Reference Values of Cadmium in Kidney and Liver in Korean / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Cadmium (Cd), a toxic and non-essential metal, is recognized as a human carcinogen, which has a tendency to accumulate in the human body. The levels of Cd in renal cortex and liver are good indicators as an index of Cd exposure in the general population. In this study, we present an estimation of reference Cd levels in tissue (renal cortex and liver) and total body burden in the general population of Korea. MEDTHODS: Cd and zinc (Zn) were analyzed in renal cortex and liver from 254 autopsies (male : 188 cases, female : 66 cases) aged 0 to 87 years. RESULTS: Geometric mean concentration of Cd was 27.4 and 3.1 ua/g wet weight in renal cortex and liver, respectively. The level of Zn in renal cortex and liver was 35.4 and 42. 6 v/g wet weight, respectively. The result suggests that kidney is the target organ for Cd accumulation. The accumulation of Cd in renal cortex was age-dependent with a biphasic pattern. The level of Cd in renal cortex increased with age up to the fifties, and then leveled off thereafter. Based on the data, the regression model for Cd accumulation in renal cortex by age is predicted by : Log KCd = 0. 2325 + 0. 0553 Age 0. 0005 Age. The highest Cd accumulation in renal cortex of Koreans was estimated at 43. 3 ua/g wet weight at 50. 8 years old. In addition, the total Cd body burden by age was estimated by the following equation: Total Cd Body Burden = -4. 5948 + l. 2278 Age - 0. 0121 Age. The highest body burden of Cd was estimated at 26. 5 mg at age 50. 7 years in the Korean general population. The positive correlation between Zn and Cd was observed in renal cortex and liver. CONCLUSIONS: The level of Cd exposure in Korean was found to be lower than in Japanese, but same as or higher than in American and Europeans.

The Influence of Smoking, Alcohol Ingestion, and Physical Activity on Copper, Zinc and Ceruloplasmin in Blood of Male Adults / 대한산업의학회지

Objective : To investigate the influence of smoking, alcohol ingestion, and physical activity on copper and zinc in RBC and serum and serum ceruloplasmin, this study was performed in a cross-sectional study in 113 healthy men aged 20 to 40 years who had no symptomatic liver, heart, gastrointestinal, and other chronic diseases. METHODS: At the men's entry into the study, blood samples were drawn from each subject and immediately centrifuged for analysis of copper, zinc, iron, ceruloplasmin, total cholesterol, and hematocrit. Each man completed a questionnaire that provided information on smoking, amount of alcohol intake, and physical activity. Partial regres sion analysis was performed on confounding variables such as age, body mass index, hematocrit, serum cholesterol, and serum iron. RESULTS: In general linear models, adjustment for confounding variables did not show statistical differences, and there was only an increasing tendency in serum copper in heavy smoker (P=0.0678). There was no difference between high physical activity with mild smokers and lower physical activfty with, heavy smokers. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that copper, zinc and eeruloplasmin were not good biomarker for early effect by smoking, alcohol intake and physical activity in young adult. However, selection bias should be considered in evaluation of this result, and a large prospective study will be needed in advance on usefulness of copper, zinc and ceruloplasmin as a marker for risk factors and early change of atherosclerosis.

Reference Value of Cadmium in Myocardium in Korean / 대한산업의학회지

Cadmium(Cd) is an ubiquitous, toxic and non-essential metal which is controversial about the association with a cardiovascular disease. In this study, we investigated the reference level of Cd in myocardium in Korean general population. The level of Cd and zinc(Zn) concentration in myocardium of 252 cases of "sudden and unexpected death" autopsies(male 172, female 60) aged 0 to 87 years was analyzed. The concentration of Cd and Zn was determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometer(Perkin-Elmer Model 5100) by flameless and flame method, respectively. The content of Cd and Zn in myocardium showed the log-normal distribution rather than normal distribution. Geometric mean concentration of Cd was 0.19 microgram/g wet weight in myocardium. The level of Cd in myocardium was not significantly different between male(0. 18 microgram/g wet weight) and female(0.22 microgram/g wet weight). Geometric mean concentration of Zn in myocardium was 25.25 microgram/g wet weight. The level of Zn between male(25.13 microgram/g wet weight) and female(25.57 microgram/g wet weight) was not different. The deposit of Cd in myocardium was age-dependent of biphasic pattern, but the Zn level by age was not significantly different. The level of Cd in myocardium was increased to the fifties of age, thereafter a leveling-off was shown. The regression model of Cd deposit in myocardium by age was predicted as the following equation Log Heart-Cd = -1.2726 + 0.0234 Age - 0.0002 Age2. The maximum Cd deposit in myocardium was estimated to be 0.26 microgram/g wet weight at the age of 58.5 in Korean general population. In addition, the total Cd burden in heart by age was predicted as a following equation Total Cd burden in Heart = -10.165 + 2.891 Age - 0.0258 Age2. The maximum heart burden of Cd was estimated to be 70.7 microgram at age of 55.4. The positive correlation between Cd and Zn was observed in myocardium. The linear regression equation was Log Heart-Zn = 1.4195 +/- 0.0262- Log Heart-Cd.

The Influence of Smoking and Alcohol Intake on Copper, Zinc, and Nitric Oxide Concentration in Serum / 예방의학회지

To investigate the change of nitric oxide(No), copper, and zinc in serum on smoking and alcohol ingestion in young adults, this study was performed in a cross-sectional study in 127 healthy, men in Korea who had HBsAg(-), HCVAb(-), and no symptomatic liver, heart, gastrointestinal, chronic diseases, and inflammatory sign(lower than 10,000 white blood cell count in CBC). At the men's entry into the study, blood samples were drawn from each subject and immediately centrifuged for analysis of NO, copper, and zinc. Each man completed a questionnaire that provided information on smoking, alcohol intake and present and past medical history. NO was analyzed by HPLC(Green et al., 1982), copper and zinc by atomic absorption spectrophotometer with air-acetylene flame and total cholesterol(TC) by Spectrum EPX. smoking(number of cigarettes per day and pack-year) and alcohol intake was grouped tertile. Copper was adjusted for age and zinc and for age and TC. NO, copper, and zinc on smoking and alcohol ingestion were analyzed in general linear models, respectively. NO, copper and zinc in serum did not show statistical differences between non-smoking and high-smoking group and no-alcohol intake and high-alcohol intake group. This study, suggested that copper, zinc, and NO was not good biological marker for early effect by smoking and alcohol intake in young adults. However, selection bias should be Considered in evaluation of this result. A large prospective study, will be needed in advance on usefulness of copper, zinc, and NO as a marker for risk fictors and early change of atherosclerosis.

A Study on Urinary Cadmium Concentration and Renal Indices of Inhabitant in an Abandoned Mine Area / 예방의학회지

Urinary cadmium is used as a sensitive indicator for internal Cd dose, and increased excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG), beta(2)microglobulin(MG) and total protein are useful indices for renal dysfunction by chronic exposure to Cd. The target group was 184 inhabitant(82 men and 102 women) in an abandoned mine area known as exposure to low level Cd. The control group was took 160 individuals(64 men and 96 women) in Cd not-exposed area. Urinary Cd concentration was significantly higher in the target group than the control. The geometric mean of urinary Cd for male was 2.56ng/l, 2.80ng/g creatinine and 2.50ng/S.G. in the target group and 1.19ng/l, 1.36ng/g creatinine and 1.17ng/S.G. in the control. For female 2.69ng/l, 3.94ng/g creatinine and 2.63ng/S.G. in the target group and 1.27ng/l, 1.97ng/g creatinine and 1.25ng/S.G. in the control, respectively. In addition, urinary Cd of the target group had affected by the period of residence and dietary habit for the rice and the vegetables from the target area. These findings suggest the chronic exposure to Cd of the target population. Mean excretion of urinary NAG, beta(2)MG and total protein were not significant between two groups. In the target group, urinary NAG activity and total protein were significantly correlated with urinary Cd, but beta(2)MG was not related. Urinary excretion of NAG, beta(2)MG and total protein were significantly increased in 10 than in <2 of urinary Cd level. In 2~10 group of urinary Cd level, the excretion of NAG significantly increased while not showed for beta(2)MG. In present study, urinary excretion of NAG was relatively sensitive than beta(2)MG in chronic exposure population to low level Cd.

