辽宁省一般人群血和尿中锰水平研究

目的调查辽宁省一般人群血和尿中锰水平,分析其人群分布特点。方法将辽宁省划分为东、中、西部地区,采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样的方法,于2009—2010年从东、中、西部三个地区抽取了3个城市的2105名对象进行问卷调查,并采集血液和尿液样品。用电感耦合等离子体质谱法对血样和尿样进行锰含量的检测,通过统计分析研究一般人群血和尿中锰的分布水平。结果辽宁省一般人群血锰几何均数为6.64μg/L,男性和女性血锰几何均数分别为6.08μg/L、7.07μg/L、(Z=-3.97,P0.01);尿锰几何均数为0.49μg/L,男性和女性尿锰几何均数分别为0.53μg/L、0.46μg/L(Z=-1.70,P0.05)。结论辽宁省一般人群血中锰水平存在性别及地区差异;尿中锰水平存在地区差异,而性别差异无统计学意义。     

辽宁省一般人群血和尿中钴、钼水平研究

目的调查辽宁省一般人群血和尿中钴、钼水平,分析其分布特点。方法采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样的方法,于2009—2010年在辽宁省东、中、西部三个地区抽取2105名对象进行问卷调查,并采集血液和尿液样品。采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法对血样和尿样进行钴、钼含量的检测,通过统计分析研究一般人群血液中钴、钼的分布水平。结果辽宁省一般人群血中钴、钼几何均数为0.153μg/L和0.38μg/L,尿中为0.516μg/L和23.88μg/L;在不同年龄和区域特征中差异均有统计学意义。结论辽宁省一般人群血和尿中钴、钼水平在不同年龄和区域特征中均存在差异。     

我国8省市一般人群尿中镓、铟、铊水平分布的研究

目的了解我国一般人群尿中镓、铟、铊水平,分析其人群分布特征。方法于2009—2010年,在我国东部、西部和中部8个省(市、自治区)的24个地区,采用分层整群随机抽样的方法抽取了18 120名(6~60)岁人群为研究对象,对其生活习惯和健康状况进行了问卷调查,并采集其尿液样品。应用电感耦合等离子体质谱法对尿样进行镓、铟、铊含量检测,统计分析性别、不同年龄人群尿中镓、铟、铊水平的分布。结果我国一般人群尿镓第50百分位数LOD(0.08μg/L);第95百分位数为1.72μg/L;男性和女性尿镓第50百分位数均LOD(0.08μg/L),男性和女性人群尿镓检出率分别为26.5%,21.6%(χ~2=43.478,P0.01)。一般人群尿铟第50百分位数为LOD(0.03μg/L),第95百分位数为0.61μg/L;男性和女性尿铟第50百分位数均为LOD(0.03μg/L),男性和女性人群尿铟检出率分别为16.3%,18.1%(χ~2=5.234,P0.05);一般人群尿铊几何均值为(0.17±0.01)μg/L,第50百分位数为0.27μg/L,第95百分位数为1.37μg/L。男性和女性尿铊几何均值分别为(0.18±0.01)μg/L、(0.16±0.01)μg/L(Z=4.86,P0.01);男性和女性人群尿铊检出率分别为84.0%,83.0%(χ~2=2.577,P0.05)。结论本研究报道了我国2009—2010年一般人群尿中镓、铟、铊的含量和分布水平,为进一步开展镓、铟、铊的生物监测等研究提供基础数据。     

