title: Simultaneous Exposure to Heavy Metals among Residents in the Industrial Complex: Korean National Cohort Study.
abstract: A survey was conducted to evaluate the multi-exposure level and correlation among toxic metal biomarkers (Cd, Pb, and Hg). A total of 592 individuals who participated in the survey were residents near an industrial complex in Gwangyang and Yeosu (exposed group) and of Hadong and Namhae (control group) in southern Korea from May 2007 to November 2010. The Gwangyang and Yeosu area exposed groups had slightly higher blood Pb (2.21 and 1.90 µg/dL), urinary Cd observed values (2.20 and 1.46 µg/L), urinary Cd with a urinary creatinine correction (1.43 and 1.25 µg/g Cr), and urinary Hg observed values (2.26 and 0.98 µg/L) in women participants than those in the Hadong and Namhae area (control group). Blood Pb (3.18 and 2.55 µg/dL), urinary Hg observed values (1.14 and 0.92 µg/L), and urinary Hg with a urinary creatinine correction (1.06 and 0.96 µg/L) for male participants were also slightly higher than those in the Hadong and Namhae area (control group). The correlation among urinary Cd, Hg and Pb concentrations in the blood was significant. We suggest that the exposed group of residents were simultaneously exposed to Pb, Cd, and Hg from contaminated ambient air originating from the iron manufacturing industrial complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Science, Soonchunhyang University, 22 Soonchunhyang-ro, Asan-si, 336-745, Korea. hjpark83@sch.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Heejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Epidemiology, Samsung Health Research Institute, Samsung Electronics, Suwon city 443-742, Korea. khlee3789@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kyoungho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Health, Catholic University of Pusan, 57 Oryundae-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, 609-817, Korea. csmoon@cup.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chan-Seok
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Science, Soonchunhyang University, 22 Soonchunhyang-ro, Asan-si, 336-745, Korea. wooks05@naver.com.
authors.forename: Kyungsook
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Environment Research, 42 Hwangyeong-ro, Incheon, 404-170, Korea. lm8080@korea.kr.
authors.forename: Tack-Shin
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Seoul, 151-015, Korea. ekchung88@naver.com.
authors.forename: Eun-Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Science, Soonchunhyang University, 22 Soonchunhyang-ro, Asan-si, 336-745, Korea. sonbss@sch.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Bu-Soon
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Son
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: Cd; Hg; Pb; bio-monitoring; heavy metal; industry complex