• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.693-703
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• 2008

The important source of the mercury in water-column is the influx of atmosphere mercury, via dry and wet deposition. In this study, wet deposition of mercury was estimated to be $14.56{\mu}g/m^2$ during 15 months at the Lake Soyang, which is a little higher than those observed in the several rural US Mercury Deposition Network (MDN) sites with similar precipitation depth. The mercury concentration in precipitation did not show a positive correlation with atmospheric RGM (reactive gaseous mercury) concentration, while maintaining good correlation with atmospheric $PM_{2.5}$ at Soyang Dam. This result suggests that the contribution of particulate Hg to the total Hg wet deposition should be more significant than that of RGM. In this study, both precipitation depth and precipitation type affected the amount of wet deposition and the concurrent mercury levels in precipitation. There was generally an inverse relationship between precipitation depth and Hg concentration in precipitation. Precipitation type was another factor that exerted controls on the Hg concentration in precipitation. As a result, the highest concentration of Hg was observed in snow, followed by in mixture (snow+rain) and in rain.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2010

For the purpose of evaluating to remove elemental mercury using SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) catalysts, the result of the concentration variation of elemental mercury in lab experiment and field measurement was compared. The effect of the elemental mercury oxidation on commercial catalysts was studied in simulated gas. Three species of SCR catalyst, $V_2O_5-TiO_2$ type, were selected. The elemental mercury reduced 30% without HCl gas in SCR operating condition. But the width of reduction increased 60% at 20 ppm HCl gas. According to the result of field measurement, reduction rate of elemental mercury at SCR outlet showed 60%. The total mercury concentration decreased about 20%. The results were similar to the lab test. The results of chemical analysis of test sample showed increase of mercury concentration but surface change was not observed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1101-1107
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• 2013

In this study, total mercury and methyl mercury in whole blood of Korean was analyzed so as to investigate the correlation between total mercury (T-Hg) and methyl mercury (Me-Hg). 4000 whole blood samples were divided in four groups, according to T-Hg concentration in percentile: group I (p25-p50), group II (p50-p75), group III (p75-p95) and group IV (p95-p100). 100 samples were randomly selected from the each group, and Me-Hg concentration was measured. T-Hg concentration in whole blood was analyzed using a Direct Mercury Analyzer-80 and obtained limit of detection (LOD) was $0.2{\mu}gL^{-1}$. Me-Hg concentration was analyzed with ethylate derivatization using headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and obtained LOD of methyl mercury was $0.5{\mu}gL^{-1}$. The geometric means of T-Hg and Me-Hg were $6.35{\mu}gL^{-1}$ and $4.44{\mu}gL^{-1}$, respectively, and 71.91% of T-Hg was presented as Me-Hg.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.5 s.81
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• pp.378-387
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• 2004

