Browsing by Author "Godderis, L."
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- Effect biomarkers in e-waste management workersPublication . Silva, Maria João; Aimonen, K.; Louro, Henriqueta; Tavares, A.; Moreira, R.; Catalan, J.; Duca, R.C.; Godderis, L.; Mahiout, S.; Martins, C.; Martinsone, I.; Matisane, L.; Namorado, S.; Van Nieuwenhuyse, A.; Pinhal, H.; Porras, S.; Remes, J.; Scheepers, P.; Verdonck, J.; Viegas, S.; Santonen, T.; HBM4EU E-waste study teamDuring e-waste handling/processing, a broad range of toxic chemicals (metals and persistent organic compounds), are released and may affect workers’ health. This work intended to identify genotoxic effects in workers from European e-waste management companies. Micronuclei were analysed in peripheral blood lymphocytes (MNPBL) from 95 workers and 50 controls and in reticulocytes (MNRET) from 82 workers and 41 controls. No statistically significant differences were detected between the total exposed and control groups, for both MNPBL and MNRET frequencies. Stratification of workers in subgroups according to the main activities performed revealed that the subgroup involved in batteries recycling (n=23) presented a frequency of MNPBL significantly higher than that of controls. Significant differences in MNPBL frequencies were also found between battery workers and the subgroups handling/processing white goods, metals and plastics, and miscellaneous E-waste; no differences in MNRET frequencies among subgroups were detected. Worth to note, the subgroup dealing with brown goods (n=12) displayed the highest MNPBL and MNRET frequencies, although statistical significances were not observed when comparing with the other subgroups or controls. These preliminary results highlight the value of adding effect biomarkers to biomonitoring campaigns, to uncover groups of workers at enhanced risk and to prioritize risk management measures’ implementation.
- Genotoxicity in peripheral blood leukocytes and reticulocytes of e-waste management workersPublication . Aimonen, K.; Silva, Maria João; Tavares, Ana; Moreira, Rodrigo; Louro, Henriqueta; Catalán, J.; Duca, R.; Godderis, L.; Mahiout, S.; Martins, C.; Martinsone, I.; Matisane, L.; Namorado, S.; Van Nieuwenhuyse, A.; Pinhal, Hermínia; Porras, S.; Remes, J.; Verdonck, J.; Viegas, S.; Scheepers, P.; Santonen, T.The European Commission has recently adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan, which recognizes the critical role of material circulation in achieving sustainable development. The waste management sector will play a pivotal role in this, and an increase in the number of workers involved in waste recycling is expected. However, a recent multi-centric study conducted as part of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) highlights potential occupational health risks associated with e-waste management. This study reports the exposure of e-waste workers from six European countries to metals and the early genotoxic effects from exposure to a wide array of toxic chemicals (and their mixtures) in the occupational environment. The results showed that e-waste workers are exposed to higher levels of hazardous metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and chromium (Cr) than controls. Significantly higher levels were detected in the post-shift urine and blood samples of different subcategories of e-waste workers. Especially the level of Pb was elevated in urine and blood samples among all worker categories, and the highest values were detected in battery recycling workers. Genotoxic effects were assessed by the micronucleus frequencies in peripheral blood lymphocytes (MNPBL) and reticulocytes (MNRET). MNPBL were analyzed in 95 workers and 50 controls, and MNRET in 82 workers and 41 controls. While there were no statistically significant differences between all workers and controls, the subgroup of battery recycling workers showed significantly higher frequency of MNPBL than controls or other exposed subgroups such as workers handling white goods, metals and plastics or miscellaneous e-waste. The highest MNPBL and MNRET frequencies were observed in workers handling brown goods, but the difference to controls, or to the other worker categories, was not statistically significant. Post-shift urinary levels of studied metals did not show positive correlation with the micronucleus frequencies, which might be partially explained by the heterogeneity of activities considered and related exposure levels found. In addition to metals, the study also measured exposure to flame retardants, phthalates, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and, thereby, correlations between exposure to those compounds and effect biomarkers will be further explored. Overall, the study highlights the need to raise awareness of potential hazards and improve risk management measures in the e-waste management sector. The micronucleus results provide valuable new information on early biological effects from occupational exposures during e-waste management that also contribute to identifying worker groups that are at higher risk of adverse health effects.