Species Differences in Effect of Ethanol to Urinary Metabolites Excretion of Trichloroethylene in Mice and Rats / 예방의학회지

This study was conducted to examine the species differences in the urinary excretion of trichloroethanol(TCE-OH) and trichloroacetic acid(TCA) of trichloroethylene(TCE) metabolites and the effect of ethanol on these metabolites in mice and rats. TCE administered to Male Sprague Dawley rats and ICR mice as a single oral dose(100, 200, 500, 1,000 or 2,000 mg/kg body weight) and ethanol(3.0 g/kg body weight) was taken orally 12 hours before TCE administration. The metabolites in urine were measured 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours after TCE administration. The results of metabolite excretion were as follows; Total trichlorocompounds(TTC) in urine increased with TCE dose in mice while increased only below dose of 1,000 mg/kg TCE in rats. The net excretion of TCE metabolites was significantly greater in mice than rats, although the proportion of TCE-OH to TCA was not different between mice and rats. These findings indicate that mice were internally exposed to significantly higher concentration of TCE metabolites than rats and this trend appeared to be more prominent with the increase of TCE dose. Ethanol increased significantly TCE-OH in urine of rats while the increase of TCE-OH induced by ethanol was not significant in mice, and didn't increase TCA of urine in both of rats and mice. This result suggests that the effect of ethanol on TCE metabolism may be due to the increase of TCE-OH.

Biological Indices for Early Detection of Cadmium Poisoning: Significance of Urinary Metallothionein / 대한산업의학회지

Metallothionein(MT) is a low molecular weight protein that is induced as a defence mechanism for cadmium (Cd) toxicity. In present study, urinary MT was determined using a competitive ELISA in Cd-exposed rats. In addition, measures the urinary, blood and renal Cd concentration and the urinary excretion of total protein, beta 2-microglobulin (MG) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) at 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 days after Cd injection in Cd-exposed rats with dosers of 0.8 and 1.6 mg Cd/kg body weight respectively. The urinary, blood and renal Cd were specific for Cd-exposure, that increased in proportional to dose of Cd. The urinary and blood Cd tended to slightly decrease, while renal Cd tended to increase by lapse of time after Cd exposure. this finding indicates that renal Cd is more specific than urinary and blood Cd for Cd exposure. The urinary excretion of MT showed a statistically significant increase in Cd exposed rats(0.8 and 1.6 no Cd/kg body weight). The increase of urinary excretion of MT was more evident at 7, 14, 28 lays after Cd exposure than the changes of urinary excretion of total protein, beta-MG and NAG. The Pearson's correlation coefficients between urinary Cd and urinary MT, beta-MG, NAG and total protein were 0.4344, 0.3727, 0.3307 and 0.2099, respectively. These findings indicate that the urinary MT is more sensitive and specific than total protein, beta-MG and NAG for Cd exposure. The present results suggest that the urinary MT, using a simple and rapid competitive ELISA, is a valuable index as screening test in epidemiologic study for Cd exposed group.

Biological Index for Cadmium Exposure: Assay of Metallothionein by Competitive ELISA / 대한산업의학회지

Metallothionein (MT) is a cadmium binding protein that played major' roles in protective mechanism for cadmium toxicity. In the present study, competitive ELISA was established to assay the MT expression utilizing monospecific antibody which was generated against MT-L A total of 10 Sprague-Dawley rats was injected with CdCl2 for two weeks to induce MT. The cytosolic fraction of rat liver was obtained by differential centrifugation. Two major MT isozymes (MT-I & MT-II) at ca. 10 kDa were purified by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration followed by DEAE-Trisacryl-M anion exchange column chromatogra-phy, respectively. Two rabbits were immunized 4 times consecutively with the conjugate of purified MT-L The sera were collected by heart puncture. When immunoblot was carried out, the immunized rabbit sera (anti-MT-I) exhibited specific immunoreactive band at MT-I while showed any cross reactions neither with MT-II nor with other cytosolic proteins.. By chequerboard titration using the monospecific antibody, the competitive ELISA was established. The dose-dependent relationship was observed between anti-MT-I antibody and the amount of MT in biological samples (r(2)=O.9980). These results suggested strongly that competitive ELISA is a simple, rapid and reproducible method for screening cadmium exposure.

Biological Index for Cadmium Exposure: Assay of Metallothionein by Competitive ELISA / 대한산업의학회지

Metallothionein (MT) is a cadmium binding protein that played major' roles in protective mechanism for cadmium toxicity. In the present study, competitive ELISA was established to assay the MT expression utilizing monospecific antibody which was generated against MT-L A total of 10 Sprague-Dawley rats was injected with CdCl2 for two weeks to induce MT. The cytosolic fraction of rat liver was obtained by differential centrifugation. Two major MT isozymes (MT-I & MT-II) at ca. 10 kDa were purified by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration followed by DEAE-Trisacryl-M anion exchange column chromatogra-phy, respectively. Two rabbits were immunized 4 times consecutively with the conjugate of purified MT-L The sera were collected by heart puncture. When immunoblot was carried out, the immunized rabbit sera (anti-MT-I) exhibited specific immunoreactive band at MT-I while showed any cross reactions neither with MT-II nor with other cytosolic proteins.. By chequerboard titration using the monospecific antibody, the competitive ELISA was established. The dose-dependent relationship was observed between anti-MT-I antibody and the amount of MT in biological samples (r(2)=O.9980). These results suggested strongly that competitive ELISA is a simple, rapid and reproducible method for screening cadmium exposure.

