Kwang Soo Ha

Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in the Changseon area, Korea, and Assessment of Potential Risk to Human Health

From 2008 to 2013, the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis were collected from a major area of mussel production (Changseon area), which is a designated shellfish-cultivating area for export, located on the southern coast of Korea. The samples were analyzed for mercury (Hg) using a direct Hg analyzer and for other metals, such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The concentrations and bioaccumulation of the heavy met- als were determined, and a potential risk assessment was conducted to evaluate their hazards towards human consumption. The concentration and bioaccumulation ratio of Cd were the highest of the three hazardous metals (Cd, Pb, and Hg). The concentrations of hazardous metals in all samples were within the limits set by Korea and other countries. The estimated dietary intake (EDI) was compared to the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) adopted by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EDIs of all heavy metals tested for mussel samples ranged from 0.01 to 4.99% of the PTDI; the highest value was measured for As. The hazard index (HI) can be used to assess the risk of heavy metal consump- tion associated with contaminated food. The HI for all samples was far less than 1.0, which indicates that the mussels produced in the Changseon area do not represent an appreciable hazard to humans and are fit for consumption.

Evaluation of the Influence of Inland Pollution Sources on Shellfish Growing Areas after Rainfall Events in Geoje Bay, Korea

The influences of inland pollution sources because of rainfall events on the bacteriological water quality in Geoje Bay, a major shellfish production area in Korea, were investigated. The sanitary status of sea water and shellfish after rainfall events was also evaluated. The flow rates of 13 streams around Geoje Bay showed 6 to 7-fold increases after 15 to 21 mm of rainfall. Peak pollution was observed in the Naegan Stream, the Gandeok Stream and the Seojeong Stream. The calculated impact area of inland pollution sources was 3.1 ㎢ immediately after 15 mm of rainfall and expanded to 3.5 ㎢ after 24 hours. These calculations of impacted area matched results from fecal coliform analyses with sea water. The distance between the major pollution source in the bay (the Gandeok Stream) and the station with the worst bacteriological water quality immediately after 15 mm of rainfall, which was below the Korean standard, was 0.8 km in a straight line; this distance increased to 2.0 km after a period of 24 hours. The area impacted by inland pollution sources after a 15 mm rainfall event was wider than after a 21 mm rainfall. Although the flow rate from in-land pollution sources was higher, the concentration of fecal coliform in the discharged water was lower after higher rainfall events. These observations corresponded with the results of fecal coliform analyses with sea water samples. According to the evaluation of the influences of inland pollution sources and fecal coliform analyses on sea water and shellfish samples in Geoje Bay, pollutants from inland sources did not reach the boundary line of the shellfish growing area after rainfall events of 15 or 22 mm. The bacteriological water quality of the shellfish growing area in Geoje Bay met the Korean standard and US NSSP requirements for approved shellfish growing areas.Key words: Geoje Bay, Oyster, Fecal coliform, Shellfish growing area, Inland pollution source

Impact of Pollution Sources on the Bacteriological Water Quality in the Yongnam-Gwangdo Shellfish Growing Area of Western Jinhae Bay, Korea

To evaluate the bacteriological water quality in Yongnam-Gwangdo, located in western Jinhae Bay, seawater samples were analyzed using sanitary indicator bacteria at 57 sampling stations. According to survey results from January 2007 to December 2009, the range of the geometric mean and the estimated 90th percentile for coliforms and fecal coliforms in the samples were

Removal of Fecal Indicator Bacteria from Bivalves under Natural and Electrolyzed Water

