Rapid economic development and industrialization has been accompanied by use of energy, also accompanied by environmental pollution. The consumption of gasoline has been increased totally, but decreased in leaded gasoline after 1988 in Korea. On the other hand, risk assessment of environmental pollutants requires reliable dose estimate. Source oriented monitoring is not providing adequate information to estimate human exposure. The Health Surveillance Project for inhabitants in the vicinity of 12 industrial complex areas including one non -industrial area has been launched in Korea from 1980, which has been questioned of their symptoms based on questionnaires and underwent medical examinations. 9, 337 inhabitants living in these 13 areas donated their blood & urine for heavy metal analysis from 1980 to 1995 through this project. Especially lead levels in inhabitants' blood of these areas were monitored. Average lead concentrations by areas were from 15.2 to 21.0 μg/dl in 1981 but were from 3.6 to 3. 7 μg/dl in 1994. Its concentrations in blood have been decreased rapidly after the use of unleaded gasoline from nearby 1988 which Seoul Olympic Games was held in. In the meanwhile, China also monitored lead levels in inhabitants' blood. 2,830 inhabitants living in 28 areas donated their blood for heavy metal analysis from 1981 to" 1988. Average lead concentrations by areas were from 6.8 to 9. 0 μg/dl before 1984 but were from 5.7 to 12.8 μg/dl after 1984. It was estimated that lead level in blood has been increases gradually in large cities. The recent policy of unleaded gasoline use for automobile will be a very proper policy for the management of atmospheric lead pollution & health risk assessment in general population in China. It is recommended that it should be propelled more widely and fastly to whole country.
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