• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.34-41
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study is conducted to evaluate airborne lead concentration in and around lead production plant. Methods: Airborne lead concentration was monitored simultaneously inside of the processes of lead recycling factory and outside of factory which include stack, boundary of factory and residential area 1 km and 7.5 km from factory, respectively. All samples were measured three times at 1.5 m from the ground and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer or flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Results: All airborne lead concentrations measured inside of factory($13.9{\mu}g/m^3-252.9{\mu}g/m^3$) and outside of factory($0.001{\mu}g/m^3-54.97{\mu}g/m^3$) showed log-normal distribution. Geometric mean lead concentration, $54.81{\mu}g/m^3$, measured inside of factory was significantly higher than outside of factory, $0.20{\mu}g/m^3$(p<0.01). Among the samples measured inside the factory, lead concentration was the highest in the refining process($59.02{\mu}g/m^3-252.9{\mu}g/m^3$). In the case of the samples outside the factory, the nearest chimney was the highest($3.84{\mu}g/m^3-54.97{\mu}g/m^3$), and the lead concentration at the farthest place, 7.5 km from the factory was the lowest($0.001{\mu}g/m^3-1.7{\mu}g/m^3$). The arithmetic lead concentration, $0.45{\mu}g/m^3$ in the residential area near the factory was below the atmospheric environment standard of $0.5{\mu}g/m^3$, but the maximum concentration of $3.4{\mu}g/m^3$ was exceeded. Conclusions: Airborne lead concentration in residential area, 1 km away from lead recycling plant, may exceed ambient air standard of $0.5{\mu}g/m^3$.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.102-109
• /
• 2003

Microwave digestion and solid-state extraction were studied for determination of trace aluminum{Al(III)} in human urine samples. A mixed acid of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide was added to urine samples, organic materials were destructed in a home microwave oven and dried in a drying oven. The dried residues were dissolved in a sulfuric acid solution. The solution was eluted through a XAD-4 resin column adsorbed with 8-hydroxyquinoline(Oxine, HQ). Al(III)-8-hydroxyquinolinate complex was formed in the column and eluted with 0.5 M nitric acid solution. The Al(III) eluted was determined by graphite atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Various experimental conditions of followings were investigated for the optimization : the type of acid to dissolve the residues, the amount of HQ adsorbed on the resin, the pH of sample solutions, the type and concentration of acid to elute the complex from column and so on. The contents of Al(III) in real samples were determinated by a calibration curve method. The recovery in standard spiked samples was 94~101% and the detection limit of this procedure was 0.05 ng/mL.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.338-345
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of urine cadmium levels of residents in the surrounding areas of an industrial complex. Methods: During the period of three month from August to October 2012, informed consent was obtained from a total of 362 residents in Kwangyang and Yeosu. We collected urine sample from all subjects and their demographic characteristics, including alcohol drinks and smoking habits, using a questionnaire. The urine samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometer. Results: The urinary cadmium geometric mean concentration of total participants was $0.87{\mu}g/g\;cr$. The results of this study showed that higher urine cadmium levels were observed in females and some subjects with a higher level of education level and a lower BMI. Also, those subjects who preferred to take vegetables and took fish 3 days before urine sampling procedure revealed higher urine cadmium concentrations. The urine cadmium concentrations of subjects in the exposed area($0.91{\mu}g/g\;cr$) were significantly higher than those in the control area($0.78{\mu}g/g\;cr$). Conclusions: An additional study is needed to assess health risks of residents in the vicinity of environment-unfriendly areas, coupled with endeavors to examine possible heavy metals contamination factors that may affect the human body.

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

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.137-142
• /
• 2013

Arsenic (As) is a well-known human carcinogen and its dietary exposure has been found to be the major route of entry into general population. This study was performed to assess the body levels of As and their associated factors in Korean adults by analyzing total As in urine. Urine and blood samples were collected from 580 adults aged 20 years and older, who had not been exposed to As occupationally. Demographic information was collected with the help of a standard questionnaire, including age, smoking, alcohol intake, job profiles, and diet consumed in the last 24 hrs of the study. Total As, sum of As(III), As(V), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), in urine was determined using atomic absorption spectrometer involving hydride generation method. The geometric mean concentration of total As in urine was $7.10{\mu}g/L$. Urine As was significantly higher in men ($7.63{\mu}g/L$) than in women ($6.75{\mu}g/L$). Age, smoking, alcohol consumption, and job profiles of study subjects did not significantly affect the concentration of As in urine. No significant relationship was observed between body mass index (BMI), Fe, and total cholesterol in serum and urinary As. Urine As level was positively correlated with seaweeds, fishes & shellfishes, and grain intake. A negative correlation between urinary As level and HDL-cholesterol in serum and meat intake was observed. Overall, these results suggest that urinary As concentration could be affected by seafood consumption. Therefore, people who frequently consume seafood and grain need to be monitored for chronic dietary As exposure.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.115-120
• /
• 2013

