Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Kyung Eun Lee

3 Articles

Mercury Concentrations of Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood in Korean Pregnant Women: Preliminary Study: Kyung Eun Lee, Young Seoub Hong, Dae Seon Kim, Myoung Seok Han, Byeng Chul Yu, Young Wook Kim, Mee Sook Roh, Hyun Jae Lee, Jae Won Lee, Jong Young Kwak, Joon Youn Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2007;19(4):268-275. Published online December 31, 2007; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2007.19.4.268

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the level of maternal and prenatal mercury exposure and to analyze the related factors.
METHODS
Fifty-nine pregnant women were recruited into this study after obtaining informed consent. Samples were collected at delivery from normal pregnant women who were living in the city of Busan, Korea. Mercury concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord blood samples were measured using a gold-amalgam collection method. The total and methyl mercury levels of 36 of the 59 pregnant women were analyzed after randomization, and the results were compared.
RESULTS
The mean total mercury concentration was 3.16+/-1.21 ppb and 5.43+/-2.22 ppb in maternal and cord blood, respectively. The average, maternal blood mercury level was lower than the prescribed toxic limit for human (WHO, 5 ppb), whereas the cord blood mercury was higher. The mercury exposure level exceeded the WHO recommendation in 5 (8.47%) cases of maternal blood and 29 of (49.15%) cord blood. There was a significant correlation between maternal and cord blood mercury concentrations. Total mercury and methyl mercury concentrations of the 36 random pregnant women were 3.06+/-1.17 ppb, and 2.60+/-1.11 ppb in maternal blood, and 5.20+/-2.36 ppb, and 4.70+/-1.97 ppb in cord blood, respectively. Methyl mercury accounted for 85.0% of the total mercury in maternal blood and 90.4% in cord blood. There was a significant correlation between total and methyl mercury concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS
The study results suggest that mercury concentrations of cord blood may be regarded as indicative of high prenatal mercury exposure. Therefore, further studies are necessary to explain the cause of high mercury concentrations in cord blood, and to examine its relationship with various health indices.

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A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Mass Screening for Diabetes Mellitus: Kyung Eun Lee, Byung Yeol Chun, Sin Kam, Jae Yong Park; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1995;7(2):269-281. Published online October 31, 1995; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1995.7.2.269

Abstract PDF: To evaluate the efficiency of the diabetes mellitus screening program, the records of screening examinations for general workers and official workers at a general hospital in Taegu city were analysed. Six alternatives of the diabetes mellitus screening program were compared in terms of cost-effectiveness. The screening program I which was already used in the examination for general workers, screening program II for official workers, alternative program (A) which was the same method as screening program I without urine sugar test for the second examination in a hospital, a1ternative program (B) with the test for fasting blood sugar (FBS) in a worksite, alternative program (C) with the test for postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) in a worksite, alternative program (D) with the first test for FBS and the second test for PPBS of negatives for FBS test in a worksite, alternative program (E) with the first test for PPBS and the second test for FBS of negatives for PPBS test, and alternative program (F) with the test for urine sugar in a worksite. To compare the cost-effectiveness between alternatives, the cost (Won) per positive detected for diabetes mellitus (cost-effectiveness ratio) was calculated. The cost per positive detected was 37,767 Won for screening program I, 50,441 for screening program II, 37,433 for alternative program (A) , 27,645 for alternative program (B), and if it was assumed that the positive rate for negatives of FBS would be 2.0 %, 28,541 for alternative program (C) , 35,458 for alternative program (D) , 38,488 for alternative program (E) . However, that for alternative program (F) was varied with the positive predictive value (PPV) of urine sugar test for diabetes. The cost per positive detected was lowest(18,689 Won) when PPV was 93 %, whereas, highest (88,106) when PPV was 20 %. The critical value of PPV was 64 %. The alternative program (F) was most efficient when PPV was 64% or more. Considering the prevalence for diabetes mellitus, PPV for urine suger test, and feasibility of screening examination, alternative program (B) will be proved as the most efficient screening program. In conclusion, either program (B) or program (F) will be the most efficient method for screening a large population depending on the positive predictive value of fasting urine suger test.

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The Response Rate of Follow up Examination and Positive Predictive Value of Screening Items of Workers Aged 30 and Over: Kyung Eun Lee, Jae Yong Park, Byung Yeol Chun; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1990;2(1):13-22. Published online February 28, 1990; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1990.2.1.13

Abstract PDF: No abstract available.

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