辽宁省一般人群全血中铜和锌水平分布的研究

目的了解辽宁省一般人群血中铜、锌水平的分布,并分析其分布特点。方法采用整群随机抽样的方法,于2009—2010年在辽宁省东、中、西部3个城市的区县中,抽取了2 105名6~60岁人群作为调查对象,进行问卷调查及血液样品采集。应用电感耦合等离子体质谱法检测样品中铜、锌水平,分析探讨在不同性别、年龄、地区以及生活方式中铜、锌水平分布情况。结果调查对象血铜几何均数为783μg/L,95%CI为775~791μg/L,P5、P50和P95分别为555、785和1 059μg/L。男性血铜几何均数(778μg/L)低于女性(788μg/L)(P0.01)。不同年龄组人群血铜几何均数差异有统计学意义(P0.01),其中6~12岁年龄组血铜最高(为853μg/L),13~16岁年龄组血铜最低(为649μg/L);辽宁省东、中、西部地区人群血铜几何均数分别为706、852和837μg/L,差异有统计学意义(P0.01);在吸烟与饮酒特征中人群血铜几何均数差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。调查对象血锌几何均数为4 158μg/L,95%CI为4 115~4 201μg/L,P5、P50和P95分别为2 657、4 243和5 931μg/L。男性血锌几何均数(4 258μg/L)显著高于女性(4 058μg/L)(P0.01);不同年龄组人群血锌几何均数差异具有统计学意义(P0.01),其中,6~12岁年龄组血锌最低(为3 574μg/L),31~45岁年龄组血锌最高(为4 593μg/L);辽宁省东、中、西部地区人群血锌几何均数分别为4 315、3 811和4 286μg/L,差异有统计学意义(P0.01);吸烟和饮酒人群血锌高于不吸烟、不饮酒人群,差异均有统计学意义(P0.01)。辽宁省一般人群血铜几何均数(783μg/L)低于全国一般人群血铜(795μg/L)(P0.01)。辽宁省一般人群血锌几何均数(4 158μg/L)高于全国一般人群血锌(3 996μg/L)(P0.01)。结论辽宁省一般人群血液中铜、锌水平在不同性别、年龄、区域特征中均存在差异。辽宁省一般人群血铜水平显著低于全国一般人群,而辽宁省血锌水平显著高于全国一般人群水平。     

辽宁省一般人群尿中铜、锌水平研究

目的调查辽宁省一般人群尿中铜、锌水平,分析其人群分布特点。方法将辽宁省划分为东、中、西部地区,采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样的方法,于2009—2010年辽宁省东、中、西部抽取1691名对象进行问卷调查,并采集尿液样品。用电感耦合等离子体质谱法检测尿中铜、锌含量,通过统计分析研究一般人群尿中铜、锌的分布水平。结果调查对象尿铜几何均数(95%CI)为10.59μg/L,中位数(P50)为10.70μg/L;男性尿铜几何均数显著高于女性(P0.01);不同年龄组人群尿铜几何均数差异具有统计学意义(P0.01),其中17~20岁年龄组尿铜最高,21~30岁年龄组尿铜最低;辽宁省东、中、西部地区人群尿铜几何均数差异有统计学意义(P0.01),分别为10.69、8.71和12.73μg/L;吸烟与饮酒特征中人群尿铜几何均数差异均有统计学意义(P0.01)。尿锌95%CI为77.26μg/L,P50为85.09μg/L;男性尿锌几何均数显著高于女性(P0.01);不同年龄组人群尿锌几何均数差异具有统计学意义(P0.01),其中6~12岁年龄组尿锌最高,31~45岁年龄组尿锌最低;辽宁省东、中、西部地区人群尿锌几何均数差异具有统计学意义(P0.01);吸烟与饮酒特征中人群尿锌几何均数差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论辽宁省一般人群尿中铜、锌水平在不同性别、年龄、区域特征中均存在差异。     

辽宁省一般人群全血和尿液中铬水平分析

目的了解2009—2010年辽宁省一般人群全血和尿液中铬水平(以下简称血铬、尿铬),分析其流行病学特点。方法 2009—2010年采用整群随机抽样方法,从辽宁省内东、中、西部3个城市抽取2 105名6~60岁一般人群作为研究对象,对其生活环境和健康状况问卷调查,并分别采集2 105份静脉抗凝血和1 691份尿样,应用电感耦合等离子体质谱法检测血铬、尿铬水平,分析不同年龄、性别和区域人群的分布情况。结果辽宁省一般人群血铬几何均数为0.53μg/L,中位数为0.3μg/L,P95为2.92μg/L;男性和女性几何均数分别为0.49、0.58μg/L(P0.01);6~12、13~16、17~20、21~30、31~45、46~60岁年龄组血铬几何均数分别为0.38、0.57、0.66、0.55、0.57和0.52μg/L(P0.01);东、中、西部地区人群血铬几何均数分别为0.32、1.23、0.42μg/L(P0.01)。辽宁省一般人群尿铬几何均数低于检出限0.42μg/L,对不同特征中尿铬高于检出限人数分布比较结果显示,不同年龄、地域人群尿铬水平差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。结论辽宁省血铬、尿铬水平均低于全国一般人群血铬、尿铬水平,本研究为进一步开展铬的生物监测、鉴别排除职业禁忌症等研究提供了基础数据。     

