Body loadings and health risk assessment of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans at an intensive electronic waste recycling site in China.
This study is one of the very few investigating the dioxin body burden of a group of child-bearing-aged women at an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling site (Taizhou, Zhejiang Province) (24 +/- 2.83 years of age, 40% were primiparae) and a reference site (Lin'an city, Zhejiang Province, about 245 km away from Taizhou) (24 +/- 2.35 years of age, 100% were primiparae) in China. Five sets of samples (each set consisted of human milk, placenta, and hair) were collected from each site. Body burdens of people from the e-waste processing site (human milk, 21.02 +/- 13.81 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g fat (World Health Organization toxic equivalency 1998); placenta, 31.15 +/- 15.67 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g fat; hair, 33.82 +/- 17.74 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g dry wt) showed significantly higher levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/ Fs) than those from the reference site (human milk, 9.35 +/- 7.39 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g fat; placenta, 11.91 +/- 7.05 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g fat; hair, 5.59 +/- 4.36 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g dry wt) and were comparatively higher than other studies. The difference between the two sites was due to e-waste recycling operations, for example, open burning, which led to high background levels. Moreover, mothers from the e-waste recycling site consumed more foods of animal origin. The estimated daily intake of PCDD/Fs within 6 months by breastfed infants from the e-waste processing site was 2 times higher than that from the reference site. Both values exceeded the WHO tolerable daily intake for adults by at least 25 and 11 times, respectively. Our results implicated that e-waste recycling operations cause prominent PCDD/F levels in the environment and in humans. The elevated body burden may have health implications for the next generation.
Chan
Janet K Y
JK
Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, G/F, Block 5, Low-Rise Buildings, 32 Renfrew Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
Xing
Guan Hua
GH
Xu
Ying
Y
Liang
Ying
Y
Chen
Ling Xuan
LX
Wu
Sheng Chun
SC
Wong
Chris K C
CK
Leung
Clement K M
CK
Wong
Ming H
MH
D000328:Adult; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000737:chemistry*; D002681:China; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins; D004581:Electronics; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D017745:Incineration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D018570:Risk Assessment
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins