Effects of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers on the Human Body Exposure in E-Waste Dismantling Region / 法医学杂志

Objective To discuss the effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers （PBDEs） exposure in e-waste dismantling region on the human body and provide data support for the identification of environmental health damage to residents in the e-waste dismantling region. Methods Adults in an e-waste dismantling region （exposed group, 54 participants） and a control region （control group, 58 participants） were selected, questionnaires were carried out and blood and urine samples were collected. Blood PBDEs, blood lipids, blood routine, blood lead, urine cadmium, urine chromium and urine nickel were detected. T-test was utilized to compare the differences of PBDEs between the two groups. Multivariate analysis were utilized to compare the differences between the two groups in blood routine indexes. Linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between PBDEs and blood routine. Results Exposure levels of PBDEs were significantly higher in the exposed group （240.00 ng/g, adjusted mass fraction of blood lipids, thereafter） than in the control group （93.00 ng/g, P<0.05）. There was no statistical significance in the differences in most blood routine indexes of the two groups （ P>0.05）, and their reference values were all within normal ranges. Mean platelet volume, plateletcrit, basophils percentage, absolute value of basophils, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were higher in the exposed group than in the control group （P<0.05）. Platelet distribution widths were lower in the exposed group than in the control group and below the normal reference range （P<0.05）. Conclusion PBDEs exposure in e-waste dismantling region tend to change platelet morphology, the number of basophils, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and may pose potential health hazards to local residents.

Bacterial community structure in soils contaminated with electronic waste pollutants from Delhi NCR, India

Background: Microbial community analysis of electronic waste (e-waste)-polluted environments is of interest to understand the effect of toxic e-waste pollutants on the soil microbial community and to evaluate novel microorganisms resisting the toxic environment. The present study aims to investigate the bacterial community structure in soils contaminated with e-waste from various sites of Loni and Mandoli (National Capital Region (NCR), India) where e-waste dumping and recycling activities are being carried out for many years. Results: Interferences to soil metagenomic DNA extraction and PCR amplification were observed because of the presence of inhibiting components derived from circuit boards. Whole-metagenome sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform showed that the most abundant phyla were Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Deltaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria were the most common classes under Proteobacteria. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene showed that e-waste contamination altered the soil bacterial composition and diversity. There was a decrease in the number of predominant bacterial groups like Proteobacteria and Firmicutes but emergence of Actinobacteria in the contaminated soil samples. Conclusions: This is the first report describing the bacterial community structure of composite soil samples of ewaste-contaminated sites of Loni and Mandoli, Delhi NCR, India. The findings indicate that novel bacteria with potential bioremediating properties may be present in the e-waste-contaminated sites and hence need to be evaluated further.

Exposição ocupacional ao mercúrio em cooperativas de triagem de materiais recicláveis da região metropolitana de São Paulo, SP, Brasil / Occupational exposure to mercury in recycling cooperatives from the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil

Resumo A exposição ocupacional ao mercúrio (Hg) foi avaliada em 4 cooperativas de materiais recicláveis por meio de amostragens de ar em 9 áreas (monte de triagem, balança, prensa, sala de resíduos de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos-REEE, refeitório, escritório, empilhadeira, esteira e pátio externo). Das 83 amostras, apenas 14,5% apresentaram concentrações acima do limite de quantificação (LQ) e 53% entre o LD (limite de detecção) e LQ. A maioria dos valores > LQ ocorreu na cooperativa A, no monte (0,032 µg.m -3 ) e balança (0,029 µg.m -3 ). Nos dias de amostragem houve descarregamento de lâmpadas fluorescentes, o que pode explicar os maiores teores de Hg nessa cooperativa. Na cooperativa B a concentração foi 0,033 µg.m -3 na esteira e < 0,003 µg.m -3 nas outras áreas. Nas cooperativas C e D todos os valores foram < 0,007 µg.m -3 . As áreas de REEE apresentaram baixas concentrações, provavelmente devido ao baixo volume de REEE e forma de processamento do material. Os resultados estiveram abaixo dos valores de referência ocupacional, indicando que os trabalhadores não estão expostos ao Hg. No entanto, o desenho amostral pode não ter sido abrangente devido à intermitência no processamento de REEE e à imprevisibilidade da ocorrência de lâmpadas fluorescentes no material reciclável .

