Analytical Cytology Laboratory and the Key Immunopathology Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, PR China.
Neurotoxicology. 2011 Aug;32(4):458-64. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2011.03.012. Epub 2011 Apr 6.
We aimed to evaluate the dose-dependent effects of lead exposure on temperament alterations in children from a primitive e-waste (obsolete electrical and electronic devices) recycling area in Guiyu of China and a control area (Chendian, China). Blood lead levels (BLL) might be correlated with temperament, health, and relevant factors that were evaluated through Parent Temperament Questionnaire (PTQ), physical examination, and residential questionnaires. We collected venipuncture blood samples from 303 children (aged 3-7 years old) between January and February 2008. Child BLL were higher in Guiyu than in Chendian (median 13.2 μg/dL, range 4.0-48.5 μg/dL vs. 8.2 μg/dL, 0-21.3 μg/dL) (P<0.01). Significant differences of mean scores in activity level (4.53±0.83 vs. 4.18±0.81), approach-withdrawal (4.62±0.85 vs. 4.31±0.89), and adaptability (4.96±0.73 vs. 4.67±0.83) were found between Guiyu and Chendian children (all P<0.01). High BLL (BLL≥10μg/dL) child had higher mean scores of approach-withdrawal when compared with those children with low BLL (BLL<10 μg/dL) (4.61±0.87 vs. 4.30±0.88, P<0.01). Location of child residence in Guiyu, and parents engagement in work related to e-waste were the risk factors related to child BLL, activity level, approach-withdrawal, adaptability, and mood. Child hand washing prior to food consumption was a protected factor for BLL and several dimensions. There are close relationships between BLL elevation, temperament alteration and the e-waste recycling activities in Guiyu. Primitive e-waste recycling may threaten the health of children by increasing BLL and altering children temperament, although the exposure to other toxicants needs to be examined in future studies.
我们旨在评估中国贵屿原始电子废物（废弃电子电气设备）回收区和对照区（澄海）儿童血铅暴露水平与气质改变的剂量效应关系。通过家长气质问卷（PTQ）、体格检查和居住调查问卷评估血铅水平（BLL）与气质、健康和相关因素的关系。我们于 2008 年 1 月至 2 月期间采集了 303 名 3-7 岁儿童的静脉血样本。贵屿儿童的血铅中位数高于澄海（13.2μg/dL，范围 4.0-48.5μg/dL 与 8.2μg/dL，0-21.3μg/dL）（P<0.01）。贵屿儿童的活动水平（4.53±0.83 与 4.18±0.81）、趋近-回避（4.62±0.85 与 4.31±0.89）和适应能力（4.96±0.73 与 4.67±0.83）的平均分差异均有统计学意义（均 P<0.01）。与血铅水平低的儿童（BLL<10μg/dL）相比，血铅水平高的儿童（BLL≥10μg/dL）的趋近-回避平均分更高（4.61±0.87 与 4.30±0.88，P<0.01）。儿童居住地位于贵屿和父母从事与电子废物相关的工作是与儿童血铅水平、活动水平、趋近-回避、适应能力和情绪有关的危险因素。儿童进食前洗手是降低血铅水平和改变儿童气质的保护因素。血铅水平升高、气质改变与贵屿电子废物回收活动之间存在密切关系。原始电子废物回收可能通过增加血铅水平和改变儿童气质来威胁儿童健康，尽管需要在未来的研究中检查暴露于其他有毒物质的情况。
