Hg-B ; health effect ; kidney function ; oxidative damage life factor
Abstract
Although, mercury (Hg) is not a naturally abundant element in the environment, residues frequently occur in many environmental compartments because of widespread contamination from industrial and agricultural practices. This research evaluated Hg-B concentrations of general population who was not occupationally exposed. And also evaluates the association between life factor and health effect with Hg-B concentration of general adult through interrelationship estimation and index about kidney function and oxidative damage that appeared by questionnaire survey and medical examination. Average concentration of Hg-B was 3.19 μg/L (ND~8.64 μg/L), and persons who exceed mercury exposure level (5 μg/L) presented in WHO (1990) appeared by 16 (7.0%). High-risk group (smoking and meat main intake group) had significantly higher Hg-B concentration than low-risk group (non-smoking and vegetable diet main intake group) (p < 0.05, low-risk group: 3.30 μg/L (ND~8.64 μg/L), high-risk group: 4.27 μg/L (ND~7.84 μg/L).