• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제3권1호
• /
• pp.11-16
• /
• 2012

Lead poisoning is one of the earliest identified and most known occupational disease. Its acute effects have been recognized from antiquity when this condition principally afflicted manual workers and slaves, actually scarcely considered by the medicine of that time. The Industrial Revolution caused an epidemic of metal intoxication, urging scientists and physician of that period to study and identify specific symptoms and organ alterations related to chronic lead poisoning. During the 20th century, the acknowledgment of occupational and environmental toxicity of lead fostered public awareness and legislation to protect health. More recently, the identification of sub-clinical effects have greatly modified the concept of lead poisoning and the approaches of medicine towards this condition. Nowadays, lead poisoning is rarely seen in developed countries, but it still represents a major environmental problem in certain areas. Consequently, it may appear as a paradigm of "occupational and environmental disease," and the history of this condition seems to parallel the historical development of modern "Occupational and Environmental Health" as a more complete medical discipline.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제11권1호
• /
• pp.76-82
• /
• 1978

In order to study the change of laboratory parameters of lead poisoning, 8 persona who had not been treated previously for lead poisoning (Group 1 and 6 persons who had been inadequately treated for few months for chronic lead poisoning at local clinic (Group 2) were examined. They had occupational exposure to lead for 3 to 18 years (mean, 7.6). In group 1 blood lead, urine lead, urine coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid levels before our treatment exceeded the critical levels of lead poisoning. In group 2 urine lead level exceeded but blood lead, urine coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid levels were within normal limits. All of them were treated with D-penicillamine for 4 months as inpatients at Industrial Accident Hospital. The dose of D-penicillamine was the same in all patients; 600 mg per day p.o. and the chelating agent was administer every other week. For laboratory analysis, 24 hour urine and 10 gm of whole blood were collected every 1 month on last day of non-administration period. The results were as follows: 1. It was found that urine lead level was decreased below the cirtical level of lead poisoning after 4 month's treatment with D-penicillamine and blood lead level was decreased more progressively below the critical level after 1 month treatment. 2. Urine coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid levels were decreased progressively to normal range after 1 month treatment. 3. Two months after treatment, blood lead, urine lead, urine coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid levels showed some increasing trends. 4. Urine lead level should be checked in a person who had been inadequately treated with chelating agents because blood lead, coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid might be in normal range.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제29권1호
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 1996

We experienced a case of nephropathy in chronic lead poisoning. The patient was 43-year-old male who has been working in secondary lead smelting plant for 14 years. On admission, blood pressure was 160/90 mmHg and the others were non-specific. In past history, he received chelating agent administration for lead poisoning irregularly and medicated for gout, and the blood lead concentration was $180.0{\mu}g/dl$ on 2 months before admission. Smoking habit has been 1 pack per day for 15 years and drinking habit has been 1 bottle of Soju per day but less flow. In liver function test, AST/ALT were 27/28 IU/l and $\gamma-GT$ was 456 IU/l. In blood test, Hb : 11.5 g/dl, Hct : 34.0% and basophilic stipplings were found in peripheral blood smear. Chest PA was normal and abdominal ultrasonographic finding was non-specific except fatty liver. In the test of lead exposure indices, $PbB:83.0{\mu}g/dl,\;PbU:28.3{\mu}g/l$, and blood ZPP was $300.0{\mu}g/dl$. And in renal function test, BUN : 31.4 mg/dl, blood creatinine : 2.7mg/dl, blood uric acid. 9.1 mg/dl, urinary albumin : 100.0 mg/g creatinine, urinary $\alpha_1-microglobulin$ : 120.5 mg/g creatinine, urinary $\beta_2-microglobulin$ : $183.8{\mu}g/g$ creatinine, and 24 hours urinary creatinine clearance was 31.9 ml/min. The ultrasonoguided renal biopsy showed the global sclerosis of glomerulus, moderate atrophy and loss of tubule, and interstitial fibrosis in light microscopy. There were diffuse losses of brush border of proximal tubule in electronmicroscopy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제28권2호
• /
• pp.398-405
• /
• 1995

