Abstract

Econmic development of Korea brought rapid progress and expansion of her industries. Accordingly, number of workers who have been exposed to hazardous metal are increasing. For better understanding the significance of on the job human metal pollution, a total of 22 solderers among autoworkers and 28 controls among medical students was purposively selected as samples of the study. From their blood, concentrations cadmium and lead were measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and to compare with statistical indices of controls those of solderers were summarized as follows. 1. Each frequency distribution of cadmium and lead concentration in blood of solderers was more positively skewed showing non-Gaussian distribution. 2. Interindividual variation of lead concentration on blood of solderers was markedly revealed. 3. Each mean of cadmium and lead concentration in blood of solderers was higher than that of controls(Cd;p<0.01, Pb;p<0.01). 4. Relative ratio of cadmium concentration in blood of solderers to that of controls was 1.36 by arithmetic mean and 1.39 geometric mean. Relative ratio of cadmium concentration in blood of solderers to that of controls was 1.53 by arithmetic 1.30 by geometric mean. 5. It was shown that concentration of lead id slightly correlation with that of cadmium both in solderers and controls(solderers;P<0.1, control;P<0.1).