• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.453-457
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• 2004

The welders and car painters are frequently exposed to heavy metals such as lead, zinc, cadmium and chromium, and those are a major source of heavy metal poisoning. This study was carried out to investigate the relationship of the heavy metal level in blood by age, working duration, and smoking status among 105 industrial workers and 88 general people in Gyeongnam province from October 2003 to October 2004. The heavy metal level in blood was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean blood lead level in exposed group and control group was 8.40±4.67μl/dl, 1.82±1.35μl/dl, respectively. Mean blood zinc level in exposed group and control group was 9.43±5.38 ㎍/ml, 2.89±1.79㎍/ml, respectively. Mean blood cadmium level in Exposed group and control group was 1.53±1.05μl/dl, 0.60±0.49 μl/dl, respectively. Mean blood chromium level in exposed group and control group was 0.89±0.76μl/dl, 0.68±0.63μl/dl, respectively. Lead, zinc, cadmium and chromium level in blood of exposed group was significantly higher than that of control group. In the comparison of smoking status, lead, zinc and cadmium level of smoker's was significantly higher than that of non-smoker's. Comparison of heavy metal level by age, lead, zinc, cadmium level in 40's, 50's (exposed group) in blood significantly higher than that of 20's, 30's. In exposed group, working duration has no significant difference. In conclusion, smoking was the most hazardous factor to elevate in blood heavy metal levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.14-20
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• 2015

The content of hazardous heavy metal of materials used in playground facility for children was investigated using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyses, In order to examine the content of hazardous heavy metals according to the material color, four colors, i.e., green, red, yellow and blue, were categorized on the materials used. The highest lead content is observed in the yellow plastic samples. The yellow samples with relatively high lead content show that the chrome content is also high. This can explained that lead chromate, so-called chromium yellow, is normally used as a main pigment to express the yellow color. Therefore, it is concluded that hazardous heavy metal detected in the materials of playground facility for children is due to the pigments used for coloring. Based on above findings, the relationship between the color of materials used in playground facility for children and the content of hazardous heavy metal is discussed.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.258-266
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• 2019

Objectives: In this study, blood lead was analyzed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAs) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We tried to examine the difference and consistency of the analytical values and the applicability of the analytical method. Methods: We selected 57 people who agreed to participate in this study. After confirming the linearity of the calibration standard curves in GF-AAs and ICP-MS, the concentrations of lead in quality control material and samples were measured, and the degree of agreement was compared. Results: The detection limit of the ICP-MS was lower than that of GF-AAs. The coefficient of variation of reference materials was shown to be stable in the ICP-MS and GF-AAs. When the correspondence between the two equipments was verified by bias of the analysis values, a concordance was shown, and approximately 98% of the ideal reference lines were present within ${\pm}40%$ of the deflection. Conclusion: GF-AAs showed high sensitivity to single heavy metal analysis, but it took much time and showed higher detection limit than ICP-MS. Therefore, it would be considered necessary to switch to ICP-MS analysis method, considering that the level of lead exposure is gradually decreasing.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2011

Since 1980's, many mines have been closed and abandoned due to the exhaustion of deposits and declining prices of international mineral resources. Because of the lack of post management for these abandoned mines, Farm land and rivers were contaminated with heavy metal ions and sludge. We studied on the solidification/stabilization of heavy metal ions, chromium ions and lead ions, using magnesia-phosphate cement. Magnesia binders were used calcined-magnesia and dead-burned magnesia. Test specimens were prepared by mixing magnesia binder with chromium ions and lead ions and activators. We analyzed the hydrates by reaction between magnesiaphosphate cement and each heavy metal ions by XRD and SEM-EDAX, and analyzed the content of heavy metal ions in the eruption water from the specimens for the solidification and stabilization of heavy metal ions by ICP. The results was shown that calcined magnesia binder is effective in stabilization for chromium ions and dead-burned magnesia binder is effective in stabilization for lead ions.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.105-110
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• 2009

Yellow sand (or Asian dust) occurs mainly in spring in East Asia. Yellow sand from China and its surrounding regions transports air pollutants, such as aerosols, ozone, and heavy metals. The outdoor workers are frequently exposed to heavy metals during yellow sand phenomenon. This study was carried out to investigate the heavy metal levels in blood among 75 outdoor workers (exposed group) and 86 indoor workers (controled group) in Gyeonggi province from March 2008 to May 2009. Heavy metal levels in blood were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean blood lead levels in exposed group and controled group were $5.19{\pm}1.64{\mu}g/dL$, $4.24{\pm}1.34{\mu}g/dL$, respectively. Mean blood cadmium levels in exposed group and controled group were $1.28{\pm}0.89{\mu}g/dL$, $0.90{\pm}0.59{\mu}g/dL$, respectively. Lead and Cadmium levels in blood of exposed group were significantly higher than those of controled group. In the comparison of smoking status, lead and cadmium levels of smokers were significantly higher than those of non-smokers. In conclusion, the heavy metal levels of outdoor workers were significantly higher than those of indoor workers. And smoking was hazardous factor to elevate heavy metal levels in blood.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.1303-1308
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• 2003

