Occupational and Dietary Differences in Hydroxylated and Methoxylated PBDEs and Metals in Plasma from Puget Sound, Washington, USA Region Volunteers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cade S ; Cullinan V ; Kuo L-J ; Schultz IR
• Description:
  Electronic waste (E-waste) recycling is a rapidly growing occupation in the USA with the potential for elevated exposure to flame retardants and metals associated with electronic devices. We previously measured polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in plasma from E-waste workers and found them similar to non-E-waste workers. This study focused on structurally related PBDE derivatives, the hydroxylated (OH-PBDEs) and methoxylated (MeO-PBDEs) forms along with metals known to occur in E-waste. Humans can metabolize PBDEs and some MeO-PBDEs into OH-PBDEs, which is a concern due to greater health risks associated with OH-PBDEs. We measured 32 different OH-PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs in plasma samples provided by 113 volunteers living in the greater Puget Sound region of Washington State, USA. We measured 14 metals in a subset of 10 E-waste and 10 non-E-waste volunteers. Volunteers were selected based on occupational and dietary habits: work outdoors and consume above average amounts of seafood (outdoor), electronic waste recycling (E-waste) or non-specific indoor occupations (indoor). A two-week food consumption diary was obtained from each volunteer prior to blood sampling. OH-PBDEs were detected in all volunteers varying between 0.27 and 102 ng/g/g-lipid. The MeO-PBDEs were detected in most, but not all volunteers varying between n.d. - 60.4 ng/g/g-lipid. E-waste recyclers had OH-PBDE and MeO-PBDE plasma levels that were similar to the indoor group. The outdoor group had significantly higher levels of MeO-PBDEs, but not OH-PBDEs. Comparison of plasma concentrations of BDE-47 with its known hydroxylated metabolites suggested OH-PBDE levels were likely determined by biotransformation and at least two subpopulations identified differing in their apparent rates of OH-PBDE formation. The metals analysis indicated no significant differences between E-waste workers and non-E-waste workers. Our results indicate E-waste workers do not have elevated plasma levels of these contaminants relative to non-E-waste workers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Electrical Equipment And Supplies Occupational Health Recycling Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Human Biotransformation Dietary Effects Electronic Devices Flame Retardants Halogenated Phenolic Outdoor Workers Plasma Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Thyroid
• ISSN:
  0048-9697
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  714
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068441
• Citation:
  Sci Total Environ 2020 Apr; 714:136566
• Contact Point Address:
  Irvin R. Schultz, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112, USA
• Email:
  irvin.schultz@noaa.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20130901
• Source Full Name:
  Science of the Total Environment
• End Date:
  20150831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c661d2aad84783ba6f7c21bdf8d7f14970ea060905894c9b273baf805fd2c372c13dd658b52bfd42c7849b2a1b66c61828f0af3bf08f37cf430717525f77888d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230594/cdc_230594_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 733.22 KB ]