辽宁省一般人群全血和尿液中砷水平分布的研究

目的了解辽宁省一般人群全血和尿液中砷水平的分布,并分析其流行分布特点。方法采用整群随机抽样的方法,于2009—2010年在辽宁省东、中、西部3个城市的区县中,抽取2 105名6~60岁人群作为调查对象,进行血、尿样品采集和问卷调查。应用电感耦合等离子体质谱法检测样品中砷水平,分析在不同性别、年龄、地区和生活方式中砷水平分布情况。结果调查对象血砷几何均数为3.68μg/L,95%CI为3.55~3.80μg/L,男性血砷几何均数(3.90μg/L)高于女性(3.46μg/L)(P0.01)。各年龄组血砷的几何均数差异具有统计学意义(P0.01),其中46~60岁年龄组血砷最高(为5.07μg/L),17~20岁年龄组血砷最低(为2.19μg/L)。辽宁省东、中、西部地区人群血砷几何均数分别为5.06、2.67和3.15μg/L(P0.01)。调查对象尿砷几何均数为21.27μg/L,95%CI为20.37~22.25μg/L。男性尿砷几何均数(22.76μg/L)显著高于女性(19.85μg/L)(P0.01)。不同年龄组人群尿砷几何均数差异有统计学意义(P0.01),其中13~16岁年龄组尿砷最低(为14.97μg/L),31~45岁年龄组尿砷最高(为32.04μg/L);辽宁省东、中、西部地区人群尿砷几何均数分别为25.81、17.34和21.40μg/L(P0.01)。在吸烟、饮酒和摄食海鲜人群中血砷、尿砷均增高(P0.01)。辽宁省一般人群血砷水平与尿砷水平呈正相关(r=0.189,P0.01)。辽宁省一般人群血砷几何均数(3.68μg/L)高于全国一般人群(2.33μg/L)(P0.01);辽宁省尿砷几何均数(21.27μg/L)高于全国(13.72μg/L)(P0.01)。结论辽宁省一般人群血砷和尿砷水平在性别、年龄、区域和生活方式特征中均存在差异。辽宁省一般人群血砷和尿砷水平显著高于全国一般人群水平。     

辽宁省一般人群尿中2,5-己二酮水平研究

目的调查辽宁省一般人群尿中2,5-己二酮水平,分析其人群分布特点。方法将辽宁省划分为东、中、西部地区,采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样的方法,于2009—2010年从东、中、西部三个地区抽取1373名对象进行问卷调查,并采集尿液样品,采用气相色谱-离子阱二级质谱法对尿中2,5-己二酮的含量进行检测,统计分析一般人群尿中2,5-己二酮的分布水平。结果辽宁省一般人群尿中2,5-己二酮几何均数为0.18μg/L,男性和女性尿中2,5-己二酮几何均数分别为0.19μg/L、0.18μg/L(Z=-2.87,P0.01)。结论辽宁省一般人群尿中2,5-己二酮水平存在性别及地区差异。     

辽宁省一般人群血和尿中铅水平研究

目的调查辽宁省一般人群血和尿中铅水平,分析其分布特点。方法采用整群随机抽样方法,2009—2010年在辽宁省东部、西部和中部抽取2105名6~60岁人群为调查对象,分别采集血液和尿液样品,应用电感耦合等离子体质谱法检测血和尿液中铅水平,并分析年龄、性别和区域对血和尿中铅水平的影响。结果辽宁省一般人群全血中铅的几何均数为29.04μg/L,男性和女性分别为35.11、24.33μg/L(Z=-18.5,P0.01),东、中、西部人群分别为30.59、27.27和29.43μg/L(χ2=21.58,P0.01),吸烟和不吸烟人群分别为42.28、27.46μg/L(Z=-11.52,P0.01),饮酒和不饮酒人群分别为40.39、27.89μg/L(Z=-8.82,P0.01);一般人群尿铅的几何均数为3.22μg/L,男性和女性分别为3.37、3.08μg/L(Z=-1.96,P=0.05);东、中、西部人群分别为3.21、2.22和4.74μg/L(χ2=297.71,P0.01)。结论辽宁省一般人群血铅和尿铅水平存在性别及地区差异,并与吸烟和饮酒有关。     

