• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.109-121
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• 1991

For the analysis of mercury in blood and urine, many literatures have been reffered and many kinds of reducing agents for mercury reduction and many acids for pretreatmr are known to be varied. $So HNO_{3}$ and $H_{2}SO_{4}$ among acids and $SnCl_{2}$ and $NaBH_{4}$ as a reducing agent being chosen for the establishment of more efficient and less erroneous analysis, and comparing the absorbance by using vapor generator, the results are followings. 1. The difference of absorbance from concentration of $HNO_{3}$ and $H_{2} SO_{4}$ was not nearly found when mercury reduced by $NaBH_{4}$ after pretreatment. But for more precise analysis, conc acid treatment need to be used. 2. Higher absorbance was shown by using conto acid treatment (P<0.005) when mercury reduced by $NaBH_{4}$ after treating acid primer. And sample which has 99.5% reliability in T-test, treated by conc $H_{2}SO_{4}$(P<0.005) was shown higher absorbance than treat by CORC $HNO_{3}$. 3. The difference of absorbance was not in the slightest in higher 0.1 w/v% $NaBH_{4}$ proved by uruskal-wallis H-Test 4. Some difference of absorbance in $SnCl_{2}$(P<0.005) having 99.5% reliability was found but there was no difference in these 20 w/v% , 25 w/v% and 30 w/v% SnCl$_{2}$ by the experiment of T-test. 5. According to these test results, organic materials were much affect the absorballce when reducing mercury by using $SnCl_{2}$ rather than by $NaBH_{4}$. For bio sample which is contained various organic substances, reduclng agent $NaBH_{4}$ is a lot more efficient to reduce the error then $SnCl_{2}$. 6. analytic method for this study is as following. 7. As the recovery test was done by this, the rate of recovery was shown form 94% to 100.7% .

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.1 s.49
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• pp.27-42
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• 1995

The in vivo and in vitro humoral and cell-mediated immune responses of lymphocytes of BALB/c mouse exposed to mercury chloride$(HgCl_2)$ were investigated. In vitro exposure of the splenocytes to mercury chloride produced overt cytotoxicity in 3 hours period. The $IC_{50}$(the concentration required to inhibit a splenocyte viability by 50%) for mercury chloride was >0.1mM for cytotoxicity. In vivo mercury chloride exposed mice were significantly depressed delayed type hypersensitivity(DTH) response to sheep red blood cells(SRBC) in a dose-dependent manner compared with control group. Mercury chloride inhibited the proliferative responses of splenocytes to lipopolysaccharide, pokeweed mitogen, concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin in a dose-dependent manner. Hemagglutinin response to SRBC in mercury chloride exposed mice was significantly depressed in a dose-dependent manner compared with control group. After 7 weeks of mercury chloride exposure in vivo, mercury chloride induced an increase of nonspecific serum $IgG_1$ and IgE levels in BALB/c mice.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.350-360
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• 2017

Purpose: This study examined and compared the associations of the iron status and food intake with the blood lead, mercury, and cadmium concentrations among Korean adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. Methods: The data from the 2010~2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used. The subjects were classified into three groups: adolescent girls (n = 268), premenopausal women (n = 1,157), and postmenopausal women (n = 446). The iron status was assessed by hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum ferritin, and iron concentrations, as well as the total iron binding capacity (TIBC). The food intake was estimated by a food frequency questionnaire. Results: The blood heavy metal concentrations and poisoning rate in postmenopausal women were higher than in the other groups. The iron status in the adolescent girls and postmenopausal women was higher than that in the premenopausal women. In the adolescent girls, the iron status was inversely associated with the blood cadmium concentration. The dairy food intake was inversely related to the blood lead and cadmium concentrations. In premenopausal women, the iron status was inversely associated with the cadmium concentrations. The fish and shellfish food intakes were positively associated with the mercury concentrations. In postmenopausal women, the iron status was positively associated with the mercury and cadmium concentrations. Fast foods and fried foods were inversely associated with the lead concentration. Conclusion: The premenopausal women showed a lower iron status than the adolescent girls and postmenopausal women. The associations of the iron status with the blood heavy metal concentrations were different among the adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. In addition, the relationships of the food intakes with the blood heavy metal concentrations differed among adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. Further studies will be needed to confirm these findings.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 1992

