High Blood Lead Levels in E-waste recyclers

Introduction
There is a huge informal sector of electronic and electrical waste recycling in India. Domestic as well as imported e-waste from developed countries is being recycled to extract valuable heavy metals like lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, aluminum, and gold. During the process, the workers are exposed to toxic fumes of various heavy metals through inhalation and contact form skin surface in the poor working conditions.

Methods
Blood samples of 20 workers (13 male, 5 female and 2 children) were taken randomly from 64 workers who are involved in the process of de-soldering of components and burning of printed circuit boards to recover the metals. Blood samples were analyzed for blood lead levels, heamogram and renal function tests. Interview about health symptoms were conducted and analyzed. 

Results
All the 20 samples analyzed for blood lead levels were found to be high of prescribed levels of 10 µg/dl of CDC. The lowest BLL was 18.3 and highest was 40.4 µg/dl, with an average level of blood lead 30.13 µg/dl in these 20 workers. The minimum age of workers being 14 years and maximum 45 years (mean age 30 years), No evidence of hemato-toxicity or renal toxicity or neurotoxicity could be found with 1-3 years of exposure to recycling of e-waste. None of the workers uses any personal protective equipment. 

Discussion
The high blood lead levels, especially in the children will have long term health effects on these workers. Further exposures needed to be immediately stopped. Long term follow ups for evaluation of toxicity from other metals must be done. Improvement of working condition, prohibiting child labor and technological interventions for the recovery of toxic heavy metals are required immediately.