title: Birth outcomes related to informal e-waste recycling in Guiyu, China.
abstract: To assess the impact of exposure to informal e-waste recycling on birth outcomes. We compared record-based birth outcomes (n=24,493) and levels of cord blood lead (CBPb) (n=531) in Guiyu and a control area in Xiamen. Guiyu births showed significantly higher rates of adverse birth outcomes including stillbirth (4.72% vs. 1.03%), low birth weight (6.12% vs. 4.12%), term low birth weight (3.40% vs. 1.57%), and lower Apgar scores (9.6 vs. 9.9) and mean birth weight (3168 g vs. 3258 g) than did births from the control site, all P<0.01. Regression analysis showed Guiyu had about four times higher risk of stillbirth compared with Xiamen. The median level of CBPb was much higher in neonates of Guiyu than those in the control group (10.78 μg/dL vs. 2.25 μg/dL). Prenatal exposure to informal e-waste recycling related to high rate of adverse birth outcomes, lower Apgar scores and unsafe lead level in cord blood.
authors.affiliation: Analytical Cytology Laboratory and the Key Immunopathology Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, PR China.
authors.forename: Xijin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yulin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Kusheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Junxiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002681:China; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D059027:Recycling; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D050497:Stillbirth; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead