Association Between Multiple Heavy Metal Exposures and Cholesterol Levels in Residents Living Near a Smelter Plant in Korea.

Background: Considering the interactions between heavy metals, a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of exposure to various types of co-interacting heavy metals on health is required. This study assessed the association between dyslipidemia markers and blood mercury, lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, and nickel levels in residents of an abandoned refinery plant.

Methods: A total of 972 individuals (exposed group: 567, control group: 405) living near the Janghang refinery plant in the Republic of Korea were included.

Association between urinary arsenic concentration and genetic polymorphisms in Korean adults.

Unlabelled: Arsenic (As) is a human carcinogen widely distributed in the environment. This study evaluated the association between the urinary As concentration and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Korean adults to determine the genetic factors related to As concentration. The study included 496 participants for the genome-wide association study (GWAS) and 1483 participants for the candidate gene approach study.

Biokinetics of subacutely co-inhaled same size gold and silver nanoparticles.

Background: Toxicokinetics of nanomaterials, including studies on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of nanomaterials, are essential in assessing their potential health effects. The fate of nanomaterials after inhalation exposure to multiple nanomaterials is not clearly understood.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to similar sizes of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, 10.

Effects of Environmental Cadmium Exposure on the Liver in Korean Adults: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies.

Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant with an exceptionally long biological half-life. The liver is a major organ for Cd metabolism, but the toxicity of Cd is unclear. This study sought to determine whether blood Cd (BCd) level (representing recent exposure [months] to Cd) was associated with liver function in Korean adults, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

Exposure Levels and Contributing Factors of Various Arsenic Species and Their Health Effects on Korean Adults.

Arsenic is a human carcinogen. Data on urinary arsenic species analyses of Koreans are limited. This study evaluated the arsenic exposure level, contributing factors, and health effects in Korean adults.

Effects of Exposure to Lead and Cadmium on Health of Inhabitants of Abandoned Metal Mine Area in Korea.

People living near abandoned mines are at increased risk of exposure to toxic metals. We surveyed 4500 inhabitants with the mean age of 68.5 years old (male: 1768, female: 2732) living near 104 abandoned metal mines from 2013 to 2017 (the 2nd phase health survey in Korea).

Lung retention and particokinetics of silver and gold nanoparticles in rats following subacute inhalation co-exposure.

Background: Inhalation exposure to nanomaterials in workplaces can include a mixture of multiple nanoparticles. Such ambient nanoparticles can be of high dissolution or low dissolution in vivo and we wished to determine whether co-exposure to particles with different dissolution rates affects their biokinetics.

Methods And Results: Rats were exposed to biosoluble silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, 10.

Even lobar deposition of poorly soluble gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is similar to that of soluble silver nanoparticles (AgNPs).

Background: Information on particle deposition, retention, and clearance is important when evaluating the risk of inhaled nanomaterials to human health. The revised Organization Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) inhalation toxicity test guidelines now require lung burden measurements of nanomaterials after rodent subacute and sub-chronic inhalation exposure (OECD 412, OECD 413) to inform on lung clearance behavior and translocation after exposure and during post-exposure observation (PEO). Lung burden measurements are particularly relevant when the testing chemical is a solid poorly soluble nanomaterial.

Copper-zinc imbalance induces kidney tubule damage and oxidative stress in a population exposed to chronic environmental cadmium.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the effect of environmental cadmium (Cd) exposure and essential metal imbalance on renal tubular damage and oxidative stress in 979 adults living in a Cd-polluted area near an abandoned copper (Cu) refinery.

Methods: We analyzed urinary Cd concentrations, renal tubular damage and oxidative stress markers, such as beta-2 microglobulin (β2-MG) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity and urine malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The serum copper-to-zinc ratio (CZR) was used as an essential metal imbalance indicator.

Derivation of occupational exposure limits for multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene using subchronic inhalation toxicity data and a multi-path particle dosimetry model.

In this study, we aimed to provide the recommended occupational exposure limits (OELs) for multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene nanomaterials based on data from a subchronic inhalation toxicity study using a lung dosimetry model. We used a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 0.98 mg m and 3.

Lobar evenness of deposition/retention in rat lungs of inhaled silver nanoparticles: an approach for reducing animal use while maximizing endpoints.

Background: Information on particle deposition, retention and clearance are important for the evaluation of the risk of inhaled nanomaterials to human health. Recent revised OECD inhalation toxicity test guidelines require to evaluate the lung burden of nanomaterials after rodent subacute and subchronic inhalation exposure (OECD 412, OECD 413). These revised test guidelines require additional post-exposure observation (PEO) periods that include lung burden measurements that can inform on lung clearance behavior and translocation.

Effect of dietary patterns on the blood/urine concentration of the selected toxic metals (Cd, Hg, Pb) in Korean children.

This study was aimed to examine the association the blood/urinary concentration of toxic metal (Hg, Pb, and Cd) with children's dietary patterns. This cross-sectional study included 1026 school children aged 8-17 years. Dietary patterns were defined using factor loading scores for 108 foods from a Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Higher and increased concentration of hs-CRP within normal range can predict the incidence of metabolic syndrome in healthy men.

Aims: To determine whether hs-CRP level and interval change of hs-CRP could predict the development of metabolic abnormalities in healthy subjects in a longitudinal study.

