Exposure assessment and micronuclei induction in populations exposed to electronic waste in South-West Nigeria

Article Sidebar

PDF
Published: Apr 22, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18051/UnivMed.2024.v43.51-60 Universa Medicina
Abstract Viewed: 58
PDF Downloaded: 30
Keywords:
Biofeedback electromyogram heart rate Quran skin conductance stress healthy adults

Main Article Content

Osaretin Godwin Igharo
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7086-5347
C.B.N. Akpata
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Nigeria
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2473-3853
G. A. Aikpitanyi-Iduitua
Education Department, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8914-1998
L. U. Oshilonyah
Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, University of Delta, Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6225-2624
O.E. Ola-Davies
Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4388-8700
J. I. Anetor
Department of Chemical Pathology, Toxicology and Micronutrient Metabolism Unit, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9862-7244

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Informal electronic waste (e-waste) reprocessing in Nigeria is reportedly substantial in Africa, putting the growing exposed population at high risk of metal toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the existence of chromosomal aberration in the growing e-waste exposed populations in Nigeria, using induction of micronuclei (MN) expression in peripheral blood as an indicator.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, 632 consenting participants were recruited from South-West Nigeria, consisting of 381 e-waste workers (EWW), 120 environmental e-waste exposed participants (EEP) and 131 age-matched unexposed participants (UP) serving as controls. A validated structured questionnaire was used to assess exposure pattern while frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE)/1000PCE in peripheral blood film was determined by modified micronucleus assay.


RESULTS
A duration of exposure of ³5 years and exposure frequency ³6 hours/day; 6 days/week (9360 hours in any 5-year duration) was observed in both EWW and EEP. Routes of exposure observed in EWW entailed eyes, oral cavity, nasal cavity and skin. EWW that used personal protective equipment (PPE) while working was barely 10.24% while non-PPE users constituted the majority (89.76%) of the studied population. Frequency of MNPCE)/1000PCE in EWW (22.70 ± 0.15) was significantly higher than in EEP (4.17 ± 0.28), which in turn was significantly higher than the lowest frequency (0.99 ± 0.76) observed in UP (p<0.001).


CONCLUSION
The observed exposure pattern and the comparatively higher MN induction in the e-waste populations may suggest risk of significant cytogenetic damage and aberrant chromosomal changes associated with occupational e-waste reprocessing in Nigeria.

Article Details

How to Cite
Igharo, O. G., Akpata, C., Aikpitanyi-Iduitua, G. A., Oshilonyah, L. U., Ola-Davies, O., & Anetor, J. I. (2024). Exposure assessment and micronuclei induction in populations exposed to electronic waste in South-West Nigeria. Universa Medicina, 43(1), 51–60. https://doi.org/10.18051/UnivMed.2024.v43.51-60
Issue
Vol. 43 No. 1 (2024)
Section
Original Articles
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

The journal allows the authors to hold the copyright without restrictions and allow the authors to retain publishing rights without restrictions.

References

Balde CP, Kuehr R, Blumenthal K, et al. E-waste statistics: Guidelines on classifications, reporting and indicators. Bonn (Germany): United Nations University, IAS - SCYCLE; 2015.

Perkins DN, Drisse MNB, Nxele T, Sly PD. E-waste: a global hazard. Ann Global Health 2014; 80:286-95. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aogh.2014.10.001.

Okorhi JO, Amadi-Echendu JE, Aderemi HO, Uhunmwangho R, Okwubunne AC. Disconnect between policy and practice in developing countries: evidence of managing e-waste from Nigeria. African J Sci Technol Innov Develop 2019;11:523–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2017.1385134.

Jinhui L, Huabo D, Pixing S. Heavy metal contamination of surface soil in electronic waste dismantling area: site investigation and source-apportionment analysis. Waste Manag Res 2011;29:727-8. doi: 10.1177/0734242X10397580.

Khalid M, Hassani S, Abdollahi M. Metal-induced oxidative stress: an evidence-based update of advantages and disadvantages. Curr Opin Toxicol 2020;20:55-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cotox.2020.05.006.

Briffa J, Sinagra E. Blundell R. Heavy metal pollution in the environment and their toxicological effects on humans. Heliyon 2020;6:e04691. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04691.

Pizzimenti A, Aragona M, Onesti E, Inghilleri M. Depression, pain, and quality of life in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a cross-sectional study. Funct Neurol 2013;28:115–9. doi: 10.11138/FNeur/2013.28.2.115.

Igharo GO, Anetor JI, Osibanjo OO, Osadolor HB, Dike K. Toxic metal levels in Nigerian electronic waste workers indicate occupational metal toxicity associated with crude electronic waste management practices. Biokemistri 2014;26:107-13.

