• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.22-30
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence regarding injury and poisoning associated with the clinical mercury thermometer. Methods: Electronic literature searches were conducted for identification of relevant studies and case reports of injury and poisoning associated with the clinical mercury thermometer. The search outcomes were limited to literature with English and Korean languages published from 1966. Studies related to occupational mercury exposure, or mercury exposure from sphygmomanometer, barometer, and fluorescent light were excluded. Results: A total of 60 reports, including 59 case reports, were finally included. Of those, nine cases pertained to an intact thermometer as a foreign body, 25 injuries were related to a thermometer, and 26 cases involved exposures to mercury from a broken thermometer. Case reports were classified according to severity into 16 mild, 41 moderate, and two severe cases. Two cases of mortality were reported, one was deliberate intravenous injection of mercury and the other was acute vapor inhalation of mercury from broken thermometers. Conclusion: Findings of this systematic review suggested that the mercury thermometer could cause various forms of poisoning and injury. In particular, inhalation of mercury vapor from a broken thermometer can lead to systemic toxicity requiring chelating therapy.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제4권2호
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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 Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제22권4호
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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.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.131-140
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• 1993

낙동강 담수어 중 붕어에서의 총수은 및 유기수은 함량을 지역별, 크기별, 부위별로 조사하기 위해 1993년 2월부터 3월 사이에 낙동강 본류의 5개 지점을 택하여 각 지점마다 크기군별로 붕어를 채집한 후 근육부, 뼈, 지느러미로 분류 혼합하고, 수은분석기(Model SP-3A)를 이용한 선택적 환원기화법과 가열기화 금아말감법 총수은 및 유기수은 함량을 분석하였다. 선택적 환원기화법에 의한 5개 전지역에서 붕어의 부위별 총수은, 유기수은 함량은 뼈에서 각각 $0.399{\pm}0.4419$, $0.265{\pm}0.2967$ ppm으로 가장 높았고, 근육부에서 가장 낮았다(p<0.01). 총수은에 대한 유기수은의 분율은 근육부에서 $69.0{\pm}3.50%$로 가장 높았다(p<0.01). 근육부에서의 지역별 총수은, 유기수은 및 총수은에 대한 유기수은의 분율은 모두 유의한 차이가 없었으나 총수은, 유기수은 함량은 왜관지역이 $0.130{\pm}0.619$ ppm, $0.089{\pm}0.0408$ ppm으로 가장 높았고, 상주가 $0.091{\pm}0.0154$ ppm, $0.060{\pm}0.0128$ ppm으로 가장 낮았으며, 총수은에 대한 유기수은의 분율은 안동이 $70.8{\pm}4.22%$로 가장 높았다. 뼈와 지느러미에서는 총수은, 유기수은 모두 안동이 가장 높았고, 강정이 가장 낮았다(p<0.01), 총수은에 대한 유기수은의 분율은 뼈에서는 왜관(p<0.01)이, 지느러미에서는 상주지역에서 높았으나 유의하지는 않았다. 붕어의 서식지역을 고려하지 않은 크기에 따라 부위별 함량은 근육부에서는 총수은 및 유기수은 함량이 모두 15-19cm 군이 가장 높았고, 25-29cm 군이 가장 낮았으며(p<0.05), 총수은에 대한 유기수은의 비는 유의하지는 않았지만 20-24cm 군이 $70.6{\pm}3.30%$로 가장 높았고, 뼈에서는 10-14cm 군이 가장 높았고, 25-29cm군이 가장 낮았으나 유의한 차이는 아니었다. 지느러미에서는 20-24 cm군이 가장 높았고, 25-29cm 군이 가장 낮았으나 유의한 차이는 없었다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때 낙동강 하류로 내려오면서 붕어의 수능 함량에는 특정 분포를 나타내지 않는 것으로 나타났으며, 어류의 성장에 따른 체내 수은 축적 변화는 크기가 작을수록 함량이 높은 경향을 나타내 성장해 갈수록 상대적으로 희석되어 근육중 수은함량이 낮아진 것이 아닌가 생각되며 앞으로 좀 더 연구되어야 할 것으로 여겨진다.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.168-173
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• 1982