We experienced a case of occupational lead poisoning employed in a secondary lead smelting plant for 12 years. The patient was 39-year-old male and had been felt dizziness, recent memory impairment and intermittent severe abdominal pain for 2 years. On admission, blood lead level was $92.9{\mu}g/dl$, urinary lead level was $19.9{\mu}g/l$ and zinc protoporphyrin level was $226.0{\mu}g/dl$. On the blood test, hemoglobin was 10.6g/dl and showed normocytic normochromic anemia. There were no abnormal findings in the biochemical and hormonal tests. Decrease of I.Q. and use of words in speaking were found in the psychiatric and psychologic examinations. We observed the finding of motor polyneuropathy in the nerve conduction velocity test. Computed tomographic finding showed calcification lesions in the basal ganglia, dentate nuclei, caudate nuclei, and especially characteristic multiple calcifications were located in the subcortical white matter.

• 한국환경과학회지
• /
• 제19권4호
• /
• pp.527-532
• /
• 2010

Exposure to lead, particularly at chronic low-dose levels, is still a major public health concern. The present study is aimed to evaluate the blood lead levels in populations resident in some abandoned mine areas of Chungbuk, Korea. Eight hundreds and sixty-six subjects who reside in abandoned mine area located in Chungbuk, Korea, were enrolled this study. We evaluated the blood lead level according to the age, gender, and working history in mines. For statistical analysis, SPSS ver 12.0 was used. The geometric mean blood lead levels was $2.93\;{\mu}g/{\ell}$ and nobody showed levels over the guidelines of WHO. Ex-smokers and current-smokers showed significantly higher blood lead levels compared to that of non-smokers. The blood lead levels in individuals with a history of working in a mine was higher than those in individuals without such histories. The populations resident in some Chungbuk abadoned mine area showed low levels of lead in blood. This suggest that lead poisoning might not be induced by abandoned mine in Chungbuk, Korea.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• 제36권7호
• /
• pp.691-698
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin E on the cadmium accumulation in body, cadmium excretion and detoxification functions in chronic cadmium poisoned rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10 g were randomly assigned to one normal group and three cadmium poisoned groups. Cadmium poisoned groups were classified to vitamin E free diet (Cd-0E group), vitamin E 40 mg/kg diet (Cd-400E group) and 400 mg/kg diet (Cd-400E group) according to the levels of vitamin E supplement. Animals were maintained on 0, 40 mg and 400 mg vitamin E/kg diets for 20 weeks and simultaneously administered 50 ppm Cd$^{2+}$ dissolved in the drinking water. Body weight, food intakes and food efficiency ratio were significantly decreased in all cadmium groups, compared with those of normal group. The accumulation of cadmium in rat liver, kidney and blood was reduced by sufficient vitamin E supplementation. The metallothionein (MT) content in liver and kidney were increased in all cadmium groups compared with that of normal group. The ratio of cadmium absorption and retention were significantly decreased in vitamin E supplementation groups. Accordingly, vitamin E supplementation resulted in an excretion of cadmium in urine and feces and a lowered accumulation of cadmium in liver and kidney. It can be suggested that increased MT synthesis lead to the significant decrease in cadmium absorption and retention ratios.s.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• 제15권5호
• /
• pp.441-449
• /
• 2023

Heavy metals, widely present in the environment, have become significant pollutants due to their excessive use in industries and technology. Their non-degradable nature poses a persistent environmental problem, leading to potential acute or chronic poisoning from prolonged exposure. Recent research has focused on separating heavy metals, particularly from industrial and mining sources. Industries such as metal plating, mining operations, tanning, wood and chipboard production, industrial paint and textile manufacturing, as well as oil refining, are major contributors of heavy metals in water sources. Therefore, removing heavy metals from water is crucial, especially for safe water supply in swimming and water sports. Iron oxide nanoparticles have proven to be highly effective adsorbents for water contaminants, and efforts have been made to enhance their efficiency and absorption capabilities through surface modifications. Nanoparticles synthesized using plant extracts can effectively bind with heavy metal ions by modifying the nanoparticle surface with plant components, thereby increasing the efficiency of heavy metal removal. This study focuses on removing lead from industrial wastewater using environmentally friendly, cost-effective iron nanoparticles synthesized with Genovese basil extract. The synthesis of nanoparticles is confirmed through analysis using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction, validating their spherical shape and nanometer-scale dimensions. The method used in this study has a low detection limit of 0.031 ppm for measuring lead concentration, making it suitable for ensuring water safety in swimming and water sports.

