• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.398-405
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• 1995

We experienced a case of occupational lead poisoning employed in a secondary lead smelting plant for 12 years. The patient was 39-year-old male and had been felt dizziness, recent memory impairment and intermittent severe abdominal pain for 2 years. On admission, blood lead level was $92.9{\mu}g/dl$, urinary lead level was $19.9{\mu}g/l$ and zinc protoporphyrin level was $226.0{\mu}g/dl$. On the blood test, hemoglobin was 10.6g/dl and showed normocytic normochromic anemia. There were no abnormal findings in the biochemical and hormonal tests. Decrease of I.Q. and use of words in speaking were found in the psychiatric and psychologic examinations. We observed the finding of motor polyneuropathy in the nerve conduction velocity test. Computed tomographic finding showed calcification lesions in the basal ganglia, dentate nuclei, caudate nuclei, and especially characteristic multiple calcifications were located in the subcortical white matter.

• 한국환경보건학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경보건학회 2005년도 Proceedings of KSEH.Minamata Forum
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• pp.85-86
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• 2005

To investigate the association between blood lead level (Pb-B) and neurobehavioral performance of school age children in Korea.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.439-444
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• 2021

Background: In a previous study, we estimated exposure prevalence and the number of workers exposed to carcinogens by industry in Korea. The present study aimed to evaluate the optimal exposure intensity indicators of airborne lead exposure by comparing to blood lead measurements for the future development of the carcinogen exposure intensity database. Methods: Data concerning airborne lead measurements and blood lead levels were collected from nationwide occupational exposure databases, compiled between 2015 and 2016. Summary statistics, including the arithmetic mean (AM), geometric mean (GM), and 95th percentile level (X95) were calculated by industry both for airborne lead and blood lead measurements. Since many measurements were below the limits of detection (LODs), the simple replacement with half of the LOD and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) methods were used for statistical analysis. For examining the optimal exposure indicator of airborne lead exposure, blood lead levels were used as reference data for subsequent rank correlation analyses. Results: A total of 19,637 airborne lead measurements and 32,848 blood lead measurements were used. In general, simple replacement showed a higher correlation than MLE. The results showed that AM and X95 using simple replacement could be used as optimal exposure intensity indicators, while X95 showed better correlations than AM in industries with 20 or more measurements. Conclusion: Our results showed that AM or X95 could be potential candidates for exposure intensity indicators in the Korean carcinogen exposure database. Especially, X95 is an optimal indicator where there are enough measurements to compute X95 values.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.472-478
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• 2009

본 연구에서는 도시 지역 주민들과 농촌 지역 주민들을 대상으로 지리적 환경 차이에 따른 혈중 납 및 혈중 카드뮴 농도를 조사하여 노출 정도를 알아보고자 하였다. 연구 대상은 2007년 7월 1일에서 8월 30일 까지 경남의 전형적인 농촌마을(진주) 주민 84명과 부산 인근의 반농촌마을(기장) 주민 64명, 대도시 부산지역 주민 100명을 선정하여 연구를 수행하였으며, Graphite furnace를 갖춘 비불꽃 원자 흡광기를 이용하여 분석하였다. 평균 혈중 납 농도는 대도시 부산지역 주민이 $6.38{\pm}2.86{\mu}g/dl$이었으며, 진주 농촌지역 주민들은 $5.41{\pm}2.16{\mu}g/dl$, 부산 인근의 기장지역 주민들은 $4.50{\pm}2.87{\mu}g/dl$으로 부산지역 주민들의 평균 혈중 납 농도가 가장 높았으며 부산지역 주민의 혈중 납 농도와 부산 인근 기장지역 주민의 혈중 납 농도간 유의한 차이(p<0.01)를 보였다. 평균 혈중 카드뮴 농도는 대도시 부산지역 주민이 $0.85{\pm}0.44{\mu}g/l$이었고, 진주 농촌지역 주민이 $1.57{\pm}0.78{\mu}g/l$, 부산 인근의 기장지역 주민 $0.95{\pm}0.54{\mu}g/l$으로 진주 농촌지역 주민들의 평균 혈중 카드뮴 농도가 가장 높았으며 부산지역 주민과 진주 농촌지역 주민들 간에 통계적 유의한 차이(p<0.01)가 관찰되었다. 본 연구에서는 도시 지역과 농촌 지역 간에 따라 혈중 납 및 혈중 카드뮴의 농도에 차이가 있음을 알 수 있었으나, 일부 지역 주민들의 결과만으로 우리나라 전체 도시와 농촌지역 주민의 혈중 납 및 카드뮴 농도에 대한 차이를 단언하기는 어렵다고 생각된다. 하지만 작업장 내의 직업적 폭로가 아닌 도시와 농촌 간의 지역적 차이에 관한 연구로써 의미 있는 연구라 생각되며, 향후 혈중 납과 카드뮴의 체내 축척을 줄이기 위하여 보다 더 많은 대상자들의 정밀한 조사가 이루어져야 될 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.213-223
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the level of physical exposure to heavy metals among residents who live around a Chungcheongnam-do Province industrial complex and to provide baseline data on the effects and harms of heavy metals on the human body by comparing their exposure levels to those of people from control regions. Methods: We measured blood lead and cadmium levels and urine mercury and chromium levels and conducted a survey among 559 residents from the affected area and 347 residents of other areas. Results: Blood lead and cadmium levels and urine mercury levels were significantly higher in the case region than among those in the control region (p=0.013, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). In the thermoelectric power plant area, blood cadmium and urine mercury levels were significantly higher than in the control region (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). In the steel mill and petrochemical industry areas, blood cadmium level was significantly higher than that in the control region (p<0.001). Dividing groups by the reference level of blood cadmium ($2{\mu}g/L$), the odds ratios between the case and control regions were 2.56 (95% CI=1.83-3.58), 3.11 (95% CI=2.06-4.71) for the thermoelectric power plant area, 1.78 (95% CI=1.19-2.65) for the steel mill area and 4.07 (95% CI=2.40-6.89) for petrochemical industry area. Conclusion: This study showed that the levels of exposure to heavy metals among residents living near a Chungcheongnam-do Province industrial complex were significantly higher than those in the control region. This seems to be attributable to exposure to heavy metals emissions from the industrial complex. Further research and safety measures are required to protect residents' health.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.144-152
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• 2005

