• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.195-207
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was performed to confirm whether plasma lead can be used as a chronic biomarker for the biological monitoring of exposure to lead. Methods: Lead concentrations in 66 plasma samples from retired lead workers (G.M. 60.25 years, Median 61.00 years) and 42 plasma samples from the general population (G.M. 53.76 years, Median 56.50 years) were measured using ICP/Mass. Tibia, whole blood, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and blood zinc protophorphyrin (ZPP) concentrations and urinary ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid (${\delta}-ALA$) were measured for correlation analysis with plasma lead. Results: The geometric mean concentration of lead in plasma was $0.23{\mu}g/L$ for the retired lead workers and $0.10{\mu}g/L$ for the general population sample. A simple correlation analysis of biomarkers showed that plasma lead concentration among the retired lead workers was highly correlated with lead concentration in the tibia and with blood lead concentration, and the plasma lead concentration among the general population correlated with ZPP concentration in the blood. The lead concentration in the tibia and the lead concentration in the whole blood increased with length of working period. As the period in the lead workplace increased, the ratio of lead in plasma to lead concentration in whole blood decreased. Conclusion: This study confirmed the possibility of a chronic biomarker of lead concentration in blood plasma as a biomarker. In the future, comparative studies with specific indicators will lead to more fruitful results.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.43-52
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• 2007

This study was designed to investigate the difference of airborne lead concentration by type of lead industries and type of lead exposure and to evaluate their association with lead biomarkers of lead workers in 11 lead using industries. Total of 182 lead workers (male: 167, female: 15) from 11 lead industries were participated for this study from March, 2004 to August, 2005. Airborne lead concentration were measured by representative personal sampling of workers in each unit workplace and applied same concentration value to the workers in the same unit workplace who did not measure their airborne lead with personal air sampling. Tibia lead, blood lead, zinc protoporphyrin in whole blood, ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid in urine, hemoglobin and hematocrit were selected as study variables of indices of lead exposure. Information about type of lead exposure (fume or non-fume other), age, work duration, smoking & drinking habit were also collected. Significant differences were seen in the means of zinc protoporphyrin, blood lead and tibia lead in lead workers by different airborne lead concentration in workplace. While blood lead and tibia lead in lead workers were significantly higher in secondary smelting than other types of lead industries, zinc protoporphyrin, ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid in urine and airborne lead concentration were significantly higher in litharge manufacturing. While the mean blood lead was significantly higher in the lead workers working in fume type unit workplace than those of non-fume lead workers, the mean airborne lead concentration of fume workers was significantly lower than non-fume lead workers. In the multiple regression analysis of airborne lead concentration and the type of lead exposure on tibia lead and lead exposure indices after adjustment of related covariates, airborne lead concentration was statistically significantly associated with blood lead and tibia lead, but the type of lead exposure was only associated with blood lead. To verify the causal association of airborne lead concentration on blood lead and tibia lead, further studies are needed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.147-157
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• 1989

산모와 태아에 있어서 혈중연농도를 측정하고 연의 분포양상 및 상관요인을 규명하여 산모와 태아 및 영유아의 건강상의 위해를 예방하기 위하여 1989년 3월 1일부터 동년 3월 31일까지 대구시에 소재한 종합병원 1개소와 산부인과의원 1개소에 분만을 위해 내원한 산모 130명을 대상으로 모체혈과 분만직후의 제대혈을 채취하여 원자화 무염광로를 부착한 원자 흡광 광도계로 분석하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 산모의 정맥혈과 제대혈의 평균 혈중연농도는 각각 $17.47{\pm}7.92{\mu}g/d{\ell}$, $15.31{\pm}7.98{\mu}g/d{\ell}$였다. 산모와 신생아의간의 혈중연농도는 상관계수는 0.663이였고 회귀방정식은 Y(제대혈의 연농도)=0.667X(모체혈의 연농도)+3.646였다. 산모의 자연유산력 및 출산시의 산과적 합병증과 산모의 혈중연농도와는 유의한 관계가 없었고, 제대혈의 연농도가 높을수록 출산체중이 적은 경향을 보였으나 통계학적인 의의는 없었으며, 신생아의 성 및 재태연령과 신생아의 혈중연농도와는 유의한 관계가 없었다. 생산직에 근무한 경력이 있는 산모의 경우는 직업이 없었거나 비생산직에 근무했던 산모보다 높은 혈중연농도를 나타내었고 근무했던 기간이 길수록 높은 혈중연농도를 나타내었으나 통계학적으로 유의하지는 않았다. 남편이 직장에서 연에 노출되는 경우 산모의 혈중연농도는 비노출군보다 높았으며 통계학적으로 유의한 차이가 있었다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.86-94
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• 2009

