• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.541-555
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine heavy metal exposure levels in the blood and urine of a nationally representative adult population in Korea, and to identify the major influence factors for exposure through linkage analysis using questionnaire data. Methods: Biological samples and questionnaire data were collected from adults aged 18 and over who had participated in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey from 2009 to 2017. Lead, mercury, and cadmium exposure levels were presented with geometric mean and 95th percentiles. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting heavy metal concentrations. Results: Blood lead levels increased slightly in Cycle 2 compared to Cycle 1, but decreased in Cycle 3. Blood and urinary mercury and urinary cadmium levels decreased over time. The main influence factors included gender, age, and smoking status for blood lead levels; gender, age, and intake of fish at least once a week for blood mercury levels; and age for urinary cadmium levels. Conclusion: The Korean National Environmental Health Survey is an effective tool for confirming over-time changes in exposure to lead, mercury, and cadmium in Korean adults and to identify its influence factors. The results of this study are expected to present basic data for calculating reference values and baseline exposure levels for environmental chemicals in Korean adults.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제46권3호
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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.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제33권5호
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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.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.2089-2099
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• 2015

본 연구는 혈중 납, 수은, 카드뮴 농도와 노출 관련 인자와의 관련성을 파악하고자 하였다. 연구 대상자는 국민건강 영양조사 2009년과 2010년도 40세 이상 90세 미만의 총 2,042명을 대상으로 하였다. 성별에 따른 혈중 납, 수은, 카드뮴 농도와 노출 관련인자와의 관련성과 성별 차이를 분석하였고, 납, 수은, 카드뮴 노출 관련 인자의 혈중 농도를 비교하였다. 분석결과, 연령별 차이는 남성은 수은에서만 나타났고, 여성은 납과 카드뮴에서 나타났다(p<.01). 남성은 체질량지수와 허리둘레별 혈중 수은 농도의 유의한 차이를 보였다(p<.05). 고밀도지단백콜레스테롤은 남성의 납에서 이상지질혈증 판정치가 정상보다 높게 나타났고, 저밀도지단백콜레스테롤은 여성의 납에서 이상지질혈증 판정치가 정상보다 높게 나타났다(p<.05). 또한 흡연자가 비흡연자보다 남성의 납과 카드뮴의 혈중 농도가 높게 나타났고(p<.05), 여성은 카드뮴에서만 동일한 결과를 보였다. 음주여부에서도 남성의 음주자가 비음주자보다 혈중 납 농도가 높게 나타났다(p<.05). 가구소득별 수은과 카드뮴의 혈중 농도는 유의한 차이를 나타냈다(p<.05). 혈중 중금속 농도와 노출관련인자와의 관련성은 연령, 흡연 및 음주, 비만 및 이상지질혈증, 소득수준에서 유의성을 보였다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.482-492
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• 2012

Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to produce background data which can be compared with data on vulnerable areas such as industrial complexes in Ulsan, SihwaBanwol, Gwangyang, Yeosu, Pohang, Cheongju and Daesan in Korea. Methods: This study was performed on 1,007 local residents in Gangneung using personal questionnaires and medical check-up. Environmental pollutants including heavy metals in blood and urine were analyzed and the results are as follows. Results: According to the results of medical check-up, 705 subjects were "Normal (A and B)", 232 subjects were "Disease doubtful (R1)" and 70 subjects were "High blood pressure or Diabetes doubtful (R2)". Regarding geometric mean concentration, blood lead was 1.57 ${\mu}g/dL$, urine cadmium was 0.82 ${\mu}g/g-cr$, urine mercury was 0.98 ${\mu}g/g-cr$ and urine arsenic was 15.78 ${\mu}g/g-cr$. In the analysis of 11 kinds of VOCs in blood, vinyl chloride, 1,3-butadiene and dichloroethylene were not detected, while the detection rate of other chemicals was above 70% except chloroform(49.7%) and trichloroethylene(19.0%). In analysis of 16 kinds of PAHs in blood, 10 kinds showed more than 80% in detection rate. Also, detection rate of 4 kinds of PCBs in blood ranged 52 to 78%. Conclusions: Compared with industrial compelxes, the concentration of blood lead was lower, while urine cadmium and mercury levels were similar. Also, urine arsenic ranged at a significant level. Further study is required to find the cause of regional differences in concentrations of environmental pollutants.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제19권2호
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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.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.13-23
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• 2017

