Blood lead, cadmium and hair mercury concentrations and association with soil, dust and occupational factors in e-waste recycling workers in Bangladesh

Authors

Sarker Masud Parvez, The University of Queensland, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research
Farjana Jahan, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research
Jaynal Abedin, University of Galway, Center for Data Research and Analytics
Mahbubur Rahman, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research
Shaikh Sharif Hasan, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research
Nafisa Islam, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Nirupam Aich, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Mohammad Moniruzzaman, Bangladesh Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
Zahir Islam, The University of Queensland
Masatake Fujimura, National Institute for Minamata Disease
Rubhana Raqib, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research
Luke D. Knibbs, The University of Sydney, Sydney Local Health District
Peter D. Sly, The University of Queensland

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2-15-2024

Citation

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 257 (2024) 114340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114340

Comments

Open access.

Abstract

Background: Electronic waste (e-waste) recycling activities release toxic metals, which pose substantial hazard to the environment and human health. We evaluated metal concentrations in biological and environmental samples, and examined the associations between biological lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) with soil and dust metals, and other possible determinants, among populations exposed and non-exposed to e-waste in Bangladesh.

Methods: A total of 199 e-waste workers and 104 non-exposed individuals were recruited. We measured blood Pb (BPb) and Cd (BCd) concentrations and total Hg (THg) from hair samples. Data were collected on occupational, and behavioral factors. We fitted an elastic net regression (ENET) to model the relationship between a set of influencing factors and metals as outcome variables while controlling for potential covariates. Results: The median concentrations of BPb (11.89 μg/dL) and BCd (1.04 μg/L) among exposed workers were higher than those of non-exposed workers (BPb: 3.63 μg/dL and BCd: 0.83 μg/L respectively). A 100 ppm increment in soil Pb level was associated with an increase in ln-Pb (transformed) in blood (β = 0.002; 95% CI = 0.00, 0.02). Similarly, ln-BCd level increased (β = 0.02; 95% CI = 0.001, 0.07) with every ppm increase in dust Cd level. The number of years worked in e-waste activities was associated with elevated ln-BPb (β = 0.01; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.02) and ln-BCd levels (β = 0.003; 95% CI = 0.00, 0.05). Smoking significantly contributed to elevated levels of ln-BCd (β = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.43, 0.73). An increment of 100 kg of e-waste handling per week led to an increase in ln-BPb levels (β = 0.002; 95% CI = 0.00, 0.01), while respondents knowledge about adverse impact on e-waste reduced the ln-BPb level (β = -0.14; 95% CI = -0.31, -0.03). Fish consumption frequency had a positive association with THg in hair.

Conclusions: Our data show the need for workplace controls to reduce exposure to Pb and Cd with a broader view of exposure source taken.