辽宁省一般人群血和尿中镉水平研究

目的调查辽宁省一般人群血和尿中镉水平,分析其分布特点。方法采用整群随机抽样方法,2009—2010年在辽宁省东部、西部和中部抽取2105名6~60岁人群为调查对象,分别采集血液和尿液样品。应用电感耦合等离子体质谱法检测血和尿液中镉水平,并分析年龄、性别和区域对血和尿中镉水平的影响。结果辽宁省一般人群全血中镉的几何均数为0.45μg/L;男性和女性分别为0.58、0.35μg/L(Z=-6.32,P0.01);东、中、西部人群分别为0.41、0.31和0.77μg/L(χ2=160.63,P0.01);吸烟和不吸烟人群分别为3.7、0.31μg/L(Z=-20.95,P0.01);饮酒和不饮酒人群分别为2.25、0.36μg/L(Z=-13.52,P0.01)。一般人群尿镉几何均数为0.44μg/L;男性和女性分别为0.46、0.43μg/L(Z=-1.88,P0.05);东、中、西部人群分别为0.38、0.40和0.56μg/L(χ2=61.72,P0.01);吸烟和不吸烟人群分别为0.60、0.41μg/L(Z=-5.82,P0.01);饮酒和不饮酒人群分别为0.64、0.41μg/L(Z=-5.73,P0.01)。结论辽宁省一般人群血镉和尿镉水平存在性别及地区差异,并与吸烟和饮酒有关。     

Biological monitoring of exposures to aluminium, gallium, indium, arsenic, and antimony in optoelectronic industry workers

The main objective of this study was to investigate aluminum, gallium, indium, arsenic, and antimony exposures on blood and urine levels in the optoelectronic workers. One hundred seventy subjects were enrolled in this cohort study. Whole blood and urine levels were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Blood indium and urine gallium and arsenic levels in the 103 workers were significantly higher than that in 67 controls during the follow-up period. In regression models, the significant risk factors of exposure were job title, preventive equipment, Quetelet's index, sex, and education level. The findings of this study suggest that gallium, indium, and arsenic exposure levels may affect their respective levels in blood and urine. The use of clean, preventive equipment is recommended when prioritizing the administration of safety and hygiene in optoelectronics industries.     

陕西省一般人群全血和尿液中铬、镉和铅负荷水平分析

目的 了解陕西省一般人群血液和尿液中铬、镉和铅的内暴露水平及其分布特点。方法 2017年采用分层随机抽样方法,选取陕西省5个县（区、市）720名3~79岁人群为监测对象,采集血液和尿液样品,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法检测样品中铬、镉和铅的含量。检测结果定量资料组间比较,符合正态分布采用方差分析,不符合正态分布采用独立样本非参数检验。结果 陕西省一般人群中,血铬和尿铬几何均数分别为0.31μg/L和0.51μg/L,男性尿铬高于女性（〖XC小五号.EPS;P〗=7.276,P＜0.05）;血镉和尿镉几何均数分别为0.20μg/L和0.19μg/L,男性均高于女性（〖XC小五号.EPS;P〗=14.022、5.698,P＜0.05）;血铅和尿铅几何均数分别为16.24μg/L和0.47μg/L,男性均高于女性（〖XC小五号.EPS;P〗=50.157、5.173,P＜0.05）。城镇地区血铬和血镉几何均数高于乡村地区（〖XC小五号.EPS;P〗=36.815、17.222,P＜0.05）,乡村地区尿铬和尿铅高于城镇地区（〖XC小五号.EPS;P〗=53.492、15.874,P＜0.05）。血镉和血铅,尿镉和尿铅浓度水平年龄段间差异有统计学意义（〖XC小五号.EPS;P〗=379.871、64.070、365.190、25.470,P＜0.05）。结论 陕西省一般人群血液和尿液中铬、镉和铅水平逐渐降低,铅平均水平偏高。铬、镉和铅存在地区间差异。     

Comparison of urinary thallium levels in non-occupationally exposed people and workers

Purpose

To determine a reference background urinary thallium level; to compare urinary thallium data from workers to this background level; to investigate factors affecting these levels and whether creatinine correction is appropriate.

