The Ministry of the Environment has released the results the government's first-ever study of how much heavy metal is found in the blood of the average Korean adult. It says it is not at dangerous levels, but there is much more mercury in people's blood than is the case in Germany or the United States. It urgently needs to commence on a detailed study of the causes and sections of the population that are at particularly high risk of mercury poisoning.
The study was of 2,000 male and female adult individuals and showed that the average mercury density is 4.34 micrograms per liter. That is not a dangerous amount when measured according to the accepted level in Germany. For people who are particularly sensitive it starts to become dangerous at 15 micrograms per liter. It is still too much for comfort, being 4.5 to 7 times more than levels in Germany and the U.S.. The government especially needs to figure out exactly what is causing the intense amount of mercury and take action in response.
Most pressing of all is the need for a detailed inquiry into parts of the population at high risk, like persons living in industrial areas and irregular or migrant workers in production jobs. The average for the top 5 percent among those with mercury in their blood is 11.69 micrograms per liter, or 1.8 percent (15 micrograms) out of everyone. That being the case, it is possible that some within the high-risk population have an especially high density of mercury. There needs to be regular tracking and attention to that segment of the country, together with detailed study of what the situation is for them. That will require steady study the problem by region and social group.
Heavy metal poisoning is hard to treat, so prevention is the best approach. That being the case, it will be important that the dangers of heavy metal are made known and that people are educated about how to deal with them, and that the government does not neglect supervision of companies that handle such substances. These days there are plenty of laborers who toil in risky conditions, so it must not be forgotten that the slightest carelessness can lead to major misfortune.
The Hankyoreh, 7 February 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Learning the Dangers of Heavy Metal Poisoning |
