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Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany.

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Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany. / Gerding, Johannes; Peters, Claudia; Wegscheider, Wolfgang; Stranzinger, Johanna; Lessmann, Frederik ; Pitzke, Katrin; Harth, Volker; Eickmann, Udo; Nienhaus, Albert.

In: INT ARCH OCC ENV HEA, Vol. 94, No. 5, 07.2021, p. 935-944.

Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

Gerding, J, Peters, C, Wegscheider, W, Stranzinger, J, Lessmann, F, Pitzke, K, Harth, V, Eickmann, U & Nienhaus, A 2021, 'Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany.', INT ARCH OCC ENV HEA, vol. 94, no. 5, pp. 935-944. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01651-9

APA

Gerding, J., Peters, C., Wegscheider, W., Stranzinger, J., Lessmann, F., Pitzke, K., Harth, V., Eickmann, U., & Nienhaus, A. (2021). Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany. INT ARCH OCC ENV HEA, 94(5), 935-944. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01651-9

Vancouver

Gerding J, Peters C, Wegscheider W, Stranzinger J, Lessmann F, Pitzke K et al. Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany. INT ARCH OCC ENV HEA. 2021 Jul;94(5):935-944. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01651-9

Bibtex

@article{67b73667f3ce4b999ed3e787b4553107,
title = "Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany.",
abstract = "OBJECTIVES: In Germany, the initial step of electronic waste (e-waste) recycling frequently takes place in sheltered workshops for physically and mentally handicapped workers (Werkst{\"a}tten f{\"u}r behinderte Menschen (WfbM), in german language). E-waste recycling involves a potential risk of exposure to toxic metals. Therefore, we assessed the occupational exposure of recycling workers to toxic metals to identify potential health risks and insufficient protective measures.METHODS: We used a combined air- and bio-monitoring approach to determine exposure of recycling workers to toxic metals. Air and urine samples were collected in five sheltered workshops in Germany and were analysed for their content of aluminium, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, mercury and nickel. Results were compared to German and international occupational limit values and to metal exposures of workers in conventional e-waste recycling firms.RESULTS: Exposure of recycling workers in five German sheltered workshops to the studied metals and their compounds was below German and international occupational limit values across all facilities studied considering both air and urine samples. Workers in the present study were not exposed to higher amounts of toxic metals than workers in conventional e-waste recycling firms.CONCLUSION: This is the first study on toxic metal exposure of recycling workers in sheltered workshops. The results of this study revealed a low occupational exposure of e-waste recycling workers to toxic metals in this type of enterprises. Current work methods and safety measures provide the workers with adequate protection.",
author = "Johannes Gerding and Claudia Peters and Wolfgang Wegscheider and Johanna Stranzinger and Frederik Lessmann and Katrin Pitzke and Volker Harth and Udo Eickmann and Albert Nienhaus",
year = "2021",
month = jul,
doi = "10.1007/s00420-021-01651-9",
language = "English",
volume = "94",
pages = "935--944",
journal = "INT ARCH OCC ENV HEA",
issn = "0340-0131",
publisher = "Springer",
number = "5",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany.

AU - Gerding, Johannes

AU - Peters, Claudia

AU - Wegscheider, Wolfgang

AU - Stranzinger, Johanna

AU - Lessmann, Frederik

AU - Pitzke, Katrin

AU - Harth, Volker

AU - Eickmann, Udo

AU - Nienhaus, Albert

PY - 2021/7

Y1 - 2021/7

N2 - OBJECTIVES: In Germany, the initial step of electronic waste (e-waste) recycling frequently takes place in sheltered workshops for physically and mentally handicapped workers (Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen (WfbM), in german language). E-waste recycling involves a potential risk of exposure to toxic metals. Therefore, we assessed the occupational exposure of recycling workers to toxic metals to identify potential health risks and insufficient protective measures.METHODS: We used a combined air- and bio-monitoring approach to determine exposure of recycling workers to toxic metals. Air and urine samples were collected in five sheltered workshops in Germany and were analysed for their content of aluminium, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, mercury and nickel. Results were compared to German and international occupational limit values and to metal exposures of workers in conventional e-waste recycling firms.RESULTS: Exposure of recycling workers in five German sheltered workshops to the studied metals and their compounds was below German and international occupational limit values across all facilities studied considering both air and urine samples. Workers in the present study were not exposed to higher amounts of toxic metals than workers in conventional e-waste recycling firms.CONCLUSION: This is the first study on toxic metal exposure of recycling workers in sheltered workshops. The results of this study revealed a low occupational exposure of e-waste recycling workers to toxic metals in this type of enterprises. Current work methods and safety measures provide the workers with adequate protection.

AB - OBJECTIVES: In Germany, the initial step of electronic waste (e-waste) recycling frequently takes place in sheltered workshops for physically and mentally handicapped workers (Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen (WfbM), in german language). E-waste recycling involves a potential risk of exposure to toxic metals. Therefore, we assessed the occupational exposure of recycling workers to toxic metals to identify potential health risks and insufficient protective measures.METHODS: We used a combined air- and bio-monitoring approach to determine exposure of recycling workers to toxic metals. Air and urine samples were collected in five sheltered workshops in Germany and were analysed for their content of aluminium, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, mercury and nickel. Results were compared to German and international occupational limit values and to metal exposures of workers in conventional e-waste recycling firms.RESULTS: Exposure of recycling workers in five German sheltered workshops to the studied metals and their compounds was below German and international occupational limit values across all facilities studied considering both air and urine samples. Workers in the present study were not exposed to higher amounts of toxic metals than workers in conventional e-waste recycling firms.CONCLUSION: This is the first study on toxic metal exposure of recycling workers in sheltered workshops. The results of this study revealed a low occupational exposure of e-waste recycling workers to toxic metals in this type of enterprises. Current work methods and safety measures provide the workers with adequate protection.

U2 - 10.1007/s00420-021-01651-9

DO - 10.1007/s00420-021-01651-9

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 33486553

VL - 94

SP - 935

EP - 944

JO - INT ARCH OCC ENV HEA

JF - INT ARCH OCC ENV HEA

SN - 0340-0131

IS - 5

ER -