Study on the changes of urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels and burden of heavy metal around e-waste dismantling site Original Research Article

To examine the relations between the burden of blood copper (B-Cu), blood ferrous (B-Fe), and the oxidative stress in people around electronic waste (e-waste) recycling sites, this study measured and analyzed the level of urinary 8-Hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHDG) of these people. Exposed groups, consisted of female groups (directly exposed group n = 100, indirectly exposed group n = 54) and male groups (directly exposed group n = 98, indirectly exposed group n = 34), were chosen from e-waste recycling sites. Control group (female n = 59, male = 32) was selected from a green plantation. Questionnaire surveys for risk factors were also performed. Results indicated the male directly exposed group (lg8-OHDG nmol/mol creatinine, mean ± SD, 3.55 ± 0.49) showed a lower 8-OHDG level than the male control group (lg8-OHDG nmol/mol creatinine, mean ± SD, 3.89 ± 0.29) (p < 0.01), Meanwhile, an elevated B-Fe in male directly exposed group (lgB-Fe ug/L 3.11 ± 0.25) were observed compared with the male control group (lgB-Fe ug/L 2.83 ± 0.22) (p < 0.01). The levels of urinary 8-OHDG were negatively associated with blood ferrous, as confirmed by linear regression model (unstandardized regression coefficient, beta = −0.215, p < 0.05). The present study suggests that the exposure to e-waste might cause the elevation of B-Fe and result in the changes of urinary 8-OHDG levels.