title: Elevated lead levels and changes in blood morphology and erythrocyte CR1 in preschool children from an e-waste area.
abstract: Improper dismantling and combustion of electronic waste (e-waste) may release persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals that possess potential risk for human health. Lead (Pb) is carried through the circulatory system by erythrocytes and is known to alter the functions of hematopoietic and immune systems. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Pb exposure on blood morphology and erythrocyte complement receptor 1 (CR1) levels as related to immunologic function in preschool children. We recruited 484 preschool children, 2- to 6-years of age, among whom 332 children were from Guiyu, a typical and primitive e-waste processing area, and 152 children from Haojiang (reference area). Results showed that the blood Pb level (BPb) and erythrocyte Pb level (EPb) of exposed children were significantly higher, but, the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and erythrocyte CR1 levels were significantly lower than reference children. Elevated EPb and BPb was related to disadvantageous changes in hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin (HGB), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and MCHC, respectively, in children from the e-waste recycling area. Furthermore, in the high Pb-exposed group, the Pb toxicity of erythrocytes was more significant compared to the low Pb-exposed group in e-waste-exposed children. Combine with the BPb and EPb would be better to evaluating the Pb toxicity of erythrocytes. Compared to low Pb exposure, high BPb and EPb were associated with lower erythrocyte CR1 expression in all children. Our data suggests that elevated Pb levels result in adverse changes in blood morphology, hemoglobin synthesis and CR1 expression, which might be a non-negligible threat to erythrocyte immunity development in local preschool children. It is therefore imperative for any intervention to control the Pb exposure of children and actively educate adults to raise their environmental awareness of potential e-waste pollution during the recycling process.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China.
authors.forename: Yifeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China; School of Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China.
authors.forename: Minghui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China. Electronic address: xuxj@stu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xijin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D059029:Electronic Waste; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D017463:Receptors, Complement 3b / Q000378:metabolism*; D059027:Recycling
chemical_list: C509991:CR1 protein, human; D017463:Receptors, Complement 3b; D007854:Lead
keywords: Electronic waste; Erythrocyte complement receptor type 1; Erythrocyte immunity; Lead; Preschool children