Exposure assessment for the abandoned metal mine area contaminated by arsenic.

Among the results of community health impact assessments completed in 2014, residents of the Indae abandoned metal mine area showed high average urinary concentrations of harmful arsenic (As), at 148.9 µg/L. The concentration of harmful As was derived as the sum of As(V), As(III), MMA, and DMA concentrations known to be toxic.

Exposure factors of cadmium for residents in an abandoned metal mine area in Korea.

This study evaluated blood and urine cadmium (Cd) levels and human exposure factors for residents in an abandoned metal mine in Korea. We collected blood, urine, soil, water, and rice grain samples to analyze Cd concentrations and analyzed heavy metal concentration patterns in soil. We estimated the major exposure factor of Cd through non-carcinogenic risk assessment depending on exposure routes.

Emphysema prevalence related air pollution caused by a cement plant.

Background: To identify adverse pulmonary health effects due to air pollution derived from a cement plant in Korea. The emphysema prevalence in residents around a cement plant was compared to that in the group who live far away from the plant by chest films (PA and lateral view) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) lung images.

Methods: From June to August in 2013 and from August to November in 2014, chest films and HRCT scan were conducted on residents over the age of 40 who lived around a cement plant.

Ventilation impairment of residents around a cement plant.

Objectives: To identify adverse health effects due to air pollution derived from a cement plant in Korea. The ventilation impairment in residents around a cement plant was compared to another group through a pulmonary function test (PFT).

Methods: From June to August of 2013, both a pre and post-bronchodilator PFT was conducted on a "more exposed group (MEG)" which consisted of 318 people who lived within a 1 km radius of a cement plant and a "less exposed group (LEG)" which consisted of 129 people who lived more than 5 km away from the same plant.

Blood levels of cadmium and lead in residents near abandoned metal mine areas in Korea.

We analyzed national data on blood lead levels (BLL) and blood cadmium levels (BCL) in residents living near 38 abandoned metal mining areas (n = 5,682, 18-96 years old) in Korea that were collected by the first Health Effect Surveillance for Residents in Abandoned Metal mines (HESRAM) from 2008 to 2011. The geometric mean BCL and BLL were 1.60 μg/L (95 % CI = 1.

The correlation between the effects of propofol on the auditory brainstem response and the postsynaptic currents of the auditory circuit in brainstem slices in the rat.

Background: Although there have been reports showing the changes of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) waves by propofol, no detailed studies have been done at the level of brainstem auditory circuit. So, we studied the effects of propofol on the postsynaptic currents of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB)-lateral superior olive (LSO) synapses by using the whole cell voltage clamp technique and we compared this data with that obtained by the ABR.

Methods: 5 rats at postnatal (P) 15 days were used for the study of the ABR.

[Heavy metal as risk factor of cardiovascular disease--an analysis of blood lead and urinary mercury].

Objectives: We wanted to investigate the relationship between heavy metal, especially lead and mercury, to the blood pressure and cholesterol level in children.

Methods: This study was undertaken in three primary schools and the study subjects were a total of 274 children. The lead in the blood and the urine mercury were analyzed by performing atomic absorption spectroscopy.