Environmental Exposure to Arsenic, Lead, and Cadmium in People Living near Janghang Copper Smelter in Korea

Abstract

Concentrations of heavy metals exceed safety thresholds in the soil near Janghang Copper Refinery, a smelter in Korea that operated from 1936 to 1989. This study was conducted to evaluate the level of exposure to toxic metals and the potential effect on health in people living near the smelter. The study included 572 adults living within 4 km of the smelter and compared them with 413 controls group of people living similar lifestyles in a rural area approximately 15 km from the smelter. Urinary arsenic (As) level did not decrease according to the distance from the smelter, regardless of gender and working history in smelters and mines. However, in subjects who had no occupational exposure to toxic metals, blood lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and urinary Cd decreased according to the distance from the smelter, both in men and women. Additionally, the distance from the smelter was a determinant factor for a decrease of As, Pb, and Cd in multiple regression models, respectively. On the other hands, urinary Cd was a risk factor for renal tubular dysfunction in populations living near the smelter. These results suggest that Janghang copper smelter was a main contamination source of As, Pb, and Cd, and populations living near the smelter suffered some adverse health effects as a consequence. The local population should be advised to make efforts to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, in order to minimize potential health effects, and to pay close attention to any health problems possibly related to toxic metal exposure.

Environmental exposure to arsenic, lead, and cadmium in people living near Janghang copper smelter in Korea

“…Cadmium measured in whole blood and urine reflects longterm exposure levels to Cd (12). In subjects without an occupational history of working in the smelter, levels of Cd in blood and urine showed a decreasing trend with distance from the smelter, and these results suggest that the people living near the smelter were subjected to significant Cd exposure from contaminated soil, water, and crops at least until cultivation was banned in the area in 2007.…”

The pollution indices of trace elements in soils and plants close to the copper and zinc smelting works in Poland’s Lower Silesia

“…The metallurgical industry of non-ferrous metals is particularly oppressive to the environment and human health (Mukhacheva 2017;Kim et al 2016;Kalinovic et al, 2016;Jamshidian et al 2015). In Poland, this industry dynamically develops mainly in Upper and Lower Silesia, significantly changing the quality of the environment near the smelters (Kapusta and Sobczyk 2015;Skubała and Zaleski 2012;Damek-Poprawa and Sawicka-Kapusta 2003).…”

Relationship between Heavy Metal Exposure and Bone Mineral Density in Korean Adult

“…[11] In Korea, studies have investigated the association between cadmium concentration and the incidence of fractures in an industrial region. [12] However, research on the association between heavy metals and bone health is lack.…”