Estimation of Children’s Soil and Dust Ingestion Rates and Health Risk at E-Waste Dismantling Area

Abstract

Due to environmental health concerns, exposure to heavy metals and related adverse effects in electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling areas have attracted considerable interest in the recent years. However, little information is available about the Soil/Dust Ingestion Rates (SIR) of heavy metals for children living in such sites. This study estimated the soil ingestion of 66 children from e-waste disassembly areas by collecting and analyzing selected tracer elements in matched samples of their consumed food, feces, and urine, as well as soil samples from their play areas. The concentrations of tracer elements (including Al, Ba, Ce, Mn, Sc, Ti, Y, and V) in these samples were analyzed. The SIR was estimated to be 148.3 mg/day (median) and 383.3 mg/day (95th percentile) based on the Best Tracer Method (BTM). These values are somewhat higher than those observed in America, Canada, and other parts of China. Health risk assessments showed that Cr presented the greatest carcinogenic risk, at more than 10−6 in this typical polluted area, while As was second. These findings provide important insights into the exposure risks of heavy metals in e-waste dismantling sites and emphasize the health risk caused by Cr and As.

Toxic Metals in Particulate Matter and Health Risks in an E-Waste Dismantling Park and Its Surrounding Areas: Analysis of Three PM Size Groups

“…As and Cr were the most reported carcinogenic metals in the e-waste area. These metals were also reported as the leading causes of cancer risk from soil exposure for children in this area [ 4 ].…”

“…Many metals, including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni), are known carcinogens, and can lead to lung, skin, or bladder cancer [ 1 ]. These metals are also ubiquitous in multiple environments, including the atmosphere [ 2 ], water bodies [ 3 ], and soil [ 4 ]. Some non-carcinogenic metal ions, such as copper (Cu) and iron (Fe), can cause oxidative stress and can subsequently induce DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, protein modification, and other effects.…”

“…A growing body of research shows that toxic metal levels in biological samples, such as human blood and urine, are associated with metals from particulate matter [ 9 , 10 ]. Exposure to toxic metals causes different adverse health impacts for young people, such as respiratory symptoms and asthma [ 4 , 11 , 12 ], abnormal kidney function [ 13 ], and low birth weight in newborns [ 14 ]. Studies of older human populations have found that exposure to PM 2.5 -bound toxic metals may cause premature death [ 15 ].…”

“…However, one study reported that high concentrations of Pb and Cr were detected near the formal e-waste recycling factory [ 29 ]. In addition, a recent study reported that children living near the formal e-waste dismantling area still suffered a carcinogenic health risk from metals in the soil [ 4 ].…”

“…Many organic pollutants have been found in the atmosphere and soil after the establishment of the government’s formal e-waste dismantling park [ 30 , 31 ]; however, the metal pollution in environmental matrices other than soil has been somewhat limited [ 4 ]. Metals in soil generally accumulate over time, while those in the atmosphere are more recently produced.…”