TY - JOUR
T1 - Body loadings and health risk assessment of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans at an intensive electronic waste recycling site in China
AU - Chan, Janet K.Y.
AU - Guan, Hua Xing
AU - Xu, Ying
AU - Liang, Ying
AU - Ling, Xuan Chen
AU - Sheng, Chun Wu
AU - Wong, Chris K.C.
AU - Leung, Clement K.M.
AU - Wong, Ming H.
N1 - This research is supported by The Research Grants Council of the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong (Central Allocation Group Research Project HKBU 1/03C), Match Fund from Hong Kong Baptist University, and a private donation.
PY - 2007/11/15
Y1 - 2007/11/15
N2 - This study is one of the very few investigating the dioxin body burden of a group of child-bearing-aged women at an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling site (Taizhou, Zhejiang Province) (24 ± 2.83 years of age, 40% were primiparae) and a reference site (Lin'an city, Zhejiang Province, about 245 km away from Taizhou) (24 ± 2.35 years of age, 100% were primiparae) in China. Five sets of samples (each set consisted of human milk, placenta, and hair) were collected from each site. Body burdens of people from the e-waste processing site (human milk, 21.02 ± 13.81 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g fat (World Health Organization toxic equivalency 1998); placenta, 31.15 ± 15.67 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g fat; hair, 33.82 ± 17.74 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g dry wt) showed significantly higher levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) than those from the reference site (human milk, 9.35 ± 7.39 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g fat; placenta, 11.91 ± 7.05 pg WHO-TEQ 1998/g fat; hair, 5.59 ± 4.36 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g dry wt) and were comparatively higher than other studies. The difference between the two sites was due to e-waste recycling operations, for example, open burning, which led to high background levels. Moreover, mothers from the e-waste recycling site consumed more foods of animal origin. The estimated daily intake of PCDD/Fs within 6 months by breastfed infants from the e-waste processing site was 2 times higher than that from the reference site. Both values exceeded the WHO tolerable daily intake for adults by at least 25 and 11 times, respectively. Our results implicated that e-waste recycling operations cause prominent PCDD/F levels in the environment and in humans. The elevated body burden may have health implications for the next generation.
AB - This study is one of the very few investigating the dioxin body burden of a group of child-bearing-aged women at an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling site (Taizhou, Zhejiang Province) (24 ± 2.83 years of age, 40% were primiparae) and a reference site (Lin'an city, Zhejiang Province, about 245 km away from Taizhou) (24 ± 2.35 years of age, 100% were primiparae) in China. Five sets of samples (each set consisted of human milk, placenta, and hair) were collected from each site. Body burdens of people from the e-waste processing site (human milk, 21.02 ± 13.81 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g fat (World Health Organization toxic equivalency 1998); placenta, 31.15 ± 15.67 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g fat; hair, 33.82 ± 17.74 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g dry wt) showed significantly higher levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) than those from the reference site (human milk, 9.35 ± 7.39 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g fat; placenta, 11.91 ± 7.05 pg WHO-TEQ 1998/g fat; hair, 5.59 ± 4.36 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g dry wt) and were comparatively higher than other studies. The difference between the two sites was due to e-waste recycling operations, for example, open burning, which led to high background levels. Moreover, mothers from the e-waste recycling site consumed more foods of animal origin. The estimated daily intake of PCDD/Fs within 6 months by breastfed infants from the e-waste processing site was 2 times higher than that from the reference site. Both values exceeded the WHO tolerable daily intake for adults by at least 25 and 11 times, respectively. Our results implicated that e-waste recycling operations cause prominent PCDD/F levels in the environment and in humans. The elevated body burden may have health implications for the next generation.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=36248967151&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/es071492j
DO - 10.1021/es071492j
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 18075072
AN - SCOPUS:36248967151
SN - 0013-936X
VL - 41
SP - 7668
EP - 7674
JO - Environmental Science and Technology
JF - Environmental Science and Technology
IS - 22
ER -
