Exposure factors of cadmium for residents in an abandoned metal mine area in Korea.
This study evaluated blood and urine cadmium (Cd) levels and human exposure factors for residents in an abandoned metal mine in Korea. We collected blood, urine, soil, water, and rice grain samples to analyze Cd concentrations and analyzed heavy metal concentration patterns in soil. We estimated the major exposure factor of Cd through non-carcinogenic risk assessment depending on exposure routes. The blood Cd concentration in the case group was 5.33 μg/L (geometric mean), significantly higher than that in the control group (1.63 μg/L, geometric mean). Urine Cd concentrations were also similar. The Cd concentrations in paddy soil (1.29 mg/kg) and rice grains (0.14 mg/kg) in the study area were higher than those in the control area (0.91 and 0.07 mg/kg, respectively). The analysis of heavy metal concentration in soil showed that the Cd levels in agricultural soil in the case group were attributable to the mine. The hazard quotient (HQ) of Cd by rice ingestion in the case group (1.25) was 2 times higher than that in the control group (0.6). We found that the HQ of rice ingestion contributed to more than 97 % of the total HQ, indicating that rice grains were the major exposure source. However, it is likely that the continuous intake of Cd-exposed crops led to chronic exposure among the residents in mine area.
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Hwangyeong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Seung Chul
SC
Ahn
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Hwangyeong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea. acmecjy@korea.kr.
Jun Young
JY
Chang
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Hwangyeong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Jung Sub
JS
Lee
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Hwangyeong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Hwa Yon
HY
Yu
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Hwangyeong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
A-Ra
AR
Jung
Environmental Measurement and Analysis Center, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Hwangyeong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Jee-Young
JY
Kim
Environmental Measurement and Analysis Center, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Hwangyeong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Jong-Woo
JW
Choi
Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University School of Medicine, 32, Daesingongwon-ro, Seo-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Young-Seoub
YS
Hong
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Hwangyeong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Seung
S
Do Yu
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42, Hwangyeong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Kyounghee
K
Choi
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D056910:Republic of Korea; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium
Abandoned metal mine; Cadmium; Human exposure factor; Rice grain; Risk assessment
Environ Geochem Health. 2015 Apr;37(2):321-32
25255774
J Korean Med Sci. 2008 Jun;23(3):452-8
18583882
Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2002 May;205(4):297-308
12068749
Environ Monit Assess. 2013 Nov;185(11):9413-8
23754145
Environ Monit Assess. 2014 Aug;186(8):5209-20
24744211
Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2016 Apr;50(4):316-21
27029362
Environ Geochem Health. 2005 Apr;27(2):185-91
16003586