title: Heavy metals in PM2.5 and in blood, and children's respiratory symptoms and asthma from an e-waste recycling area.
abstract: This study was to investigate the levels of heavy metals in PM2.5 and in blood, the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and asthma, and the related factors to them. Lead and cadmium in both PM2.5 and blood were significant higher in Guiyu (exposed area) than Haojiang (reference area) (p < 0.05), however, no significant difference was found for chromium and manganese in PM2.5 and in blood. The prevalence of cough, phlegm, dyspnea, and wheeze of children was higher in Guiyu compared to Haojiang (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found for the prevalence of asthma in children between Guiyu and Haojiang. Living in Guiyu was positively associated with blood lead (B = 0.196, p < 0.001), blood cadmium (B = 0.148, p < 0.05) and cough (OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.30-4.32; p < 0.01). Blood lead>5 μg/dL was significantly associated with asthma (OR, 9.50; 95% CI, 1.16-77.49). Higher blood chromium and blood manganese were associated with more cough and wheeze, respectively. Our data suggest that living in e-waste exposed area may lead to increased levels of heavy metals, and accelerated prevalence of respiratory symptoms and asthma.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China; Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 1 Hanzeplein, Groningen 9700RB, The Netherlands; Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 1 Hanzeplein, Groningen 9700RB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China.
authors.forename: Xijin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China.
authors.forename: Xiangbin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reponen
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. Electronic address: gd_huoxia@qq.com.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huo
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D003371:Cough / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008345:Manganese / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry*; D059027:Recycling; D012119:Respiration
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D052638:Particulate Matter; D002104:Cadmium; D002857:Chromium; D007854:Lead; D008345:Manganese
keywords: Asthma; E-waste; Heavy metals; PM(2.5); Preschool children; Respiratory symptoms