Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Association between lung function in school children and exposure to three transition metals from an e-waste recycling area

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 23, pages 67–72 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

The informal processing of electronic waste or e-waste contributes to the release of high concentrations of transition metals into the ambient air. The damage caused by chromium, nickel and manganese exposure on lung function in school children from an e-waste recycling area and the role of oxidative stress in this process were evaluated. We recruited school children (n=144, 8–13 years) from an e-waste recycling area in China compared with the control. Spirometry was performed to assess lung function status. The blood levels of chromium, nickel and manganese, antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation of the subjects were examined. The concentrations of blood manganese (bMn) and serum nickel (sNi) in the exposed group were significantly higher than those in controls for all three age groups. The forced vital capacity value of boys aged 8–9 years was significantly lower than that of the control. Malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activities increased significantly in children aged 8–9 years from e-waste environment, but catalase activities declined. School children from an e-waste recycling area were exposed to high levels of the three transition metals. The accumulation of bMn and sNi may be risk factors for oxidative damage and decreased pulmonary function.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Sexton K, Ryan AD . Using exposure biomarkers in children to compare between-child and within-child variance and calculate correlations among siblings for multiple environmental chemicals. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2012; 22: 16–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Halliwell B, Gutteridge JM . Oxygen toxicity, oxygen radicals, transition metals and disease. Biochem J 1984; 219 (1): 1–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Pope III CA, Dockery DW . Epidemiology of particle effects. In: Holgate ST, Samet JM, Koren HS, Maynard RL (eds) Air Pollution and Health. Academic Press: San Diego, CA; 1999, pp. 673–706.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  4. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 2005. Toxicological Profile for Nickel. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service: Atlanta, GA.

  5. Fidan F, Unlu M, Koken T, Tetik L, Akgun S, Demirel R et al. Oxidant-antioxidant status and pulmonary function in welding workers. J Occup Health 2005; 47 (4): 286–292.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Baruthio F . Toxic effects of chromium and its compounds. Biol Trace Elem Res 1992; 32: 145–153.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 2008. Toxicological Profile for Chromium (Draft for Public Comment). US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service: Atlanta, GA.

  8. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 1997. ATSDR's Toxicological Profile for Manganese. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service: Atlanta, GA.

  9. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 2008. Toxicological Profile for Manganese. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service: Atlanta, GA.

