Arsenic burden in e-waste recycling workers – A cross-sectional study at the Agbogbloshie e-waste recycling site, Ghana
Yang J, Bertram J, Schettgen T, Heitland P, Fischer D, Seidu F, Felten M, Kraus T, Fobil JN, Kaifie A (2020)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2020
Journal
Book Volume: 261
Article Number: 127712
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127712
Abstract
The export of e-waste from industrialized to developing countries has led to the formation of a large-scale informal e-waste recycling sector in Accra, Ghana. During recycling processes, workers are exposed to several hazardous substances, such as heavy metals. As a common component of e-waste, inorganic arsenic can be released during e-waste recycling processes. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to inorganic arsenic species in e-waste workers compared to a control group. N = 84 e-waste workers and n = 94 control subjects were included in this analysis. Inorganic arsenic species were determined in urine samples using HPLC-ICP-MS. E-waste workers showed higher median concentrations of As(III), As(V), MMA, DMA and the sum of inorganic arsenic in comparison to the control group. More than 80% of the e-waste workers exceeded the acceptable concentration (14 μg/L), which was significantly higher in comparison to the control group (70%). The tolerable concentration (40 μg/L) was exceeded in 17.2% of the participants, meaning a statistically relevant risk of developing cancer due to arsenic exposure throughout their (working) life. In conclusion, the exposure to inorganic arsenic is not only a problem of informal e-waste recycling, but a major public health concern that needs further investigation.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen
Germany (DE)
Medizinisches Labor Bremen
Germany (DE)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Germany (DE)
University of Ghana
Ghana (GH)
Germany (DE)
Medizinisches Labor Bremen
Germany (DE)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Germany (DE)
University of Ghana
Ghana (GH)
How to cite
APA:
Yang, J., Bertram, J., Schettgen, T., Heitland, P., Fischer, D., Seidu, F.,... Kaifie, A. (2020). Arsenic burden in e-waste recycling workers – A cross-sectional study at the Agbogbloshie e-waste recycling site, Ghana. Chemosphere, 261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127712
MLA:
Yang, Jennie, et al. "Arsenic burden in e-waste recycling workers – A cross-sectional study at the Agbogbloshie e-waste recycling site, Ghana." Chemosphere 261 (2020).
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