Assessment of dust trace elements in an e-waste recycling area and related children's health risks

Children from Guiyu, an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling town, are exposed to trace elements via dust. How-ever, the source, pathways, and influence factors of house dust and the association of house dust with child in-flammation in an e-waste recycling area are not well-known. This study investigated dust trace elements in children's living environment and the associations of house dust trace elements with influence factors and child inflammation. A total of 108 dust samples from children's residences, roads, and kindergartens in Guiyu (an exposed area) and Haojiang and Shantou urban areas (reference areas) were collected and analyzed, as well as children's questionnaire data. The Mann-Whitney U test found there were higher trace element concentrations in road dust (Co, Ni, and Cu), kin-dergarten dust (Al, V, Mn, Co, Ni, and Zn), and house dust (V, Co, Cu, As, and Cd) in Guiyu than in Haojiang and Shan-tou urban areas (P < 0.05). Our analysis showed that house dust and road dust have similar distribution patterns of trace elements. Spearman's correlations showed close relationships among quantities of trace elements (P < 0.05). Higher trace element concentrations in dust were found in houses that used indoor shoe cabinets and opened windows frequently (P < 0.05). In houses of children with airway inflammation, higher dust Ba concentrations were found (P < 0.05), and if their fathers did not work with e-waste, we found higher dust Pb concentrations (Mann-Whitney U test, P < 0.05). Health assessments showed a high risk of exposure through ingestion and an acceptable risk of exposure through inhalation of dust trace elements for children. However, relationships between airway inflammation and house dust trace elements showed the inhalation risk might be underestimated. This study suggests trace element ex-posure via dust poses a health risk for children living in e-waste recycling areas. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigated the distribution of dust trace elements in children's living environment in an e-waste recycling area and their association with inflammation. Results showed higher trace element concentrations in Guiyu area, influenced by the sources and contact modes of dust, posing a health risk for children.