• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.27 no.3 s.47
• /
• pp.547-556
• /
• 1994

In order to identify the necessary information of biochemical Indices for renal effect of lead for the early detection in medical surveillance of lead worker, the reference values of urinary N-acetyl-$\beta$-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities were studied with 205 office workers in one industrial complex area who were not exposed to lead occupationally. While study variables selected for lead exposure were blood lead (PbB), blood zinc protoporphyrin(ZPP) and $\delta$-aminolevulinic acid (DALA) in urine, those for renal effect were urinary N-acetyl-$\beta$-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine(Cr), serum uric acid (Ua), and urinary total protein(U-TP). The results obtained were as follows: 1. The mean values of blood lead, ZPP and DALA in all subjects were $14.39{\pm}4.02{\mu}g/dl,\;21.61{\pm}8.00{\mu}g/dl,\;and\;2.73{\pm}0.90mg/l$ respectively. 2. The mean value of urinary NAG activities in all subjects was $3.51{\pm}2.01U/l$. The mean value of urinary NAG activities, which calculated from NAG activities divided by urinary creatinine concentration (CNAG), was $5.42{\pm}5.53U/g$ creatinine and log-arithmic normal distributed. 3. The reference value of urinary NAG activity was 12.06 U/g creatinine(95% CU=10.57-14.76 U/g creatinine). 4. Logarithmic CNAG(r=0.781 p<0.0l), U-TP(r=0.670 p<0.01) and ZPP(r=0.172 p<0.05) showed statistically significant correlation with CNAG.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.28 no.4 s.51
• /
• pp.875-884
• /
• 1995

In order to investigate the level of lead exposure of workers in litharge making industry and to evaluate how lead exposure, personal habit such as smoking and drinking affect the prevalence of lead related symptoms and other study variables, we investigate 114 workers(24 office workers and 90 lead exposed workers) in a litharge making industry. Study variables chosen were blood lead(PbB), zinc protoporphyrin in whole blood(ZPP), Hemoglobin(Hb), hematocrit (Hct), SGOT and SGPT symptom questionnaires which had 15 lead exposure related symptoms were provided to all workers and filled up by themselves and reconfirmed by physician. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The mean value of PbB, ZPP and SGOT in lead exposed group were higher than those of non-exposed group, and there were no differences of means in other study variables. 2. The smoking and drinking rate of study subjects were 65.8% and 71.0% as a whole. Smoking rates were lower in non-exposed group than exposed group, but drinking rate were not. 3. There were no differences of mean values of study variables between smoker and non-smoker in non-exposed and exposed group, but there was a difference of mean value of SGOT between drinker and lion-drinker in lead exposed group. 4. While the symptom prevalence of lead exposed group were higher in neuromuscular category than non-exposed group, those of non-exposed group were higher or same with exposed group in gastrointestinal and general symptom category. 5. The symptom prevalence of smoker were higher than non-smoker regardless of exposure. 6. The symptom prevalence of drinker were only higher in gastrointestinal symptom category than non-drinker. 7. In multiple stepwise regression analysis of lead related symptoms as dependent variable and blood lead, smoking habit, drinking habit and work duration as independent variables, drinking habit contributed to the gastrointestinal symptom category, whereas blood lead and smoking contributed to the neuromuscular symptom category. For the total symptoms work duration and smoking habit contributed significantly.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.26 no.2 s.42
• /
• pp.251-267
• /
• 1993

The relationship between lead related subject symptoms and lead exposure indices was studied in 435 male lead workers in thirteen lead using industries. 212 male office workers who were not exposed to lead occupationally were also studied as a control group. Fourteen lead related symptoms were selected. They were further subdivied into 4 sub-symptom groups such as 1) gastrointestinal, 2) neuromuscular and joint 3) constitutional, and 4) psychological symptoms. Symptom questionnaires were provided to the workers and filled up by themselves and reconfirmed by interviewer(doctor). The test used fer the evaluation of lead exposure were blood lead(PbB), zinc protoporphyrin in whole blood(ZPP), hemoglobin(Hb), hematocrit (Hct), delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine(DALA). The results obtained were as follows; 1. The higher prevalence rate in the sub-group of neuromuscular and joint symptoms was observed in occupationally lead exposed subjects than non-exposed subjects. Among the sub-groups, the most frequent symptom was 'numbness of finger, hands or feet', and the prevalence of the symptom of 'arthralgia', 'weakness of fingers, hands or feet' and 'myalgia' were higher in order. 2. While the symptom which showed the biggest difference of prevalence rate among the 14 symptoms between exposed and non-exposed subjects was 'numbness of fingers, hands or feet', the symptom which showed the highest prevalence rate was 'feeling tired generally' in exposed and non-exposed subjects, but no statistical difference of symptom prevalence were observed. 3. In total study population, PbB and ZPP had dose-response relationship with 4 symtoms of neuromuscular and joint symptoms ('numbness of finger, hands or feet', 'arthralgia', 'weakness of fingers, hands or feet' and 'myalgia') and one symptom of gastrointestinal group('intermittent pains in lower abdomen'). 4. In lead exposed workers, only neuromuscular and joint symptoms group showed dose-response relationship with PbB and ZPP, 5. In lead exposed workers, the prevalance rate of overall symptoms of lead workers with age below 39 years was higher than that of lead workers with age above 40. While neuromuscular and joint symptoms group had a dose-response relationship with PbB in former group, it had a dose-response relationship with ZPP in latter group. 6. Age adjusted odds ratios of symptoms of non-exposed with exposed and odds ratios of low exposed with high exposed workers showed the dose-response relationship of lead exposure with neuromuscular and joint symptoms group('numbness of fingers, hands or feet', 'arthralgia', 'weakness of fingers, hands or feet' and 'myalgia') and gastrointestinal symptoms group('intermittent pains in lower abdoman').