Normal Predicted Values of Pulmonary Function of the Primary School Children in Rural Area and Sensitive Index of Respiratory Symptoms / 예방의학회지

Pulmonary function tests were conducted on 815 healthy primary school children (390 males and 425 female) in rural area using Collins Survey Spirometer (warren E. collins, Inc, U. S. A.) with X-Y Recorder. Respiratory symptoms(cough, sputum, sore throat, chest pain, chest tightness, dyspnea, coryza) were surveyed by the interviews. Multiple regression analysis and regression diagnostics were done for prediction equations of FVC, FEV1, PEFR and FEF25-75% . FVC, FEV1, PEFR and FEF25-75% values in 3 groups of children classified by the number of symptom were compared each other through standard variable value. FVC, FEV1, PEFR and FEF25-75% showed highly significant correlation with age, height and weight. Prediction equations for FVC, FEV1, PEER, FEF25-75% are functions of height only in both male and female children aged between 6 and 12 years old. PEFR showed a significant difference related with the number of symptom in female. These results suggest that the PEFR is sensitive PFT parameter in this study.

Changes of Cadmium in Blood and Urine of Cadmium Exposed Rats / 대한산업의학회지

The changes of Cadmium(Cd) in plasma, whole blood, erythrocyte and urine in Sprague-Dawley male rates exposed to intravenous single injection of 0.8 mg CdCl2/kg of body weight were investigated. Blood sample was taken at 0.5 to 672 hours, and 24 hour-urine was collected by using metabolic cage for the same period. The plasma level of Cd was reached to peak at 0.5 hour after injection and reduced rapidly in 1 hour. The Cd level in blood was the highest in plasma and the lowest in erythrocyte at 0.5 hour after injection. However, in one hour postinjection, the levels of Cd were higher in order of erythrocyte, whole blood and plasma, up to 4 weeks. The changes of urinary volume and creatinine were not significant between Cd-treated and saline-treated groups. However, urinary protein was slightly increased with time in Cd-treated group. Urinary Cd level was higher in Cd treated group than control. These results suggest that the measurement of Cd in erythrocyte and urine is valuable for the biological index to estimate recent Cd exposure.

Changes in Cadmium Deposit and Histopathologic Finding of Testis, Liver and Kidney in Cadmium Exposed Rats / 대한산업의학회지

To assess the changes of cadmium deposit and histopathologic finding of testis, liver and kidney, different dose of cadmium (Cd) was administered into male Sprague-Dawley rat(purchased from KIST, Korea Institute of Science and Technology) by single intravenous injection. At 12, 24, 48, 168 and 672 hours after Cd injection, tissue cadmium concentration and histopathological change were examined. Cd exposed group showed lesser weight gain than the control. Renal Cd content tended to increase in time-dependent pattern, while hepatic and testicular Cd content tended to decrease. Mean of renal Cd content to hepatic Cd content (Cd K/Cd L) also progressively increased. These results suggest that Cd might be gradually transported to kidney fro other organs. In testis and liver, degenerative changes appeared relatively in acute phase. These changes became more pronounced in testis, while less prominent in liver. In kidney, swelling of proximal tubluar cells and thickening of glomerular basement membrane appeared relatively later and these changes were progressively aggravated.

Induction Of Metallothionein And Toxicity In Acute Cadmium Intoxicated Rat / 예방의학회지

Thirty five male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with cadmium chloride solution ranging from 0.2 to 3.2mg CdCl2/kg by intravenous single injection. At 48 hours after administration of cadmium, total cadmium, MT bound cadmium and histopathologic finding in liver, kidney, lung, heart, testis, metallothionein in liver, kidney and total cadmium in blood were examined. Tissue cadmium concentration was highest in liver, followed by in kidney, heart, lung and testis. Cadmium bound to metallothionein(MT-Cd) and ratio of MT-Cd to total cadmium were increased in liver and kidney dependently of cadmium exposure dose, but not significantly changed in other organs. On histopathologic finding, the most susceptible organ was heart in considering cadmium exposed dose, but testis in considering cadmium concentration. Blood cadmium concentration was increased with dose-dependent pattern, and significantly correlated with tissue cadmium concentration, so that we may estimate tissue cadmium concentration by measurement of blood cadmium concentration. Metallothionein in liver and kidney was increased with dose-dependent pattern, higher in liver than in kidney, and was significantly correlated with tissue cadmium concentration. However, metallothionein induction efficiency of tissue cadmium(microgram MT/microgram Cd) was greater in liver than in kidney, and reverse to tissue concentration or exposed dose of cadmium.

