Determination of Trace Metal Levels in the General Population of Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of trace metals in the blood of the general Korean population. A total of 258 healthy individuals, according to their regular medical check-ups, (119 males and 139 females, age ranging from 12 to 78 years old) were enrolled from December 2014 to December 2016. Levels of 10 trace elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The geometric mean (GM) levels for lead, arsenic, cesium, mercury, aluminum, cadmium, copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc were 15.97 μg/L, 7.19 μg/L, 2.39 μg/L, 3.41 μg/L, 10.57 μg/L, 0.78 μg/L, 979.8 μg/L, 11.06 μg/L, 111.37 μg/L, and 872.7 μg/L, respectively. There were significant gender-related differences in the levels of several metals; male individuals had higher Pb, As, Cs, Hg, and Se than females, while females had higher Cd, Cu, and Mn than males. We noticed remarkably high blood levels of Hg, As and Al in the Korean population. The element concentrations reported represent a new contribution to the knowledge of the blood chemistry for the Korea population. The data can be used to assess the clinical health of this population.

Microelement composition of serum in Dolgans, indigenous inhabitants of the Russian Arctic, in the conditions of industrial development of territories

“…In our study, manganese (Mn) in serum of Dolgans was found to be 133 μg/L, which is higher than the literature data (0,58-67,0 μg/L). In our observation, serum Mn in women (135 μg/L) is 16% higher than in men (116 μg/L), which is consistent with a study in Korea, China, Italy, where the female population in the blood Mn by 11-20% higher than men [35][36][37].…”

“…The German Human Biomonitoring Commission gives Pb (RV95) in whole blood for men -90 μg/ L, in women -70 μg/L, in children -35 μg/L [56]. The study revealed a GM of 15.97 μg/L for blood Pb in this Korean population, which is lower than that of Chinese (34.9 μg/L), Italian (33.4 μg/L), Spanish (46.7 μg/L), and Brazilian (65.4 μg/L) populations, while the concentration of lead in whole blood was significantly higher in men (21.54 μg/L) than in women (15.07 μg/L) (p < 0.01) [35]. A cohort of 593 middle-aged men exposed to prolonged exposure to low doses of lead was observed.…”

“…In the Korean population, GM of blood Cs levels was 2.65 μg/L for men and 2.45 μg/L for women (p < 0.001). A distinct pattern of age association in Cs could not be found [35].…”

“…The content of serum Cu in Inuit, Mestizo, and Caucasoid women living in Arctic Canada did not differ by ethnic group [ 20 ]. According to published data, the Cu content in women is 15–17% higher than in men [ 35 , 37 , 45 – 47 ].…”

“…Lead is a toxic metal that is widely used in industry. Over the past decades, due to the reduction in the use of lead-containing gasoline, the ban on the production of lead-containing paints, and the tightening of control over industrial emissions of lead, industrialised countries have led to a decrease in the concentration of lead in the blood of the population [ 10 , 35 , 36 , 55 ]. The German Human Biomonitoring Commission gives Pb (RV95) in whole blood for men – 90 μg/L, in women – 70 μg/L, in children – 35 μg/L [ 56 ].…”