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

Abstract

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.

HBM4EU Occupational Biomonitoring Study on e-Waste—Study Protocol

“…This occupational biomonitoring study on e-waste will focus on a range of chemicals identified on the first and second list of HBM4EU priority substances, for which biomonitoring methods have been developed and tested in multiple laboratories as part of HBM4EU and may also include chemicals for which this process is still ongoing. 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 ].…”

“…The studies by Julander and co-workers and Gerding and co-workers are currently the only identified published studies in Europe reporting on the use of human biomonitoring in e-waste workers [ 20 , 21 ]. Julander and co-workers only reported on median and range which makes it difficult to use these data in a power-calculation [ 20 ].…”

“…A recent literature review by Arain and Neitzel (2019) [ 19 ] showed that, so far, occupational exposures occurring in this sector were only studied in one European country [ 20 ]. We identified a second study also reporting on the use of biomonitoring to assess the level of exposure to metals [ 21 ]. These studies together reported higher chromium, cobalt, indium, lead, and mercury concentrations in the urine and/or plasma of the recycling workers, compared to controls.…”

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Urine of Metal Carpentry Workers Can Be Diagnostic for Occupational Exposure to Low Level of Welding Fumes from Associated Metals

“…Welding fumes have been considered Group 1 human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) since 2017 [2]. Electronic components can include a variety of harmful metals to which workers may be exposed, including aluminum (Al), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), mercury (Hg), and nickel (Ni) [3].…”

Human Biomonitoring Data Enables Evidence-Informed Policy to Reduce Internal Exposure to Persistent Organic Compounds: A Case Study

“…For example, in Italy [ 42 ], France [ 43 , 44 ] and Spain [ 45 , 46 ], human biomonitoring studies have been conducted to monitor the body burdens of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in subjects working or living in the surroundings of the MWIs. European HBM studies near metal recycling plant often focus on exposure to metals [ 47 , 48 ], but in a German HBM study, the body burdens of PCBs were monitored near a transformer recycling plant [ 49 , 50 ]. Here we discuss the aspects of our study contributing to the evidence-informed policy making.…”