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.77-87
• /
• 1996

In order to compare the difference of the measurement of delta aminolevulinic acid(${\delta}$-ALA) in urine between HPLC method(HALA) and colorimetric method(CALA), and also to provide useful information for the new diagnostic criteria of ${\delta}$-ALA in urine in lead poisoning, if at all possible in the future, authors studied 234 male lead workers who were selected from 7 storage battery factories, 3 secondary smelting industries, and 2 litharge making industries. Study subjects were selected on the basis of blood Zinc protoporphyrin(ZPP) level from low to high concentration to cover wide range of lead exposure. Study variables for this study were ${\delta}$-ALA measured by two different methods, blood lead(PbB), and blood ZPP. The results were as follows: 1. There was very high correlation between ${\delta}$-ALA measured by two method(r = 0.989 : HALA = -0.8194 + 0.8110 ${\times}$ CALA), but the value of CALA was measured about 2mg/L greater than HALA. 2. While the correlations of ${\delta}$-ALA by two method with blood lead and blood ZPP were 0.46 and 0.37 respectively, they were increased to 0.63 and 0.57 if ${\delta}$-ALA values were log-transformed. 3. Simple linear regression of ${\delta}$-ALA measured by two method on ZPP were as follows: CALA = 2.0421 + 0.0341 ${\times}$ ZPP ($R^2=0.1385$ p = 0.0001) HALA = 0.8006 + 0.0280 ${\times}$ ZPP ($R^2=0.1389$ p = 0.0001) 4. Simple linear regression of ${\delta}$-ALA measured by two method on PbB were as follows: CALA = - 0.4134 + 0.1545 ${\times}$ PbB ($R^2=0.2085$ p = 0.0001) HALA = -1.2893 + 0.1287 PbB ($R^2=0.2154$ p = 0.0001), 5. Simple linear regression of log-transformed ${\delta}$-ALA by two method on ZPP and PbB were as follows: logHALA = 0.3078 + 0.0060 ZPP ($R^2=0.3329$ p = 0.0001) logCALA = 1.0189 + 0.0044 ZPP ($R^2=0.3290$ p = 0.0001) logHALA = -0.0221 + 0.0246 PbB ($R^2=0.4046$ p = 0.0001) logCALA = 0.7662 + 0.0184 PbB ($R^2=0.4108$ p = 0.0001) 6. The cumulative percent of colorimetric method to detect lead workers whose value of PbS and ZPP were over screening level such as $40{\mu}/dl$ and $100{\mu}/dl$ respectively was higher than HPLC method if cut-off level of ${\delta}$-ALA for screening of lead poisoning was 5 mg/L. But if cut-off level of ${\delta}$-ALA measured by HPLC was reduced to 3 mg/L which is compatible to 5 mg/L of ${\delta}$-ALA measured by colorimetric method, there were good agreement between two methods and showed dose-response relationship with other lead exposure indices such as PbB and ZPP.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.111-117
• /
• 2001

