• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.103-113
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• 1993

This study was conducted to explore the feasibility of using the lead level in the hair of children as a screening test for lead intoxication of children and as an indicator for environmental pollution. Lead concentration of hair was measured for 268 seven to nine-year-old elementary school children in Taegu city (147 children) and Gampo town(121 children). The lead level in hair was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with a graphite furnace atomizer. The following information was obtained for all children: sex, age, father's occupation and smoking habits, kinds of hair cleaner, fingernail biting habits, and status of the child's hands and clothing. The mean lead level in hair was $8.7{\pm}2.9{\mu}g/g$ in the urban area and $7.7{\pm}2.2{\mu}g/g$ in the rural area. There were significant differences between two groups(p<0.01). The difference of lead levels in hair measured by cleanliness of the child's hands(clean: $7.4{\pm}2.7{\mu}g/g$, dirty: $8.2{\pm}2.6{\mu}g/g$) and child's clothing(clean: $8.0{\pm}2.5{\mu}g/g$, dirty: $9.3{\pm}2.6{\mu}g/g$) were statistically significant, but other factors were not significant. In multiple regression analysis, difference of residency and age were significant variables for lead level in the hair of children. These findings suggest that measurement of lead level in the hair is a useful method for the screening of the lead intoxication of children and monitoring environmental conditions.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.129-136
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• 1985

This paper is carried out to determine the venous blood gas components and heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium and copper, in blood between urban and rural teenager. The subjects were 34 in urban, Taegu city and 37 in rural, Euisung-Gun. But smokers were excluded. The specimens were sampled in May, 1985. The heavy metals were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (IL. 551) and carboxy-Hb, Met-Hb, Hb, $O_2\;and\;CO_2$, blood gas analyzer (IL. 1301) and CO-oximeter (IL. 282). In urban group, $PO_2\;and\;O_2-Hb$ were significantly lower than in rural (p<0.01, p<0.03, respectively), and ${HCO_3}^{-}\;and\;TCO_2$ were significantly higher than in rural (p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively). CO-Hb concentration was rather higher in the rural group than the urban (p<0.03), other Met-Hb was higher in urban group than in the rural (p<0.01). Lead and cadmium were also significantly higher in the urban group (p<0.03, p<0.02, respectively).

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.224-236
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• 1998

A study was conducted to investigate the blood lead and zinc protoporphyrin(ZPP) concentrations of the underground parking lot workers who exposed to vehicular exhaust aerosols which contained lead. The blood samples were collected from 25 study subjects of underground parking lot and from 33 controls in Taegu, from July to October, 1997. And also the related factors to the blood lead and ZPP concentrations were investigated. Blood lead concentration and ZPP concentration were measured by flameless furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (1L.551) and hemetofluorometer, respectively. The mean blood lead concentrations of study subjects and controls were $23.10{\pm}20.77{\mu}g/dl$ and $12.99{\pm}12.71{\mu}g/dl$, respectively(p<0.05), and the mean blood ZPP concentrations of study subjects and controls were $40.72{\pm}9.46{\mu}g/dl$ and $38.21{\pm}10.97{\mu}g/dl$, respectively. No significant correlations were observed between the blood lead concentration of the study subjects and their job duration and between blood ZPP concentration of the study subjects and their job duration. There were no statistically significant differences in the blood lead concentration and the blood ZPP concentration of smokers and nonsmokers. In multiple regression analysis on blood lead concentration of the study subjects and controls, occupation was a only significant dependent variable. In case of bood ZPP concentration, age was a only significant dependent variable in the study subjects and controls.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.25 no.3 s.39
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• pp.287-302
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• 1992

Hemoglobin (Hb), zinc protoporphyrin(ZPP) and blood lead (PbB) levels were determined for 1,851 blood samples collected from healthy urban population to establish reliable baselines for Hb, ZPP and PbB levels by age and sex. ZPP values were analyzed with a hematofluorometer and PbB determinations were concurrently carried out using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The blood sampling period was about 6 months from May, 1991 and the summarized results were as follows ; 1. The mean value of Hb in male and female were $14.55{\pm}1.81g/dl$ and $12.61{\pm}1.18g/dl$ respectively and there was statistically significant difference(p<0.05). 2. The mean value of ZPP in pre-schoolchildren was $37.49{\pm}13.31{\mu}g/dl$ for male, $35.77{\pm}11.85{\mu}g/dl$ for female and that of ZPP in after 7 years groups was $31.91{\pm}8.23{\mu}g/dl$ for male, $30.11{\pm}9.11{\mu}g/dl$ for female and there was statistically significant difference(p<0.05). 3. The mean value of PbB in pre-schoolchildren was $25.10{\pm}5.21{\mu}g/dl$ for male, $24.45{\pm}4.18{\mu}g/dl$ for female and that of PbB in after 7 years groups was $24.28{\pm}3.00{\mu}g/dl$ for male, $21.99{\pm}5.05{\mu}g/dl$ for female and there was statistically significant difference(p<0.05).