본 연구는 해양산업시설에서 배출되는 위험·유해물질(Hazardous and Noxious Substances) 중 아연을 대상으로 국내 서식종을 기반 으로 한 독성시험을 수행하고, 그 결과를 활용하여 국내 실정에 맞는 아연의 해양 수질 준거치(Marine Water Quality Criteria)를 제안하였다. 시험생물은 국내 연근해에 분포하고 산업적으로 유용하며, 표준 시험방법이 존재하는 종을 우선으로 5개의 분류군(Algae, Rotifer, Crustacean, Mollusc, Fish)의 총 10종을 선정하여 독성시험을 수행하였으며, 급·만성비(Acute-Chronic Ratio) 산출을 위하여 무척추동물, 어류 분류군에 대한 만성독성시험을 수행하였다. 국내종 독성시험에서 산출된 독성값을 활용한 수질준거치는 US EPA의 CCC (Criterion Continuous Concentration) 산출 기준으로 9.56 ㎍/L, 호주/뉴질랜드의 산출 기준으로 15.50 ㎍/L 로 나타나 호주/뉴질랜드에서 권고하는 기준인 14.40 ㎍/L 와 유사하였다. US EPA 및 호주/뉴질랜드는 자국의 생태독성 데이터베이스(US EPA Ecotox Database, Australasian Ecotoxicology Database)를 보유하고, 신뢰도 높은 독성값들을 생성하여 수질 기준 및 산출 기준을 갱신하고 있다. 한편, 국내에서는 국내종 기반 급성 독 성값을 적용하고 있지만, 중요한 산출 지표인 급·만성비는 US EPA 또는 유럽의 결과값을 활용하여 해양 수질 준거치를 산출하고 있으며, 국내의 생태독성 자료 또한 제한적인 실정이다. 따라서, 국내 해양 서식종을 기반으로 한 지속적인 독성시험과 준거치 설정 체계를 확보하 여 국내 해양생물과 생태계를 보호할 수 있는 해양 수질 준거치 도출이 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

우리나라의 '해양오염방제 자재·약제의 성능시험기준 및 검정기준 중 ‘생물에 대한 영향시험’(생태독성시험)의 시험방법과 판정 기준의 개정과 관련한 방향을 제시하기 위해 현행 기준의 문제점을 파악하고 국가별 제도 비교를 통한 개선방안을 제시하였다. Skeletonema costatum을 이용한 성장저해시험의 경우, 배양액 색조를 비교하여 판단하는 기준 대신 측정된 성장률을 적절한 통계기법을 이용하여 비교 분석하는 과학적인 기준이 도입되어야 하며 시험기간의 경우, 지수성장기를 고려하여 4일 이내가 합당한 것으로 판단된다. 어류를 이용한 독성시험의 경우, 다양한 물질에 대한 독성시험 및 비교연구를 통해 방제 자재에 대해 일관되고 적절한 민감도를 나타낼 수 있는 보다 적절한 어체크기에 대한 재설정이 필요하고 이에 따른 합리적이고 객관적인 판정기준이 마련되어야 할 것으로 판단된다. 시험종의 경우, Artemia sp. 대신 해양 윤충류인 Rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis가 대안이 될 수 있으며 어류시험의 경우, 굴류(Oyster)와 같은 이매 패류의 분류군을 이용한 독성시험으로의 대체 역시 대안으로 고려될 수 있다. 마지막으로 해양오염방제 자재·약제의 형식승인 시험과 관련하여 생태독성시험 분야의 경우, 업무의 특수성과 결과의 신뢰성을 고려하여 별도의 공인시험기관 지정 또는 관련 유사 법률과 연계한 일원화된 창구가 필요하며 수용가능한 수준의 시험비용 산정과 시험항목 조정을 통한 합리적인 제도개선이 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

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.

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.

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

Aquatic ecosystems are receiving various harmful effects due to anthropogenic chemical pollutions. To protect wildlife, risk assessments of the chemicals are conducted using reference indexes of toxicity estimated by species-level laboratory tests and/or micro-/mesocosm community-level studies. However, the existing micro-/mesocosm communities are structurally too complicated, and it is also difficult to compare the experimental results directly with those from species-level tests. Here, we developed a procedure of a simple bi-trophic microcosm experiment which contains the common species (a green algae, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and a cladoceran, Daphnia magna) for testing chemical toxicities. For the proper operation of bitrophic microcosm experiment, the minimum required concentration of primary producer (P. subcapitata) is 5×105 cells mL-1. The microcosm system showed higher stability when the initially introduced D. magna population was composed of neonates (<24-h old) than adults and those mixture. This simple microcosm system would be an applicable tool to estimate the disturbing impacts of pollutants on plant-herbivore interactions, and linking the species- and population-/community level risk assessments in the future studies.