As people's income and intake of animal fat rapidly increase, so does choresterol concentration in blood. Thus diseases such as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM)myocardial infraction, high blood pressure, cerebral stroke resulting from atherosclerosis rapidly increase recently. It is very difficult to diagnose atherosclerosis early since its progress is so slow and there is no sypmtoms in the beginning of the disease. In this study a mechanical characteristic, compliance, of the lower leg arteries was measured noninvasively. Changes of blood volume and pressure were measured using impedance plethysmgraphy and mercury sphygmomanometer, respectively. The compliance was calculated by dividing the change of blood volume by the change of pulse pressure ( systolic-diastolic pressure ) . Subjects were 24 asymptomatic persons ranging (rom 30 Ic 58yeras and 14 diabetics from 41 to 59years. The compliances, mean, and systolic pressures were statistically analyzed using a t-test be- tween the healthy and diabetic groups. The average compliance of the healthy and diabetic group was measured 2.79 and 1.82U1/mmHg/cm, respectively and these were significantly different(p<0.01). It was also found that the compliance is a better parameter in differentiating the vascular disease than mean or systolic blood pressure.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2012

This study has attempted to establish an analysis method through validation against heavy metals in the body (Pb, Cd and Hg) using ICP-MS and Gold amalgamation and find out the relevance between heavy metal and Alzheimer's disease after analyzing the distribution of heavy metal concentration (Pb, Cd and Hg) and correlations between a control group and Alzheimer's disease group. In this study, Pb and Cd levels in the blood and serum were validation using ICP-MS. For analysis of Hg levels in the blood and serum, the gold amalgamation-based 'Direct Mercury Analyzer' has been used. According to an analysis on the heavy metal concentration (Pb, Cd and Hg concentration) in the blood, Cd concentration was high in the Alzheimer's disease group. In the serum, on the contrary, Pb and Hg were high in the Alzheimer's disease group. For analysis of correlations between heavy metal levels in the blood and serum and Alzheimer's disease, t-test has been performed. Even though correlations were observed between the blood lead levels and Alzheimer's disease, they were statistically insignificant because the concentration was higher in a control group. No significance was found in Cd and Hg. In the serum, on the other hand, no statistical significance was found between the heavy metal (Pb, Cd and Hg) and Alzheimer's disease. In this study, no statistical significance was observed between heavy metal and decrease in cognitive intelligence. However, it appears that a further study needs to be performed because the results of the conventional studies were inconsistent.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.353-363
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• 2012

Methylmercury is a hazardous substance that is of interest with regard to environmental health, as inorganic mercury circulating in the general environment is dissolved into freshwater and seawater, condensed through the food chain, ingested by humans, and consequently affects human health. Recently, there has been much interest and discussion regarding the toxicity of methylmercury, the correlation with fish and shellfish intake, and methods of long-term management of the human health effects of methylmercury. What effects chronic exposure to a low concentration of methylmercury has on human health remains controversial. Although the possibility of methylmercury poisoning the heart and blood vessel system, the reproductive system, and the immune system is continuously raised and discussed, and the carcinogenicity of methylmercury is also under discussion, a clear conclusion regarding the human health effects according to exposure level has not yet been drawn. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives proposed to prepare additional fish and shellfish intake recommendations for consumers based on the quantified evaluation of the hazardousness of methylmercury contained in fish and shellfish, methylmercury management in the Korea has not yet caught up with this international trend. Currently, the methylmercury exposure level of Koreans is known to be very high. The starting point of methylmercury exposure management is inorganic mercury in the general environment, but food intake through methylation is the main exposure source. Along with efforts to reduce mercury in the general environment, food intake management should be undertaken to reduce the human exposure to methylmercury in Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2011

Objectives: This study assessed the factors that have an influence on the residents exposed to heavy metals, and we utilized the findings to establish the proper management of abandoned metal mines in the future. Methods: For a total of 258 residents who lived close to abandoned mines in Gangwon-province and Gyeonggi-province, the exposure factors and biomarkers in their blood and urine were comparatively analyzed via multiple regression analysis. Results: The blood levels of lead and mercury and the cadmium levels in urine were found to be higher in the study group than that in the average Korean. For the blood levels of heavy metals according to each exposure factor, all of them were found to be significantly higher in both of the group residing for a longer period of time and the group living closer to the source of pollutants. Multiple regression analysis disclosed that all the heavy metals, except lead, in their blood were significantly reduced in proportion to the increased distance of inhabitancy from the mines. Their other biomarkers were within the normal ranges. Conclusions: We found that the distance between the residential village and the mines was a factor that affects the blood level of heavy metals in the villagers. This finding could be an important factor when developing a management model for the areas that surround abandoned metal mines. (ED note: I much like this important study.)

