Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Assessment of Heavy Metal Exposure Levels (Pb, Hg, Cd) among South Koreans and Contribution Rates by Exposure Route - Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 4 (2018~2020) -

한국인의 체내 중금속(납, 수은, 카드뮴)의 노출수준 및 노출경로별 기여율 평가 - 제4기 국민환경보건 기초조사(2018~2020) -

  • Gihong Min (Department of Health and Safety, Daegu Catholic University) ;
  • Jihun Shin (Department of Health and Safety, Daegu Catholic University) ;
  • Dongjun Kim (Department of Health and Safety, Daegu Catholic University) ;
  • Jaemin Woo (Department of Health and Safety, Daegu Catholic University) ;
  • Kyeonghwa Sung (Center of Environmental Health Monitoring, Daegu Catholic University) ;
  • Mansu Cho (Department of Health and Safety, Daegu Catholic University) ;
  • Wonho Yang (Department of Health and Safety, Daegu Catholic University)
  • 민기홍 (대구가톨릭대학교 보건안전학과) ;
  • 신지훈 (대구가톨릭대학교 보건안전학과) ;
  • 김동준 (대구가톨릭대학교 보건안전학과) ;
  • 우재민 (대구가톨릭대학교 보건안전학과) ;
  • 성경화 (대구가톨릭대학교 환경보건모니터링센터) ;
  • 조만수 (대구가톨릭대학교 보건안전학과) ;
  • 양원호 (대구가톨릭대학교 보건안전학과)
  • Received : 2023.09.30
  • Accepted : 2023.10.25
  • Published : 2023.10.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Background: Exposure levels for heavy metals such as lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) have increased due to human activities. They are known to be a public health concern. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the exposure levels to heavy metals in the blood and urine of South Korean adults and to present the contribution rate of exposure pathways using an exposure algorithm for men aged 19~64, women aged 19~64, and all seniors aged 65 or older. Methods: We analyzed data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 4 (2018~2020). A total of 2,646 participants aged ≥19 years were included. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting heavy metal concentrations. The contribution rate was calculated by applying three exposure algorithms for ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure. Results: Factors that commonly affect heavy metal concentrations in blood and urine were gender and age. The main influencing factors for Pb and Cd were education level and smoking status, while frequency of fish consumption and of alcohol consumption were indicated to be the main influencing factors for mercury. The contribution rates of lead and cadmium from food ingestion were 78.03~79.62% and 88.39~92.89%, respectively. Additionally, the highest contribution for mercury was accounted for by food at 81.69~85.77%. As a result of the risk assessment, cadmium was found to pose a potential health risk a with total cancer risk (TCR) of more than 1×10-6. Conclusions: The KoNEHS could be an important study for determining the level of exposure to heavy metals and their influencing factors. Integrated exposure to heavy metals could assess the main exposure pathways, and this methodology could be applied to exposure management of heavy metals.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 환경부 국립환경과학원 제4기 국민환경보건기초조사 자료(NIER-GP2022-016)를 제공받았으며, 환경부·환경보건학회 환경보건센터 "2023년 환경보건 전문인력 양성사업 위탁사업(환경보건학회)"에서 지원받아 수행된 결과이며, 환경부 환경산업기술원의 환경성질환사업(과제번호: 2021003320008, NTIS: 1485019274) 수행 중 작성되었으며 이에 감사드립니다.

References

  1. Joo Y, Kwon YM, Kim SY, Choi K, Lee C, Yu SD, et al. A study on heavy metals exposure and major sociodemographic influence factors among Korean adults - Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2009-2017). J Environ Health Sci. 2019; 45(5): 541-555. 
  2. World Health Organization (WHO). 10 chemicals of public health concern. Available: https://www.who.int/news-room/photo-story/photo-story-detail/10-chemicals-of-public-health-concern [Accessed 23 September 2023]. 
  3. Kumar V, Parihar RD, Sharma A, Bakshi P, Singh Sidhu GP, Bali AS, et al. Global evaluation of heavy metal content in surface water bodies: a meta-analysis using heavy metal pollution indices and multivariate statistical analyses. Chemosphere. 2019; 236: 124364. 
