HBM4EU e-waste study: Occupational exposure of electronic waste workers to phthalates and DINCH in Europe.

Autor: Cleys P; Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium. Electronic address: paulien.cleys@uantwerpen.be., Hardy E; Unit for Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Laboratoire National de Santé, Rue Louis Rech 1, Dudelange, Luxembourg., Ait Bamai Y; Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium; Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12, Nishi 7, Sapporo, Japan., Poma G; Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium., Cseresznye A; Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium., Malarvannan G; Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium., Scheepers PTJ; Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, the Netherlands., Viegas S; NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, 1600-560, Lisbon, Portugal., Porras SP; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 b, Helsinki, Finland., Santonen T; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 b, Helsinki, Finland., Godderis L; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Environment and Health, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium; Idewe, External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, Interleuvenlaan 58, 3001, Heverlee, Belgium., Verdonck J; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Environment and Health, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium., Poels K; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Environment and Health, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium., Martins C; NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, 1600-560, Lisbon, Portugal., João Silva M; National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Human Genetics, Lisbon and ToxOmics - Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1099-085, Lisbon, Portugal., Louro H; National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Human Genetics, Lisbon and ToxOmics - Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1099-085, Lisbon, Portugal., Martinsone I; Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Dzirciema Street 16, Rīga, Latvia., Akūlova L; Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Dzirciema Street 16, Rīga, Latvia., van Nieuwenhuyse A; Unit for Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Laboratoire National de Santé, Rue Louis Rech 1, Dudelange, Luxembourg; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Environment and Health, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium., Graumans M; Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, the Netherlands., Mahiout S; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 b, Helsinki, Finland., Duca RC; Unit for Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Laboratoire National de Santé, Rue Louis Rech 1, Dudelange, Luxembourg; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Environment and Health, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium., Covaci A; Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium. Electronic address: adrian.covaci@uantwerpen.be.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: International journal of hygiene and environmental health [Int J Hyg Environ Health] 2024 Jan; Vol. 255, pp. 114286. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 09.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114286
Abstrakt: Workers involved in the processing of electronic waste (e-waste) are potentially exposed to toxic chemicals, including phthalates and alternative plasticizers (APs). Dismantling and shredding of e-waste may lead to the production of dust that contains these plasticizers. The aim of this study, which was part of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU), was to assess the exposure to phthalates (e.g. di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-butyl phthalate (DBP), butyl-benzyl phthalate (BBzP), di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP), di-isodecyl phthalate (DiDP) and cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic di-isononyl ester (DINCH) in e-waste workers from ten European companies. This was achieved by (i) analysing urine samples from 106 e-waste workers collected at the beginning and at the end of the work week, (ii) comparing these with urine samples from 63 non-occupationally exposed controls, and (iii) analysing settled floor dust collected in e-waste premises. Significantly higher urinary concentrations of seven out of thirteen phthalates and DINCH metabolites were found in the e-waste workers compared to the control population. However, no significant differences were found between pre- and post-shift concentrations in the e-waste workers. Concentrations of DBP, DEHP and DiDP in dust were weakly to moderately positively correlated with their corresponding urinary metabolite concentrations in the e-waste workers (Spearman's ρ = 0.4, 0.3 and 0.2, respectively). Additionally, significantly lower urinary concentrations of nine phthalates and DINCH metabolites were found in e-waste workers using respiratory protective equipment (RPE) during their work activities, reflecting the potential benefits of RPE to prevent occupational exposure to phthalates and DINCH. The estimated daily intake (EDI) values obtained in this study were lower than the corresponding tolerable daily intake (TDI) adopted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for the general population, suggesting that the risk for negative health consequences in this population of e-waste workers from exposure to phthalates and DINCH is expected to be low. This was confirmed by the urinary metabolite concentrations of all workers being lower than the HBM4EU guidance values derived for the occupational exposed and general population. This study is one of the first to address the occupational exposure to phthalates and DINCH in Europe in e-waste dismantling workers, combining a human biomonitoring approach with analysis of settled indoor dust.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None.
(Copyright © 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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