Mn-SOD, and catalase (CAT ) mRNA. Three GST isoforms (GST-kappa, GST-mu, and GST-theta) mRNA levels significantly increased at the rate of 0.12 mg L-1 of BPA. In particular, GST-mu showed the highest expression level, indicating its key role in antioxidant response to BPA. SOD activity was induced with a concentration - dependent manner, and total protein contents was reduced. These findings indicate that BPA can induce oxidative stress in this species, and these antioxidants may be involved in cellular protection against BPA exposure. This study will provide a better understanding of molecular mode of action of BPA toxicity in aquatic organisms.

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.

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical, has received tremendous attention in the past few decades because of its detrimental health effects. Growing evidence supports that BPA is capable to alter the reproductive performance of the exposed individual. In spermatozoa, it has been reported that BPA increased oxidative stress by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), subsequently affects the sperm function, biochemical properties, and fertility. Since antioxidants minimize cellular oxidative stress, therefore may have protective effects against BPA-induced stress. In the present study, we incubated mice spermatozoa for 6 h in a condition that support in vitro fertilization. The sperm incubation media was additionally supplemented with either BPA or BPA together with antioxidants, such as glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Our results showed that antioxidant significantly decreased the production of ROS that subsequently supports motility and acrosomal integrity of BPA-exposed spermatozoa. Particularly, glutathione and vitamin E inhibit protein kinase-A dependent phosphorylation of sperm proteins subsequently prevented precocious acrosome reaction. In addition, both antioxidants were found to restore fertilization and early embryo development potentiality of BPA-exposed spermatozoa. Therefore, we conclude that antioxidants minimize oxidative stress in spermatozoa in a BPA containing micro-environment, thus avoiding BPA-mediated harmful consequences. The current finding has both theoretical and clinical significance for developing potential remedies of the BPA toxicity.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common industrial chemical that has been used extensively to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. As a potential endocrine disruptors, BPA has been investigated for its impact on fertility/reproduction in animals and humans. However, the molecular mechanisms of BPA action and standard method for detecting BPA-related health hazards are unclear. Considering in-vitro experimental model, we investigated the effects of BPA (0.0001 to 100 μM) exposure on mouse spermatozoa. We revealed that BPA affects several sperm functions by triggering the mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and protein kinase-A (PKA) activity. High doses of this chemical was also likely for the activation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in a PKA-dependent signaling consequently induced a precocious acrosome reaction. Simultaneously, BPA has been found to decrease the rate of fertilization and early embryonic development. In addition, BPA induced differential protein expression in spermatozoa were responsible for the pathogenesis of many diseases. Considering in vivo experimental model, we deliberate the effects of gestational BPA exposure (TDI, NOAEL, and LOAEL doses) on both ejaculated and capacitated spermatozoa in F1 adult mice. We confirmed that BPA affects several sperm function in F1 male. These effects appeared to be caused by reduced numbers of stage VIII seminiferous epithelial cells in testis and decreased PKA activity and tyrosine phosphorylation (non-capacitated) in spermatozoa. We also noticed that BPA decreased average litter size as well as compromise the rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation. Proteins differentially expressed in both capacitated/ejaculated spermatozoa play a critical role in energy metabolism, stress responses, and fertility, finally predispose to the development of several diseases. On the basis of these results, we suggest that BPA alter spermatozoa function and the proteomic profile, ultimately affecting their fertility potential. Therefore, it is of critical public health significance to reevaluate the levels of BPA exposure that are currently deemed to be acceptable.

With increasing concerns of organic micropollutants, which are not removed by conventional wastewater treatment process, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are recently introduced. Among AOPs, electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) have advantages of simple operation and reasonable costs for construction and maintenance. However, low diffusion rate of pollutants from solution to electrode is regarded as a limitation. In this study, hollow fiber type of carbon nanotube (CHF) was fabricated and operated with flow through system to enhance mass transfer rate. The removal efficiency of BPA was achieved in following order: flow through, cross-flow, and batch methods. In addition, rate of removal in flow through system was significantly enhanced, comparing that of cross-flow operation.

