• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2021

Purpose: It is known that the most common cause of gas poisoning in Korea is suicide attempts by burning ignition coals. Ignition coals are made from waste wood, and studies have been reported that heavy metals are emitted when this coal is burned. However, there was no study on how much heavy metal poisoning occurs in the human body through this, so this study was planned to find out whether the concentration of heavy metals in the blood increased in patients exposed to ignition coal combustion. Methods: From April 2020 to April 2021, blood lead, mercury, and cadmium concentrations were investigated in carbon monoxide poisoning patients who visited one regional emergency medical center in Seoul, and their association with exposure time, source of poisoning, and rhabdomyolysis were investigated. Results: During the study period, a total of 136 carbon monoxide poisoning patients were tested for heavy metals, and 81 cases of poisoning by ignition coal were reported. When comparing poisoning caused by combustion of ignition coal and other substances, there was no difference in the concentrations of lead, mercury, and cadmium in the blood, and there was no difference in the number of patients above the reference range. However, the patients exposed to more than 5 hours of ignition coal gas exposure are more frequent than those in the group less than 5 hours in lead (51.4% vs. 23.9%, p=0.012). Conclusion: Compared to poisoning with other combustible substances, the blood concentration of lead, mercury, and cadmium does not increase further in patients with gas poisoning by ignition coal. However, prolonged exposure may result in elevated levels of lead.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.450-464
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• 2016

Objectives: This study developed and validated reference materials (RMs) to analyze metal compounds in blood. Methods: We referred to KoNEHS (Korea National Environmental Health Survey) to estimate concentrations of blood metals (cadmium, Cd; lead, Pb; mercury, Hg) and applied analytical methods (inductively coupled plasma - mass spectroscopy, ICP-MS, for Cd and Pb; graphite furnace - atomic absorption spectrometry, GF-AAS, for Cd and Pb; and direct mercury analyzer, DMA, for Hg). Homogeneity and stability tests were carried out. In addition, certified values and uncertainties of RMs were calculated through internal and external experiments. All RMs were developed and assessed in various forms according to element, analytical method, and two types of concentration levels high concentration for occupational exposure and low concentration for environmental exposure. Results: All samples showed acceptable homogeneity, except for low concentration of Cd in the GF-AAS method. Short- and long-term stabilities were satisfied by ANOVA testing. In the inter-laboratory comparison, robust medians were lower than the certified values of all RMs (robust median/reference value; $1.301/1.327{\mu}g/L$ for Cd, ICP-MS, low concentration; $3.152/3.388{\mu}g/L$ for Cd, ICP-MS, high concentration; $1.219/1.301{\mu}g/L$ for Cd, GF-AAS, low concentration; $3.074/3.321{\mu}g/L$ for Cd, GF-AAS, high concentration; $14.473/14.516{\mu}g/L$ for Pb, ICP-MS, low concentration; $50.069/50.114{\mu}g/L$ for Pb, ICP-MS, high concentration; $12.881/14.147{\mu}g/L$ for Pb, GF-AAS, low concentration; $47.015/47.591{\mu}g/L$ for Pb, GF-AAS, high concentration; $4.059/4.218{\mu}g/L$ for Hg, DMA, low concentration; $11.474/11.181{\mu}g/L$ for Hg, DMA, high concentration). Conclusion: This study demonstrates procedures for developing and validating RMs for biomonitoring in the field of the environmental health.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 2022

