Health complaints among vinylhouse workers in Sungjoo county, Kyungpook province led to the investigation of heavy metal levels of air, soil and humans as well as physical conditions of the vinylhouse.
The average temperature and humidity inside the vinylhouse were 8 higher and 10% point lower, respectively, as compared to the outside. While discomfort index(D. I.) outside was pleasant level(69.2), D. I. Inside was 82 at which point 100% of
people
feels discomfort.
Cadmium concentration of soils inside the vinylhouse(0.116 mg/kg) was 1.8 times higher than the soils outside. Arsenic concentration of soils inside the vinylhouse(4.882 mg/kg) was only slightly higher than the soils outside(4. 182 mg/kg).
However,
both
heavy metal concentrations detected in soils inside or outside the vinylhouse were within the normal range.
Analysis of 10 air samples taken inside the vinylhouse showed that only one sample had a cadmium concentration above the detectable level and the rest of samples were below the detectable levels.
While there were no difference of arsenic concentrations in urine between male and female, cadmium concentrations in urine samples of female (3.31 ug/1) was slightly higher than male(2.38 ug/1).Age-dependent increases of cadmium concentrations in
samples were also observed. However, there was no concentration difference of these heavy metals in urine between vinylhouse workers and non-vinylhouse workers. Urine concentrations of cadmium and arsenic detected from vinylhouse workers or
non-vinylhouse workers were within the normal range.
The present study represents a first attempt to evaluate physical and environmental risk factors of the vinylhouse affecting the vinylhouse farmer's health. The study revealed that, while physical conditions of the vinylhouse such as temperature
and
humidity are the possible factors associated with the farmer's complaints, environmental contamination as judged from heavy metal levels on soil, air and humans is not a risk factor contributing to the vinylhouse farmer's health problem.
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