Risk of lead and cadmium exposure in preschool children in Bangkok E-waste recycling area

Abstract

Lead and cadmium are commonly found in electronic waste or e-waste. High blood lead levels (BLLs) and blood cadmium levels (BCLs) are associated with children's abnormal physical and mental development. This study aimed to determine BLLs and BCLs and examine the physiologic effects of lead and cadmium exposure in children in Sue Yai Utit, Bangkok's largest e-waste recycling area. Additional, factors that could influence children's BBLs and BCLs were also evaluated. Fingerstick blood samples were collected from 22 children aged 6 months to 6 years old from the Sue Yai Utit e-waste recycling area (exposed group). Age and sex matched control fingerstick blood samples were collected from 22 children who lived outside Chatuchak areas in Bangkok from the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health outpatient clinics (reference group).  BLLs and BCLs from both exposed and reference groups were determined using ICP-MS.  BBLs and BCLs were compared using Mann–Whitney U test with significance level at p < 0.05.  The mean BLLs and BCLs in the exposed group were 8.60 ± 1.58 µg/dL and 2.01 ± 0.20 µg /L, respectively, which was significantly higher than the mean BLLS and BCLS of the reference group (3.07 ± 0.27 µg/dL and 0.58 ± 0.12 µg/L, respectively) with p = 1.3 x10^-4 and p = 0.4 x10^-5, respectively. However, children living in the Sue Yai Utit area developed normally according to the Thai child developmental standards and did not show any signs of anemia. Factors influenced children's BBLs or BCLs in the exposed group, including staying at home that dismantled and stored e-waste and the parent's hygiene such as changing clothes and hand washing after work. To protect Thai children living in the e-waste recycling area from heavy metals poisoning, it will be essential to pass e-waste legislation to help regulate e-waste management and disposal in Thailand.