This study analyzed the concentration of the lead in blood (n=774) from May, 2007 to Oct 2007. The subject was residents in G, Y, H industrial area, Jeollanam-do, in which exposure to the lead is expected due to the adjacency of the industrial complex. As to the lead concentration in the blood of the residents in the whole exposed region and the comparing region, $2.81{\mu}g/dl$ in the exposed region group, and $2.86{\mu}g/dl$ in the comparing region group Respectively, which indicates that the concentration of the comparing group was higher than that of the exposed group. The geometric mean concentration of lead in blood was $3.26{\mu}g/dl$ as to men, and $2.46{\mu}g/dl$ as to women, which indicates that the concentration of men is higher than that of women (p<0.01). The lead concentration for each age group increased in proportion to age except those under 10 for some substances (p<0.01). As to geometric mean concentration in blood according to the smoking history of the subject, the concentration of the smoking group and the non-smoking group was $3.57{\mu}g/dl$ and $2.66{\mu}g/dl$ respectively, which indicates the former is higher than the latter (p<0.01). To clarify the factors affecting the heavy metal concentration in blood among the subjects, the multiple regression analysis was conducted. As a result, it turned out that as to lead content in blood, gender, age, smoking all affect the lead concentration of the subjects ($R^2$=23.3%).

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.63-66
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• 1977

Motor vehicles are the major source of environmental air pollution through the combustion of lead-containing gasolines. People who live in the areas with heavy traffic usually have the higher blood lead levels. This study was to investigate the lead level between the maternal blood and their infants cord blood. Immediatly after Placental delivary, the sampls of cord blood and maternal venous blood were obtained randomly from 14 infants whose mothers had spent their entire pregnancy in Seoul. Lead concentration was determined by the dithizone method. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. Hemoglobin, Hct and RBC were significantly higher in cord blood than in the maternal blood, by 36%, 54.9%, 36.9% respectively. 2. MCV in cord blood was higher than that in maternal blood by 13.8%. But MCH and MCHC were lower than those in maternal blood, by 9.7%, 3.3% respectively. The differences were statistically significant. 3. Lead concentration of cord blood $(23.93\;{\mu}g%)$ was higher than that in maternal blood $(21.93\;{\mu}%)$ by 9.1%.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.255-261
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• 1990

배기가스내 연에 노출될 위험이 가장 큰 직업의 하나인 택시기사들의 혈중연농도를 측정하고 운전경력에 따른 연농도의 분포양상 및 그 상관요인을 규명하여 배기가스내의 연이 택시기사들의 건강에 미치는 영향 및 그로 인한 장애를 예방하기 위해, 1989년 8월 1일부터 동년 8월 31일까지 대구시에 소재한 택시회사 2개소의 남자기사 90명과 대구시내에 거주하는 대조군 50명을 대상으로 면접조사를 하고 정맥혈을 채취하여 원자화무염광로를 부착한 원자흡광광도계로 분석하였다. 택시기사들의 평균혈중연농도는 $26.34{\pm}6.53{mu}g/dl$, 대조군의 경우 $20.77{\pm}4.80{\mu}g/dl$로 유의한 차이가 있었다(p<0.01). 운전경력에 따른 혈중연농도는 유의한 차이가 없었으며 운전경력과 혈중연농도의 상관성은 거의 없었다. 흡연습관과 혈중연농도의 관계에서는 택시기사 및 대조군 모두에서 흡연군이 높은 혈중연농도를 나타내었으나 통계학적으로 유의하지는 않았다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.248-251
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• 2008

During survey of blood lead concentration of workers who worked in lead refining industry, we found that some foreign workers showed increased blood lead level compared with that of domestic workers. The mean concentration of lead in blood for foreign workers (15%, 13 workers, mean age: 29) was 55.8 ug/dL which was over biological exposure index, while that of Korean workers (85%, 76 workers, mean age: 42) was 28.9 ug/dL. Some other biological markers of lead exposure such as ZPP and ${\delta}-ALA$ also showed elevated levels. Most of foreign workers stayed in dormitories near or in the factories that may cause to let them under the condition of 24 hours exposure of lead. The lack of safety manual on proper prevention of lead exposure in their own language for effective communication may be one of reasons of elevated blood lead concentration of foreign workers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제27권1호
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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 Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.181-194
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• 1991