A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate associations between lead biomarkers, lead-related symptoms, and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) genotype among 598 lead workers and 144 control office workers in storage battery industries, secondary smelting and litharge making industries. Lead inhibits the second enzymes, ALAD, in the heme synthesis pathway. ALAD gene, which codes for one of three isozymic proteins (termed ALAD1-1, ALAD1-2, and ALAD2-2), seems to modify the toxicokinetics of lead. The result as follows; The percents of total workers whose genotype of ALAD1-1 and ALAD1-2 were 88.4% and 11.6%, respectively. The zinc protoporphyrin in blood (ZPP) and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid in urine (ALAU) of lead workers with ALAD1-2 were significantly lower than those of lead workers with ALAD1-1, but there were no significant difference between two genotype for blood lead, age, and work duration. The proportion of ALAD1-2 genotype in control office workers was 13.2%. The proportions of ALAD1-2 genotype of lead workers were 14.0%(their mean air lead level below $0.024mg/m^3$), 10.4%($0.025-0.049mg/m^3$), 11.8%($0.050-0.099mg/m^3$), and 9.4%(above $0.100mg/m^3$), respectively. In the logistic analysis of 15 lead related symptoms, 'arthralgia'(S7) symptom of ALAD1-2 was significantly lower (OR=0.481; 95% CI=0.248-0.932) than that of ALAD1-1, but 'feeling of irritation'(S11) of ALAD1-2 was significantly higher(OR=1.636; 95% CI=1.035-2.586) than that of ALAD1-1 after controlling possible confounder (blood lead, work duration, smoking and drinking habit).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.19 no.2 s.20
• /
• pp.167-176
• /
• 1986

For the purpose of determinating the normal values of some parameters relevant to lead exposure, a study was carried out from April 1 to June 30, 1986 on 258 healthy Korean adults who have had no apparant lead exposure. The lead indices subjected to this study were as follows; blood lead (PbB), hemoglobin (Hb), zinc protoporphyrin in blood (ZPP), delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity in blood, coproporphyrin in urine (CPU), delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine (ALAU). 1) The mean value of PbB was $17.17{\pm}7.87{\mu}g/100ml$, and there was no statistically significant difference by age & sex. The distribution of PbB fitted to the log-normal distribution ($x^2=7.38$, p>0.1). 2) The mean value of Hb in male ($15.17{\pm}1.56g/100ml$) was higher than in female ($13.22{\pm}1.51g/100ml$)(p<0.01). The distribution of Hb fitted to the normal distribution ($x^2=9.40$, p>0.1). 3) The mean value of ZPP was $32.61{\pm}8.78{\mu}g/100ml$, and there was no statistically significant difference by age & sex. The distribution of ZPP fitted to the normal distribution ($x^2=13.93$, p>0.05). The correlation of ZPP & ALAD (r=-0.229), CPU (r=0.183) was statistically significant respectively. 4) The mean value of ALAD was $30.20{\pm}10.96{\mu}mol$ ALA/min/L of R.B.C., and there was no statistically significant difference by age & sex. The distribution of ALAD activity did not fit to the normal distribution. The correlation between ALAD & PbB (r=-0.219) was statistically significant 5) The mean value of CPU was $36.10{\pm}24.54{\mu}g/L$, and there was no statistically significant difference by age & sex. The distribution of CPU did not fit to the normal distribution. The correlation between CPU & PbB (r=0.185), ZPP (r=0.183) was statistically signinificant respectively. 6) The mean value of ALAU was $1.94{\pm}0.96mg/L$, and there was no statistically significant difference by age & sex. The distribution of ALAU fitted to the normal distribution ($x^2=9.76$, p>0.1).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.26 no.1 s.41
• /
• pp.65-73
• /
• 1993

This study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between the biological lead exposure indices and air lead concentrations measured by personal air samplers. The 72 occupationally lead exposed workers were observed and the bioiogical lead Exposure indices chosen for this study were blood lead(PbB), urine lead(PbU), zinc protoporphyrin in whole blood(ZPP), $\delta$-aminolevulinic acid in urine(ALAU), $\delta$-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (ALAD), coproporphyrin in urine(CPU) and hemoglobin(Hb). The workers were divided into four groups by air lead concentrations: Group I; under $0.05mg/m^3$, Group II; $0.05-0.10mg/m^3$, Group III; $0.10-0.15mg/m^3$ and Group IV; and over $0.15mg/m^3$. For evaluation the relationship between the biological lead exposure indices and air lead concentrations was used as correlation coefficients. The results obtained were as follows: 1. In Group I, II, III and IV, the mean value of PbB were $25.45{\pm}1.84{\mu}g/dl,\;27.87{\pm}3.53{\mu}g/dl,\;31.21{\pm}1.76{\mu}g/dl\;and\;47.02{\pm}13.96{\mu}g/dl$. Between Group IV and other groups showed statistically significant difference(p<0.05). 2. There was an increasing tendency of PbB, PbU, ALAU and ZPP according to the increase the mean air lead concentration, while ALAD has decreasing tendency. CPU and Hb did not show any constant tendency. 3. Correlation coefficients between PbB, PbU, ZPP, ALAU, ALAD, CPU, Hb and air lead concentration were 0.95, 0.83, 0.89, 0.72, -0.83, 0.51 and -0.45 respectively, and regression coefficient between PbB(Y) and PbA(X) was Y=126.8746X+16.9996(p<0.01).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.29 no.4 s.55
• /
• pp.747-764
• /
• 1996

