Relationship between Heavy Metal Concentrations in the Soil with the Blood and Urine of Residents around Abandoned Metal Mines

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to examine the relationship between heavy metal concentrations in the soil and the level of heavy metals in the blood or urine of 216 local residents living near abandoned metal mines. Methods: Residents around abandoned metal mines were interviewed about their dietary habits, including seafood consumption, medical history, cigarette smoking, and drug history. Metal concentrations in the soil were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AA-7000, Shimadzu, Japan). Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) contents in the blood or urine were analyzed by GF-AAS (AA-6800, Shimadzu). Mercury (Hg) contents in the blood were determined by means of a mercury analyzer (SP-3DS, NIC). Arsenic (As) content in the soil and urine were measured by a HG-AAS (hydride vapor generation-atomic absorption spectrophotometer). Results: The heavy metal concentrations in the soil showed a log normal distribution and the geometric means of the four villages were 8.61 mg/kg for Pb, 0.19 mg/kg for Cd, 1.81 mg/kg for As and 0.035 mg/kg for Hg. The heavy metal levels of the 216 local residents showed a regular distribution for Pb, Cd, Hg in the blood and As in the urine. The arithmetic means were3.37 µg/dl for Pb, 3.07 µg/l for Cd and 2.32 µg/l for Hg, 10.41 µg/l for As, respectively. Conclusions: As a result of multi-variate analysis for the affecting factors on the bodily heavy metal concentrations, gender and concentration in the soil (each, p<0.01) for blood lead levels; gender and smoking status (each, p<0.01) for blood cadmium levels; gender (p<0.01) for urine arsenic levels; gender, age and concentration in the soil (p<0.01) for blood mercury levels were shown to be the affecting factors.

Association between levels of exposure to heavy metals and renal function indicators of residents in environmentally vulnerable areas

“…The mining and refining processes discharge large quantities of heavy metals into the environment. Specifically, mine drainage from abandoned metal mines contains large quantities of highly toxic heavy metals such as Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), and Arsenic (As), which can contaminate the surrounding soil and lead to high heavy metal contents in farmland crops 6 , 7 . Consuming contaminated crops can cause chronic disorders in humans and animals owing to the accumulation of heavy metals in the body 7 , 8 .…”

Distribution Correlation between Heavy Metals Contaminants and PAHs Concentrations of Soils in the Vicinity of Abandoned Mines

“…석탄광산이 349개, 금속광산이 988개, 비금속광산이 699 개 등 총 2,036개 광산이 전국적으로 분포하고 있는 것으로 알려져 있다 (Jung et al, 2010 (Choi et al, 2010;Yun et al, 2011;Jang et al, 2011 (Cho et al, 1996;Kim et al, 1997;Min et al, 1997;Kim et al, 1998;Min et al, 2005;Lee et al, 2006;Park et al, 2007) (Ovrebo et al, 1995;Micic et al, 2007;Pies et al, 2007;Achten and Hofmann, 2009;Bandowe et al, 2010 (Zuo et al, 2007;Achten and Hofmann, 2009;Chen et al, 2011 (Choi et al, 2010;Yun et al, 2011;Jang et al, 2011) (Ovrebo et al, 1995;Micic et al, 2007;Pies et al, 2007;Achten and Hofmann, 2009;Bandowe et al, 2010)…”

“…. 광미나 폐석으로부터 유해 금속들 이 자연수를 매개로 이동하여 주변 농경지로 유입되어 농작 물에 흡수될 경우 이를 섭취한 인간이나 동물에 만성적인 장 해를 일으킬 수 있다(Jang et al, 2011).…”

Association between levels of exposure to heavy metals and renal function indicators of residents in environmentally vulnerable areas

“…The mining and re ning processes discharge large quantities of heavy metals into the environment. Speci cally, mine drainage from abandoned metal mines contains large quantities of highly toxic heavy metals such as Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), and Arsenic (As), which can contaminate the surrounding soil and lead to high heavy metal contents in farmland crops 6,7 . Consuming contaminated crops can cause chronic disorders in humans and animals owing to the accumulation of heavy metals in the body 7,8 .…”

“…Speci cally, mine drainage from abandoned metal mines contains large quantities of highly toxic heavy metals such as Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), and Arsenic (As), which can contaminate the surrounding soil and lead to high heavy metal contents in farmland crops 6,7 . Consuming contaminated crops can cause chronic disorders in humans and animals owing to the accumulation of heavy metals in the body 7,8 . In South Korea, metal mining and re ning processes have been actively conducted for decades, and the discharge of mining wastes has severely contaminated the surrounding soil and farmland 9,10 .…”