Abstract The occupational exposure to mercury (Hg) was assessed in four cooperatives of recyclable materials by air sampling in nine areas (recyclable materials pile, scale, baling press machine, e-waste room, cafeteria, office, forklift, conveyor belt, and outside patio). Of the 83 samples, only 14.5% showed concentrations above the limit of quantification (LOQ) while 53% were between the LOD (limit of detection) and LOQ. Most values > LOQ occurred at Cooperative A, at the pile (0.032 μg.m-3) and scale (0.029 μg.m-3). The higher values recorded at this Cooperative might be associated with the unloading of fluorescent lamps on the day of sampling. In cooperative B, the concentration was 0.033 μg.m-3 on the conveyor belt and < 0.003 µg.m-3 in other areas. In cooperatives C and D, all samples showed values < 0.007 μg.m-3. The Hg concentrations were low in areas of e-waste handling and storage, probably due to the small amount of material and way of processing. The results were below the occupational reference values, showing that the workers are not exposed to Hg. However, the sampling design might not have been comprehensive due to the discontinuity of the e-waste processing and the unpredictable occurrence of fluorescent lamps mixed with recyclable materials .

Usage of electronic devices and awareness regarding e-waste management amongst engineering college students: a cross-sectional study

Background: The total waste generated by obsolete or broken down electronic and electrical equipment was estimated to be 1,46,000 tonnes for the year 2005, which is expected to exceed 8,00,000 tonnes by 2012. However, according to the Green peace report in 2007, India generated 380,000 tonnes of e-waste. Only 3% of this made it to the authorized recyclers’ facilities.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst 133 Engineering Students of Sinhgad Institute of Technology College, Lonavala, Pune which is located in a rural field practice area of Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College, Pune during the period of June 2016 to December 2016. Data was collected by using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by using Epi. Info 7 and appropriate statistical tests were applied.Results: Almost 125 (94%) students replaced mobile phones in last five years. Common reason for replacement was desire for newer technology by 33 (26.4%) students and need for greater functionality by 29 (23.2%). The old mobile phones were kept at home by 34 (27.2%) students, followed by dumped by 31 (24.8%), it was also noted that many students sold the mobile phones and only 8 (6.5%) were aware of the e–waste management policy.Conclusions: Most of the students replacing the mobile phones frequently but the level of awareness about the e-waste management were low, so need to increase the awareness among the users for implementation of the e waste management policy.

Disposición inadecuada de materiales altamente contaminantes y sus posibles implicaciones para la salud de la población humana en la República de Panamá / Inadequate dispos al of highly pollutant materials and its possible implications for the health of human population in the Republic of Panama

Ex is te un incremento exponencial en la fabricación, utilización y desecho de artículos tecnológicos electrónicos y no electrónicos a nivel mundial, que conlleva un incremento en la presencia de mate­riales contaminantes y peligrosos para el ser humano. Las consecuencias de inadeacuados siste­mas de disposición de sustancias peligrosas presentes en estos dispositivos, su uso cada vez más frecuente de forma doméstica e industrial, junto a una tasa de recambio cada vez más acelerada, se convertirá muy pronto en una amenaza importante para la salud de poblaciones humanas en países subdesarrollados o con gestiones ineficientes para sustancias peligrosas, con consecuen­cias perniciosas para diferentes grupos poblacionales. Se hace necesario un cuidadoso análisis de nuestra situación como sociedad con respecto a esto, junto con la implementación de políticas efi­cientes para disminuir las posibilidades de enfrentar severos problemas de salud pública en las si­guientes décadas o siglos.

There is an exponential increase in manufacture, use and discard of electronic and not electronic devices in the world, implying an increase in the availability of pollutants and hazardous materials for human beings. Consequences of inefficient systems for disposing hazardous materials in these devices , their more frequent use in domestic and industrial settings, as well as an increased repla­cement rate, will bring important health threats to human populations in underdeveloped countries or with inefficient systems for managing hazardous materials, with disastrous consequences for dif­ferent human populations. It is necessary a cautious analysis of our society in this respect, as well as executing efficient policies for decreasing the possibilities of facing severe public health problems in the upcoming decades or centuries.

