OBJECTIVETo analyze the residuals of organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in soil, water and Radix Liriopes from planting bases in Quanzhou city, and evaluate the quality of the herb.

METHODGC method was applied to determine residuals of organochlorine pesticides, the contents of Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, and As were determined by IPC.

RESULTThe contents of residuals of organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals varied among the samples of soil, water and Radix liriopes, but all of the residuals met requirement of the national standard.

CONCLUSIONResiduals of organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in soil, water and Radix liriopes from planting bases in Quanzhou city were conformed to GAP.

China ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; analysis ; Liriope Plant ; chemistry ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Pesticide Residues ; analysis ; blood ; Soil Pollutants ; analysis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; analysis

To investigate potential health risks associated with exposure to metals from an abandoned metal mine, the authors studied people living near an abandoned mine (n=102) and control groups (n=149). Levels of cadmium, copper, arsenic, lead, and zinc were measured in the air, soil, drinking water, and agricultural products. To assess individual exposure, biomarkers of each metal in blood and urine were measured. beta2-microglobulin, alpha1-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and bone mineral density were measured. Surface soil in the study area showed 2-10 times higher levels of metals compared to that of the control area. Metal concentrations in the groundwater and air did not show any notable differences between groups. Mean concentrations of cadmium and copper in rice and barley from the study area were significantly higher than those of the control area (p<0.05). Geometric means of blood and urine cadmium in the study area were 2.9 microgram/L and 1.5 microgram/g Cr, respectively, significantly higher than those in the control area (p<0.05). There were no differences in the levels of urinary markers of early kidney dysfunction and bone mineral density. The authors conclude that the residents near the abandoned mine were exposed to higher levels of metals through various routes.
Aged ; Cadmium/*blood/*urine ; Copper/blood/urine ; Environmental Exposure ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; *Food Contamination ; Hordeum ; Humans ; Korea ; Lead/blood/urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Mining ; Oryza sativa ; Risk Factors ; Soil Pollutants/analysis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; Zinc/blood/urine

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.
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

OBJECTIVEIn order to minimize lead pollution and to protect the identified individuals with high blood lead level from lead contamination, an epidemiological study was carried on children living around the village and township-owned lead industries in Tianying town.

METHODSEnvironmental monitoring: lead levels in air, soil, drinking water and crops were measured. Biological monitoring: 959 children aged 5 - 12 years were selected from villages where the lead smelters located near the residential areas and the battery disassembling was done in some families. The control children (207 pupils) were from other villages without lead exposure. Blood lead, ZnPP and teeth lead were determined. Height, weight and head circle of children and IQ scores were measured.

RESULTSThe environment was seriously polluted. The average lead concentrations in air and soils were 8.5 times and 10 times of the MACs (national health standard) respectively. Eighty-five per cent the air samples with lead concentrations higher than the national health standard. Local crops and wheat at farmers' home were also contaminated by lead dust, with. Lead content being 24 times higher than the standard. The mean blood lead and ZnPP levels of children lived in the polluted areas were 496 microgram/L and 9.41 microgram/g Hb respectively. The lead exposure caused adverse effects on children's IQ and physical development.

CONCLUSIONIt is necessary to remove and reduce currently active sources of lead pollution in the community and to increase public awareness of potential health effects of lead exposure.

Air Pollutants ; analysis ; Child ; Child Development ; drug effects ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Crops, Agricultural ; chemistry ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Environmental Pollution ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Industrial Waste ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Lead ; adverse effects ; blood ; Male ; Soil Pollutants ; analysis ; Suburban Health ; standards ; Urban Health ; standards