This study is one of the very few investigating the dioxin body burden of a group
of child-bearing-aged women at an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling site (Taizhou,
Zhejiang Province) (24 +/- 2.83 years of age, 40% were primiparae) and a reference
site (Lin'an city, Zhejiang Province, about 245 km away from Taizhou) (24 +/- 2.35
years of age, 100% were primiparae) in China. Five sets of samples (each set consisted
of human milk, placenta, and hair) were collected from each site. Body burdens of
people from the e-waste processing site (human milk, 21.02 +/- 13.81 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g
fat (World Health Organization toxic equivalency 1998); placenta, 31.15 +/- 15.67
pg WHO-TEQ1998/g fat; hair, 33.82 +/- 17.74 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g dry wt) showed significantly
higher levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans
(PCDD/ Fs) than those from the reference site (human milk, 9.35 +/- 7.39 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g
fat; placenta, 11.91 +/- 7.05 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g fat; hair, 5.59 +/- 4.36 pg WHO-TEQ1998/g
dry wt) and were comparatively higher than other studies. The difference between the
two sites was due to e-waste recycling operations, for example, open burning, which
led to high background levels. Moreover, mothers from the e-waste recycling site consumed
more foods of animal origin. The estimated daily intake of PCDD/Fs within 6 months
by breastfed infants from the e-waste processing site was 2 times higher than that
from the reference site. Both values exceeded the WHO tolerable daily intake for adults
by at least 25 and 11 times, respectively. Our results implicated that e-waste recycling
operations cause prominent PCDD/F levels in the environment and in humans. The elevated
body burden may have health implications for the next generation.