Self-Reported Health and Metal Body Burden in an Electronic Waste Recycling Community in Northeastern Thailand

Details

• Personal Author:
  Adar SD ; Arain AL ; Nambunmee K ; Neitzel RL ; Seith R
• Description:
  Objective: This study aims to summarize electronic waste (e-waste) worker health; examine associations between health and sociodemographic characteristics; and metal body burden. Methods: In 2016, 131 e-waste recycling workers were enrolled in the study, completed a questionnaire, and gave blood and urine samples for heavy metal concentration assessment (lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, nickel). The relationship between symptoms, general health, and metals is assessed via generalized estimating equation models (adjusted for age, education, sex, and village). Results: Cadmium in blood and copper in serum were most consistently associated with higher odds of poor health and prevalence of symptoms. We found inconsistent results between general health, symptom severity, and urinary nickel. Higher blood lead levels (BLL) were associated with fewer self-reported symptoms. Conclusions: Exposure to certain metals in e-waste recycling communities may adversely impact health status. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cadmium Copper Electrical Equipment And Supplies Lead Metals, Heavy Nickel Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Cadmium Biological Monitoring E-waste Electronic Equipment Electronics Industry Health Outcomes Heavy Metals Metals Waste Disposal Zinc
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• 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:
  61
• Issue:
  11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059346
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2019 Nov; 61(11):905-909
• Contact Point Address:
  Richard L. Neitzel, PhD, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029
• Email:
  rneitzel@umich.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Cadmium (CAS RN 7440-43-9) ; Copper (CAS RN 7440-50-8) ; Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1) ; Nickel (CAS RN 7440-02-0) ; Zinc (CAS RN 7440-66-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:73e328907e3e72833ba834c50c2060f8aa1bb29c7ca7e070984bef212234207f68af568165337de0c529279e87b76922f62c8d331c4216893f25c7a45e9a7477
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/223610/cdc_223610_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 182.72 KB ]