Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Mar 13;16(6):906. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16060906.
Concerns about the adverse public health consequences of informal electronic waste (-waste) recycling are increasing. This study adopted a cross-sectional study design to gain insights into health risks (cancer and non-cancer risks) associated with exposure to -waste chemicals among informal -waste workers via three main routes: Dermal contact, ingestion, and inhalation. The -waste chemicals (PBDE and metals) were measured in the dust and top soils at -waste sites (burning, dismantling, and repair sites). Adverse health risks were calculated using the EPA model developed by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States. The concentrations of the -waste chemicals and the health risks at the -waste sites increased as the intensity of the -waste recycling activities increased: control sites < repair sites < dismantling sites < burning sites. Dermal contact was the main route of exposure while exposure via inhalation was negligible for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks. Cumulative health risks via all routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact) exceeded the acceptable limits of both non-cancer effects and cancer risk at all -waste sites. This indicates that overall the -waste workers are at the risk of adverse health effects. Therefore, the importance of occupational safety programs and management regulations for -waste workers cannot be over emphasised.
人们越来越担心非正式电子废物（电子废物）回收对公共健康造成的不利影响。本研究采用横断面研究设计，通过三种主要途径（皮肤接触、摄入和吸入），深入了解非正式电子废物工人接触电子废物化学物质所带来的健康风险（癌症和非癌症风险）。电子废物化学物质（多溴联苯醚和金属）在电子废物场地（燃烧、拆解和维修场地）的灰尘和表层土壤中进行了测量。通过美国环境保护署开发的 EPA 模型来计算不良健康风险。随着电子废物回收活动强度的增加，电子废物化学物质的浓度和电子废物场地的健康风险也随之增加：对照场地<维修场地<拆解场地<燃烧场地。皮肤接触是暴露的主要途径，而对于致癌和非致癌风险，通过吸入暴露的风险可以忽略不计。通过所有暴露途径（吸入、摄入和皮肤接触）的累积健康风险都超过了所有电子废物场地非癌症效应和癌症风险的可接受限值。这表明，电子废物工人总体上存在不良健康影响的风险。因此，强调为电子废物工人制定职业安全计划和管理法规的重要性是不过分的。
