• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.387-393
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• 2012

Objectives: Even though several epidemiological studies have observed positive associations between blood lead levels and homocysteine, no study has examined whether this association differs by the levels of micronutrients, such as folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, which are involved in the metabolism of homocysteine. In this study, we examined the interactions between micronutrients and blood lead on homocysteine levels. Methods: This study was performed with 4089 adults aged ${\geq}20$ years old in the US general population using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004. Results: There were significant or marginally significant interactions between micronutrients and blood lead levels on mean homocysteine levels. Positive associations between blood lead and homocysteine were clearly observed among subjects with low levels of folate or low vitamin B6 (p-trend <0.01, respectively). However, in the case of vitamin B12, there was a stronger positive association between blood lead and homocysteine among subjects with high levels of vitamin B12, compared to those with low levels of vitamin B12. In fact, the levels of homocysteine were already high among subjects low in vitamin B12, irrespective of blood lead levels. When we used hyperhomocysteinemia (homocysteine>15 ${\mu}mol/L$) as the outcome, there were similar patterns of interaction, though p-values for each interaction failed to reach statistical significance. Conclusions: In the current study, the association between blood lead and homocysteine differed based on the levels of folate, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12 present in the blood. It may be important to keep sufficient levels of these micronutrients to prevent the possible harmful effects of lead exposure on homocysteine levels.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.401-407
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• 2005

Objectives : We wanted to investigate the relationship between heavy metal, especially lead and mercury, to the blood pressure and cholesterol level in children. Methods : This study was undertaken in three primary schools and the study subjects were a total of 274 children. The lead in the blood and the urine mercury were analyzed by performing atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results : All of participants' blood lead levels and urine mercury concentrations were below the suggested level of concern according to the criteria of the CDC and ATSDR. We found no significant correlation between lead, mercury and the blood pressure. The blood lead level did not show any relationship with the blood pressure and cholesterol. However, the urine mercury levels were associated with the serum cholesterol. Conclusion : Our study suggests that mercury can induce an increase of cholesterol as a risk factor of myocardial infraction and coronary/cardiovascular disease.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.189-201
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• 1999

Lead (Pb) is ubiquitous in the urban environment and is a well-known toxic element. It may cause adverse health effects on hematopoietic system, peripheral and central nervous systems, kidney functions, and others. In recent decades, lead concentration in blood has been widely used one of indicators for lead exposure and risk evaluation. In this study, we determined the blood-lead levels in general populations of Korea, and investigated the relationship among blood-lead levels, sociobehavioral factors, and lead concentrations in the contacted environments such as ambient air, drinking water, and foods. The study subjects consisted of volunteers who had lived in the residential or industrial area in Korea. Information about gender, age, living area, occupation, smoking, heat system, and dietary habits, etc was collected using a self-reported questionnaires. The lead concentrations of environments were collected by literature search to the study area. Participated subjects in industrial area were 726 and their blood-lead levels were 8.58 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl for males and 6.26 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl for female in average. The other subjects in residential area were 317 and their blood-lead levels were 4.58 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl for males and 3.49 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl for female in average. The distribution of blood-lead level in the industrial subjects was well fitted to the log -normal distribution and that in the residential subjects was well fitted to the normal distribution. Blood-lead levels in both area were affected by gender, smoking habit, age and residence duration except age in industrial area and residence duration in residential area. It was identified that 30% of blood-lead level was contributed from the inhalation of ambient air in the industrial area, and 8.4% of blood-lead level was from that in the residential area. from this study, it would be suggested for the health risk assessment and management of lead pollution concerns in urban, industrial and rural areas.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.76-82
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• 1978