한국(韓國)의 영남(嶺南), 영동지역(嶺東地域) 소재(所在) 24개(個) 하천(河川)의 담수어(淡水魚) 19종(種) 76마리(길이 $5{\sim}17\;cm$)를 1979년 8월중 채취(採取)하여 석영관연소(石英管燃燒)-금(金) amalgam포집(捕集)-원자흡광법(原子吸光法)에 의(依)하여 총수은함량(總水鎭含量)을 측정(測定)한 결과(結果)는 다음과 같았다. 1. 채취(採取)된 담수어(淡水魚) 19종(種) 76마리의 총수은함량(總水銀含量) 평균(平均)값은 0.07ppm이었고 $0.02{\sim}0.15\;ppm$의 범위(範圍)를 나타내었다. 2. 평균(平均)값인 0.07ppm보다 높은 함량(含量)을 나타내는 어종(魚種)은 붕어 0.09 ppm, 버들개 0.11 ppm, 긴몰개 0.11 ppm, 기름종개 0.12 ppm, 웅어 0.10 ppm 등이었다. 3. 평균(平均)값보다 다소 높은 함량(含量)을 보이는 지역(地域)으로서 경남 김해군의 0.08 ppm, 경북 영일군의 0.09 ppm, 강원도 명주군의 0.08 ppm등이나 대부분(大部分) 비슷한 함량(含量)을 나타내었다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.24-30
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• 2018

Objectives: Based on the amount of amalgam, the duration of exposure, and the water pH, this study aims to investigate the change patterns in the mercury concentrations in water after amalgams have been introduced into sewage water. It is expected that the study results will be useful in improving the system for regulating the amount of mercury that is introduced into the environment. Methods: During the study, a glass test-tube with a cap was washed and disinfected using the glass laboratory device washing method. Then, 1, 2, 3, and 4 tabs were placed into a 10 mL pH 4 solution and 10 mL pH 7 distilled water. Each specimen was prepared in duplicate. The mean of the two mercury concentrations was used as the representative value, and the mercury concentration was measured using a mercury measurement device (DMA-80, Milestone, Italy) a total of eight times at one-week intervals. Results: The results show that the lower was the pH, the higher was the amount of amalgam. Also the longer was the duration, the more significant was the increase of mercury concentration in the water. Conclusions: Dental clinics are collected separately from dental clinics that used them. Given this, dental clinics in Korea must have the necessary facilities to separately collect mercury at their level. In addition, proper disposal systems and social attention to the proper management of dental wastes are required to prevent environmental pollution from mercury.

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.202-211
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• 2011

본 연구는 소양호를 대상으로 장기간 동안 다매체 내 수은 농도 분포를 조사하였으며 소양호 총수은(TM; total mercury) 농도는 $1.17{\pm}1.09ng/L$ 나타났다. 표층수 총 수은 농도를 보면 시간적 및 공간적 변이에 대한 통계적 유의성을 찾아볼 수 없었으나, 탁도 및 입자성 유기탄소(particulate organic carbon; POC)의 농도와 뚜렷한 양의 상관성(P-value<0.01)이 있는 것으로 관측되었다. 또한 소양호의 경우 수은 유입원이 선행연구에서 언급된 대기 침적보다는 장마철 runoff로 인한 유입이 더 중요하다는 것을 나타낸다. 어류 내 수은은 한강과 소양호에서 총 22종의 어류를 채취하였으며, 어류 내 평균 총수은 농도는 0.073 ppm(습중량)으로 나타나, 우리나라의 기준치(0.5 ppm) 및 미국 EPA의 기준치(0.3 ppm)에 비해 낮은 농도를 보였다. 그러나 미국 EPA의 RfD(reference dose)를 바탕으로 본 연구에서 계산된 적정 기준치인 0.07 ppm을 상회하는 어류가 전체의 42%를 차지해 우리나라만의 어류섭취 관리대책이 필요하다. 어류를 채취한 세 지점, 한강, 신이리, 양구는 동일한 종에서 뚜렷하게 다른 농도 분포를 보였는데, 상류일수록 더 높은 농도를 나타냈다. 이는 호수의 부영양화 차이로 인한 지점별 어류 성장 속도의 차이가 원인인 것으로 생각된다. 소양호 저서퇴적물의 수은 농도 분포는 $69.9{\sim}98.3{\mu}g/kg$으로 나타나 미국 미네소타 주의 Voyageurs National Park에서의 연구 결과($102{\sim}364{\mu}g/kg$)보다 약간 낮게 나타났다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.349-357
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• 2015