식품용 금속 캔의 내면 코팅에 사용되는 에폭시 수지로 부터 용출되어 식품으로 이행될 수 있는 BPA, phenol, ptert- butylphenol과 BADGE, BFDGE 및 그 가수분해산물과 염화물 등 총 9종의 비스페놀 관련물질들을 HPLC/FLD 를 사용하여 동시 분석하는 방법을 확립하여 검량선 및 회 수율을 검토하고 식품유사용매로의 이행량을 조사하였다. 23종류의 식품용 금속 캔 총 161건을 대상으로 60oC에서 30분간 용출한 결과물, 4% 초산, 50% 에탄올 및 n-heptane 에서 전부 불검출이었다. 95oC에서 30분간 용출한 결과는 식품유사용매로 4% 초산과 50% 에탄올을 사용한 경우 BPA는 불검출~10.77 μg/L, phenol은 불검출~2.35 μg/L 검출되어 정량한계 수준이었으며, 국내 용출규격인 600 μg/ L에 비해 매우 낮은 수준임을 확인하였다. 또한 금속 캔은 저장성이 우수하여 식품을 장기간 보관하는 특징이 있어 보관기간(0~90일) 및 온도조건(4, 25, 60oC)에 따른 BPA 등 9개의 BPA 관련물질들의 이행량의 변화를 측정하였다. 온도조건이 4oC 및 25oC인 경우 90일 동안 모든 식품유 사용매에서 BPA를 비롯하여 9종의 BPA 관련물질들은 검 출되지 않았다. 식품유사용매로 물과 4% 초산을 사용하여 60oC의 온도에서 90일간 저장한 경우 BPA와 BADGE·2H2O 는 시간이 지남에 따라 약하게 증가하는 경향을 보였으나, 이행량이 70일 이후부터 급격한 증가 없이 대체로 유지되는 수준이었고, 검출값 또한 정량한계 수준으로 매우 낮 게 나타났다. 따라서 식품용 금속 캔으로부터 BPA를 비롯한 관련 물질들의 이행량은 안전한 수준으로 관리되고 있음을 알 수 있었다.

주파수 (30 ~ 300k Hz)와 온도 범위 (20 ~ 160 ℃)가 경화 조건에 따른 에폭시 수지의 전 기적 특성 (유전율 및 유전손실)에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 유리전이온도(Tg) 이하에서는 주파수와 상관없이 각각 3가지의 시편에서 유전분산 현상이 나타나지 않으며, 유리전이온도(Tg) 이상에서 유전분 산 현상이 나타났다.

Bisphenol‒A (BPA) is a known endocrine‒disrupting chemical used extensively to manufacture plastic bottles, canned food linings, thermal receipts, and other commonly used items. BPA is capable of inducing chromosomal alterations in germ cell line, thereby produced transgenerational effects on brain function, social recognition, reproductive diseases, sperm quality, gene expression, and obesity. Here, we aimed to investigate the transgenerational effects of BPA on murine male fertility. Six-week-old male mice (F0) were gavaged with corn oil (control), two different doses of BPA (5 mg, and 50 mg·kg bw-1·day-1),andethinylestradiol(EE,0.4mg·kg bw-1·day-1), dailyfor6weeks. Treated male mice were mated with wild‒type female and sibling pairs were bred up to the third generation (F3) in a similar manner with no further BPA exposure. Testes and spermatozoa were collected from 14-week-old males of all generation (F0 to F3) to evaluate testis weight, sperm function, and fertility. We found that high concentration of BPA significantly increased testicular weight in F2. Although the sperm viability, capacitation status, and intracellular ROS levels were not affected by BPA, however, sperm count, motility, hyperactivated motility, and intracellular ATP levels were significantly altered by BPA, dose dependently. In majority of the cases the effects were prominent in F2 followed by F1 and F0, whereas the effects were diminished in F3 generation. Simultaneously, high concentration of BPA significantly decreased cleavage and blastocyst formation rate in both F1 and F2. Similar inhibitory effects on cleavage and blastocyst were also noted in F1 by low dose of BPA. Depending on these findings we conclude that BPA decreases the fertility potential of exposed males and has an adverse impact on sperm function and fertility in subsequent generations.

The plastic monomer bisphenol A (BPA) is well known as a representative environmental hormones. Recent studies showed that the BPA exposure induced mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial derived reactive oxygen species (mito-ROS). However, changes of antioxidant enzymes expression and ROS production from mitochondria according to the BPA exposure on in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes have not been studied. We hypothesized that regulation of ROS production from mitochondria by BPA may play a critical role in meiotic maturation or expansion of cumulus cells in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). To investigate the negative effects of BPA exposure on oocyte maturation, immature pig oocytes were matured in NCSU-23 medium supplemented with BPA (50, 75 and 100 μM) for 44 h. Expectedly, the rates of meiotic maturation and cumulus cell expansion of COCs in the BPA (75 μM) treated group was significantly lower than those of control group (p<0.01). Most of secretion factors expressions from COCs were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the BPA treated COCs. Next, we investigated the intracellular ROS and mitochondrial specific superoxide production according to the BPA exposure using DCF-DA and mito-SOX staining, respectively. BPA exposure were showed that increasing of both intracellular ROS and mito-ROS, as well as mitochondrial related antioxidant enzymes (sod2, prdx3, prdx5) mRNA expression significantly increased (p<0.01) in COCs. And then, mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) dramatically reduced, and mitochondrial-derived apoptotic factors (bax, bcl-xl, caspase 3) mRNA expressions were increased (p<0.01) in BPA treated COCs. In additon, protein levels of mitochondrial-derived apoptosis genes (AIF, cleaved parp1 and caspase 3) were significantly increased (p<0.05) by BPA exposure. To confirm the reduction of BPA-induced mito-ROS, we used to the mitochondrial-targeted ROS scavenger, mito-TEMPO. Interestingly, addition of mito-TEMPO (0.1 μM) to the BPA pre-treated COCs recovered in meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes. These results demonstrated that BPA exposure was induced increasing of mitochondrial dysfunction, mito-ROS and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis on pig oocyte maturation. Therefore, we suggest that controlling of mito-ROS plays a critical role in pig oocyte maturation in vitro. These findings will be helpful to solve causes of mitochondrial-related infertility.

