Elevated lead levels from e-waste exposure are linked to sensory integration difficulties in preschool children

Cai, Haoxing; Xu, Xijin; Zhang, Yu; Cong, Xiaowei; Lu, Xin; Huo, Xia

doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2019.01.004

Cited by 39 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Sex and age both seem to be crucial for the concentration of toxic metals. Blood levels of lead and cadmium depend on age and sex [15,36]. Our data indicate that males had significantly higher Pb concentrations than females after renal transplantation, at 44.23 µg/L and 35.18 µg/L, respectively.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Analysis of Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead Concentrations in Erythrocytes of Renal Transplant Recipients from Northwestern Poland

Wilk

Romanowski

Wiszniewska

2021

Biology

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Cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) exhibit highly nephrotoxic properties, and their high concentrations can lead to renal failure. Much research has been conducted on the concentrations of heavy metals, microelements, and macroelements in the blood, but little is known about the concentration of Cd, Pb, and Hg in erythrocytes of renal recipients. The aim of this study is to determine the blood erythrocyte concentrations of toxic metals (Cd, Pb, and Hg) in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Additionally, we analyzed the effect of selected biological and environmental factors, including the intake of various immunosuppressive drug regimens and smoking, on these xenobiotic concentrations. The material consisted of erythrocyte samples from 115 patients of the Department of Nephrology, Transplantology, and Internal Medicine at Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 2, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, in northwestern Poland. Cd, Hg, and Pb levels in the erythrocytes were quantified by inductively coupled mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Equal concentrations of Cd were found in erythrocytes of both female and male transplant recipients. The highest level of Hg was seen in women, and women overall had statistically higher concentrations of Pb than men. Comparison of metal concentrations between those over 50 years and those under it showed that Pb concentration was also significantly higher in renal transplant recipients over 50. Pb concentration was almost twice as high in RTRs who used tacrolimus with mycophenolate mofetil than in RTRs who used cyclosporine A with mycophenolate mofetil. The highest level of Cd was seen in smokers, who had 3.25 µg/L. This value was significantly higher than in ex-smokers (p = 0.001) and with RTRs who had never smoked. There were significantly higher levels of Pb in the erythrocytes of RTRs who were ex-smokers than in those who had never smoked. A statistically significant correlation was found between Cd and Pb concentrations. Additionally, we have noticed significant positive correlation between Pb and age (R = 0.37), gender (R = 0.24) and significant negative correlation of Pb with GFR (R = −0.33). We have also found significant positive correlation between Hg and age (R = 0.21). In summary, our data suggest that, smoking is associated with Pb and Cd concentrations, and gender, age change depending on Pb concentration in erythrocytes of RTRs. Additionally, this is the first research that suggests that immunosuppressive regimen, depending on type of immunosuppressive drugs combination affects Pb concentration in erythrocytes of RTRs. It seems to be crucial information for patients who use immunosuppressive drugs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Analysis of Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead Concentrations in Erythrocytes of Renal Transplant Recipients from Northwestern Poland

Wilk

Romanowski

Wiszniewska

2021

Biology

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“… Significantly higher Cd and Pb for residents living near to e-waste dismantling (Zhang et al, 2019).  Children living in e-waste areas have significantly higher Pb and Cd in blood compared to non-exposed in multiple studies (Cai et al, 2019;Liu et al, 2018;Zeng et al, 2017;Zeng et al, 2016;Zhang et al, 2017;Zheng et al, 2019), however inhalation is not considered a very prevalent source of exposure to children. Fang et al, 2013;Fujimori et al, 2012;Isimekhai et al, 2017;Ohajinwa et al, 2018;Tang et al, 2015;Tzoraki et al, 2019) in LIMICs and one in an HIC.…”

Section:  Results May Bementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The following reference values are applied as appropriate to the age group (Section S.4.5): ¥ exceeds reference value for blood on non-occupationally exposed Canadian child citizens (three to five years of age); ‡ exceeds reference value for blood on non-occupationally exposed Canadian child citizens (six to nineteen years of age); ***significantly (p<0.001) higher in ewaste recycling area compared to reference using independent sample t-test. or Mann-Whitney U test in the case of Zheng et al (2019) or two sample T-Test in the case of Cai et al (2019). Abbreviations: Number of samples (n).…”

