title: Human health risk assessment based on trace metals in suspended air particulates, surface dust, and floor dust from e-waste recycling workshops in Hong Kong, China.
abstract: This study investigated health risks exerted on electronic waste (e-waste) recycling workers exposed to cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), and zinc (Zn) in Hong Kong. E-waste recycling workshops were classified into eight working areas: 1 = office, 2 = repair, 3 = dismantling, 4 = storage, 5 = desoldering, 6 = loading, 7 = cable shredding, and 8 = chemical waste. The aforementioned metal concentrations were analyzed in suspended air particulates, surface dust and floor dust collected from the above study areas in five workshops. Elevated Pb levels were measured in dismantling and desoldering areas (582 and 486 μg/100 cm(2) in surface and 3,610 and 19,172 mg/kg in floor dust, respectively). Blood lead levels of 10 and 39.5 μg/dl were estimated using United States Environmental Protection Agency's Adult Lead Model as a result of exposure to the floor dust from these two areas. Human health risk assessments were conducted to evaluate cancer and noncancer risks resulting from exposure to floor dust through the combined pathways of ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation. Findings indicated that workers may be exposed to cancer risks above the acceptable range at 147 in a million at the 95th percentile in the dismantling area. Workers should be informed of associated risks to safeguard their health.
authors.affiliation: Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Winifred Ka Yan
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yu Bon
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: Shan Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Ming Hung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D059029:Electronic Waste; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D059027:Recycling; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy