• 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.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제21권2호
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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.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.425-430
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between amalgam restorations and urinary mercury levels in children for 1 year. Amalgam restoration has been widely used for over 200 years. But released mercury from amalgam can increase the concentration of mercury in the body. Methods : The subjects were 463 elementary school children. Oral examination, urine sampling, and questionnaire survey were performed at baseline and after 1 year. Results : Amalgam restoration increased the urinary mercury level to $0.55{\pm}0.13{\mu}g/g$ creatinine. In the regression analysis, variation of urinary mercury excretion were positively associated with amalgam surfaces and fish consumption. Conclusions : Small amount of mercury release from amalgam restoration was closely associated with increasing urinary mercury level.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.268-277
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• 2012

Objectives: 1) To determine mercury levels in urine samples from garbage workers in Southern Thailand, and 2) to describe the association between work characteristics, work positions, behavioral factors, and acute symptoms; and levels of mercury in urine samples. Methods: A case-control study was conducted by interviewing 60 workers in 5 hazardous-waste-management factories, and 60 matched non-exposed persons living in the same area of Southern Thailand. Urine samples were collected to determine mercury levels by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometer mercury analyzer. Results: The hazardous-waste workers' urinary mercury levels (10.07 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine) were significantly higher than the control group (1.33 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine) (p < 0.001). Work position, duration of work, personal protective equipment (PPE), and personal hygiene, were significantly associated with urinary mercury level (p < 0.001). The workers developed acute symptoms - of head-aches, nausea, chest tightness, fatigue, and loss of consciousness at least once a week - and those who developed symptoms had significantly higher urinary mercury levels than those who did not, at p < 0.05. A multiple regression model was constructed. Significant predictors of urinary mercury levels included hours worked per day, days worked per week, duration of work (years), work position, use of PPE (mask, trousers, and gloves), and personal hygiene behavior (ate snacks or drank water at work, washed hands before lunch, and washed hands after work). Conclusion: Changing garbage workers' hygiene habits can reduce urinary mercury levels. Personal hygiene is important, and should be stressed in education programs. Employers should institute engineering controls to reduce urinary mercury levels among garbage workers.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제3권1호
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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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• 제13권1호
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• pp.27-34
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• 1980

Purpose of this study is to find out proper means of estimating the urinary mercury excretion in the normal individuals. Whole void volume was collected every 2 hours beginning from 6 o'clock in the morning until 6 o'clock next morning. Mercury excretion in each urine specimen was measured by NIOSH recommended dithizone colorimetric method (Method No.: P & CAM 145). Urinary concentration of mercury was adjusted by two means: specific gravity of 1.024 and a gram of creatinine excretion per liter of urine comparing the data with the unadjusted ones. Mercury excretion in 24-hour urine specimen was calculated by adding the amounts measured with the hourly collected specimens of each individual. Statistical analysis of the urinary mercury excretion revealed the following results: 1. Frequency distribution curve of mercury excreted in urine of hourly specimens was best fitted to power function expressed in the form of $y=ax^b$. Adjustment of the urinary mercury concentration by creatinine excretion was shown to be superior($y=1674x^{-1.52},\;r^2=0.95$) over nonadjustment($y=2702x^{-1.57},\;r^2=0.92$) and adjustment by specific gravity of 1.024($y=4535x^{-1.66},\;r^2=0.93$). 2. Both log-transformed mercury excretion in hourly voided specimens and mercury excretion itself in 24 hour specimens showed the normal distributions. 3. The frequency distribution of mercury adjusting the urinary concentration of mercury by creatinine excretion was best fitted to a theoretical normal distribution with the sample means and standard deviation than those unadjusted or adjusted with specific gravity of 1.024. 4. Average urinary mercury excretions in 24-hour urine specimen in an individual were as follows: a) Unadjusted mercury excretion mean and standard deviation : $$18.6{\pm}13.68{\mu}gHg/l$$. median : $$16.0\;{\mu}gHg/l$$. range : $$0.0-55.10\;{\mu}gHg/l$$. b) Adjusted with specific gravity mean : $$20.7{\pm}11.76\;{\mu}gHg/l{\times}\frac{0.024}{S.G-1.000}$$ median : $$20.7\;{\mu}gHg/l{\times}\frac{0.024}{S.G-1.000}$$ range : $$0.0-52.9\;{\mu}gHg/l{\times}\frac{0.024}{S.G-1.000}$$ c) Adjusted with creatinine excretion mean and standard deviation : $$10.5{\pm}6.98\;{\mu}gHg/g$$ creatinine/l median : $$9.4\;{\mu}gHg/g$$ creatinine/l range : $$0.0-26.7\;{\mu}gHg/g$$ creatinine/l 5. No statistically significant differences were found between means calculated from 24-hour urine specimens and those from hourly specimens transformed into logarithmic values. (P<0.05).

