• Toxicological Research
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.137-142
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• 2013

Arsenic (As) is a well-known human carcinogen and its dietary exposure has been found to be the major route of entry into general population. This study was performed to assess the body levels of As and their associated factors in Korean adults by analyzing total As in urine. Urine and blood samples were collected from 580 adults aged 20 years and older, who had not been exposed to As occupationally. Demographic information was collected with the help of a standard questionnaire, including age, smoking, alcohol intake, job profiles, and diet consumed in the last 24 hrs of the study. Total As, sum of As(III), As(V), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), in urine was determined using atomic absorption spectrometer involving hydride generation method. The geometric mean concentration of total As in urine was $7.10{\mu}g/L$. Urine As was significantly higher in men ($7.63{\mu}g/L$) than in women ($6.75{\mu}g/L$). Age, smoking, alcohol consumption, and job profiles of study subjects did not significantly affect the concentration of As in urine. No significant relationship was observed between body mass index (BMI), Fe, and total cholesterol in serum and urinary As. Urine As level was positively correlated with seaweeds, fishes & shellfishes, and grain intake. A negative correlation between urinary As level and HDL-cholesterol in serum and meat intake was observed. Overall, these results suggest that urinary As concentration could be affected by seafood consumption. Therefore, people who frequently consume seafood and grain need to be monitored for chronic dietary As exposure.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2003년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.56-56
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• 2003

The reactivity and toxicity of arsenic compounds depend on the their oxidative states. Exposure to arsenic causes many human health effects, including cardiovascular, hepatic and renal disease, in addition to cancer in kidney, liver, lung, urinary bladder and skin. The cytotoxic effects of arsenite on normal hepatocyte, which most of its biotranfomation takes place. (omitted)

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회 2004년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.100-100
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• 2004

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.450-459
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• 2011

Objectives: Biomarkers in urine are important in assessing exposures to environmental or occupational chemicals and for evaluateing renal function by exposure from these chemicals. Spot urine samples are needed to adjust the concentration of these biomarkers for variations in urine dilution. This study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of adjusting the urinary concentration of cadmium (uCd) and arsenic (uAs) by specific gravity (SG) and urine creatinine (uCr). Methods: We measured the concentrations of blood cadmium (bCd), uCd, uAs, uCr, SG and N-acetyl-${\beta}$-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity, which is a sensitive marker of tubular damage by low dose Cd exposure, in spot urine samples collected from 536 individuals. The value of uCd, uAs and NAG were adjusted by SG and uCr. Results: The uCr levels were affected by gender (p < 0.01) and muscle mass (p < 0.01), while SG levels were affected by gender (p < 0.05). Unadjusted uCd and uAs were correlated with SG (uCd: r = 0.365, p < 0.01; uAs: r = 0.488, p < 0.01), uCr (uCd: r = 0.399, p < 0.01; uAs: r = 0.484, p < 0.01). uCd and uAs adjusted by SG were still correlated with SG (uCd: r = 0.360, p < 0.01, uAs: r = 0.483, p < 0.01). uCd and uAs adjusted by uCr and modified uCr ($M_{Cr}$) led to a significant negative correlation with uCr (uCd: r = -0.367, p < 0.01; uAs: r = -0.319, p < 0.01) and $M_{Cr}$ (uCd: r = -0.292, p < 0.01; uAs: r = -0.206, p < 0.01). However, uCd and uAs adjusted by conventional SG ($C_{SG}$) were disappeared from these urinary dilution effects (uCd: r = -0.081; uAs: r = 0.077). Conclusions: $C_{SG}$ adjustment appears to be more appropriate for variations in cadmium and arsenic in spot urine.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한예방의학회 2000년도 제52차 추계학술대회 연제집
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• pp.66-67
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• 2000

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.311-314
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• 2023

Thallium poisoning is usually accidental. We present a case of a 51-year-old woman who was evaluated in June 2018 for myalgia, vertigo, asthenia, and abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed temporal-spatial disorientation, jaundice, and asterixis. The laboratory reported the following: bilirubin, 10.3 mg/dL; aspartate transaminase, 78 U/L; alanine transaminase, 194 U/L; albumin, 2.3 g/dL; prothrombin time, 40%; and platelet count, 60,000/mm³. Serology performed for hepatitis A, B, and C; Epstein-Barr virus; cytomegalovirus; and human immunodeficiency virus was negative, and a collagenogram was negative. Physical reevaluation revealed alopecia on the scalp, armpits, and eyebrows; macules on the face; plantar hyperkeratosis; and ulcers on the lower limbs. Tests for lead, arsenic, copper, and mercury were carried out, which were normal; however, elevated urinary thallium (540 ㎍/g; range, 0.4-10 ㎍/g) was observed. The patient was treated with D-penicillamine 1,000 mg/day and recovered her urinary thallium levels were within normal range at annual follow-up. Thallium poisoning is extremely rare and can be fatal in small doses. An adequate clinical approach can facilitate early diagnosis.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.59-72
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of heavy metal concentrations in the blood and urine of the general population. This research had been conducted from April to December 2008, studying 545 residents of Daejeon and Chungcheong Province. Through the concentrations of heavy metals(Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Mn) in the biota samples and questionnaires, the residents heavy metal exposure level and the influential factors according to personal characteristics or lifestyle were evaluated. As to the heavy metal concentration in the blood and urine of the comparing region, were As and Mn statistically significant(p<0.01, p<0.05). Blood lead and urinary mercury concentrations were higher in males than females. The heavy metal concentration for each age group increased blood mercury. The concentration of all heavy metals were higher in the drinkers than in the non-drinkers. Blood lead and mercury concentrations were higher in the smokers than in the non-smokers, but the urinary cadmium, arsenic and blood manganese was higher in the non-smokers than in the smokers. As to the blood lead and urinary cadmium concentration according to the food preference fish showed high concentration. To clarify the factors affecting the heavy metal concentration in biota among subjects multiple regression analysis was conducted. As a results, it turned out that as to lead content in blood, sex, age and smoking have influence on the subjects with explanatory adequacy of 14.0 %. These results demonstrated that the factors affected the concentrations of heavy metals in blood and urine. The results of this study could be used as the foundational data for setting the health risk assessment.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

