Chan-Seok Moon

Levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid in female serum samples from Japan in 2008, Korea in 1994–2008 and Vietnam in 2007–2008

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) have recently received attention owing to their widespread contamination in the environment. One of major manufacturers, 3M Company voluntarily phased out PFOS production in 2002. We measured the PFOS and PFOA concentrations in serum samples from Japan (Sendai, Takayama and Osaka), Korea (Busan and Seoul) and Vietnam (Hanoi) to evaluate the possible effects of the phase-out on the serum levels. There were spatial differences in both the serum PFOS and PFOA concentrations. The serum PFOS concentrations (ngmL(-1)) evaluated as the geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) in 2007-2008 ranged from 4.86 (1.45) in Sendai, Japan, to 9.36 (1.42) in Busan, Korea. The serum PFOA concentrations ranged from 0.575 (2.32) in Hanoi, Vietnam, to 14.2 (1.73) in Osaka, Japan. Historically archived samples collected from Korea in 1994-2008 revealed that the serum PFOA concentrations increased by 1.24-fold in Busan from 2000 to 2008 and 1.41-fold in Seoul from 1994 to 2007. On the other hand, the serum PFOS concentrations did not change from 1994 to 2007/2008. The serum PFOS levels in Japan in 2008 were significantly decreased compared with previously reported values (22.3-66.7% of the values in 2003/2004). However, the serum PFOA levels showed a clear decline from 2003 to 2008 in a high-exposed area, Osaka, but not in low-exposed areas in Japan. The trends toward decreases were not uniformly observed in Asian countries, unlike the case for the United States, suggesting that local factors associated with the production and introduction histories in each country overwhelm the effects of the phase-out.

Odd-numbered perfluorocarboxylates predominate over perfluorooctanoic acid in serum samples from Japan, Korea and Vietnam

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has recently attracted attention as a potential health risk following environmental contamination. However, information detailing exposure to perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) other than PFOA is limited. We measured the concentrations of PFCAs (from perfluorohexanoic acid to perfluorotetradecanoic acid) in serum samples obtained from patients in Japan (Sendai, Takayama, Kyoto and Osaka) between 2002 and 2009, Korea (Busan and Seoul) between 1994 and 2008 and Vietnam (Hanoi) in 2007/2008. Total PFCA levels (geometric mean) were increased from 8.9 ng mL(-1) to 10.3 ng mL(-1) in Japan; from 7.0 ng mL(-1) to 9.2 ng mL(-1) in Korea; and were estimated at 4.7 ng mL(-1) in Vietnam. PFCAs of greater length than PFOA were significantly increased in Sendai, Takayama and Kyoto, Japan, and levels of long-chain PFCAs exceeded PFOA levels in serum. Among these PFCAs, perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) was the predominant component (28.5%), followed by perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA 17.5%), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA 7.9%), perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA 6.1%) and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA 1.8%). Odd-numbered PFCAs (PFNA, PFUnDA and PFTrDA) were also observed in Korea and Vietnam and their presence increased significantly in Korea between 1994 and 2007/2008. The proportion of long-chain PFCAs in serum was relatively high compared to reports in Western countries. Further investigations into the sources and exposure routes are needed to predict the future trajectory of these serum PFCA levels.

Detection of dicofol and related pesticides in human breast milk from China, Korea and Japan.

Previously, we demonstrated that the concentrations of DDTs were greater in breast milk collected from Chinese mothers than from Japanese and Korean mothers. To investigate dicofol as a possible source of the DDTs in human breast milk, we collected breast milk samples from 2007 to 2009 in China (Beijing), Korea (Seoul, Busan) and Japan (Sendai, Takarazuka and Takayama). Using these breast milk samples, we quantified the concentrations of dichlorobenzophenone, a pyrolysis product of dicofol (simply referred to as dicofol hereafter), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs) using GC-MS. Overall, 12 of 14 pooled breast milk samples from 210 mothers contained detectable levels of dicofol (>0.1 ng g⁻¹ lipid). The geometric mean concentration of dicofol in the Japanese breast milk samples was 0.3 ng g⁻¹ lipid and significantly lower than that in Chinese (9.6 ng g⁻¹ lipid) or Korean breast milk samples (1.9 ng g⁻¹ lipid) (p<0.05 for each). Furthermore, the ΣDDT levels in breast milk from China were 10-fold higher than those from Korea and Japan. The present results strongly suggest the presence of extensive emission sources of both dicofol and DDTs in China. However, exposure to dicofol cannot explain the large exposure of Chinese mothers to DDTs because of the trace levels of dicofol in the ΣDDTs. In the present study, dicofol was confirmed to be detectable in human breast milk. This is the first report to identify dicofol in human samples.

