College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.
College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2021 Feb;80(2):490-498. doi: 10.1007/s00244-021-00813-7. Epub 2021 Feb 6.
People living near abandoned mines are at increased risk of exposure to toxic metals. We surveyed 4500 inhabitants with the mean age of 68.5 years old (male: 1768, female: 2732) living near 104 abandoned metal mines from 2013 to 2017 (the 2nd phase health survey in Korea). We conducted personal interviews, blood and urine sampling, and analyzed the concentrations of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in whole blood and Cd in urine using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. The geometric means of blood Pb, blood Cd, and urine Cd were 2.27 μg/dL, 1.42 μg/L, and 1.66 μg/g creatinine, respectively. The level of metal exposure was lower than that reported from the first phase health survey in Korea (2008‒2011) but was higher than in the general population of Korea. Blood Pb was higher in males while blood Cd and urine Cd were significantly higher in females. Blood Pb was highest in the 40‒59 age group, while blood and urine Cd levels continuously increased until age 80 or older. The Cd levels in blood and urine were affected by consumption of locally produced rice and duration of residence near abandoned mines. Furthermore, negative correlations were observed between blood Pb and blood and urine Cd levels. Additionally, 252 of the 4500 subjects exceeded the thresholds of blood Cd or urine Cd levels. Together, these findings suggest that Cd has more sustainable and adverse health effects on the abandoned mine inhabitants, who are mostly aged. Therefore, continuous biomonitoring and risk assessment to environmental health risks are necessary for environmental pollution control and health promotion.
居住在废弃矿山附近的人接触有毒金属的风险增加。我们于 2013 年至 2017 年期间对 104 个废弃金属矿山附近的 4500 名年龄在 68.5 岁（男性：1768 人，女性：2732 人）的居民进行了调查（韩国第二期健康调查）。我们进行了个人访谈、采血和尿样采集，并使用石墨炉原子吸收光谱仪分析了全血中的铅（Pb）和镉（Cd）浓度以及尿中的 Cd 浓度。血 Pb、血 Cd 和尿 Cd 的几何平均值分别为 2.27μg/dL、1.42μg/L 和 1.66μg/g 肌酐。金属暴露水平低于韩国第一期健康调查（2008-2011 年）报告的水平，但高于韩国一般人群的水平。男性血 Pb 较高，而女性血 Cd 和尿 Cd 显著较高。血 Pb 在 40-59 岁年龄组最高，而血和尿 Cd 水平一直增加到 80 岁或以上。血和尿 Cd 水平受当地生产的大米消费和居住在废弃矿山附近时间的影响。此外，血 Pb 与血 Cd 和尿 Cd 水平呈负相关。此外，4500 名受试者中有 252 名超过血 Cd 或尿 Cd 水平的阈值。综上所述，这些发现表明，Cd 对废弃矿山居民的健康影响更为持续和不利，这些居民大多数年龄较大。因此，为了进行环境污染控制和促进健康，有必要对环境健康风险进行持续的生物监测和风险评估。