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, copper and lead) on the seed germination of Arabidopsis thaliana, and examinated the removal effects of biostone and green tea on the heavy metal toxicity. Cadmium and chromium among the four heavy metals had no effect on the seed germination even in the concentration fifty times higher than in the official standard concentration of pollutant exhaust notified by the Ministry of Environment. However, seeds were not germinated in the concentration of copper ten times higher and in the concentration of lead fifty times higher than the official standard concentration. When seeds were sown in the solutions of lead (15, 20, 25 and 30 mg/L) and copper(15 and 20 mg/L), the seed germination rates were 0％ and less than 10％, respectively. However, when biostone(3 g/30 $m\ell$) was added, the seed germination rate was 100％ in all the concentrations. The germination rate was 100％ in distilled water and copper solution (5 mg/L). However, green tea (0.2 g/30 $m\ell$) was added, the seed germination rate was 0％ in both. The results show that cadmiun and chromium had no effect on the seed germination, but lead and copper decreased the rate of seed germination of Arabidopsis thaliana, Biostone removed heavy metal toxicity, but green tea did not removed heavy metal toxicity during germination.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.59-72
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of heavy metal concentrations in the blood and urine of the general population. This research had been conducted from April to December 2008, studying 545 residents of Daejeon and Chungcheong Province. Through the concentrations of heavy metals(Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Mn) in the biota samples and questionnaires, the residents heavy metal exposure level and the influential factors according to personal characteristics or lifestyle were evaluated. As to the heavy metal concentration in the blood and urine of the comparing region, were As and Mn statistically significant(p<0.01, p<0.05). Blood lead and urinary mercury concentrations were higher in males than females. The heavy metal concentration for each age group increased blood mercury. The concentration of all heavy metals were higher in the drinkers than in the non-drinkers. Blood lead and mercury concentrations were higher in the smokers than in the non-smokers, but the urinary cadmium, arsenic and blood manganese was higher in the non-smokers than in the smokers. As to the blood lead and urinary cadmium concentration according to the food preference fish showed high concentration. To clarify the factors affecting the heavy metal concentration in biota among subjects multiple regression analysis was conducted. As a results, it turned out that as to lead content in blood, sex, age and smoking have influence on the subjects with explanatory adequacy of 14.0 %. These results demonstrated that the factors affected the concentrations of heavy metals in blood and urine. The results of this study could be used as the foundational data for setting the health risk assessment.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 1986

In the particular area the heavy metal concentrations in the soil were determined and compared to the contents in vegetables which were grown on the soil. Simultaneously the degree of contamination was examined. Samples were collected from Chinese cabbage, radish and Altari-mu, together with the soil on which the three kinds of vegetables have grown. The sites of samples collection were Jinguan-sa(non-polluted area) and Sangaedong(polluted area). The contents of cadimium, copper, lead and zinc were determined by means of atomic absorption spectro-photometer. The results obtained were as follows; 1. In soils, the average contents of heavy metal in Jinguan-sa area (Cd; 0.15ppm, Cu; 0.15ppm, Zn; 11.5ppm) were lower than those in sangye-dong(Cd; 0.26ppm, Cu; 13.0ppm, Zn; 17.1ppm). 2. In vegetables, the average have metal contents in Jinguan-sa were cadmium; 0.11ppm, copper; 5.29ppm, zinc; 18.75ppm and the average contents in Sangye-dong were cadmium; 0.16ppm, copper; 6.64ppm, lead; 0.14ppm, zinc; 15.01ppm. 3. The contents of lead showed zero ppm in Jinguan-sa area(soil and vegetables). In vegetables difference in concentration of heavy metals was not observed between reclaimed area and non reclaimed area. Statistical analysis showed that no correlation in the heavy metal concentrations between those in soils and in vegetables.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.10-17
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• 2001

The present work investigates the possible use of fly ash for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. Batch experiments were conducted and the influences of metal concentration, pH, and fly ash concentration were investigated. Heavy metals used in these studies were lead and zinc. Adsorption studies were done over a range of pH values (3~10) at $25^{\circ}C$ and heavy metal concentrations of 10~400 mg/L using fly ash concentrations of 10 and 20 g/L. Experiments were also conducted without fly ash to determine the extent of heavy metal removal by precipitation. Kinetic and equilibrium experiments were performed and adsorption data were correlated with both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models. The results of these studies indicate that 리y ash can be used as an adsorbent for heavy metals in the aqueous solutions, yet the degree of removal depends on the pH.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.279-293
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• 2014

Objectives: Children are more susceptible to heavy metal toxicity than adults. The purpose of this study was to evaluate heavy metal concentrations in the blood of Korean preschoolers and investigate the association between metals in blood and related factors. Methods: A total of 512 subjects from 36 to 83 months of age were sampled. A questionnaire survey was performed and the levels of lead, mercury and cadmium were measured in the blood samples of all subjects. Their parents were interviewed in order to obtain information on basic characteristics, dietary patterns, socio-economic factors, and indoor/outdoor environment of the preschoolers. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the association between the above factors and lead, mercury or cadmium concentrations. Results: The geometric mean concentrations of lead, mercury and cadmium in the blood were $1.45{\pm}1.58{\mu}g/dL$, $2.14{\pm}1.74{\mu}g/dL$ and $0.23{\pm}1.91{\mu}g/dL$, respectively. Results from multiple linear regression analysis showed that blood lead levels were associated with birth weight and paternal smoking status. Daily mercury intake from food and maternal education were also shown to influence mercury concentrations in blood. Also, blood cadmium concentrations were associated with maternal age and having a bus garage near the place of residence. Conclusion: This study suggests that smoking status, dietary patterns and the environmental status near the residence should be considered as important factors for preventable sources of heavy metal exposure in preschoolers.