• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.128-135
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• 1991

To obtain the basic information of environmental working status in mercury industries in Korea, 26 mercury industries were investigated with mercury concentration in air and various factors affecting on workplace environment. The results were as follows : 1. The mean air concentration of mercury was $0.046{\pm}0.035mg/m^3$ in 26 mercury industries. 2. The highest mean air concentration of mercury among 26 mercury industries classified by type of product was found in sodium hydroxide manufacturing industries ($0.054{\pm}0.020mg/m^3$) and the lowest mean was found in mercury battery manufacturing industries ($0.003{\pm}0.002mg/m^3$). 3. While the highest' mean air concentration of mercury was found in manual method ($0.061{\pm}0.041mg/m^3$) among the types of operation method, lowest one was found in automatic method ($0.035{\pm}0.025mg/m^3$). 4. While the mean air concentration of mercury was $0.023{\pm}0.018mg/m^3$ in good clean status of workshop, the mean air concentration of mercury in bad clean status was $0.06{\pm}0.033mg/m^3$. Among various factors affecting on th e air concentration of mercury, clean Iiness of workshop showed statistically significant difference with air concentration of mercury, and automation of workshop and local exhaust ventitlation also played important role in control the air concentration of mercury in the working environment.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.24-31
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• 2024

Mercury is a chemical pollutant widely present in the environment. Humans are generally exposed to mercury in the form of organic Hg (methylmercury) through the consumption of seafood. Koreans enjoy eating fish therefore blood mercury concentration is usually higher than in developed countries. By investigating blood mercury concentration according to the frequency of seafood consumption and sociodemographic factors, we aimed to identify recent trends in blood mercury concentration in Korean adults. This study was conducted using KoNEHS cycle 4 (2018~2020) from the National Institute Environmental Research Survey. The geometric mean concentration of blood mercury of the subjects was 2.959 (±1.018) ㎍/L, which was significantly higher in men than in women. It was observed that as the frequency of fish and shellfish consumption increased, the blood mercury concentration increased. In adjusted logistic regression, fish consumption was associated with 36.7% increased risk of blood mercury levels [Odds ratio, 1.367; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.246~1.500], and shellfish consumption was associated with 26.5% increased risk of blood mercury levels [Odds ratio, 1.265; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.134~1.410]. Blood mercury concentration was also found to increase as the socioeconomic level increased. In conclusion, the geometric mean concentration of blood mercury was increased compared to the one in the 3rd KoNEHS (2015~2017) and seafood consumption and socioeconomic level were still significantly associated with increasing blood mercury concentration in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage healthy seafood consumption habits and conduct continuous monitoring considering various factors to reduce blood mercury levels.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.33-39
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• 2008

The genotoxicity of mercury compounds have been investigated with a variety of genetic endpoints in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The mercury ions are positively charged and easily form complexes with DNA by binding with negatively charged centers to cause mutagenesis. Further, the mercury ions can react with sulfhydryl (-SH) groups of proteins associated with DNA replication and alter genetic information. Another mechanism by which mercury damages DNA molecule is via its probable involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces DNA strand breaks. In order to investigate whether the ROS production was induced by mercury, we performed ROS assay. As the result, the ROS production was significantly increased when it grows dose-dependently and time-dependently. We compared mercury alone-treated group and mercury co-treated with Vitamin C or glutathione group. As the result, the ROS production induced by mercury was decreased by Vitamin C and glutathione. Co-treated with Vitamin C and glutathione group was the most effective to lowering ROS production induced by mercury.

• 환경영향평가
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.113-125
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• 1998

The amount of mercury emitted from an incinerator depends on the properties of waste, combustion condition, and control devices. Mercury concentration in air proportionates to the increase of incinerator installation. The purpose of this study is to provide a method for determination of mercury emission factor which can predict the amount of mercury emitted from each incinerator specifically. Case study was performed for N municipal waste incinerator. Based on the method presented in this paper, we obtained mercury emission factor as 1.85~1.95 g Hg/t at N Municipal Waste Incinerator and this result was regarded as reasonable when compared with existing mercury emission factor in reference cases. Fluorescent lamps turned out to be the most important source(44.4%) of mercury in municipal waste and its amount will tend to increase, while batteries become less significant. In addition, medical waste is one of the major source of mercury.

• 한국소음진동공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국소음진동공학회 2014년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.358-360
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• 2014

For the several decades, various nanomaterials are broadly used in industry and research. With the growth of nanotechnology, the study of nanotoxicity is being accelerated. Particularly, mercury ion is widely used in real life. Because the mercury is representative high toxic material, it is highly recommended to detect the mercury ion. In previous reported work, thymine-thymine mismatches (T-T) capture mercury ion and create very stable base pair ($T-Hg^{2+}-T$). Here, we performed the high sensitive sensing method for direct label free detection of mercury ions and DNA binding using Kelvin Probe Force Microscope (KPFM). In this method, 30 base pairs of thymine (T-30) is used for mercury specific DNA binding ($T-Hg^{2+}-T$). KPFM is able to detect the mercury ion because there is difference between bare T-30 DNA and mercury mediated DNA ($T-Hg^{2+}-T$).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제23권12호
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• pp.1719-1723
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• 2002

