Exposure of electronics dismantling workers to polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides in south China.

Lancaster Environment Centre

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https://doi.org/10.1021/es070346a
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Exposure of electronics dismantling workers to polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides in south China. / Bi, Xinhui; Thomas, Gareth ; Jones, Kevin C. et al.
In: Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 41, No. 16, 07.2007, p. 5647-5653.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Bibtex

@article{1f055341404e46c79e6cf245cc7b17f2,

title = "Exposure of electronics dismantling workers to polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides in south China.",

abstract = "In P.R. China, electronic waste (e-waste) from across the world is dismantled and disposed of. Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) were measured in serum from residents of an e-waste dismantling region (Guiyu, South China), where 80% of families work in e-waste recycling, and compared to a matching cohort from a nearby region where the fishing industry dominates (Haojiang). Serum concentrations of PBDEs and OCPs, but not PCBs, were significantly different in the two regions - the median ΣPBDE concentration was 3 times higher in Guiyu than Haojiang, whereas the opposite was true for DDT. PBDEs typically accounted for 46% of the total organohalogen chemicals in samples from Guiyu, but 8.7% in Haojiang. The median BDE-209 concentration in Guiyu was 50-200 times higher than previously reported in occupationally-exposed populations. The highest BDE-209 concentration was 3100 ng/g lipid, the highest yet reported in humans. Serum PBDE concentrations did not correlate with PCBs or OCPs, whereas PCBs and OCPs showed positive correlations, suggesting that sources of PBDEs to humans are different from PCBs and OCPs. The levels of PBDEs in individuals from Haojiang are possibly related to the recycling activity at Guiyu, through atmospheric transport.",

author = "Xinhui Bi and Gareth Thomas and Jones, {Kevin C.} and Weiyue Qu and Guoying Sheng and Martin, {Francis L.} and Jiamo Fu",

year = "2007",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1021/es070346a",

language = "English",

volume = "41",

pages = "5647--5653",

journal = "Environmental Science and Technology",

issn = "0013-936X",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "16",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exposure of electronics dismantling workers to polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides in south China.

AU - Bi, Xinhui

AU - Thomas, Gareth

AU - Jones, Kevin C.

AU - Qu, Weiyue

AU - Sheng, Guoying

AU - Martin, Francis L.

AU - Fu, Jiamo

PY - 2007/7

Y1 - 2007/7

N2 - In P.R. China, electronic waste (e-waste) from across the world is dismantled and disposed of. Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) were measured in serum from residents of an e-waste dismantling region (Guiyu, South China), where 80% of families work in e-waste recycling, and compared to a matching cohort from a nearby region where the fishing industry dominates (Haojiang). Serum concentrations of PBDEs and OCPs, but not PCBs, were significantly different in the two regions - the median ΣPBDE concentration was 3 times higher in Guiyu than Haojiang, whereas the opposite was true for DDT. PBDEs typically accounted for 46% of the total organohalogen chemicals in samples from Guiyu, but 8.7% in Haojiang. The median BDE-209 concentration in Guiyu was 50-200 times higher than previously reported in occupationally-exposed populations. The highest BDE-209 concentration was 3100 ng/g lipid, the highest yet reported in humans. Serum PBDE concentrations did not correlate with PCBs or OCPs, whereas PCBs and OCPs showed positive correlations, suggesting that sources of PBDEs to humans are different from PCBs and OCPs. The levels of PBDEs in individuals from Haojiang are possibly related to the recycling activity at Guiyu, through atmospheric transport.

AB - In P.R. China, electronic waste (e-waste) from across the world is dismantled and disposed of. Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) were measured in serum from residents of an e-waste dismantling region (Guiyu, South China), where 80% of families work in e-waste recycling, and compared to a matching cohort from a nearby region where the fishing industry dominates (Haojiang). Serum concentrations of PBDEs and OCPs, but not PCBs, were significantly different in the two regions - the median ΣPBDE concentration was 3 times higher in Guiyu than Haojiang, whereas the opposite was true for DDT. PBDEs typically accounted for 46% of the total organohalogen chemicals in samples from Guiyu, but 8.7% in Haojiang. The median BDE-209 concentration in Guiyu was 50-200 times higher than previously reported in occupationally-exposed populations. The highest BDE-209 concentration was 3100 ng/g lipid, the highest yet reported in humans. Serum PBDE concentrations did not correlate with PCBs or OCPs, whereas PCBs and OCPs showed positive correlations, suggesting that sources of PBDEs to humans are different from PCBs and OCPs. The levels of PBDEs in individuals from Haojiang are possibly related to the recycling activity at Guiyu, through atmospheric transport.

U2 - 10.1021/es070346a

DO - 10.1021/es070346a

M3 - Journal article

VL - 41

SP - 5647

EP - 5653

JO - Environmental Science and Technology

JF - Environmental Science and Technology

SN - 0013-936X

IS - 16

ER -

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