This study was carried out to investigate the toxicity of food Red No.2 in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) female rat for 4 weeks. SD rats were orally administered for 28 days, with dosage of 500, 1,000, 2,000 mg/kg/day. Animals treated with food Red No.2 did not cause any death and show any clinical signs. They did not show any significant changes of body weight, feed uptake and water consumption. There were not significantly different from the control group in urinalysis, hematological, serum biochemical value and histopathological examination. In conclusion, 4 weeks of the repetitive oral medication of food Red No.2 has resulted no alteration of toxicity according to the test materials in the group of female rats with injection of 2,000 mg/kg. Therefore, food Red No.2 was not indicated to have any toxic effect in the SD rats, when it was orally administered below the dosage 2,000 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks.

The purpose of this study was to determine toxic effect of sucrose and trehalose prior to cryopreservation on nuclear maturation and embryonic development in immature bovine oocytes. All cryoprotectant was prepared in tissue culture medium 199-HEPES (TCM 199-HEPES) with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Immature oocytes were exposed to 1.2M ethylene glycol (EG) and 0.1M sucrose or 1.2M EG and 0.1M trehalose for 3 min and then were exposed to 3.2 M EG and 0.25 M sucrose or 3.2 M EG and 0.25 M trehalose for 1 min. Oocytes treated with cryoprotectants were exposed to 0.25 M sucrose or 0.25 M trehalose for 5 min and then 0.1 M sucrose or 0.1 M trehalose for 5 min. Depending on type of sugar added to cryopreservation solution, oocytes were allocated to sucrose group and trehalose group, respectively. Oocytes exposed to TCM 199-HEPES with 10% FBS were considered as control. Oocytes were cultured in TCM 199 supplemented with 10% FBS, 5 ng/ml epidermal growth factor, 0.01 IU/ml luteinizing hormone, and estradiol for 24 h in , 5% . Nuclear maturation was assessed by staining oocytes with 1% aceto-orcein. Oocytes were fertilized in vitro and were cultured in TCM 199 supplemented with 10% FBS, 5 mM sodium pyruvate, and antibiotics in , 5% . The rates of cleavage and blastocyst, and cell number in blastocyst were assessed. Metaphase II rates were not different among experimental groups regardless of type of sugar. The cleavage rate of trehalose group (73.3%) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of sucrose group (62.8%) and control group (60.8%). The blastocyst rate was significantly higher in trehalose group (p<0.05). Mean cell number in blastocyst were not different among experimental groups, although cell number of blastocyst in trehalose group was significantly higher on day 7 (p<0.05). In conclusion, sucrose and trehalose were not toxic to immature bovine oocytes prior to cryopreservation. In particular, trehalose was more effective on embryonic development.

Guh Sung Y.L.S.-95 is one of the polyacidic solution of which main component is acetic acid. We investigated the subchronic toxicity of the Guh Sung Y.L.S.-95 using SPF ICR mouse for 4 weeks. The Guh Sung Y.L.S.-95 was administered by gastric intubation, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 g/kg body weight. The results are as follows: 1. There are no adverse effects on the clinical obserbation and body weight changes. Also, there are some significant changes in organ weight, but it was meaningless because of the absence of dose-response relationships. 2. In the hematological patterns of administered mouse, there are no significant changes between the treated groups. Also, there are no serological enzymatic changes in the treated mouse. In the 1.0 g/kg treated group, ASP activity was increased significnatly compared with control group. But, this level of activity was fall under the normal physiological range of control mouse. 3. Histopathological findings of the brain, liver, heart, spleen, kidneys, stomach, lung, testis, ovary, uterus and thymus were not observed in the treated mouse. From the above results, the Guh Sung Y.L.S.-95 has no toxicity upto the 5.0 g/kg/day of oral dose for 4 weeks.

Background: Cassia tora L., an annual or perennial plant of the Fabaceae family, is traditional medicine with various biological activities, including anti-constipation and, anti-inflammation. Chemical compounds such as anthraquinone glycoside and naphthalene derivatives have been isolated from this plant. Cassia tora L. is a common contaminant of agricultural commodities, but is toxic to cattle and poultry. Methods and Results: To investigate the potential toxicity, Cassia tora L. aqueous extract (CO) was administered orally to rats for 26 weeks at 0 (control), 300, 1,500 and 3,000㎎/㎏/day (n = 10 for male rats for each dose). The positive control comprised animals orally administered anthraquinone 100㎎/㎏/day. There was no treatment-related mortality. An increase in the kidney weight was observed at 3,000㎎/㎏/day of CO and anthraquinone 100㎎/㎏/day. Macrophage infiltration in the colon was observed at CO 1,500 and 3,000㎎/㎏/day and anthraquinone 100㎎/㎏/day, but there were no significant toxicological changes in the incidence and severity of the finding. Conclusions: The oral no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of CO was 3,000㎎/㎏/day in male rats and no target organs were identified. In addition, 300㎎/㎏ was found to be the no-observed-effect level (NOEL) for systemic toxicity under the conditions of the study.