• 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.

• 치위생과학회지
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.253-258
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• 2012

치과용 아말감은 수은, 구리, 아연, 은과 같은 여러 가지 금속으로 이루어진 합금으로 구성되었다. 아말감은 내구성과 진료 시 사용의 편리성과 경제적인 이유로 치과영역에서 가장 흔히 사용되고 효과적인 수복물질로 이용되었다. 하지만 수복물질로서의 대중성과 긴 역사에도 불구하고 아말감에 포함된 수은의 노출로부터 가져올 수 있는 잠재적 부작용 또는 합병증에 대한 염려로 논란이 계속되고 있다. 특히 어린이들의 경우 수은의 독성에 대한 위험성이 더 높기 때문에 우리는 어린이에게서 치과용 아말감과 요중 수은농도의 관련성에 대하여 알아보고자 하였다. 대도시 지역 내 두 개 초등학교 1~4학년 재학생을 대상으로 하여 구강검진과 설문조사를 시행하였으며, 구강검진 당일 채취한 소변시료를 이용하여 요중 수은농도를 분석하였다. 결과는 구강 내 아말감 충전치아가 없는 아동과 비교 했을 때 79개 이상, 10개 이상 갖는 아동의 요중 수은농도가 높아지는 상관관계가 나타났다. 결론적으로 어린이의 구강 내 아말감 충전치면수와 요중 수은농도는 관련성이 있는 것으로 사료된다.

• 치위생과학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.7-14
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• 2014

구강 내 아말감 충전물에 의해 인체에 유리되는 수은이 요중 수은농도에 미치는 영향에 대하여 관련성을 평가하고자 하였다. 이 연구는 대도시 일부지역의 2개 초등학교 1~4학년 학생 317명을 대상으로 6개월 간격으로 총 4번의 구강검진과 소변검사를 실시하였으며, 자료를 수합하여 분석한 결과 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 각 조사 시점별 아말감 충전 여부에 따라 요중 수은농도를 비교한 결과, 모든 연구시기에서 아말감 충전한 대상자에서 아말감 비충전군에 비해 요중 수은농도가 높게 나타났으며, 2차 추적조사와 3차 추적조사는 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 있었다. 혼합모형 분석한 결과 아말감 한 치면이 증가할수록 현재 요중 수은농도에서 $0.028{\mu}g/g$ creatinine 증가하였다(p<0.001). 남학생에 비해 여학생에서 $0.065{\mu}g/g$ creatinine (p<0.001), 생선섭취 빈도에서 일주일에 3회 이상 섭취군에서 $0.099{\mu}g/g$ creatinine 증가하였다(p=0.001). 누적 요중 수은농도에서 아말감 한 치면이 증가 할수록 누적 요중 수은농도에서 $0.017{\mu}g/g$ creatinine 증가 하였다(p<0.001). 남학생에 비해 여학생에서 $0.071{\mu}g/g$ creatinine (p<0.001), 생선섭취 빈도에서 일주일에 3회 이상 섭취군에서 $0.110{\mu}g/g$ creatinine 증가하였다(p<0.001). 구강 내 아말감 충전물은 미량이라도 수은을 유리시켜 체내 요중 수은농도의 변화에 영향을 미치므로 이 연구결과를 토대로 구강 내 수은흡수를 최소화할 수 있는 기준이나 방안이 마련되어야 할 것이다.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.431-438
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• 2012

Objectives : The aim of this study was assessment of the variation of urinary mercury concentrations after removal of amalgam fillings in children. Methods : 10 elemental school children with amalgam filling tooth surfaces were took part in this study. One dentist recorded the number of amalgam filling surface, and general characteristics of subjects were surveyed by questionnaire. Each urine samples were collected before, immediately after and after 24 hours amalgam removal. The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 18.0. Results : The mean concentration urinary mercury immediately after amalgam removal was higher ($5.70{\pm}1.20{\mu}g/g$ creatinine) than before amalgam removal ($5.28{\pm}1.53{\mu}g/g$ creatinine). The mean concentration urinary mercury level whose have 1-10 amalgam removal surfaces was increased after amalgam removal compared with before. Conclusions : Mercury concentration in urine was influenced by amalgam removal.