This study was carried to investigate the emission characteristics of mercury from domestic and industrial MSW (municipal solid waste) incinerator stacks. The mercury concentration levels of flue gas from 32 MSW incinerators stacks selected were above the criteria level ($5{\mu}g/S\;m^3$). MSWI facilities exceeding the criteria levels in Korea are due to the poor units comparison of combustion chamber(CC)-cyclone(CY)-stack. So, the mercury from MSW incinerators stack were suspected to contaminate the natural system unless the MSW incinerators were properly controlled. Mean-while, the relationship between mercury concentration and temperature of flue gas in MSW incinerator stacks were examined at two temperature ranges (Group A : $29.85{\sim}327.63^{\circ}C$, Group B : $446.9{\sim}848.15^{\circ}C$). The mercury concentration in flue gas with high temperature range was higher than that of flue gas with low temperature rage. This mean that the temperature of flue gas plays an important role in mercury control in MSW incinerator. The emission characteristics oi mercury was also evaluated by using the correlation matrix between the mercury and NOx, $PM_{10}$, moisture (MO.) at both low temperature and high temperature flue gas ranges. The mercury concentration was mainly affected by NOx, $PM_{10}$. moisture (MO.) at low temperature range, while the mercury concentration at high temperature flue gas was mainly affected by NOx, moisture (MO.). From these results, it was suggested that the temperature of cooling system and the air pollution control device should be properly regulated in order to control mercury of flue gas in MSWI incinerator.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.90-98
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of urinary mercury and analyze which factors would affect urinary mercury concentration among dental hygienists in dental clinics. Methods: This study conducted by questionnaire and detection of urinary mercury concentration of 268 dental hygienists working in dental clinics from July to August of 2009. Data collected from two hundred and thirty-five dental hygienists were analyzed by the geometric mean (GM). Analytical results of urine samples with less than 0.3 g creatinine/L and greater than 3g creatinine/L were excluded from statistical analysis. Results: Urinary mercury concentration of 235 dental hygienists showed the geometric distribution. The arithmetic and geometric means of urinary mercury concentration were $0.996{\mu}g/g$ creatinine and $0.755{\mu}g/g$ creatinine, respectively. From multiple regression analysis, the number of amalgam filling, the consumption frequency of raw fish and the number of amalgam handling in current workplace was revealed as increasing factors of urinary mercury concentration. Conclusions: The level of urinary mercury in dental hygienists was higher than in general Korean population. The number of amalgam filling, the consumption frequency of raw fish and the number of amalgam handling in current workplace was revealed as increasing factors of urinary mercury concentration. Therefore using resin materials instead of amalgam in dental clinics is highly desirable.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2014

A study was conducted to determine the phytotoxic effect of mercury on seed germination and seedling growth of an important arid legume tree Albizia lebbeck. The seeds germination and seedling growth performance of A. lebbeck responded differently to mercuric chloride treatment (1 mM, 3 mM, 5 mM and 7 mM) as compared to control. Seed germination of A. lebbeck was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by mercury treatment at 1 mM. Root growth of A. lebbeck was not significantly affected by mercury treatment at 1 mM, and 3 mM. Shoot and root length of A. lebbeck were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by 5 mM concentration of mercury treatment. Increase in concentration of mercury treatment at 5 mM and 7 mM significantly (p < 0.05) reduced seedling dry weight of A. lebbeck. The treatment of mercury at 1 mM decreased high percentage of seed germination (22%), seedling length (10%), root length (21.85%) and seedling dry weight (9%). Highest decrease in seed germination (51%), seedling (34%), root length (48%) and seedling dry weight (41%) of A. lebbeck occurred at 7 mM mercury treatment. A. lebbeck showed high percentage of tolerance (78.14%) to mercury at 1 mM. However, 7 mM concentration of mercury produced lowest percentage of tolerance (51.65%) in A. lebbeck. The seed germination potential and seedling vigor index (SVI) clearly decreased with the higher level of mercury. Plantation of A. lebbeck in mercury-polluted area will help in reducing the burden of mercury pollution. A. lebbeck can serve better in coordinating in land management programs in metal contaminated areas. The identification of the toxic concentration of metals and tolerance indices of A. lebbeck would also be helpful for the establishment of air quality standard.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the reference value of mercury (Hg) in liver and kidney of Korean population. The mercury concentration in 244‘sudden and unexpected death’autopsies (male: 180, female: 64) aged from 0 to 87 years was analyzed. The concentration of mercury was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Perkin-Elmer Model 5100) with mercury/hydride generating system (FIAS 400). The contents of mercury in liver and kidney fitted well the log-normal distribution rather than normal distribution. Geometric mean concentration of mercury in liver and kidney was 0.115 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g wet weight and 0.149 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g wet weight, respectively. Geometric mean concentration of mercury in female was higher than in male (p < 0.01). The mercury content in liver and kidney increased with age up to the forties and slightly decreased there-after. The regression model of mercury deposit in liver and kidney by age was predicted as the following equation : Log LHg : -1.0576＋0.0045$.$Age-0.0001$.$Age$^2$＋0.0873$.$Sex, Log KHg = -1.0576＋0.0152$.$Age-0.0002$.$Age$^2$＋0.1935$.$Sex. The liver burden of mercury was estimated to be 158.3∼161.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$ in male and 163.0∼166.9 $\mu\textrm{g}$ in female. The kidney burden of mercury was estimated to be 42.0∼42.9 $\mu\textrm{g}$ in male and 55.5∼57.1 $\mu\textrm{g}$ in female.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.217-221
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• 1984

