Study on Mercury Exposure of Primary School Children Near by Coal-Fired Power Plants in Korea

Abstract

ISEE-713 Objective: Mercury is highly toxic and may be fatal if inhaled. It is harmful if absorbed through the skin or consumed with food. Mercury may cause harmful effects to the neural, digestive, respiratory, immune systems, and kidney on human health. This study was conducted to study the influence of existing coal-fired power plant, which is known to emit mercury artificially, on body mercury concentration levels, using biological samples of elementary school students who live in and around the coal-fired power plant area and control area. Materials and Methods: The mercury concentrations of children who live near the power plant were investigated to survey the influence of coal-fired combustion on the exposure. 3 main power plant areas and 4 control areas were selected for the investigation. Mercury analyzer using gold amalgam collection method with thermal decomposition was used. Total mercury analysis in the whole blood and urine samples and questionnaire information about the subjects’ dietary habit were analyzed as well. Results: The exposure levels of children in power plant area were 2.13 μg, 1.84 μg-creatinine in blood and urine respectively. Those of children in control area were 2.20 μg, 2.47 μg-creatinine. Different from general presumption, mercury level in control area was higher. Any obvious evidences that emissions from the power plants influenced on the mercury exposure level were not found out. Conclusions: On this study, several investigations related to health effects were conducted to evaluate the influence of mercury exposure but any special evidences were not found. Food-related factors such as preference for fish and frequency of fish intake were found to be the main sources of mercury exposure in domestic children.