임신 여성 근로자의 제대혈 중 망간 농도 추정

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to analyze manganese (Mn) concentrations in maternal and cord bloods at delivery and to estimate the Mn exposure risk for fetuses whose mothers were occupationally exposed to Mn. Materials and Methods: Forty-six pairs of maternal and cord blood samples were collected at delivery from mothers who were occupationally unexposed to Mn. Mn concentrations of blood were analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. Mn exposure levels for fetuses of female workers were estimated by simulating two working exposure scenarios. Results: The geometric mean concentration of Mn in maternal and cord blood were 27.0(1.34) ㎍/L, 46.6(1.25) ㎍/L, respectively. Transfer ratios of Mn from maternal to cord blood were 1.81±0.62, which indicated that the Mn concentrations in cord blood were higher than those in maternal blood. Mn concentrations in cord blood for the worse or general scenarios were estimated to 22.3-1,881 ㎍/L and 1.59-308 ㎍/L, respectively. The probabilities of exceeding 74 ㎍/L, which was adopted as a reference level reported in a previous study, were 95% and 44% for the two scenarios, respectively. Conclusions: Comparable levels of Mn exposure in maternal or cord blood to those in this study have shown various health effects in previous studies. This suggests that Mn exposure levels in mothers and fetuese in Korea need to be monitored and managed. In addition, female workers who are occupationally exposed to Mn should be protected from the exposure since their fetuses can be exposed to Mn at risky levels during their pregnancy.