In coastal areas that are affected by continuous, seasonal or occasional pollution sources, bivalves accumulate biological contaminants such as pathogenic bacteria. We investigated the effect of natural seawater relaying and electrolyzed seawater depuration on the bacteriological quality of artificially contaminated oysters Crassostrea gigas and short-necked clams Ruditapes philippinarum to suggest an alternative method of shellfish sanitation control.When artificially contaminated oysters and short-necked clams (fecal coliform level 1,700 MPN/100 g) were relayed into a sea area of safe bacteriological water quality, the fecal coliform level dropped to below 110 MPN/100 g after 1 day. The bacteriological quality of oysters and short-necked clams that are contaminated at a fecal coliform level of 1,700 MPN/100 g could be improved, and become appropriate for raw consumption by a single day relay under proper environmental conditions. When artificially contaminated oysters (fecal coliform level 330 MPN/100 g) were depurated with electrolyzed seawater, 94% of fecal coliform was eliminated after 12 h and fecal coliform was undetectable after 24 h. After 24 h depuration with electrolyzed seawater, the fecal coliform level of short-necked clams with initial fecal coliform of 2,400 MPN/100 g was below 20 MPN/100 g. However, the fecal coliform level of short-necked clams with initial fecal coliform of 17,000 MPN/100 g was relatively high, at 790 MPN/100 g, even after 24 h of depuration with electrolyzed seawater, because of the repeated cycle of excretion and accumulation of fecal coliform in shellfish tissue under the closed depuration environment. Such natural seawater relaying and electrolyzed seawater depuration can be restrictively applied to improve or secure the bacteriological quality of oysters and short-necked clams in accordance with safety levels for bivalves for raw consumption.

The Effects of Inland Pollution Sources around the Port of Jeokyang and Jangpo after Rainfall Events on Bacteriological Water Quality in the Changseon Area, Korea

The influences of inland pollution sources nearJeokyang and Jangpoports following rainfall events on the bacteriological water quality and safety of commercial shellfish were investigated in the Changseon area, Korea. Stream flow rates exhibited 1.9- to 5.7-fold increases after rainfall events and then fell to 68~81% of that level after 24 h. The calculated impact area of inland pollution sources was 0.47 in the Jeokyangport area and 0.27 in the Jangpoport area at 24 h following 11 mm of rainfall. When the flow rate of inland pollution increased, the level of male-specific bacteriophage (MSB) decreased, and no MSB could be detected in seawater samples, whereas 30 PFU/100 g was detected in shellfish samples. Fecal coliform levels in seawater and shellfish samples did not exceed their respective tolerance levels (4.5 MPN/100 mL) and 130 MPN/100 g, respectively and thus complied with the standard for approved shellfish growing area. The sanitary conditions of areas adjacent to Jeokyang and Jangpoports under conditions of rainfall below 29 mm met the criteria for approved growing area under the United States National Shellfish Sanitation Program and the EC Regulations.

Accumulation and Depletion of Melamine Through Experimental Feeding in Catfish Silurus asotus

In 2007, pet food contaminated with melamine caused hundreds of dogs and cats to develop renal failure all over the world. In 2008, over 294,000 infants consumed infant formula and developed kidney stones in China. Further investigation revealed that fish feed also contained melamine; this raised concerns about melamine residues in edible fish tissues, which could have caused the urinary tract stone epidemic. In Korea, catfish fed with assorted feed that included cuttlefish organs that contained melamine developed whitening syndrome and fell dead in some populations in 2008. This event raised suspicions about the toxicity of melamine and all feeds containing melamine were immedi-ately recalled. In this study, we investigated the rates of melamine accumulation and depletion in muscle and viscera of catfish to propose proper withdrawal periods. One group of catfish was fed a commercially available diet that con-tained 30, 100 and 300 mg melamine per kg diet for 14 days. To investigate residual melamine contents in muscle and viscera, other experimental groups were fed a melamine free diet after being fed melamine for 7 days. The residual amount of melamine was analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The melamine concentration in muscle was estimated to be 3.7 mg/kg after 6 days of feeding with a diet containing 300 mg melamine/kg. After 2 days of culture with a melamine free diet, the residual melamine was depleted and the concentration had decreased from 1.15 mg/kg to 0.19 mg/kg in the muscle of catfish fed a diet containing 300 mg melamine/kg for 7 days. The residual amount of melamine was reduced to 0.03 mg/kg in muscle after 7 days of culture with a melamine free diet and was undetectable after a pro-longed culture period of 14 days. Catfish tend to excrete melamine rapidly after oral administration and changes in body color were not observed during the short dosing period. Key words: Melamine, Catfish, LC-MS/MS