  10. Cormier SA, Lomnicki S, Backes W, Dellinger B . Origin and health impacts of emissions of toxic by-products and fine particles from combustion and thermal treatment of hazardous wastes and materials. Environ Health Perspect 2006; 114 (6): 810–817.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bersten AD, Davidson K, Nicholas TE, Doyle IR . Respiratory mechanics and surfactant in the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 1998; 25 (11): 955–963.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Stohs SJ, Bagchi DB . Oxidative mechanisms in the toxicity of metal ions. Free radical biology & medicine 1995; 18 (2): 321–336.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Gillissen A, Bartling A, Schoen S, Schultze-Werninghaus G . Antioxidant function of ambroxol in mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells in vitro. Lung 1997; 175 (4): 235–242.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Mates JM, Perez-Gomez C, De Castro IN . Antioxidant enzymes and human diseases. Clin Biochem 1999; 32 (8): 595–603.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Mossman BT . Introduction to serial reviews on the role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) in lung injury and diseases. Free Radic Biol Med 2003; 34 (9): 1115–1116.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ogunseitan OA, Schoenung JM, Saphores JD, Shapiro AA . Science and regulation. The electronics revolution: from e-wonderland to e-wasteland. Science 2009; 326 (5953): 670–671.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Huo X, Peng L, Xu X, Zheng L, Qiu B, Qi Z et al. Elevated blood lead levels of children in Guiyu, an electronic waste recycling town in China. Environ Health Perspect 2007; 115 (7): 1113–1117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Xu X, Yang H, Chen A, Zhou Y, Wu K, Liu X et al. Birth outcomes related to informal e-waste recycling in Guiyu, China. Reprod Toxicol 2012; 33 (1): 94–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Deng WJ, Louie PKK, Liu WK, Bi XH, Fu JM, Wong MH . Atmospheric levels and cytotoxicity of PAHs and heavy metals in TSP and PM2.5 at an electronic waste recycling site in southeast China. Atmos Environ 2006; 40 (36): 6945–6955.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Li Y, Xu X, Liu J, Wu K, Gu C, Shao G et al. The hazard of chromium exposure to neonates in Guiyu of China. Sci Total Environ 2008; 403 (1–3): 99–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Guo Y, Huo X, Li Y, Wu K, Liu J, Huang J et al. Monitoring of lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel in placenta from an e-waste recycling town in China. Sci Total Environ 2010; 408: 3113–3117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Miller MR, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Casaburi R, Coates A et al. Standardisation of spirometry. Eur Respir J 2005; 26 (2): 319–338.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Draper HH, Squires EJ, Mahmoodi H, Wu J, Agarwal S, Hadley MA . Comparative evaluation of thiobarbituric acid methods for the determination of malondialdehyde in biological materials. Free Radic Biol Med 1993; 15 (4): 353–363.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Sun Y, Oberley LW, Li Y . A simple method for clinical assay of superoxide dismutase. Clin Chem 1998; 34 (3): 497–500.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Mancuso TF . Chromium as an industrial carcinogen: Part II. Chromium in human tissues. Am J Ind Med 1997; 31 (2): 140–147.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Brune D, Nordberg G, Wester PO . Distribution of 23 elements in the kidney, liver and lungs of workers from a smeltery and refinery in North Sweden exposed to a number of elements and of a control group. Sci Total Environ 1980; 16 (1): 13–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hyodo K, Suzuki S, Furuya N, Meshizuka K . An analysis of chromium, copper, and zinc in organs of a chromate worker. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1980; 46 (2): 141–150.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Yao H, Guo L, Jiang BH, Luo J, Shi XL . Oxidative stress and chromium(VI) carcinogenesis. Journal of Environmental Pathology Toxicology and Oncology 2008; 27 (2): 77–88.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Namihira D, Strope GL, Helms RW, Pekow P, Bojalil BM, Fernandez FA . Study of spirometry in children from Mexico City. Pediatr Pulmonol 1986; 2 (6): 337–343.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sharma G, Goodwin J . Effect of aging on respiratory system physiology and immunology. Clin Interv Aging 2006; 1 (3): 253–260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Migheli R, Godani C, Sciola L, Delogu MR, Serra PA, Zangani D et al. Enhancing effect of manganese on L-DOPA-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells: role of oxidative stress. J Neurochem 1999; 73 (3): 1155–1163.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Sloot WN, van der Sluijs-Gelling AJ, Gramsbergen JB . Selective lesions by manganese and extensive damage by iron after injection into rat striatum or hippocampus. J Neurochem 1994; 62 (1): 205–216.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Mates JM, Sanchez-Jimenez F . Antioxidant enzymes and their implications in pathophysiologic processes. Front Biosci 1999; 4: D339–D345.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Limon-Pacheco J, Gonsebatt ME . The role of antioxidants and antioxidant-related enzymes in protective responses to environmentally induced oxidative stress. Mutat Res 2009; 674 (1-2): 137–147.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Yan H, Harding JJ . Glycation-induced inactivation and loss of antigenicity of catalase and superoxide dismutase. Biochem J 1997; 328: 599–605.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Hsu SO, Ito K, Lippmann M . Effects of thoracic and fine PM and their components on heart rate and pulmonary function in COPD patients. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2011; 21: 464–472.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Okunola Adenrele Alabi and Stanley Lin are acknowledged for critical discussion and manuscript editing. This work was supported by the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry and 211 project of Guangdong Province.

Ethics approval

This study was conducted with the approval of the Shantou University Medical College.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Guina Zheng and Xijin Xu: These authors contributed equally to this work, they are co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Analytic Cytology Laboratory and the Key Immunopathology Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China

    Guina Zheng, Xijin Xu, Bin Li, Kusheng Wu, Taofeek Akangbe Yekeen & Xia Huo

  2. Department of Cell Biology, Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China

    Xijin Xu

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China

    Kusheng Wu

Authors
  1. Guina Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xijin Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kusheng Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Taofeek Akangbe Yekeen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xia Huo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xia Huo.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zheng, G., Xu, X., Li, B. et al. Association between lung function in school children and exposure to three transition metals from an e-waste recycling area. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 23, 67–72 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2012.84

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2012.84

Keywords

  • e-waste
  • FVC
  • oxidative stress
  • school children
  • transition metals

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links