• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.3 s.62
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• pp.449-459
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• 1998

This study was started to find out if plasma malondialdehyde(MDA), $\alpha-tocopherol$ and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity could be markers of biological activity resulting from exposed to lead in workers. Blood samples were randomly obtained from lead-exposed workers(n=29), $CO_2$, welders(n=60) and office workers(n=60). We used whole blood to analyse blood lead with atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Superoxide dismutase activity in erythrocyte was measured with spetrophotometer. MDA and $\alpha-tocopherol$ in plasma were measured with high performance liquid chromatography. Lead-exposed workers was significantly high in blood lead concentration$(29.37{\mu}g/d\ell)$ compared with welders$(6.42{\mu}g/d\ell)$ and office workers$(5.01{\mu}g/d\ell)$. The level of plasma MDA was significantly higher in the lead-exposed workers($1.87{\mu}mol/g$ cholesterol) than the welders($1.41{\mu}mol/g$ cholesterol) and office workers($1.41{\mu}mol/g$ cholesterol). Erythrocyte SOD activity in lead-exposed workers(56.80 U/g Hb) was significantly increased than those of welders(37.63 U/g Hb) and office workers(20.47 U/g Hb). The plasma $\alpha-tocopherol$ level of lead-exposed workers($4.93{\mu}g/g$ cholesterol) was statistically different from welders($4.25{\mu}g/g$ cholesterol) and office workers$4.28{\mu}g/g$ cholesterol). Neither age nor smoking was related to SOD or MDA level. Blood lead was significantly correlated with erythrocyte SOD activity(r=0.405), plasma MDA(r=0.296) and $\alpha-tocopherol$ (r=0.207). Plasma MDA was also significantly correlated with SOD (r=0.217). In multiple regression analysis, the change of MDA and SOD activity level related to the blood lead concentration. These results suggested that the increase of plasma MDA and erythrocyte SOD activity in lead-exposed workers had a close relationship with the oxidative stress induced by lead.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 1998

This study was performed to assess the lead and cadmium status of children residing in urban factory area and to see if there is a difference of lead and cadmium status between the group with normal iron status. The mean lead concentration of male hair was 9.55ppm which is significantly higher than 6.61 ppm that of female. The mean lead concentration of male urine sample was 0.04ppm, 10.3ppm and $48.14\mu{g/L}$, which is higher than 0.08ppm, 6.08ppm and $20.69\mu{g/L}$ of normal group, respectively. In a suboptimal group the proportion of children whose urinary lead is higher than normal$(35\mu{g/L)$was 87.3%, whereas 2.5% for a normal group. The mean cadmium concentration of male hair was 2.58ppm, which is higher than 2.48ppm that of a female. The mean cadmium concentration of erythrocyte, hair and urine was 0.25ppm, 2.65ppm and $38.83\mu{g/L}$, which is higher than 0.20ppm, 2.40ppm and $19.78\mu{g/L}$ of the normal group, respectively. The proportion of children whose urinary cadmium level is higher than the low limit of risk of cadmium intoxication$(40\mu{g/L)}$ was 21.4%, whereas 0% for a mormal group. Urinary lead and cadmium level showed significantly negative correlation with the RBC count, hematocrit, hemoglobin and serum ferritin, whereas they had significantly positive correlation with FEP/Hb(p<0.01). There was no correlation between the IQ and the level of lead and cadmium.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1775-1779
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• 2005

Seventy-two crossbred gilts of approximately 33 kg initial weight were used in this study. The gilts were randomly assigned into three groups. The three dietary treatments were basal diet only (control group), basal diet+10 mg/kg lead, and basal diet+10 mg/kg lead+0.5% particulate montmorillonite (PM). The results showed that the addition of lead to the diet decreased significantly the body weight and feed efficiency, but PM could restore body weight and feed efficiency of gilts compared to the Pb exposure group. There were no significant differences in weights of ovaries and uteri with addition of either lead or PM to the diet. Supplementing the lead in the diet of gilts also significantly increased the concentration of lead in blood, decreased circulating lutenizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E$_2$) levels in serum, the addition of PM to the diet effectively adsorbed and lowered lead concentration in the blood. These data suggested that lead disrupts the signals between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in gilts, and possibly suppressed the secretion of relative growth hormone and sex hormone. On the other hand, PM may ameliorate Pb toxicity in pigs.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.8-16
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• 1996

