Effects of combined exposure to lead, cadmium and nickel on biochemical markers and neurocognitive behaviors among electronic wastes sorting workers, in Ubon Ratchathani, province
Abstract:
This study investigated the combined exposure to lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) on biochemical markers and neurocognitive behaviors among electronic wastes workers (EWSW) in Ubon Ratchathani Province. Objectives consisted of 1) to study health effect among EWSW in Ubon Ratchathani Province. 2) to study the factors affecting Pb, Cd, and Ni in blood and factors affecting monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzyme levels and complete blood count, CBC; Liver function test and Renal function test 3) to compare exposure to Pb, Cd, and Ni on biochemical markers and neurocognitive behaviors among EWSW in Ubon Ratchathani Province. Data were collected in the exposure groups (e-waste sorting workers) and non-contact groups (Village Public Health Volunteers). According to the objectives the samples were divided into two phrases: 1) the exposed groups of 151 and 76 people, and 2) the non-exposed groups of 72 and 49 people. Data were collected by interviewing, collecting data on Pb, Cd, and Ni concentration on the worksite surface, and blood sampling to assess serum Pb, Cd, Ni, and MAO enzyme levels, respectively. The results 1) the exposed groups of 151 and non-exposed 72 people, showed that most of the e-waste sorting workers were males, 78 (51.70%), the mean age (SD) was 45.50 (11.99) years. The Pb, Cd, and Ni content assessment results in the working area showed that the exposure group had the means (SD) of 46.6 (150.18), 0.19 (0.51), and 23.211 (58.34) µg/100 cm2, and the unexposed group had the mean (SD) of 0.22 (0.557), 0.11 (0.966), and 0.17(0.301) µg/100 cm2. With the results of the study of factors affecting neurological symptoms and neural behavioral mechanisms in neuropsychological impairments from the digit span test, from exposure to Pb, Cd, and Ni in the work area of among EWSW in Ubon Ratchathani Province, it was found that: 1) chronic diseases, medication, smoking, working area size (m2) affected psychophysiological symptoms; 2) chronic diseases and nickel concentrations in worksite surface dust affected emotional syndrome; 3) drinking alcoholic beverages affected memory and concentration. 4) body mass index, not wearing a mask and Pb on the work surface affected neurological symptoms and neural behavioral mechanisms in neuropsychological impairments from the digit span forward test and 5) not wearing a mask affected neurological symptoms and neural behavioral mechanisms in neuropsychological impairments from the digit span backward test. 2) the exposed groups of 76 and non-exposed 49 people, it was found that 42 of the exposure groups were males (55.3%), mean age (SD) 48.00 (±12.64) years, mean monthly income (SD) 5,500 (±3,098.188) baht. With the results of the study of factors affecting to Pb, Cd and Ni in the blood it was found that: 2.1) income affected Pb in the blood 2.2) smoking affected Cd in blood 2.3) age affected Ni in the blood and working area size (m2) affected not wearing a mask and safety shoes affected MAO enzyme levels. As for the comparison of concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Ni in the blood and work surfaces with MAO enzyme levels, the mean Pb, Cd, and Ni contents in the work surfaces in the exposure group were 245.042 (±613.910), 0.375 (±0.662), 46.115 (±75.740) µg/100 cm2. In the non-exposed group, the mean (SD) was 0.609 (±0.934), 0.167 (±1.171), 1.020 (±0.142) µg/100 cm2. Mean (SD) levels of Pb, Cd, and Ni in the blood of the exposed group were 6.411 (±1.492) µg/dL, 0.9480 (±0.350) µg/L, 2.568 (±0.468) µg/L, and the no group. The average exposure (SD) was 6.411 (±1.620) µg/dL 0.909 (±0.277) µg/L 2.527 (±0.457) µg/L. The mean (SD) activity of MAO enzymes in the exposure group was 1.496 (±0.502) U/L. The mean (SD) of the non-exposed group was 369.771 (±86.752) U/L, respectively. A comparison of Pb, Cd, and Ni in the blood concentrations with MAO enzyme levels showed that the level of Ni in blood and MAO enzyme levels upper than in the non-exposed group was statistically significantly (p-value < 0.05). Research findings suggest that the health care of the sample groups should be prioritized according to the risk factors. For example, workers should refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages, refrain from smoking, should not eat in the work area, clean the work area to control and reduce the amount of Pb, Cd, and Ni in work surfaces and in the blood, and an annual health checkup on the nervous system for further health surveillance.