HBM4EU e-waste study – Occupational exposure assessment to chromium, cadmium, mercury and lead during e-waste recycling

Leese E, Verdonck J, Porras SP, Airaksinen J, Duca RC, Galea KS, Godderis L, Janasik B, Mahiout S, Martins C, Mārtiņsone I, Ani MM, van Nieuwenhuyse A, Scheepers PT, Silva MJ, Viegas S, Santonen T, Aimonen K, Akūlova L, Clarke A, Creta M, van Dael M, Göen T, Graumans M, Hardy E, Jones K, Knudsen LE, Komarovska L, Laitinen S, Louro H, Matisāne L, Nogueira A, Paegle L, Pinhal H, Poels K, Rantio T, Remes J, Santos S, Seile A, Smolders E, Tavares AM, Vänskä M, Velin R, Wasowicz W (2025)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Environmental Research Elsevier

Book Volume: 283

Article Number: 121892

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.121892

Abstract

Processing of electronic waste (e-waste) causes the release of toxic substances which may lead to occupational exposure. The study aimed to gather information on potential occupational exposure during e-waste recycling, with a focus on biomonitoring of chromium, cadmium, mercury and lead. In eight European countries, 195 workers involved in the recycling of lead batteries, white goods, brown goods and metals and plastics were studied. These workers were compared to 73 controls with no direct involvement of e-waste recycling or other metal processing activities. The samples collected consisted of urine, blood and hair samples, along with personal air samples, hand wipes, settled dust samples and contextual information. Chromium, cadmium, mercury and lead was measured in urine, hair, air samples, hand wipes and settled dust; cadmium and lead in whole blood and chromium in red blood cells. Results showed that lead exposure is of concern, with workers from all five types of e-waste showing exposure, with elevated measurements in all matrices. Internal exposure markers were positively correlated with markers of external exposure, indicating workers are not adequately protected. Exposure to mercury and cadmium was also observed but to a much lesser extent with raised cadmium concentrations in urine and blood of all workers when compared to controls and raised mercury concentrations were found in brown goods workers when compared to controls. This study has highlighted exposure concerns when processing e-waste, particularly for lead across all waste categories studied, indicating a need for improved control measures in this sector.

Authors with CRIS profile

Thomas Göen Lehrstuhl für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin

Involved external institutions

Radboud University Nijmegen NL Netherlands (NL) Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS) LU Luxembourg (LU) HSE Science and Research Centre GB United Kingdom (GB) University of Copenhagen DK Denmark (DK) Rīga Stradiņš University LV Latvia (LV) Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine (NIOM) PL Poland (PL) New University of Lisbon / Universidade Nova de Lisboa PT Portugal (PT) Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) / Työterveyslaitos (TTL) FI Finland (FI) National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA) / Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge PT Portugal (PT) Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) / Catholic University of Leuven BE Belgium (BE) IOM Institute of Occupational Medicine GB United Kingdom (GB)

How to cite

APA:

Leese, E., Verdonck, J., Porras, S.P., Airaksinen, J., Duca, R.C., Galea, K.S.,... Wasowicz, W. (2025). HBM4EU e-waste study – Occupational exposure assessment to chromium, cadmium, mercury and lead during e-waste recycling. Environmental Research, 283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.121892

MLA:

Leese, Elizabeth, et al. "HBM4EU e-waste study – Occupational exposure assessment to chromium, cadmium, mercury and lead during e-waste recycling." Environmental Research 283 (2025).

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