Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany
Autor: | Frederik Lessmann, Volker Harth, Katrin Pitzke, Albert Nienhaus, Johannes Gerding, Johanna Stranzinger, Claudia Peters, Wolfgang Wegscheider, Udo Eickmann |
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Rok vydání: | 2020 |
Předmět: |
Adult
Male Sheltered workshop chemistry.chemical_element Sheltered workshops Air Pollutants Occupational Urine Electronic waste Air monitoring Sheltered Workshops Young Adult Environmental health Germany Occupational Exposure Biomonitoring Humans Recycling Aged Cadmium Potential risk Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Middle Aged Mercury (element) Cross-Sectional Studies chemistry Metals Metal exposure Environmental science Female Original Article Occupational exposure Environmental Monitoring |
Zdroj: | International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health |
ISSN: | 1432-1246 |
Popis: | Objectives In Germany, the initial step of electronic waste (e-waste) recycling frequently takes place in sheltered workshops for physically and mentally handicapped workers (Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen (WfbM), in german language). E-waste recycling involves a potential risk of exposure to toxic metals. Therefore, we assessed the occupational exposure of recycling workers to toxic metals to identify potential health risks and insufficient protective measures. Methods We used a combined air- and bio-monitoring approach to determine exposure of recycling workers to toxic metals. Air and urine samples were collected in five sheltered workshops in Germany and were analysed for their content of aluminium, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, mercury and nickel. Results were compared to German and international occupational limit values and to metal exposures of workers in conventional e-waste recycling firms. Results Exposure of recycling workers in five German sheltered workshops to the studied metals and their compounds was below German and international occupational limit values across all facilities studied considering both air and urine samples. Workers in the present study were not exposed to higher amounts of toxic metals than workers in conventional e-waste recycling firms. Conclusion This is the first study on toxic metal exposure of recycling workers in sheltered workshops. The results of this study revealed a low occupational exposure of e-waste recycling workers to toxic metals in this type of enterprises. Current work methods and safety measures provide the workers with adequate protection. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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