Background: Abandoned metal mines are classified as vulnerable areas with the highest level of soil contamination among risk regions. People living near abandoned metal mines are at increased risk of exposure to toxic metals. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between soil contamination levels in areas around abandoned metal mine and the blood lead levels of local residents. Moreover, we assess the possibility of using soil contamination levels as a predictive indicator for human exposure level. Methods: Data from the Survey of Residents around Abandoned Metal Mines (2013~2017, n=4,421) and Investigation of Soil Pollution in Abandoned Metal Mines (2000~2011) were used. A random coefficient model was conducted for estimation of the lower level (micro data) of the local resident unit and the upper level (macro data) of the abandoned metal mine unit. Through a fitted model, the variation of blood lead levels among abandoned metal mines was confirmed and the effect of the operationally defined soil contamination level was estimated. Results: Among the total variation in blood lead levels, the variation between abandoned mines was 18.6%, and the variation determined by the upper-level factors such as soil contamination and water contamination was 8.1%, which was statistically significant respectively. There was also a statistically significant difference in the least square mean of blood lead concentration according to the level of soil contamination (p=0.047, low: 2.32 ㎍/dL, middle: 2.38 ㎍/dL, high: 2.59 ㎍/dL). Conclusions: The blood lead concentration of residents living near abandoned metal mines was significantly correlated with the level of soil contamination. Therefore, in biomonitoring for vulnerable areas, operationally defined soil contamination can be used as a predictor for human exposure level to hazardous substances and discrimination of high-risk abandoned metal mines.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.73-87
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• 1988

This study was performed to investigate the effect of lactose in 4 different concentrations against the protective effect of calcium on the acute lead poisoning in rats after 4 weeks treatment. In this animal experiment, 70 albino male weanling rats (50-70g of body weight) of Sprague-Dawley strain were used. Lead was dissolved in the distilled water and intubated at the dose of 400mg lead (as acetate)/ kg of body weight/day. Calcium and lactose were administered in drinking water ad libiturn dissolved with the solution of 0.7% calcium gluconate mixed with 40, 80, 160 and 320mM lacotse respectively. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The rate of body weight gain in all treated groups turned out to be lower than that in the control group during 4 weeks treatment. The slow-down of body weight gain was the most significantly observed in the group treated with lead only ( p < 0.05). 2. The relative spleen weight in lead only treated group was significantly lower than that of lead + calcium, lead + calcium + 80mM lactose treated group ( p < 0.05). 3. The value of RBC, WBC, Hb and Hct showed a decreasing tendency in the group treated with lead only ( p < 0.05), however, a significant decrease was not observed in the group treated with lead + calcium. On the other hand, the protective effect of calcium was deteriorated in the group treated with lead + calcium + lactose. 4. The activity of $\delta$-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase ($\delta$-ALAD activity) showed the same tendency as No. 2. 5. The lead concentration in the blood (PbB) showed an increasing tendency and the interrelation among the different groups was also identical with No. 2. 6. With a statistical approach, it was found out that the activity of $\delta$-ALAD and the lead concentration in the blood show a relation of inverse proportion(r=-0.7301). The diagram was interpreted with the logarithmic equation InY = 5.5357-0.0251X (X:PbB, Y:$\delta$-ALAD activity). 7. In the histopathological findings of the kidney, the protective effect of calcium was observed. However, the protective effect of calcium was restricted in the group treated with lead + calcium + lactose. As a conclusion, the intensity of the acute ingested lead poisoning was obviously reduced by calcium, however, the protective effect of calcium was deteriorated in proportion with the concentration of the lactose to be administered. On the other hand, it was also noted that the deterioration was lightly restrained in the group treated with the physiological concentration of 80mM lactose than the results shown in the groups treated with lactose of other concentrations.

• 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.33 no.5
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• pp.353-358
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• 2007

The publications on dietary intake, respiratory intake and blood concentration of cadmium and lead in some Korean women are reviewed. Reported values of dietary Cd intake as geometric mean were $17.1{\mu}g/day$ in 1986, $21.2{\mu}g/day$ in 1994, $16.7{\mu}g/day$ in 2000, and blood concentration were $1.45{\mu}g$ in 1986, $1.27{\mu}g/l$ in 1994 and $2.74{\mu}g/l$ in 2000, respectively. In case of Pb, the dietary intake were $33.1{\mu}g/day$ in 1986, $20.5{\mu}g/day$ in 1994, and $18.4{\mu}g/day$ in 2000 and the blood concentration were $51.5{\mu}g/l$ in 1986, $44.3{\mu}g/l$ in 1994, $37.3{\mu}g/l$ in 2000, respectively. Dietary intake is an almost exclusive route of Cd exposure, however respiratory intake in case of Pb is thought to affective exposure route in Korean women. When compared with the values reported in the literature, both of dietary Cd and Pb intake levels appear to be similar to or somewhat higher than the levels in east and south-east Asia.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.329-337
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• 2005

