• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.652-656
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• 2014

Mercury amount in vapor phase from 3 types of CFL(compact fluorescent lamp) are estimated by measuring mercury concentration in vapor phase. The mercury concentration in vapor phase from CFL is sharply decreased during initial time and then the change in the mercury concentration is slightly decreased up to 24 hours. The mercury concentration in vapor phase is almost constant after 42 hours, which can be called by stabilized concentration. It can be estimated that the stabilized concentration is caused by the evaporation of mercury in the residues of broken CFL and can be affected by temperature and pressure in crushing apparatus. The mercury concentration for CFL manufactures are in the order of A < B < C as the same results of the initial mercury concentration and the stabilized concentration in vapor phase. As increased air flow rate, the partial pressure of mercury is decreased and the amount of mercury is reduced. Initially, the mercury concentration in vapor phase emitted from CFLs is higher than the regulatory level of $0.1mg/m^3$ in the specific facilities regardless of air flow rate. Hence, it is absolutely necessary that mercury in vapor phase should be controlled at the point of crushing campact fluorescent lamp.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.1 no.2
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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.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.30 no.1
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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.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.377-386
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was carried out for the purpose of evaluating the blood mercury concentration of the residents of Busan, Korea, as well as the relationship between the mercury concentration and the pattern of fish consumption along with other epidemiological factors. Methods: Two hundred ninety-three subjects (147 men and 146 women), who were aged 40 years or more, were recruited into this study between June and October 2009. The mean age of the subjects was 54.3 years (with a range of 40-70 years). Mercury concentrations in blood samples were measured using a gold-amalgam collection method. Results: The geometric mean concentration of mercury in the total subjects was $8.63\;{\mu}g/L$ [range: $1.48{\sim}45.71\;{\mu}g/L$]. The blood mercury concentration of the men ($9.55\;{\mu}g/L$) was significantly higher than that of the women ($7.76\;{\mu}g/L$). The blood mercury concentration of those who eat fish more than 4 times per week was higher than others, and was statistically significant (male p = 0.0019, female p = 0.0002). According to the multiple analysis, the blood mercury concentration was significantly affected by the consumed fish but other epidemiological factors were not related. Conclusions: It was found that the subjects who have consumed a large amount of fish may have high blood mercury concentration. It appears that fish consumption can influence blood mercury concentration. Therefore, guidelines for fish consumption that will decrease blood mercury concentration might be necessary in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 1993

This study aims at investigating the relationships between the urinary mercury concentration and blood zinc-protoportphyrin, serum cholinestrase activity, making 149 workers exposed to mercury vapor and 68 workers who were not exposed to mercury among the workers in a flurorescent lamp manufactureing factory an object of this investigation. The results are as follows ; 1. In an exposed group the number of those whose urinary mercury concentration showed over $100{\mu}g/l$ was 21 persons (14.3%) among 147 workers. The average urinary mercury concentration was $52.1{\pm}46.1{\mu}g/l$($1.8-361.2{\mu}g/l$), which proved to be higher than the average concentration in a control group. 2. In an exposed group, the average concentration of blood zinc-protoporphyrin was $27.8{\pm}12.5{\mu}g/dl$($12.2-101.5{\mu}g/dl$), which proved to be somewhat higher than the average concentration in a control group. But it did not show a significant difference. 3. In an exposed group, the average concentration of serum cholinesterase activity showed $1936.7{\pm}341.0IU/l$(1,120,0-2,8750IU/l), which proved to be lower than the average concentration in a control group. 4. The relational coefficient between urinary mercury concentration and blool zinc-protoporphyrin, serum cholinesterase activity of the whole workers exposed to mercury showed little difference. While the relational coefficient between the urinary mercury concentration and blood zinc-protoporphyrin of the workers whose urinary mercury concentration showed over $100{\mu}g/l$ was relatively high, which was 0.62.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.218-225
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• 2011

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between the blood mercury concentration and cardiovascular risk factors in elderly Korean individuals living in coastal areas. Methods: The sample consisted of 477 adults (164 males, 313 females) aged 40 to 65 years who visited a Busan health promotion center from June to September in 2009. The relationship between blood mercury concentration and cardiovascular risk factors including metabolic syndrome, cholesterol profiles, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), was investigated. Variables related to blood mercury concentration were further evaluated using multiple regression analysis. Results: The blood mercury concentration of the study population was 7.99 (range, 7.60 to 8.40) ${\mu}g$/L. In males, the blood mercury concentration was 9.74 (8.92 to 10.63) ${\mu}g$/L, which was significantly higher than that in females (7.21, [6.80 to 7.64] ${\mu}g$/L). The blood mercury concentration of the study population was related to several cardiovascular risk factors including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (p=0.044), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (p=0.034), BMI (p = 0.006), waist circumference (p = 0.031), and WHR (p < 0.001). In males, the blood mercury concentration was significantly correlated with WHR in the multiple regression analysis. Conclusions: In males, the blood mercury concentration was related to waist-to-hip ratio, which is a central obesity index and cardiovascular risk factor. Our finding suggests that cardiovascular disease risk in males was increased by mercury exposure via an obesity-related mechanism.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.4 s.28
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• pp.474-479
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• 1989

