HBM4EU E-waste study – An untargeted metabolomics approach to characterize metabolic changes during E-waste recycling

Lucyna Kozlowska (Corresponding Author), Susana Viegas, Paul T.J. Scheepers, Radu C. Duca, Lode Godderis, Carla Martins, Krzesimir Ciura, Karolina Jagiello, Maria João Silva, Selma Mahiout, Inese Mārtiņsone, Linda Matisāne, An van Nieuwenhuyse, Tomasz Puzyn, Monika Sijko-Szpanska, Jelle Verdonck, Tiina Santonen, the HBM4EU E-waste Study Team

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Abstract

E-waste contains hazardous chemicals that may be a direct health risk for workers involved in recycling. We conducted an untargeted metabolomics analysis of urine samples collected from male e-waste processing workers to explore metabolic changes associated with chemical exposures in e-waste recycling in Belgium, Finland, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal. Questionnaire data and urine samples were obtained from workers involved in the processing of e-waste (sorting, dismantling, shredding, pre-processing, metal, and non-metal processing), as well as from controls with no known occupational exposure. Pre- and post-shift urine samples were collected and analysed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). A total of 32 endogenous urinary metabolites were annotated with a Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) above 2, indicating that e-waste recycling is mainly associated with changes in steroid hormone and neurotransmitter metabolism, energy metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis, and inflammation. The highest VIP was observed for dopamine-o-quinone, which is linked to Parkinson's disease. These and other changes in metabolism in workers employed in the processing of e-waste need further verification in targeted studies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number109281
Number of pages12
JournalEnvironment International
Volume196
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2025

Keywords*

  • Biomarkers
  • Mixture exposure
  • Occupational exposure
  • Recycling
  • Urine metabolomics

Field of Science*

  • 3.3 Health sciences

Publication Type*

  • 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database

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