Evaluation of Cd and Pb Intake and Exposure Routes in Some Korean Women

The publications on dietary intake, respiratory intake and blood concentration of cadmium and lead in some Korean women are reviewed. Reported values of dietary Cd intake as geometric mean were in 1986, in 1994, in 2000, and blood concentration were in 1986, in 1994 and in 2000, respectively. In case of Pb, the dietary intake were in 1986, in 1994, and in 2000 and the blood concentration were in 1986, in 1994, in 2000, respectively. Dietary intake is an almost exclusive route of Cd exposure, however respiratory intake in case of Pb is thought to affective exposure route in Korean women. When compared with the values reported in the literature, both of dietary Cd and Pb intake levels appear to be similar to or somewhat higher than the levels in east and south-east Asia.

Higher cadmium burden in coastal areas than in inland areas in Korea: implications for seafood intake

This survey was initiated to examine possible coastal-inland differences in cadmium (Cd) burden in general Korean populations. In total, 268 healthy non-smoking middle-aged women (30 to 49 years; 88 residents in 8 coastal areas and 180 residents in 15 inland areas) participated in the study. They offered peripheral blood and spot urine samples so that cadmium in blood (Cd-B) and urine (Cd-U) were taken as exposure markers. Determination of Cd-B and Cd-U was carried out by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. With regard to Cd burden, geometric means for the coastal and inland residents were 1.70 and 1.72 μg/L for Cd-B, 1.54 and 1.00 μg/L for Cd-U as observed (Cd-U), 2.59 and 1.81 μg/g creatinine for Cd-U as corrected for creatinine (Cd-Ucr), respectively. Cd-U and Cd-Ucr were higher in the coastal areas than in inland areas. Reasons for higher Cd-U in the coastal areas than in the inland areas were are discussed in relation to major sources of Cd in daily life of the residents. Attention was paid to consumption of fish and shellfish in the coastal areas as major sources of dietary Cd intake. This study shows that Cd burdens were higher in coastal areas than in inland areas in Korea.

Estimation of PCDDs/PCDFs Intake for Korean Children and Their Mothers Through Daily Foods

This study was performed to evaluate the congeners of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins(PCDDS) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans(PCDFs) in Korean foods among children in Korea, in comparison with the findings in their mothers. The PCDDs and PCDFs intakes of 24-h diet duplicates were estimated from the previous Korean reports. In Korean children and their mothers of this study, major sources of lipid intake were plant-based foods(62% for children, 66% for their mothers). The women took 34% of lipid from animal sources, among which meats were leading sources of animal lipids(30%). Fish and shellfish were accounted for 4% in total lipid intake. Daily intake of PCDDs and PCDFs in the children md their mothers were 0.002-3.188 and 0.002-2.717 pg WHO-TEQ/day in animal sources and ND-0.283 and ND-0.296 pg WHO-TEQ/day in plant sources, respectively. PCDDs/PCDFs intake from animal origin was the major exposure source for both children and their mothers in Korea. Among the 17 PCDD/Fs congeners, 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran was assumed to be the effective exposure marker for diet intake.

Time Trends in Estimated Dietary Lead Intake from the Variation of Intake Weight Per Food Group

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the possible changes over the past ten years in the estimated daily dietary lead intake (Pb-D) stemming from the variation of daily intake amounts for each food group. The following factors were considered; 1. time trends in Pb-D as the estimated values, 2. the time trend in Pb-D by food groups 3. the most influential food groups for dietary Pb intake. Methods: Estimated Pb-D was drawn from food consumption according to food groups reported in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey and the lead contents of each food group as reported in 23 prior publications. Results: The estimated Pb-D in a 2009 survey was 40.8 , of which 22.5 (55.1%) was of plant origin and 18.3 (44.9%) was of animal origin. Meats and poultry, fish and shellfish among foods of animal origin and beverages of plant origin had the largest contribution in Pb-D among the food groups. Conclusion: Over past ten years, daily lead intakes have slightly increased among men. Otherwise, no clear variation is apparent among women.