This study investigated prevalence of color vision loss different from children's residence. The study subjects are 3 to 6 grade's children of elementary school in four areas. The blood lead and urinary mercury were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. All of participations' blood lead and urine mercury concentration were below suggested level of concern such as criteria by CDC and ATSDR. Color vision was assessed by the Lanthony D-15 desaturated panel. Color vision loss was quantitatively established by the Color Confusion Index (CCI) and qualitatively classified by type of acquired dyschromatopsia according to Verriest's classification. The prevalence of color vision loss and CCI value for children in industrial area was significantly higher than other areas(p<0.05). However blood lead and urinary mercury concentration level was not correlated to the color vision loss. Therefore we believed that other environmental neurotoxic substance except metal had an effects on color vision loss for children in industrial area.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.347-361
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• 2012

Limited studies are available concerning the effect of heavy metal exposure on cardiovascular diseases. As environmental pollution increases, food contamination, including heavy metal contamination of fish, also increases. However, researches based on the intake of heavy metals, cardiovascular disease, and fish intakes are inconclusive. We assessed an association of heavy metal exposure with cardiovascular disease and fish intake in a nationally representative group of general Korean adults. We used data from the combined 2008-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), and analyzed the data of 5,139 Koreans who participated in KNHANES. All participants were older than 20 years, and were diagnosed with stroke, ischemic heart disease, or hypertension. The mean blood cadmium, lead concentration, and mercury concentration of subjects were $1.07{\pm}0.01{\mu}g/L$, $2.49{\pm}0.02{\mu}g/dL$, and $5.19{\pm}0.08{\mu}g/L$, respectively. We used the survey logistic regression model to account for the complex sample design of the cardiovascular disease risk in order to estimate the odds ratios (OR). After adjusting for age, education, income, alcohol, smoking, and BMI, the increase of serum cadmium in blood was associated with the increase in the prevalence of hypertension. Further, the increase in blood cadmium concentration was associated with the increase of both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Although higher fish intakes were significantly associated with higher blood mercury concentration (p for trend < 0.0001), fish intakes did not affect either blood cadmium or lead concentration. Comparing the highest fish intake group with the lowest intake group, the OR of hypertension was 0.31 (95% CI: 0.19-0.59) in the crude model for total fish. However, these associations were no longer significant after the adjustment for potential confounding factors. In conclusion, cadmium in blood was associated with an increased risk of hypertension in the general Korean adult population. However, we found no evidence of a clear relationship between cardiovascular disease and frequency of fish consumption.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.127-134
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• 1992

Present experiments were undertaken in order to clarify the clinico-pathological characteristics of lead poisoning in goats. Twenty goats were divided into three experimental groups(A, B and C) and a control(D). The three experimental groups received diets contaminated artificially with 10(A group), 200(B group) and 1,000(C group) ${\mu}g/$ of lead, for 70 days respectively. The control group received normal diets. Blood samples were collected 1 or 2 weeks interval and were examined for anemia(erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentrations and hematocrit values) and lead contents of erythrocyte and serum. Urine samples collected similarly with blood were examined for delta-aminolevulinic acid and lead content. Collected samples were analyzed for lead content by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. From these experiments following results were obtained : In group B and C, marked decreases in body weight and feed intake, and diarrhea were observed from the $30^{th}$ day of experimental periods. The B and C groups showed pronounced anemia(decrease in erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit value) from the $21^{st}$ or $42^{nd}$ day. In group B and C, the lead content of erythrocytes was increased significantly from the $28^{th}$ or $14^{th}$ day. The lead content of serum was increased significantly from the $42^{nd}$ or $14^{th}$ day in B and C groups. The lead content of urine was increased significantly from the first day in both B and C groups. The urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid content was increased significantly from $14^{th}$ day in both B and C groups.