• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.231-240
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• 2015

Objectives: Blood mercury levels among adults living in certain areas of the Gyeongsang Provinces have been shown to be very high (Kunwee County $29.6{\mu}g/L$, Yeongcheon-city $26.7{\mu}g/L$). The purpose of this project was to determine mercury exposure levels in schoolchildren and factors related with their mercury levels in high mercury exposure areas identifyed by the 2007 Korea National Environmental Health Survey. Methods: From June to September 2010, 1,097 students from grades 3 to 6 at 19 elementary schools participated in this study, including 294 students from 10 elementary schools in Kunwee County, 529 students from Yeongcheon City, 122 students from two elementary schools in Pohang City, North Gyeongsang Province, and 152 students from two elementary schools in Ulsan Metropolitan City. Biological samples from schoolchildren, including whole blood, urine and hair, were collected to measure total mercury at the time of a health check up. Information about children was collected by questionnaire. Total mercury concentrations in blood were measured using the Direct Mercury Analyzer 80 with the gold-amalgam collection method. Results: The mean mercury levels were $2.70{\mu}g/L$ in 1,091 blood samples, $2.25{\mu}g/g-creat.$ in 820 urine samples and $1.03{\mu}g/g$ in 1,064 hair samples. Blood mercury levels in the schoolchildren was slightly higher than the result of $2.4{\mu}g/L$ from a 2006 survey of elementary school children on exposure and health effects of mercury by the National Institute of Environmental Research. However, 0.3% and 4.5% of participants exceeded the reference level of blood mercury by CHBMII ($15{\mu}g/L$) and the US EPA ($5.8{\mu}g/L$), respectively. The reference level of urine by CHBMII ($20{\mu}g/L$) was exceeded by 0.4% of participants. As factors, residence period in the study areas, residence type, father's education level and income all showed significant associations with mercury level in the biological samples. The number of dental amalgam sides showed an association with urine mercury. Fish intake preference and fish intake frequency were important factors in mercury levels. In particular, intake of shark meat and recent intake of shark meat were associated with higher mercury levels. In this regard, participation in the performance of an ancestral rite showed a relation with higher mercury levels. Conclusion: The intake of shark meat was very important factor to high mercury exposure level. It is recommended to monitor and manage students with high mercury exposures who exceeded CHBM II and EPA guidelines, and include blood mercury testing in the Children's Health check up for this province.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.523-526
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• 2004

There are few studies on toxic metals in fruits. Therefore, we examined contents of toxic metals in fruits (n=386) available in Korean markets. The samples were digested with acids, then analyzed by inductively coupled plasma spectrometer (ICP) or atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) for lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As). The contents of mercury (Hg) were also determined using a mercury analyzer, Contents of toxic metals in fruits were as follows [minimum-maximum (mean), mg/kg]; Hg 0.0001-0.019 (0.001), Pb 0.001-0.410 (0.013), Cd 0.001-0.035 (0.000), and As 0.001-0.210 (0.017). Our results showed that metal contents in fruits in Korean markets were similar to those reported in other countries. Average weekly intakes of Hg, Pb, and Cd from fruits are about 1-2% of Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes (PTWI) set by FAO/WHO Joint Food Additive and Contaminants Committee for safety evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.375-378
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• 2004

There are few studies on toxic metals in crustaceans available in Korea. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate content of toxic metals in crustaceans (n=58). Samples were digested with acids and analysed by inductively coupled plasma spectrometer (ICP) or atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) for lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As). Mercury (Hg) contents were determined using mercury analyzer. Toxic metal contents [minimum-maximum (mean), mg/kg] in crustaceans were as follows; Hg 0.004-0.28 (0.06), Pb ND-0.31 (0.03), Cd 0.003-0.92 (0.14), and As 0.01-35.9 (6.63). Our results demonstrated that metal contents in crustaceans on Korean markets were similar to those reported in other countries. Our average weekly intakes of Pb, Cd, and Hg from crustaceans were lower than 1% of Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes (PTWI) set by Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee for food safety evaluation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.32-36
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• 2001

This study was conducted to estimate the contents of trace metals in vegetable which were produced in Korea. The levels of trace metals determined using a mercury analyzer, and ICP (inductively coupled plasma spectrometer) and an AAS (atomic absorption spectrophotometer) after wet digestion. The values of trace metals [minimum~maximum (mean), mg/kg] in vegetables were a follows ; Hg : 0.0001~0.019 (0.002), Pb : 0.001~0.28 (0.02), Cd : 0.001~0.078 (0.016), As : 0.001~0.06 (0.02), Cu : 0.06~24.81 (0.77), Mn : 0.17~15.12 (2.32), Zn : 0.13~28.70 (2.51). These results showed that metal contents in vegetables on domestic markets were similar to those reported in other countries. The weekly average intakes of lead, cadmium and mercury from vegetables take 2~7% of PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes) that the FAO/WHO Joint Food Additive and Contaminants Committee had set to evaluate their safeties.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.569-575
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• 2007

This study was carried out to determine bioaccumulation levels of total mercury on various fish tissues in two streams (Banseok and Hasin Stream) and one lake (Yeongsan Lake) during April-May 2007. We also determined natural background levels of total mercury bioaccumulation to evaluate relative individual impacts of fish and compared the levels with reference sites as a preliminary study to evaluate heavy metal stressor using fish. For the study, we collected fishes in the sampling sites and analyzed the concentrations of total mercury in the liver, kidney, gill, vertebral column, and muscle tissues using Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA-80, US EPA Method 7473). The levels varied depending on the types of waterbody and tissues used. Concentrations of total mercury ranged between 5.1${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ and 108.6 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ in the streams and between 5.3${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ and 87.3 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ in the reservoir, and the values were highest in the muscle tissues. Levels of natural background levels of total mercury, even though the sampling number was few, averaged 23.6 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$ in the study sites. The individual and mean values in each system was not so high in terms of US EPA criteria of fish health and human health, indicating that the impact was minor in the study site. Further studies should be done for the determination of mercury levels in the systems.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 1991