• 자원환경지질
• /
• 제55권2호
• /
• pp.127-135
• /
• 2022

Excessive presence of As level in groundwater is a major health problem worldwide. In the Red River Delta in Vietnam, several million residents possess a high risk of chronic As poisoning. The As releases into groundwater caused by natural process through microbially-driven reductive dissolution of Fe (III) oxides. It has been extracted by Red River residents using private tube wells for drinking and daily purposes because of their unawareness of the contamination. This long-term consumption of As-contaminated groundwater could lead to various health problems. Therefore, a predictive model would be useful to expose contamination risks of the wells in the Red River Delta Vietnam area. This study used four machine learning algorithms to predict the As probability of study sites in Red River Delta, Vietnam. The GBM was the best performing model with the accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and specificity of 98.7%, 100%, 95.2%, and 100%, respectively. In addition, it resulted the highest AUC of 92% and 96% for the PRC and ROC curves, with Eh and Fe as the most important variables. The partial dependence plot of As concentration on the model parameters showed that the probability of high level of As is related to the low number of wells' depth, Eh, and SO₄, along with high PO₄^3- and NH₄⁺. This condition triggers the reductive dissolution of iron phases, thus releasing As into groundwater.

• 대한기관식도과학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 대한기관식도과학회 1972년도 춘계종합 학술대회 초록집
• /
• pp.6-7
• /
• 1972

