Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Evaluation of the Relationship between the Exposure Level to Mixed Hazardous Heavy Metals and Health Effects Using Factor Analysis

요인분석을 이용한 유해 중금속 복합 노출수준과 건강영향과의 관련성 평가

  • Kim, Eunseop (Medical Department, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital) ;
  • Moon, Sun-In (Chungbuk Environmental Health Center, Chungbuk University Hospital) ;
  • Yim, Dong-Hyuk (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Choi, Byung-Sun (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University) ;
  • Park, Jung-Duck (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University) ;
  • Eom, Sang-Yong (Chungbuk Environmental Health Center, Chungbuk University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Yong-Dae (Chungbuk Environmental Health Center, Chungbuk University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Heon (Chungbuk Environmental Health Center, Chungbuk University Hospital)
  • 김은섭 (강북삼성병원 진료부) ;
  • 문선인 (충북대학교병원 충북환경보건센터) ;
  • 임동혁 (충북대학교 의과대학 예방의학과) ;
  • 최병선 (중앙대학교 의과대학 예방의학과) ;
  • 박정덕 (중앙대학교 의과대학 예방의학과) ;
  • 엄상용 (충북대학교병원 충북환경보건센터) ;
  • 김용대 (충북대학교병원 충북환경보건센터) ;
  • 김헌 (충북대학교병원 충북환경보건센터)
  • Received : 2022.07.22
  • Accepted : 2022.08.20
  • Published : 2022.08.31
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Abstract

Background: In the case of multiple exposures to different types of heavy metals, such as the conditions faced by residents living near a smelter, it would be preferable to group hazardous substances with similar characteristics rather than individually related substances and evaluate the effects of each group on the human body. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of factor analysis in the assessment of health effects caused by exposure to two or more hazardous substances with similar characteristics, such as in the case of residents living near a smelter. Methods: Heavy metal concentration data for 572 people living in the vicinity of the Janghang smelter area were grouped based on several subfactors according to their characteristics using factor analysis. Using these factor scores as an independent variable, multiple regression analysis was performed on health effect markers. Results: Through factor analysis, three subfactors were extracted. Factor 1 contained copper and zinc in serum and revealed a common characteristic of the enzyme co-factor in the human body. Factor 2 involved urinary cadmium and arsenic, which are harmful metals related to kidney damage. Factor 3 encompassed blood mercury and lead, which are classified as related to cardiovascular disease. As a result of multiple linear regression analysis, it was found that using the factor index derived through factor analysis as an independent variable is more advantageous in assessing the relevance to health effects than when analyzing the two heavy metals by including them in a single regression model. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that regression analysis linked with factor analysis is a good alternative in that it can simultaneously identify the effects of heavy metals with similar properties while overcoming multicollinearity that may occur in environmental epidemiologic studies on exposure to various types of heavy metals.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 연구는 서천군과 국립환경과학원의 지원(NIER 2008-07-957)을 받아 수행되었으며 이 논문은 충북환경보건센터의 지원으로 작성되었음.

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