To evaluate the effect of lead biomarkers including bone lead on neurobehavioral test in lead workers, 652 lead workers without any occupational exposure to organic solvent, mercury and arsenic were agreed to participate this study. For the control subjects 102 non-occupationally lead exposed blue collar workers in general manufacturing industries were also joined this study. All study subjects joined this study with written informed consent. The study variables of lead exposure were blood and patella lead. For the general characteristics of study subjects, standardized questionnaire regarding age, sex, past disease history, job duration, body mass index (BMI), drinking and smoking habit were provided. For the past history of neurotoxicity related diseases, all study subjects were interviewed by qualified occupational health physician. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Compared with controls without occupational lead exposure, lead exposed subjects had worse performance on all tests(p<0.05). 2. After adjustment for covariates (age, sex, job duration, education level, BMI, smoking and drinking status), the signs of the regression coefficients for blood lead were negative for 13 of the 14 tests. Blood lead was a significant predictor of poorer scores on 8 tests (simple reaction time(ms & root MSD), Trail-Making Test B, Digit Symbol Substitution, Purdue Pegboard assembly, Digit Span Test, Benton Visual Retention, and Purdue pegboard both hand). 3. After adjustment for covariates (age, sex, job duration, education level, BMI, smoking and drinking status), the signs of the regression coefficients for patella lead were negative for 12 of the 14 tests. Patella lead was a significant predictor of poorer scores on 8 tests (simple reaction time(ms). Purdue Pegboard assembly, Digit Span Test, Benton Visual Retention. Pursuit Aiming rest (no. of correct & no. of incorrect), Purdue pegboard non-dominant hand and both hand). With above results, blood lead and patella lead were associated with poorer performance of neurobehavioral tests. In addition, patella lead was confirmed to be better predictor of manual dexterity test in neurobehavioral test battery in lead workers

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.43-48
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• 1979

For the purpose of further health control, D-penicillamine was orally administered to 8 persons who were employed in lead industry and suspected lead intoxication routine industrial health examination. The does of D-penicillamine was 600 mg per day and was administered orally in every other 5 days, For the laboratory analysis 24 hours urine and 10 gm of whole blood were collected every day. The results were as follows; 1. It was found that mean urinary lead excretion per day was 446.5 g/l and 394.98 g/l, respectively during the first 5-day and the second 5-day administration with D-penicillamine. 2. Mean lead excretion per day was $130.56{\pm}66.42g/l$ after first 5-day administration and $159.28{\pm}104.44g/l$ after second 5-day administration with D-penicillamine. 3. The level of urinary lead excretion after administration increased 3 to 4 times than that before administration with D-peniciilamine. 4. Blood and urinary lead level investigated after 6 months were $44.4{\pm}10.2g/100g\;and\;72.7{\pm}29.7\;g/l$ for the eight persons.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.336-346
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• 2009