Effects of water extract of aloe vera on lead-induced neurotoxicity were investigated in sciatic nerve isolated from rat. The mechanism on toxicity reduction by measuring activities of axonal enzymes, metabolism of myo-inositol in nerve, lead concentration in several organs and so on were further examimed. In the lead-treated rats, the transport rate of axonal enzyme, such as acetyl cholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase, was reduced by from 50% to 30% respectively. Reduction in myo-inositol concentration and $Na^+/K^+$ ATPase activity were also observed in sciatic nerve from lead-treated rat. However, the aloe extract administration significantly eliminated the impairment and maintained myo-inositol concentration to about 85% of normal level. Also aloe extract promoted the excretion rate of lead which is accumulated in blood, sciatic nerve and kidney. These results suggest that lead-induced neurotoxicity was significantly reduced by administration of aloe extract and the mechanism might be partly increase in kidney excretion rate of lead and parity normalization of $Na^+/K^+$ ATPase activity which is critical factor in order to keep nerve maintaining normal myo-inositol level.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.189-201
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• 1999

Lead (Pb) is ubiquitous in the urban environment and is a well-known toxic element. It may cause adverse health effects on hematopoietic system, peripheral and central nervous systems, kidney functions, and others. In recent decades, lead concentration in blood has been widely used one of indicators for lead exposure and risk evaluation. In this study, we determined the blood-lead levels in general populations of Korea, and investigated the relationship among blood-lead levels, sociobehavioral factors, and lead concentrations in the contacted environments such as ambient air, drinking water, and foods. The study subjects consisted of volunteers who had lived in the residential or industrial area in Korea. Information about gender, age, living area, occupation, smoking, heat system, and dietary habits, etc was collected using a self-reported questionnaires. The lead concentrations of environments were collected by literature search to the study area. Participated subjects in industrial area were 726 and their blood-lead levels were 8.58 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl for males and 6.26 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl for female in average. The other subjects in residential area were 317 and their blood-lead levels were 4.58 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl for males and 3.49 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl for female in average. The distribution of blood-lead level in the industrial subjects was well fitted to the log -normal distribution and that in the residential subjects was well fitted to the normal distribution. Blood-lead levels in both area were affected by gender, smoking habit, age and residence duration except age in industrial area and residence duration in residential area. It was identified that 30% of blood-lead level was contributed from the inhalation of ambient air in the industrial area, and 8.4% of blood-lead level was from that in the residential area. from this study, it would be suggested for the health risk assessment and management of lead pollution concerns in urban, industrial and rural areas.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.706-713
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• 2022

The study is to observe the time trend variation in the blood lead concentration of Korean teenage groups and to examine the changes in the daily lead intake from intake amount(g) by food groups as an influencing factor. A total of 1,540 subjects are participants in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2017. The blood lead concentrations were 1.25㎍/100ml in 2011 survey, 1.16㎍/100ml in 2012, 1.17㎍/100ml in 2013, 1.05㎍/100ml in 2016, and 0.84㎍/100ml in 2017. The time trend decrease in food intake amount appeared mainly in the plant food groups such as grains, potatoes and starch, pulses, mushrooms, vegetables, and fruits. And the milk and dairy products of the animal food group also showed a decreased trend. The decrease in the intake amount of these food groups can be an influencing factor in the decrease in lead concentration in the blood.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.65-74
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• 2013

Objectives: This study attempted to develop a method to measure ultra-trace lead concentrations in plasma using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry(ICP-MS) and to test whether plasma lead can be used as a biomarker for the biological monitoring of exposure to lead. Methods: Lead concentrations in 160 plasma samples of field workers and 42 plasma samples from the control group were measured by ICP-MS. Blood zinc protophorphyrin(ZPP) concentrations and urinary ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid${\delta}-ALA$) were measured for correlation analysis with plasma lead. Results: The mean lead level in the plasma of the workers exposed to lead at work were 786.1 ng/L. Plasma lead levels were not correlated with blood ZPP or urinary ${\delta}-ALA$ concentrations. Otherwise, plasma lead levels showed a good correlation coefficient of 0.400 with blood lead levels, and their correlation coefficient had a better value of 0.552 for the non-smoking and drinking group. In the general population group which was not exposed to lead in the workplace and was considered the control group, the mean concentration of plasma lead was 123.1 ng/L. The plasma lead levels for the general population group showed a good correlation coefficient of 0.520 with blood ZPP and urinary ${\delta}-ALA$ concentrations.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.51-61
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between socioeconomic status and blood heavy metal concentration in Korean adult population using the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey(KNHANES 2013-2015). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between socioeconomic status and the blood heavy metal concentration. Positive association was found between education and income level and blood concentration of mercury while those of lead and cadmium were negatively associated education and income level in Korean adult population (P for trend <0.001). At the point of an increase in the prevalence of heavy metal concentrations in the blood, a national public health policy will be needed to address the inequity of health due to socioeconomic factors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.30-41
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• 2001