Urinary Mercury Levels Among Workers in E-waste Shops in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To determine urinary mercury levels in e-waste workers in Southern Thailand and the airborne mercury levels in the e-waste shops where they worked, to describe the associations between urinary and airborne mercury levels, and to evaluate the prevalence of mercury exposure-related health effects among e-waste workers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 79 workers in 25 e-waste shops who lived in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. Information on general and occupational characteristics, personal protective equipment use, and personal hygiene was collected by questionnaire. Urine samples were collected to determine mercury levels using a cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometer mercury analyzer. RESULTS: The e-waste workers’ urinary mercury levels were 11.60±5.23 μg/g creatinine (range, 2.00 to 26.00 μg/g creatinine) and the mean airborne mercury levels were 17.00±0.50 μg/m3 (range, 3.00 to 29.00 μg/m3). The urinary and airborne mercury levels were significantly correlated (r=0.552, p < 0.001). The prevalence of self-reported symptoms was 46.8% for insomnia, 36.7% for muscle atrophy, 24.1% for weakness, and 20.3% for headaches. CONCLUSIONS: Personal hygiene was found to be an important protective factor, and should therefore be stressed in educational programs. Employers should implement engineering measures to reduce urinary mercury levels and the prevalence of associated health symptoms among e-waste workers.

Avaliação da geração de resíduos de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos (REEEs) em uma universidade particular / Evaluation of the electrical and electronic equipment waste (WEEE) generation in a private university

RESUMO Resíduo de equipamento eletroeletrônico (REEE) é um termo utilizado para abranger diversos equipamentos elétricos e eletrônicos que não possuem mais valor para seus proprietários. Este trabalho propôs avaliar a geração de REEEs em uma instituição de ensino superior particular localizada no estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Para este trabalho foram utilizados dados de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos (EEEs) disponíveis no sistema de informações da universidade, o qual totalizava 51.066 itens, englobando aproximadamente 17 anos de dados. Verificou-se que o principal REEE gerado pela instituição são equipamentos de informática e telecomunicações (48,2%), seguido pelos grandes eletrodomésticos (14,4%), instrumentos de monitoramento (13,3%), ferramentas elétricas e eletrônicas (10,9%) e equipamentos de consumo (9,8%). Foram contabilizados 414 diferentes tipos de EEEs na instituição; porém, observa-se que, com exceção dos instrumentos de monitoramento, os 2 principais EEEs de cada categoria contabilizam sozinhos mais de 50% de suas respectivas categorias. Identificou-se que a maior parte dos REEEs (29,3%) da instituição são gerados no bloco administrativo da universidade, seguido pelas salas de informática (17,3%). Esses dois setores se caracterizam por utilizarem EEEs de rápida obsolescência, enquanto áreas como as Ciências Biológicas e, parcialmente, as Ciências Exatas, devido ao elevado número de equipamentos analíticos utilizados, possuem EEEs com um ciclo de vida maior, reduzindo assim a geração desses resíduos. Todas essas características resultam em uma grande complexidade na gestão de REEEs em unidades de ensino superior, em especial devido à grande variedade encontrada, sendo muitos deles de difícil reciclagem.

ABSTRACT Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is an expression used to refer to several pieces of equipment that are no longer valuable for their owners. This study evaluated the WEEE generation in a private higher education institution, located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In this study, we used data from electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) available in the university information system, which amounted 51.066 items during 17 years. The main WEEE generated by the institution was Information technology (IT) and telecommunications equipment (48.2%), followed by large household appliances (14.4%), monitoring and control instruments (13.3%), electrical and electronic tools (10.9%) and consumer equipment (9.8%). Over 414 EEE classes were identified in the institution, although, except for monitoring and control instruments, the 2 main EEEs in each class correspond to at least 50% of its categories. In addition, it was noticed that the majority of WEEE was generated by the university administration (29.3%), followed by the computer classrooms (17.3%). These two areas feature low life EEEs, while other areas like Biology and Exact Sciences, due to the high number of analytics equipment used, have EEEs with longer life cycle, resulting in smaller waste generation. All these characteristics result in a great complexity in WEEE management in higher education institutions, mostly due to the considerable diversity, increasing the recycling complexity.