Objectives: The 2007 Korea National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the Human Body found the highest blood mercury levels nationwide among residents in Seoksan-ri, Goro-myeon, Gunwi-gun, Gyeonsangbuk-do. With the aim to reduce the blood mercury levels of residents in this region, we conducted this study to identify the association between mercury exposure levels and shark meat consumption. Methods: This survey was conducted with 118 participants in Seoksan-ri before the Chuseok festival and 113 residents were added afterwards. Information on participants was collected via questionnaires. Total mercury concentrations in biological samples were measured using a mercury analyzer with the gold-amalgam collection method. Results: To identify this, we conducted mercury exposure level analysis before and after the Chuseok festival and found that blood and urinary mercury levels after Chuseok (GM of $6.9{\mu}g/L$ in blood and $1.68{\mu}g/g$_cr in urine) were higher than those before (GM of $5.29{\mu}g/L$ in blood and $1.44{\mu}g/g$_cr in urine). This area maintains a custom of using shark meat as one of the ancestral rite foods, and the performance of such rites and shark meat consumption have been identified as main sources of mercury exposure. Other than this, smoking, dental amalgam treatment and residential period in the area also contributed to an increase in mercury exposure levels. On the other hand, recent consumption of oriental medicine and vaccination did not have a significant influence on mercury levels. Conclusion: The results were attributed to the local custom of consuming shark meat with high mercury concentrations during rituals taking place during the festival and ancestral rites. Given that the blood mercury levels in 23.2% of the residents exceeded the HBM II values recommended by the German Commission on Human Biological Monitoring, it is suggested that further appropriate actions and follow-up measures be taken to reduce the mercury exposure levels of the residents that exceeded the reference values.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.103-113
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• 1988

This experiment was performed to study the sequential accumulation of mercury in selected tissues of gold fish (Carassius auratus) exposed to 2, 6, 30, 120 and 300 $\mu$g Hg/1 as HgCl$_2$. In order to prepare treatment groups suitable for the present study, one control and five experimental groups, which were composed of I (2 $\mu$g/l), II (6$\mu$g/l), III (30$\mu$g/l), IV (120$\mu$g/l), V (300 $\mu$g/l), were used in 180 liter glass aquaria. The experiment was started by transfering 20 fish of average total length 140 $\pm$ 20 mm to each of the six tanks and allowing the uptake to take place for 12 weeks period. Fish were killed after time periods of 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and samples were disected by five parts gill, kidney liver, muscle and egg. The summarized results were as follows: 1. In control group, low concentrations of mercury(range 0.01-0.11 $\mu$g/g)were determined in the all selected tissues. 2. In experimental group, the average levels of mercury residues in the gill, kidney, liver muscle and egg were 3.61-189.54 $\mu$g/g, 13.91-182.58 $\mu$g/g, 8.56-66.49 $\mu$g/g, 0.30-20.33 $\mu$g/g, and 1.63-23.76$\mu$g/g, respectively. 3. The mercury residues in selected tissues of the experimental group were generally 230-9100 times higher than those of the control group. 4. The amounts of methylmercury per total mercury in the muscle after 12 weeks were 0.10/0.30 $\mu$g/g(33.33%) in the I group, 0.14/1.18$\mu$g/g(11.86%) in the II group, 0.25/5.76 $\mu$g/g(4.34%) in the III group, 0.39/11.48$\mu$g/g(3.40%) in the IV group and 0.40/20.33 $\mu$g/g(1.97%) in the V group.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.127-139
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• 1991

Four group(Control I II, Treatment I II ) of Rats, each consisting of 10 rats, were studied Methylmercury Chloride MMc was orally given to Sprague-Dawley male at does of 10mg/kg (5 mg/kg $\cdot$ day), 10mg/kg after two weeks. This study was designed to investigate the distribution, the difference and the ratio of organic mercury, total mercury, zinc and copper in tissue, in each others group. The result were as follows: 1. There was no significantly difference in the body weight between two groups( p > 0.05). 2. There was significantly difference in the distribution of zinc concentration in liver, kidndey, blood, spleen between control I and treatment I, and in blood, spleen between control II and treatment II (P < 0.05). 3. There was significantly difference in the distribution of copper concentration in kidney, blood between control I and treatment I, and in spleen brain between control II and treatment II. 4. The ratio of zinc concentration in treatment/control was high at spleen. 5. The ratio of methylmercury/totalmercury was high at spleen.