This study was carried out to determine the contamination level of heavy mentals in canned fishes on the market. Contents of tin, lead, iron and zinc were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophtometer. Contents of total mercury were determined by mercury analyzer. The results were as follows. 1. The highest value of tin was $1.7706{\pm}0.3216$pprn in canned yellow pin & skip jack(mix) tuna, the lowest was 1.2109 ${\pm}$ 0.0769ppm in canned mackerel pike. 2. The highest value of lead was 0.1657 ${\pm}$ 0.0530 pprn in canned yellow pin tuna, the lowest was 0.0335k 0.0100 pprn in canned mackerel pike. 3. The highest value of iron and zinc was 22.5943 ${\pm}$ 0.7945 ppm and 13.4556 ${\pm}$ 0.6774 pprn in canned sardine fish, the lowest was 4.3514 ${\pm}$ 0.3607 pprn and 3.8773 ${\pm}$ 0.1914 pprn in canned albacore tuna. 4. The total mercury contents was detected 0.0531~0.3386 pprn in three kinds of canned tuna and could not be detected with the others.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

Polybutadiene rubber (BR) has been well known that its physical and chemical properties are changed when it is exposed to ultraviolet light undergoing photooxidation. In this study, photooxdiation process of BR vulcanizate was investigated using a high pressure mercury lamp used as an outdoor lighting, which has high UV radiation efficiency and reasonable cost. Discoloration and crack formation of photooxdized BR vulcanite surface were examined using an image analyzer. Change of chemical functional groups of BR vulcanite surface by photooxidation was investigated using ATR-FTIR, and variation of the crosslink density with the UV irradiation time was investigated. By increasing the UV irradiation time, the crosslink density steeply increased after a period of time and did not increase any more. Formation of hydroxyl (~OH) and carbonyl (~C=O) groups on the BR vulcanizate surface increased and the1,4-cis unit was converted to the 1,4-trans unit as the photooxidation was proceeded.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.4 no.1 s.6
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• pp.53-60
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• 1989

This study was performed to investigate the contents of heavy metals in Anguilla japonica habiting in Korea. The samples were collected along by Nak Tongriver, Young San river and culture farms. Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Chromium were tested by the Atomic Absoption Spectrop-hotometer after wet digestion, Mercury was tested by using mercury analyzer. The results were as follows: 1. Aresenic, Copper contents in the four parts were the higest values in liver 2. In total mercury contents of the each parts, the higest value was detected in muscle. 3. In all metals, Zinc and Manganese were detected with high contents, Mecury and Cadmium were detected with low contents. Lead, Cadmium, Zinc, chromiumi, Manganese were detected with high in bone. 4, The difference was not significant between natural and feeding Anguilla Japonica, but significant correlation with parts.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.135-143
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• 1971

In order to find out the degree of mercury contamination of common foodstuffs a series of determination was carried out by a highly sensitive activation analysis and the following results were obtained. 1. Polished rice contained 0.050 ppm of mercury whereas rice bran had 0.095 ppm mercury which was found in other grain in lesser degree. 2. Vegetables and fruits also contained $0.035{\sim}0.190\;ppm$ of mercury with relatively small variations from sample except persimmon which had a considerably higher amount of mercury. 3. Soybean sprout contained an unexpectantly high amount of mercury. 4. Of the animal products chicken and egg contained more mercury than the meat.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.349-357
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• 2015

Objectives: The 2007 Korea National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the Human Body found the highest blood mercury levels nationwide among residents in Seoksan-ri, Goro-myeon, Gunwi-gun, Gyeonsangbuk-do. With the aim to reduce the blood mercury levels of residents in this region, we conducted this study to identify the association between mercury exposure levels and shark meat consumption. Methods: This survey was conducted with 118 participants in Seoksan-ri before the Chuseok festival and 113 residents were added afterwards. Information on participants was collected via questionnaires. Total mercury concentrations in biological samples were measured using a mercury analyzer with the gold-amalgam collection method. Results: To identify this, we conducted mercury exposure level analysis before and after the Chuseok festival and found that blood and urinary mercury levels after Chuseok (GM of $6.9{\mu}g/L$ in blood and $1.68{\mu}g/g$_cr in urine) were higher than those before (GM of $5.29{\mu}g/L$ in blood and $1.44{\mu}g/g$_cr in urine). This area maintains a custom of using shark meat as one of the ancestral rite foods, and the performance of such rites and shark meat consumption have been identified as main sources of mercury exposure. Other than this, smoking, dental amalgam treatment and residential period in the area also contributed to an increase in mercury exposure levels. On the other hand, recent consumption of oriental medicine and vaccination did not have a significant influence on mercury levels. Conclusion: The results were attributed to the local custom of consuming shark meat with high mercury concentrations during rituals taking place during the festival and ancestral rites. Given that the blood mercury levels in 23.2% of the residents exceeded the HBM II values recommended by the German Commission on Human Biological Monitoring, it is suggested that further appropriate actions and follow-up measures be taken to reduce the mercury exposure levels of the residents that exceeded the reference values.