Abstract：
Recycling electronic waste (e-waste) poses risks of metal exposure, potentially leading to health impairments. However, no previous study has focused on this issue in Hong Kong. Therefore, from June 2021 to September 2022, this study collected urine samples from 101 e-waste workers and 100 office workers in Hong Kong to compare their urinary levels of metals using ICP-MS. Among the 15 included metals (with detection rates above the 70 % threshold), eight showed significantly higher urinary concentrations (unit: μg/g creatinine) in e-waste workers compared to office workers: Li (25.09 vs. 33.36), Mn (1.78 vs. 4.15), Ni (2.10 vs. 2.77), Cu (5.81 vs. 9.23), Zn (404.35 vs. 431.52), Sr (151.33 vs. 186.26), Tl (0.35 vs. 0.43), and Pb (0.69 vs. 1.16). E-waste workers in Hong Kong generally exhibited lower metal levels than those in developing regions but higher than their counterparts in developed areas. The urine level of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was determined by HPLC-MS/MS, and no significant difference was found between the two groups. Multiple linear regression models revealed no significant association between individual metal and urinary 8-OHdG concentrations. However, the metal mixture was identified to marginally elevate the 8-OHdG concentrations (1.12, 95 %CI: 0.04, 2.19) by quantile g‑computation models, with Mn and Cd playing significant roles in such effect. In conclusion, while the metal levels among Hong Kong e-waste workers compared favorably with their counterparts in other regions, their levels were higher than those of local office workers. This underscores the need for policymakers to prioritize attention to this unique industry.
摘要：
回收电子废物(电子废物)会带来金属暴露的风险，可能导致健康损害。然而,以前在香港没有研究过这个问题。因此,从2021年6月到2022年9月，这项研究收集了香港101名电子垃圾工人和100名上班族的尿液样本，使用ICP-MS比较他们的尿液中金属含量。在包含的15种金属中（检测率高于70％阈值），与办公室工作人员相比，电子废物工作人员的尿中浓度（单位：μg/g肌酐）明显更高：Li（25.09vs.33.36),锰（1.78vs.4.15),Ni（2.10vs.2.77),铜（5.81vs.9.23),锌（404.35vs.431.52),高级(151.33vs.186.26),Tl（0.35vs.0.43),和Pb（0.69vs.1.16).香港的电子废物工人的金属含量普遍低于发展中地区的工人，但高于发达地区的工人。通过HPLC-MS/MS测定尿液中8-羟基-2-脱氧鸟苷（8-OHdG）的水平，两组间差异无统计学意义。多元线性回归模型显示，单个金属与尿中8-OHdG浓度之间没有显着关联。然而,通过分位数g计算模型，金属混合物被确定为略微升高8-OHdG浓度(1.12，95CI：0.04，2.19)，Mn和Cd在这种效应中起着重要作用。总之,虽然香港电子废物工人的金属含量与其他地区的工人相比是有利的，他们的水平高于当地上班族。这凸显了政策制定者需要优先关注这个独特的行业。
