• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2016

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of blood lead concentrations of residents in the areas surrounding an industrial complex. Methods: During the three-month period from August to October 2012, informed consent was obtained from a total of 417 residents in Gwangyang and Yeosu. We collected blood samples from all subjects, and their demographic characteristics were acquired using a questionnaire. The blood samples were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrometer and data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 21.0. Results: The geometric mean concentration of blood lead in all subjects was $1.85{\mu}g/dL$. The highest (p<0.01) blood lead concentrations were in the current drinking group ($2.24{\mu}g/dL$). Blood lead concentrations in the smoking group ($0.59{\mu}g/dL$) were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in the non-smoking group ($0.24{\mu}g/dL$). Risk assessment was performe using the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KNEHS) as a reference. The hazard indices of blood lead in males and females were 0.65 and 0.52, respectively Conclusion: We provided baseline data for reference values of toxicity and heavy lead concentrations. Our results might be useful for further evaluation of risks due to exposure to heavy metals via oral, air, and percutaneous routes.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.111-116
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• 1981

Economic development of Korea brought rapid progress and expansion of her industries. Accordingly, number of workers who have been exposed to hazardous metals are increasing. For better understanding the significance of on the job human metal pollution, a total of 22 solderers among autoworkers and 28 controls among medical students was purposively selected as samples of the study. From their blood, concentrations of cadmium and lead were measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and to compare with statistical indices of controls those of solderers were sumarized as follows. 1. Each frequency distribution of cadmium and lead concentration in blood of solderers was more positively skewed showing non-Gausian distribution. 2. Interindividual variation of lead concentration in blood of solderers was markedly revealed. 3. Each mean of cadmium and lead concentration in blood of solderers was higher than that of controls(Cd;p<0.01, Pb;p<0.01). 4. Relative ratio of cadmium concentration in blood of solderers to that of controls was 1.36 by arithmatic mean and 1.39 by geometric mean. Relative ratio of lead concentration in blood of solderers to that of controls was 1.53 by arithmatic mean and 1.30 by geometric mean. 5. It was shown that concentration of lead is slightly correlated with that of cadmium both in solderers and controls(solderers; p<0.1, controls;p<0.1).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.1 s.49
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• pp.73-84
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• 1995

This study was conducted to measure the lead level in the blood, scalp hair and toenail of the elementary schoolchildren and assess the relationship among those samples. Lead concentration of the blood, scalp hair and toenail was measured for 100(male 50, female 50) fourth grade elementary schoolchildren in Taegu city. The mean lead level in the blood, scalp hair and toenail was $6.00{\pm}2.44{\mu}g/dl,\;6.68{\pm}3.54{\mu}g/g,\;and\;7.33{\pm}3.18{\mu}g/g. The mean lead level in the blood of schoolboys was $6.43{\pm}2.77{\mu}g/dl$, and that of schoolgirls was $5.59{\pm}2.01{\mu}g/dl$. The mean lead level in the scalp hair of schoolboys was $7.66{\pm}2.97{\mu}g/g$ and that of schoolgirls was $6.88{\pm}3.54{\mu}g/g$. The mean lead level in the toenail of schoolboys was $8.19{\pm}3.5{\mu}g/g$ and that of schoolgirls was $6.47{\pm}2.52{\mu}g/g$ and their difference was statistically significant. In schoolboys, the correlation coefficient between the lead level in the blood and scalp hair was 0.4909, and the data were fitted best by the regression equation Y = 0.5255X+4. 2810, where Y and X are scalp hair and blood concentration. In schoolgirls the correlation coefficient between the lead level in the blood and scalp hair was 0.3778, and the data were fitted best by the regression equation Y = 0.6655X+2.9632, where Y and X are scalp hair and blood concentration. In schoolboys, the correlation coefficient between the lead level in the blood and in the toenail was 0.5533, and the data were fitted best by the regression equation Y = 0.7076X+3. 6472, where Y and X are toenail and blood concentration. In schoolgirls the correlation coefficient between the lead level in the blood and in the toenail was 0.2738, and the data were fitted best by the regression equation Y = 0.3431X+4.5570, where Y and X are toenail and blood concentration In schoolboys, the correlation coefficient between the lead level in the scalp hair and in the toenail, in the schoolboys was 0.4148, and the data were fitted best by the regression equation Y = 0.4956X+4.3986, where Y and X are toenail and scalp hair concentration. In schoolgirls, the correlation coefficient between the lead level in the scalp hair and in the toenail was 0.1159, and the data were fitted best by the regression equation Y = 0.0825X+5. 9214, where Y and X are toenail and scalp hair concentration. Correlation among lead concentration in the blood, scalp hair and toenail of schoolchildren were statistically significant except between scalp hair and toenail in schoolgirls. These finding suggest that blood, scalp hair and toenail can be used as substitutive samples between each others.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.95-103
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• 1991