Concentration of Fe, Cu, Zn in 24-hour Food Duplicate Samples: Quantitative Analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometry

The present study was initiated to examine the measures of dietary intake of Fe, Cu and Zn. The food duplicate samples were collected in Busan and its neighboring area, from the 69 middle-aged women (healthy non-smoking, mostly house wives), who provided informed consent. The samples were wet ashed by being heated in the presence of mineral acids, and Fe, Cu, Zn in the wet-ashed samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES). Dietary intake of Fe, Cu and Zn were 10.4 mg/day in Fe, 1.2 mg/day in Cu, 7.4 mg/day as arithmetic mean. The values for dietary Fe and Zn were lower, and the values for dietary Cu were higher than the recommended daily intake from Korean Nutrition Society. Further studies of Korean foods are needed to clarify the representative values for daily dietary Fe, Cu and Zn intake in the Korean population.

Development and Validation of Reference Material for Proficiency Testing of Blood Heavy Metals in Environmental Biomonitoring

Objectives: This study developed and validated reference materials (RMs) to analyze metal compounds in blood. Methods: We referred to KoNEHS (Korea National Environmental Health Survey) to estimate concentrations of blood metals (cadmium, Cd; lead, Pb; mercury, Hg) and applied analytical methods (inductively coupled plasma – mass spectroscopy, ICP-MS, for Cd and Pb; graphite furnace – atomic absorption spectrometry, GFAAS, for Cd and Pb; and direct mercury analyzer, DMA, for Hg). Homogeneity and stability tests were carried out. In addition, certified values and uncertainties of RMs were calculated through internal and external experiments. All RMs were developed and assessed in various forms according to element, analytical method, and two types of concentration levels high concentration for occupational exposure and low concentration for environmental exposure. Results: All samples showed acceptable homogeneity, except for low concentration of Cd in the GF-AAS method. Shortand long-term stabilities were satisfied by ANOVA testing. In the inter-laboratory comparison, robust medians were lower than the certified values of all RMs (robust median/reference value; 1.301/1.327 μg/L for Cd, ICP-MS, low concentration; 3.152/3.388 μg/L for Cd, ICP-MS, high concentration; 1.219/1.301 μg/L for Corresponding author: E-mail: neworder@korea.ac.kr Received: 15 October 2016, Revised: 7 December 2016, Accepted: 8 December 2016 원 저 Original articles 451 임호섭 · 양민호 · 오세림 · 김소영 · 정호준 · 조용민 · 이정섭 · 김현정 · 이채관 · 문찬석 · 이종화 J Environ Health Sci 2016; 42(6): 450-464 http://www.kseh.org/ Cd, GF-AAS, low concentration; 3.074/3.321 μg/L for Cd, GF-AAS, high concentration; 14.473/14.516 μg/L for Pb, ICP-MS, low concentration; 50.069/50.114 μg/L for Pb, ICP-MS, high concentration; 12.881/14.147 μg/L for Pb, GF-AAS, low concentration; 47.015/47.591 μg/L for Pb, GF-AAS, high concentration; 4.059/4.218 μg/L for Hg, DMA, low concentration; 11.474/11.181 μg/L for Hg, DMA, high concentration). Conclusion: This study demonstrates procedures for developing and validating RMs for biomonitoring in the field of the environmental health.

Determinant Factors for Blood VOCs Exposures in College Students

Department of Industrial Health, Catholic University of Pusan, Basan 609-757, Korea*Department of Environmental and Industrial Health, Graduate School, Catholic University of Pusan,Busan 609-757, KoreaABSTRACTObjectives: The objective of this study was to identify determine factors for blood VOCs levels in collegestudents.Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from healthy 29 male and 25 female volunteers. The sampleswere analyzed with solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Results: Blood concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m-,p-xylene, o-xylene were higher in smokinggroup than in non-smoking group. Geometric means of smoking group and non-smoking group were 0.45 and0.36 µg/L in benzene, 0.82 and 0.47µg/L in toluene, 0.44 and 0.41µg/L in ethylbenzene, 0.49 and 0.39µg/Lin m-,p-xylene and 0.47 and 0.43µg/L in o-xylene, respectively. Gender, alcohol drinking, coffee, commutingtime (30 minutes) by a car and adjacency between home and road were not associated with increasing bloodVOCs concentrations of college students.Conclusion: Smoking habit was significantly associated with blood concentrations of benzene, toluene,ethylbenzene, o-,m-,p-xylene in college students. Keywords: blood, smoking, SPME, GC/MS, VOCs