Hair mercury concentrations and associated factors in an electronic waste recycling area, Guiyu, China

Wenqing Ni; Yaowen Chen; Yue Huang; Xiaoling Wang; Gairong Zhang; Jiayi Luo; Kusheng Wu

摘要

Objective: Toxic heavy metals are released to the environment constantly from unregulated electronic waste (e-waste) recycling in Guiyu, China, and thus may contribute to the elevation of mercury (Hg) and other heavy metals levels in human hair. We aimed to investigate concentrations of mercury in hair from Guiyu and potential risk factors and compared them with those from a control area where no e-waste processing occurs. Methods: A total of 285 human hair samples were collected from three villages (including Beilin, Xianma, and Huamei) of Guiyu (n = 205) and the control area, Jinping district of Shantou city (n = 80). All the volunteers were administered a questionnaire regarding socio-demographic characteristics and other possible factors contributed to hair mercury concentration. Hair mercury concentration was analyzed by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). Results: Our results suggested that hair mercury concentrations in volunteers of Guiyu (median, 0.99; range, 0.18-3.98 μg/g) were significantly higher than those of Jinping (median, 0.59; range, 0.12-1.63 μg/ g). We also observed a higher over-limit ratio ( ＞ 1 μg/g according to USEPA) in Guiyu than in Jinping (48.29% vs. 11.25%, P＜ 0.001). Logistic regression model showed that the variables of living house also served as an e-waste workshop, work related to e-waste, family income, time of residence in Guiyu, the distance between home and waste incineration, and fish intake were associated with hair mercury concentration. After multiple stepwise regression analysis, in the Guiyu samples, hair mercury concentration was found positively associated with the time residence in Guiyu (β=0.299, P＜ 0.001), and frequency of shellfish intake (β=0.184, P= 0.016); and negatively associated with the distance between home and waste incineration (β= -0.190, P=0.015) and whether house also served as e-waste workshop (β= -0.278, P=0.001). Conclusions: This study investigated human mercury exposure and suggested elevated hair mercury concentrations in an e-waste recycling area, Guiyu, China. Living in Guiyu for a long time and work related to e-waste may primarily contribute to the high hair mercury concentrations.

机译：目的：有毒重金属从贵屿，中国不受管制的回收电子废弃物（电子垃圾）释放到环境中不断地，从而可能导致汞（Hg）等重金属水平的人发的高程。我们的旨在调查贵州和潜在危险因素的汞汞的浓度，并将其与来自无电子废物处理发生的控制区域的浓度。方法：从古宇（N = 205）和汕头市金平区（N = 80），共收集285名人头发样品。所有志愿者都被举办了关于社会人口统计学特征的问卷，其他可能因素导致汞浓度。通过氢化物产生原子荧光光谱法（AFS）分析毛发浓度。结果：我们的研究结果表明，古宇志愿者（中位数，0.99;范围，0.18-3.98μg/ g）显着高于金平（中位数，0.59;范围，0.12-1.63μg/ g）。我们还观察到Guiyu在古宇的过度限值（>1μg/ g），而不是在锦平（48.29％对11.25％，p <0.001）。 Logistic回归模型表明，生活屋的变量也担任了电子废物研讨会，与电子废物，家庭收入，贵州住宅时间有关的工作，家庭和废物焚烧的距离，以及鱼类摄入与头发有关汞浓度。经过多次逐步回归分析，在Guiyu样品中，发现毛发浓度与Guiyu（β= 0.299，P <0.001）的时间住院阳性相关，以及贝类摄入频率（β= 0.184，P = 0.016）;与家庭和废物焚烧之间的距离（β= -0.190，p = 0.015）负相关，以及房屋是否也用作电子废物车间（β= -0.278，p = 0.001）。结论：本研究调查了中国古宇电子废物回收区中的人体汞暴露，提出升高的毛发浓度。居住在Guiyu很长一段时间，与电子废物相关的工作可能主要有助于高发汞浓度。

Hair mercury concentrations and associated factors in an electronic waste recycling area, Guiyu, China

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