title: Health consequences of exposure to e-waste : a systematic review
creator: Grant, Kristen
creator: Goldizen, Fiona C.
creator: Sly, Peter D.
creator: Brune, Marie-Noel
creator: Neira, Maria
creator: van den Berg, Martin
creator: Norman, Rosana E.
subject: 110000 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
subject: 111700 PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES
subject: 111705 Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety
subject: 111706 Epidemiology
subject: 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified
subject: anzsrc Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Class
subject: electronic waste
subject: acenaphthene derivative
subject: acenaphthylene
subject: anthracene
subject: barium
subject: benzo [b] fluoranthene
subject: benzo [k] fluoranthene
subject: beryllium
subject: cadmium
subject: chromium
subject: chrysene
subject: fluoranthene
subject: fluorene
subject: lead
subject: lithium
subject: manganese
subject: mercury
subject: metallothionein
subject: nickel
subject: phenanthrene
subject: polybrominated diphenyl ether
subject: polychlorinated biphenyl
subject: polychlorinated dibenzodioxin
subject: polychlorinated dibenzofuran
subject: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
subject: protein S 100
subject: pyrene
subject: thyrotropin
subject: thyroxine
subject: unclassified drug
subject: unindexed drug
subject: zinc
subject: adverse outcome
subject: article
subject: birth weight
subject: chromium blood level
subject: DNA damage
subject: education
subject: environmental exposure
subject: forced vital capacity
subject: human
subject: lung function
subject: mental health
subject: nerve cell differentiation
subject: outcome assessment
subject: pregnancy outcome
subject: prematurity
subject: priority journal
subject: scoring system
subject: spontaneous abortion
subject: stillbirth
subject: systematic review
subject: thyroid function
subject: violence
description: Background    The population exposed to potentially hazardous substances through inappropriate and unsafe management practices related to disposal and recycling of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment, collectively known as e-waste, is increasing. We aimed to summarise the evidence for the association between such exposures and adverse health outcomes.    Methods    We systematically searched five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycNET, and CINAHL) for studies assessing the association between exposure to e-waste and outcomes related to mental health and neurodevelopment, physical health, education, and violence and criminal behaviour, from Jan 1, 1965, to Dec 17, 2012, and yielded 2274 records. Of the 165 full-text articles assessed for eligibility, we excluded a further 142, resulting in the inclusion of 23 published epidemiological studies that met the predetermined criteria. All studies were from southeast China. We assessed evidence of a causal association between exposure to e-waste and health outcomes within the Bradford Hill framework.    Findings    We recorded plausible outcomes associated with exposure to e-waste including change in thyroid function, changes in cellular expression and function, adverse neonatal outcomes, changes in temperament and behaviour, and decreased lung function. Boys aged 8–9 years living in an e-waste recycling town had a lower forced vital capacity than did those living in a control town. Significant negative correlations between blood chromium concentrations and forced vital capacity in children aged 11 and 13 years were also reported. Findings from most studies showed increases in spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and premature births, and reduced birthweights and birth lengths associated with exposure to e-waste. People living in e-waste recycling towns or working in e-waste recycling had evidence of greater DNA damage than did those living in control towns. Studies of the effects of exposure to e-waste on thyroid function were not consistent. One study related exposure to e-waste and waste electrical and electronic equipment to educational outcomes.    Interpretation    Although data suggest that exposure to e-waste is harmful to health, more well designed epidemiological investigations in vulnerable populations, especially pregnant women and children, are needed to confirm these associations.    Funding    Children's Health and Environment Program, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Australia.
publisher: Elsevier
date: 2013
type: Journal Article
format: application/pdf
relation: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/79831/1/Health%20consequences%20of%20exposure%20to%20ewaste.pdf
relation: DOI:10.1016/S2214-109X(13)70101-3
relation:    Grant, Kristen, Goldizen, Fiona C., Sly, Peter D., Brune, Marie-Noel, Neira, Maria, van den Berg, Martin,  & Norman, Rosana E.   (2013)    Health consequences of exposure to e-waste : a systematic review.  Lancet Global Health, 1(6), e350-e361.    
identifier: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/79831/
rights: Copyright 2013 Grant et al.
rights: Open Access article distributed under the terms of CC BY-NC-ND
source: Faculty of Health; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation