Electronic Waste Recycling: Occupational Exposures and Work-Related Health Effects

Okeme, Joseph O.; Arrandale, Victoria H

doi:10.1007/s40572-019-00255-3

Cited by 28 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…Compared to the toxic metal exposure during e-waste recycling in conventional recycling facilities, exposure among workers in the studied sheltered workshops was low. In a recent literature review, Okeme et al summarised toxic metal exposure in formal and informal e-waste recycling activities in various regions of the world (Okeme and Arrandale 2019). High exposure levels were particularly found in informal e-waste recycling operations where modern health, safety and environmental standards were absent, such as in Agbogbloshie, Ghana.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany

Gerding,

Peters,

Wegscheider

et al. 2021

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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Objectives In Germany, the initial step of electronic waste (e-waste) recycling frequently takes place in sheltered workshops for physically and mentally handicapped workers (Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen (WfbM), in german language). E-waste recycling involves a potential risk of exposure to toxic metals. Therefore, we assessed the occupational exposure of recycling workers to toxic metals to identify potential health risks and insufficient protective measures. Methods We used a combined air- and bio-monitoring approach to determine exposure of recycling workers to toxic metals. Air and urine samples were collected in five sheltered workshops in Germany and were analysed for their content of aluminium, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, mercury and nickel. Results were compared to German and international occupational limit values and to metal exposures of workers in conventional e-waste recycling firms. Results Exposure of recycling workers in five German sheltered workshops to the studied metals and their compounds was below German and international occupational limit values across all facilities studied considering both air and urine samples. Workers in the present study were not exposed to higher amounts of toxic metals than workers in conventional e-waste recycling firms. Conclusion This is the first study on toxic metal exposure of recycling workers in sheltered workshops. The results of this study revealed a low occupational exposure of e-waste recycling workers to toxic metals in this type of enterprises. Current work methods and safety measures provide the workers with adequate protection.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany

Gerding,

Peters,

Wegscheider

et al. 2021

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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“…To determine the most relevant chemicals to include in our survey we used previous studies conducted, applying both occupational hygiene measurements [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ] and biological monitoring approaches [ 20 , 21 ]. We also used reviews that describe the health impact of e-waste processing [ 14 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Additionally, we consulted some published technical reports from the e-waste processing industry for a good understanding of the technical aspects of e-waste processing [ 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

HBM4EU Occupational Biomonitoring Study on e-Waste—Study Protocol

Scheepers

Duca

Galea

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Workers involved in the processing of electronic waste (e-waste) are potentially exposed to toxic chemicals. If exposure occurs, this may result in uptake and potential adverse health effects. Thus, exposure surveillance is an important requirement for health risk management and prevention of occupational disease. Human biomonitoring by measurement of specific biomarkers in body fluids is considered as an effective method of exposure surveillance. The aim of this study is to investigate the internal exposure of workers processing e-waste using a human biomonitoring approach, which will stimulate improved work practices and contribute to raising awareness of potential hazards. This exploratory study in occupational exposures in e-waste processing is part of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU). Here we present a study protocol using a cross sectional survey design to study worker’s exposures and compare these to the exposure of subjects preferably employed in the same company but with no known exposure to industrial recycling of e-waste. The present study protocol will be applied in six to eight European countries to ensure standardised data collection. The target population size is 300 exposed and 150 controls. Biomarkers of exposure for the following chemicals will be used: chromium, cadmium and lead in blood and urine; brominated flame retardants and polychlorobiphenyls in blood; mercury, organophosphate flame retardants and phthalates in urine, and chromium, cadmium, lead and mercury in hair. In addition, the following effect biomarkers will be studied: micronuclei, epigenetic, oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and telomere length in blood and metabolomics in urine. Occupational hygiene sampling methods (airborne and settled dust, silicon wristbands and handwipes) and contextual information will be collected to facilitate the interpretation of the biomarker results and discuss exposure mitigating interventions to further reduce exposures if needed. This study protocol can be adapted to future European-wide occupational studies.

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“…The risk to health of e-waste-related exposures to organic and inorganic chemicals is rightly worrying among workers, who are directly involved in the recycling activities, especially when this is achieved without any protection [ 11 ], and this is worsened by the informal nature of these activities for many workers, who, additionally, are unaware of the dangers [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiratory Disorders Related to e-Waste Exposure among Workers in the Informal Sector in a Sub-Saharan African City: An Exposed Nonexposed Study

et al. 2022

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Introduction. Exposure to electrical and electronic equipment waste (e-waste) has become a growing health concern. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of exposure to e-waste on respiratory symptoms and on lung function parameters in workers involved in informal recycling activities in Cotonou city, Benin. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study, in which exposed e-waste workers in Cotonou city were randomly selected. A matching nonexposed group based on age and sex was recruited from the general population. Respiratory symptoms were investigated using a questionnaire adapted from the British Medical Research Council’s standardized respiratory questionnaire. Participants underwent lung function test using a portable spirometer (MIR SPIROBANK). Data were analyzed with STATA version 15 software. Results. The overall prevalence of respiratory symptoms in e-waste workers was statistically higher in the exposed group (33.1% vs. 21.6%; p = 0.027 ). Chest tightness (11.8% vs. 2.1%; p = 0.003 ) and breathlessness (6.8% vs. 1.4%; p = 0.018 ) were the most reported symptoms by e-waste workers. Lung function testing showed a higher proportion of disorders among e-waste workers (25.0% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.029 ), with a higher proportion of probable restrictive (10.8% vs. 2.7, p = 0.005 ) and mixed (4.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.013 ) ventilatory disorders. Handling or working with e-waste was found associated with a significant reduction in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) by 0.4 L (95% CI: 0.3-0.6) and forced vital capacity (FVC) by 0.75 L (95% CI: 0.6-0.9) after adjustment for age, BMI, smoking habits, asthma history, and daily income. Conclusion. Work involving e-waste is associated with a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and with an increased risk of FEV1 and FVC decline, as well as of lung function impairment, particularly of restrictive disorders. Further studies to better clarify this association are needed. Awareness on this major public health threat should be raised in other sub-Saharan and Asian urban areas.

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Electronic Waste Recycling: Occupational Exposures and Work-Related Health Effects

Cited by 28 publications

References 77 publications

Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany

Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany

HBM4EU Occupational Biomonitoring Study on e-Waste—Study Protocol

Respiratory Disorders Related to e-Waste Exposure among Workers in the Informal Sector in a Sub-Saharan African City: An Exposed Nonexposed Study

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