• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.5 s.81
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• pp.378-387
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• 2004

This study was carried to investigate the emission characteristics of mercury from domestic and industrial MSW (municipal solid waste) incinerator stacks. The mercury concentration levels of flue gas from 32 MSW incinerators stacks selected were above the criteria level ($5{\mu}g/S\;m^3$). MSWI facilities exceeding the criteria levels in Korea are due to the poor units comparison of combustion chamber(CC)-cyclone(CY)-stack. So, the mercury from MSW incinerators stack were suspected to contaminate the natural system unless the MSW incinerators were properly controlled. Mean-while, the relationship between mercury concentration and temperature of flue gas in MSW incinerator stacks were examined at two temperature ranges (Group A : $29.85{\sim}327.63^{\circ}C$, Group B : $446.9{\sim}848.15^{\circ}C$). The mercury concentration in flue gas with high temperature range was higher than that of flue gas with low temperature rage. This mean that the temperature of flue gas plays an important role in mercury control in MSW incinerator. The emission characteristics oi mercury was also evaluated by using the correlation matrix between the mercury and NOx, $PM_{10}$, moisture (MO.) at both low temperature and high temperature flue gas ranges. The mercury concentration was mainly affected by NOx, $PM_{10}$. moisture (MO.) at low temperature range, while the mercury concentration at high temperature flue gas was mainly affected by NOx, moisture (MO.). From these results, it was suggested that the temperature of cooling system and the air pollution control device should be properly regulated in order to control mercury of flue gas in MSWI incinerator.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.413-420
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• 2002

Mercury is one of the most frequently used heavy metal in dental clinic. Mercury poisoning rises up when someone is exposed to mercury chronically. In 1818, Amalgam was used for dental restorative procedure, and after then study about mercury toxicity has begun. Clinical signs of mercury toxicity in oral & maxillofacial area were increases of salivation, metallic taste, swelling and pain of tongue, redness and ulceration of oral mucosa, and increased mobility and loss of teeth. After we injected mercury($HgCl_{2}$) into intraperitoneum of rat, studied about histopathological changes of submandibular gland cell. Experimental group was divided into two groups by amount of mercury. (Group 1 was 0.5mg/Kg of mercury injection, group 2 was 1.0mg/Kg of mercury injection.) 1. After 3days of intraperitoneal injection, black granules were observed at macrophage cell in both group. In group 2, author found hyperchromatism of nucleus, and vacuolization of cellular matrix and nucleus of acinar cell. 2. After 1week of intraperitoneal injection, author found severe vacuolization of nucleus and cellular matrix, and irregular granules around nuclear membrane at mucous cell and serous cell in both group. Vacuolization of nucleus and cellular matrix was seen at duct cell in group 2. 3. After 2weeks of intraperitoneal injection, author could found severe vacuolization of cellular matrix, and sometimes nucleus was positioned in central area of cellular matrix at mucous and serous cell in both group. Vacuolization of nucleus and cellular matrix was found at vascular endothelial cell in group 2. 4. After 4weeks of intraperitoneal injection, destruction and distortion of gland cells were distinct. Vacuolization and destruction of nucleus and cellular matrix was found at duct cell in group 2. After intraperitoneal injection of mercury, we found equanimity of mercury and destruction of cellular matrix at serous cell, mucous cell, and duct cell of submandibular gland. So, we thought that metallic taste of mercury poisoning patient would be due to excretion of saliva containing mercury.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.E
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• pp.55-62
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• 1995

The distribution of airborne mercury was investigated from several districts of Seoul, five other major cities and two rural areas during the period April, 1994 to March, 1995. The method used in this study involves absorption of gaseous mercury on CHromosorb$^R$ A coated with gold and detection by cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy. The atmospheric mercury concentrations in Seoul ranged from N.D. to 120.17 ng m$^3$ (mean 27.01 $\pm 9.42 ng m^{-3}, N=139$), while those in rural areas ranged from 1.72 to 8.24 ng $m^{-3} (mean 4.57 \pm 3.07 ng m^{-3}, N=5$). The spatial distribution characteristics of mercury distribution in urban air were examined by comparing mercury levels as a function of the distance from the urban center. Temporal distribution trends of airborne mercury were also studied using the monthly mean mercury data of various districts in Seoul. The atmospheric mercury concentration around Mokdong wastes incinerator in Seoul were also investigated.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the antitoxic effect of Oenanthe javanica extracts on orally administered mercury compound. Adult male ICR mice were exposed to methylmercuric chloride (CH3HgCl)through drinking water. The control, mercury treated and Oenanthe javanica treated groups not showed significant differences in mean body and organ weights of mice. The distribution of mercury in the cerebellum, kidney, liver and spleen of the mouse were examined according to a histochemical mathod. Grains of mercury traces were located in the purkinje cell and granular layers of the cerebellum and cortex of kidney respectively. Lesser staining of the grains was seen in the collecting tubules of medulla. in the liver, mercury accumulations were present primarily in the hepatocytes around portal area containing interlobular bile duct, artery and portal vein. Also grains of mercury traces were accumulated in the white pulp of the spleen. In the group of Oenanthe javanica extracts, staining intensity of mercury was decreased in the Purkinje cell layer of cerebellum and in the portal area of liver respectively. Staining patterns in kidney and spleen of extracts group were similar to that of only mercury treated group.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 1978

Short-term acute toxicity of mercury, cadmium and copper to arkshell, Anadara broughtonii, and to oyster, Crassostrea gigas, was determinedby static bioassays from 20 May to 27 June in 1977. During the observations of the opening rate of the shell mercury was the most sensitive toxicant of the three toxic substances to the test animals and caused them to close their shellvalves together after being exposed to a mercury solution for an hour during the test. Opening rate to cadmium and copper increased gradually at the higher concentration. the 96hr-LC50 values for the test animals are 4.84mg/l for mercury and 1.86mg/l for cadmium, while the 72hr-LC50 value for copper is 0.31mg/l. the death rate of oysters for cadmium showed lower than that of the mercury and copper test solutions. The 96hr-LC50 values of mercury, copper and cadmium were 1.1mg/l, 2.54mg/l and 19.5mg/l, respectively. For oysters mercury was the most toxic substance, and cadmium was the least toxic one. the medium lethal time (LT 50) value decreased gradually at higher concentration of heavy metals. The LT 50 of 2mg/l was found within 96 hours ofr copper, 104 hours for mercury and 121 hours for cadmium. The lethal threshold concentrations for 7 days were found to be about 1mg/l for mercury and copper, and 2mg/l for cadmium.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1101-1107
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• 2013

In this study, total mercury and methyl mercury in whole blood of Korean was analyzed so as to investigate the correlation between total mercury (T-Hg) and methyl mercury (Me-Hg). 4000 whole blood samples were divided in four groups, according to T-Hg concentration in percentile: group I (p25-p50), group II (p50-p75), group III (p75-p95) and group IV (p95-p100). 100 samples were randomly selected from the each group, and Me-Hg concentration was measured. T-Hg concentration in whole blood was analyzed using a Direct Mercury Analyzer-80 and obtained limit of detection (LOD) was $0.2{\mu}gL^{-1}$. Me-Hg concentration was analyzed with ethylate derivatization using headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and obtained LOD of methyl mercury was $0.5{\mu}gL^{-1}$. The geometric means of T-Hg and Me-Hg were $6.35{\mu}gL^{-1}$ and $4.44{\mu}gL^{-1}$, respectively, and 71.91% of T-Hg was presented as Me-Hg.

• Carbon letters
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.187-191
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• 2002

In the present research, we prepared the activated carbon (AC) sorbents to remove gas-phase mercury. The mercury adsorption of virgin AC, chemically treated AC and fly ash was performed. Sulfur impregnated and sulfuric acid impregnated ACs were used as the chemically treated ACs. A simulated flue gas was made of SOx, NOx and mercury vapor in nitrogen balance. A reduced mercury adsorption capacity was obtained with the simulated gas as compared with that containing only mercury vapor in nitrogen. With the simulated gas, the sulfuric acid treated AC showed the highest performance, but it might have the problem of corrosion due to the emission of sulfuric acid. It was also found that the high sulfur impregnated AC also released a portion of sulfur at $140^{\circ}C$. Thus, it was concluded that the low sulfur impregnated AC was suitable for the treatment of flue gas in terms of stability and efficiency.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 1992

Fifty samples of pregnant women's hair during December 1990~April 1991 in the Seoul area were analyzed for mercury. Mean mercury concentrations for pregnant women were 0.65$\mu$g/g and varied from 0.21$\mu$g/g to 2.44$\mu$g/g. The differences were believed to be due to diet, living area, and personal activity. Mean mercury concentrations were significantly different for the group that at twice a week(0.67$\mu$g/g) and once or less a week(0.55$\mu$g/g). Mean mercury concentrations were compared with the THI (Todai Health Index) Scores. The THI results suggested that the higher scores in MENT(Mental irritability) item had the higher mean mercury concentrations. The factors affecting mercury concentrations of pregnant women's hair must be considered further study. However, hair analysis seemed potentially useful in environmental medicine but its use in clinical investigation for basic diagnosis of mercury poisoning.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.551-561
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• 1998

The autometallographic method was used to demonstrate the localization of mercury deposits in spleen of mouse. The mercury deposits were identified with the light and electron mocroscope. Mice were treated with methylmercuric chloride in the drinking water (demineralized water) for 40 days. Control and mercury treated groups showed no significant differences in mean body weight and spleen weight per one mouse. Mercury grains were appeared in the germinal center of white pulp consist of a preponderancing lymphocytes, not in red pulp and capsule. At the ultrastructural level, mercury deposits were restricted to lysosomes of macrophage and lymphocyte. Specially, volume in lysosomes of the macrophage was increased. These results suggest that mercury localization in lysosomes is associated with the change of immune activity.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2013

Background: This study was carried out for the purpose of comprehensively evaluating the mercury exposure level of residents in several areas and the correlation between hair mercury concentration and blood mercury concentration. Method: One thousand one hundred ninety seven subjects were sampled from 30 sites using random assignment sampling. We performed a questionnaire survey and measured the level of total mercury in hair and blood samples from all subjects. Results: The geometric mean concentrations of hair and blood mercury in all subjects were 1.27 mg/kg [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-1.32 mg/kg] and 5.24 ${\mu}g/L$ [95% CI: 5.07-5.41 ${\mu}g/L$], respectively. Male (1.56 mg/kg in hair, 6.00 ${\mu}g/L$ in blood) was significantly higher than that of female (1.03 mg/kg in hair, 4.56 ${\mu}g/L$ in blood), and the concentrations were elevated as age increased up to the 50s. Education, smoking, alcohol drinking, and using of pesticides were also shown to influence mercury concentrations in hair and blood. The ratio of hair/ blood mercury concentration was 261.3. The total mercury concentration in hair was identified to be significantly related with total mercury concentration in blood (r=0.814, p<0.001). Conclusion: The geometric mean concentrations of hair and blood mercury were higher than the levels provided in international recommendations. The total mercury concentration in hair was positively correlated with the concentration in blood. The results of this study suggest that hair mercury be considered as a useful tool for the evaluation of mercury exposure.