In order to estimate interfering effects of mercury and lead on biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), BOD in 18 effluent samples were measured under three different concentrations of mercury and lead. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Biochemical oxygen demand(BOD) was decreased under the presence of mercury and lead, with parallel correlation of mercury concentration. 2. High correlations were noted between original BOD concentration and decreasing amount of BOD when concentrations of mercury or lead were increased. 3. When the lead concentration was high, the close correlation was observed between total organic carbon(TOC) and decreasing amount of BOD. 4. There was a negative correlation between TOC/BOD ratio and decreasing amount of BOD when the mercury concentrations were high.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.198-207
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• 1994

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental intervention of work place, metal mercury concentration in air and in urine of the total 43 workers for 3years from December 1991 to October 1993 in a fluorescent lamp manufacturing industry exposed to mercury, was measured before and after implementation of controls such as establishing exhaust ventilation at the department of exhaustion, coating the floor of work place with epostane, cleaning of the floor, improved housekeeping, and etc. The results were as follows. 1. Before the intervention(December 1991) 39.0% exceeded metal mercury Threshold Limit Value(TLV, $0.05mg/m^3$). After the intervention(October 1993) 10.0% exceeded TLV and geometric mean of mercury in air was $0.1mg/m^3$, and showed effectiveness rate of intervention to be 74.4% 2. After the intervention, geometric means of mercury concentrations in air were 0.013, $0.019mg/m^3$ and showed effectiveness rate of intervention to be 76.6%, 65.5% in A factory(right tube lamp)and at exhaustion department, respectively, A follow up survey fround statistically significant reductions in mercury concetration in air three years later. 3. Mercury concentration in urine of 11 workers(29.7%) exceeded warning level of $100{\mu}l/l$ before the intervention. After the intervention, of 3workers(8.8%) exceeded warning level and geometric mean of mercury concentration($26.5{\mu}l/l$) in urine was 2.4 times than that of before the intervention. Geometric means of mercury concentrations in urine of workers at exhaustion department, at sealing and aging department were 44.0, $77.7{\mu}l/l$, respectively and they decreased 2.3, 3.2 times than that of before the intervention.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.348-359
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between frequency of alcohol drinking and blood mercury concentration in Korea. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among them, 3,174 persons were selected for the final study. Results: The concentration of mercury in the blood increased as the frequency of drinking soju or beer increased. Similarly, in the multiple-linear regression analysis model, the frequency of soju drinking was identified as an independent variable showing a statistically significant positive linearity (p<0.001). After controlling for confounding factors, comparing those drinking 'more than twice a week' with those who almost do not drink alcohol, the adjusted ORs for exposure to high concentrations of mercury were 3.24 (95% CI, 2.10-4.99) for drinking soju and 2.07 (95% CI, 1.33-3.22) for drinking beer. The interaction effect between 'soju drinking' and 'spicy pollack and seafood stew' was not statistically significant (p=0.098) for evaluating the interaction effect between the two variables. Conclusions: The concentration of mercury in the blood increased as the frequency of drinking of soju or beer increased. The higher the frequency of alcohol drinking, the more likely is the blood mercury to be included in the high-concentration group. The results of this study can be used as important scientific evidence for the field of environmental health related to alcohol drinking and blood heavy metal exposure in Korea.