Investigation on health effects of an abandoned metal mine.
To investigate potential health risks associated with exposure to metals from an abandoned metal mine, the authors studied people living near an abandoned mine (n=102) and control groups (n=149). Levels of cadmium, copper, arsenic, lead, and zinc were measured in the air, soil, drinking water, and agricultural products. To assess individual exposure, biomarkers of each metal in blood and urine were measured. beta2-microglobulin, alpha1-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and bone mineral density were measured. Surface soil in the study area showed 2-10 times higher levels of metals compared to that of the control area. Metal concentrations in the groundwater and air did not show any notable differences between groups. Mean concentrations of cadmium and copper in rice and barley from the study area were significantly higher than those of the control area (p<0.05). Geometric means of blood and urine cadmium in the study area were 2.9 microg/L and 1.5 microg/g Cr, respectively, significantly higher than those in the control area (p<0.05). There were no differences in the levels of urinary markers of early kidney dysfunction and bone mineral density. The authors conclude that the residents near the abandoned mine were exposed to higher levels of metals through various routes.
Kim
Soyeon
S
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Kwon
Ho-Jang
HJ
Cheong
Hae-Kwan
HK
Choi
Kyungho
K
Jang
Jae-Yeon
JY
Jeong
Woo-Chul
WC
Kim
Dae-Seon
DS
Yu
Seungdo
S
Kim
Young-Wook
YW
Lee
Kwang-Young
KY
Yang
Seoung-Oh
SO
Jhung
Ik Jae
IJ
Yang
Won-Ho
WH
Hong
Yun-Chul
YC
D000368:Aged; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D001467:Hordeum; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D012275:Oryza; D012307:Risk Factors; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc