• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 2011

Objectives: This study assessed the factors that have an influence on the residents exposed to heavy metals, and we utilized the findings to establish the proper management of abandoned metal mines in the future. Methods: For a total of 258 residents who lived close to abandoned mines in Gangwon-province and Gyeonggi-province, the exposure factors and biomarkers in their blood and urine were comparatively analyzed via multiple regression analysis. Results: The blood levels of lead and mercury and the cadmium levels in urine were found to be higher in the study group than that in the average Korean. For the blood levels of heavy metals according to each exposure factor, all of them were found to be significantly higher in both of the group residing for a longer period of time and the group living closer to the source of pollutants. Multiple regression analysis disclosed that all the heavy metals, except lead, in their blood were significantly reduced in proportion to the increased distance of inhabitancy from the mines. Their other biomarkers were within the normal ranges. Conclusions: We found that the distance between the residential village and the mines was a factor that affects the blood level of heavy metals in the villagers. This finding could be an important factor when developing a management model for the areas that surround abandoned metal mines. (ED note: I much like this important study.)

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.195-197
• /
• 1993

This study investigated the contamination of trace metals on edible visceras : tongue, intestine, lung, testis, gira, blood, liver, stomach, and kidney. The edible visceras were selected at random from ten markets in Seoul. The edible visceras underwent freeze drying prior to analysis. The contents of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, magnases, molybdenum, lead, and zinc were detected by ICP(Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrophotometry). The results showed that the levels of trace metals in all the samples fall within the tolerance limit and cadmium in lung tended to be high(>0.1 ppm). Therefore, we may study and investigate continuously on the food contamination of heavy metals for the public health.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.262-274
• /
• 2023

Background: Exposure levels for heavy metals such as lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) have increased due to human activities. They are known to be a public health concern. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the exposure levels to heavy metals in the blood and urine of South Korean adults and to present the contribution rate of exposure pathways using an exposure algorithm for men aged 19~64, women aged 19~64, and all seniors aged 65 or older. Methods: We analyzed data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 4 (2018~2020). A total of 2,646 participants aged ≥19 years were included. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting heavy metal concentrations. The contribution rate was calculated by applying three exposure algorithms for ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure. Results: Factors that commonly affect heavy metal concentrations in blood and urine were gender and age. The main influencing factors for Pb and Cd were education level and smoking status, while frequency of fish consumption and of alcohol consumption were indicated to be the main influencing factors for mercury. The contribution rates of lead and cadmium from food ingestion were 78.03~79.62% and 88.39~92.89%, respectively. Additionally, the highest contribution for mercury was accounted for by food at 81.69~85.77%. As a result of the risk assessment, cadmium was found to pose a potential health risk a with total cancer risk (TCR) of more than 1×10^-6. Conclusions: The KoNEHS could be an important study for determining the level of exposure to heavy metals and their influencing factors. Integrated exposure to heavy metals could assess the main exposure pathways, and this methodology could be applied to exposure management of heavy metals.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2011

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the dietary intake and blood concentrations for examination of exposure levels and exposure characteristics of Cd and Pb via food among college students aged 20 years living in Busan area. Methods: Food duplicate per a day and venous blood samples were accepted from healthy man and women college students. The samples were analyzed with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Dietary intake of Cd and Pb in the participants were $17.5{\mu}g\;Cd/day$, $21.7{\mu}g\;Pb/day$. Blood concentrations were $2.01{\mu}g\;Cd/L$, $4.32{\mu}g\;Pb/dL$, respectively. Conclusions: Smoking and drinking habits might be high influential factors in 20 years college students. Dietary intake of Cd and Pb, however, from food group of seaweed, or fish and shellfish in 20 years college students were lower than that in any other age group.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.181-188
• /
• 2022

Objectives: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was approximately 16% in populations of over age 30 years, and deaths from diabetes mellitus became the sixth most prevalent cause of death by disease. To assess the relationship between HbA1c and heavy metal level in blood and urine, targeted residents were evaluated in a vast steel industrial complex. Methods: We selected 414 subjects for analysis after applying the following exclusion criterion: 18 persons with diabetes mellitus. They took part in a questionnaire survey and underwent blood and urinary assessments. HbA1c and lead (Pb) level were measured in blood and, cadmium (Cd), inorganic arsenic (iAs) and mercury (Hg) were evaluated in urine. Two subgroups were divided by HbA1c 6.5%. Each subgroup was divided by 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th and 90th percentile levels of biological exposure index of the heavy metals for logistic regression. Results: Odd ratios have a tendency to increase as they go from the 90th to the 10th percentile of cadmium. However, lead, arsenic and mercury did not have significant relationships with HbA1c. In correction of age, region, gender and smoking history, a higher distribution in the subgroup with cadmium above 0.8318 ㎍/g creatinine (30th percentile) was demonstrated in the subgroup with HbA1c levels above the 6.5%, with an odds ratio of 5.26 (95% C.I. ; 1.44~19.17). Conclusion: This study found a significant correlation between urinary levels of cadmium and HbA1c in correction of several factors. It is meaningful that this outcome may be used as a basis for a study to establish the acceptable limit of urinary cadmium in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.450-464
• /
• 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 Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.48-53
• /
• 2001

