Blood Cadmium Concentration of Residents Living near Abandoned Metal Mines in Korea.
10.3346/jkms.2014.29.5.633
- Author:
Young Seoub HONG
1
;
Byung Kook LEE
;
Jung Duck PARK
;
Joon SAKONG
;
Jae Wook CHOI
;
Jai Dong MOON
;
Dae Seon KIM
;
Byoung Gwon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea. medikim@dau.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Blood Cadmium;
Abandoned Metal Mine;
Korea
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged;
Aged, 80 and over;
Aging;
Cadmium/*blood;
*Environmental Exposure;
Environmental Monitoring;
Female;
Humans;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Mining;
Questionnaires;
Republic of Korea;
*Residence Characteristics;
Smoking;
Soil Pollutants/*blood;
Water Pollutants/*blood
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2014;29(5):633-639
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate demographic and lifestyle variables and blood cadmium concentrations in residents living near abandoned metal mines in Korea. Blood cadmium concentrations were measured in 15,161 subjects living around abandoned metal mines (exposed group, n = 14,464) and compared with those living in designated control areas (control group, n = 697). A questionnaire was provided to all subjects to determine age, gender, mine working history, times of residence, smoking habits and dietary water type. The geometric mean (95% confidence intervals) of blood cadmium concentration (1.25 [1.24-1.27] microg/L) in the exposed group was significantly higher than in the control group (1.17 [1.13-1.22] microg/L). Mean residence time and mine working history in the exposed group were significantly higher than in the control group. Blood cadmium concentrations increased with increasing age, and residence time in both groups, and blood cadmium concentrations were higher in current-smokers than in non-smokers in both groups. This study shows the geometric mean of blood cadmium concentration in abandoned mining areas are higher than in non-mining areas in the general adult Korean population.