이 연구는 장항제련소 주변 지역 주민들을 대상으로 중금속 노출에 의한 인체영향을 파악하기 위해 수행된 환경역학조사 결과 중 혈중 중금속 농도와 혈압 사이의 관계를 평가하기 위해 수행되었다. 이 연구에는 제련소에서 4km 이내에 거주하는 570명의 30세 이상 성인 남녀가 포함되었으며 남녀별로 혈중 카드뮴, 수은 및 납 농도를 각각 3분위로 나눈 후 군별로 수축기 및 이완기 혈압의 차이를 각각 비교하였다. 또한, 다중회귀분석을 통하여 남녀별로 수축기 및 이완기혈압에 영향을 주는 위험요인으로서의 중금속을 파악하였다. 남자의 경우는 혈중 카드뮴과 수은의 농도별 군에 따라 수축기 혈압 및 이완기 혈압의 평균에 유의한 차이를 보였으나 여자의 경우는 모든 중금속의 3분위 군에서 수축기 및 이온기 혈압의 평균이 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 다중 회귀 분석의 결과에서는 남자의 경우 연령과 체질량 지수 그리고 혈중 카드뮴 농도가 혈압에 영향을 주는 위험요인으로 나타났고, 여자의 경우는 연령과 체질량 지수, 음주 및 흡연, 그리고 혈중 수은이 혈압에 유의한 영향을 주었다. 종합해보면, 장항 제련소 근처에 거주하는 주민들은 일반인구 집단과 비교해 볼 때, 매우 높은 농도의 혈중 카드뮴, 납 수치를 보여 이들은 과거 직업적 또는 환경적으로 고농도의 중금속에 노출된 것으로 판단되며, 이러한 고농도 노출 집단에서의 유해 중금속 노출, 특히 카드뮴과 수은이 혈압 상승에 유의한 영향을 주는 것으로 확인되었다. 따라서 이들을 대상으로 추가적인 중금속 노출을 예방하기 위한 노력과 혈압 및 심뇌혈관질환 발생에 대한 지속적인 모니터링이 이루어져야 할 것으로 판단된다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.348-357
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to examine the relationship between heavy metal concentrations in the soil and the level of heavy metals in the blood or urine of 216 local residents living near abandoned metal mines. Methods: Residents around abandoned metal mines were interviewed about their dietary habits, including seafood consumption, medical history, cigarette smoking, and drug history. Metal concentrations in the soil were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AA-7000, Shimadzu, Japan). Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) contents in the blood or urine were analyzed by GF-AAS (AA-6800, Shimadzu). Mercury (Hg) contents in the blood were determined by means of a mercury analyzer (SP-3DS, NIC). Arsenic (As) content in the soil and urine were measured by a HG-AAS (hydride vapor generation-atomic absorption spectrophotometer). Results: The heavy metal concentrations in the soil showed a log normal distribution and the geometric means of the four villages were 8.61 mg/kg for Pb, 0.19 mg/kg for Cd, 1.81 mg/kg for As and 0.035 mg/kg for Hg. The heavy metal levels of the 216 local residents showed a regular distribution for Pb, Cd, Hg in the blood and As in the urine. The arithmetic means were 3.37 ${\mu}g$/dl for Pb, 3.07 ${\mu}g$/l for Cd and 2.32 ${\mu}g$/l for Hg, 10.41 ${\mu}g$/l for As, respectively. Conclusions: As a result of multi-variate analysis for the affecting factors on the bodily heavy metal concentrations, gender and concentration in the soil (each, p<0.01) for blood lead levels; gender and smoking status (each, p<0.01) for blood cadmium levels; gender (p<0.01) for urine arsenic levels; gender, age and concentration in the soil (p<0.01) for blood mercury levels were shown to be the affecting factors.

• 환경위생공학
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.1-22
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• 1987

Measurements of kidney, liver, lung along with blood trace metal levels were obtained in 20 exposed and 40 control cattle. The level of cadmium, mercury and arsenic were the highest in the kidney while copper, lead and zinc concentrations were the highest in the liver. Statistically significant correlation between the kidney and the liver were found for cadmium, copper, zinc, mercury and arsenic. No significant differences were observed between the area, sex and age in this study. The levels found were generally within the ranges compared with those found in similar studies in and outside.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제36권7호
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• pp.691-698
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin E on the cadmium accumulation in body, cadmium excretion and detoxification functions in chronic cadmium poisoned rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10 g were randomly assigned to one normal group and three cadmium poisoned groups. Cadmium poisoned groups were classified to vitamin E free diet (Cd-0E group), vitamin E 40 mg/kg diet (Cd-400E group) and 400 mg/kg diet (Cd-400E group) according to the levels of vitamin E supplement. Animals were maintained on 0, 40 mg and 400 mg vitamin E/kg diets for 20 weeks and simultaneously administered 50 ppm Cd$^{2+}$ dissolved in the drinking water. Body weight, food intakes and food efficiency ratio were significantly decreased in all cadmium groups, compared with those of normal group. The accumulation of cadmium in rat liver, kidney and blood was reduced by sufficient vitamin E supplementation. The metallothionein (MT) content in liver and kidney were increased in all cadmium groups compared with that of normal group. The ratio of cadmium absorption and retention were significantly decreased in vitamin E supplementation groups. Accordingly, vitamin E supplementation resulted in an excretion of cadmium in urine and feces and a lowered accumulation of cadmium in liver and kidney. It can be suggested that increased MT synthesis lead to the significant decrease in cadmium absorption and retention ratios.s.