As the severity of environmental pollution increases, the foodstuffs are contaminated more the ever. There are 40 kinds of heavy metals that we are able to consume through the heavy metal contaminated-foodstuffs. Arsenic, lead, cadmium, and chromium out or them have been know to be a potential cause for a alzheimers disease, kidney diseases, and cancer. However, research data on the daily intakes of such heavy metals are limited. This study was performed to evaluate the daily intakes of nutrients and the dietary heavy metals of the college women living in Choongchung-NamDo Area, where had been reported to have high contents of heavy metals for the seafoods. We also investigated the blood levels of the heavy metals. The mean age, height, weight, BMI and percent ideal body weight(PIBW) of the subjects were 20$\pm$1.0yr, 158.4$\pm$0.7cm, 55.1$\pm$1.4kg, 22.4$\pm$.04, and 103.3$\pm$2.5 %, resp-ectivly. The mean of daily energy intake was 1,717.03$\pm$55.99kacl/day(86% of RDA for women). The ratio to energy from carbohydrate, fat and protein was 60: 24: 16. Daily intakes of Vit A, Vit B$_2$, CA, and Fe were under the RDA for those nutrients. The mean adequate ratio of the subjects was 0.92 . The daily intakes of heavy metal, such as As, Pb, Co, Cr and Mn , were 1.80$\pm$0.27mg, 75.21$\pm$4.12$\mu\textrm{g}$, 21.12$\pm$12.34$\mu\textrm{g}$, 60.07$\pm$6.24$\mu\textrm{g}$ and 6.23 $\pm$0.12mg respectively. the blood levels of As, Pb, Co, Cr and Mn were 16.10$\pm$2.10$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, 4.32$\pm$0.58$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, 0.02$\pm$0.01$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, 4.23$\pm$0.41$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, and 4.40$\pm$0.21$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, respectively. In conclusion, daily intake of heavy metals for the college women living in Choongchung-NamDo area was lower than that of WHOs re-commendation, however, the blood levels of each heavy metals were higher than those of Japanese, american, and italian, There were no correlations between the dietary intakes and blood levels of each heavy metals. (Korean J Nutrition 34(1):48-53, 2001)

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.83-88
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to estimate the contents of heavy metals including lead, cadmium, zinc, copper as well as iron status(serum iron, total iron binding capacity, feritin etc)in blood samples of middle school students(n=300). The contents of heavy metals were determined using the GF-AAS (Graphite furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer). The microwave digestion method and dilution method were compared. The dilution method showed the better recovery and detection limit than microwave digestion method. The values of toxic metals in whloe blood of boys & girls were 3.46 & 3.05 for Pb,0.063 & 0.065 for Cd respectively (ug/dL). Also the values of trace metals in serum of boys & girls were 105.9 & 92.6 for Zn, 98.3 & 99.0 for Cu respectively (ug/dL). The prevalence of iron deficiency was $7.5\%$ in 146 boys and $14.3\%$ in 156 girls. The mean values of lead in girls were higher in iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia and anemia groups than normal group. The mean values of lead and zinc were higher in boys compared to those in girls(P<0.05), the mean values of cadmium and copper in boys were similar to those in girls. Our results of toxic metals such as Pb & Cd showed lower to CDC's(Centers for Disease Control) blood lead levels of concern for children, 10 ug/dL.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.30
• /
• pp.4.1-4.11
• /
• 2015

Objectives: This survey was designed to conduct the first nationwide dietary exposure assessment on hazardous substances including the intakes of functional food and herbal medicine. In this paper, we introduced the survey design and the results of the dietary exposure status and internal exposure levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg). Methods: We selected 4867 subjects of all ages throughout Korea. We conducted a food survey, dietary survey, biomonitoring, and health survey. Results: Pb and Cd were the highest (median value) in the seaweed ($94.2{\mu}g/kg$ for Pb; $594{\mu}g/kg$ for Cd), and Hg was the highest in the fish ($46.4{\mu}g/kg$). The dietary exposure level (median value) of Pb was $0.14{\mu}g/kg$ body weight (bw)/d, $0.18{\mu}g/kg$ bw/d for Cd, and $0.07{\mu}g/kg$ bw/d for Hg. Those with a blood Pb level of less than $5.00{\mu}g/dL$ (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reference value for those 1 to 5 years of age) were 99.0% of all the subjects. Those with a blood Cd level with less than $0.30{\mu}g/L$ (German Federal Environmental Agency, reference value for non-smoking children) were 24.5%. For those with a blood Hg level with less than $5.00{\mu}g/L$ (human biomonitoring I, references value for children and adults, German Federal Environmental Agency) was 81.0 % of all the subjects. Conclusions: The main dietary exposure of heavy metals occurs through food consumed in a large quantity and high frequency. The blood Hg level and dietary exposure level of Hg were both higher than those in the European Union.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.492-504
• /
• 2014

Feral pigeon (Columba livia) has been known as a good indicator for accumulations of chemical pollutants in urban areas. However, it is against the animal rights to kill the indicator species in order to monitor pollutants accumulations in wild birds. Eggs and feathers of birds, therefore, have been used as non-invasive monitoring materials. Even though eggs are a good indicator for accumulations of lipophilic pollutants, but unsuitable for some heavy metals such as lead and cadmium because bird's ovary builds a sort of barrier to inhibit higher accumulations of some heavy metals in the eggs. Therefore, feathers instead of eggs have been used as a non-invasive indicator for accumulations of heavy metals. However, there are few studies of heavy metal accumulations of feral pigeon in Korea. In this study, we characterized the characteristics of heavy metal accumulations of feathers in relation to internal organs (bloods, viscera and bones) in feral pigeons between two sites (Hangang Park representing urban area and Hampyeong Park for rural area). The samples from the Hangang Park showed significantly higher lead (Pb) concentrations in the blood, liver and bone than those from Hampyeong Park. The Pb concentration in the feathers was also significantly higher at Hangang Park than at Hampyeong Park. The analytical result for the breast, wing and tail feathers, and the internal organs (blood, lung, liver, kidney and bone) indicated that the Pb concentrations in the feathers were significantly positively correlated with the levels in the kidney and bone. Overall, feathers of feral pigeon may be candidate for bioindicator to monitor for Pb accumulations in urban areas.