Environmental Exposure to Arsenic, Lead, and Cadmium in People Living near Janghang Copper Smelter in Korea.
10.3346/jkms.2016.31.4.489
- Author:
Yong Dae KIM
1
;
Sang Yong EOM
;
Dong Hyuk YIM
;
In Soo KIM
;
Hee Kwan WON
;
Choong Hee PARK
;
Guen Bae KIM
;
Seung Do YU
;
Byung Sun CHOI
;
Jung Duck PARK
;
Heon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea. kimheon@cbu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Copper Smelter Dust;
Cadmium;
Lead;
Arsenic;
Environmental Exposure;
N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase;
Bone Density
- MeSH:
Acetylglucosaminidase/urine;
Adult;
Aged;
Arsenic/*urine;
Bone Density;
Cadmium/*blood;
Case-Control Studies;
Chemical Industry;
Creatinine/urine;
*Environmental Exposure;
Environmental Pollutants/*analysis/blood/urine;
Female;
Humans;
Lead/*blood;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Regression Analysis;
Republic of Korea;
Spectrophotometry, Atomic
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2016;31(4):489-496
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Concentrations of heavy metals exceed safety thresholds in the soil near Janghang Copper Refinery, a smelter in Korea that operated from 1936 to 1989. This study was conducted to evaluate the level of exposure to toxic metals and the potential effect on health in people living near the smelter. The study included 572 adults living within 4 km of the smelter and compared them with 413 controls group of people living similar lifestyles in a rural area approximately 15 km from the smelter. Urinary arsenic (As) level did not decrease according to the distance from the smelter, regardless of gender and working history in smelters and mines. However, in subjects who had no occupational exposure to toxic metals, blood lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and urinary Cd decreased according to the distance from the smelter, both in men and women. Additionally, the distance from the smelter was a determinant factor for a decrease of As, Pb, and Cd in multiple regression models, respectively. On the other hands, urinary Cd was a risk factor for renal tubular dysfunction in populations living near the smelter. These results suggest that Janghang copper smelter was a main contamination source of As, Pb, and Cd, and populations living near the smelter suffered some adverse health effects as a consequence. The local population should be advised to make efforts to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, in order to minimize potential health effects, and to pay close attention to any health problems possibly related to toxic metal exposure.
