Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Research Article

A study of relationship between blood mercury concentration and hypertension in residents living in old mine fields and related factors: Jeong Woo Kim, Byoung Gwon Kim, Jeong Woo Park, Jong Woo Yi, Jung Il Kim, Young Seoub Hong; Ann Occup Environ Med 2019;31:e6. Published online May 30, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2019.31.e6

Background

In Korea, around the abandoned metal mines, heavy metals are being accumulating in the cultivated areas. Among exposed heavy metals, mercury is known to harm for cardiovascular system known to affect blood pressure. So, we studied the relationship between blood mercury level and hypertension in residents around abandoned metal mines.

Methods

From 2008 to 2011, we surveyed 7,055 residents in provinces affected by abandoned metal mines and collected data from 6 Hospitals. We conducted a personal questionnaire interview survey with residents on the basis of household questionnaires, sex, age, household income, smoking, and drinking items. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between blood mercury level and hypertension.

Results

We compared residents with low and high groups based on blood mercury level 5.8 μg/L, and higher group was significantly higher risk of hypertension than lower group (odds ratio [OR]: 1.277; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.135–1.436), also in adjusted model, higher group was significantly higher risk of hypertension than lower group (OR: 1.276; 95% CI: 1.117–1.457).

Conclusions

This study showed a significant correlation between mercury and hypertension in residents around abandoned metal mines. Therefore, we should continuously monitor people who are higher than the standard value and the hypertensive patients.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Environmental exposure to metal(loid)s and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A systematic review
Nayra Carla de Melo, Priscilla Cristovam Sampaio e Souza, Rejane Correa Marques, José Vicente Elias Bernardi, Wanderley Rodrigues Bastos, Mônica Pereira Lima Cunha
Environmental Research.2024; 257: 119391. CrossRef
Associations of fine particulate matter and its metal constituents with blood pressure: A panel study during the seventh World Military Games
Zhaoyuan Li, Shouxin Peng, Meijin Chen, Jinhui Sun, Feifei Liu, Huaiji Wang, Hao Xiang
Environmental Research.2023; 217: 114739. CrossRef
Evaluation of the Relationship between the Exposure Level to Mixed Hazardous Heavy Metals and Health Effects Using Factor Analysis
Eunseop Kim, Sun-In Moon, Dong-Hyuk Yim, Byung-Sun Choi, Jung-Duck Park, Sang-Yong Eom, Yong-Dae Kim, Heon Kim
Journal of Environmental Health Sciences.2022; 48(4): 236. CrossRef
Blood cadmium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium levels in American Indian populations: The Strong Heart Study
Zheng Li, Michael Lewin, Patricia Ruiz, Anne E. Nigra, Noelle B. Henderson, Jeffery M. Jarrett, Cynthia Ward, Jianhui Zhu, Jason G. Umans, Marcia O'Leary, Ying Zhang, Angela Ragin-Wilson, Ana Navas-Acien
Environmental Research.2022; 215: 114101. CrossRef
Co-exposure to Heavy Metals and Hypertension Among Adults in South Korea
Kisok Kim, Hyejin Park
Exposure and Health.2022; 14(1): 139. CrossRef
Effects of low-level mercury exposure on brain-derived neurotrophic factor in preschool children
Can-Can Zhou, Hui Fu, Guo-Yan Zhang, Jia-Wei Ma, Min Ni, Dong-Jie Li, Fu-Ming Shen, Fang Huang
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.2021; 208: 111642. CrossRef
Hydrogen sulfide and cardiovascular disease: Doubts, clues, and interpretation difficulties from studies in geothermal areas
Francesca Gorini, Elisa Bustaffa, Kyriazoula Chatzianagnostou, Fabrizio Bianchi, Cristina Vassalle
Science of The Total Environment.2020; 743: 140818. CrossRef

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Research Article

The associations between blood mercury levels and shark meat intake among workers in Gyeongsangbuk-do: Gun Il Park, Young Seok Byun, Man Joong Jeon, Joon Sakong; Ann Occup Environ Med 2017;29:29. Published online June 27, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-017-0185-9

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub

Background

Shark meat is used as sacrificial food in Gyeongsangbuk-do, and is a major source of dietary mercury. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of shark meat intake or the ritual of Jesa on blood mercury levels within workers living in Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Methods

This study was conducted from September 2016 to October 2016 in two cities of Gyeongsangbuk-do. To compare the differences between urban and rural areas, two workplaces each in Daegu as the urban area and Yeongcheon as the rural area were selected. General characteristics and characteristics related to shark meat consumption of the workers were acquired by personal interviews during their health examination. Blood mercury concentrations were analyzed by the gold amalgamation method using a direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80; Milestone Inc., Shelton, CT, USA).

Results

The shark consumption group had a higher blood mercury concentration than the non-consumption group. The levels of blood mercury increased with the frequency, annual intake, as well as most recent date of shark meat consumption. Moreover, the levels of mercury in blood increased according to the annual frequency of participation in Jesa (times per year) and the annual frequency of shark meat consumption during Jesa (times per year).

