Exposure Assessment of Heavy Metals using Exposure Biomarkers among Residents Living Near a Chungcheongnam-do Province Industrial Complex Area

Abstract

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the level of physical exposure to heavy metals among residents who live around a Chungcheongnam-do Province industrial complex and to provide baseline data on the effects and harms of heavy metals on the human body by comparing their exposure levels to those of people from control regions. Methods:We measured blood lead and cadmium levels and urine mercury and chromium levels and conducted a survey among 559 residents from the affected area and 347 residents of other areas.Results: Blood lead and cadmium levels and urine mercury levels were significantly higher in the case region than among those in the control region (p=0.013, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). In the thermoelectric power plant area, blood cadmium and urine mercury levels were significantly higher than in the control region (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). In the steel mill and petrochemical industry areas, blood cadmium level was significantly higher than that in the control region (p<0.001). Dividing groups by the reference level of blood cadmium (2 µg/L), the odds ratios between the case and control regions were 2.56 (95% CI=1.83-3.58), 3.11 (95% CI=2.06-4.71) for the thermoelectric power plant area, 1.78 (95% CI=1.19-2.65) for the steel mill area and 4.07 (95% CI=2.40-6.89) for petrochemical industry area. Conclusion:This study showed that the levels of exposure to heavy metals among residents living near a Chungcheongnam-do Province industrial complex were significantly higher than those in the control region. This seems to be attributable to exposure to heavy metals emissions from the industrial complex. Further research and safety measures are required to protect residents' health.

Effects of Environmental Air Pollution on Pulmonary Function Level of Residents in Korean Industrial Complexes

“…As various environmental diseases with some related symptoms increased among polluted areas with residents living in several industrial complexes in Gwangyang, Sihwa, Ulsan, and Pohang in Korea, several environmental health studies were initiated with funds given by MoE. The research was conducted to investigate the association between exposure to air pollution and health effects among the local residents, including the general and susceptible populations in Korea [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

Relationship between residential district and health-related quality of life in Chungnam industrial complex area

“…Energy, steel, and petrochemical products played important roles in this industrialization process [1]. In particular, many national and public industrial complexes were built in the Chungnam region because of its geographic proximity to the capitol area and the west coast, which allowed easy access to ports, seawater, and smooth trade with China [2]. …”

“…Investigation of the health effects from the surrounding areas of industrial complexes were mainly carried out by an official checking the magnitude of pollutant emission, assessing the amount of pollutants accumulated in the body, and diagnosing diseases based on a medical examination [2]. However, it is difficult for investigations on health to reflect the effects of industrial complexes on the quality of life (QoL) of neighboring residents.…”