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Occupational exposure to e-waste: human biomonitoring and biomarkers of early biological effects
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Os resíduos de equipamento elétrico e eletrónico (REEE) tornaram-se uma grande preocupação dada sua rápida expansão global, que não mostra indícios de desaceleração. Como a composição dos resíduos eletrónicos é intrinsecamente prejudicial, contendo uma variedade de substâncias perigosas, como metais pesados e retardadores de chama, é certo que representa uma ameaça significativa à saúde humana e ambiental. A exposição ocupacional aos REEE é conhecida por ser uma das formas mais diretas de exposição e, portanto, a biomonitorização eficaz de trabalhadores em atividades de reciclagem de componentes eletrónicos é fundamental.
O ensaio do micronúcleo com bloqueio de citocinese (CBMN) em linfócitos do sangue periférico humano (PBL) é uma ferramenta valiosa para avaliar os efeitos da exposição humana a agentes genotóxicos. Os micronúcleos (MN) demonstraram ser excelentes biomarcadores para medir o nível de dano genético, uma vez que refletem quebra ou perda cromossómica causada pela exposição a agentes genotóxicos, após a divisão das células.
Sob a iniciativa HBM4EU, os objetivos deste projeto foram os seguintes: descrever o estado da arte da exposição ocupacional a REEE e avaliar os efeitos genotóxicos em trabalhadores expostos a esses resíduos, através da análise da frequência de MN em PBL.
A revisão da literatura sublinhou a escassez de estudos de biomonitorização sobre a exposição a REEE que relacionassem a exposição com os possíveis efeitos adversos na saúde, identificando a necessidade de novas abordagens harmonizadas para avaliar os e seus efeitos na saúde dos trabalhadores.
Os resultados do estudo piloto em ambiente ocupacional não mostraram diferenças significativas entre os grupos exposto e controlo na frequência de MN, o que contraria a hipótese de que os trabalhadores envolvidos nesta atividade de gestão de REEE pudessem revelar efeitos genotóxicos em PBL. Foram avançadas várias possibilidades para explicar este resultado, incluindo o pequeno tamanho da amostra, diferenças interindividuais e uso de equipamentos de proteção em algumas das atividades realizadas.
Para concluir, será necessário estender este estudo ocupacional, incluindo um maior número de participantes expostos e outros biomarcadores de efeito, para melhorar a avaliação dos potenciais efeitos biológicos precoces decorrentes da exposição a REEE. Para além disso, será crucial incluir biomarcadores para avaliar a exposição desses trabalhadores a diversos produtos químicos, por forma a, caso haja necessidade, se instituírem medidas mitigadoras para proteger sua saúde.
E-waste has become a major concern given its rapid global expansion, which shows no indications of slowing down. Since the composition of e-waste is intrinsically harmful, containing a variety of hazardous substances such as heavy metals and flame retardants, it is likely that it poses a significant threat to human and environmental health. Occupational exposure to e-waste is known for being one of the most direct forms of exposure. Thus, effective biomonitoring of workers whose jobs include the recycling of electronic components is critical. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) is a reliable tool to assess the effects of human exposure to genotoxins by measuring the extent of chromosomal damage in cells, both chromosome breakage or chromosome loss in dividing cells. Under the HBM4EU initiative, the goal of this project was two-fold: to describe the state of the art of occupational exposure to E-Waste and to perform a pilot study to assess the early biological effects from e-waste exposure in workers from E-waste management industries by using the micronucleus assay. The literature review underlined the scarcity of HBM studies around e-waste that related exposure with the possible adverse health effects and called for new, harmonized approaches to the issue of e-waste and its effects in occupational settings. The results of the effect biomarkers assessment in exposed workers showed no significant differences between exposed and control groups in the MN frequency, although our assumptions were that e-waste workers would show higher levels of genotoxic damage. Nonetheless, several factors, such as low sample size, interindividual differences and use of protective equipment in e-waste workers might have contributed to these results. To conclude, there is a need to extend this pilot occupational study by including a higher number of exposed participants and other effect biomarkers, to better assess potential early biological effects from exposure. In addition, from the literature review and considering the design of such human biomonitoring studies, it will be crucial to include biomarkers to assess the exposure of these workers to several chemicals, in order to know whether mitigation measures are needed to protect their health.
E-waste has become a major concern given its rapid global expansion, which shows no indications of slowing down. Since the composition of e-waste is intrinsically harmful, containing a variety of hazardous substances such as heavy metals and flame retardants, it is likely that it poses a significant threat to human and environmental health. Occupational exposure to e-waste is known for being one of the most direct forms of exposure. Thus, effective biomonitoring of workers whose jobs include the recycling of electronic components is critical. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) is a reliable tool to assess the effects of human exposure to genotoxins by measuring the extent of chromosomal damage in cells, both chromosome breakage or chromosome loss in dividing cells. Under the HBM4EU initiative, the goal of this project was two-fold: to describe the state of the art of occupational exposure to E-Waste and to perform a pilot study to assess the early biological effects from e-waste exposure in workers from E-waste management industries by using the micronucleus assay. The literature review underlined the scarcity of HBM studies around e-waste that related exposure with the possible adverse health effects and called for new, harmonized approaches to the issue of e-waste and its effects in occupational settings. The results of the effect biomarkers assessment in exposed workers showed no significant differences between exposed and control groups in the MN frequency, although our assumptions were that e-waste workers would show higher levels of genotoxic damage. Nonetheless, several factors, such as low sample size, interindividual differences and use of protective equipment in e-waste workers might have contributed to these results. To conclude, there is a need to extend this pilot occupational study by including a higher number of exposed participants and other effect biomarkers, to better assess potential early biological effects from exposure. In addition, from the literature review and considering the design of such human biomonitoring studies, it will be crucial to include biomarkers to assess the exposure of these workers to several chemicals, in order to know whether mitigation measures are needed to protect their health.
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Palavras-chave
E-waste Effect biomarkers Cytokinesis-block Micronucleus assay HBM4EU Human Biomonitoring