Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Association between Soil Contamination and Blood Lead Exposure Level in Areas around Abandoned Metal Mines

폐금속광산지역 토양오염정도와 혈 중 납 노출 수준의 상관성

  • Seo, Jeong-Wook (Public Health Medicine Team, Ulsan University Hospital) ;
  • Park, Jung-Duck (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University) ;
  • Eom, Sang-Yong (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Kwon, Hee-Won (Department of Environmental Engineering, Andong National University) ;
  • Ock, Minsu (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Ulsan University) ;
  • Lee, Jiho (Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Ulsan University)
  • 서정욱 (울산대학교병원 공공보건의료사업팀) ;
  • 박정덕 (중앙대학교 의과대학 예방의학과) ;
  • 엄상용 (충북대학교 의과대학 예방의학과) ;
  • 권희원 (국립안동대학교 환경공학과) ;
  • 옥민수 (울산대학교 의과대학 예방의학과) ;
  • 이지호 (울산대학교 의과대학 직업환경의학과)
  • Received : 2022.05.24
  • Accepted : 2022.08.16
  • Published : 2022.08.31
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Abstract

Background: Abandoned metal mines are classified as vulnerable areas with the highest level of soil contamination among risk regions. People living near abandoned metal mines are at increased risk of exposure to toxic metals. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between soil contamination levels in areas around abandoned metal mine and the blood lead levels of local residents. Moreover, we assess the possibility of using soil contamination levels as a predictive indicator for human exposure level. Methods: Data from the Survey of Residents around Abandoned Metal Mines (2013~2017, n=4,421) and Investigation of Soil Pollution in Abandoned Metal Mines (2000~2011) were used. A random coefficient model was conducted for estimation of the lower level (micro data) of the local resident unit and the upper level (macro data) of the abandoned metal mine unit. Through a fitted model, the variation of blood lead levels among abandoned metal mines was confirmed and the effect of the operationally defined soil contamination level was estimated. Results: Among the total variation in blood lead levels, the variation between abandoned mines was 18.6%, and the variation determined by the upper-level factors such as soil contamination and water contamination was 8.1%, which was statistically significant respectively. There was also a statistically significant difference in the least square mean of blood lead concentration according to the level of soil contamination (p=0.047, low: 2.32 ㎍/dL, middle: 2.38 ㎍/dL, high: 2.59 ㎍/dL). Conclusions: The blood lead concentration of residents living near abandoned metal mines was significantly correlated with the level of soil contamination. Therefore, in biomonitoring for vulnerable areas, operationally defined soil contamination can be used as a predictor for human exposure level to hazardous substances and discrimination of high-risk abandoned metal mines.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 울산대학교 의과대학 직업환경의학교실의 지원으로 수행되었습니다.

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