Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital of China Medical University, Shenzhen, 518038, China.
Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2021 Jul;94(5):911-918. doi: 10.1007/s00420-020-01619-1. Epub 2021 Jan 20.
Primitive electronic waste (e-waste) recycling is ongoing in Guiyu, so toxic heavy metals may continue to threaten the health of children in the area.
This study primarily aimed to evaluate the effect of e-waste exposure on haemoglobin (Hb) synthesis in preschool children.
Medical examinations were conducted with the permission of children's guardians and the approval of the Ethics Committee of the Medical College of Shantou University. This study recruited 224 children (aged 3-6 years, exposed group) who lived in Guiyu and 204 children (aged 3-6 years, control group) who lived in a town free of e-waste pollution. Blood levels of lead, Hb, ferritin, folate and vitamin B were tested in all children. Furthermore, all children were assessed for thalassemia, and their parents were asked to fill in questionnaires.
There were no significant differences in the level of ferritin, folate, or vitamin B between the exposed and control groups (P > 0.05). No children were identified as having thalassemia in all study participants. Blood lead level (BLL) and the risk of children with BLL ≥ 10 µg/dL in the exposed group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P < 0.01). Three subgroups of each group were created according to BLL (Group A: < 5.0 µg/dL; Group B: 5.0-9.9 µg/dL; Group C: ≥ 10.0 µg/dL). Hb level decreased with elevated BLL in the exposed group (P = 0.03), but not in the control group (P = 0.14). Hb levels in group B and group C were also significantly lower in the exposed group than in the control group (Group B: 122.6 ± 9.5 g/L versus 125.8 ± 8.2 g/L, P = 0.01; Group C: 120.3 ± 7.3 g/L versus 123.6 ± 8.3 g/L, P = 0.03). In addition, the prevalence of anaemia associated with BLLs above 10 µg/dL and between 5.0 and 9.9 µg/dL were both significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control group (4.0% vs. 0.5%, 5.4% vs. 1.5%, respectively, both P < 0.05).
Lead exposure more significantly inhibits Hb synthesis in children who live in e-waste dismantling areas than in those who live in non-e-waste dismantling areas. Other toxins released from e-waste may also contribute to the inhibition of Hb synthesis and may lead to anaemia in local children. Further investigations are needed to provide evidence for the development of relevant protective measures.
贵屿镇仍在进行原始的电子废物（电子垃圾）回收，因此有毒重金属可能继续威胁该地区儿童的健康。
本研究旨在评估电子废物暴露对学龄前儿童血红蛋白（Hb）合成的影响。
在获得儿童监护人同意并经汕头大学医学院伦理委员会批准的前提下，对 224 名（年龄 3-6 岁，暴露组）居住在贵屿镇的儿童和 204 名（年龄 3-6 岁，对照组）居住在无电子废物污染镇的儿童进行了医学检查。对所有儿童进行血铅、Hb、铁蛋白、叶酸和维生素 B 水平检测。此外，对所有儿童进行地中海贫血评估，并要求其家长填写调查问卷。
暴露组和对照组的铁蛋白、叶酸或维生素 B 水平无显著差异（P>0.05）。所有研究参与者中均未发现地中海贫血。暴露组的血铅水平（BLL）和 BLL≥10μg/dL 的儿童的患病风险显著高于对照组（均 P<0.01）。根据 BLL 将每组分为三个亚组（A 组：<5.0μg/dL；B 组：5.0-9.9μg/dL；C 组：≥10.0μg/dL）。暴露组的 Hb 水平随 BLL 升高而降低（P=0.03），但对照组无此变化（P=0.14）。B 组和 C 组暴露组的 Hb 水平也明显低于对照组（B 组：122.6±9.5g/L 比 125.8±8.2g/L，P=0.01；C 组：120.3±7.3g/L 比 123.6±8.3g/L，P=0.03）。此外，暴露组 BLL 高于 10μg/dL 和 5.0-9.9μg/dL 的贫血患病率均显著高于对照组（4.0%比 0.5%，5.4%比 1.5%，均 P<0.05）。
与居住在非电子废物拆解区的儿童相比，生活在电子废物拆解区的儿童的铅暴露更显著地抑制 Hb 合成。电子废物释放的其他毒素也可能导致 Hb 合成抑制，并可能导致当地儿童贫血。需要进一步调查为相关保护措施的制定提供证据。
