Variation in Some Haematological Parameters, Iron and Lead Levels in Workers Exposed to Electronic Waste in Benin City, Nigeria (original) (raw)
Related papers
2020
Background: The volume of electronic waste (e-waste) received in Nigeria is reportedly on the increase and the effects on environmental health are yet to be fully ascertained. This study aimed to investigate possible variation of haematological indices, lead and serum iron levels in workers occupationally exposed to electronic wastes in Benin City, South-South, Nigeria. Methods: In this pilot study, 104 participants were enrolled from Benin City, South-South Nigeria; consisting of 63 E-waste Workers (EW) sex-and aged-matched with 41 Unexposed Participants (Control). Blood samples were collected and analysed for levels of the metals (lead and iron) using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry while the haematological parameters [White Blood Cells (WBC), Lymphocytes (LY); Monocytes (MO), Granulocytes (GR), Red Blood Cells (RBC), Haemoglobin (Hgb), Haematocrit (HCT), Mean Cell Volume (MCV), Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and Platelets (PLT)] were determined using Haematology Auto-analyser. Results: Serum iron (p<0.007) was significantly lower while lead was higher (p<0.001) among EW than controls. Also, LY, PLT, Hgb, PCV and MCHC were significantly lower (p<0.001) while TWBC (p<0.001), MO (p<0.05), GR (p<0.001) and MCV were higher among EW than control subjects. Conclusion: E-waste exposure may increase blood lead level, lower serum iron status and may have adversely altered the measured haematological parameters in the studied population.
The poor management of electronic wastes (e-waste) in Nigeria exposes workers to toxic chemicals in waste electrical and electronic equipment. In this study, we evaluated the toxic metal levels in Nigerians occupationally exposed to e-waste. Whole blood levels of Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), and Chromium (Cr) were determined in Nigerian e-waste workers (n=63) and in age-matched non-exposed participants (n=41), using standard electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry methods. The results showed statistically significant (p<0.01) elevated body burden of toxic metals in e-waste workers (Pb, 0.95 ± 0.00 µmol/L; Cr, 405.99 ± 6.34 µmol/L; Cd, 108.54 ± 1.60 nmol/L; Ar, 10.09 ± 0.01 µmol/L; and Hg, 25.02 ± 0.14 nmol/L) compared with non-exposed group ((Pb, 0.03 ± 0.00 µmol/L; Cr, 178.44 ± 5.99 µmol/L; Cd, 56.99 ± 1.42 nmol/L; Ar, 1.02 ± 0.0008 µmol/L; and Hg, 1.62 ± 0.0672 nmol/L). These data indicate that the elevated body burden of toxic metals in the e-waste exposed population is an indication of occupational metal toxicity associated with crude e-waste management practices in Nigeria. In addition, the potential health implications of exposure to these toxic metals, such as chronic kidney disease, cancer; preceded by genome instability and depressed immune response were highlighted.
Background: Lead adversely affects a number of organ systems in the body; routine blood count evaluation is an important component of monitoring for organ related toxicity such as leukemia and aplastic anemia. Objective: To evaluate the influence of blood lead levels (BLL) on heamatological parameters among petrol station attendants (PSAs) and auto mobile mechanics (AMs) in Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: One hundred subjects (including 25 PSAs, 25 AMs and 50 normal controls) were prospectively recruited. Five mililiter of blood was collected for full blood count (FBC) and BLL, FBC was done using haematology auto-analyzer (SYSMEX PE 6800), while BLL was determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS model: 240FSAA). Results were expressed as means ±SD, while associations between variable were explored using student t-test and analysis of variance. Regression analysis and correlation were used to establish possible link between lead parameters and hematological indices and personal life style habits. Ethical clearance was obtained from our institutional review board and all participants gave informed consent. Results: Blood lead and white blood cell count (WBC) were significantly higher in AMs compared with PSAs and controls (P values < 0.001), while haemoglobin concentration (Hb), haematocrit, mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and platelet count were significantly higher in controls, compared to PSAs and AMs (P values <0.001). The MCV and MCH were negatively correlated with BLL in PSAs (P=0.02, respectively) while the Hb, haematocrit, MCV, MCH, and MCHC were negatively correlated with BLL in AMs (P values all <0.05). Conclusion: Lead exposure adversely affects blood count and red cell indices in occupationally exposed groups in Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria.
In human, blood is a body fluid that circulate over the body and transport nutrients and other substances like oxygen, hormones, waste products among others to the cells and organs. It is a dynamic component for the survival and functioning of living organisms. Thus, the levels of heavy metal in the blood of Electronic Technicians were investigated during the dry season of 2021. Forty (40) blood samples from Electronic Technicians were purposively collected with the aid of 5ml needle and syringes into EDTA bottles and placed in an ice-chest, and were taken into laboratory for further analysis of Lead (Pb), Mercy (Hg) and Arsenic (As) respectively. Nonexperimental method like interview and observational technique (number of years, age and marital status) were also utilized. The Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), Descriptives Statistics, Single Factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) and SPSS version 23 were used for the organization of data. Result inter-alia reveals that the mean lead (Pb) of 0.64218 ±0.9245 (mg/L) is high. The working experience range of exposure for lead (Pb) revealed further that 11-20years has the highest bioaccumulation value of 12.41mg/L followed by 1-10years having 6.65mg/L respectively. The highest mercury value in the blood of Electronic Technician in this study was 4.45mg/L for an exposure-years of 1-10years working experience while the least mercury value in the blood of Electronic Technician in this study was 0.10mg/L for an exposure-years of 41-50years working experience. The value of arsenic in the blood of Electronic Technicians from 11-12years of experience had the highest value of bioaccumulation of 8.47mg/L followed by1-10years which recorded 3.02mg/L. These values of lead, mercury and arsenic as observed in this study serves as risks factors to the recipient's health status since they are of higher values to the reference factor. Thus, electronic technician should undergo intensive medical attention to ascertain their health status with heavy metal. Both government and nongovernmental agencies should create sensitization and awareness campaign on the need for the utilization of personal protective devices at work environment no matter the nature of the small and medium-scale enterprises.