To investigate the effects of short-term exposure of beryllium on the human immune system, the proportion of T-lymphocytes such as CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD95, and NK cells, and the proportion of B cells and $TNF{\alpha}$ level in peripheral blood and immunoglobulins in the serum of 43 exposed workers and 34 healthy control subjects were studied. External exposure to beryllium was measured by atomic absorption spectrometer as recommended by the NIOSH analytical method 7300. T lymphocyte subpopulation analysis was carried out with flow cytometer. The working duration of exposed workers was less than 3 months and the mean ambient beryllium level was $3.4{\mu}g/m^3$, $112.3{\mu}g/m^3$, and $2.3{\mu}g/m^3$ in molding (furnace), deforming (grinding), and sorting processes, respectively (cited from Kim et al., 2008). However, ambient beryllium level after process change was non-detectable (< $0.1{\mu}g/m^3$). The number of T lymphocytes and the amount of immunoglobulins in the beryllium-exposed workers and control subjects were not significantly different, except for the total number of lymphocytes and CD95 (APO1/FAS). The total number of lymphocytes was higher in the beryllium-exposed individuals than in the healthy control subjects. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed lymphocytes to be affected by beryllium exposure (odd ratio = 7.293; p<0.001). These results show that short-term exposure to beryllium does not induce immune dysfunction but is probably associated with lymphocytes proliferation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.205-212
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of blood lead concentrations of residents in the areas surrounding an industrial complex. Methods: During the three-month period from August to October 2012, informed consent was obtained from a total of 417 residents in Gwangyang and Yeosu. We collected blood samples from all subjects, and their demographic characteristics were acquired using a questionnaire. The blood samples were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrometer and data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 21.0. Results: The geometric mean concentration of blood lead in all subjects was $1.85{\mu}g/dL$. The highest (p<0.01) blood lead concentrations were in the current drinking group ($2.24{\mu}g/dL$). Blood lead concentrations in the smoking group ($0.59{\mu}g/dL$) were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in the non-smoking group ($0.24{\mu}g/dL$). Risk assessment was performe using the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KNEHS) as a reference. The hazard indices of blood lead in males and females were 0.65 and 0.52, respectively Conclusion: We provided baseline data for reference values of toxicity and heavy lead concentrations. Our results might be useful for further evaluation of risks due to exposure to heavy metals via oral, air, and percutaneous routes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.183-196
• /
• 2020

This study aimed to recover native gold from the concentrate using microwave-nitric acid leaching and magnetic/hydro separation experiments. The insoluble-residue was filtered from leaching solution through microwave-nitric acid leaching experiment. As a result of the atomic absorption spectrometer(AAS) analysis of the filtered leaching solution, it was discovered that Au content was not eluted at all and it was observed from the back scattered electron(BSE) image that native gold was liberated in the insoluble-residue. When magnetic/hydro separation experiments were applied for the insoluble-residue, magnetic and non magnetic minerals were separtated from insoluble-residue. Magnetite was recovered from the magnetic minerals and as a result of applying the hydro separation experiment again for the non-magnetic mineral, native gold was recovered. The native gold was identified through the X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis and BSE image.

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

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 1992

To investigate on the element content of twelve edible mushrooms and Aloe arborescent, i.e., Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum (culturing in wood and soil), Tricholoma matsutake, Agaricus auricula-Jude (produced in Korea and China), sarcodon asparatus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Coriolus bisporus, Cyrophora esculenta, Auricularia auricula-Jude (produced in Korea and China), Sarcodon asparatus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Coriolus rersicolor, Smilax rotundifolia and Aloe arborescenstyl were analyzed by Atomic absorption spectrometer. The obtained results were summarized as follows : 1. Potassium, sodium, magnesium and iron content for the most part samples were in large quantities, especi phosphorus content of those was highest ammount for the all samples. 2. Sodium content f·as much ammount in the Lentinus edodes(39 mg, and Ganoderma lucidum(20 mg) , Culturing in wood and soil, while potassium was very high ammount in the Aloe arborescens and other samples. Mush ammount of magnesium as compared with others was Lentinus edodes(144 mg) , Ganoderma lucidum(128 mg), Aloe arborescens(50 mg) and Pleurotus ostreatus (60 mg) . 3, Phosphorus content of Lentinus edodes, Gyrophora esculenta, Auricularia polytricha and Agaricus bisporus was much ammount while iron content of all samples equality higher ammount. Sodium content of Aloe arborescens was not analyzed out for almost all, its potassium(82 mg), magnesium(50 mg) and iron(18 mg) content comparatively higher quentity than others nllnerals and phosphorus volume (4.9 mg) as compared with others, was conspicuously lower detect. 4. Cadimium and lead content of harmful metal element were detected on trace quantity for the most part samples. 5. Organic acids of samples i.e., Lentinus edodes, Agaricus bisporus, Pleuritus ostreatus and Ganoderma lucidum were Citrate, Malate, Fumalate, Succinate, Oxalate, Acetate, Lactate, and Tartarate and Citrate, Malate and Fumarate contents were higher amount remarkbly than other organic acids. Tartarate content was trace amount.