Methods

Urine samples from non-occupationally exposed people (n = 273, from 113 individuals) and workers (n = 896, from 447 individuals) were analysed for thallium by ICP-MS. A reference background level was calculated, defined as the 95th percentile value of a non-occupationally exposed population. Worker data were divided into two subsets: thallium workers (those who work directly with thallium or its compounds) and general workers; and compared to the background level. Bayesian linear mixed effects modelling was used to investigate factors affecting urinary thallium concentration and the efficacy of creatinine correction for the determination of urinary thallium.

Results

The reference background urinary thallium level is 0.27 μmol/mol creatinine (creatinine-corrected) or 0.40 μg/l (uncorrected). Median values were 0.11 μmol/mol creatinine or 0.17 μg/l for non-occupationally exposed people, 0.12 μmol/mol creatinine or 0.20 μg/l for general workers and 0.19 μmol/mol creatinine or 0.41 μg/l for thallium workers. Variation was lower in creatinine-corrected models. Nine per cent of samples from general workers and 39 % of samples from thallium workers exceeded the creatinine-corrected background level. By 2010, 90 % of all workers had urinary thallium levels below the 95th percentile reference background level.

Conclusions

Urinary thallium concentrations were higher in thallium workers than non-occupationally exposed people and general workers. Creatinine correction is appropriate.     

Intake and health effects of thallium among a population living in the vicinity of a cement plant emitting thallium containing dust

Summary In order to assess the degree of thallium exposure in a population living around a thallium emitting cement plant in a small city in North-West Germany thallium levels in 24 h urine samples of 1,265 subjects and in hair samples of 1,163 subjects were determined. Urinary thallium levels in two groups of subjects living in an urban and a rural area of West Germany were determined for reference. As compared to these subjects the population living around the cement plant exhibited obvious signs of increased thallium intake. The mean urinary thallium concentration was 2.6 g/1 and ranged up to 76.5 pg/1. In contrast, the mean urinary thallium levels of the two reference groups were 0.2 and 0.4 g/1, respectively. Hair thallium levels of the population living around the cement plant were also markedly increased (mean: 9.5 ng/g). The major route of the population's increased intake of thallium was found to be the consumption of vegetables and fruit grown in private gardens in the vicinity of the cement plant. As was shown by chemical analyses vegetables and fruit grown in these gardens were contaminated by thallium-containing atmospheric dust fall-out caused by emissions of the cement plant. The pulmonary route of uptake as well as other sources did not seem to play a significant role in the population's exposure to thallium. Polyneuritic symptoms, sleep disorders, headache, fatigue and other signs of psychasthenia were found to be the major health effects associated with increased thallium levels in urine and hair. No positive correlation was found between the thallium levels in hair and urine and the prevalence of skin alterations, hair-loss and gastro-intestinal dysfunctions.     

Distribution of Indium, Thallium and Bismuth in the Environmental Water of Japan

Indium, thallium and bismuth are toxic and it is important to know the distribution of these elements in environmental water. The concentrations of these elements were measured in 50 sampling points in Japan and the reasons of high concentrations in several samples were discussed. The average concentrations (ng/L) of dissolved and particulate indium in river, lake and coastal seawater were 1.4–3.0 and 2.4–9.1, respectively. Those for thallium were 7.2–11.3 and 3.5–36.0. Those for bismuth were 12.7–24.0 and 12.1–52.7.     

Lipid peroxidation in workers exposed to aluminium, gallium, indium, arsenic, and antimony in the optoelectronic industry

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate whether exposure to aluminum, gallium, indium, arsenic, and antimony induces lipid peroxidation in humans. METHODS: Whole blood and urine levels of 103 exposed electronic industry workers and 67 referents were analyzed by use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Malondialdehyde (MDA), the product of lipid peroxidation, was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The mean plasma MDA level in the 103 workers was significantly higher than that in 67 referents. The levels of MDA in the exposed workers were correlated significantly with the levels of urinary gallium and arsenic. CONCLUSIONS: Malondialdehyde as an index of lipid peroxidation can be induced by gallium and arsenic exposure. By reducing exposure to these metals, biologic effects such as lipid peroxidation may also be diminished.     