Rapid economic development and industrialization has been accompanied by an increase of energy demand and environmental pollution. The consumption of gasoline has increased totally, but decreased in use of leaded gasoline after 1988 in Korea. On the other hand, risk assessment of environmental pollutants requires reliable dose estimates. Source oriented monitoring is not providing adequate information to estimate human exposure. The Health Surveillance Project has been launched in Korea from 1980, which questioned their symptoms based on questionnaires and medical examinations for inhabitants in the vicinity of 13 industrial areas and 2 non-industrial areas. 10, 598 inhabitants living in these 15 areas had medical checkups and donated their blood f3r heavy metal analysis from 1980 to 2000 through this project. Especially lead levels in inhabitants' blood of these areas were determined and monitored. Totally 4, 967 samples in target areas were used to review the trend of blood lead level in this paper. Average lead concentrations by areas were from 15.2 to 21.0 ug/dl in 1981 and 22.3 to 34.3 ug/dl in 1988, but were 8.8 to 11.1 ug/dl in 1992 and 4.4 to 4.8 ug/dl in 1995. On the other hand, the consumption of leaded gasoline was at a peak in 1958. Blood lead level showed a very close relationship with the consumption of leaded gasoline in the change pattern(p<0.01) and showed a rapid declining trend since the use of unleaded gasoline, especially from 1988 when Seoul held the olympic games. For example, the blood lead levels were 15.2 ug/dl in 1981, 20.2 ug/dl in 1955. 24.3 ug/dl in 1988 and 3.9 ug/dl in 1993 in Yochon area. China also had monitored blood lead levels of general population. 7, 015 inhabitants living in 28 areas donated their blood far heavy metal analysis from 1981 to 1988. Average lead concentrations by areas were from 5.1 to 5.6 ug/dl before. 1984 but were form 2.8 to 11.2 ug/dl after 1984. Average lead concentration in blood showed increasing trends clearly in most of the areas. The recent policy of unleaded gasoline use for automobile will be a very beneficial policy for the management of atmospheric lead pollution & health risk assessment for the general population in China. It is recommended that it should be propelled more widely and rapidly to the entire country.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.141-151
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• 1993

Blood samples obtained from 200 adults who had visited the "S" general hospital were analyzed to compare the zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) levels quantified by high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) and by hematofluorometer (HF) to investigate the methodological difference if any and the relationship between the levels of blood lead and ZPP among no-lead exposed adults. Also investigated were the distribution of ZPP and protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) concentrations, the establishment of normal levels of blood ZPP and blood lead, and the contribution of age and sex factors to these values. These subjects had no previous occupational exposure to lead. The results obtained were as follows : 1. The mean values of blood lead for male and female subjects were $9.46{\pm}2.44{\mu}g/dl$ and $8.09{\pm}2.17{\mu}g/dl$, respectively. The difference observed in the mean concentrations between male and female subjects was statistically very significant. 2. The mean values of blood ZPP by HPLC for male and female subjects were $15.94{\pm}4.55{\mu}g/dl$ and $22.26{\pm}6.61{\mu}g/dl$, respectively. The difference observed in the mean concentrations between male and female subjects was statistically not significant. The mean values of blood PPIX by HPLC for male and female subjects were $2.51{\pm}1.78{\mu}g/dl$ and $2.81{\pm}1.56{\mu}g/dl$, respectively. The difference observed in the mean concentrations between male and female subjects was statistically not significant. 3. The mean values of blood ZPP by HF for male and female subjects were $28.44{\pm}7.11{\mu}g/dl$ and $37.77{\pm}8.04{\mu}g/dl$, respectively. The difference observed in the mean concentrations between male and female subjects was statistically very significant. 4. No statistically significant correlation was found between the levels of blood ZPP and blood lead. 5. The ratio of ZPP and protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) concentration to erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP, EP=ZPP+PPIX) concentration was 87.4% and 12.6%, respectively. 6. A statistically very significant correlation was found between the ZPP concentrations determined by HPLC and the values by HF (r=0.7565). The ZPP concentraitons quantified by HF were 1.75 times as high as the values obtained by HPLC. 7. The blood ZPP concentrations quantified by HPLC, HF, and spectrofluorometer (SF) from the blood samples obtained from 14 lead-exposed workers and from 16 no-lead exposed adults showed wide variations. The ZPP concentrations by HF were the highest followed by the levels obtained by SF and by HPLC. In the exposed group, no statistically significant difference was found among three methods of quantifying blood ZPP levels. In the no-lead exposed group, however, statistically significant difference was observed among these methods. The ZPP concentrations by HF were about twice as high as those of by HPLC or by SF. Among three methods of quantifying blood ZPP (HPLC, SF and HF), the results revealed significant difference. Therefore it is suggested that objective methods of quantifying blood ZPP and a system of correcting different ZPP levels be developed by the ministry of Labor.