• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.2089-2099
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• 2015

This study examined the relationships between the blood heavy metal (Pb, Hg and Cd) concentration and exposure-related factors. The subjects were 2,042 (male: 953, female: 1,089) who were recruited through a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Differences in the concentrations of mercury were observed in males, whereas females showed differences in lead and cadmium. Analyses of the blood concentrations according to body mass index and waist circumference showed significantly higher concentrations of mercury. In males, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of dyslipidemia was higher than normal in the blood lead concentration. In females, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of dyslipidemia was higher than normal in the blood lead concentration. The blood lead and cadmium concentrations of male smokers was higher than non-smokers, and cadmium showed the same results in females. The blood lead levels were higher in male alcohol consumers than non-drinkers. The blood concentrations of mercury and cadmium showed significant differences according to household income. Blood concentrations of heavy metals were closely related to exposure-related factors, and age, smoking, drinking alcohols, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and household income were found to be relevant.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.59-72
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of heavy metal concentrations in the blood and urine of the general population. This research had been conducted from April to December 2008, studying 545 residents of Daejeon and Chungcheong Province. Through the concentrations of heavy metals(Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Mn) in the biota samples and questionnaires, the residents heavy metal exposure level and the influential factors according to personal characteristics or lifestyle were evaluated. As to the heavy metal concentration in the blood and urine of the comparing region, were As and Mn statistically significant(p<0.01, p<0.05). Blood lead and urinary mercury concentrations were higher in males than females. The heavy metal concentration for each age group increased blood mercury. The concentration of all heavy metals were higher in the drinkers than in the non-drinkers. Blood lead and mercury concentrations were higher in the smokers than in the non-smokers, but the urinary cadmium, arsenic and blood manganese was higher in the non-smokers than in the smokers. As to the blood lead and urinary cadmium concentration according to the food preference fish showed high concentration. To clarify the factors affecting the heavy metal concentration in biota among subjects multiple regression analysis was conducted. As a results, it turned out that as to lead content in blood, sex, age and smoking have influence on the subjects with explanatory adequacy of 14.0 %. These results demonstrated that the factors affected the concentrations of heavy metals in blood and urine. The results of this study could be used as the foundational data for setting the health risk assessment.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.353-368
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Korean native plant diets on lipid and cadmium (Cd) metabolisms and also antioxidative enzyme activities in rats. Seventy male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 210.3$\pm$2.7g were blocked into ten groups according to body weight. Rats were raised for four weeks with diets containing 0 or 0.04%(w/w) cadmium chloride and 5%(w/w) plant powder-Ssook(Artemisia princeps var. orientalis HARA), Chamchwi(Aster scaber THUNB), Gomchwi(Lingularia fischeri TUBCZ). or Solbeerum (Portulaca oleracea LINNE). Food intake, weight gain, food efficiency ratio, and weights of liver, kidney, spleen and epididymal fat were significantly lower in Cd-exposed groups, food efficiency ratio, and weights of liver, kidney, spleen and epididymal fat were significanlty lower in Cd-exposed groups. Plasma total lipid level, liver total lipid, cholesterol and triglycerde concentrations, and fecal total lipid, cholesterol and triglyceride excretions were decreased by Cd administration. Total lipid and triglyceride concentration in plasma and liver were lower in Chamchwi groups together with increased fecal total lipid and triglyceride excretions. Cholesterol concentration in plasma and liver were lower in Gomchwi groups with increased fecal cholesterol excretions. Activities of red-blood-cell superoxide dismutase(SOD), and liver catalase, SOD and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) were decreased significantly by Cd administration. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS) concentrations of plasma and liver were increased by Cd administration. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS) concentration of plasma and liver were increased by Cd administration. Administration of plant diets decreased plasma and liver catalase, SOD and GSH-px activities in Cd-free diet groups and increased them in Cd-administered groups. Plasma and liver TBARS concentrations were decreased in animals fed plant diets, with Chamchwi showing the most effective antioxidative capacity. The concentration of Cd accumulated in blood and tissue decreased in Cd-exposed groups fed plant diets. Liver Cd concentration were lower in the Chamchwi and Gomchwi groups, and kidney Cd levels were lower in the Ssook and Chamchwi groups. Among them, Chamchwi was the most effective in Cd detoxification. In conclusion, Chamchwi and Gomchwi were effective in lowering tissue lipid levels, with Chamchwi having the greatest antioxidative and detoxifying effects.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.115-122
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the metallothionein of acute cadmium poisoning mice as a Cadmium index. Forty male ICR mice were injected with cadmium chloride solution from 1/8LD50 to 1/2LD50 dose. At 24 hours after exposed Cd, I examined Cd and metallothionein (MT) intissues(liver and kidney) and fluids(whole blood and urine) and also measured low molecular proteins, N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) and 2- microglobuline (2-MG) in urine. The concentration of Cd and MT of liver kidney whole blood and urine were increased with dose dependent manner. Urinary Cd and urinary MT and very good significance (p<0.01) and urinary MT had good significance with kidney Cd and NAG but not 2-MG Conclusionally MT in urine was very correlated with kidney Cd and urine Cd, So MT maybe useful as a Cd poisoning index.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2006

