Biological monitoring of metal mine residents in Korea

Heavy metal contamination near abandoned metal mines caused health risks to nearby inhabitants and 936 mines were existed in Korea. Aims of this study were to measure human exposure level of environmental contaminants and to evaluated the risk of these inhabitants. From 2006 to 2010, we investigated eight mine areas and paired control areas in Busan and Gyeongnam provinces. Study population were recruited from villages near the mines (n=922) and controls (n=651). We measured heavy metal (cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic) and early renal impairment indices (?2microglobulin and N-acetyl-? glucosaminidase).Mean ages of mine-exposed groups and control groups were 65.83±12.24 and 64.30±12.85, respectively. Geometric means of exposed group and control group were 1.82?/? and 1.35?/? in blood cadmium, 2.75?/? and 2.75?/? in blood lead, 5.01?/? and 4.47?/? in blood mercury, 2.75?/g cr and 1.95?/g cr in urinary cadmium, 10.47?/g cr and 9.12?/g cr in urinary arsenic. ?2microglobulinand N-acetyl-? glucosaminidaseha...