Study on the Attitude to Home Attendants System and Home Nursing Education of the Housewives in the City / 예방의학회지

This study was conducted in order to find out the attitude of housewives toward the home attendants system, the type of institute managing home attendants, the education for home attendants, the basic requisites for home attendants, and home nursing education, and identify the factors influencing on the housewives's attitude. The data were collected through questionnaires obtained from 401 housewives from March 1 to March 31, 1988. The results summarized were as follows; 1) 90.2 percent of total housewives favored the home attendants system, and housewives who had have their family member with health problem especially showed favorable response. 2) The favored types of institution managing home attendants appeared to be private social work agency(33.0%), half-private and half-public agency(32.2%), government agency(19.9%) and profit agency(2.2%). In particular, housewives who had experienced nursing favored half-private and half-public agency(37.6%). 3) As the basic requisites for home attendants, housewives wanted service attitude(37.2%), nursing education(34.4%) and nursing experience(28.4%). But, housewives with nursing experience favored nursing education rather than service attitude. 4) 91.1% of total housewives favored the home nursing education. In particular, housewives of high education level and nursing experience showed more favorable response to the home nursing education.

Effect of the non-Medical Services on Attitude to Hospital Utilization / 예방의학회지

Effects of various factors related to the process of social action of hospital services on the selecting a hospital were investigated by using of questionnaires answered by 1,319 patients in a certain University Hospital, in Chungchongnam-Do, from November, 1986 to November, 1987. The results summarized were as follows ; 1. Each of the examined factors, that is, sincerity of an attendant physician in medical treatment and explaining the condition of a disease, confidence to doctor and nurse, doctor's and nurse's response to calling by patient, kindness of the hospital staffs and food handlers, sanitariness of hospital, cleanness of clothes and bed sheets, hospital foods, and rest surroundings, are not solely decisive to attitude of hospital utilization, but the factors effects compositely on hospital utilization. 2. Hospital services of the social action process are more effective to hospital utilization in cases of the hospitalization caused by the traffic facility than for the medical skill and facilities.

Number of intrauterine eggs in female Enterobius vermicularis by body length

In order to correlate the number of eggs in female Enterobius vermicularis with their body length and to re-evaluate the number of eggs liberated by gravid females, a total of 203 worms were examined. Those females were removed from naturally infected orphans with mebendazole (100 mg) and had been fixed in 10 percent formalin(Cho et al., 1981). The decent ones which were selected under dissecting microscope were unbroken, neatly fixed females without contaminated eggs on their surface. The worms were measured by their body length, softened in 0.1N NaOH solution overnight, and teased by dissecting needles. And their number of shelled eggs was measured in a counting chamber made as described by Denham et al. (1971). The results were summarized as follows: The observed females, 4.10-9.90 mm long, began to have shelled eggs in uterus when body length was 5.50 mm or longer. The percentage of females with eggs in uterus was as follows by range of body length: 25 percent in 5.50-5.99 mm long, 53.3 percent in 6.00-6.49 mm long, 86.7 percent in 6.50-6.99 mm long, 95.2 percent in 7.00-7.49 mm long and 100 percent in 7.50 mm or longer. The mean and standard deviation of egg number were as follows by the length of females: 19+/-50 in 5.50-5.99 mm long, 734+/-1,597 in 6.00-6.49 mm long, 1,473+/-1,606 in 6.50-6.99 mm long, 1,530+/-2,055 in 7.00-7.49 mm long, 2,567+/-2,046 in 7.50-7.99 mm long, 5,598+/-2,470 in 8.00-8.49 mm long, 9,318-2,651 in 8.50-8.99 mm long, 10,678+/-2,892 in 9.00-9.49 mm long and 13,323+/- 1,778 in 9.50-9.90 mm long. The numbers of uterine eggs showed greater individual variation when the female lengths were in range of 5.5-8.0 mm. When the female length was longer than 9.0 mm, the egg numbers were over 10,000 in majority, and showed lesser individual variations. Above results suggested that the egg production in female E. vermicularis began in 28-32 days after infection and that in early stages, the egg production varied by individual worms, but in gravid females longer than 9.0 mm at last deposited 10,000 to 16,000 eggs in their uterus with the least individual variations.

