Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Correlation between Hair Mercury Concentration and Blood Total Mercury in Several Area Residents

일부 지역 주민들의 모발 수은 농도와 혈중 수은 농도와의 상관성

  • Kim, Gyeong-Yeon (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University) ;
  • Seo, Jeong-Wook (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University) ;
  • Kim, Byoung-Gwon (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University) ;
  • Kim, Yu-Mi (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University) ;
  • Kim, Rock-Bum (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University) ;
  • Kim, Dae-Seon (Division of Environmental Epidemiology, National Institute of Environmental Research(NIER)) ;
  • Kim, Jung-Man (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University) ;
  • Kim, Choon-Jin (National Assembly) ;
  • Hong, Young-Seoub (Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center)
  • 김경연 (동아대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 서정욱 (동아대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김병권 (동아대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김유미 (동아대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김록범 (동아대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김대선 (국립환경과학원 환경역학과) ;
  • 김정만 (동아대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김춘진 (국회의원) ;
  • 홍영습 (중금속 노출 환경보건센터)
  • Received : 2013.01.04
  • Accepted : 2013.03.25
  • Published : 2013.04.30
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Abstract

Background: This study was carried out for the purpose of comprehensively evaluating the mercury exposure level of residents in several areas and the correlation between hair mercury concentration and blood mercury concentration. Method: One thousand one hundred ninety seven subjects were sampled from 30 sites using random assignment sampling. We performed a questionnaire survey and measured the level of total mercury in hair and blood samples from all subjects. Results: The geometric mean concentrations of hair and blood mercury in all subjects were 1.27 mg/kg [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-1.32 mg/kg] and 5.24 ${\mu}g/L$ [95% CI: 5.07-5.41 ${\mu}g/L$], respectively. Male (1.56 mg/kg in hair, 6.00 ${\mu}g/L$ in blood) was significantly higher than that of female (1.03 mg/kg in hair, 4.56 ${\mu}g/L$ in blood), and the concentrations were elevated as age increased up to the 50s. Education, smoking, alcohol drinking, and using of pesticides were also shown to influence mercury concentrations in hair and blood. The ratio of hair/ blood mercury concentration was 261.3. The total mercury concentration in hair was identified to be significantly related with total mercury concentration in blood (r=0.814, p<0.001). Conclusion: The geometric mean concentrations of hair and blood mercury were higher than the levels provided in international recommendations. The total mercury concentration in hair was positively correlated with the concentration in blood. The results of this study suggest that hair mercury be considered as a useful tool for the evaluation of mercury exposure.

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References

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