Journal of agricultural medicine and community health (농촌의학ㆍ지역보건)

Korean Society for Rural Medicine and Community Health (한국농촌의학지역보건학회)
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The Relationship between Fish Consumption and Blood Mercury Levels in Residents of Busan Metropolitan City and Gyeongnam Province

부산, 경남 일부 지역 주민들의 생선 섭취량과 혈중 수은 농도의 관련성

  • Kim, Chan Woo (Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University) ;
  • Kim, Young Wook (Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University) ;
  • Chae, Chang Ho (Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University) ;
  • Son, Jun Seok (Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University) ;
  • Kim, Ja Hyeon (Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University) ;
  • Park, Hyoung Ouk (Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University) ;
  • Kang, Yune-Sik (Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University & Institute of Health Sciences) ;
  • Kim, Jang-Rak (Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University & Institute of Health Sciences) ;
  • Hong, Young Seoub (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University) ;
  • Kim, Dae-Seon (Environmental Health Research Division, Environmental Health Research Department, National Institute of Environment Research) ;
  • Jeong, Baek Geun (Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University & Institute of Health Sciences)
  • 김찬우 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성창원병원 직업환경의학과) ;
  • 김영욱 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성창원병원 직업환경의학과) ;
  • 채창호 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성창원병원 직업환경의학과) ;
  • 손준석 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성창원병원 직업환경의학과) ;
  • 김자현 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성창원병원 직업환경의학과) ;
  • 박형욱 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성창원병원 직업환경의학과) ;
  • 강윤식 (경상대학교 의학전문대학원 예방의학교실 및 건강과학연구원) ;
  • 김장락 (경상대학교 의학전문대학원 예방의학교실 및 건강과학연구원) ;
  • 홍영습 (동아대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김대선 (국립환경과학원 환경건강연구부 환경보건연구과) ;
  • 정백근 (경상대학교 의학전문대학원 예방의학교실 및 건강과학연구원)
  • Received : 2012.10.02
  • Accepted : 2012.11.19
  • Published : 2012.12.31
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Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between fish consumption and blood mercury levels in a sample of adult Koreans. Methods: The study subjects were 299 residents of Busan (male: 65, female: 234) and 185 residents of Namhae (male: 69, female: 116), South Korea. Demographic characteristics, current smoking, current drinking, fish consumption per week, past history of amalgam treatment, and residential district were recorded by trained interviewers in June and July, 2009. We considered a portion of fish to be equivalent to 70 gm weight, and calculated amounts of fish consumed per week. Using chi-square tests, t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis, we estimated the relationships between blood mercury levels and amount of fish consumed per week and other factors. Results: The mean blood mercury level of our subjects was 6.61 ${\mu}g/L$, higher than the criterion defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (5.8 ${\mu}g/L$). In multiple linear regression analysis, residential district and amount of fish consumed per week were associated with blood mercury levels. However, marital status, current drinking, and gender, and age were not associated with blood mercury levels. Conclusions: In conclusion, we suggest the implementation of systematic and periodic population-based studies to decrease the risks of mercury poisoning among South Koreans who consume fish as a regular part of the diet.

본 연구는 직업적으로 수은에 노출되지 않는 일반 인구 군에서 생선 섭취량과 혈중 수은 농도 사이의 관련성을 파악하기 위하여 수행되었다. 이를 위하여 부산광역시 2개 동과 남해군 3개 마을에 거주하는 사람들 중 본 연구 참여에 동의한 484(남자: 134명, 여자: 350명)명을 최종 연구대상으로 하였다. 설문조사는 2009년 6월 말부터 7월초까지 연구 참여 희망자들을 대상으로 훈련된 조사자가 면접설문조사를 실시하였다. 설문 조사의 주요 내용은 성별, 연령, 학력, 결혼상태, 직업, 현재 흡연 여부, 현재 음주 여부, 일주일간 생선 섭취량, 아말감 치료, 거주지역 등이었다. 단변량 분석에서 성별, 나이, 결혼상태, 현재 음주 여부, 일주일간의 생선 섭취량, 그리고 거주지역이 혈중 수은 농도와 유의한 관련성이 있었다. 혈중 수은 농도를 종속 변수로 한 다중선형회귀분석에서 일주일간의 생선 섭취량, 그리고 거주지역이 혈중 수은 농도와 유의한 관련성이 있었다. 생선 섭취량과 혈중 수은 농도 간에는 통계적으로 유의한 관련성이 있다. 앞으로 혈중 수은 농도와 건강 장애간의 관련성을 비롯한 추가적인 연구를 통하여 생선 섭취와 연관된 수은 노출 기준, 실제적인 생선 내 수은 잔류 기준, 생선 섭취빈도와 생선 섭취량에 관한 여러 가지 권고안들을 마련하기 위한 근거 기반을 마련해야 할 것이다.

Keywords

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