Health risk assessment of lead for children in tinfoil manufacturing and e-waste recycling areas of Zhejiang Province, China

by Posted on

This study assessed the potential health risks from Pb in tin foil manufacturing and e-waste recycling areas. Three hundred and twenty-nine children in total aged 11-12 who lived in a tinfoil manufacturing area (Lanxi), an e-waste recycling area (Luqiao) and a reference area (Chun’an) were studied. In total, 329 children, aged 11-12, who lived in a tin foil manufacturing area (Lanxi), an e-waste recycling area (Luqiao), and a reference area (Chun’an) were examined. BLL were detected by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry. Blood urea-N (BUN), serum creatinine, serum Ca, ä-aminolevulinic acid (ä-ALA), and intelligence quotient (IQ) were also measured. Geometric mean BLL in Lanxi, Luqiao, and Chun’an were 8.11, 6.97, and 2.78 íg/dL respectively, with 35.1, 38.9, and 0% children with BLL >10 íg/dL. BLL in exposed areas were much higher than those in the control area. Lanxi children had higher creatinine and Ca than Chun’an children; Luqiao children had higher ä-ALA and lower Ca than Chun’an children. No significant IQ differences were observed among Lanxi, Luqiao, and Chun’an; however, a negative relationship between BLL and IQ was evident for study children. The authors concluded that the findings from this study indicated Pb pollution from e-waste recycling and tin foil processing appears to be a potential serious threat to children health.

Authors: Wang, Xiaofeng; Miller, Greg; Ding, Gangqiang; Lou, Xiaoming; Cai, Delei; Chen, Zhijian; Meng, Jia; Tang, Jun; Chu, Cordia; Mo, Zhe; Han, Jianlong ;Full Source: Science of the Total Environment [online computer file] 2012, 426, 106-112 (Eng) ;