The rate of metallothionein synthesis on cadmium-poisoned rats reflects the level of toxicity, and also it reduces the toxicity which is caused by the uptake of cadmium. Chlorella supplementation in the diets of the cadmium-poisoned rats decreased the concentration of cadmium in blood and urine compared with the control group. Although the liver and kidneys of rats are major target organs of cadmium and coherence of metallothionein and cadmium, no previous study has determined the correlation between the rate of metallothionein synthesis in the liver and kidneys of rats and dietary supplementation of chlorella with cadmium uptake. This study analyzed total metallothionein level on the tissue of the liver and kidneys, the concentration of cadmium bound to the metallothionein, and the total concentration of cadmium on the tissue of the liver and kidneys after dietary supplementation with 1%, 5%, and 10% dried chlorella and 40 ppm of cadmium to 46 male SD rats (mean weight: $150\pm20\;g$) for 4 weeks. According to the data analysis of the total rate of metallothionein synthesis in the liver and kidneys, the group of SD rats on the supplementation with 1% chlorella and 40 ppm of cadmium showed a rate of $93.2\pm8.9\;ng/g$, a significant decrease of 58.8% compared to that of the control group of SD rats on the supplementation with cadmium only, which showed a rate of $227.3\pm32.5 ng/g$ (P=0.0001). In contrast, no significant difference was observed through the changing of chlorella concentrations between 5% and 10% chlorella supplementation with cadmium. The group supplemented with 1% or greater chlorella levels represented a greater decrease in the total cadmium concentration of the kidney and liver tissues, the amount of total metallothionein synthesis, the amount of metallothionein with binding to cadmium, and the concentration of free cadmium without binding to metallothionein. Consequently, the supplementation of 1% and 5% chlorella was effective in reducing the synthesis of metallothionein for cadmium uptake, but increased the rate of binding of cadmium to metallothionein.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 1991

An animal experiment was performed to investigate the effects of dietary cadmium on growth rates and cadmium accumulations in internal organic tissues and blood by feeding mice with dietary $cdcl_2$ additives and/or brown rice with high cadmium content as during a 12-week feeding period. The results were as follows : Mice weights decreased with increasing levels of dietary cadmium at the end of a 9-week feeding period. The weights of mice organs in the cadmium-free feeding group were higher than in the cadmium-added groups, and the weights of mice organs did not show any significant differences among feeding groups with different levels of dietary cadmium. The concentrations of cadmium in kidney and liver were much higher than in other internal organs and blood, and the next higher concentration was in the heart. The cadmium accumulation in all internal organs and blood increased with increasing dietary cadmium levels, respectively. The ratios of cadmium accumulation in organ tissues and total blood of cadmium-added groups increased with decreasing dietary cadmium levels.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.51-61
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between socioeconomic status and blood heavy metal concentration in Korean adult population using the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey(KNHANES 2013-2015). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between socioeconomic status and the blood heavy metal concentration. Positive association was found between education and income level and blood concentration of mercury while those of lead and cadmium were negatively associated education and income level in Korean adult population (P for trend <0.001). At the point of an increase in the prevalence of heavy metal concentrations in the blood, a national public health policy will be needed to address the inequity of health due to socioeconomic factors.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1243-1252
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• 2002