본 연구는 자외선 광분해에 의한 비스페놀 A (BPA)의 에 스트로겐 활성 저감에 미치는 하수처리장 방류수 유기물질 의 영향을 조사하였다. 방류수 유기물질과 표준으로 사용한 스와니강 자연 유기물질은 극성에 따라 소수성, 반친수성, 친수성 분획으로 분리하였다. 특이 자외선 흡수 (SUVA) 분 석 결과, 방류수 유기물질은 높는 소수성을 가지고 있는 자 연 유기물질과 다르게 소수성이 낮은 미생물 기원 유기물 질과 유사한 특성을 나타내었다. 3시간의 자외선 조사는 방 류수 및 자연 유기물질의 극성에 따라 SUVA 값을 유의하 게 감소시켰다 (p<0.0001). 유기물질이 없는 조건에서, BPA (5.0×10-5 M)의 상대 에스트로겐 활성도는 자외선 광분해 에 의해 86%에서 63%로 감소하였다. 그러나 유기물질이 있 는 조건에서 상대 에스트로겐 활성도는 평균적으로 68%에 서 37%로 감소하였으며, 유기물질의 종류 (방류수 또는 자연 유기물질) 및 극성 (소수성, 반친수성, 친수성)과 유의한 차이 를 나타내지 않았다 (p>0.05). 결과적으로, 유기물질이 있고 없는 조건에서 자외선 광분해에 의해 감소한 BPA의 상대 에스트로겐 활성도는 각각 31%와 23%였으며, 이것은 방류 수와 자연 유기물질 모두 광분해에 의한 BPA의 에스트로겐 활성 저감을 촉진시킨다는 것을 제시한다.

본 연구는 시험생물로서 말똥성게 (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus) 를 이용하여 내분비계장애물질인 bisphenol A (BPA)의 독성 및 시험생물로서의 적합성 등을 조사하였 다. 말똥성게(H. pulcherrimus)의 수정 및 정상 배아발생 에 미치는 BPA의 독성을 보기 위하여 농도(0, 300, 500, 800, 1000, 1500 ppb)에서 조사하였다. BPA 노출 시 수정 률은 시험구간 내의 BPA 처리농도와 관계없이 유의적인 변화가 없었다. 정상 배아발생률은 BPA 농도가 높을수 록 유의적인 감소를 나타냈으며, 800 ppb 농도부터 유의 적인 감소를 보였다. 정상배아발생에 대한 독성값은 반 수영향농도 (EC50) 1056.1 ppb, 95% Cl 981.8~1163.9 ppb 로 나타났다. 또한 무영향농도 (NOEC)와 최소영향농도 (LOEC)는 500 ppb 및 800 ppb로 나타났다. BPA에 노출 된 배아는 농도가 증가함에 따라 발생이 정체되는 현상 이 나타났다. BPA에 노출된 pluteus 유생을 이용한 glutathione- S-transferase (GST) 유전자의 발현을 비교해본 결과 GST 유전자의 발현은 농도가 증가함에 따라 발현 이 증가하였다. 본 연구 결과, 말똥성게 (H. pulcherrimus)의 초기 배아 발생 과정 중 800 ppb 이상에서 독성을 나타냈으며 GST 유전자는 BPA 노출에 따른 위해성 평가에 생체지표유 전자로 유용하게 이용될 수 있다고 생각된다.

BPA, a diphenyl compound containing groups, that make it structurally similar to synthetic estrogen and is considered as one of the major endocrine disruptors. Silymarin has extensively been used to prevent and/or alleviate some human disease, especially for the treatment of adverse liver conditions. It has an antioxidative efficacy and cancer preventive efficacy. Therefore, we examined the hypothesis that silymarin can inhibit BPA-induced toxicity in boar sperm duing in vitro storage. Sperm characteristics (motility, viability, membrane integrity and mitochondrion activity) in semen exposed to BPA (10~200 uM) were sharply lowered, while it increase in a dose and time dependent manner due to silymarin addition (50~200 uM) into semen extender in the presence of BPA (100 uM). All of the evaluated characteristics were gradually improved in the groups that were treated with silymarin (50~200 uM) in the presence of BPA (100 uM) in comparison to BPA 100 uM alone group, irrespective of incubation periods (3 and 6 h). These results demonstrate that silymarin can ameliorate the toxicity of BPA on boar sperm characteristics during in vitro storage, suggesting that silymarin indirectly act as an antioxidant.