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.77-87
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• 2009

Purpose : To evaluate the effects of Samultang(SMT) on the metals in the dams and fetuses Method : SMT(Decoction) was administered orally using different concentrations to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats for 20days after being assigned randomly to 5 groups. Each group has 11 dams. Pregnant rats were sacrificed at the 20th day of gestation and metal concentration in the dams and fetuses was observed using a ICP-MS and mercury analyzer. Results : Hg concentration in the blood of dams was lower in the $SMT{\times}1$, $SMT{\times}2$, $SMT{\times}4$group than VC(Vehicle Control) and Control group. Hg concentration in the organs of dams was lower in the $SMT{\times}1$, $SMT{\times}2$, $SMT{\times}4$ group than VC, Control group. Whereas Cd concentration in the organs of fetuses was getting lower as increasing SMT dose, Hg concentration in the organs of fetuses was getting higher as increasing SMT dose. Discussion and Conclusion : There were not any significant harmful differences of metal concentration in the dams and fetuses treated by SMT. Particularly, SMT showed the possibility of efficacy to reduce the concentration of Hg in dams but to increase the concentration of Hg in fetuses. The mechanism of reduction is not yet proven. A hypothesis says there is a possibility of the chelation effect between the essential elements of herbs and heavy metals. Another hypothesis is the possibility of Hg transmission from dam to fetus. Further study should be conducted to make guidelines for the safe use of herbal medicine.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.21-31
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• 1968

The appearance rates of antipyrine and urea into cerebrospinal fluid from blood were studied in the rabbits which were in the state of hypotension and of high permeability in the capillary beds following injection of histamine. The alteration in the distribution of electrolytes among various compartments of the brain and the permeability characteristics in the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier were also observed. Adult male rabbits, weighing around 2 kg, were used. Twenty four rabbits were divided into 3 groups. Besides the control group, histamine treated rabbits were categorized into 2 groups. $H_1$ consisted of the rabbits showing moderate responses to histamine and ranging from 62 to 80 mmHg in their mean anterial blood pressure. The animals which belong to $H_2-group$ showed severe responses to histamine and the mean anterial blood pressures dropped to 30-50 mmHg. Animals were anesthetized with nembutal, 30mg/kg i.v. The mean arterial blood pressure was read by means of the mercury manometer connected to the femoral artery. The animals, treated with histamine, were kept in hypotensive state at least for 40 minutes before the administration of the test-substances. The test-substances, 300 mg of urea and 200 mg of antipyrine, were dissolved in 3 ml of distilled water and were injected into the ear vein of the rabbit. After 10 minutes elapsed arterial blood sample was taken from the femoral artery and cerebrospinal fluid from the cisterna magna. Brain tissues were also analysed with respect to electrolytes in order to observe the disturbances in the electrolytes balance as well as in the function of the central nervous system. The results obtained were as follow: 1. The ratio of antipyrine concentration in cerebrospinal fluid to that of arterial blood plasma, that was the distribution ratio, was close to unity, revealing a well established equilibrium between the compartments of blood and cerebrospinal fluid in 10 minutes. In other words, there was no diffusion barrier with regard to antipyrine. The ratios over unity which were frequently seen in the histamine treated animals were attributable to the early penetration of the substance into the cerebrospinal fluid. 2. The appearance rates of urea into the cerebrospinal fluid in the histamine treated rabbits were higher in comparison with those of in the control animals. The increasing tendency in the rates was particularly remarkable in the $H_2-group$, showing the enhanced penetration of urea across the boondary. 3. In the htisamine treated $H_2-group$ the concentration of potassium in the blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid well exceeded the control values and showed 8.5 and 9.0 mEq/l in average, respectively. Simultaneous drops in the brain tissue water were noticed, suggesting the leakage of intracellular potassium. 4. There was a coincidence in the rising pattern of potassium in the blood plasma and in the cerebrospinal fluid of $H_2-group$ and at least partial removal of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier with respect to potassium was suggested in these animals. 5. The concentration of sodium in the blood plasma or in the cerebrospinal fluid showed no significant changes following histamine injection. However, sodium in the brain tissue revealed slight elevation in the histamine treated groups. 6. The ratios of the concentrations of potassium to those of sodium, [K]/[Na] in the brain tissues, were 1.92 in the control 1.82 in the $H_1$ and 1.52 in the $H_2-group$, respectively. The marked drop in the $H_2-group$ might represent neural dysfunction in the extremely hypotensive rabbits.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.458-467
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• 2016

Salt is the most important substance in physiological activities of the human body concerning transport of the ingested nutrients into the blood. Thus, the most ideal salt must not contain any harmful ingredients such as cadmium, mercury, lead, and arsenic. However, it is legal to include trace amounts of the hazardous ingredients in salt owing to a technical limitation, because salt is generally obtained from seawater. This paper reported an experimental result about a new method of manufacturing high-quality table salts without hazardous ingredients by using "$15^{\circ}C$ low-temperature vacuum drying technology," applied to the sequential extraction phenomenon of seawater with increasing the concentration. The world's best table salt can be produced if the present results are applied and extended to the traditional solar salt industry.