Chronic Exposure to Lead and Cadmium in Residents Living near a Zinc Smelter

HyeJeong Jo, GeunBae Kim, JunYoung Chang, Kwan Lee, ChulWoo Lee and BoEun Lee
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HyeJeong Jo: Environmental Health Research Department, Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 22689, Korea
GeunBae Kim: Environmental Health Research Department, Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 22689, Korea
JunYoung Chang: Environmental Health Research Department, Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 22689, Korea
Kwan Lee: Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University, Kyungju 38066, Korea
ChulWoo Lee: Environmental Health Research Department, Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 22689, Korea
BoEun Lee: Environmental Health Research Department, Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 22689, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: This study aimed to measure lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) exposure levels in residents living near a zinc (Zn) smelter in Seokpo-myeon, Bonghwa-gun, South Korea, and identify factors affecting exposure. Residents aged ≥20 years living within 3 km and ≥30 km away from the smelter were classified as the exposure group (n = 549), and the control group (n = 265), respectively. Data were obtained through a questionnaire survey. Blood Pb levels in the exposure group (4.19 µg/dL) were higher than in the control group (2.70 µg/dL). The exposure group (1.32 µg/L) also had higher urinary Cd concentrations than the control group (0.80 µg/L). Male sex, older age, previous work at the smelter, smoking, and proximity to the smelter were associated with higher blood Pb levels on multivariate analysis; urinary Cd concentration was significantly higher in women, those who were older, those with experience of working in a Zn smelter or mine, those with proximity to the Zn smelter, and those who consumed locally grown vegetables. In conclusion, Zn smelters are major source of Pb and Cd pollution and require ongoing public health management to prevent potential adverse health effects.

Keywords: zinc smelter; polluted area; environmental exposure; lead; cadmium (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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