Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

The Korean Society of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (대한직업환경의학회)
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Association of Blood Mercury Level and Neurobehavioral Performance in Korean Elementary School Students

초등학생들의 혈중 수은 농도와 신경행동기능과의 관련성

  • SaKong, Joon (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital) ;
  • Jeon, Man-Joong (Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Yun, Sung-Ho (Department of Occupational Medicine, Good Morning Hospital) ;
  • Hong, Yun-Chul (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Chul-Gab (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University) ;
  • Kim, Young-Ki (Department of Occupational Medicine, Busan National University Yangsan Hospital) ;
  • Ha, Mi-Na (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University) ;
  • Kwon, Ho-Jang (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University)
  • 사공준 (영남대학교 의과대학 부속병원 산업의학과) ;
  • 전만중 (영남대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 윤성호 (굿모닝병원 산업의학과) ;
  • 홍윤철 (서울대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 이철갑 (조선대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김영기 (부산대학교 의과대학 양산부산대병원 산업의학과) ;
  • 하미나 (단국대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 권호장 (단국대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실)
  • Received : 2010.07.26
  • Accepted : 2010.09.28
  • Published : 2010.12.31
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Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the effect of blood mercury on neurobehavioral performance in Korean elementary school students. Methods: We measured the blood mercury concentration in 1,077 elementary school students from Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Gwangju, then the students underwent computerized neurobehavioral test. Results: The mean concentration of blood mercury of study subjects was 2.10 ${\mu}g$/L. An increased blood mercury was associated with an increased reaction time in digit addition and symbol digit. Conclusions: The blood mercury concentration of study subjects was very high compared to findings in a foreign country. We found several associations between blood mercury level and neurobehavioral performance.

목적: 이 연구는 우리나라 초등학생들의 혈중 수은 농도를 측정하고, 컴퓨터 신경행동검사를 실시하여 혈중 수은 농도가 신경행동기능에 미치는 영향을 평가하고자 하였다. 방법: 서울, 부산, 대구, 광주지역의 초등학생 1,077명을 대상으로 혈중 수은 농도를 측정하고, 컴퓨터 신경행동검사(단순반응시간, 선택반응시간, 숫자더하기, 부호숫자 짝짓기)를 실시하였다. 결과 : 연구대상자들의 평균 혈중 수은 농도는 2.10 ${\mu}g$/L였다. 신경행동검사 중 숫자더하기와 부호숫자 짝짓기에서 일정 수준의 혈중 수은 농도 이후부터 혈중 수은 농도가 증가함에 따라 반응시간이 증가하는 경향이 나타났으며 반응시간이 증가하기 시작하는 혈중 수은 농도는 숫자더하기에서 7 ${\mu}g$/L, 부호숫자 짝짓기에서 4 ${\mu}g$/L였다. 결론: 연구대상자들의 혈중 수은 농도는 외국의 결과에 비해 매우 높았다. 신경행동검사 항목 중 숫자더하기 및 부호숫자 짝짓기 검사에서 혈중 수은 농도와 관련성이 있었다. 그러나 인과관계를 증명하기 위해서는 추가적인 연구가 필요하다.

Keywords

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