• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.4 s.51
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• pp.875-884
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• 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
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2006

Objectives: We wanted to evaluate the main route of exposure to lead and cadmium for the general population in Korea by using multi-route and multi-media exposure assessment Methods: Samples of air at the homes, samples of the food and water and peripheral blood samples were collected from thirty volunteers living in Seoul (the metropolitan area), Yong-in (the suburban area) and Ansan (the industrial area) in 2001. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric methods were used for the determination of the Pb and Cd levels in the air, food, water and blood samples. Results: The average intake of lead through the air, drinking water and food were $5.06{\mu}g/day\;(26.3%)\;0.002{\mu}g/day\;(0.1%),\;and\;16.4{\mu}g/day\;(73.6%)$, respectively. The average intake of cadmium through the air, drinking water and food were $0.082{\mu}g/day\;(0.9%),\;0.001{\mu}g/day\;(0.007%),\;and\;12.61 {\mu}g/day\;(99.0%)$, respectively. The blood lead level was statistically higher in the male subjects than in the female subjects (3.39 and $2.22{\mu}g/dl$, respectively), and only gender was a significant variable on the multiple regression analysis for blood lead. Conclusions: This study showed that the intake of lead and cadmium through food was the major route of exposure. A policy to reduce the pollutants according to the exposure routes should be established. However, more studies will be needed to support these data for the general population.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.248-251
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• 2008

During survey of blood lead concentration of workers who worked in lead refining industry, we found that some foreign workers showed increased blood lead level compared with that of domestic workers. The mean concentration of lead in blood for foreign workers (15%, 13 workers, mean age: 29) was 55.8 ug/dL which was over biological exposure index, while that of Korean workers (85%, 76 workers, mean age: 42) was 28.9 ug/dL. Some other biological markers of lead exposure such as ZPP and ${\delta}-ALA$ also showed elevated levels. Most of foreign workers stayed in dormitories near or in the factories that may cause to let them under the condition of 24 hours exposure of lead. The lack of safety manual on proper prevention of lead exposure in their own language for effective communication may be one of reasons of elevated blood lead concentration of foreign workers.

• 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 Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate relationship between plasma $\delta$ - aminolevulinic acid (ALAP) and lead exposure indices in exposure to lead. The subjects were 218 male workers in 2 storage battery companies and 2 secondary smelting companies. Blood lead(PbB), blood zinc-protoporphyrin( ZPP), urinary $\delta$ - aminolevulinic acid (ALAU), hemoglobin(Hb), and hematocrit(Hct) were measured as lead exposure indices. The results were as follows, 1. The means of blood lead and blood ZPP concentration of subjects were $27.2{\pm}14.0{\mu}g/d{\ell}$ and $55.1{\pm}47.6{\mu}g/d{\ell}$, respectively. The means of plasma $\delta$ - ALA and urinary $\delta$ - ALA concentration were $18.9{\pm}25.1{\mu}g/d{\ell}$ and $2.1{\pm}4.6mg/{\ell}$, respectively. 2. The concentration of ALAP was $11.2{\mu}g/{\ell}$ for below $20{\mu}g/d{\ell}$ PbB, $12.8{\mu}g/{\ell}$ for from $21-40{\mu}g/d{\ell}$ PbB, and $51.2{\mu}g/{\ell}$ for over $40{\mu}g/d{\ell}$ PbB, respectively. 3. ALAP was significantly correlated with ALAU(r=0.829, p<0.01), ZPP(r=0.724, p<0.01) and PbB(r=0.552, p<0.01).

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2019

Cadmium is a strong toxic heavy metal which presents in paints and liquid wastes and causes oxidative stress in fish. On the other hand, lead is widely used for different purposes, e.g. lead pipes, it targets vital organs such as liver and kidney causing biochemical alterations. The present study evaluates the effects of 60 days exposure to Cd and Pb either single or combined together in African catfish. Sixty-four fishes were divided into 3 groups and exposed to $CdCl_2$ (7.02 mg/L) or $PbCl_2$ (69.3 mg/L) or a combination of them along with control group. Activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) were estimated. Moreover, gill, liver and kidney were assayed for activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Individual exposure showed that both Cd and Pb significantly decreased LDH activity and SOD activity in the kidney. Pb significantly increased G-6-PDH activity and decreased GSH level in the gill. CAT activity in liver and kidney elevated significantly on Cd exposure while lead caused a significant depletion in the liver and significant elevation in the kidney. Both Cd and Pb significantly increased MDA levels in liver and kidney while Pb increased its level in gills. The combined exposure resulted in normalization of LDH, G-6-PDH activity, and CAT activity in liver and kidney as well as GSH level in both tissues and MDA in gill and kidney. The combination increased SOD activity and MDA level in liver and decreased SOD activity in kidney and GSH level in gills. In conclusion, the antioxidant system of African catfish was adversely affected by prolonged exposure to Cd and Pb. The combined exposure caused less damage than individual exposure and returned most parameters to those of controls.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.1 s.41
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• pp.65-73
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• 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
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• v.28 no.2 s.50
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• pp.421-432
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• 1995

