Lead and noise exposures at eight Chinese registered electronics recycling facilities

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess employees' exposure to lead and noise, and to recommend control strategies for reducing these exposures at eight registered electronics recycling facilities in Eastern China. Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (JSCDC) performed a walkthrough and review of health and safety programs during a first visit and conducted full-shift personal and area air monitoring for lead, as well as personal noise exposure measurements on a second visit. Monitoring was performed over two work shifts for a total of 168 employees. Results indicated that employees working at glass breaking and cathode ray tubes dismantling were overexposed both to noise and lead. Airborne lead concentration ranged from 0.1 to 148 μg/m³; and 4 of the 101 samples were above the Chinese permissible exposure limit of 50 μg/m³. Overexposures to lead involved cathode ray tubes dismantling and glass breaking. Employees working at plastics shredding and glass breaking areas were overexposed to noise. Full-shift time-weighted average noise levels ranged from 64 to 107 dBA; and 85 of the 123 samples were above the Chinese permissible exposure limit of 85 dBA. Control measures to reduce exposure to lead and noise, including improvements in their lead protection and hearing conservation programs, at these electronics recycling facilities were recommended.

Keywords: China; Electronic waste; Electronics recycling; Metals; Workers; e-waste.