title: Health risk assessment of lead for children in tinfoil manufacturing and e-waste recycling areas of Zhejiang Province, China.
abstract: Tinfoil manufacturing and electronic waste (e-waste) recycling remain rudimentary processes in Zhejing Province, China, which could account for elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) and health impacts on children. We assessed the potential health risks of lead in tinfoil manufacturing and e-waste recycling areas. 329 children in total aged 11-12 who lived in a tinfoil manufacturing area (Lanxi), an e-waste recycling area (Luqiao) and a reference area (Chun'an) were studied. Lead levels in children's blood were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, serum calcium, δ-Aminolaevulinic acid (δ-ALA) and intelligence quotient (IQ) were also measured. Geometric mean of BLLs in Lanxi, Luqiao and Chun'an were 8.11 μg/dL, 6.97 μg/dL, and 2.78 μg/dL respectively, with 35.1%, 38.9% and 0% of children who had BLLs above 10 μg/dL. The BLLs in exposed areas were much higher than those in the control area. Lanxi children had higher creatinine and calcium than Chun'an children, and Luqiao children had higher δ-ALA and lower calcium than Chun'an children. No significant differences of IQ were observed between Lanxi, Luqiao and Chun'an, however a negative relationship between BLLs and IQ was shown for the study children. The results indicated that lead pollution from e-waste recycling and tinfoil processing appears to be a potential serious threat to children's health.
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 630 Xin Cheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, China. zjcdcwxf@gmail.com
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Gangqiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Delei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Zhijian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Cordia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.forename: Jianlong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D059029:Electronic Waste; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014001:Tin; D018505:Waste Management
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead; D014001:Tin