• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.349-357
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• 2015

Objectives: The 2007 Korea National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the Human Body found the highest blood mercury levels nationwide among residents in Seoksan-ri, Goro-myeon, Gunwi-gun, Gyeonsangbuk-do. With the aim to reduce the blood mercury levels of residents in this region, we conducted this study to identify the association between mercury exposure levels and shark meat consumption. Methods: This survey was conducted with 118 participants in Seoksan-ri before the Chuseok festival and 113 residents were added afterwards. Information on participants was collected via questionnaires. Total mercury concentrations in biological samples were measured using a mercury analyzer with the gold-amalgam collection method. Results: To identify this, we conducted mercury exposure level analysis before and after the Chuseok festival and found that blood and urinary mercury levels after Chuseok (GM of $6.9{\mu}g/L$ in blood and $1.68{\mu}g/g$_cr in urine) were higher than those before (GM of $5.29{\mu}g/L$ in blood and $1.44{\mu}g/g$_cr in urine). This area maintains a custom of using shark meat as one of the ancestral rite foods, and the performance of such rites and shark meat consumption have been identified as main sources of mercury exposure. Other than this, smoking, dental amalgam treatment and residential period in the area also contributed to an increase in mercury exposure levels. On the other hand, recent consumption of oriental medicine and vaccination did not have a significant influence on mercury levels. Conclusion: The results were attributed to the local custom of consuming shark meat with high mercury concentrations during rituals taking place during the festival and ancestral rites. Given that the blood mercury levels in 23.2% of the residents exceeded the HBM II values recommended by the German Commission on Human Biological Monitoring, it is suggested that further appropriate actions and follow-up measures be taken to reduce the mercury exposure levels of the residents that exceeded the reference values.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.541-555
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine heavy metal exposure levels in the blood and urine of a nationally representative adult population in Korea, and to identify the major influence factors for exposure through linkage analysis using questionnaire data. Methods: Biological samples and questionnaire data were collected from adults aged 18 and over who had participated in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey from 2009 to 2017. Lead, mercury, and cadmium exposure levels were presented with geometric mean and 95th percentiles. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting heavy metal concentrations. Results: Blood lead levels increased slightly in Cycle 2 compared to Cycle 1, but decreased in Cycle 3. Blood and urinary mercury and urinary cadmium levels decreased over time. The main influence factors included gender, age, and smoking status for blood lead levels; gender, age, and intake of fish at least once a week for blood mercury levels; and age for urinary cadmium levels. Conclusion: The Korean National Environmental Health Survey is an effective tool for confirming over-time changes in exposure to lead, mercury, and cadmium in Korean adults and to identify its influence factors. The results of this study are expected to present basic data for calculating reference values and baseline exposure levels for environmental chemicals in Korean adults.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.594-604
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• 2019

Objectives: This study developed and validated an analysis method of urinary metals and metalloids that can be applied inductively with coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Methods: 0.3 mL of urine was used to analyze 25 metal and metalloid compounds using ICP-MS. The validation of the analytical method included linearity, accuracy, precision, and the calculation of detection limits. In addition, a comparison test was performed with the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) method, which is the current standard method, with urine samples of 66 healthy subjects. Results: The linearities (R²) of calibration curves of all 25 compounds were ≥ 0.999. Of the 25 compounds, the intra-day and inter-day accuracy% of 17 and 20 met ≤15%, respectively. In addition, fifteen compounds showed ≤15% recovery% for certificated reference materials. Intraclass correlation coefficients of the comparison between the current methods and new methods in this study were 0.952 (p-value<0.001) and 0.911 (p-value<0.001) for urinary cadmium and mercury, respectively. Conclusion: This study proposes an efficient simultaneous methodology that can analyze multi elements in smaller sample amounts. More reproduction experiments are needed in the future.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.311-314
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• 2023

Thallium poisoning is usually accidental. We present a case of a 51-year-old woman who was evaluated in June 2018 for myalgia, vertigo, asthenia, and abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed temporal-spatial disorientation, jaundice, and asterixis. The laboratory reported the following: bilirubin, 10.3 mg/dL; aspartate transaminase, 78 U/L; alanine transaminase, 194 U/L; albumin, 2.3 g/dL; prothrombin time, 40%; and platelet count, 60,000/mm³. Serology performed for hepatitis A, B, and C; Epstein-Barr virus; cytomegalovirus; and human immunodeficiency virus was negative, and a collagenogram was negative. Physical reevaluation revealed alopecia on the scalp, armpits, and eyebrows; macules on the face; plantar hyperkeratosis; and ulcers on the lower limbs. Tests for lead, arsenic, copper, and mercury were carried out, which were normal; however, elevated urinary thallium (540 ㎍/g; range, 0.4-10 ㎍/g) was observed. The patient was treated with D-penicillamine 1,000 mg/day and recovered her urinary thallium levels were within normal range at annual follow-up. Thallium poisoning is extremely rare and can be fatal in small doses. An adequate clinical approach can facilitate early diagnosis.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