The influence of lead exposure on renal function was studied. Eighty nine lead exposed workers who worked in 2 storage battery factories, and seventy one control workers were chosen for this study. Blood lead(PbB) and zinc protoporphyrin in whole blood(ZPP) were selected as indicators of lead exposure. As indicators of renal function, urinary N-acetyl-$\beta$-D-glucosaminidase(NAG), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), serum creatinine(S-Cr), total protein in urine(U-TP),and serum uric acid(S-Ua) were selected. The results obtained were as follows: 1. While the mean values of lead exposure indicators of lead workers were significantly different from non-exposed ones, the mean values of NAG, U-TP, BUN and S-Cr of renal function indicators of exposed were also significantly different from non-exposed but their mean values were all within normal limits. 2. BUN, logarithmic U-TP, logarithmic NAG and S-Cr showed statistically significant correlation with PbB. 3. The proportion of workers whose values of renal function indicators were over the normal limits(NAG7.5 U/g Cr ; U-TP10.9 mg/dl ; BUN20 mg/dl ; S-Crl.2 mg/dl ; S-Ua7.0 mg/dl) by the level of lead absorption in terms of PbB and ZPP were calculated. The proportion of workers with over the normal limits of U-TP among total workers showed the dose-response relationship. When age is adjusted, U-TP showed significantly strong dose-response relationship with the level of PbB and ZPP.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.2 s.34
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• pp.181-194
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• 1991

This study intended to obtain an useful information on the prevalence of subjective symptoms, and to clarify the interrelationships between blood lead and lead related symptoms in low level lead exposure. The 93 male workers exposed to lead and 56 male nonexposed workers were examined for their blood lead(PBB), Zinc-protoporphy(ZPP), hemoglobin(HB) and personnal history, and completed 15 questionnaires related to symptoms of lead absorption : also measured lead concentration in air (PBA) in the workplace. The results obtained were as follows ; 1. The means of blood lead (PBB), blood ZPP and hemoglobin (HB) among workers exposed to lead were $26.1{\pm}8.8{\mu}g/dl,\;28.3{\pm}26.0{\mu}g/dl$ and $16.2{\pm}1.2g/dl$ : whereas those of nonexposed workers were $18.7{\pm}5.1{\mu}g/dl,\;20.6{\pm}8.7{\mu}g/dl$ and $17.3{\pm}1.1g/dl$. The means of above three indicies between two groups showed significant difference statistically (p<0.05). 2. The means of blood lead (PBB), blood ZPP and hemoglobin of workers exposed .to different lead concentration in air were as follows : When it was below $25{\mu}g/m^3$, the indices were $24.7{\pm}79,\;26.1{\pm}26.8{\mu}g/dl\;and\;16.4{\pm}1.1g/dl$ respectively : These indices were $27.1{\pm}8.5,\;23.9{\pm}10.92{\mu}g/dl\;and\;16.2{\pm}1.3g/dl$ when the lead concentration in air was $25{\sim}50{\mu}g/m^3$ : and they were $3.4{\pm}9.3,\;42.3{\pm}31.3{\mu}g/dl\;and\;15.5{\pm}1.2g/dl$ when the concentration of lead was above $50{\mu}g/m^3$. Although there were statistical difference in blood lead and hemoglobin among three different lead concentration in air, there was no statistical difference of blood ZPP among the three groups with different exposure levels (p>0.05). 3. The most frequent by complained symptom was 'Generalized weakness and fatigue', and fewest symptom was 'Intermittent pains in abdomen' 4. Only two symptoms out of fifteen symptoms checked by themselves revealed significant difference between exposed and nonexposed groups. These were 'Intermittent pains of abdomen' and 'Joint pain or arthralgia' (p<0.05), No positive correlation was found between the levels of blood lead and symptom groups categorized as gastrointestinal, neuromuscular and constitutional symptoms, 5. Blood lead (r=0.3995) and ZPP (r=0.2837) showed statistically significant correlation with mean lead concentration in air, whereas correlations were not demonstrated between blood lead and lead related symptoms or blood ZPP and lead related symptoms. 6. Blood lead (PBB) and ZPP showed association (r=0.2466) and the equation PBB=23.75+0.0842 ZPP was derived. 7. On stepwise multiple regression, using blood lead level as a dependent variable and ZPP, hemoglobin (HB), age, work duration (WD) and symptom prevalence as a independent variables, only ZPP significantly contributed a lot to blood lead level. 8. While the ZPP measurement was found to be a good indicator in evaluating health effect of lead absorption in low level lead exposure, lead related symptoms were not sensitive enough to evaluate of lead absorption in low level exposure.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.211-211
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• 1996

Changes in glutamate release and uptake on cerebellar cells after the chronic exposure to lead were investigated. Rats were received 0.25% lead acetate in drinking water from the beginning of the pregnancy. The control group was given 0.125% sodium acetate in drinking water. The cerebellar cells from 7 or 8 day-old pups were cultured. Amino acid release from cerebellar granule cells and the glutamate uptake into cerebellar glial cells were measured using HPLC-ECD. Basal glutamate release and NMDA-induced glutamate release didn't show significant difference. However, the other amino acids in the granule cells obtained from lead exposed pups were less released than the control after the stimulation by NMDA (50$\mu$M). SNAP-induced (50$\mu$M) glutamate release was significantly reduced in granule cells prepared from lead exposed pups. The basal glutamate uptake in glial cells didn't show any difference. However, the uptake in glial cells prepared from lead exposed pups was significantly less blocked by PDC (24$\mu$M) compared to the control group. These results indicate that lead exposure to the mother might affect the Excitatory amino acid system during the development of the offspring.