  4. Li K, Wang J, Zhang Y. Heavy metal pollution risk of cultivated land from industrial production in China: spatial pattern and its enlightenment. Sci Total Environ. 2022; 828: 154382. 
  5. Health Canada. Fourth report on human biomonitoring of environmental chemicals in Canada. Results of the Canadian health measures survey cycle 4 (2014-2015). Ottawa: Health Canada; 2017. 
  6. Giwa AS, Xu H, Chang F, Zhang X, Ali N, Yuan J, et al. Pyrolysis coupled anaerobic digestion process for food waste and recalcitrant residues: fundamentals, challenges, and considerations. Energy Sci Eng. 2019; 7(6): 2250-2264.  https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.503
  7. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological profile for lead. Atlanta: ATSDR; 2020. 
  8. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological profile for mercury. Atlanta: ATSDR; 2022.
  9. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological profile for cadmium. Atlanta: ATSDR; 2012. 
  10. World Health Organization (WHO). Lead in drinking-water. Geneva: WHO; 2011. 
  11. World Health Organization (WHO). Mercury in drinking-water. Geneva: WHO; 2005. 
  12. World Health Organization (WHO). Cadmium in drinking-water. Geneva: WHO; 2011. 
  13. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, volume 100E. Personal habits and indoor combustions. Lyon: IARC; 2012. 
  14. Mergler D, Anderson HA, Chan LH, Mahaffey KR, Murray M, Sakamoto M, et al. Methylmercury exposure and health effects in humans: a worldwide concern. Ambio. 2007; 36(1): 3-11.  https://doi.org/10.1579/0044-7447(2007)36[3:MEAHEI]2.0.CO;2
  15. World Health Organization (WHO). Health risks of heavy metals from long-range transboundary air pollution. Geneva: WHO; 2007. 
  16. Amaya E, Gil F, Freire C, Olmedo P, Fernandez-Rodriguez M, Fernandez MF, et al. Placental concentrations of heavy metals in a mother-child cohort. Environ Res. 2013; 120: 63-70.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2012.09.009
  17. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, volume 87. Inorganic and organic lead compounds. Lyon: IARC; 2006. 
  18. Zhu G, Fan G, Feng C, Li Y, Chen Y, Zhou F, et al. The effect of lead exposure on brain iron homeostasis and the expression of DMT1/FP1 in the brain in developing and aged rats. Toxicol Lett. 2013; 216(2-3): 108-123. Erratum in: Toxicol Lett. 2013; 218(3): 308. 
  19. Bridges CC, Zalups RK. The aging kidney and the nephrotoxic effects of mercury. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2017; 20(2): 55-80.  https://doi.org/10.1080/10937404.2016.1243501
  20. Satarug S, Garrett SH, Sens MA, Sens DA. Cadmium, environmental exposure, and health outcomes. Environ Health Perspect. 2010; 118(2): 182-190.  https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.0901234
  21. Zhang L, Gao Y, Wu S, Zhang S, Smith KR, Yao X, et al. Global impact of atmospheric arsenic on health risk: 2005 to 2015. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020; 117(25): 13975-13982.  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2002580117
  22. Godt J, Scheidig F, Grosse-Siestrup C, Esche V, Brandenburg P, Reich A, et al. The toxicity of cadmium and resulting hazards for human health. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2006; 1: 22. 
  23. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fourth national report on human exposure to environmental chemicals, updated tables, January 2019, volume one. Atlanta: CDC; 2019. 
  24. Health Canada. Fifth report on human biomonitoring of environmental chemicals in Canada. Results of the Canadian health measures survey cycle 5 (2016-2017). Ottawa: Health Canada; 2019. 
  25. Becker K, Kaus S, Krause C, Lepom P, Schulz C, Seiwert M, et al. German Environmental Survey 1998 (GerES III): environmental pollutants in blood of the German population. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2002; 205(4): 297-308.  https://doi.org/10.1078/1438-4639-00155
  26. Hwang MY, Hong SY, Kwon YM, Jo HJ, Park CH. Differences of chemical exposure levels according to residential and personal life-style characteristics of Korean adult population - from Korean National Environmental Health Survey. J Environ Health Sci. 2019; 45(2): 142-153. 