This study intended to obtain an useful information for health management of lead exposed workers and determine biological monitoring interval in early period of exposure by measuring the lead exposure indices and work duration in all male workers (n=433 persons) exposed less than 1 year in 6 storage battery industries and in 49 males who are not exposed to lead as control. The examined variables were blood lead concentration (PBB), Zinc-protoporphyrin concentration (ZPP), Hemoglobin (HB) and personal history; also measured lead concentration in air (PBA) in the workplace. According to the geometric mean of lead concentration in the air, the factories were grouped into three categories: A; When it is below $0.05mg/m^3$, B; When it is between 0.05 and $0.10mg/m^3$, and C; When it is above $0.10mg/m^3$. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The means of blood lead concentration (PBB), ZPP concentration and hemoglobin(HB) in all male workers exposed to lead less than 1 year in storage battery industries were $29.5{\pm}12.4{\mu}g/100ml,\;52.9{\pm}30.0{\mu}g/100ml\;and\;15.2{\pm}1.1\;gm/100ml$. 2. The means of blood lead concentration (PBB), ZPP concentration and hemoglobin(HB) in control group were $5.8{\pm}1.6{\mu}g/100ml,\;30.8{\pm}12.7{\mu}g/100ml\;and\;15.7{\pm}1.6{\mu}g/100ml$, being much lower than that of study group exposed to lead. 3. The means of blood lead concentration and ZPP concentration among group A were $21.9{\pm}7.6{\mu}g/100,\;41.4{\pm}12.6{\mu}g/100ml$ ; those of group B were $29.8{\pm}11.6{\mu}g/100,\;52.6{\pm}27.9{\mu}g/100ml$ ; those of group C were $37.2{\pm}13.5{\mu}g/100,\;66.3{\pm}40.7{\mu}g/100ml$. Significant differences were found among three factory group(P<0.01) that was classified by the geometric mean of lead concentration in the air, group A being the lowest. 4. The mean of blood lead concentration of workers who have different work duration (month) was as follows ; When the work duration was $1\sim2$ month, it was $24.1{\pm}12.4{\mu}g/100ml$, ; When the work duration was $3\sim4$ month, it was $29.2{\pm}13.4{\mu}g/100ml$ ; and it was $28.9\sim34.5{\mu}g/100ml$ for the workers who had longer work duration than other. Significant differences were found among work duration group(P<0.05). 5. The mean of ZPP concentration of workers who have different work duration (month) was as follows ; When the work duration was $1\sim2$ month, it was $40.6{\pm}18.0{\mu}g/100ml$, ; When the work duration was $3\sim4$ month, it was $53.4{\pm}38.4{\mu}g/100ml$ ; and it was $51.5\sim60.4{\mu}g/100ml$ for the workers who had longer work duration than other. Significant differences were found among work duration group(P<0.05). 6. Among total workers(433 person), 18.2% had PBB concentration higher than $40{\mu}g/100ml$ and 7.1% had ZPP concentration higher than $100{\mu}g/100ml$ ; In workers of factory group A, those were 0.9% and 0.0% ; In workers of factory group B, those were 17.1% and 6.9% ; In workers of factory group C, those were 39.4% and 15.4%. 7. The proportions of total workers(433 person) with blood lead concentration lower than $25{\mu}g/100ml$ and ZPP concentration lower than $50{\mu}g/100ml$ were 39.7% and 61.9%, respectively ; In workers of factory group A, those were 65.5% and 82.3% : In workers of factory group B, those were 36.1% and 60.2% ; In workers of factory group C, those were 19.2% and 43.3%. 8. Blood lead concentration (r=0.177, P<0.01), ZPP concentration (r=0.135, P<0.01), log ZPP (r=0.170, P<0.01) and hemoglobin (r=0.096, P<0.05) showed statistically significant correlation with work duration (month). ZPP concentration (r=0.612, P<0.01) and log ZPP (r=0.614, P<0.01) showed statistically significant correlation with blood lead concentration 9. The slopes of simple linear regression between work duration(month, independent variable) and blood lead concentration (dependent variable) in workplace with low air concentration of lead was less steeper than that of poor working condition with high geometric mean air concentration of lead. The study result indicates that new employees should be provided with biological monitoring including blood lead concentration test and education about personal hygiene and work place management within $3\sim4$ month.