The six polysaccharide fractions were prepared by chromatographic procedure from the hot water extractsof the aboveground parts of Astragalus membranaceus. These six polysaccharides from aboveground parts of Astragalusmembranaceus Bunge were tested for gut-mucosal immune activity and acute toxicity. In a view of molecular weight, the sixfractions were estimated to be 75000, 88000, 129000 and 345000 Da, respectively. Component sugar analysis indicated thatthese fractions were mainly consisted of galactose (46.3~11.8%) and arabinose (35.4~9.9%) in addition to glucose,rhamnose, fucose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid. Among the six major purifiedpolysaccharides, AMA-1-b-PS2 showed highest bone merrow cell proliferation and lymphocyte of Peyer's patch stimulatingactivity. It may be concluded that intestinal immune system modulating activity of aboveground parts from Astragalusmembranaceus Bunge is caused by polysaccharides having a polygalacturonan moiety with neutral sugars such as arabinoseand galactose. In single oral dose toxicity study, no differences were observed between control and treated groups in clinicalsigns. The results indicated that lethal dose 50 (LD50) of water extracts from Astragalus membranaceus-aboveground partswas found to be higher than 5000㎎/㎏/day in this experiment. From the above results, we may suggest that Astragalusmembranaceus-aboveground parts might have useful as a safe material for functional food and pharmaceutics.

Daphnia Magna Stratus has been widely accepted as useful species for estimating the toxicity of chemicals to aquatic invertebrate and recommended as species for the testing chemicals from the international guideline as well as Korean guideline. The study was performed for the acute toxicity test by using water flea(D. Magna) for effluents from several wastewater treatment plants and drainage canals in GyeongBuk area. Five heavy metals, 1,4-Dioxane and Perchlorate were tested. Most Toxicity Units(TU) of Industrial wastewater effluents were less than 1 which means effluent was not toxic to D. Magna. However, effluents containing 1,4-Dioxane and Perchlorate were significantly toxic to D. Magna. Therefore, facilities should reduce the 1,4-dioxane since new regulations will force them after the year of 2011.

The water flea has been used as a test organism of toxicity test for surface water. Toxicity test with water flea is categorized into two parts. One is acute toxicity test with observing immobility and mortality and the other is chronic toxicity test determined by survival and reproduction of water flea. Heartbeat measurement of water flea was designed as a short-term toxicity test in this study. Direct measurement of heartbeat under microscope by aid of video camera gives and early diagnosis of mortality in short time. Therefore, the effects of measuring illumination, measuring time, and non-feeding during the test on heartbeat of water flea was evaluated to establish a new test approach. Test organisms used in this study are Daphnia magna, a well standardizes toxicity test organism, and Simocephalus mixtus, a newly refined organism. IC50 values of these test organism by heartbeat measurement were compared and discussed. It was found that toxicity test by heartbeat measurement was a reproducible, easy and simple method accomplished in a few hours.

There are concerns that chemical residues could harm the consumer on the environment, although 50 to 80% of the crops would be destroyed by pests and others without agrochemicals. Environmental fate and ecotoxicity studies are usually carried out to assess the impact on the human and the environment. A comparision of the Daphnia magnia and Simocephalus mixtus toxicity was performed to study the relative sensitivities and discrimination abilities to agriculture chemicals. The species of Simocephalus mixtus was more sensitive to agriculture chemicals than Daphnia magnia. Simocephalus mixtus was approved to be a water flea in determining insecticide and pesticide toxicity by heartbeat rate in a consistency and repeatability. The order of acute toxicity to water flea Daphnia magnia for ecotoxicity test was carbaryl>benomyl>amtirole with both Daphnia magnia and Simocephalus mixtus. The heartbeat pattern after the exposure to agrochemicals was different from that of exposure to heavy metals. Agrochemical leathal concentration test with heartbeat rate measurement was found to be more appropriate than inhibition concentration test with respect to toxicological endpoint.

A comparison of Daphnia magna, Ceriodaphnia dubia and Simocephalus mixtus toxicity test was performed to study the relative sensitivities and discrimination abilities with both pore and elutriate water of Woopo wetland sediments. Sediment risk assessment has been done by standardized preparation method of pore and elutriate water described in the joint US EPA-US Army Crops of Engineers manual. Simocephalus mixtus which was obtained from Woopo wetlands in Korea was cultured and applied to sediment toxicity test. Water quality in Woopo wetland had great site and seasonal variations. S. mixtus was more sensitive than D. magna in heavy metal toxicity test. The toxicity results with S. mixtus reflected the water quality of elutriate and pore water. The results also suggested that S. mixtus could be used as a test organism in estimating potential risk of contaminated sediments.