  27. World Health Organization (WHO). Trace elements in human nutrition and health. Geneva: WHO; 1996. 
  28. Jeong S, Park S, Gil J, Kim O, Lee C, Kim S, et al. Manual for Laboratory Procedures on the Fourth Stage Korean National Environmental Health Survey (Heavy metals). Incheon: National Institute of Environmental Research; 2022.
  29. Kang H, Kim S, Kim H, Park J, Song Y, Shin M, et al. Development of integrated risk assessment methodology for five heavy metals. Osong: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS); 2020 Nov. Report No.: TRKO202100007668. 
  30. National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER). Korean exposure factor handbook. Incheon: NIER; 2019. 
  31. National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER). Guidelines for preparing data on the risks of chemical substances. Incheon: NIER; 2021 Feb. Report No.: NIER-GP2016-163. 
  32. National Institute of Environmental Research. Annual report of air quality in Korea 2021. Sejong: Ministry of Environment; 2022. Report No.: NIER-GP2022-048. 
  33. Ministry of Environment. Soil measurement network and soil pollution survey. Available: https://sgis.nier.go.kr/web/soilMesure?pMENU_NO=16 [Accessed September 27 2023]. 
  34. Choi Y, Lim Y, Bae S, Park H, Cho K, Choi Y, et al. Environmental exposures and health effects in elderly population (I). Sejong: Ministry of Environment; 2012 May. Report No.: TRKO201300007682. 
  35. Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Mercury integrated risk assessment. Cheongju: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety; 2014. 
  36. National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER). Aggregate risk assessment report: cadmium. Incheon: NIER; 2017 Dec. Report No.: NIER-GP2017-247. 
  37. Xu DM, Yan B, Chen T, Lei C, Lin HZ, Xiao XM. Contaminant characteristics and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in the paddy soils from lead (Pb)-zinc (Zn) mining areas in Guangdong Province, South China. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2017; 24(31): 24387-24399.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0052-9
  38. Health Canada. Federal contaminated site risk assessment in Canada, Part II: Health Canada toxicological reference values (TRVs) and chemical-specific factors, version 2.0. Ottawa: Health Canada; 2010. 
  39. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Risk assessment guidance for superfund volume I: human health evaluation manual (part E, supplemental guidance for dermal risk assessment). Washington, D.C.: EPA; 2004. 
  40. Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Development of integrated risk assessment methodology for five heavy metals. Cheongju: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety; 2020 Nov. Report No.: TRKO202100007668. 
  41. Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information. Study of heavy metals in food safety control. Cheongju: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety; 2016 Nov. Report No.: TRKO201700017543. 
  42. Heidari M, Darijani T, Alipour V. Heavy metal pollution of road dust in a city and its highly polluted suburb; quantitative source apportionment and source-specific ecological and health risk assessment. Chemosphere. 2021; 273: 129656. 
  43. She W, Guo L, Gao J, Zhang C, Wu S, Jiao Y, et al. Spatial distribution of soil heavy metals and associated environmental risks near major roads in Southern Tibet, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(14): 8380. 
  44. Gui H, Yang Q, Lu X, Wang H, Gu Q, Martin JD. Spatial distribution, contamination characteristics and ecological-health risk assessment of toxic heavy metals in soils near a smelting area. Environ Res. 2023; 222: 115328. 
  45. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Exposure factors handbook 2011 edition (final report). Washington, D.C.: EPA; 2011. 
  46. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Risk assessment guidance for superfund volume I: human health evaluation manual, supplemental guidance: "standard default exposure factors". Washington, D.C.: EPA; 1991. 
  47. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). Technical Support Document for Cancer Potency Factors 2009: OEHHA; 2009. 
  48. Wu L, Yue W, Wu J, Cao C, Liu H, Teng Y. Metal-mining-induced sediment pollution presents a potential ecological risk and threat to human health across China: a meta-analysis. J Environ Manage. 2023; 329: 117058. 
  49. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Guidelines for carcinogen risk assessment. Washington, D.C.: EPA; 2005. 
  50. Chonokhuu S, Batbold C, Chuluunpurev B, Battsengel E, Dorjsuren B, Byambaa B. Contamination and health risk assessment of heavy metals in the soil of major cities in Mongolia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019; 16(14): 2552. 