This study intended to obtain an useful information on the prevalence of subjective symptoms, and to clarify the interrelationships between blood lead and lead related symptoms in low level lead exposure. The 93 male workers exposed to lead and 56 male nonexposed workers were examined for their blood lead(PBB), Zinc-protoporphy(ZPP), hemoglobin(HB) and personnal history, and completed 15 questionnaires related to symptoms of lead absorption : also measured lead concentration in air (PBA) in the workplace. The results obtained were as follows ; 1. The means of blood lead (PBB), blood ZPP and hemoglobin (HB) among workers exposed to lead were $26.1{\pm}8.8{\mu}g/dl,\;28.3{\pm}26.0{\mu}g/dl$ and $16.2{\pm}1.2g/dl$ : whereas those of nonexposed workers were $18.7{\pm}5.1{\mu}g/dl,\;20.6{\pm}8.7{\mu}g/dl$ and $17.3{\pm}1.1g/dl$. The means of above three indicies between two groups showed significant difference statistically (p<0.05). 2. The means of blood lead (PBB), blood ZPP and hemoglobin of workers exposed .to different lead concentration in air were as follows : When it was below $25{\mu}g/m^3$, the indices were $24.7{\pm}79,\;26.1{\pm}26.8{\mu}g/dl\;and\;16.4{\pm}1.1g/dl$ respectively : These indices were $27.1{\pm}8.5,\;23.9{\pm}10.92{\mu}g/dl\;and\;16.2{\pm}1.3g/dl$ when the lead concentration in air was $25{\sim}50{\mu}g/m^3$ : and they were $3.4{\pm}9.3,\;42.3{\pm}31.3{\mu}g/dl\;and\;15.5{\pm}1.2g/dl$ when the concentration of lead was above $50{\mu}g/m^3$. Although there were statistical difference in blood lead and hemoglobin among three different lead concentration in air, there was no statistical difference of blood ZPP among the three groups with different exposure levels (p>0.05). 3. The most frequent by complained symptom was 'Generalized weakness and fatigue', and fewest symptom was 'Intermittent pains in abdomen' 4. Only two symptoms out of fifteen symptoms checked by themselves revealed significant difference between exposed and nonexposed groups. These were 'Intermittent pains of abdomen' and 'Joint pain or arthralgia' (p<0.05), No positive correlation was found between the levels of blood lead and symptom groups categorized as gastrointestinal, neuromuscular and constitutional symptoms, 5. Blood lead (r=0.3995) and ZPP (r=0.2837) showed statistically significant correlation with mean lead concentration in air, whereas correlations were not demonstrated between blood lead and lead related symptoms or blood ZPP and lead related symptoms. 6. Blood lead (PBB) and ZPP showed association (r=0.2466) and the equation PBB=23.75+0.0842 ZPP was derived. 7. On stepwise multiple regression, using blood lead level as a dependent variable and ZPP, hemoglobin (HB), age, work duration (WD) and symptom prevalence as a independent variables, only ZPP significantly contributed a lot to blood lead level. 8. While the ZPP measurement was found to be a good indicator in evaluating health effect of lead absorption in low level lead exposure, lead related symptoms were not sensitive enough to evaluate of lead absorption in low level exposure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.3105-3108
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• 2013

Background: This study used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III to study the relationship between blood lead concentration and all cause, all cancer and lung cancer mortality in adults. Patients and Methods: Public use National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) data were used. NHANES III uses stratified, multistage probabilistic methods to sample nationally representative samples. Household adult, laboratory and mortality data were merged. Sample persons who were available to be examined in aMobile Examination Center (MEC) were included in this study. Specialized survey analysis software was used. Results: A total of 3,482 sample participants with complete information for all variables were included in this analysis. For all cause death, the odds ratios (S.E.) for statistically significant variables were body mass index, 1.03 (1.01-1.06); 1.01 (1.01-1.01); blood lead concentration, 1.05 (1.01-1.08); poverty income ratio, 0.823 (0.76-0.89); and drinking hard liquor, 1.01 (1.00-1.02). For all cancer mortality, the odds ratios (S.E.) of the statistically signigicant variables were: age, 1.01 (1.01-1.01); blood lead concentration, 1.07 (1.04-1.12), black race, using non-Hispanic white as reference, 1.69 (1.12-2.56); and smoking, 1.02 (1.01-1.04). For lung cancer mortality, the odds ratios (S.E.) of the statistically significant variables were: age, 1.01(1.01-1.01); blood lead concentration, 1.09 (1.05-1.13); Mexican Americans, using non-Hispanic white as refrence, 0.33 (0.129-0.850); other races, 1.80 (0.53-6.18); and smoking, 1.03 (1.02-1.05). Conclusion: Blood lead concentration correlated with all cause, all cancer, and lung cancer mortality in adults.