Conclusions

Shark meat intake and the ritual of Jesa contributed to an increase in the blood mercury levels of workers in Gyeongsangbuk-do. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate dietary exposure, occupational as well as other factors that may influence blood mercury concentrations in workers during their health examination, particularly in regions with high mercury exposures.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Association between Blood Mercury and Seafood Consumption in Korean Adults: KoNEHS Cycle 4 (2018~2020)
Ji-Eun Oh, Tae-Hyeong Kim, Eun-Hee Lee
Biomedical Science Letters.2024; 30(1): 24. CrossRef
Association of Blood Mercury Level with Liver Enzymes in Korean Adults: An Analysis of 2015–2017 Korean National Environmental Health Survey
Jin-Wook Chung, Dilaram Acharya, Jitendra Kumar Singh, Joon Sakong
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2023; 20(4): 3290. CrossRef
Increase of blood mercury level with shark meat consumption: A repeated-measures study before and after Chuseok, Korean holiday
Kiook Baek, Chulyong Park, Joon Sakong
Chemosphere.2023; 344: 140317. CrossRef
Mercury concentration in shark meat from traditional markets of Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
Han Cheol Heo, Yeon Hee Lim, Young Seok Byun, Joon Sakong
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2020;[Epub] CrossRef
Mercury poisoning in a fisherman working on a pelagic fishing vessel due to excessive tuna consumption
Ji-Sung Ahn, Kyung Wook Kang, Won-Yang Kang, Hyeong-Min Lim, Seunghyeon Cho, Jai-Dong Moon, Won-Ju Park
Journal of Occupational Health.2018; 60(1): 89. CrossRef

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Original Article

The Relationship Between Amalgam Tooth Fillings and Concentration of Blood Mercury in Elementary School Students in Korea: Kyu Hwa Lee, Man Joong Jeon, Yun Chul Hong, Jong Han Leem, Mi Na Ha, Ho Jang Kwon, Joon Sakong; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011;23(4):420-427. Published online December 31, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2011.23.4.420

Abstract PDF: OBJECTIVES
The adverse health effects of mercury in dental amalgam have not yet been clarified. This study was conducted to examine the effects of dental amalgam on the concentration of blood mercury in Korean children.
METHODS
A total of 1,275 students were enrolled in the elementary school in Seoul, Incheon, and Daegu. The number and location of dental amalgam filling of teeth were ascertained by oral examination. Dietary habits-including frequency of seafood intake-and other demographic factors were obtained from the children's parents. The concentration of blood mercury was measured by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer to which a hydride generator was installed.
RESULTS
The geometric mean of blood mercury concentration was 1.91 microg/L. It was found that elementary school students in Seoul and the 4th grade elementary school students have the lowest concentration of blood mercury among the study groups. Both linear and secondary linear increase of the concentration of blood mercury, depending on the number of dental amalgam fillings, were statistically significant (p-trend < 0.01, p-quadratic < 0.01). As a result of multiple regression analysis on the blood mercury concentration of elementary school students, the regression coefficient (beta) of a dental amalgam filling was found to be 0.027 (standard error = 0.014, p = 0.048).
CONCLUSIONS
In children, the dental amalgam fillings were significantly contribute to the concentration of blood mercury. To accurately assess the effect of dental amalgam on the concentration of body mercury, further studies using the concentration of urine mercury are needed.

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Original Article

Association of Blood Mercury Level and Neurobehavioral Performance in Korean Elementary School Students: Joon Sakong, Man Joong Jeon, Sung Ho Yun, Yun Chul Hong, Chul Gab Lee, Young Ki Kim, Mina Ha, Ho Jang Kwon; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2010;22(4):324-330. Published online December 31, 2010; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2010.22.4.324

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to examine the effect of blood mercury on neurobehavioral performance in Korean elementary school students.
METHODS
We measured the blood mercury concentration in 1,077 elementary school students from Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Gwangju, then the students underwent computerized neurobehavioral test.
RESULTS
The mean concentration of blood mercury of study subjects was 2.10 microg/L. An increased blood mercury was associated with an increased reaction time in digit addition and symbol digit.
CONCLUSIONS
The blood mercury concentration of study subjects was very high compared to findings in a foreign country. We found several associations between blood mercury level and neurobehavioral performance.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Performance assessment on the Korean Computerized Neurobehavioral Test using a mobile device and a conventional computer: an experimental study
Young Seok Byun, Sung Kyu Park, Joon Sakong, Man Joong Jeon
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
Evaluation of reliability of computerized neurobehavioral tests in Korean children
Kyeong-Soo Lee, Man-Joong Jeon, Tae-Yoon Hwang, Chang-Yoon Kim, Joon Sakong
NeuroToxicology.2012; 33(5): 1362. CrossRef

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