Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Research Article

Blood lead levels of Korean lead workers in 2003–2011: Ji-Hye Kim, Eun-A Kim, Dong-Hee Koh, Kiwhan Byun, Hyang-Woo Ryu, Sang-Gil Lee; Ann Occup Environ Med 2014;26:30-30. Published online October 1, 2014; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-014-0030-3

Objectives

This study aimed to document the trend in blood lead levels in Korean lead workers from 2003 until 2011 and blood lead levels within each of the main industries.

Methods

Nine years (2003–2011) of blood lead level data measured during a special health examination of Korean lead workers and collected by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency were analyzed. Blood lead levels were determined by year, and a geometric mean (GM) was calculated for each industry division.

Results

The overall GM blood lead level for all years combined (n = 365,331) was 4.35 μg/dL. The GM blood lead level decreased from 5.89 μg/dL in 2003 to 3.53 μg/dL in 2011. The proportion of the results ≥30 μg/dL decreased from 4.3% in 2003 to 0.8% in 2011. In the “Manufacture of Electrical Equipment” division, the GM blood lead level was 7.80 μg/dL, which was the highest among the industry divisions. The GM blood lead levels were 7.35 μg/dL and 6.77 μg/dL in the “Manufacturers of Rubber and Plastic Products” and the “Manufacture of Basic Metal Products” division, respectively.

Conclusions

The blood lead levels in Korean lead workers decreased from 2003 to 2011 and were similar to those in the US and UK. Moreover, workers in industries conventionally considered to have a high risk of lead exposure also tended to have relatively high blood lead levels compared to those in other industries.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Evaluation of Temporal Trends of Lead Exposure in Korean Workers Using Workplace Monitoring Data
Dong-Hee Koh, Sangjun Choi, Ju-Hyun Park, Sang-Gil Lee, Hwan-Cheol Kim, Inah Kim, Jong-Uk Won, Dae Sung Lim, Hoekyeong Seo, Dong-Uk Park
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
The lead burden of occupational lead-exposed workers in Guangzhou, China: 2006–2019
Jiabin Liang, Jieyan Cai, Jiaming Guo, Jianping Mai, Liping Zhou, Jinwei Zhang, Yimin Liu, Zhi Wang
Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health.2022; 77(5): 403. CrossRef
Does Exposure of Lead and Cadmium Affect the Endometriosis?
Min-Gi Kim, Young-Sun Min, Yeon-Soon Ahn
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2021; 18(17): 9077. CrossRef
Chronic Stress and Cardiovascular Disease among Individuals Exposed to Lead: A Pilot Study
Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi, Barnabas Obeng-Gyasi
Diseases.2020; 8(1): 7. CrossRef
Joint Toxicity of a Multi-Heavy Metal Mixture and Chemoprevention in Sprague Dawley Rats
Yafei Wang, Yuqing Tang, Zhou Li, Qihang Hua, Li Wang, Xin Song, Baobo Zou, Min Ding, Jinshun Zhao, Chunlan Tang
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 17(4): 1451. CrossRef
Collective exposure to lead from an approved natural product-derived drug in Korea
Dae-Young Lim, Won-Yang Kang, Ji-Sung Ahn, Seunghyeon Cho, Suwhan Kim, Jai-Dong Moon, Byung-Chan Lee, Won-Ju Park
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2019;[Epub] CrossRef
Estimation of Lead Exposure Prevalence in Korean Population through Combining Multiple Experts’ Judgment based on Objective Data Sources
Dong-Hee Koh, Ju-Hyun Park, Sang-Gil Lee, Hwan-Cheol Kim, Sangjun Choi, Hyejung Jung, Jae-Oh Park, Dong-Uk Park
Annals of Work Exposures and Health.2018; 62(2): 210. CrossRef
Mean Blood Lead Level in Iranian Workers: A Systematic and Meta-Analysis
Milad Azami, Zainab Tardeh, Akram Mansouri, Ali Soleymani, Kourosh Sayehmiri
Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
Lead Poisoning at an Indoor Firing Range
Kyung Wook Kang, Won-Ju Park
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2017; 32(10): 1713. CrossRef
Occupational Lead Exposure from Indoor Firing Ranges in Korea
Won-Ju Park, Suk-Ho Lee, Se-Ho Lee, Hye-Sik Yoon, Jai-Dong Moon
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2016; 31(4): 497. CrossRef
Blood Lead Levels and Cause-Specific Mortality of Inorganic Lead-Exposed Workers in South Korea
Min-Gi Kim, Jae-Hong Ryoo, Se-Jin Chang, Chun-Bae Kim, Jong-Ku Park, Sang-Baek Koh, Yeon-Soon Ahn, Max Costa
PLOS ONE.2015; 10(10): e0140360. CrossRef

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Original Article

Associations of ALAD Genotype with Renal Function Indices in Lead Workers: Sung Soo Lee, Jin Ho Kim, Nam Soo Kim, Hwa Sung Kim, Kyu Dong Ahn, Byung Kook Lee; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2004;16(2):200-209. Published online June 30, 2004; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2004.16.2.200

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
delta-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) is a polymorphic enzyme that has two alleles, ALAD1 (ALAD1-1 as genotype) and ALAD2 (ALAD1-2 or ALAD2-2 as genotype). ALAD genotype has been reported to modify the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of lead. The authors investigated the influence of ALAD genotype polymorphism on renal function in lead workers METHODS: We studied 935 male lead workers and 87 male non-lead workers in the same industries. For cross-sectional renal indices, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, serum uric acid and urine total protein were selected. Blood lead level was also measured an index of lead exposure. Information on weight, age, job duration, and smoking and drinking habits was collected.
RESULTS
Whereas the mean blood lead level of lead workers was 25.4+/-10.9 microgram/dL, that of non-lead workers in the same premise was 10.1+/-2.8 microgram/dL, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant. Whereas the prevalence of the variant allele, ALAD2 in 935 lead workers was 10.6%, that in 87 non-lead workers was 4.6%. However there was no difference of prevalence between the two groups. The mean blood lead level of subjects with ALAD1 was 23.9+/-11.4 microgram/dL, which was slightly lower than that of subjects with ALAD2 (25.8+/-10.7 microgram/dL). However, this difference was not statistically significant. After adjustment for the covariates, the subjects with ALAD2 allele were 12.8% less likely to have a median value or more of BUN than subject with ALAD1. The adjusted odds ratio was 0.59 (95% confidence interval; 0.38-0.91). After adjustment for the covariates, the subjects with ALAD2 allele were 9.3% less likely to have a median value or more of serum creatinine than subject with ALAD1. The adjusted odds ratio was 0.64 (95% confidence interval; 0.41-0.98).
CONCLUSIONS
From the above results, it was found that the variant allele, ALAD2 appeared to modify the association of lead and renal function, and that ALAD2 genotype may be supportive for the protective effect of lead.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Effects of Factors Associated with Urine Hippuric Acid Correction Values in Urinary Creatinine by HPLC and Jaffe Method and Specific Gravity HPLC Jaffe Method
Key-Young Kim, Jong-Gyu Kim, Ki-Nam Yoon, Wha-Me Park, Hun-Hee Park
Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.2015; 25(4): 493. CrossRef
Environmental Exposure to Lead (Pb) and Variations in Its Susceptibility
Jina Kim, Youngeun Lee, Mihi Yang
Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part C.2014; 32(2): 159. CrossRef

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