Mudipalli A. Cadmium carcinogenesis and mechanistic insights. In: Mudipalli A, Zelikoff J. (eds) Essential and non-essential metals. Molecular and integrative toxicology. Cham (Switzerland): Humana Press; 2017. pp 113–142. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55448-8_6.

Jaishankar M, Tseten T, Anbalagan N, Mathew BB, Beeregowda KN. Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip Toxicol 2014 ;7:60-72. doi: 10.2478/intox-2014-0009.

Balali-Mood M, Naseri K, Tahergorabi Z, Khazdair MR, Sadeghi M. Toxic mechanisms of five heavy metals: mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic. Front Pharmacol 2021;12:643972. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.643972.

Aaseth J, Crisponi G, Anderson O, editors. Chelation therapy in the treatment of metal intoxication. 1st ed. Elsevier Academic Press;2016.

Zhu Y, Costa M. Metals and molecular carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis 2020 24;41:1161-72. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgaa076.

Surai PF, Kochish II, Fisinin VI, Kidd MT. Antioxidant defence systems and oxidative stress in poultry biology: an update. Antioxidants (Basel) 2019;8:235. doi.org/10.3390/antiox8070235.

Rübben A, Araujo A. Cancer heterogeneity: converting a limitation into a source of biologic information. J Transl Med 2017;15:190. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-017-1290-9.

Issah I, Arko-Mensah J, Agyekum TP, Dwomoh D, Fobil JN. Electronic waste exposure and DNA damage: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Environ Health 2023;38:15–31. https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2021-0074.

Ibrahim F, Adie D, Giwa A, Abdullahi S, Okuofu C. Material flow analysis of electronic wastes (e-Wastes) in Lagos, Nigeria. J Environ Prot 2013;4: 1011-17. doi: 10.4236/jep.2013.49117.

Terada C. Recycling electronic wastes in Nigeria: putting environmental and human rights at risk. Northwestern J Int Human Rights 2012;10:154–72.

Adaramodu AA, Osuntogun BA, Ehi-Eromosele CO. Heavy metal concentration of surface dust present in e-waste components: the Westminister electronic market, Lagos case study. Resour Environ 2012;2: 9-13. DOI: 10.5923/j.re.20120202.02.

Nnorom IC, Ohakwe J, Osibanjo O. Survey of willingness of residents to participate in electronic waste recycling in Nigeria. a case study of mobile phone recycling. J Clean Prod 2009;17:1629-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.08.009.

Holland N, Bolognesi C, Kirsch-Volders M, et al. The micronucleus assay in human buccal cells as a tool for biomonitoring DNA damage: the HUMN project perspective on current status and knowledge gaps. Mutat Res 2008;659:93–108. doi: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2008.03.007.

World Health Organization. Electronic waste (e-waste). Geneva : World Health Organization; 2023.

Jiang B, Adebayo A, Jia J, et al. Impacts of heavy metals and soil properties at a Nigerian e-waste site on soil microbial community. J Hazard Mater 2019;362:187-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.08.060.

Leung AOW, Duzgoren-Aydin NS, Cheung KC, Wong MH. Heavy metals concentrations of surface dust from e-waste recycling and its human health implications in Southeast China. Environ Sci Technol 2008;42:2674–80. doi: 10.1021/es071873x.

Igharo OG, Anetor JI, Osibajo OO, Osadolor HB, David OM, Agu KC. Oxidative stress and antioxidant status in Nigerian e-waste workers: a cancer risk predictive study. J Adv Med Med Res 2016;13:1-11. Doi:10.9734/BJMMR/2016/22770

Torres-Bugarín O, Zavala-Cerna MG, Nava A, Flores-García A, Ramos-Ibarra ML. Potential uses, limitations, and basic procedures of micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities in buccal cells. Dis Markers 2014;2014:956835. doi: 10.1155/2014/956835.

Hayashi, M. The micronucleus test—most widely used in vivo genotoxicity test. Genes Environ 2016;38:18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41021-016-0044-x.

Garai P, Banerjee P, Mondal P, Saha NC. Effect of Heavy Metals on Fishes: Toxicity and Bioaccumulation. J Clin Toxicol 2021;11: S18:001.

Knudsen LE, Kirsch-Volders M. Micronuclei, reproduction and child health. Mut Res 2021;787:108345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrrev.2020.108345.

Stefano B, Randa E, Claudia B, Michael F. Micronuclei frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes and cancer risk: evidence from human studies. Mutagenesis 2011;26:93-100.

Luzhna L, Kathiria P, Kovalchuk O. Micronuclei in genotoxicity assessment: from genetics to epigenetics and beyond. Front Genet 2013;4:131. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2013.00131.