Effects of a powered air-purifying respirator intervention on indium exposure reduction and indium related biomarkers among ITO sputter target manufacturing workers

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) worn by the workers, and to investigate the effect of this application on exposure and preclinical effects in terms of workplace measuring and biomarker monitoring in ITO sputter target manufacturing plants and workers, respectively. Fifty-four workers were recruited and investigated from 2010–2012, during which PAPRs were provided to on-site workers in September 2011. Each worker completed questionnaires and provided blood and urine samples for analysis of biomarkers of indium exposure and preclinical effects. Area and personal indium air samples were randomly collected from selected worksites and from participants. The penetration percentage of the respirator (concentration inside respirator divided by concentration outside respirator) was 6.6%. Some biomarkers, such as S-In, SOD, GPx, GST, MDA, and TMOM, reflected the decrease in exposure and showed lower levels, after implementation of PAPRs. This study is the first to investigate the efficacy of PAPRs for reducing indium exposure. The measurement results clearly showed that the implementation of PAPRs reduces levels of indium-related biomarkers. These findings have practical applications for minimizing occupational exposure to indium and for managing the health of workers exposed to indium.     

A field evaluation of a single sampler for respirable and inhalable indium and dust measurements at an indium-tin oxide manufacturing facility

Indium-tin oxide production has increased greatly in the last 20 years subsequent to increased global demand for touch screens and photovoltaics. Previous studies used measurements of indium in blood as an indicator of indium exposure and observed associations with adverse respiratory outcomes. However, correlations between measurements of blood indium and airborne respirable indium are inconsistent, in part because of the long half-life of indium in blood, but also because respirable indium measurements do not incorporate inhalable indium that can contribute to the observed biological burden. Information is lacking on relationships between respirable and inhalable indium exposure, which have implications for biological indicators like blood indium. The dual IOM sampler includes the foam disc insert and can simultaneously collect respirable and inhalable aerosol. Here, the field performance of the dual IOM sampler was evaluated by comparing performance with the respirable cyclone and traditional IOM for respirable and inhalable indium and dust exposure, respectively. Side-by-side area air samples were collected throughout an indium-tin oxide manufacturing facility. Cascade impactors were used to determine particle size distribution. Several statistical methods were used to evaluate the agreement between the pairs of samplers including calculating the concordance correlation coefficient and its accuracy and precision components. One-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the effect of dust concentration on sampler differences. Respirable indium measurements showed better agreement (concordance correlation coefficient: 0.932) compared to respirable dust measurements (concordance correlation coefficient: 0.777) with significant differences observed in respirable dust measurements. The dual IOM measurements had high agreement with the traditional IOM for inhalable indium (concordance correlation coefficient: 0.997) but lower agreement for inhalable dust (concordance correlation coefficient: 0.886 and accuracy: 0.896) with a significantly large mean bias (-146.9 µg/m³). Dust concentration significantly affected sampler measurements of inhalable dust and inhalable indium. Results from this study suggest that the dual IOM is a useful single sampler for simultaneous measurements of occupational exposure to respirable and inhalable indium.     

Korea National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the Human Body 2008: heavy metals in the blood or urine of the Korean population

BackgroundRecently, there have been several nationwide episodes involving imported toys contaminated with toxic metals and environmental hormones. In addition, cadmium intoxication has occurred due to soil contamination with cadmium from abandoned metal mines.ObjectivesTo investigate the distribution, extent and factors influencing the levels of toxic metals in the blood or urine of the Korean general population over twenty years of age, we studied the blood or urine concentrations of heavy metals in a representative sample of 5087 Koreans in 2008.MethodsMultiple biological substrates were collected from each participant to determine the most suitable samples for an environmental health survey system. Information regarding exposure conditions of all subjects was collected by questionnaire-based interviews.ResultsThe geometric means of the blood lead, mercury and manganese levels were 19.1, 3.23 and 10.8 μg/L, respectively. The geometric means of urinary arsenic and cadmium concentrations were 43.5 and 0.65 μg/L, respectively. Blood mercury and urinary arsenic levels in the Korean general population were significantly higher than in European and American populations.ConclusionsThe higher levels of blood mercury and urinary arsenic could be explained by the greater seafood consumption among the Korean population. This biomonitoring study of blood or urine heavy metals in the Korean general population provides important reference data stratified by demographic and lifestyle factors that will be useful for the ongoing surveillance of environmental exposure of Koreans to toxic metals.