당뇨병 발생에는 생활습관이나 생활환경과 관련된 다양한 원인들이 있는데 최근 연구에서 중금속에 많이 노출된 사람에서 당뇨병 발생 및 당뇨병의 악화가 늘어났다는 역학적 연구가 많이 발표되고 있다. 이에 국내 대규모 철강공업단지를 가진 일개 도시 지역 주민을 대상으로 당화혈색소와 체내 중금속의 상관성을 파악하고자 하였다. 2008~2009년 연구대상 총 414명에 대한 설문조사와 생체시료를 채취하였다. 설문은 성별, 연령, 인구학적 특성, 흡연, 음주, 직업, 당뇨진단 유무 등의 항목으로 구성하였다. 혈액을 채취하여 HbA1c, 혈중 납 농도를 측정하였고, 소변을 채취하여 요중 카드뮴, 무기비소, 수은 농도를 측정하였다. HbA1c는 6.5%기준으로 미만군과 이상군으로 분류하였다. 각 중금속별 10분위수부터 90분위수 농도에 해당하는 기준으로 미만군과 이상군 등 두 군을 분류하였다. 당뇨관련검사 결과 HbA1c 6.5% 기준으로 이상군은 남자 14(9.9%)명, 여자 17(6.2%)명이었다. 혈중 납의 기하평균 농도는 2.48 (1.80) ㎍/dl, 요중 카드뮴의 기하평균농도는 1.20 (2.26) ㎍/g creatinine, 요중 무기비소의 기하평균농도는 12.08 (1.80) ㎍/g creatinine, 요중 수은의 기하평균농도는 1.63 (2.23) ㎍/g creatinine 이었다. 연령, 지역, 성별, 흡연으로 보정하였을때 요중 카드뮴 농도 30분위수 이상군이 미만군에 비하여 교차비 5.26(95% 신뢰구간 : 1.44~19.17)으로 유의하게 높았다. 납, 무기비소, 수은은 HbA1c(6.5% 기준) 변수와의 교차분석에서 유의한 분포 차이는 없었다. 여러 요인을 보정하고도 요중 카드뮴과 HbA1c의 유의한 양의 상관관계를 파악하였고, 특히 유의한 상관관계를 보인 요중 카드뮴 농도의 특정 컷오프 값을 찾아내어 이를 통해 우리나라에 적합한 생물학적 노출값 설정의 참고자료로 활용될 수 있다는 점에서 의의가 있다고 생각한다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.236-243
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• 2022

Background: In the case of multiple exposures to different types of heavy metals, such as the conditions faced by residents living near a smelter, it would be preferable to group hazardous substances with similar characteristics rather than individually related substances and evaluate the effects of each group on the human body. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of factor analysis in the assessment of health effects caused by exposure to two or more hazardous substances with similar characteristics, such as in the case of residents living near a smelter. Methods: Heavy metal concentration data for 572 people living in the vicinity of the Janghang smelter area were grouped based on several subfactors according to their characteristics using factor analysis. Using these factor scores as an independent variable, multiple regression analysis was performed on health effect markers. Results: Through factor analysis, three subfactors were extracted. Factor 1 contained copper and zinc in serum and revealed a common characteristic of the enzyme co-factor in the human body. Factor 2 involved urinary cadmium and arsenic, which are harmful metals related to kidney damage. Factor 3 encompassed blood mercury and lead, which are classified as related to cardiovascular disease. As a result of multiple linear regression analysis, it was found that using the factor index derived through factor analysis as an independent variable is more advantageous in assessing the relevance to health effects than when analyzing the two heavy metals by including them in a single regression model. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that regression analysis linked with factor analysis is a good alternative in that it can simultaneously identify the effects of heavy metals with similar properties while overcoming multicollinearity that may occur in environmental epidemiologic studies on exposure to various types of heavy metals.