In order to study the change of laboratory parameters of lead poisoning, 8 persona who had not been treated previously for lead poisoning (Group 1 and 6 persons who had been inadequately treated for few months for chronic lead poisoning at local clinic (Group 2) were examined. They had occupational exposure to lead for 3 to 18 years (mean, 7.6). In group 1 blood lead, urine lead, urine coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid levels before our treatment exceeded the critical levels of lead poisoning. In group 2 urine lead level exceeded but blood lead, urine coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid levels were within normal limits. All of them were treated with D-penicillamine for 4 months as inpatients at Industrial Accident Hospital. The dose of D-penicillamine was the same in all patients; 600 mg per day p.o. and the chelating agent was administer every other week. For laboratory analysis, 24 hour urine and 10 gm of whole blood were collected every 1 month on last day of non-administration period. The results were as follows: 1. It was found that urine lead level was decreased below the cirtical level of lead poisoning after 4 month's treatment with D-penicillamine and blood lead level was decreased more progressively below the critical level after 1 month treatment. 2. Urine coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid levels were decreased progressively to normal range after 1 month treatment. 3. Two months after treatment, blood lead, urine lead, urine coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid levels showed some increasing trends. 4. Urine lead level should be checked in a person who had been inadequately treated with chelating agents because blood lead, coproporphyrin and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid might be in normal range.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.147-157
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• 1989

산모와 태아에 있어서 혈중연농도를 측정하고 연의 분포양상 및 상관요인을 규명하여 산모와 태아 및 영유아의 건강상의 위해를 예방하기 위하여 1989년 3월 1일부터 동년 3월 31일까지 대구시에 소재한 종합병원 1개소와 산부인과의원 1개소에 분만을 위해 내원한 산모 130명을 대상으로 모체혈과 분만직후의 제대혈을 채취하여 원자화 무염광로를 부착한 원자 흡광 광도계로 분석하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 산모의 정맥혈과 제대혈의 평균 혈중연농도는 각각 $17.47{\pm}7.92{\mu}g/d{\ell}$, $15.31{\pm}7.98{\mu}g/d{\ell}$였다. 산모와 신생아의간의 혈중연농도는 상관계수는 0.663이였고 회귀방정식은 Y(제대혈의 연농도)=0.667X(모체혈의 연농도)+3.646였다. 산모의 자연유산력 및 출산시의 산과적 합병증과 산모의 혈중연농도와는 유의한 관계가 없었고, 제대혈의 연농도가 높을수록 출산체중이 적은 경향을 보였으나 통계학적인 의의는 없었으며, 신생아의 성 및 재태연령과 신생아의 혈중연농도와는 유의한 관계가 없었다. 생산직에 근무한 경력이 있는 산모의 경우는 직업이 없었거나 비생산직에 근무했던 산모보다 높은 혈중연농도를 나타내었고 근무했던 기간이 길수록 높은 혈중연농도를 나타내었으나 통계학적으로 유의하지는 않았다. 남편이 직장에서 연에 노출되는 경우 산모의 혈중연농도는 비노출군보다 높았으며 통계학적으로 유의한 차이가 있었다.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.527-532
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• 2010

Exposure to lead, particularly at chronic low-dose levels, is still a major public health concern. The present study is aimed to evaluate the blood lead levels in populations resident in some abandoned mine areas of Chungbuk, Korea. Eight hundreds and sixty-six subjects who reside in abandoned mine area located in Chungbuk, Korea, were enrolled this study. We evaluated the blood lead level according to the age, gender, and working history in mines. For statistical analysis, SPSS ver 12.0 was used. The geometric mean blood lead levels was $2.93\;{\mu}g/{\ell}$ and nobody showed levels over the guidelines of WHO. Ex-smokers and current-smokers showed significantly higher blood lead levels compared to that of non-smokers. The blood lead levels in individuals with a history of working in a mine was higher than those in individuals without such histories. The populations resident in some Chungbuk abadoned mine area showed low levels of lead in blood. This suggest that lead poisoning might not be induced by abandoned mine in Chungbuk, Korea.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.46-51
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• 1993

