Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease and Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2019 Apr;29(3):406-415. doi: 10.1038/s41370-018-0054-9. Epub 2018 Aug 15.
Electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest growing solid waste stream worldwide and mostly ends up in developing countries where residents use primitive methods for recycling. The most infamous e-waste recycling town, Guiyu in Southeast China, has been recycling since the mid-1990s. E-waste contains several harmful chemicals, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn). In 2011-12, the e-waste Recycling Exposures and Community Health (e-REACH) Study enrolled 634 pregnant women living in Guiyu and Haojiang, a control site, both in Shantou, China. The women completed a questionnaire and gave maternal blood, cord blood, and maternal urine, which were analyzed for Pb, Cd, Cr, and Mn. Maternal blood Pb, Cd, and Cr concentrations were significantly higher in Guiyu compared to Haojiang. In Guiyu, the geometric mean of Pb concentration in maternal blood was 6.66 µg/dL (range: 1.87-27.09 µg/dL) and was 1.74-fold greater than in Haojiang (95% CI: 1.60, 1.89). In cord blood, Pb concentration was 1.53-fold higher in Guiyu (95% CI: 1.38, 1.68). In maternal urine, Cd (ratio: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.72, 2.69) and Mn (ratio: 2.60, 95% CI: 2.04, 3.31) concentrations were significantly higher in Guiyu in comparison to Haojiang. In conclusion, pregnant women in Guiyu were at risk for increased exposure to heavy metals.
电子垃圾（e-waste）是全球增长最快的固体废物，主要最终流入发展中国家，当地居民采用原始方法进行回收。中国东南部最臭名昭著的电子垃圾回收小镇贵屿自 20 世纪 90 年代中期以来一直在进行回收。电子垃圾含有几种有害化学物质，包括铅（Pb）、镉（Cd）、铬（Cr）和锰（Mn）。2011-12 年，电子垃圾回收暴露与社区健康（e-REACH）研究招募了 634 名居住在中国汕头贵屿和对照点豪江的孕妇。这些妇女完成了一份问卷，并提供了母亲血液、脐带血和尿液，这些样本被分析了 Pb、Cd、Cr 和 Mn 的含量。与豪江相比，贵屿孕妇血液中的 Pb、Cd 和 Cr 浓度明显更高。在贵屿，母亲血液中 Pb 浓度的几何平均值为 6.66µg/dL（范围：1.87-27.09µg/dL），比豪江高 1.74 倍（95%CI：1.60，1.89）。在脐带血中，贵屿的 Pb 浓度比豪江高 1.53 倍（95%CI：1.38，1.68）。在母亲尿液中，Cd（比值：2.15，95%CI：1.72，2.69）和 Mn（比值：2.60，95%CI：2.04，3.31）浓度与豪江相比明显更高。综上所述，贵屿的孕妇面临着重金属暴露风险增加的风险。