Away' is a place: The impact of electronic waste recycling on blood lead levels in Ghana
The Science of the total environment, 2017
E-waste recycling remains a major source of livelihood for many urban poor in developing countries, but this economic activity is fraught with significant environmental health risk. Yet, human exposure to the toxic elements associated with e-waste activities remains understudied and not evidently understood. This study investigates the impact of informal e-waste processing on the blood lead levels (BLLs) of e-waste workers and non-e-waste workers (mainly females working in activities that serve the Agbogbloshie e-waste site), and relates their lead exposure to socio-demographic and occupational characteristics. A total of 128 blood samples were analysed for lead levels. Surprisingly, the mean BLL (3.54μg/dL) of non-e-waste workers was slightly higher than that of e-waste workers (3.49μg/dL), although higher BLLs ranges were found among e-waste workers (0.50-18.80μg/dL) than non-e-waste workers (0.30-8.20μg/dL). Workers who engaged in e-waste burning tended to have the highest BLLs. ...
Advances in Clinical Toxicology
Introduction: Environmental and occupational exposure to lead contamination is associated with numerous adverse health effects. This study brought forth the case of anemia risk in relation to occupational and environmental lead exposure among inhabitants of Enyigba lead-zinc mining community, in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methodology: Blood samples (4mls) were collected from 150 consented participants, by venopuncture and preserved in plain vacutaner bottles. Blood-lead concentration was determined using FS 240AA atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Agilent Technology, USA) according to the method of American Public Health Association. The iron status (total iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, transferin) and hematological indices (hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) were determined according to standard methods. An interviewer-admini...
Journal of Environmental and Public Health
Welders are exposed to metal ions or oxides through direct contact at occupational sites or indirectly through uptake from contaminated dust or air. This study was a case-control study designed to assess the levels of some heavy metals and the hematological profile of welders (cases) as compared to nonwelders (controls) from Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai District of Ghana, comparatively to determine whether their values are within acceptable international range. A quantitative-based survey using structured questionnaires was used to collect demographic data from purposively selected welders (n = 40) and nonwelders (n = 40) from the study area. Five (5 mL) blood samples were collected from the study participants and analyzed for blood cell count as well as levels of Mn, Fe, Pb, and Zn. There were no significant differences in the Mn, Zn, and Fe levels between the welders and nonwelders ( p = 0.431 , 0.53 vs. 0.23 mg/L, p = 0.05 , 0.41 vs. 0.15, p = 0.886 , 1.82 vs. 1.11). The level of Pb w...
Toxicology Reports, 2017
Metal workers in urban Kano constitute a major workforce with a considerable population. The present work was aimed at obtaining baseline data on the extent of metal ion concentration in body fluids (urine and blood) of sampled population in the area. The investigation involves interaction with sampled population as well as blood and urine sample collection for heavy metals analysis. The health problems associated with the practice identified by respondents include: metal fume fever; eye and skin irritation; dizziness and respiratory problems; lack of or inadequate protective devices during activity were also reported. Laboratory investigation of urine samples by Atomic absorption spectrophotometry indicated higher concentrations for Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb) and Nickel (Ni); in blood samples, there were higher concentrations of Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr) and Nickel (Ni). Metal workers of urban Kano are at risk because of the concentration of Mn and Pb in particular. There is the need to monitor occupational activities that are responsible for pollution and with serious health risk.
Chemosphere, 2016
Electronic waste (e-waste) recycling is growing worldwide and raising a number of environmental health concerns. One of the largest e-waste sites is Agbogbloshie (Ghana). While several toxic elements have been reported in Agbogbloshie's environment, there is limited knowledge of human exposures there. The objectives of this study were to characterize exposures to several essential (copper, iron, manganese, selenium, zinc) and toxic (arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, mercury, nickel, lead) elements in the urine and blood of male workers (n=58) at Agbogbloshie, as well as females (n=11) working in activities that serve the site, and to relate these exposures to sociodemographic and occupational characteristics. The median number of years worked at the site was 5, and the average worker indicated being active in 6.8 tasks (of 9 key e-waste job categories). Additionally, we categorized four main e-waste activities (in brackets % of population self-reported main activity): dealing (22.4%), sorting (24.1%), dismantling (50%), and burning (3.4%) e-waste materials. Many blood and urinary elements (including essential ones) were within biomonitoring reference ranges. However, blood cadmium (1.2 ug/L median) and lead (6.4 ug/dl; 67% above U.S. CDC/NIOSH reference level), and urinary arsenic (38.3 ug/L; 39% above U.S. ATSDR value) levels were elevated compared to background populations elsewhere. Workers who burned e-waste tended to have the highest biomarker levels. The findings of this study contribute to a growing body of work at Agbogbloshie (and elsewhere) to document that individuals working within e-waste sites are exposed to a number of toxic elements, some at potentially concerning levels.