Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5668/JEHS.2022.48.4.236

Evaluation of the Relationship between the Exposure Level to Mixed Hazardous Heavy Metals and Health Effects Using Factor Analysis  

Kim, Eunseop (Medical Department, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital)
Moon, Sun-In (Chungbuk Environmental Health Center, Chungbuk University Hospital)
Yim, Dong-Hyuk (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University)
Choi, Byung-Sun (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University)
Park, Jung-Duck (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University)
Eom, Sang-Yong (Chungbuk Environmental Health Center, Chungbuk University Hospital)
Kim, Yong-Dae (Chungbuk Environmental Health Center, Chungbuk University Hospital)
Kim, Heon (Chungbuk Environmental Health Center, Chungbuk University Hospital)
Publication Information
Journal of Environmental Health Sciences / v.48, no.4, 2022 , pp. 236-243 More about this Journal
Abstract
Background: In the case of multiple exposures to different types of heavy metals, such as the conditions faced by residents living near a smelter, it would be preferable to group hazardous substances with similar characteristics rather than individually related substances and evaluate the effects of each group on the human body. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of factor analysis in the assessment of health effects caused by exposure to two or more hazardous substances with similar characteristics, such as in the case of residents living near a smelter. Methods: Heavy metal concentration data for 572 people living in the vicinity of the Janghang smelter area were grouped based on several subfactors according to their characteristics using factor analysis. Using these factor scores as an independent variable, multiple regression analysis was performed on health effect markers. Results: Through factor analysis, three subfactors were extracted. Factor 1 contained copper and zinc in serum and revealed a common characteristic of the enzyme co-factor in the human body. Factor 2 involved urinary cadmium and arsenic, which are harmful metals related to kidney damage. Factor 3 encompassed blood mercury and lead, which are classified as related to cardiovascular disease. As a result of multiple linear regression analysis, it was found that using the factor index derived through factor analysis as an independent variable is more advantageous in assessing the relevance to health effects than when analyzing the two heavy metals by including them in a single regression model. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that regression analysis linked with factor analysis is a good alternative in that it can simultaneously identify the effects of heavy metals with similar properties while overcoming multicollinearity that may occur in environmental epidemiologic studies on exposure to various types of heavy metals.
Keywords
Heavy metals; smelter; factor analysis; multiple linear regression;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Jeong SK, An J, Kim YJ, Kim GH, Choi SI, Nam KP. Study on heavy metal contamination characteristics and plant bioavailability for soils in the Janghang smelter area. J Soil Groundw Environ. 2011; 16(1): 42-50.
2 Mason CH, Perreault WD. Collinearity, power, and interpretation of multiple regression analysis. J Mark Res. 1991; 28(3): 268-280.   DOI
3 Eom SY, Yim DH, Moon SI, Ochirpurev B, Choi YS, Park CH, et al. The association of blood concentrations of healvy metals and blood pressure in residents living near Janghang copper smelter in Korea. J Agric Med Commun Health. 2017; 42(1): 13-23.   DOI
4 Johnson PE, Milne DB, Lykken GI. Effects of age and sex on copper absorption, biological half-life, and status in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992; 56(5): 917-925.   DOI
5 Hamasaki H, Kawashima Y, Yanai H. Serum Zn/Cu ratio is associated with renal function, glycemic control, and metabolic parameters in Japanese patients with and without type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2016; 7: 147.
6 Arain MB, Kazi TG, Baig JA, Afridi HI, Sarajuddin, Brehman KD, et al. Co-exposure of arsenic and cadmium through drinking water and tobacco smoking: risk assessment on kidney dysfunction. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015; 22(1): 350-357.   DOI
7 Tsoi MF, Lo CWH, Cheung TT, Cheung BMY. Blood lead level and risk of hypertension in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2016. Sci Rep. 2021; 11(1): 3010.
8 Kim JW, Kim BG, Park JW, Yi JW, Kim JI, Hong YS. A study of relationship between blood mercury concentration and hypertension in residents living in old mine fields and related factors. Ann Occup Environ Med. 2019; 31(1): e6.
9 Kim SJ, Baek SH. Variation of cadmium and Zinc content in paddy soil and rice from the Janghang smelter area. Korean J Environ Agric. 1994; 13(2): 131-141.
10 Chrastny V, Vanek A, Teper L, Cabala J, Prochazka J, Pechar L, et al. Geochemical position of Pb, Zn and Cd in soils near the Olkusz mine/smelter, South Poland: effects of land use, type of contamination and distance from pollution source. Environ Monit Assess. 2012; 184(4): 2517-2536.   DOI
11 Kim JY, Chon HT. Geochemical dispersion of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd and their mode of occurrences in soils and dusts in Changhang smelter area. J Korean Inst Min Geol. 1993; 26(2): 175-185.
12 National Institute of Environmental Research. Study on the Health Effects of Residents Living Near a Refinery Plant in Janghang. Incheon: National Institute of Environmental Research; 2009.
13 Eom SY, Yim DH, Huang M, Park CH, Kim GB, Yu SD, et al. Copper-zinc imbalance induces kidney tubule damage and oxidative stress in a population exposed to chronic environmental cadmium. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2020; 93(3): 337-344.   DOI
14 Jin L, Zhang L, Li Z, Liu JM, Ye R, Ren A. Placental concentrations of mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic and the risk of neural tube defects in a Chinese population. Reprod Toxicol. 2013; 35: 25-31.   DOI
15 Tu YK, Clerehugh V, Gilthorpe MS. Collinearity in linear regression is a serious problem in oral health research. Eur J Oral Sci. 2004; 112(5): 389-397.   DOI
16 Vatcheva KP, Lee M, McCormick JB, Rahbar MH. Multicollinearity in regression analyses conducted in epidemiologic studies. Epidemiology (Sunnyvale). 2016; 6(2): 227.
17 Pokusa M, Kralova Trancikova A. The central role of biometals maintains oxidative balance in the context of metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017; 2017: 8210734.
18 Johri N, Jacquillet G, Unwin R. Heavy metal poisoning: the effects of cadmium on the kidney. Biometals. 2010; 23(5): 783-792.   DOI
19 Zheng L, Kuo CC, Fadrowski J, Agnew J, Weaver VM, Navas-Acien A. Arsenic and chronic kidney disease: a systematic review. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2014; 1(3): 192-207.   DOI
20 Hong F, Jin TY, Lu GD, Yin ZY. Renal dysfunction in workers exposed to arsenic and cadmium. Chin J Ind Hyg Occup Dis. 2003; 21(6): 432-436.
21 Houston MC. Role of mercury toxicity in hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2011; 13(8): 621-627.   DOI
22 Lee BK, Ahn J, Kim NS, Lee CB, Park J, Kim Y. Association of blood pressure with exposure to lead and cadmium: analysis of data from the 2008-2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2016; 174(1): 40-51.   DOI
23 Hu XF, Singh K, Chan HM. Mercury exposure, blood pressure, and hypertension: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Environ Health Perspect. 2018; 126(7): 076002.
24 Eom SY, Yim DH, Hong SM, Kim YD, Kim H, Choi BS, et al. Changes in blood and urinary cadmium levels and bone mineral density according to osteoporosis medication in individuals with an increased cadmium body burden. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2018; 37(4): 350-357.   DOI