To experiment the effects between cadmium inhalation toxicity and extracts of Folium Mori, rat inhalation exposure groups were exposed to cadmium aerosol in air by whole-body inhalation exposure for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, and 4 weeks. Cadmium concentration in the air of cadmium aerosol was 1.02㎎/㎥ and mass median diameter(MMD) was 1.40μm. Intraperitoneal injection of extracts of Folium Mori to inhalation exposure groups was done for 4 weeks and the results were as follows: The highest body weight gain for 4 weeks and food intake per day were 126.39g/4 weeks and 19.18g/day from inhalation exposure group III, respectively. The highest lung and liver weight were 1.27g and 8.19g from inhalation exposure group II, respectively. The highest kidney weight was 1.805g from inhalation exposure control. The lowest cadmium content in lung was 86.39μg/g from inhalation exposure group III. The lowest cadmium concentration in blood was 7.12㎍/㎗ from inhalation exposure group III. Cadmium concentrations of 40.02㎍/g in liver and 69.18㎍/g in kidney were the lowest from inhalation exposure group I and III, respectively. For weekly cadmium concentration in urine, the value of the fourth week from inhalation exposure group III was the highest, 3.12㎍/㎖. For weekly cadmium concentration in feces, the value of the fourth week from inhalation exposure group III was the highest, 2.67 ㎍/g. The highest metallothionein concentration in lung was 74.65㎍/g from inhalation exposure group III and the highest metallothionein concentration in liver was 386.84㎍/g from inhalation exposure group II. The highest metallothionein concentration in kidney was 236.17 ㎍/g from inhalation exposure group II.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate a relationship between the blood concentrations of toxic metals and the blood pressure in people living near the copper smelter. Methods: The study included 570 adults living within 4km of the smelter. We compared systolic and diastolic blood pressure between tertiary groups for blood cadmium, mercury and lead levels, respectively. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors affecting systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Results: In male subjects, there is a significant difference in the mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure between tertiary groups of blood cadmium and mercury levels, but in women, there was no significant difference in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures in all tertiary groups of heavy metals. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that age, BMI, and cadmium concentration in men were risk factors for blood pressure. In women, age and BMI, drinking and smoking, and blood mercury were significantly influenced to blood pressure. Conclusions: Residents living near the Janghang smelter showed high concentrations of blood lead and cadmium, suggesting that they were exposed to high concentrations of heavy metals released from the smelter in the past. Such exposure may have caused some blood pressure increase. Especially, the concentration of cadmium in the case of men and the concentration of mercury in blood in the case of women were found to be significantly related to the increase of blood pressure. The local population should be advised to make efforts to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, in order to minimize cardiovascular disease, and to pay close attention to any health problems possibly related to toxic metal exposure.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.700-710
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• 2003

For the experiment of the effects between cadmium aerosol inhalation toxicity and ethyl acetate extracts of Folium Mori, 4 inhalation exposure groups of rat were exposed to cadmium aerosol in air by whole-body inhalation exposure for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, and 4 weeks. Cadmium concentration in the air was 0.96㎎/㎥ and mass median diameter (MMD) was 2.48㎛ with 1.85 of geometric standard deviation(GSD). Intraperitoneal injections of ethyl acetate extracts of Folium Mori to inhalation exposure groups were performed for 4 weeks and the results were as follows: The highest body weight gain for 4 weeks and food intake per day were 159.29/4 weeks in treated group III and 18.45g/day in treated group I, respectively. The highest lung and liver weights were 1.31 g in treated group I and 9.42g in treated group III, respectively. The highest kidney weight was 2.21g from treated group I. The lowest cadmium content in lung was 86.39㎍/g from treated group III and the lowest cadmium concentration in blood was 2.72㎍/㎗ from treated group II. Cadmium concentrations of 22.09㎍/g in liver and 24.82㎍/g in kidney were the lowest from inhalation exposure group I and III, respectively. For weekly cadmium concentration in urine, the value of the fourth week from treated group III was the highest, 1.35㎍/㎖. For weekly cadmium concentration in feces, the values of the second and fourth week from treated group I were the highest, 1.11㎍/g. The highest metallothionein concentration in lung was 31.85㎍/g from treated group III and the highest metallothionein concentration in liver was 205.77㎍/g from treated group III. The highest metallothionein concentration in kidney was 206.55㎍/g from treated group III. The highest Hct and Hb values were 38.26% and 11.63g/㎗ from treated group III, respectively. The highest RBC and WBC values were 7.68×106/㎣ and 9.85×10³/㎣ from treated group I, respectively.