• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.4 s.28
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• pp.486-494
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• 1989

Lead, iron, and zinc concentrations in whole blood were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, using a simple one-step dilution procedure, which were measured in 3 groups, 98 officers unexposed to dust or to metal, 58 coal miners without pneumoconiosis, and 113 coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) patients. The results were as follows : 1. The precisions (C. V.%) of lead, iron, and zinc in blood were $12.65{\pm}6.95%,\;1.47{\pm}1.25%\;and\;6.35{\pm}3.34%$, respectively. 2. Lead and zinc in blood showed the log-normal distribution unlike iron in blood which showed normal distribution. 3. Lead, iron, and zinc concentrations in blood of 3 groups were follows : There was significant difference of concentration for zinc in blood by groups statistically. 4. The difference of lead, iron, and zinc concentrations in blood was not significant (p>0.05) by profusion on chest radiographs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.387-393
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• 2012

Objectives: Even though several epidemiological studies have observed positive associations between blood lead levels and homocysteine, no study has examined whether this association differs by the levels of micronutrients, such as folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, which are involved in the metabolism of homocysteine. In this study, we examined the interactions between micronutrients and blood lead on homocysteine levels. Methods: This study was performed with 4089 adults aged ${\geq}20$ years old in the US general population using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004. Results: There were significant or marginally significant interactions between micronutrients and blood lead levels on mean homocysteine levels. Positive associations between blood lead and homocysteine were clearly observed among subjects with low levels of folate or low vitamin B6 (p-trend <0.01, respectively). However, in the case of vitamin B12, there was a stronger positive association between blood lead and homocysteine among subjects with high levels of vitamin B12, compared to those with low levels of vitamin B12. In fact, the levels of homocysteine were already high among subjects low in vitamin B12, irrespective of blood lead levels. When we used hyperhomocysteinemia (homocysteine>15 ${\mu}mol/L$) as the outcome, there were similar patterns of interaction, though p-values for each interaction failed to reach statistical significance. Conclusions: In the current study, the association between blood lead and homocysteine differed based on the levels of folate, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12 present in the blood. It may be important to keep sufficient levels of these micronutrients to prevent the possible harmful effects of lead exposure on homocysteine levels.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.76-82
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• 1978

In order to study the change of laboratory parameters of lead poisoning, 8 persona who had not been treated previously for lead poisoning (Group 1 and 6 persons who had been inadequately treated for few months for chronic lead poisoning at local clinic (Group 2) were examined. They had occupational exposure to lead for 3 to 18 years (mean, 7.6). In group 1 blood lead, urine lead, urine coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid levels before our treatment exceeded the critical levels of lead poisoning. In group 2 urine lead level exceeded but blood lead, urine coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid levels were within normal limits. All of them were treated with D-penicillamine for 4 months as inpatients at Industrial Accident Hospital. The dose of D-penicillamine was the same in all patients; 600 mg per day p.o. and the chelating agent was administer every other week. For laboratory analysis, 24 hour urine and 10 gm of whole blood were collected every 1 month on last day of non-administration period. The results were as follows: 1. It was found that urine lead level was decreased below the cirtical level of lead poisoning after 4 month's treatment with D-penicillamine and blood lead level was decreased more progressively below the critical level after 1 month treatment. 2. Urine coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid levels were decreased progressively to normal range after 1 month treatment. 3. Two months after treatment, blood lead, urine lead, urine coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid levels showed some increasing trends. 4. Urine lead level should be checked in a person who had been inadequately treated with chelating agents because blood lead, coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid might be in normal range.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 1994

Effects of very low level of lead in diet and exposure time on the accumulation and distribution in organs and tissues was investigated with growing rats. 21 days old Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to lead for 7, 14 and 21 days by feeding of 0.03, 0.42, 0.92 and 1.46mg/kg Pb as Pb-acetate containing diet, respectively. Lead concentrations in blood, liver, kidney and bone exhibit a linear relationship with lead levels in diet. After 7 days of exposure, the greatest dose dependent accumulation of lead was found in kidney and followed in bone. However, after 14 and 21 days, the dose dependent accumlation of lead in bone was about two fold greater than that in kidney. The accumulation of lead in liver and blood was relatively low. As continuous exposure to lead, the concentrations of lead in liver, kidney, blood and intestinal tracts were rather not increased with exposure time. However, bone lead concentration was increased with exposure time by feeding of 0.92 and 1.46mg/kg Pb in diet, but not 0.42mg/kg. The lead concentration in gastrointestinal tracts tends also to increasing with lead levels in diet after 7 and 14 days of exposure. However, by 21 days of exposure the lead concentration revealed relatively constant value regardless of the dietary lead levels. It is concluded that the binding capacity of the lead in blood, liver, kidney and bone seems to be increased with increasing lead levels in diet. The lead concentration in these organs, with the exception of the lead in bone, seems, however, to be standing under steady state regulation by continued exposure with the same dietary lead level. Therefore, by chronic exposure condition with environmental relevant lead level bone might be a principle targe organ for lead and blood lead repesents better the current lead exposure than the lead body burden.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.46-51
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• 1993

In order to survery the risk of air-borne lead to human, the relation between air-borne lead level and blood lead level was examined by using of the kinetic model and statistical model. The results of this survey were as follows: 1. The pathways of lead intake were food and water, mainly. 2. Though blood lead level of Korean urbanire was higher than that of American or Japanese, it was not so severe as to influence human health. 3. The lead content in food and water was high, and so it is needed to confirm the cause of high content was whether second contamination by air pollution or not.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2008

