• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.333-342
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• 2014

Limited epidemiologic data is available regarding the cardiovascular effects of mercury exposure. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between mercury exposure from fish consumption and cardiovascular disease in a nationally representative sample of Korean adults using the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV 2008~2009). Survey logistic regression models accounting for the complex sampling were used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) adjusted for fish consumption frequency, age, education, individual annual income, household annual income, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), alcohol consumption status, and smoking status. The mean blood mercury level in the population was $5.44{\mu}g/L$. Trends toward increased blood mercury levels were seen for increased education level (P=0.0011), BMI (P<0.0001), WC (P<0.0001), and fish (i.e., anchovy) consumption frequency (P=0.0007). The unadjusted OR for hypertension in the highest blood mercury quartile was 1.450 [95% confidential interval (CI): 1.106~1.901] times higher than that of the lowest quartile. The fish consumption-adjusted OR for hypertension in the highest blood mercury quartile was 1.550 (95% CI: 1.131~2.123) times higher than that of the lowest quartile, and the OR for myocardial infarction or angina in the highest blood mercury quartile was 3.334 (95% CI: 1.338~8.308) times higher than that of the lowest quartile. No associations were observed between blood mercury levels and stroke. These findings suggest that mercury in the blood may be associated with an increased risk of hypertension and myocardial infarction or angina in the general Korean population.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.4 s.28
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• pp.474-479
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• 1989

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of improvement in work environment and of segregation in a fluorescent lamp manufacturing factory. Among the total of 80 workers, 8 workers whose mercury concentration in urine reached a hazardous level ($200-299{\mu}g/l$) were moved to mercury free workplace. The follow-up examination for their mercury concentration in urine was done three times ; on May 3, 1988, September 1, 1988 and April 3, 1989. The results were as follows : 1. Mercury concentration in the air was reduced from 0.140 to 0.107 $mg/m^3$ in 4 months, and to $0.087mg/m^3$ in one year after environmental improvement in workplace. However the level still exceeded the Threshold Limit Value. 2. The geometric mean of urinary mercury concentration among 80 workers was $173.0{\mu}g/l\;(5.1{\sim}458.6{\mu}g/l$). The distribution of workers according to urinary mercury concentration showed that 9 workers (11.2%) were above the mercury poisoning level ($300{\mu}g/l$), 24 workers (30.0%) were $200-299{\mu}g/l$, 35 workers (43.8%) were $50-199{\mu}g/l$, and 12 workers (15.0%) were below 50 ${\mu}g/l$. 3. Among the 24 workers whose urinary mercury concentration was 200-299 $50-199{\mu}g/l$, 8 were able to be followed up. Their mean urinary mercury concentration before segregation was $244.9{\mu}g/l$, but decreased to $151.4{\mu}g/l$ in four months, $128.8{\mu}g/l$ in six months, and $46.8{\mu}g/l$ in one year after segregation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 1996

In order to investigate the contents of total mercury in zoo animal located near in Seoul, we measured the contents of total mercury in fur and feather collected in zoo animal by the Mercury Analyzer. The contents of total mercury in mammals was $61.56\pm 20.32 \mu g/kg$, but in birds $659.49\pm 162.73 \mu g/kg$. Compared with feeding pattern, the contents of total mercury of omniverous and carniverous were detected higher than those of herbiverous in mammals, and also same as in birds. The contents of total mercury of Cuculidae and Ciconidae were detected highestly among classification of family in zoo animal, but those of Camelidae and Cervidae were detected lowestly. Of carniverous, 30.5% was higher than $1000 \mu g/kg$, but the ratio of omniverous detected less than $100 \mu g/kg$ was 45.5%, and in herbiverous 95.4%.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.641-644
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• 2007