  51. Karimi A, Naghizadeh A, Biglari H, Peirovi R, Ghasemi A, Zarei A. Assessment of human health risks and pollution index for heavy metals in farmlands irrigated by effluents of stabilization ponds. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2020; 27(10): 10317-10327.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-07642-6
  52. Bian B, Zhou LJ, Li L, Lv L, Fan YM. Risk assessment of heavy metals in air, water, vegetables, grains, and related soils irrigated with biogas slurry in Taihu Basin, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015; 22(10): 7794-7807.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4292-2
  53. Oh SE, Kim GB, Hwang SH, Ha M, Lee KM. Longitudinal trends of blood lead levels before and after leaded gasoline regulation in Korea. Environ Health Toxicol. 2017; 32: e2017019. 
  54. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Advice about eating fish: for those who might become or are pregnant or breastfeeding and children ages 1-11 years. Available: https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/advice-about-eating-fish [Accessed 23 September 2023]. 
  55. Li H, Hansen AR, McGalliard Z, Gover L, Yan F, Zhang J. Trends in smoking and smoking cessation during pregnancy from 1985 to 2014, racial and ethnic disparity observed from multiple national surveys. Matern Child Health J. 2018; 22(5): 685-693.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2437-x
  56. Kim NS, Lee BK. National estimates of blood lead, cadmium, and mercury levels in the Korean general adult population. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2011; 84(1): 53-63. Erratum in: Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2011; 84(1): 65. 
  57. McKelvey W, Gwynn RC, Jeffery N, Kass D, Thorpe LE, Garg RK, et al. A biomonitoring study of lead, cadmium, and mercury in the blood of New York city adults. Environ Health Perspect. 2007; 115(10): 1435-1441. Erratum in: Environ Health Perspect. 2011; 119(2): A57. 
  58. Pyo SS. The association of mercury and ALT with obesity in Korean adults: using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 11 years (KNHANES 2005, 2008~2017). Korean J Clin Lab Sci. 2022; 54(3): 192-200.  https://doi.org/10.15324/kjcls.2022.54.3.192
  59. Chung JW, Acharya D, Singh JK, Sakong J. Association of blood mercury level with liver enzymes in Korean adults: an analysis of 2015-2017 Korean National Environmental Health Survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(4): 3290. 
  60. Miao J, Feng S, Dou S, Ma Y, Yang L, Yan L, et al. Association between mercury exposure and lung function in young adults: a prospective cohort study in Shandong, China. Sci Total Environ. 2023; 878: 162759. 
  61. Hazelhoff MH, Bulacio RP, Torres AM. Gender related differences in kidney injury induced by mercury. Int J Mol Sci. 2012; 13(8): 10523-10536.  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms130810523
  62. Zhang X, Wei H, Guan Q, Yang X, Yu Q, Zhang M, et al. Maternal exposure to trace elements, toxic metals, and longitudinal changes in infancy anthropometry and growth trajectories: a prospective cohort study. Environ Sci Technol. 2023; 57(32): 11779-11791.  https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c02535
  63. Somporn R, Chaiwong N, Hasan MM, Chaiwong S. Cadmium exposure and renal function biomarkers: a 10-year follow-up of Thailand's Tak Province population. Sustainability. 2023; 15(14): 11291. 
  64. Liu X, Song Q, Tang Y, Li W, Xu J, Wu J, et al. Human health risk assessment of heavy metals in soil-vegetable system: a multi-medium analysis. Sci Total Environ. 2013; 463-464: 530-540.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.06.064
  65. Chen L, Xu Z, Liu M, Huang Y, Fan R, Su Y, et al. Lead exposure assessment from study near a lead-acid battery factory in China. Sci Total Environ. 2012; 429: 191-198.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.04.015
  66. Zheng J, Chen KH, Yan X, Chen SJ, Hu GC, Peng XW, et al. Heavy metals in food, house dust, and water from an e-waste recycling area in South China and the potential risk to human health. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2013; 96: 205-212.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2013.06.017
  67. Asante-Duah K. Principal elements of a public health risk assessment for chemical exposure problems. In: Asante-Duah K. editor. Public health risk assessment for human exposure to chemicals. Dordrecht: Springer; 2017. p.149-167.