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of improvement in work environment and of segregation in a fluorescent lamp manufacturing factory. Among the total of 80 workers, 8 workers whose mercury concentration in urine reached a hazardous level ($200-299{\mu}g/l$) were moved to mercury free workplace. The follow-up examination for their mercury concentration in urine was done three times ; on May 3, 1988, September 1, 1988 and April 3, 1989. The results were as follows : 1. Mercury concentration in the air was reduced from 0.140 to 0.107 $mg/m^3$ in 4 months, and to $0.087mg/m^3$ in one year after environmental improvement in workplace. However the level still exceeded the Threshold Limit Value. 2. The geometric mean of urinary mercury concentration among 80 workers was $173.0{\mu}g/l\;(5.1{\sim}458.6{\mu}g/l$). The distribution of workers according to urinary mercury concentration showed that 9 workers (11.2%) were above the mercury poisoning level ($300{\mu}g/l$), 24 workers (30.0%) were $200-299{\mu}g/l$, 35 workers (43.8%) were $50-199{\mu}g/l$, and 12 workers (15.0%) were below 50 ${\mu}g/l$. 3. Among the 24 workers whose urinary mercury concentration was 200-299 $50-199{\mu}g/l$, 8 were able to be followed up. Their mean urinary mercury concentration before segregation was $244.9{\mu}g/l$, but decreased to $151.4{\mu}g/l$ in four months, $128.8{\mu}g/l$ in six months, and $46.8{\mu}g/l$ in one year after segregation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.253-256
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• 1982

The organ distribution of mercury was examined in the rat after oral administration of a single dose of red mercuric sulfide (15mg Hg/kg). The concentration of total mercury in the organs and blood after 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 72 hours of administration was determined by Quartz Tube Combustion-Gold Amalgamation Method. It was found that the maximal concentration of total mercury was in the kidneys and muscle within 24 hours and in the brain, heart, liver and blood within 48 hours. The descending order of the maximal organ and blood concentration was: kidneys(1.08ppm)>blood> muscle>heart>liver>brain. The accumulation states of total mercury in the rat organs were investigated by continuous administration of red mercuric sulfide (5mg Hg/kg/day) for 15 days. The mercury concentration increased progressively throughout the experimental period and the descending order of the highest level of mercury after 15 days was: kidneys (1.55ppm)>blood>liver. The concentration of alkyl mercury in brain, liver and kidneys also was measured after 7 and 15 days of consecutive administration of red mercuric sulfide (5mg Hg/kg/day). The concentration in the Kidneys and the liver was very low, but was significantly different from control group. The concentration in the brain was extremely low and was not significantly different from control group.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.287-294
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• 2009

This study analysed the mercury concentration in the hair of 62 students (male : 21, female : 41) of D university in Najusi, Jeon-Nam area. Also, questionnaire, which developed by NIES, were completed by the students. According to the questionnaire, most of the students had a higher intake of meat than that of fish. Also, among the students, there were many smokes and many had dental treatment with amalgam. Based on the gender, female showed 1.024 ${\mu}g/g$ and male showed 0.882 ${\mu}g/g$ of the mercury concentration. This means that female students had higher level of mercury in their hair, but it was not a significant statistic difference. Comparing by the intake frequency of meat, processed food stuffs, protein foods, it shows the more they at the higher mercury concentration was observed. According to the intake frequency of fish, when the number of times they intake increased, the mercury concentration was higher. Under one time was 0.857 ${\mu}g/g$ and twice or more times were 1.152 ${\mu}g/g$, which showed a significant statistical difference (p<0.05). Depending on the Life style, the mercury concentration in the hair was high with workout, outdoor activities, and direct smoking. The mercury concentration in the hair showed no difference for whether they received amalgam treatment but the personal dietary habit and the Living condition affects strongly on the mercury concentration level.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2013

Background: This study was carried out for the purpose of comprehensively evaluating the mercury exposure level of residents in several areas and the correlation between hair mercury concentration and blood mercury concentration. Method: One thousand one hundred ninety seven subjects were sampled from 30 sites using random assignment sampling. We performed a questionnaire survey and measured the level of total mercury in hair and blood samples from all subjects. Results: The geometric mean concentrations of hair and blood mercury in all subjects were 1.27 mg/kg [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-1.32 mg/kg] and 5.24 ${\mu}g/L$ [95% CI: 5.07-5.41 ${\mu}g/L$], respectively. Male (1.56 mg/kg in hair, 6.00 ${\mu}g/L$ in blood) was significantly higher than that of female (1.03 mg/kg in hair, 4.56 ${\mu}g/L$ in blood), and the concentrations were elevated as age increased up to the 50s. Education, smoking, alcohol drinking, and using of pesticides were also shown to influence mercury concentrations in hair and blood. The ratio of hair/ blood mercury concentration was 261.3. The total mercury concentration in hair was identified to be significantly related with total mercury concentration in blood (r=0.814, p<0.001). Conclusion: The geometric mean concentrations of hair and blood mercury were higher than the levels provided in international recommendations. The total mercury concentration in hair was positively correlated with the concentration in blood. The results of this study suggest that hair mercury be considered as a useful tool for the evaluation of mercury exposure.