A study on environmental exposure levels of residents in an industrial complex area

일부 공단지역주민의 환경노출수준 평가 연구

  • Yang, Hee-Sun (Chemical Safety Team, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Hwang, Moon-Young (Environmental Epidemiology Division, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Ahn, Seong Chul (Environmental Epidemiology Division, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Lee, Ji Young (Environmental Epidemiology Division, National Institute of Environmental Research)
  • 양희선 (국립환경과학원 환경건강위해성연구부 화학안전연구팀) ;
  • 황문영 (국립환경과학원 환경건강위해성연구부 환경역학과) ;
  • 안승철 (국립환경과학원 환경건강위해성연구부 환경역학과) ;
  • 이지영 (국립환경과학원 환경건강위해성연구부 환경역학과)
  • Received : 2009.06.01
  • Accepted : 2009.11.27
  • Published : 2009.12.30

Abstract

As a follow-up survey of A Study of Monitoring Method on Exposure Level and Biomarkers of Environmental Pollutants-Focused on Ulsan Industrial Comlpex Area, published in 2005, a close examination of the health status was conducted for selected Ulsan residents. Based on the previous study, a total number of 129 subjects were divided into two groups: the exposure group consisted of 39 residents whose blood levels of lead, mercury and/or cadmium were higher than international reference values, and 90 residents of control group with normal levels. Environmental exposure level and its association with health condition were examined by various methods such as questionnaire, analyses of lead, mercury and cadmium in blood and medical examinations. The geometric mean concentrations of lead, mercury and cadmium in blood were respectively $2.07{\mu}g/d{\ell}$ (exposure $2.54{\mu}g/d{\ell}$, control $1.90{\mu}g/d{\ell}$), $5.94{\mu}g/L$ (exposure $8.57{\mu}g/L$, control $5.07{\mu}g/L$), $1.32{\mu}g/L$ (exposure $1.30{\mu}g/L$, control $1.33{\mu}g/L$). The concentrations of the three heavy metals in blood showed lower levels than internationally recommended values except for blood mercury. Also, any abnormal or, peculiar disease, or target tissue damage related to the heavy metals was not observed among the all subjects. Therefore, it can be said that no significant difference of heavy metal concentrations and health conditions was found between the two groups.

Keywords

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