Human Body Burden Of Brominated Flame Retardants And Heavy Metals In Typical E-waste Dismantling Area

Many studies have shown that the concentrations of BFRs and heavy metals in electronic waste dismantling area are significantly higher than other regions. Pollutants can enter in human body through the pathways such as diet, breathing and dust ingestion, it will brings serious hazard on human health. In order to entirely explore the concentrations of BFRs and heavy metals in people from the dismantling area, we analyzed the BFRs and heavy metals in the blood and hair samples which were collected from the dismantling workers and non-occupational residents, then discussed the impact of dismantling activities on different groups. We also investigated the relationships of pollutants in paired hair-blood and hair-dust samples, and discussed whether hair is a useful matrix for biomonitoring the BFRs and heavy metals exposure or not. The main results are as follows:The concentrations of BFRs and heavy metals in the blood samples from dismantling workers were higher than those form the control residents, most workers undertook mild blood Pb poisoning. BDE209 contributed for 60% of the total PBDEs, and BDE207 contributed for a higher percentage than BDE206. PCA revealed that BFRs and heavy metals in blood from workers were from the e-waste dismantling activities, while were from diet for the control residents.The concentrations of BFRs and heavy metals in hair samples from dismantling workers were significantly higher than those from non-occupational residents and urban residents. BDE209 was the dominating BFRs in hair samples from the e-waste area, while DBDPE was the major BFRs from the urban area. The percentage of lower brominated congeners increased in the order of workers, non-occupational residents and control residents, age and gender had different impact on three groups. PCA revealed the different distribution of hair samples from three groups, indicating the dismantling activities had the different impaction on three groups.The correlation of pollutants between indoor dust and hair were not statically significant, indicating dust was not the major pollution source for hair. The correlation of some substances such as BDE209,DBDPE, BDE99, BDE47, BDE28, and BDE17 in paired blood and hair samples were statically significant, indicating that hair could be used to biomonitor the exposure to these substances. In addition, the correlation of heavy metals in blood and hair samples were also significant, suggesting that hair could be also used to biomonitor the occupational exposure to heavy metals.In general, the correlation of pollutants in hair samples from females and dust were better than males, measures should be taken to avoid the gender difference of analysis results.