- HBM4EU chromates study: untargeted metabolomics study of workers exposed to hexavalent chromiumPublication . Kozłowska, Lucyna; Santonen, T.; Duca, R.C.; Godderis, L.; Jagiello, K.; Janasik, B.; Van Nieuwenhuyse, A.; Poels, K.; Puzyn, T.; Scheepers, P.; Sijko, M.; Silva, Maria João; Sosnowska, A.; Viegas, S.; Verdonck, J.; Wąsowicz, W.; HBM4EU Chromates Study Team and Statistical TeamDue to the wide use of Cr(VI), a large number of workers in a variety of industries are ex-posed to the potential harmful effects of this compound. The aim of this study was to inves-tigate changes in metabolic pathways in response to Cr(VI) exposure and to search for new urinary biomarkers. The study included 220 male workers who were exposed to Cr(VI) (through welding, chromium plating, surface treatment) and 102 male controls from Bel-gium, Finland, Poland, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Urinary metabolite profiles were de-termined using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The changes in the abundancy of excreted metabolites observed in post-shift workers vs. controls reflect fatty acid and mon-oamine neurotransmitter metabolism, oxidative modifications of amino acid residues, the excessive formation of abnormal amino acid metabolites and changes mainly in steroid hormones. We observed that: argininosuccinic acid, ubiquinone-1, indole-3-propionicacid, 6-hydroxyphenylpropionylglycine, 20-oxo-leukotriene E4, 3,4-dihydroxybenzylamine, 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine and succinylacetone are potential biomarkers for Cr(VI) exposure (area under the curve > 0.9). The results of our study could form the basis for vali-dating early biomarkers of Cr(VI) exposure and their application in screening tests, and also serve as a starting point for further targeted metabolomics studies to better understand the disorders associated with Cr(VI) exposure.
- HBM4EU diisocyanates study – results from a collaborative European human biological monitoring study on occupational exposurePublication . Jones, Kate; Galea, K.S.; Scholten, B.; Loikala, M.; Porras, S.P.; Bousoumah, R.; Ndaw, S.; Leese, E.; Louro, Henriqueta; Silva, Maria João; Viegas, S.; Godderis, L.; Verdonck, J.; Poels, K.; Gӧen, T.; Duca, R.C.; Santonen, T.; HBM4EU diisocyanates study teamDiisocyanates have long been a leading cause of occupational asthma in Europe, and they are now restricted under the REACH regulation. As part of the European Human Biomonitoring project (HBM4EU), we conducted an occupational exposure survey on diisocyanates in five European countries. 116 workers were recruited across four job categories: (1) Use of diisocyanates-based glues, adhesives or sealants; (2) Polyurethane coating of large surfaces; (3) Spray application of urethane foam; (4) Spray coating of vehicles. Fifty controls (within the same companies) were also recruited. The study collected urine samples (analysed for diisocyanate-derived diamines and lysine conjugates), blood samples (analysed for diisocyanate-specific antibodies, inflammatory markers, and diisocyanate-specific haemoglobin adducts), buccal cells (micronucleus analysis) and measured fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). In addition, occupational hygiene measurements (air monitoring and skin wipe samples) and questionnaires were collected. Initial results showed significant airborne exposures for some tasks (spraying polyurethane foam insulation), with elevated urinary diamine levels compared to controls (p<0.001), and detection of the specific MDI-lysine conjugate. Most workers did not show increased FeNO, but some individuals had elevated results (controls max 30 ppb (n=49), workers max 161 ppb (n=108). Further ongoing data analysis will be presented.