1,5-diphenylcarbazone was immobilized on sodium dodecyl sulfate coated alumina. The alumina particle was effectively used for collection of mercury(II) and methylmercury cations at sub-ppb level. The adsorbed mercury was eluted with l mol $L^{-1}$ of hydrobromic acid solution. The mercury(II) was then directly measured by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry utilizing tin (II) chloride where as the total mercury was determined after the oxidation of methylmercury into the inorganic mercury. The methylmercury concentration was calculated by the difference between the value of total mercury and mercury (II). Mercury (II) and methylmercury cations were completely recovered from water with a preconcentration factor of 100 (for 1 L solution.) Relative standard deviation at Hg L ${\mu}gL^{-1}$ level 1.7%(n=8) and the limit of detection was 0.11 ${\mu}gL^{-1}$. The procedure was applied to spring water, well water and seawater and accuracy was assessed through recovery experiments.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.196-204
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• 2018

Objectives: To determine urinary mercury levels in e-waste workers in Southern Thailand and the airborne mercury levels in the e-waste shops where they worked, to describe the associations between urinary and airborne mercury levels, and to evaluate the prevalence of mercury exposure-related health effects among e-waste workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 79 workers in 25 e-waste shops who lived in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. Information on general and occupational characteristics, personal protective equipment use, and personal hygiene was collected by questionnaire. Urine samples were collected to determine mercury levels using a cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometer mercury analyzer. Results: The e-waste workers' urinary mercury levels were $11.60{\mu}5.23{\mu}g/g$ creatinine (range, 2.00 to $26.00{\mu}g/g$ creatinine) and the mean airborne mercury levels were $17.00{\mu}0.50{\mu}g/m^3$ (range, 3.00 to $29.00{\mu}g/m^3$). The urinary and airborne mercury levels were significantly correlated (r=0.552, p<0.001). The prevalence of self-reported symptoms was 46.8% for insomnia, 36.7% for muscle atrophy, 24.1% for weakness, and 20.3% for headaches. Conclusions: Personal hygiene was found to be an important protective factor, and should therefore be stressed in educational programs. Employers should implement engineering measures to reduce urinary mercury levels and the prevalence of associated health symptoms among e-waste workers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.74-83
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• 2014

Mercury exists naturally and as a man-made contaminant. The release of processed mercury can lead to a progressive increase in the amount of atmospheric mercury, which enters the atmospheric-soil-water distribution cycles where it can remain in circulation for years. Mercury poisoning is the result of exposure to mercury or mercury compounds resulting in various toxic effects depend on its chemical form and route of exposure. The major route of human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) is largely through eating contaminated fish, seafood, and wildlife which have been exposed to mercury through ingestion of contaminated lower organisms. MeHg toxicity is associated with nervous system damage in adults and impaired neurological development in infants and children. Ingested mercury may undergo bioaccumulation leading to progressive increases in body burdens. This review addresses the systemic pathophysiology of individual organ systems associated with mercury poisoning. Mercury has profound cellular, cardiovascular, hematological, pulmonary, renal, immunological, neurological, endocrine, reproductive, and embryonic toxicological effects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.24-30
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• 1992

Extracts of Panax ginseng root significantly induced tolerance of Fusarium oxysporum to heavy metal, mecury, as the fungal mycelial growth was less inhibited by mercury chloride on potato dextrose medium(PDA) amended with ginseng root than on the PDA with no ginseng amendment. The most favorable concentration of ginseng root powder in detoxification of mercury chloride was 1%. The induced tolerance of F. oxysporum to mercury chloride appeared to be rather due to absorption of ginseng components, and was not related to stimulation of mycelial growth of the fungus per so by ginseng treatment. Ginseng components responsible for inducing tolerance of the fungus to mercury were involved in the water fraction of the ginseng root extract, although the water fraction had no effect on enhancement of the mycelial growth on the medium without mercury chloride. The hexane fraction of ginseng root extract, by which the mycelial growth was stimulated, was not related to the inducement of the tolerance to mercury chloride. However, more tolerance to mercury chloride was noted in PDA with both the water and hexane fractions combined than with either of the two fractions. Six-year-old ginseng roots were more effective in detoxification of mercury chloride than 4-year-old ginsng roots, and American ginseng (P quinquifolium) had no or little effect on inducing tolerance of the fungus to mercury chloride. This method may be used to screen other natural materials for test in the detoxification of mercury chloride.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.268-276
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• 2015

Objectives: According to the 2007 Korea National Environmental Health Survey (KNEHS), some areas in the Gyeongsang Provinces showed very high blood mercury levels in adults. We conducted this project to investigate any related health effects in children due to mercury levels in these areas. Methods: In total, 1,097 students between grades 3 and 6 at 19 elementary schools were recruited from four areas with high mercury exposure as identified by the KNEHS. Total mercury levels in biological samples were compared with health check-ups performed on the schoolchildren. Biological monitoring, supported by questionnaires, a computerized neurobehavioral test, a posturography test and a personality test, were applied. Results: Triglycerides showed a significant relation with mercury in blood, urine and hair. Total mercury concentrations were divided into two groups: upper and lower concentration groups based on the median value. In the computerized neurobehavioral test, the upper blood mercury group showed a greater reaction time for color-word vigilance (p<0.05). In the posturography test, the intensity value of the tremor test showd high significant relations with mercury levels (p<0.01). In the personality test, self-consciousness, misdeeds and family relationships showed significant differences between the upper and lower urine mercury groups (p<0.01), and specific reactions, ego resilience and hyperactivity also showed some differences (p<0.1). Conclusion: Some items in the neurobehavioral test, posturography test and personality test showed significant relations with biological mercury levels. Therefore, monitoring and appropriate management of students showing high mercury levels are recommended in order to reduce their mercury exposure.