For the purpose of estimating the working environment and the relationship between the airborne lead concentration and the ZPP level in the whole blood of the workers, the airborne lead concentrations and the ZPP level were measured at the 26 plants which deal with lead, from October 5 to November 5 in 1988. Analysis of the airborne lead concentration was performed by NIOSH Method 7082, and the ZPP level was measured by a hematofluorometer. The following results are concluded. 1. The average airborne lead concentration of the lead battery manufactures is 0.025mg/m$^{3}$ and that of the secondary lead smelters is 0.023mg/m$^{3}$. There were no significant differences between industry (p>0.1) 2. At the lead battery manufacture, the process of lead powder production showed the highest concentration of 0.034mg/m$^{3}$ but there were no significant differences among the processes (p>0.1). At the secondary lead smelter, the process of dismantling waste batteries showed the highest concentration 0.141mg/m$^{3}$, and there were very significant differences among the processes (p<0.005). 3. The ZPP level in the whole blood showed significant differences between industry (p<0.10). The average ZPP level of the lead battery manufactures is 133.0 + 106.3 $\mu$g/100ml and that of the secondary lead smelters is 149.6 + 110.9 $\mu$g/100ml. 4. The correlation coefficients between the airborne lead concantration and ZPP level were 0. 426 (p<0.001) for the lead battery manufactures and 0.484 (p<0.001) for the secondary lead smelters. The correlation coefficients between the work duration (in months) and the ZPP level were 0.238 (p<0.001) for the lead battery mannfactures and 0.075 (p>0.10) for the secondary lead smelters. 5. The linear regression equation, with the airborne lead concentration as an independent variable and the ZPP level as a dependent variable, is Y=96.84+1300.34X (r=0.448, p<0.001) for the 26 plants which deal with lead. The linear regression equation, with the work duration(in months) as an independent variable and the ZPP level as a dependent variable, is Y=127.28 +0.49X (r=0.162, p<0.05). 6. The correlation coefficients between the amount of inhaled lead and ZPP level were 0.349 (p < 0.001) for the lead battery manufactures and 0.318(p<0.001) for the secondary lead smeltes. The linear regression equation for the 26 plants surveyed, with the amount of inhaled lead as an independent variable and ZPP level as a dependent variable, is Y=123.63+18.82X (r=0. 335, p<0.001).

• 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.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2012

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the lead levels in blood samples from nielloware workers, to determine airborne lead levels, to describe the workers' hygiene behaviors, and to ascertain and describe any correlations between lead levels in blood samples and lead levels in airborne samples. Methods: Blood samples and airborne samples from 45 nielloware workers were collected from nielloware workplaces in Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province, Thailand. Lead levels were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), at a wavelength of 283.3 nm. FAAS was used especially adequate for metals at relatively high concentration levels. Results: The geometric mean of the 45 airborne lead levels was 81.14 ${\mu}g/m^3$ (range 9.0-677.2 ${\mu}g/m^3$). The geometric mean blood lead level of the 45 workers was 16.25 ${\mu}g/dL$ (range 4.59-39.33 ${\mu}g/dL$). No worker had a blood lead level > 60 ${\mu}g/dL$. A statistically significantly positive correlation was found between airborne lead level and blood lead levels (r = 0.747, p < 0.01). It was observed that personal hygiene was poor; workers smoked and did not wash their hands before drinking or eating. It was concluded that these behaviors had a significant correlation with blood lead levels (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Improvements in working conditions and occupational health education are required due to the correlation found between blood leads and airborne lead levels.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.2089-2099
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• 2015

