Abstract

For the purpose of determination the normal values of some parameters relevant to lead exposure, a study was carried out from April to June 30, 1986 on 258 healthy Korean adults who have had no apparent lead exposure. The lead indices subjected to this study were as follows; blood lead (PbB), hemoglobin (Hb), zinc protopprphyrin in blood (ZPP), delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity in blood, coproporphyrin in urine (CPU), delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine (ALAU). 1) The mean value of PbB was 17.17+/-7.87 microgram/100ml, and there was no statistically significant difference by age & sex. The distribution of PbB fitted to the log-normal distribution (chi-square=7.38, p>0.1). 2) The mean value of Hb in male (15.17+/-1.56g/100ml) was higher than in female (13.22+/-1.51 g/100ml)(p<0.01). The distribution of Hb fitted to the normal distribution (chi-square=9.40, p>0.1). 3) The mean value of ZPP was 32.61+/-8.78 microgram/100ml, and there was no statistically significant difference by age & sex. The distribution of ZPP fitted to the normal distribution (chi-square=13.93, p>0.05). The correlation of ZPP & ALAD (r=-0.229), CPU (r=0.183) was statistically significant respectively. 4) The mean value of ALAD was 30.20+/-10.96 mol ALA/min/L of R.B.C., and there was no statistically significant difference by age & sex. The distribution of ALAD activity did not fit to the normal distribution. The correlation between ALAD & PbB (r=-0.219) was statistically significant. 5) The mean value of CPU was 36.10+/-24.54 microgram/L, and there was no statistically significant difference by age & sex. The distribution of CPU did not fit to the normal distribution. The correlation between CPU & PbB (r=0.185), ZPP (r=0.183) was statistically significant respectively. 6) The meant value of ALAU was 1.94+/-0.96 ml/L, and there was no statistically significant difference by age & sex. The distribution of ALAU fitted to the normal distribution (chi-square=9.76, p>0.1).