Objective: To investigate the relationship between risk factors and the effects of antioxidation and immune function in adults who exposed to electronic waste( e-waste).
Methods: The exposed group was chosen from the people who lived in the e-waste disposing areas of Zhejiang province. The control group was chosen from people who lived in unpolluted area. Anticoagulation and coagulation peripheral venous blood samples were collected from 40 exposed persons (22 employees, 18 non-employees) and 36 exposed persons respectively. The oxidative, immune, Cd, Pb, Cr, Hg, and PCB indexes were detected.
Results: The contents of Cd, total PCB, MDA statistically increased in exposed group comparing with the control group (P < 0.05). The activity of SOD, GSH-Px, the percentage of helper/inducer T lymphocytes (CD4+) and the content of Cr in exposed group were less than those in the controlgroup (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Oxidative damage and immunotoxicity were observed in the group that lived in e-waste disposing areas. These effects were mainly related to the increase of Cd content or Cd and Pb contents in peripheral venous blood.