Authors: Winifred Ka Yan Lau Peng Liang Yu Bon Man Shan Shan Chung Ming Hung Wong
Publish Date: 2013/11/28
Volume: 21, Issue: 5, Pages: 3813-3825
Abstract
This study investigated health risks exerted on electronic waste ewaste recycling workers exposed to cadmium Cd chromium Cr copper Cu lead Pb nickel Ni mercury Hg and zinc Zn in Hong Kong Ewaste recycling workshops were classified into eight working areas 1 = office 2 = repair 3 = dismantling 4 = storage 5 = desoldering 6 = loading 7 = cable shredding and 8 = chemical waste The aforementioned metal concentrations were analyzed in suspended air particulates surface dust and floor dust collected from the above study areas in five workshops Elevated Pb levels were measured in dismantling and desoldering areas 582 and 486 μg/100 cm2 in surface and 3610 and 19172 mg/kg in floor dust respectively Blood lead levels of 10 and 395 μg/dl were estimated using United States Environmental Protection Agencys Adult Lead Model as a result of exposure to the floor dust from these two areas Human health risk assessments were conducted to evaluate cancer and noncancer risks resulting from exposure to floor dust through the combined pathways of ingestion dermal contact and inhalation Findings indicated that workers may be exposed to cancer risks above the acceptable range at 147 in a million at the 95th percentile in the dismantling area Workers should be informed of associated risks to safeguard their healthThe authors would like to thank the participating ewaste recycling workshops and Mr KK Ma for his help with the chemical analyses This research is supported by a grant from the Public Policy Research Grant HKBU 2001PPR5 and the Marginally Funded PostGraduate Fund on Persistent Toxic Substances from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong
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