This study examined the relationships between the blood heavy metal (Pb, Hg and Cd) concentration and exposure-related factors. The subjects were 2,042 (male: 953, female: 1,089) who were recruited through a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Differences in the concentrations of mercury were observed in males, whereas females showed differences in lead and cadmium. Analyses of the blood concentrations according to body mass index and waist circumference showed significantly higher concentrations of mercury. In males, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of dyslipidemia was higher than normal in the blood lead concentration. In females, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of dyslipidemia was higher than normal in the blood lead concentration. The blood lead and cadmium concentrations of male smokers was higher than non-smokers, and cadmium showed the same results in females. The blood lead levels were higher in male alcohol consumers than non-drinkers. The blood concentrations of mercury and cadmium showed significant differences according to household income. Blood concentrations of heavy metals were closely related to exposure-related factors, and age, smoking, drinking alcohols, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and household income were found to be relevant.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.3 s.54
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• pp.693-700
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to determine whether workers at a factory next to a lead recycling factory in Pusan, were affected by lead contamination. The mean air lead concentration of lead recycling factory was $0.21mg/m^3(TWA=0.05mg/m^3)$. Thirty-nine male workers of Factory A, Cr. plating factory next to the lead recycling factory were exposed group and a comparison group, 62 male workers of Factory B were selected from another Cr. plating factory about 8.5km away from lead recycling factory. Air lead concentration of each workplace was checked for 4 times from August f to August 20 in 1995 by low volume air sampler. Each subject was interviewed about age, life-style, smoking, work history, and residence etc, and venous blood was drawn for lead measurement by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. We have observed that air lead concentration and blood lead concentration of Factory A was higher than Factory $B(2.6{\pm}1.6\;Vs.\;1.2{\pm}0.2{\mu}g/m^3,\;14.9{\pm}1.6\;Vs.\;12.2{\pm}1.6{\mu}g/dl)$. We believe that other environmental lead sources such as transportation and residence did not affect air lead and blood lead concentration differences of both factory. We concluded that high air lead and blood lead concentration of Factory A were caused by lead contamination generated by the neighboring lead recycling factory.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2009

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate 1) blood lead levels of workers at auto repair shops as Biological Exposure Indices (BEI) of toxic substances such as lead and toluene that are produced during automotive painting process, 2) the differences depending on personal characteristics of workers who have been exposed to toluene by using urine hippuric acid concentration as a marker and 3) the correlation between the concentration of hazardous chemicals in each workplace and the BEL. All subjects were male with a mean age of 36.2 years. In terms of age, most were in the 30 to 40 age group (13 persons, 48.1%). In relation to the length of work experience, the highest proportion had experience of 10 years of less (18 persons, 66.7%). Twenty three workers were cigarette smokers (85.2%) while 4 (14.8%) were non-smokers. In addition, more than 80% of the workers drank alcohol. Dust concentration and toluene exposure during automotive painting showed no significant difference with age, length of work experience, smoking and drinking while a significant difference (p<0.05) has been detected between lead concentration and smoking. The geometric mean of dust concentration, lead concentration and toluene concentration were $0.38mg/m^3,\;0.0021mg/m^3$ and 1.08ppm respectively. In addition, the geometric mean of blood lead levels and urine hippuric acid concentration were $1.70{\mu}g/dl$ and 0.25g/g respectively, which were lower than the standard levels suggested by the Ministry of Labor. To determine the influential factors on blood lead and urine hippuric acid concentrations, a correlation analysis has been conducted with variables of air, lead and toluene concentrations, age, length of work experience and amount of cigarette smoking. According to the analysis, a relatively high correlation (p<0.01) has been observed between air lead concentration and biological sample concentration.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 2020

Objectives: The causes of dementia have been reported in various ways, but there has been little research on the interrelationship between heavy metals and dementia, and the results also show little consistency. Therefore, it is imperative to compare the levels of heavy metal exposure between the dementia-suffering group and a control group to confirm the correlation between the level of heavy metal exposure and the likelihood of dementia. Methods: In order to assess the dementia level of the elderly, the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) were applied. To analyze the concentration of heavy metals in the blood, blood was collected from the veins of study subjects and measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: There was a statistically significant correlation between lead and manganese concentrations in the blood and the MMSE and GDS. It was found that there was a statistically significant correlation between cadmium concentration in the blood and the GDS, but the MMSE was less relevant. It was found that the blood mercury concentration and the MMSE and GDS were less relevant. The lead concentration in the blood was 0.95±0.74 ㎍/dL in the dementia patient group and 0.33±0.22 ㎍/dL in the normal group, while cadmium was 0.69±0.37 ㎍/L in the dementia group and 0.18±0.10 ㎍/L in the normal group. Mercury was 0.81±0.31 ㎍/L in the dementia group and 1.16±0.80 ㎍/L in the normal group. Manganese was 6.83±2.01 ㎍/L in the dementia group and 4.78±1.59 ㎍/L in the normal group. All of these show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: As the concentration of lead, cadmium and manganese in the blood increases, the MMSE scores and GDS scores were found to worsen, and it was confirmed that there is a correlation between heavy metal exposure and cognitive degradation.