Early snapshot on exposure to environmental chemicals among Korean adults-results of the first Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2009-2011).
Chemical exposure may cause serious adverse health effects. Under the Environmental Health Act in Korea, the first national survey, Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNHES), was conducted, and dozens of major environmental chemicals were measured among Korean adults between 2009 and 2011.



To understand the levels of exposure to environmental chemicals among general Korean adults population, and to identify factors that may influence the levels of exposure.



The blood and urine samples were collected from Korean adults with 19 years of age and older (n=6311), and were analyzed for a number of environmental chemicals including metals, bisphenol A (BPA), and metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, a pyrethroid insecticide (3-PBA) and several volatile organic carbons (VOCs). Demographic and other behavioral factors were asked through questionnaire.



Among general Korean adults, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and metabolite of DBP (MnBP) were higher than those reported in other nationwide surveys of Canada, Germany, and USA. Most target chemicals except for MEOHP and 3-PBA showed significant differences on the exposure levels by sex



This is the first nationwide reconnaissance on exposure to environmental chemicals among general Korean population. Chemicals with high occurrence level will be further investigated to identify exposure sources and possible health outcomes, and eventually to develop measures to mitigate exposure.
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Ministry of Environment, Incheon, South Korea; Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Choonghee
C
Park
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Ministry of Environment, Incheon, South Korea.
Moonyoung
M
Hwang
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Ministry of Environment, Incheon, South Korea.
Hyunjung
H
Kim
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Ministry of Environment, Incheon, South Korea.
Seungdo
S
Ryu
Department of Information and Statistics, College of Natural Science, Korea National Open University, Seoul, South Korea.
Keejae
K
Lee
Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Kyungho
K
Choi
Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: paekdm@snu.ac.kr.
Domyung
D
Paek
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001151:Arsenic / Q000652:urine; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000652:urine; D001565:Benzoates / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010636:Phenols / Q000652:urine; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000652:urine; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000652:urine; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000652:urine; D055815:Young Adult; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001151:Arsenic; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D001565:Benzoates; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010636:Phenols; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C017618:3-phenoxybenzoic acid; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
Bisphenol A; Human biomonitoring; Korean National Environmental Health Survey; Metals; PAHs; Phthalates; Pyrethroid insecticide; VOC