The electro-mechanical mercury relay is used as an auxiliary relay of power facility because it is superior to operating time and no-bounce. So the KEPCO had used the mercury relay for operating HVDC(High Voltage Direct Current) system. But it has many problems with facility operation by occurrence of mercury evaporation, held contact point and malfunction according to long term use, furthermore it is forbidden to produce for fear of environmental pollution in 2002. This paper presents the no-mercury relay development, comparison test and application.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.401-408
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• 1997

Adult male ICR mice were exposed to methylmercuric chloride (CH$_3$HgCI) through drinking water for 80 days. The distribution of mercury in the kidney, liver, spleen and cerebellum of the mouse was examined according to a autometallographic silver-enhancement technique based on a physical development process which renders mercury deposit visible. Grains of mercury traces were located in the proximal convoluted tubules. Lesser staining of the grains was seen in the collecting tubules of medulla. The glomerular basement membrane was void. 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 and Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.217-221
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• 1984

In order to estimate interfering effects of mercury and lead on biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), BOD in 18 effluent samples were measured under three different concentrations of mercury and lead. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Biochemical oxygen demand(BOD) was decreased under the presence of mercury and lead, with parallel correlation of mercury concentration. 2. High correlations were noted between original BOD concentration and decreasing amount of BOD when concentrations of mercury or lead were increased. 3. When the lead concentration was high, the close correlation was observed between total organic carbon(TOC) and decreasing amount of BOD. 4. There was a negative correlation between TOC/BOD ratio and decreasing amount of BOD when the mercury concentrations were high.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 1979

The total mercury content in the head hair of 87 dental personnel and 210 Seoul citizens as control was determined. 1) The mean value of mercury content in dentists (8.57ppm) was 3.3 times of Seoul male citizens (2.57ppm) and the median of the former (5.92 ppm) was higher than that of the latter (2.39ppm) by approximately 2.5 times. 2) The mean value of mercury content in dental nurses (5.79ppm) was 2.8 times of Seoul female citizens(2.11ppm) and the median of the former(4.62ppm) was higher than that of the latter (1.86ppm) by approximately 2.5 times. 3) The mean value of mercury content in Seoul citizens was 2.29ppm and the median was 1.98ppm. 4) There was no correlationship between the mercury content in the head hair of dentists and the length of dental surgery experience or the frequency of amalgam fiillings per day. 5) The mercury content of Seoul citizens was higher in the male than in the female. 6) It appears more meaningful to employ median values than mean values when the environmental pollution is considered.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.63-67
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• 2003

Mercury, one of the most diffused and hazardous organ-specific environmental contaminants, exists in a wide variety of physical and chemical states. Although the reports indicate that the mercury induces a deleterious damage, little has been known from the investigations of its effects in living organisms. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of mercury chloride and ionizing radiation. Prepubertal male F344 rats were administered mercury chloride in drinking water throughout the experimental period. Two weeks after whole body irradiation, organs were collected to analyze the induced injury. Serum levels of GOT, GPT, ALP, and LDH were checked in the experimental groups and the hematological analysis was accomplished in plasma. In conclusion, the target organ of mercury chloride seems to be urinary organs and the pattern of damage induced by mercury differs from that by irradiation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 1989

The average value of total mercury contents in scalp hair of Korean male was found to be 1.66+1.10 ppm (S.D.) and that of methylmercury was 1.02+0.72 ppm (61.0% of the total mercury). In case of total mercury contents of female was 1.06+0.46 ppm and that of methylmercury was 0.51+0.27 ppm (48.4% of total mercury level). When compared with data reported by Japanese, the levels were about half. The levels of mercury in scalp hair of male subjects were significantly different with their occupations, but in case of female, the variation was not so much.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.08b
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• pp.1152-1154
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• 2007

The distributions of mercury (Hg) in the bulb of a mercury vapor lamp are significantly affected by its turn-off conditions. Most of mercury should be attached to the electrodes before ignition by a proper turn-off condition. In the present study, the effect of the transient profiles of lamp cooling after turn-off on the distribution of Hg was investigated.