title: Blood lead concentration and related factors in Korea from the 2008 National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the Human Body.
abstract: This study evaluated blood lead concentrations in the Korean general population and the correlation between various exposure sources using data from the 2008 Korea National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the Human Body (National Institute of Environmental Research, Korea). The general and occupational characteristics were gathered from 5136 participants who were 20 years of age and older using a structured questionnaire. Blood lead concentrations were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis was performed using multiple linear regressions of the log lead concentrations to the independent variables such as age, gender, smoke, herbal medication and drug consumption, drinking water, and living area. Geometric mean (GM) blood lead concentrations in Korean adults were 19.7 μg/l. The blood lead concentrations increased with age; the highest concentrations were found in the 50-69-year age group (p<0.001). Males were higher than in females (p<0.001). Current smokers and drinkers had higher concentrations than nonsmokers (p<0.001) and nondrinkers (p<0.001), respectively. People who took herbal medication and drug consumption were higher than those who did not (p<0.001). Education level was negatively associated with blood lead concentration (p<0.001). People living in or around industrial areas had elevated blood lead concentration (p<0.001). Family income was also negatively associated with lead concentration, but not significantly. For drinking water, the underground water (spring or well water) drinking group had higher concentrations than other types of water drinking groups, but not significantly (p=0.063). The blood lead concentrations by occupation were significant (p<0.034): the highest was in laborer and Agricultural-Fishery-Forestry and the lowest in office workers. In women, blood lead concentrations tended to decrease with increasing delivery times, but not significantly. The blood lead concentration (GM) of the general adult population in Korea has decreased over time from 45.8 μg/l (1999) to 19.7 μg/l (2008). Although it is still higher than in other countries such as the United States and Canada, it is rapidly decreasing. Gender, age, smoking and alcohol drinking status, herbal medication and drug consumption, education level, living area and occupation were significantly related to the blood lead concentrations in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: lck3303@daum.net.
authors.forename: Chae Kwan
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chun Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kun Hyung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Bio-Marker Research Center for Personalized Therapy, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Woong
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Processing and Bakery, Gangwon Provincial College, Gangnung 210-804, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yeong Beom
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Wha
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Inchon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Do
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Health, Catholic University of Busan, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chan Seok
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D060766:Drinking Water; D004522:Educational Status; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007854:Lead
keywords: Blood lead concentration; Exposure sources; Human biomonitoring; Influencing factors; Korean