title: Reactive oxygen species alteration of immune cells in local residents at an electronic waste recycling site in northern China.
abstract: The health effects of exposure to pollutants from electronic waste (e-waste) pose an important issue. In this study, we explored the association between oxidative stress and blood levels of e-waste-related pollutants. Blood samples were collected from individuals living in the proximity of an e-waste recycling site located in northern China, and pollutants, as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS), were measured in comparison to a reference population. The geometric mean concentrations of PCBs, dechlorane plus, and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromobiphenyl in plasma from the exposure group were 60.4, 9.0, and 0.55 ng g(-1) lipid, respectively, which were 2.2, 3.2, and 2.2 times higher than the corresponding measurement in the reference group. Correspondingly, ROS levels in white blood cells, including in neutrophil granulocytes, from the exposure group were significantly higher than in those from the reference group, suggesting potential ROS related health effects for residents at the e-waste site. In contrast, fewer ROS were generated in the respiratory burst of neutrophil granulocytes for the exposure group, indicating a depressed innate immune function for the individuals living at the e-waste site. These findings suggest a potential linkage between exposure to pollutants from e-waste recycling and both elevated oxidative stress and altered immune function.
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory for Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering and Center for Environment and Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qiaoyun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xinghua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Keqiu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000097:blood; D002681:China; D003710:Demography; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000097:blood; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D059027:Recycling; D012015:Reference Standards; D012111:Residence Characteristics
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D007854:Lead