Endocrine disrupting metals lead to alteration in the gonadal hormone levels in Nigerian e-waste workers

Main Article Content

Osaretin Godwin Igharo
John I Anetor
Oladele Osibanjo
Humphrey Benedo Osadolor
Emmanuel C Odazie
Zedech Chukwuemelie Uche

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Electronic waste (e-waste) is known to contain thousands of toxic chemicals and metals, many of which have identified endocrine disruption potentials even at low blood concentrations resulting from occupational and environmental exposures. E-waste crude reprocessing in Nigeria is massive and a growing number of Nigerians are occupationally exposed. The present study aimed to determine changes in gonadal hormone levels associated with occupational crude e-waste reprocessing in Nigerian male e-waste workers.

METHODS
This cross-sectional study which was carried out in Benin City, South-South Nigeria recruited male e-waste workers (n=63); and apparently healthy non e-waste workers (n=41), as exposed and unexposed participants respectively. Male fertility hormones which includes luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (TESTO) and prolactin (PROL); as well as progesterone (PROG), estrogen (EST) and inhibin (INH) were determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods; whole blood levels of chromium, cadmium, arsenic and mercury were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.

RESULTS
Levels of TESTO, PROG, LH and FSH; as well as PROL and EST were significantly lower in e-waste workers compared with unexposed participants (p<0.05). In contrast, serum INH was significantly higher in e-waste exposed population compared with the unexposed. In addition, chromium correlated significantly and negatively with testosterone, progesterone and estrogen, while inhibin correlated positively with chromium. Similar correlation patterns were observed for cadmium, arsenic and mercury.

CONCLUSION
Nigerian e-waste workers experienced reduced levels of key gonadal hormones and this may be associated with occupational exposure to endocrine disrupting metals in e-waste.

Article Details

How to Cite
Igharo, O. G., Anetor, J. I., Osibanjo, O., Osadolor, H. B., Odazie, E. C., & Uche, Z. C. (2018). Endocrine disrupting metals lead to alteration in the gonadal hormone levels in Nigerian e-waste workers. Universa Medicina, 37(1), 65–74. https://doi.org/10.18051/UnivMed.2018.v37.65-74
Section
Original Articles

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