Methods: A cohort of 3748 male who had normal hs-CRP level without evidence of any component of metabolic syndrome were studied. At each visit, hs-CRP level and metabolic abnormalities were measured.

Subacute inhalation toxicity study of synthetic amorphous silica nanoparticles in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Synthetic amorphous silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are one of the most applied nanomaterials and are widely used in a broad variety of industrial and biomedical fields. However, no recent long-term inhalation studies evaluating the toxicity of SiNPs are available and results of acute studies are limited. Thus, we conducted a subacute inhalation toxicity study of SiNPs in Sprague-Dawley rats using a nose-only inhalation system.

Lead, Mercury, and Cadmium Exposure in the Korean General Population.

Background: Lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) are well-known environmental pollutants. They are unnecessary in the biological processes of humans. This study was performed to estimate the representative background exposure levels to the metals by measuring concentrations in whole blood of the Korean general population.

Low-Level Environmental Cadmium Exposure Induces Kidney Tubule Damage in the General Population of Korean Adults.

Cadmium (Cd) is the most potent nephrotoxic heavy metal and may affect bone; it also has a long biological half-life in the human body. This study was designed to assess the effect of environmental low-level Cd exposure on kidney function and bone in the general population. The subjects of this cross-sectional study were 1907 healthy Korean adults who had not been exposed to Cd occupationally.

Exome-wide association study identifies genetic polymorphisms of C12orf51, MYL2, and ALDH2 associated with blood lead levels in the general Korean population.

Background: Lead (Pb) is a ubiquitous toxic metal present in the environment that poses adverse health effects to humans. Inter-individual variation in blood Pb levels is affected by various factors, including genetic makeup. However, limited data are available on the association between genetic variation and blood Pb levels.

Case study on risk evaluation of printed electronics using nanosilver ink.

Background: With the ever-increasing development of nanotechnology, our society is being surrounded by possible risks related to exposure to manufactured nanomaterials. The consumer market already includes many products that contain silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), including various household products, such as yoga mats, cutting boards, running shirts, and socks. There is a growing concern over the release of AgNPs in workplaces related to the manufacture and application of nanomaterials.

Urinary arsenic species concentration in residents living near abandoned metal mines in South Korea.

Background: Arsenic is a carcinogenic heavy metal that has a species-dependent health effects and abandoned metal mines are a source of significant arsenic exposure. Therefore, the aims of this study were to analyze urinary arsenic species and their concentration in residents living near abandoned metal mines and to monitor the environmental health effects of abandoned metal mines in Korea.

Methods: This study was performed in 2014 to assess urinary arsenic excretion patterns of residents living near abandoned metal mines in South Korea.

From the Cover: Ethylmercury-Induced Oxidative and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Autophagic Cell Death: Involvement of Autophagosome-Lysosome Fusion Arrest.

Ethylmercury (EtHg) is derived from the degradation of thimerosal, the most widely used organomercury compound. In this study, EtHg-induced toxicity and autophagy in the mouse kidney was observed and then the mechanism of toxicity was explored in vitro in HK-2 cells. Low doses of EtHg induced autophagy without causing any histopathological changes in mouse kidneys.

Allele Frequencies of the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Related to the Body Burden of Heavy Metals in the Korean Population and Their Ethnic Differences.

This study was performed to select single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to the body burden of heavy metals in Koreans, to provide Korean allele frequencies of selected SNPs, and to assess the difference in allele frequencies with other ethnicities. The candidate-gene approach method and genome-wide association screening were used to select SNPs related to the body burden of heavy metals. Genotyping analysis of the final 192 SNPs selected was performed on 1,483 subjects using the VeraCode Goldengate assay.

Environmental Exposure to Arsenic, Lead, and Cadmium in People Living near Janghang Copper Smelter in Korea.

Concentrations of heavy metals exceed safety thresholds in the soil near Janghang Copper Refinery, a smelter in Korea that operated from 1936 to 1989. This study was conducted to evaluate the level of exposure to toxic metals and the potential effect on health in people living near the smelter. The study included 572 adults living within 4 km of the smelter and compared them with 413 controls group of people living similar lifestyles in a rural area approximately 15 km from the smelter.

Arsenic levels in the groundwater of Korea and the urinary excretion among contaminated area.

Drinking water is a main source of human exposure to arsenic. Hence, the determination of arsenic in groundwater is essential to assess its impact on public health. Here, we report arsenic levels in the groundwater of 722 sites covering all six major provinces of Korea.

Associations of Low Environmental Exposure to Multiple Metals with Renal Tubular Impairment in Korean Adults.

Recently several studies reported that the renal toxicity of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) may exist in even a low level exposure. In terms of the deterioration of tubular function, it affects the loss of divalent metals and leads to other complications, so renal tubular effect of heavy metals should be well managed. Considering the exposure to heavy metals in reality, it is hard to find the case that human is exposed to only one heavy metal.

Estimation of Total and Inorganic Arsenic Intake from the Diet in Korean Adults.

Arsenic (As) is a major environmental pollutant and a known human carcinogen that is widely distributed in the air, soil, and water. General population is mainly exposed to As through drinking water and food from the contaminated water and soil. Arsenic in drinking water is generally well controlled now.