Work Task Association with Lead Urine and Blood Concentrations in Informal Electronic Waste Recyclers in Thailand and Chile

Abas Shkembi, Kowit Nambunmee, Siripond Jindaphong, Denisse Parra-Giordano, Karla Yohannessen, Pablo Ruiz-Rudolph, Richard L. Neitzel and Aubrey Arain
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Abas Shkembi: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Kowit Nambunmee: Urban Safety Innovation Research Group (USIR), School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
Siripond Jindaphong: Urban Safety Innovation Research Group (USIR), School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
Denisse Parra-Giordano: Departamento de Enfermería, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
Karla Yohannessen: Programa de Salud Ambiental, Instituto de Salud Poblacional, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
Pablo Ruiz-Rudolph: Programa de Salud Ambiental, Instituto de Salud Poblacional, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
Richard L. Neitzel: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Aubrey Arain: Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-15

Abstract: The informal recycling of electronic waste (“e-waste”) is a lucrative business for workers in low- and middle-income countries across the globe. Workers dismantle e-waste to recover valuable materials that can be sold for income. However, workers expose themselves and the surrounding environment to hazardous agents during the process, including toxic metals like lead (Pb). To assess which tools, tasks, and job characteristics result in higher concentrations of urine and blood lead levels among workers, ten random samples of 2 min video clips were analyzed per participant from video recordings of workers at e-waste recycling sites in Thailand and Chile to enumerate potential predictors of lead burden. Blood and urine samples were collected from participants to measure lead concentration. Boosted regression trees (BRTs) were run to determine the relative importance of video-derived work variables and demographics, and their relationship with the urine and blood concentrations. Of 45 variables considered, five job characteristics consisting of close-toed shoes (relative importance of 43.9%), the use of blunt striking instruments (14%), bending the back (5.7%), dismantling random parts (4.4%), and bending the neck (3.5%) were observed to be the most important predictors of urinary Pb levels. A further five job characteristics, including lifting objects <20 lbs. (6.2%), the use of screwdrivers (4.2%), the use of pliers/scissors (4.2%), repetitive arm motion (3.3%), and lifting objects >20 pounds (3.2%) were observed to be among the most important factors of blood Pb levels. Overall, our findings indicate ten job characteristics that may strongly influence Pb levels in e-waste recycling workers’ urine and blood.

Keywords: e-waste; lead; metals; occupational health; boosted regression trees (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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