Spatial assessment of potential ecological risk of heavy metals in soils from informal e-waste recycling in Ghana

The rapidly increasing annual global volume of e-waste, and of its inherently valuable fraction, has created an opportunity for individuals in Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana to make a living by using unconventional, uncontrolled, primitive and crude procedures to recycle and recover valuable metals from this waste. The current form of recycling procedures releases hazardous fractions, such as heavy metals, into the soil, posing a significant risk to the environment and human health. Using a handheld global positioning system, 132 soil samples based on 100 m grid intervals were collected and analysed for cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). Using geostatistical techniques and sediment quality guidelines, this research seeks to assess the potential risk these heavy metals posed to the proposed Korle Ecological Restoration Zone by informal e-waste processing site in Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana. Analysis of heavy metals revealed concentrations exceeded the regulatory limits of both Dutch and Canadian soil quality and guidance values, and that the ecological risk posed by the heavy metals extended beyond the main burning and dismantling sites of the informal recyclers to the school, residential, recreational, clinic, farm and worship areas. The heavy metals Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn had normal distribution, spatial variability, and spatial autocorrelation. Further analysis revealed the decreasing order of toxicity, Hg>Cd>Pb> Cu>Zn>Cr, of contributing significantly to the potential ecological risk in the study area.

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status in Nigerian E-waste Workers: A Cancer Risk Predictive Study.

Introduction: In Africa, Nigeria has been reported as the largest destination for unregulated volume of electronic waste (e-waste). Currently, e-waste management practices in Nigeria remain completely primitive, taking place essentially in the informal sector. Recent report indicates that the majority (88.8%) of Nigerian e-waste workers have exposure burden of ≥6 hours per day; ≥6 days per week, and reportedly worked without personal protective devices. These crude management practices enhance the workers’ exposure to electronic waste borne toxic and carcinogenic metals and chemicals through almost all body cavities. Objective: Concisely, this study aimed at evaluating the status of enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidative stress biomarkers as cancer risk indices in Nigerians occupationally exposed to e-waste. Methods: Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), uric acid (UA), albumin (ALB), total bilirubin (TBil) and conjugated bilirubin (Cbil.)] and activities of enzymatic antioxidants [glutathione reductase (Gr), catalase (Cat), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] were determined in Nigerian e-waste workers (n=63) and in age-matched unexposed participants (n=41), using standard colorimetric methods. Results: Significantly elevated lipid peroxidation and raised uric acid levels were indicated in e-waste workers. Further to this, CAT, SOD and GPx were significantly reduced in e-waste workers compared with the unexposed human population. Comparatively different observations were not registered in the activity of GR and levels of ALB, TBil. and CBil. between exposed and unexposed participants. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that the oxidative stress observed in the studied population could be associated with occupational exposure to e-waste chemicals and may be a predictive mechanism for chemical carcinogenesis in Nigerians involved in primitive e-waste management.

Nano Coated Lead Free Solders for Sustainable Electronic Waste Management

ABSTRACT Lead has been used in a wide range of applications, but in the past decades it became clear that its high toxicity could cause various problems. Studies indicate that exposure to high concentrations of lead can cause harmful damages to humans. To eliminate the usage of lead in electronic products as an initiative towards electronic waste management (e waste), lead free solders were produced with suitable methods by replacing lead. But lead free solders are not preferred as a substitute of lead because they are poor in their mechanical properties such as tensile strength, shear strength and hardness which are ultimately required for a material to resist failure.Nano-Structured materials and coatings offer the potential for Vital improvements in engineering properties based on improvements in physical and mechanical properties resulting from reducing micro structural features by factors of 100 to 1000 times compared to current engineering materials.