- Human biomonitoring in occupational setting – Cr VIPublication . Santonen, Tiina; Alimonti, A.; Bocca, B.; Duca, R.C.; Galea, K.S.; Godderis, L.; Göen, T.; Gomes, B.; Hanser, O.; Iavicoli, I.; Janasik, B.; Jones, K.; Leese, E.; Sparkie, S.; Leso, V.; Louro, Henriqueta; Ndaw, S.; Bousoumah, R.; Porras, S. P.; Robert, A.; Ruggieri, F.; Scheepers, P.T.J.; van Dael, M.; Silva, Maria João; Viegas, S.; Wasowicz, W.; Sepai, O.As for environmental studies, occupational studies performed by different researchers in individual countries are usually not aligned with respect to sampling, analytical methodologies or data collection, which hampers the comparison of the findings and the use of the data e.g. in regulatory risk assessment at European level. In addition, many national human biomonitoring (HBM) studies can recruit only limited numbers of workers. Therefore, combining national surveys using harmonized study designs and methodologies can potentially greatly improve the information collected and bring added value for the global data interpretation. Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is an important occupational carcinogen. Although Cr(VI) compounds are authorized in Europe under the European regulation (EC 1907/2006) concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), these compounds are still widely used in different applications. In addition, workers may be exposed to Cr(VI) formed during hot processes, like welding. These exposures are regulated in Europe by a binding occupational limit value (BOELV) recently set under EU Directive 2004/37/EC. It is, however, unclear how well workplaces comply with levels stated in legislation. The current study has been conducted in eight European countries using harmonized procedures. Up to 400 workers performing Cr(VI) surface treatment or welding activities were recruited. In addition to the collection of urinary chromium data, new methods for Cr biomonitoring were included, specifically the analysis of Cr(VI) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and Cr in red blood cells (RBC). Exposure biomarkers were complemented with early biological effect biomarkers and dermal and air monitoring data. According to preliminary results, chrome platers showed the highest urinary chromium levels, in some cases more than 10-times higher than levels measured in the control population. In the control population urinary chromium levels remained usually below 1 µg/g creatinine, in surface treatment workers the levels varied from these background levels up to 10 µg/g creatinine. In some cases, pre-shift chromium levels were also higher than in controls. Although welders showed elevated levels, their levels were lower than chrome platers. EBC samples exhibited the same trend as seen in urinary chromium: chrome platers showed higher levels than welders, although welders also had elevated levels compared to the controls. Analysis of the results from the air samples and wipe samples (collected from the hands of workers) provided information on the exposure routes, which will be used to give recommendations for the minimization of the exposure at workplaces.
- The HBM4EU e-waste study: exploratory survey of worker’s exposure to toxic contaminantsPublication . Scheepers, Paul; Viegas, S.; Duca, R.C.; Cseresznye, A; Cleys, P.; Covaci, A.; Goën, T.; Galea, K.S.; Godderis, L.; Hardy, E.; Leese, E.; Louro, Henriqueta; Mahiout, S.; Ndaw, S; Poels, K.; Silva, Maria João; Verdonck, J.; Porras, S.; Santonen, T.; HBM4EU E-waste Study TeamSo far, human biomonitoring (HBM) has not been much used to study exposure of workers involved in the processing of e-waste in the EU. In this study we aimed to explore exposures of workers to chemical contaminants, contribute to raise awareness of potential hazards and to further improve work practices. The study was conducted in eight European counties in a target population of 195 exposed and 73 controls. Biomarkers of exposure were used for selected metals and organic contaminants. Occupational hygiene sampling methods and contextual information were collected to facilitate the interpretation of the biomarker results. We found somewhat elevated exposures in workers for cadmium and mercury in blood and urine compared to controls. Blood analysis indicated high lead levels in post-shift compared to pre-shift in battery workers. Some urinary phthalate metabolite levels indicated a contribution from work-related exposures and were more pronounced in battery workers. Only small differences were observed in urinary excretion before and after the shift for organophosphorus flame retardants. Brominated flame retardant and PCB serum levels were in the range of general population background. From this exploratory study we conclude that more studies are needed to better understand chemical exposure in the processing of e-waste.