• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.268-276
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• 2015

Objectives: According to the 2007 Korea National Environmental Health Survey (KNEHS), some areas in the Gyeongsang Provinces showed very high blood mercury levels in adults. We conducted this project to investigate any related health effects in children due to mercury levels in these areas. Methods: In total, 1,097 students between grades 3 and 6 at 19 elementary schools were recruited from four areas with high mercury exposure as identified by the KNEHS. Total mercury levels in biological samples were compared with health check-ups performed on the schoolchildren. Biological monitoring, supported by questionnaires, a computerized neurobehavioral test, a posturography test and a personality test, were applied. Results: Triglycerides showed a significant relation with mercury in blood, urine and hair. Total mercury concentrations were divided into two groups: upper and lower concentration groups based on the median value. In the computerized neurobehavioral test, the upper blood mercury group showed a greater reaction time for color-word vigilance (p<0.05). In the posturography test, the intensity value of the tremor test showd high significant relations with mercury levels (p<0.01). In the personality test, self-consciousness, misdeeds and family relationships showed significant differences between the upper and lower urine mercury groups (p<0.01), and specific reactions, ego resilience and hyperactivity also showed some differences (p<0.1). Conclusion: Some items in the neurobehavioral test, posturography test and personality test showed significant relations with biological mercury levels. Therefore, monitoring and appropriate management of students showing high mercury levels are recommended in order to reduce their mercury exposure.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.577-584
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• 1997

이 연구는 최근 개발된 컴퓨터를 이용한 정신운동 기능 검사법인 Neurobehavioral Tests fur Occupational Screening(NTOS)의 타당도 평가를 위해 시도되었다. 일개 종합병원 신경과에 등록된 파킨슨병 환자 12명과 신경독성물질에 폭로된 적이 없는 근로자 21명을 대상으로 NTOS의 단순반응시간 검사, 2가지 선택반응시간 검사, 양 손의 수지타진검사를 실시하였다. 평균 단순반응시간은 근로자군은 245 msec, 환자군은 378 msec였으며, 2가지 선택반응시간은 근로자군은 444 msec, 환자군은 671 msec 로 나타나 T 검정에서 유의한 차이를 보였다. 주로 쓰는 손의 수지타진검사는 68.6회를 나타내었고, 파킨슨병 환자군은 51.6회, 주로 쓰지 않는 손은 각각 60.9회, 43.1회로 유의한 차이를 보였다. 환자군과 근로자군의 연령과 학력차이를 통계적으로 보정하고 두군에서 차이가 나는지를 알아보기 위해 공분산분석을 실시한 결과, 단순반응시간, 선택반응시간, 수지타진이 유의한 결과를 보였다. 이상으로 볼 때, NTOS는 정신운동기능의 장애를 발견할 수 있는 도구라고 생각된다. 그러나 선택반응 시간 검사의 실수 횟수 같이 상대적으로 민감하지 못한 지표에 대한 고려가 필요하며, 혼란변수를 연구 설계에서 조정할 수 있는 큰 규모의 연구와 정신운동기능의 잠재적 장애를 보이는 집단에 대한 연구들이 추후에 있어야 할 것이다.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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• pp.23.1-23.14
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• 2023

Background: Exposure to heavy metals is a public health concern worldwide. Previous studies on the association between heavy metal exposure and neurobehavioral functions in children have focused on single exposures and clinical manifestations. However, the present study evaluated the effects of heavy metal complex exposure on subclinical neurobehavioral function using a Korean Computerized Neurobehavior Test (KCNT). Methods: Urinary mercury, lead, cadmium analyses as well as symbol digit substitution (SDS) and choice reaction time (CRT) tests of the KCNT were conducted in children aged between 10 and 12 years. Reaction time and urinary heavy metal levels were analyzed using partial correlation, linear regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), the weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and quantile G-computation analysis. Results: Participants of 203 SDS tests and 198 CRT tests were analyzed, excluding poor cooperation and inappropriate urine sample. Partial correlation analysis revealed no association between neurobehavioral function and exposure to individual heavy metals. The result of multiple linear regression shows significant positive association between urinary lead, mercury, and CRT. BMKR, WQS regression and quantile G-computation analysis showed a statistically significant positive association between complex urinary heavy metal concentrations, especially lead and mercury, and reaction time. Conclusions: Assuming complex exposures, urinary heavy metal concentrations showed a statistically significant positive association with CRT. These results suggest that heavy metal complex exposure during childhood should be evaluated and managed strictly.

• 정신신체의학
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.170-181
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• 1996

Objective : This study was tried to investigate the specific relationships among cognitve function, neurbehavioral symptoms, and daily living functions, as well as provide the guidline of more proper clinical approches for patients with subcortical cerebrovascular disease. Objects and Methods Subjects were 85 patients whose diagnosis was confirmed by brain CT or MRI and controls were 195 normal persons matched by educational level with the subjects. The cognitive functions were evaluated by BNA(Benton neuropsychiatric assessment), subjective neurobehavioral symptoms by SCL-90-R(Sympton Check List-90-Revised), objective neurobehavioral symptoms by NRS(Neurobehavioral Rating Scale), and daily living function symptoms by NRS(Neurobehavioral Rating Scale), and daily living function by GERRI(Geriatric Evaluation by Relative's Rating Instrument) and IADL(Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale). Results: 1) Subjects showed significantly lower cognitive functions than controls in all tests of BNA except Lt-Rt Orientation Test(p=0.09) and facial Recognition Test(p=0.186). 2) In subjective neurobehavioral symptoms, subjects showed significantly lower scores in all symptoms except anxiety(p=0.059), hostility(p=0.159), and phobic anxiety(p=0.849). But in objects neurobehavioral symptoms, subjects showed significantly higher in scores in psychoticism (p=0.000) and neuroticism(p=0.025) of NRS. 3) The score of social functioning of GERRI(p=0.000) and that of IADL(p=0.000) were significantly higher in subjects than in controls. 4) for correlation between cognitive and daily living functions, there were significant correlations between the scores of all items on BNA and the score of cognitive or social function of GERRI and the socre of MDL in corntrols, whereas in subjects, there were significant correlations only between the scores of BNA and the score of IADL. 5) for correlation between neuroehavioral symptoms and daily living functions, there were significant correlatons between the socre of subjective neurobehavioral symptoms and the scores of all subscales of GERRI and the score of MDL in controls. On the contrary, in subjects, there were significant correlations between the score of social function of GERRI and the score of objective neurobehavioral symptoms such as psychoticism, agitiation-hostility, and decrease d motivation-emotional withdrawl. Conclusion : Above results suggest that disturbances in specific function of brain may play a role as a predictor of impairments with specific daily living functions and also suggest that specific correlations among various functions may be useful as clinical parameters for setting of the treatment goal and for assessing the ongoing process in the treatment and rehavilitation of the patients with subcortical cerebrovascular disease.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한예방의학회 1993년도 제45차 추계 학술대회 연제집
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• pp.61-62
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• 1993

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.175-185
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• 1995

연 폭로 근로자들의 혈중 연 농도가 신경 행동 검사에 미치는 영향을 알기 위하여 본 연구를 시행하였다. 부산 모공단내의 연 취급사업장에 근무하는 남자근로자 59명을 대상군으로 선택하였다. 신경 행동 검사는 WHO(World Health Organization)에서 제안한 NCTB(Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery) 중 5항목을 사용하여 시행하였다. 연구 대상군들은 혈중 연 농도에 따라 저농도군$(0, 중간농도군(20$(40으로 분류하였다. 숫자 암기 중 역순 숫자 부호 짝짓기, Benton Visual Retention에서 고농도군과 중간농도군이 저농도군에 비하여 유의하게 수행능력이 저하되었으며, 연령, 교육기간과 상관성이 가장 큰 항목은 숫자부호 짝짓기였다. 혼란변수인 연령과 교육기간을 보정한 후에도 Benton Visual Retention에서 여전히 고농도군과 중간농도군에서 저농도군에 비하여 유의한 감소를 보였다. 그러나 고농도군과 중간농도군의 비교에서는 통계학적으로 유의한 차이를 보인 항목은 없었다. 신경행동변화와 관련된 연의 영향을 명확히 하기 위해서는 근로자의 취업시부터의 정확한 개인별 폭로력과 혈중 연 농도뿐만 아니라 통합된 연 흡수 척도들의 추적과 함께 신경행동검사가 시행되어야 할 것이다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.171-179
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• 1997

본 연구는 유기용제 만성 폭로 근로자들에게서 급성 폭로후 폭로 중지 시간에 따른 신경행동검사의 변화 양상을 보기 위하여 시행되었다. 대상군은 1개 피혁운동화 제조업체에서 5년이상 근무한 여성 근로자 34명이었으며 NCTB증 4가지 항목-숫자 암기, Santa Ana Dexterity, Benton Visual Retention, 숫자 부호 짝짓기-을 1인당 3회 반복 시행하였다. 검사 시점은 각각 월요일 작업 시작 전, 평일 작업 시작 전, 평일 작업 중이었다. 시행 시점에 따라 유의한 수행 능력의 차이를 보인 항목은 숫자 암기 정순, Benton Visual Retention, Santa Ana Dexterity 우수와 열수, 그리고 숫자 부호 짝짓기였으며 특히 평일 작업 중의 수행 능이 월요일 작업시작 전, 평일 작업 시작 전에 비하여 통계적으로 유의하게 감소하였다. 또한 Santa Ana Dexterity 우수, 숫자 부호 짝짓기에서는 평일 작업 시작 전의 수행능력도 월요일 작업 시작 전에 비하여 유의하게 감소하였다. 전반적으로 고 폭로군, 50세 이상, 6년 미만의 교육수준에서 평일 작업 중의 수행능 감소가 뚜렷하게 나타났다. 이상에서 만성 유기용제 폭로의 중추 신경계 장애를 보기 위한 신경행동검사는 휴일 후 작업 시작 전에 시행하는 것이 바람직하며 단기 기억력과 관련된 검사 항목은 평일 작업 시작전에 시행하는 것도 고려해 볼 수 있을 것으로 보인다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.557-567
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• 1994

This study was conducted to examine the effect of chronic low dose organic solvent exposures in the industries towards then neurobehavioral functions of workers. Subjective symptoms on neurobehavioral function as well as a visual reaction time test (Flicker test) were administered to 94 exposed and 162 unexposed workers in a oil refinery and some other auto-repair shops. The results obtained were as follows : 1. Symptom complaints were higher and Flicker test values were lower in exposed workers than in unexposed workers. 2. Flicker valus were Inversely correlated with urinary Hippuric acid concentration in exposed workers(r=-0.26, p<0.05). 3. Flicker valus were inversely co..elated with Subjective symptom score(r=-0.15, p<0.05). Low Flicker value were also related with some subjetive symptoms such as 'Dimmed vision', 'Nightmare', 'Weakness on extrimity' in workers as a whole. While symptoms of 'Dimmed vision ', 'Nightmare' only observed among exposed workers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.386-397
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• 1995

A cross sectional study was performed to evaluate the neurobehavioral effects of chronic exposure of complex organic solvents, using NCTB(Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery) recommended by WHO(World Health Organization). Forty female shoe factory workers and twenty-two controls matched with age were participated. The tests were performed in the morning before start of work, to exclude the effects of acute exposure. Workers were exposed mainly to toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, n-hexane, cyclo-hexane, dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, benzene, xylenes etc. The ranges of present solvent exposure of hygienic effect were $0.46\sim0.71$ in the process using adhesives indirectly, and $1.83\sim2.39$ in the process using it directly. We reclassified the subjects, according to cumulative exposure. It showed significantly poorer performances in high exposed group on Santa Ana Dexterity and Benton Visual Retention, compared with control group. After controlling confounder, the significances were still remained. But, further cohort studies, having the information of personal exposure dose from entering a factory, are required to clarify the effects of chronic exposure of complex organic solvents in relation to dose and duration of exposure.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.123-132
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• 2016

The impact of mobile phone (MP) radiation on the brain is of specific interest to the scientific community and warrants investigations, as MP is held close to the head. Studies on humans and rodents revealed hazards MP radiation associated such as brain tumors, impairment in cognition, hearing etc. Melatonin (MT) is an important modulator of CNS functioning and is a neural antioxidant hormone. Zebrafish has emerged as a popular model organism for CNS studies. Herein, we evaluated the impact of GSM900MP (GSM900MP) radiation exposure daily for 1 hr for 14 days with the SAR of 1.34W/Kg on neurobehavioral and oxidative stress parameters in zebrafish. Our study revealed that, GSM900MP radiation exposure, significantly decreased time spent near social stimulus zone and increased total distance travelled, in social interaction test. In the novel tank dive test, the GSM900MP radiation exposure elicited anxiety as revealed by significantly increased time spent in bottom half; freezing bouts and duration and decreased distance travelled, average velocity, and number of entries to upper half of the tank. Exposed zebrafish spent less time in the novel arm of the Y-Maze, corroborating significant impairment in learning as compared to the control group. Exposure decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities whereas, increased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) was encountered showing compromised antioxidant defense. Treatment with MT significantly reversed the above neurobehavioral and oxidative derangements induced by GSM900MP radiation exposure. This study traced GSM900MP radiation exposure induced neurobehavioral aberrations and alterations in brain oxidative status. Furthermore, MT proved to be a promising therapeutic candidate in ameliorating such outcomes in zebrafish.