Personal Exposure to Particulate Matter and Heart Rate Variability Among Informal Electronic Waste Workers at Agbogbloshie: A Longitudinal Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Acquah A ; Amoabeng Nti AA ; Basu N ; Batterman S ; Dwomoh D ; Fobil JN ; Kwarteng L ; Mensah JA ; Robins TG ; Takyi SA
• Description:
  Background: Informal electronic waste recycling activities are major contributors to ambient air pollution, yet studies assessing the effects or relationship between direct/continuous exposure of informal e-waste workers to particulate matter and cardiovascular function are rare. Methods: Repeated measurements of fractions of PM2.5, PM10-2.5, and PM10 in personal air of informal e-waste workers, (n = 142) and a comparable group (n = 65) were taken over a period of 20 months (March 2017 to November, 2018). Concurrently, 5-min resting electrocardiogram was performed on each participant to assess resting heart rate variability indices. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the association between PM fractions and cardiac function. Results: SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF and LH/HF ratio were all associated with PM. Significant associations were observed for PM2.5 and Mean NN (p = 0.039), PM10 and SDNN (p = 0.035) and PM 10-2.5 and LH/HF (p = 0.039). A 10 µg/m3 increase in the concentrations of PM 2.5, PM10-2.5, and PM10 in personal air was associated with reduced HRV indices and increased resting HR. A 10 µg/m3 per interquartile (IQR) increase in PM10-2.5 and PM10, decreased SDNN by 11% [(95% CI: - 0.002- 0.000); (p = 0.187)] and 34% [(95% CI: - 0.002-0.001); (p = 0.035)] respectively. However, PM2.5 increased SDNN by 34% (95% CI: - 1.32-0.64); (p = 0.493). Also, 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5, PM10-2.5 and PM10 decreased RMSSD by 27% [(- 1.34-0.79); (p = 0.620)], 11% [(- 1.73, 0.95); (p = 0.846)] and 0.57% [(- 1.56-0.46); (p = 0.255%)]. Conclusion: Informal e-waste workers are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease from cardiac autonomic dysfunction as seen in reduced HRV and increased heart rate. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollution Cardiovascular System Electrical Equipment And Supplies Environmental Exposure Occupational Health Particulate Matter Recycling Safety
• Keywords:
  Agbogbloshie Air Pollution Author Keywords: Personal Particulate Matter Cardiac Function Electronic Devices Environmental Exposure Heart Rate Heart Rate Variability Informal E-waste Recycling Longitudinal Study Madina-Zongo Particle Size Particulates PM2.5 PM10 PM 10-2.5 Waste Disposal

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• ISSN:
  1471-2458
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  21
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070725
• Citation:
  BMC Public Health 2021 Nov; 21:2161
• Contact Point Address:
  Afua A. Amoabeng Nti, Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13, Accra, Ghana
• Email:
  aaamoabeng_nti001@st.ug.edu.gh
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  BMC Public Health
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6dcc69fb087d7c2f7f300fdd058ced0f0787faf26b453ca148b1c0ceb12fd6ed55e6966548b08997062e30ace72a63f09613cc1f646fb0c6fdadbd58be2ee63d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208897/cdc_208897_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 969.70 KB ]