당뇨병 발생에는 생활습관이나 생활환경과 관련된 다양한 원인들이 있는데 최근 연구에서 중금속에 많이 노출된 사람에서 당뇨병 발생 및 당뇨병의 악화가 늘어났다는 역학적 연구가 많이 발표되고 있다. 이에 국내 대규모 철강공업단지를 가진 일개 도시 지역 주민을 대상으로 당화혈색소와 체내 중금속의 상관성을 파악하고자 하였다. 2008~2009년 연구대상 총 414명에 대한 설문조사와 생체시료를 채취하였다. 설문은 성별, 연령, 인구학적 특성, 흡연, 음주, 직업, 당뇨진단 유무 등의 항목으로 구성하였다. 혈액을 채취하여 HbA1c, 혈중 납 농도를 측정하였고, 소변을 채취하여 요중 카드뮴, 무기비소, 수은 농도를 측정하였다. HbA1c는 6.5%기준으로 미만군과 이상군으로 분류하였다. 각 중금속별 10분위수부터 90분위수 농도에 해당하는 기준으로 미만군과 이상군 등 두 군을 분류하였다. 당뇨관련검사 결과 HbA1c 6.5% 기준으로 이상군은 남자 14(9.9%)명, 여자 17(6.2%)명이었다. 혈중 납의 기하평균 농도는 2.48 (1.80) ㎍/dl, 요중 카드뮴의 기하평균농도는 1.20 (2.26) ㎍/g creatinine, 요중 무기비소의 기하평균농도는 12.08 (1.80) ㎍/g creatinine, 요중 수은의 기하평균농도는 1.63 (2.23) ㎍/g creatinine 이었다. 연령, 지역, 성별, 흡연으로 보정하였을때 요중 카드뮴 농도 30분위수 이상군이 미만군에 비하여 교차비 5.26(95% 신뢰구간 : 1.44~19.17)으로 유의하게 높았다. 납, 무기비소, 수은은 HbA1c(6.5% 기준) 변수와의 교차분석에서 유의한 분포 차이는 없었다. 여러 요인을 보정하고도 요중 카드뮴과 HbA1c의 유의한 양의 상관관계를 파악하였고, 특히 유의한 상관관계를 보인 요중 카드뮴 농도의 특정 컷오프 값을 찾아내어 이를 통해 우리나라에 적합한 생물학적 노출값 설정의 참고자료로 활용될 수 있다는 점에서 의의가 있다고 생각한다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.572-580
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• 2018

Objectives: Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a measurement of the chemicals and their metabolites in human biological samples and has been successfully employed to determine the exposure levels of environmental chemicals. In this study, we analyzed seasonal variations of the blood or urinary levels of chemicals, and assessed that these differences could affect the results of association study. Methods: The Korea National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) is a nationwide survey that analyzes exposure levels of environmental pollutants, 19 kinds of chemicals including heavy metals and organic chemicals, and the exposure factors in the general population. Based on KoNEHS data, we analyzed the levels of chemicals concentrations over the total survey period (2012-2014) and each season, and assessed the association of thyroid measures with phthalate metabolite and BPA. Results: Exposure levels of blood mercury and lead were lower in summer compare to winter. Bisphenol A and PAHs metabolites were higher in spring and summer, but lower in autumn. VOCs metabolites were generally lower in summer and autumn. Phthalate metabolites were higher in all other seasons than in winter. Pyrethroid metabolite, 3-PBA, was higher in summer and autumn. Regarding seasonal variation of chemical exposures, the statistical significance and size of effects between thyroid measures and phthalate and BPA were changed with season. Conclusion: Seasonal variations of chemical exposure and health outcome should be considered for interpreting biomonitoring results from a public health context.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.89-95
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• 2009

Objectives : To assess the protective effects of wearing protective devices among the residents and volunteers who participated in the cleanup of the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Methods : A total of 288 residents and 724 volunteers were surveyed about symptoms, whether they were wearing protective devices and potential confounding variables. The questionnaires were administered from the second to the sixth week following the accident. Spot urine samples were collected and analyzed for metabolites of 4 volatile organic compounds(VOCs), 2 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs), and 6 heavy metals. The association between the wearing of protective devices and various symptoms was assessed using a multiple logistic regression adjusted for confounding variables. A multiple generalized linear regression model adjusted for the covariates was used to test for a difference in least-square mean concentration of urinary biomarkers between residents who wore protective devices and those who did not. Results : Thirty nine to 98% of the residents and 62-98% of volunteers wore protective devices. Levels of fatigue and fever were higher among residents not wearing masks than among those who did wear masks(odds ratio 4.5; 95% confidence interval 1.23-19.86). Urinary mercury levels were found to be significantly higher among residents not wearing work clothes or boots(p<0.05). Conclusions : Because the survey was not performed during the initial high-exposure period, no significant difference was found in metabolite levels between people who wore protective devices and those who did not, except for mercury, whose biological half-life is more than 6 weeks.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.236-243
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• 2022

Background: In the case of multiple exposures to different types of heavy metals, such as the conditions faced by residents living near a smelter, it would be preferable to group hazardous substances with similar characteristics rather than individually related substances and evaluate the effects of each group on the human body. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of factor analysis in the assessment of health effects caused by exposure to two or more hazardous substances with similar characteristics, such as in the case of residents living near a smelter. Methods: Heavy metal concentration data for 572 people living in the vicinity of the Janghang smelter area were grouped based on several subfactors according to their characteristics using factor analysis. Using these factor scores as an independent variable, multiple regression analysis was performed on health effect markers. Results: Through factor analysis, three subfactors were extracted. Factor 1 contained copper and zinc in serum and revealed a common characteristic of the enzyme co-factor in the human body. Factor 2 involved urinary cadmium and arsenic, which are harmful metals related to kidney damage. Factor 3 encompassed blood mercury and lead, which are classified as related to cardiovascular disease. As a result of multiple linear regression analysis, it was found that using the factor index derived through factor analysis as an independent variable is more advantageous in assessing the relevance to health effects than when analyzing the two heavy metals by including them in a single regression model. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that regression analysis linked with factor analysis is a good alternative in that it can simultaneously identify the effects of heavy metals with similar properties while overcoming multicollinearity that may occur in environmental epidemiologic studies on exposure to various types of heavy metals.