• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.329-339
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• 2019

The National Institute of Environmental Research (3rd KONEHs) conducted a survey of 280 residents in Ulsan, Suwon and Asan, and the concentration of heavy metals in the blood and urine were also analyzed. In case of blood lead concentration, Ulsan $2.27{\mu}g/dl$, Suwon $2.08{\mu}g/dl$, and Asan $1.75{\mu}g/dl$, the high peak in Ulsan, and the low peak in Asan. In case of cotinine concentration, Ulsan smoking($609.16{\mu}g/g{\_}ct$) is higher than nonsmoking($74.07{\mu}g/g{\_}ct$), as Suwon and Asan smoking($416.72{\mu}g/g{\_}ct$, $903.21{\mu}g/g{\_}ct$) is higher than nonsmoking($72.72{\mu}g/g{\_}ct$, $18.06{\mu}g/g{\_}ct$), smoking group is higher than nonsmoking group in all areas revealed statistically significant correlation(p<0.01). In considering results synthetically, these study results are an aid to constructing environmental health science-side heavy metal management measure education programs for normal residents.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.482-492
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• 2012

Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to produce background data which can be compared with data on vulnerable areas such as industrial complexes in Ulsan, SihwaBanwol, Gwangyang, Yeosu, Pohang, Cheongju and Daesan in Korea. Methods: This study was performed on 1,007 local residents in Gangneung using personal questionnaires and medical check-up. Environmental pollutants including heavy metals in blood and urine were analyzed and the results are as follows. Results: According to the results of medical check-up, 705 subjects were "Normal (A and B)", 232 subjects were "Disease doubtful (R1)" and 70 subjects were "High blood pressure or Diabetes doubtful (R2)". Regarding geometric mean concentration, blood lead was 1.57 ${\mu}g/dL$, urine cadmium was 0.82 ${\mu}g/g-cr$, urine mercury was 0.98 ${\mu}g/g-cr$ and urine arsenic was 15.78 ${\mu}g/g-cr$. In the analysis of 11 kinds of VOCs in blood, vinyl chloride, 1,3-butadiene and dichloroethylene were not detected, while the detection rate of other chemicals was above 70% except chloroform(49.7%) and trichloroethylene(19.0%). In analysis of 16 kinds of PAHs in blood, 10 kinds showed more than 80% in detection rate. Also, detection rate of 4 kinds of PCBs in blood ranged 52 to 78%. Conclusions: Compared with industrial compelxes, the concentration of blood lead was lower, while urine cadmium and mercury levels were similar. Also, urine arsenic ranged at a significant level. Further study is required to find the cause of regional differences in concentrations of environmental pollutants.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1994.02a
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• pp.577-584
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• 1994

The relation between lead in air (PbA) and lead in blood (PbB), concentrations was investigated among 44 workers in five major operations in a United States high volume, lead acid battery plant. The study covered a 30 month period in which workers received frequent PbA and PbB determinations, workers remained in a single job, and PbA concentrations averaged below the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit of $50{\mu}g/m^{3}$. In both univariate and multivariable linear regressions, longitudinal analyses averaging PbA concentrations over the 30 month study period appeared superior to cross sectional analyses using only six month PbA averages .to model PbB concentrations. The covariate adjusted coefficient ($\alpha$ value) for PbA($\mu/m^{3}$) in models of PbB (${\mu}g/100\;g$) was 1-14. This figure is strikingly higher than that reported in previous studies in the lead acid battery industry in all of which PbA concentrations were substantially higher than in the current study. Plausible explanations for the differences in a: values include non-linearity of the PbA-PbB curve, a higher fraction of large size particulate associated with higher PbA concentrations, survivor bias among workers exposed to higher PbA concentrations, and the cross sectional designs of most previous studies. Despite previously reported problems with the model used by OSHA to predict PbA-PbB relations, the findings of this study are in good agreement with the predictions of that model.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2003

The study subjects included the workers who were estimated to have been exposed in a low density of lead-laden glaze from pottery manufacturers. They were evaluated in terms of PbB and PbU as indices of lead concentration in the body, and Hb, Hct, ALAD, and FEP as indices of biochemical lead poisoning. Consequently, the study results revealed the relationship between each of indices and its effectiveness to indicate the degree of occupational lead exposure. 1. The mean of PbB was $22.85{\;}{\mu}g/d{\ell}$(range; $4.2~44.7{\;}{\mu}g/d{\ell}$) and PbU $45.69{\mu}g/d{\ell}$(range; $6.7~87.5{\mu}g/d{\ell}$), to indicate the level of lead exposure in the subjects. 2. While there was a high, linear correlation between PbB, PbU and FEP (r=0.835, r=0.855, respectively), a low correlation existed between PbB and ALAD(r=-0.240). 3. While there was a high, linear correlation between PbU and FEP(r=0.825), a low correlation existed between PbU and ALAD(r=-0.352). The above results suggest that FEP can be used as a highly useful biochemical index of lead poisoning, based on its high correlation with PbB and PbU indicating lead concentration in the body.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 1995

To investigate the ultrastructural changes of kidney and clarify to a cause of its changes in lead intoxicated rats, the 0.5% lead acetate administed orally to the rats and those were sacrifled at 2 day, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 week after the treatment of lead acetate. Each extirpated kidney was histopathologically examined under the electron microscopy and histochemical examination was also carried out. Concomitantly, the activity of free radical metabolizing enzyme was determined. The blood levels of lead concentration showed a gradual increase from the first group reaching the plateau at the one or two week group with the slightly decreasing value throughout the whole course of the experiment. And the urinary ALA concentration showed a gradual increase from the first group to the 8 week group. In the kidney tissue of rat sacrified at 6 week, the proximal tubular cells showed dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial swelling, increased numbers of secondary lysosomes and myelin figure-like residual bodies on electron microscope and oxygen free radicals are identified by histochemistry on light microscope whereas there were no differences in the activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase between the lead acetate treated group and control group. But the activity of xanthine oxidase was more increased in lead acetate treated rats than control group. Furthermore, the superoxide dismutase activity was significantly increased in the experimental group than the control group. In conclusion, it is assumed the kidney damage in lead intoxicated rat may be induced by free radicals.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.541-555
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine heavy metal exposure levels in the blood and urine of a nationally representative adult population in Korea, and to identify the major influence factors for exposure through linkage analysis using questionnaire data. Methods: Biological samples and questionnaire data were collected from adults aged 18 and over who had participated in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey from 2009 to 2017. Lead, mercury, and cadmium exposure levels were presented with geometric mean and 95th percentiles. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting heavy metal concentrations. Results: Blood lead levels increased slightly in Cycle 2 compared to Cycle 1, but decreased in Cycle 3. Blood and urinary mercury and urinary cadmium levels decreased over time. The main influence factors included gender, age, and smoking status for blood lead levels; gender, age, and intake of fish at least once a week for blood mercury levels; and age for urinary cadmium levels. Conclusion: The Korean National Environmental Health Survey is an effective tool for confirming over-time changes in exposure to lead, mercury, and cadmium in Korean adults and to identify its influence factors. The results of this study are expected to present basic data for calculating reference values and baseline exposure levels for environmental chemicals in Korean adults.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 1986

Experiments were performed to investigate the effect of Panax ginseng petroleum ether fraction on delayed type hypersensitivity, rosette formation, phagocytic activity and histophathological influence in lead acetate treated mice. Lead acetate was administered in the drinking water and ginseng pet. ether fraction was injected i.p.. Mice were sensitized and challenged with sheep red blood cells. Erythrocyte(I) rosette formation and DTH reaction were significantly depressed in lead acetate treated mice, and those were restored administration of ginseng fraction. Ginseng pet. ether fraction administration did not have any effect on decreased phagocytic activity. Follicular and parafollicular areal destruction of spleen, and destruction of thymus were finded in lead acetate exposed-mice. Small dose of ginseng pet. ether fraction (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg), administraction inhibited those histopathological changes, but large dose (20 mg/kg) didn't.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was peformed to determine the reference values of blood lead, manganese, aluminium, and silicon in healthy adults. Methods : The subjects were 132 (67 male and 65 female), and classified to three age groups $(\leq39,\;40\sim49,\;and\;50\leq)$. Blood lead, manganese and aluminium were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and blood silicon was analyzed by direct current plasma optical emission spectrometer. Results : Blood lead levels(geometric mean, S.D) were (3.49, 1.70) ${\mu}g/dL$ in male and (3.04, 1.65) ${\mu}g/dL$ in female, but the difference is not significant, and there was no significant difference between age groups. Mean blood manganese level was $0.99{\pm}0.41{\mu}g/dL$, and there was no significant difference between sex or age groups. Mean blood aluminium level was $0.59{\pm}0.35{\mu}g/dL$, and there was no significant difference between sex or age groups. Mean blood silicon level was $54.41{\pm}27.64{\mu}g/dL$ in male and $43.34{\pm}23.51{\mu}g/dL$ in female, and the level in male was significantly higher than that in female (p<0.05). There was significant difference between age groups, and the oldest showed the highest level in male (p<0.05), but no significant difference between age groups in female. Conclusions : Authors hope that this study would provide basic data for determining reference values and evaluating health effects.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate a relationship between the blood concentrations of toxic metals and the blood pressure in people living near the copper smelter. Methods: The study included 570 adults living within 4km of the smelter. We compared systolic and diastolic blood pressure between tertiary groups for blood cadmium, mercury and lead levels, respectively. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors affecting systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Results: In male subjects, there is a significant difference in the mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure between tertiary groups of blood cadmium and mercury levels, but in women, there was no significant difference in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures in all tertiary groups of heavy metals. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that age, BMI, and cadmium concentration in men were risk factors for blood pressure. In women, age and BMI, drinking and smoking, and blood mercury were significantly influenced to blood pressure. Conclusions: Residents living near the Janghang smelter showed high concentrations of blood lead and cadmium, suggesting that they were exposed to high concentrations of heavy metals released from the smelter in the past. Such exposure may have caused some blood pressure increase. Especially, the concentration of cadmium in the case of men and the concentration of mercury in blood in the case of women were found to be significantly related to the increase of blood pressure. The local population should be advised to make efforts to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, in order to minimize cardiovascular disease, and to pay close attention to any health problems possibly related to toxic metal exposure.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.258-266
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• 2019

Objectives: In this study, blood lead was analyzed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAs) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We tried to examine the difference and consistency of the analytical values and the applicability of the analytical method. Methods: We selected 57 people who agreed to participate in this study. After confirming the linearity of the calibration standard curves in GF-AAs and ICP-MS, the concentrations of lead in quality control material and samples were measured, and the degree of agreement was compared. Results: The detection limit of the ICP-MS was lower than that of GF-AAs. The coefficient of variation of reference materials was shown to be stable in the ICP-MS and GF-AAs. When the correspondence between the two equipments was verified by bias of the analysis values, a concordance was shown, and approximately 98% of the ideal reference lines were present within ${\pm}40%$ of the deflection. Conclusion: GF-AAs showed high sensitivity to single heavy metal analysis, but it took much time and showed higher detection limit than ICP-MS. Therefore, it would be considered necessary to switch to ICP-MS analysis method, considering that the level of lead exposure is gradually decreasing.