Health Risks of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Metals at Informal Electronic Waste Recycling Sites.

Concerns about the adverse public health consequences of informal electronic waste (-waste) recycling are increasing. This study adopted a cross-sectional study design to gain insights into health risks (cancer and non-cancer risks) associated with exposure to -waste chemicals among informal -waste workers via three main routes: Dermal contact, ingestion, and inhalation. The -waste chemicals (PBDE and metals) were measured in the dust and top soils at -waste sites (burning, dismantling, and repair sites). Adverse health risks were calculated using the EPA model developed by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States. The concentrations of the -waste chemicals and the health risks at the -waste sites increased as the intensity of the -waste recycling activities increased: control sites < repair sites < dismantling sites < burning sites. Dermal contact was the main route of exposure while exposure via inhalation was negligible for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks. Cumulative health risks via all routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact) exceeded the acceptable limits of both non-cancer effects and cancer risk at all -waste sites. This indicates that overall the -waste workers are at the risk of adverse health effects. Therefore, the importance of occupational safety programs and management regulations for -waste workers cannot be over emphasised.