Micronutrient Status of Electronic Waste Recyclers at Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Sylvia A. Takyi, Niladri Basu, John Arko-Mensah, Duah Dwomoh, Afua Asabea Amoabeng Nti, Lawrencia Kwarteng, Augustine A. Acquah, Thomas G. Robins and Julius N. Fobil
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Sylvia A. Takyi: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra +233, Ghana
Niladri Basu: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
John Arko-Mensah: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra +233, Ghana
Duah Dwomoh: Department of Statistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra +233, Ghana
Afua Asabea Amoabeng Nti: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra +233, Ghana
Lawrencia Kwarteng: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra +233, Ghana
Augustine A. Acquah: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra +233, Ghana
Thomas G. Robins: Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Julius N. Fobil: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra +233, Ghana

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-19

Abstract: Growing evidence suggests that micronutrient status is adversely impacted by toxic metals (e.g., cadmium, lead, and arsenic) exposures; however, the micronutrient status of e-waste recyclers who are amongst the highest metal-exposed groups is not known. This study, therefore, assessed the micronutrient status of e-waste recyclers using dietary information (2-day 24-h recall survey) and biomarker data (whole blood and urine) among 151 participants (100 e-waste recyclers at Agbogbloshie and 51 controls at Madina Zongo from the Accra region, Ghana) in March 2017. Biomarker levels of iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were analyzed by the ICP-MS. Linear regression models were used to assess associations ofwork-related factors and sociodemographic characteristics with micronutrient intake, blood, and urine micronutrient levels. The results showed that apart from Fe and Zn, e-waste recyclers at Agbogbloshie did not meet the day-to-day dietary requirements for Ca, Cu, Se, and Mg intake. Except for the low levels of Mg and Fe detected in blood of e-waste recyclers, all other micronutrients measured in both blood and urine of both groups fell within their reference range. Exposure to biomass burning was associated with lower blood levels of Fe, Mg, and Zn among the e-waste recyclers. Further, among e-waste recyclers, significant relationships were found between the number of years spent recycling e-waste and urinary Ca and Cu excretion. Given that, some dietary and blood levels of micronutrients were below their reference ranges, the implementation of evidence-based nutrition strategies remains necessary among e-waste recyclers to reduce their risk of becoming malnourished.

Keywords: e-waste recyclers; micronutrients; pollution; nutrition; exposure assessment; biomarkers; informal sector; cross-sectional study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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