As a follow-up survey of A Study of Monitoring Method on Exposure Level and Biomarkers of Environmental Pollutants-Focused on Ulsan Industrial Comlpex Area, published in 2005, a close examination of the health status was conducted for selected Ulsan residents. Based on the previous study, a total number of 129 subjects were divided into two groups: the exposure group consisted of 39 residents whose blood levels of lead, mercury and/or cadmium were higher than international reference values, and 90 residents of control group with normal levels. Environmental exposure level and its association with health condition were examined by various methods such as questionnaire, analyses of lead, mercury and cadmium in blood and medical examinations. The geometric mean concentrations of lead, mercury and cadmium in blood were respectively $2.07{\mu}g/d{\ell}$ (exposure $2.54{\mu}g/d{\ell}$, control $1.90{\mu}g/d{\ell}$), $5.94{\mu}g/L$ (exposure $8.57{\mu}g/L$, control $5.07{\mu}g/L$), $1.32{\mu}g/L$ (exposure $1.30{\mu}g/L$, control $1.33{\mu}g/L$). The concentrations of the three heavy metals in blood showed lower levels than internationally recommended values except for blood mercury. Also, any abnormal or, peculiar disease, or target tissue damage related to the heavy metals was not observed among the all subjects. Therefore, it can be said that no significant difference of heavy metal concentrations and health conditions was found between the two groups.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권8호
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• pp.1130-1134
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• 2005

An experiment was performed using 20 calves of about one-month old to investigate the effect of chelation therapy with calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate ($CaNa_2$EDTA) alone or along with antioxidant $\alpha$-tocopherol in lead loaded calves on blood trace minerals, erythrocytic sulfahydryl groups and some haematobiochemical parameters. Fifteen calves were given lead orally at a daily dose of 7.5 mg of 99% pure lead acetate/kg body weight for 28 days. Then the lead was withdrawn on day 28 and the calves were randomly divided into three groups. Each group of five animals was either treated with $CaNa_2$EDTA alone at the dose rate of 110 mg/kg body weight in two divided doses for 4 days or along with $\alpha$-tocopherol at the dose rate of 100 mg/kg body weight orally daily for 7 days, keeping the remaining five calves as lead-exposed untreated controls. Blood samples were collected at the end of the lead exposure (day 0) and thereafter on day 2, 4, 7 and 10 from the start of the chelation treatment. The treatment with EDTA alone led to slow but non-significant improvement in blood copper level, but incorporation of antioxidant $\alpha$-tocopherol in chelation therapy resulted in its significant decline, as recorded on day 7-post treatment. Withdrawal of lead or treatment with $CaNa_2$EDTA alone or along with $\alpha$-tocopherol enhanced the erythrocytic thiol contents and the levels of T-SH and P-SH became statistically (p<0.05) comparable to those of lead-exposed controls by day 7 and 4, respectively. There was no significant (p>0.05) change in serum urea, creatinine, total protein and albumin levels between the treatment groups. It is concluded from the present investigation that treatment with $CaNa_2$EDTA at the present dose rate is safe to be used for chelation in lead loaded calves.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.153-163
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• 2006

Essential metals have been known to interact with non-essential toxic metals in the aspects of absorption, transport and deposition in the body. Iron deficiency has been reported to increase lead and/or cadmium absorption. The relation between iron and lead has been understood well in children but not in adults. Two hundred seventy adults (118 males and 152 females) were recruited from 3 different residental areas (rural, coastal and urban) to investigate the effects of environmental lead exposure on body iron status. The subjects were interviewed for life-style and diet of the last 24 hours, and measured for blood lead and body iron. The lead concentration in the whole blood was determined by a flameless method using an atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The body iron was evaluated with values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBCs, serum total iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, total iron binding capacity and ferritin. The mean concentration of blood lead in adult was $3.31{\mu}g/dL$. The concentration was higher in male ($3.97{\mu}g/dL$) than in female ($2.86{\mu}g/dL$). The blood lead was influenced by residental area, life-style, smoking and drinking, occupation and diet habit of subjects, but not by age. A positive correlation was observed between the blood lead level and the serum iron or ferritin. These results suggest that environmental lead exposure in Korean adult may not be higher than other developed and developing countries. It is further indicated that blood lead in adult could be influenced by life-style, and environmental and genetic factors but no inverse relation with body iron as shown in children.