최근 10년간 우리나라 경제의 급격한 발전으로 이에 부수적으로 일어나는 대기오염은 생활환경을 파괴하는 오염형태의 하나로서 직접 또는 간접으로 인체에 미치는 피해는 격심하여가고 있으며 이것이 심각한 사회문제로 대두되었다. 대기오염이 인체에 미치는 영향에 관하여 병리나 임상적으로는 많은 연구보고가 있으나 호흡기로의 기시부인 비강이나 인의 영향에 관한 연구보고는 많지 않은 실정인 차제에 대기오염과 비, 인후질환자의 관계를 추구하여 그 대책을 논하는 것은 의의 있는 일이라 하겠다. 이러한 연구의 일환으로서 연세의대 공해연구소의 대기오염도조사에서 가장 심한 곳으로 확인된 부산시 우암동 지역에 위치한 S 공업고등학교 학생 469명은 조사군으로 하고 대기오염도가 낮은 K고등학교 학생 345명을 대조군으로 하여 내과, 안과, 비, 인후과적 검사를 실시하여 얻은 성적과 그 외의 문제점들을 검토하고자 한다. I. 위해오염물질 대기오염물질은 자극성가스와 질식성가스로 구분되며 이비인후과 질환과 밀접한 관계가 있는 것은 자극성 가스이며 여기에는 질소산화물, 유황산화물, 탄화수소와 그리고 광합성작용에 의하여 2차적으로 발생하는 강력한 자극성물질인 PAN(Peroxy acyl nitrate) 등을 열거할 수 있으며 이들 가스는 산화성이 강하기 때문에 점막이 부착되어 괴양 및 2차감염을 일으켜 인체에 피해를 준다. 이리한 오염물질은 고체연료(특히 석탄)나 액체연료의 불완전 연소때와 각종 차량의 배기가스로서 배출된다. 대표적인 오염물질인 일산화탄소, 질소산화물 및 유황산화물의 조사지역과 대조지역의 오염도는 다음과 같다. II. 인체에 미치는 피해 1. 일반적인 피해 대기오염이 인체에 미치는 영향은 오염물질의 물리적 화학적 성상 및 오염물질의 농도, 양, 그리고 폭로기간 등에 따라 다르다. 각 오염물질별 건강피해를 보면 (1) $아황산가스(SO_2)$ 아황산가스는 오염물질 중 가장 대표적인 독성을 가지고 있으며 용해도가 높아서 기도에 용이하게 흡수되어 처음에는 자극증상이 오고 나중에는 기도 저항을 일으켜 폐부종, 호흡중추의 마비를 일으킨다. 만성 폭로 시에는 비염, 인루염, 후각 및 미각장해를 일으킨다. (2) 일산화탄소(CO) CO는 혈색소의 산소운반 능력을 박탈하기 때물에 중독증상을 일으킨다. 즉 CO 중독은 농도와 흡입시간에 따라 차이가 있으나 우선 두통, 현기, 오심, 구토, 이명이 오고 호흡곤란, 허탈상태, 근육이완, 졸도등을 수반하고 혼수상태에서 사망한다. (3) 질소산화물 여러 질소산화물중 배기가스에서는 $NO_2로$ 배출되며 또한 탄화수소와 태양광선이 대기중에서 작용하여 $NO_2를$ 생산하며 $NO_2는$ 변성 Hemoglobin 을 생성하여 호흡기 장해를 일으킨다. $NO_2의$ 급성 중독증상으로서는 눈, 코를 강하게 자극하고 폐충혈, 폐수종, 기관지염, 폐염 등을 일으킨다. 만성 중독시에는 만성폐섬유와 및 폐수종을 일으킨다. (4) $오존(O_3)$ Ozone은 자동차 배기가스에서 나오는 $NO_2$ gas 및 탄화수소와 작용하여, PAN이라는 자극성 물질을 생성시키는 광학적 Smog의 주요소로 알려져 있다. 자극적인 냄새가 있음으로 불쾌감을 주고 비, 인후점막의 전조감과 두통이 오며 폐기능을 저하시키며 더욱 진행되면 폐충혈, 폐수종 등을 일으킨다 (5) Smog에 의한 건강피해 대표적인 것이 1952.12.5~12.8까지 4일간 영국 Lon-don에서 계속된 Smog사건이며, 이 사건으로 말미암아 호흡기질환 사망율이 사건전보다 사건기간 중 혹은 사건후에 5~10배의 증가율을 보였다. 이때 Smog의 주원인은 연료의 불완전 연소에 의한 연기와 이때 발생하는 아황산가스가 주원인이며 dust가 2차적 원인이라고 생각하였다. 새로운 종류의 공해로서 광학적 Smog에 의한 피해가 1970. 7. 18 Tokyo의 한 고등학교에서 발생한 바 운동장에서 운동 중이던 여학생 43명이 눈에 대한 자극증상, 인후동통, 기침을 호소하고 그중에는 호흡곤란으로 의식불명에 빠진 학생도 있었다. 이러한 현상은 대기중에 배출된 탄화수소와 oxidant가 대기중의 광 energy와 결합하여 발생한 것이라 하였다. 2) 비, 인후과 질환 대조군 345명과 조사군 469명중 호흡기계, 안과 및 비, 인두의 자각증상의 유소견자는 각각 39명(11.3%)와 106명(22.6%)로서 조사군이 대조군 보다 약 2배 많았다. 조사군의 유소견자중 호흡기증상 29명(29%), 안증상 22명(21%), 비폐쇠 및 비후 50명(47%), 인후통 5명(5%)으로서 비, 인두 자각증상의 유소견자가 55명(52%)으로서 과반수를 차지하고 있었다. 임상검사에 의한 타각증상의 유소견자는 대조군 99명 (28.8), 조사군 180(384%)으로서 조사군이 대조군 보다 10%정도 많았다. 조사군의 유소견자중 호흡기질환 1명(0.6%), 안질환 8명(4.4%), 비염 97명(54%), 인두편도염 74명(41%)으로서 비, 인두질환이 171명이었다. 이상의 성적에서 오염지구의 자, 타각증상의 유소견자중 비, 인두질환이 압도적으로 많은 것으로 보아 대기오염과 이비인후과 질환과는 밀접한 관계가 있으며 앞으로 그 대책이 시급히 요구된다고 하겠다.