Effect of Menopause on the Mental Health of Climacteric Women / 예방의학회지

An attemption was made to estimate the effect of menopause on the mental health of climacteric women. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory(MMPI) were questioned to 278 premenopausal women and 302 postmenopausal women. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance in each variable of menopause, age, educational level, religion and partnership of husband, and two-way analysis of variance in two variables of menopause and one of other variables. The results were summarized as follows. 1. Menopause increased the scores of validity, psychopathic deviate, hypomania and paranoia scale, but conversely decreased the score of masculinity-femininity scale. 2. The older the climacteric women were, the lower scores of masculinity-femininity scale were observed. 3. The older the premenopausal women were, the higher scores of depression, hysteria, psychopathic deviate, psychasthenia and schizophrenia scale were observed, on the contrary, all scores of the postmenopausal women were decreased by the increment of their ages. 4. The higher the educational level of climacteric women were, the higher scores of correction and masculinity-femininity scale were observed, but the scores of hypochondriasis, hysteria, schizophrenia and social introversion scale were decreased by the increment of their educational level. 5. The scores of hypomania scale were higher in women of Buddhism than other religions. 6. The scores of validity, paranoia, psychasthenia, schizophrenia and social introversion scale were higher in windows than women with husband.

Analysis of Health Conditions Influencing on Industrial Accidents by Cornell Medical Index / 예방의학회지

By evaluating the health status of 152 male workers engaged in a metal-product factory by Cornell Medical Index in conjunction with their experience of industrial accident, I attempted to find out whether any health condition may effect on the occurrence of industrial accident. Differences in frequency of complaints in each section of CMI between control workers and accident workers were statistically tested by T-test. On the other hand, influence of neuropsychiatric factors (section M-R) on the occurrence of accidents was analyzed by X(2)-test with Fukamachi's classification. The followings were the results obtained in this study. 1. The average number (26.42) of physical complaints in accident group is significantly more than in control group (18.70). 2. The average number (17.70) of mental complaints in accident group is very significantly more than in control group (11.70). 3. Differences in frequencies of complaints by sections between accident group and control group was all significant except C(cardiovascular system), H(genitourinary system), I (fatigue) & J (frequency of disease). 4. Frequency rate of neurotic workers who were identified by Fukamachi's classification was significantly higher in accident group (72%) than in control group (51%).

Health Status in Urban Slum Area / 예방의학회지

In order to find out health problems among inhabitants in slum areas in Kwanak-Ku, Seoul, a series of health survey was conducted upon 510 households by interview from March to December, 1976. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Employments of householders were unstable; Out of 508 householders, 164(32.3%) were unemployed and 184(36.2%) were daily or temporary employees. 2. Average number of households per house was 2.0 and average area of residential room per person was 4.0m2. 3. 476(93.3%) out of 510 households were supplied with tap water and rest of them made use of ground water as a source of drinking water. 4. Only 279(18.3%) out of 1527 live births were delivered at medical facilities, 496(32.7%) were at home attended by doctors or midwives and 358(25.1%) took prenatal care. The above findings were worse in urban slum area than in other urban area of relatively high economic level, but were better than in rural area of less medical facilities. 5. Initiation of treatment were delayed until their illnesses were advanced in most of the households, 472(92.5%) out 510. In the early stage of the illness, 131(25.6%) of the households sought physicians in their clinics or general hospitals and 250(40.9%) visited chemists, to buy drugs at first hand. Frequency of visits to physician increased to 52.8% as the disease aggravated in later stages. 6. Cost of medical expenditure per household amounted to 815 won, and was paid to, in the order of chemists, physicians, chinese herb stores, chinese herb doctors. 7. Concerning the health knowledge of the inhabitants, 273(53.9%) out of 506 respondents were aware of the infectivity of pulmonary tuberculosis, and 68(13.4%) of them checked regularly their chest findings by X-ray at least once every two years. 8. As for the family planning, although 448(87.3%) out of 510 respondents were in favor of it, 213(41.8%) of them were actually practicing contraception. 9. About 40.6% (125 respondents) of them obtained information and knowledge concerning contraception through personal contact with family planning workers. 10. Nutritional status of housewives was generally poor: 49(38.3%) out of 128 housewives were found to be anemic and average serum protein level was 7.5+/-0.82 g/dl.