Although dietary intake of pregnant is supposed to have beneficial effects on development of infants, it may be harmful for fetal growth and development since specific food is a common source of toxicants including heavy metal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of maternal food intake and mid-pregnancy and their newborns blood lead levels. Pregnant women of 18-20 weeks of gestation were recruited from prenatal clinic in Seoul, Cheonan and Ulsan. In 422 pregnant women, dietary intake during pregnancy was assessed by a 24-hour recall method. Blood sample from pregnant (18-20 wks) and their cord blood at delivery were collected. Blood leas levels were analyzed by atomic-absorption spectrometry methods. Pregnant blood lead levels whose meat and meat products intake were in the highest quartile was significantly higher compared to the lowest quartile. Maternal meat and meat products intake was positively correlated maternal blood lead level (r=0.120, P=0.014). After adjusting for age, maternal blood lead level was positively correlated with their newborn blood lead level (r=0.303, P=0.030). As maternal food intake effects on blood lead levels of pregnant, careful regulation of food intake during pregnancy is perceives to be important in order to bring about desirable pregnancy outcomes.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.527-532
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• 2010

Exposure to lead, particularly at chronic low-dose levels, is still a major public health concern. The present study is aimed to evaluate the blood lead levels in populations resident in some abandoned mine areas of Chungbuk, Korea. Eight hundreds and sixty-six subjects who reside in abandoned mine area located in Chungbuk, Korea, were enrolled this study. We evaluated the blood lead level according to the age, gender, and working history in mines. For statistical analysis, SPSS ver 12.0 was used. The geometric mean blood lead levels was $2.93\;{\mu}g/{\ell}$ and nobody showed levels over the guidelines of WHO. Ex-smokers and current-smokers showed significantly higher blood lead levels compared to that of non-smokers. The blood lead levels in individuals with a history of working in a mine was higher than those in individuals without such histories. The populations resident in some Chungbuk abadoned mine area showed low levels of lead in blood. This suggest that lead poisoning might not be induced by abandoned mine in Chungbuk, Korea.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.189-201
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• 1999

Lead (Pb) is ubiquitous in the urban environment and is a well-known toxic element. It may cause adverse health effects on hematopoietic system, peripheral and central nervous systems, kidney functions, and others. In recent decades, lead concentration in blood has been widely used one of indicators for lead exposure and risk evaluation. In this study, we determined the blood-lead levels in general populations of Korea, and investigated the relationship among blood-lead levels, sociobehavioral factors, and lead concentrations in the contacted environments such as ambient air, drinking water, and foods. The study subjects consisted of volunteers who had lived in the residential or industrial area in Korea. Information about gender, age, living area, occupation, smoking, heat system, and dietary habits, etc was collected using a self-reported questionnaires. The lead concentrations of environments were collected by literature search to the study area. Participated subjects in industrial area were 726 and their blood-lead levels were 8.58 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl for males and 6.26 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl for female in average. The other subjects in residential area were 317 and their blood-lead levels were 4.58 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl for males and 3.49 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl for female in average. The distribution of blood-lead level in the industrial subjects was well fitted to the log -normal distribution and that in the residential subjects was well fitted to the normal distribution. Blood-lead levels in both area were affected by gender, smoking habit, age and residence duration except age in industrial area and residence duration in residential area. It was identified that 30% of blood-lead level was contributed from the inhalation of ambient air in the industrial area, and 8.4% of blood-lead level was from that in the residential area. from this study, it would be suggested for the health risk assessment and management of lead pollution concerns in urban, industrial and rural areas.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.418-428
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-sectional relationship between low blood lead levels and increasing blood pressure among Korean adults using a nationally representative sample of the Korean population: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008. Methods: A total of 918 subjects aged 40 and older and not currently being treated for hypertension participated in this study. Information about age, gender, smoking status, alcohol consumption, education level, and the use of anti-hypertensive medication was collected. The blood pressure was defined as the mean of the second and the third measurements after three time measurements. Lead levels were determined by an analysis of blood samples. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were implemented after adjusting for covariates including age, gender, educational level, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and BMI. Results: This study showed that the average differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure comparing the lowest to highest quintile of blood lead were 4.33 mmHg (95% CI, 0.66-8.00; p for trend = 0.027) and 2.66 mmHg (95% CI, 0.26-5.06; p for trend = 0.021), respectively. After multivariate adjustment for covariates, the prevalence odds ratio (POR) of subjects in the highest quintile was associated with a 1.70-fold increase in the risks of hypertension (95% CI, 0.83-3.49; p for trend test = 0.112) over those in the lowest quintile of blood lead concentration, However, it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study provided evidence for an association between low- levels of blood lead and elevations in blood pressure and risk for hypertension in the general population of Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.380-390
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• 2018

Objective: A significant association between blood lead levels and hypertension has been reported in many studies. The relationship between cadmium and hypertension has been debated as well. We aimed to study the association of lead, cadmium, and both with hypertension in the Korean general population. Methods: We examined 5,967 adult men and 6,074 women who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III-VI (2005, 2008-2013 years). Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between blood lead concentration and blood cadmium concentration and hypertension using logtransformed blood lead and cadmium concentrations as independent variables after covariate adjustment. Results: Adjusted for general characteristics, the odds ratio of log-lead to hypertension was 2.71 (1.82-4.03), and log-cadmium to hypertension was 2.52 (1.83-3.47). Estimates were found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). When a multiple logistic model was applied, the odds ratio of log-lead and log-cadmium for hypertension were 2.24 (1.50-3.36) and 2.24 (1.62-3.10), respectively. The standardized estimate coefficients of log-lead and logcadmium for hypertension were 4.77 and 6.65, respectively. Conclusion: We observed the association of blood lead concentration, blood cadmium concentration, and both with hypertension. This study suggests that exposure to lead and exposure to cadmium are both risk factors for hypertension.