In order to survery the risk of air-borne lead to human, the relation between air-borne lead level and blood lead level was examined by using of the kinetic model and statistical model. The results of this survey were as follows: 1. The pathways of lead intake were food and water, mainly. 2. Though blood lead level of Korean urbanire was higher than that of American or Japanese, it was not so severe as to influence human health. 3. The lead content in food and water was high, and so it is needed to confirm the cause of high content was whether second contamination by air pollution or not.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.61-65
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• 2008

Although dietary intake of pregnant is supposed to have beneficial effects on development of infants, it may be harmful for fetal growth and development since specific food is a common source of toxicants including heavy metal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of maternal food intake and mid-pregnancy and their newborns blood lead levels. Pregnant women of 18-20 weeks of gestation were recruited from prenatal clinic in Seoul, Cheonan and Ulsan. In 422 pregnant women, dietary intake during pregnancy was assessed by a 24-hour recall method. Blood sample from pregnant (18-20 wks) and their cord blood at delivery were collected. Blood leas levels were analyzed by atomic-absorption spectrometry methods. Pregnant blood lead levels whose meat and meat products intake were in the highest quartile was significantly higher compared to the lowest quartile. Maternal meat and meat products intake was positively correlated maternal blood lead level (r=0.120, P=0.014). After adjusting for age, maternal blood lead level was positively correlated with their newborn blood lead level (r=0.303, P=0.030). As maternal food intake effects on blood lead levels of pregnant, careful regulation of food intake during pregnancy is perceives to be important in order to bring about desirable pregnancy outcomes.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.418-428
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-sectional relationship between low blood lead levels and increasing blood pressure among Korean adults using a nationally representative sample of the Korean population: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008. Methods: A total of 918 subjects aged 40 and older and not currently being treated for hypertension participated in this study. Information about age, gender, smoking status, alcohol consumption, education level, and the use of anti-hypertensive medication was collected. The blood pressure was defined as the mean of the second and the third measurements after three time measurements. Lead levels were determined by an analysis of blood samples. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were implemented after adjusting for covariates including age, gender, educational level, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and BMI. Results: This study showed that the average differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure comparing the lowest to highest quintile of blood lead were 4.33 mmHg (95% CI, 0.66-8.00; p for trend = 0.027) and 2.66 mmHg (95% CI, 0.26-5.06; p for trend = 0.021), respectively. After multivariate adjustment for covariates, the prevalence odds ratio (POR) of subjects in the highest quintile was associated with a 1.70-fold increase in the risks of hypertension (95% CI, 0.83-3.49; p for trend test = 0.112) over those in the lowest quintile of blood lead concentration, However, it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study provided evidence for an association between low- levels of blood lead and elevations in blood pressure and risk for hypertension in the general population of Korea.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.86-94
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• 2009

This study analyzed the concentration of the lead in blood (n=774) from May, 2007 to Oct 2007. The subject was residents in G, Y, H industrial area, Jeollanam-do, in which exposure to the lead is expected due to the adjacency of the industrial complex. As to the lead concentration in the blood of the residents in the whole exposed region and the comparing region, $2.81{\mu}g/dl$ in the exposed region group, and $2.86{\mu}g/dl$ in the comparing region group Respectively, which indicates that the concentration of the comparing group was higher than that of the exposed group. The geometric mean concentration of lead in blood was $3.26{\mu}g/dl$ as to men, and $2.46{\mu}g/dl$ as to women, which indicates that the concentration of men is higher than that of women (p<0.01). The lead concentration for each age group increased in proportion to age except those under 10 for some substances (p<0.01). As to geometric mean concentration in blood according to the smoking history of the subject, the concentration of the smoking group and the non-smoking group was $3.57{\mu}g/dl$ and $2.66{\mu}g/dl$ respectively, which indicates the former is higher than the latter (p<0.01). To clarify the factors affecting the heavy metal concentration in blood among the subjects, the multiple regression analysis was conducted. As a result, it turned out that as to lead content in blood, gender, age, smoking all affect the lead concentration of the subjects ($R^2$=23.3%).