Factors affecting toxic lead(Ii) ion bioremediation by Fusarium equiseti isolated from the mangrove soil environment of southeast Borneo

Aims: Electronic waste (e-waste) is an inorganic pollutant which causes a serious environmental problem since it contains toxic heavy metals, which cannot be removed from contaminated sites easily. The use of biomaterials for removing heavy metals from contaminated soil and wastewater has emerged as a potential alternative method to the conventional techniques. The present study were aimed to isolate efficient lead tolerant fungi from mangrove soil environment and measure its capability for lead removal from aqueous solution. Methodology and results: Lead tolerant fungal strains were isolated from soil samples using PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) supplemented with varied concentrations of lead ions (100-500 mg/L). The most tolerant fungal strain was successfully isolated and identified molecularly as Fusarium equiseti KR706303. The isolated fungus was used for biosorption studies using Potato dextrose broth (PDB) supplemented with lead ions. The effects of pH, temperature, initial metal concentration, biomass dose and age, agitation and contact time to the Pb(II) removal efficiency were monitored in the study. The results showed that the optimal parameters for the removal of lead ions such as heavy metal concentration and pH were 300 mg/L, with a maximum Pb(II) adsorption of 97.9% observed at pH 4 and temperature of 30 °C during the batch biosorption experiments. The optimal parameters for biomass dose, agitation speed, contact time and biomass age were observed at 0.04 g, 150 rpm, 60 min and fifth day; respectively. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The observation in this study revealed that the biomass of the isolated Fusarium equiseti KR706303 has the potential to be used as a biosorbent for heavy metal particularly Pb(II) removal from the contaminated sites. The technology is simple, efficient, cost effective and environmental friendly.

A Concern of E-Waste in the Hospital Setting and its Ways of Disposal.

The most effective solution to the growing e-waste problem is to recycle raw materials from end-of-life electronics. Most electronic devices contain a range of materials, including metals that can be recovered for future uses. By dismantling and providing reuse possibilities, intact natural resources are conserved and air and water pollution caused by hazardous dumping is avoided. Objectives of our study were to understand the various issues of e-waste management in the hospital settings and ways of e- waste disposal. Discussion: The hospitals visited by us have not considered the environmental impact of electronic waste, let alone come to terms with how they will dispose of their electronic trash. All the hospitals in the city can have agreement with one organization to collect their e-waste which should pay these hospitals for the e-waste and process it by sorting without melting. Recycling reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by the manufacturing of new products. It simply makes good judgment and is competent to recycle and to do our part to keep the environment green. Conclusion: With this study, we make a genuine effort to have hospitals free from e-waste, thereby leading to less carbon footprints.

Effects of environmental lead pollution on blood lead and sex hormone levels among occupationally exposed group in an E-waste dismantling area / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of environmental multi-media lead pollution on blood lead and sex hormone levels among lead exposed males engaged in E-waste dismantling, and the correlation between confounding factors and sex hormone levels.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An E-waste dismantling area in Taizhou of Zhejiang Province was selected as the research site. One hundred and fifty two samples were collected from the groundwater, soil, rice, corn, chicken, and pork in the dismantling area. The effects of the multi-media lead pollution on the male blood lead and sex hormone levels of FSH, LH, and T, as well as the correlation with confounding factors, were studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The blood lead concentrations in the males aged under 31, from 31 to 45 and from 46 to 60 were 98.55, 100.23, and 101.45 μg/L, respectively. Of all the environmental media lead exposures, the groundwater, rice and soil were main contributing factors to the lead accumulation in humans. FSH and LH levels increased with the age while the T levels decreased with the age instead. There was a significant correlation between the FSH and LH levels and wearing masks.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There was correlation between the FSH, LH, and T levels, and the mean values of lead concentrations in environmental media, and the sex hormone levels were correlated with the confounding factor of wearing masks.</p>

Research Advance on Effect of E-waste on Environment and Health / 环境与健康杂志

Electronic waste (E-waste) arising from the rapid development of high-tech industries such as electronic information has become the fastest-growing solid waste,its impact on the environment and health aroused more and more people’s concern. The progress on the study of E-waste on the environment and human health was reviewed in this paper,the limitation of current researches and the future direction were also analyzed and assessed.