Section: Human Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Physical processing, dismantling and hydrometallurgical treatment of e-waste: A systematic review of risks to occupational and public health

Cook¹,

Velis²,

Gerassimidou³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Across the Global South, electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is recovered using rudimentary and often dangerous methods in informal and unregulated facilities. Although these activities provide a valuable contribution to the global circular economy, their uncontrolled nature results in a risk of potentially hazardous substance emission into the environment from where they may pose considerable risk to both occupational and public health. Here, we focus a systematic PRISMA review on two distinct groups of activities undertaken in e-waste management in low- and middle-income countries (LIMICs): (i) Physical deconstruction and reclamation, involving dismantling assemblies of items and materials to recover value; and, (ii) hydrometallurgical treatment, involving the dissolution and suspension of precious metals using solvents (cyanide) and acids (aqua regia). For comparison purposes, we consolidate information on (i) and (ii) according to the types of substances evidenced; and identify, critically assess and rank most prevalent hazard-pathway-receptor (H-P-R) risk combinations experienced by people working across the Global South. Despite the proliferation of publications, evidence to assess risk is comparatively limited. Still, we are confident to highlight the extremely hazardous nature of work undertaken, often by children, handling highly hazardous substances without protective equipment to reclaim gold and other precious metals using hydrometallurgical processes. Emissions of hazardous substances, particularly potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from physical dismantling also represent a serious risk to health. Numerous sources speculatively link concentrations in the environment (a significant risk to children who have a tendency to eat soil) to e-waste dismantling processed. However, many of the sources that identify elevated substance concentrations in environmental media face difficulties in unambiguously and convincingly linking emissions from specific activities to the environmental concentrations, i.e. establishing causality. This key limitation presents us with a challenge for designing and implementing interventions to target, control and replace such highly risky resource recovery methods. Yet, such insufficient information cannot be used as an excuse for inaction, especially as our generalized H-P-R inferences here provide for sufficient interlinkages.

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“…Environmentally harmful businesses have deleterious effects on the health of the local inhabitants, especially infants and children. For example, Cai et al (2019) [4] found that metal exposure in Guiyu resulted in an increase in child sensory integration difficulties, compared with a nearby town not involved in the disassembling business. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an environmentally friendly and economically viable method for decontaminating Cd-polluted fields, especially agricultural land.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alterations of Amino Acid Concentrations and Photosynthetic Indices in Light Irradiated Arabidopsis thaliana during Phytoextraction

et al. 2021

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Hyperaccumulation of heavy metals is substantial in some hyperaccumulators; however, few studies have been conducted to reveal the effect of light irradiation on the variations of representative amino acids and photosynthetic indices, which can represent the antioxidant capacity of plants during phytoremediation. The physiochemical responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to Cd stress were compared during six light irradiation treatments. The results of the experiment showed that the stress adaptation of A. thaliana was enhanced in all light irradiation treatments, except for monochromatic blue-light irradiation. The concentrations of glutamic acid and glutamine decreased significantly in pure blue light compared with the other treatments. The decrease in the concentrations of these two amino acids might be induced by an intensive biosynthesis of defensive factors, as manifested in the declined photosynthetic indices. Concentrations of aspartic acid and asparagine involved in the ammonification, absorption, and transportation of nitrogen in vascular plants increased in the red and blue combined irradiation treatments compared with the control, corresponding to the improved photosynthetic capacity of the species. The concentration of proline, which can represent environmental stresses including metal toxicity and excessive light energy, generally increased with an increasing ratio of blue light. This study proposes the key roles of amino acids and photosynthetic indices in light-motivated Cd pollution responses in A. thaliana.

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Elevated lead levels from e-waste exposure are linked to sensory integration difficulties in preschool children

Cited by 39 publications

References 74 publications

Analysis of Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead Concentrations in Erythrocytes of Renal Transplant Recipients from Northwestern Poland

Analysis of Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead Concentrations in Erythrocytes of Renal Transplant Recipients from Northwestern Poland

Physical processing, dismantling and hydrometallurgical treatment of e-waste: A systematic review of risks to occupational and public health

Alterations of Amino Acid Concentrations and Photosynthetic Indices in Light Irradiated Arabidopsis thaliana during Phytoextraction

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