Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Increase male genital diseases morbidity linked to informal electronic waste recycling in Guiyu, China

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 14 June 2014

Abstract

In recent years, occupational and environmental exposure to toxic pollutants has increasingly contributed to declining sperm quality and increasing morbidity of human male genital diseases. This study explored the effects of electronic waste (e-waste) environmental pollutions on male genital health in Guiyu, one of the largest e-waste recycling centers in the world. We collected outpatient case information from 2001 to 2009 in Guiyu and a control hospital and performed statistical analysis on male genital diseases morbidity (MGDM). The MGDM in Guiyu and the control hospital per thousand from 2004 to 2009 were 1.410/0.403 (2004), 0.539/0.385 (2005), 0.248/0.284 (2006), 0.485/0.195 (2007), 1.107/0.272 (2008), and 0.741/0.586 (2009) while the average total MGDM from 2004 to 2009 were 0.753 and 0.355 per thousand, respectively. Percentage of occurrence of epididymitis, impotence and prospermia, redundant prepuce, gonorrhea, urethritis, sexual function dysfunction, azoospermia, asthenospermia, and unknown etiology male sterility were higher in Guiyu (P < 0.05), whereas the frequency of prostatitis, condyloma accuminatum, and genital herpes were higher in the control (P < 0.05). Morbidity of male genital diseases was higher in Guiyu than in the control area. Male reproductive health may be threatened by e-waste environmental pollution in Guiyu, especially for diseases that could be influenced by environmental factors, and it may influence local population diathesis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alabi OA, Bakare AA, Xu X, Li B, Zhang Y, Huo X (2012) Comparative evaluation of environmental contamination and DNA damage induced by electronic-waste in Nigeria and China. Sci Total Environ 423:62–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bi X, Thomas GO, Jones KC, Qu W, Sheng G, Martin FL, Fu J (2007) Exposure of electronics dismantling workers to polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides in South China. Environ Sci Technol 41:5647–5653

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bi X, Simoneit BRT, Wang Z, Wang X, Sheng G, Fu J (2010) The major components of particles emitted during recycling of waste printed circuit boards in a typical e-waste workshop of South China. Atmos Environ 44:4440–4445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bi X, Li Z, Zhuang X, Han Z, Yang W (2011) High levels of antimony in dust from e-waste recycling in southeastern China. Sci Total Environ 409(23):5126–5128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bonde JP (2010) Male reproductive organs are at risk from environmental hazards. Asian J Androl 12:152–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen A, Dietrich KN, Huo X, Ho SM (2011) Developmental neurotoxicants in e-waste: an emerging health concern. Environ Health Perspect 119:431–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CNEMC (1990) The backgrounds of soil environment in China. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Council NR (2000) Toxicological risks of selected flame-retardant chemicals. National Academies Press, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng WJ, Louie PKK, Liu WK, Bi XH, Fu JM, Wong MH (2006) Atmospheric levels and cytotoxicity of PAHs and heavy metals in TSP and PM 2.5 at an electronic waste recycling site in southeast China. Atmos Environ 40:6945–6955

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng WJ, Zheng JS, Bi XH, Fu JM, Wong MH (2007) Distribution of PBDEs in air particles from an electronic waste recycling site compared with Guangzhou and Hong Kong, South China. Environ Int 33:1063–1069

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Y, Huo X, Li Y, Wu K, Liu J, Huang J, Zheng G, Xiao Q, Yang H, Wang Y, Chen A, Xu X (2010) Monitoring of lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel in placenta from an e-waste recycling town in China. Sci Total Environ 408:3113–3117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Y, Huo X, Wu K, Liu J, Zhang Y, Xu X (2012) Carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in umbilical cord blood of human neonates from Guiyu, China. Sci Total Environ 427–428:35–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez-Ochoa I, Garcia-Vargas G, Lopez-Carrillo L, Rubio-Andrade M, Moran-Martinez J, Cebrian ME, Quintanilla-Vega B (2005) Low lead environmental exposure alters semen quality and sperm chromatin condensation in northern Mexico. Reprod Toxicol 20:221–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hou D, Al-Tabbaa A, Guthrie P, Watanabe K (2012) Sustainable waste and materials management: national policy and global perspective. Environ Sci Technol 46(5):2494–2495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huo X, Peng L, Xu X, Zheng L, Qiu B, Qi Z, Zhang B, Han D, Piao Z (2007) Elevated blood lead levels of children in Guiyu, an electronic waste recycling town in China. Environ Health Perspect 115:1113–1117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leung AO, Duzgoren-Aydin NS, Cheung KC, Wong MH (2008) Heavy metals concentrations of surface dust from e-waste recycling and its human health implications in southeast China. Environ Sci Technol 42:2674–2680

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Yu L, Sheng G, Fu J, Peng P (2007) Severe PCDD/F and PBDD/F pollution in air around an electronic waste dismantling area in China. Environ Sci Technol 41:5641–5646

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Xu X, Liu J, Wu K, Gu C, Shao G, Chen S, Chen G, Huo X (2008a) The hazard of chromium exposure to neonates in Guiyu of China. Sci Total Environ 403:99–104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Xu X, Wu K, Chen G, Liu J, Chen S, Gu C, Zhang B, Zheng L, Zheng M, Huo X (2008b) Monitoring of lead load and its effect on neonatal behavioral neurological assessment scores in Guiyu, an electronic waste recycling town in China. J Environ Monit 10:1233–1238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Xu XJ, Liu JX, Zheng LK, Chen GJ, Chen SJ, Huo X (2008c) Determination of meconium lead level of newborn by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Guang Pu Xue Yu Guang Pu Fen Xi 28:447–449

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Huo X, Liu J, Peng L, Li W, Xu X (2011) Assessment of cadmium exposure for neonates in Guiyu, an electronic waste pollution site of China. Environ Monit Assess 177:343–351

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Xu X, Wu K, Piao Z, Huang J, Guo Y, Li W, Zhang Y, Chen A, Huo X (2011) Association between lead exposure from electronic waste recycling and child temperament alterations. Neurotoxicology 32:458–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meeker JD, Rossano MG, Protas B, Diamond MP, Puscheck E, Daly D, Paneth N, Wirth JJ (2008) Cadmium, lead, and other metals in relation to semen quality: human evidence for molybdenum as a male reproductive toxicant. Environ Health Perspect 116:1473–1479

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meeker JD, Stapleton HM (2010) House dust concentrations of organophosphate flame retardants in relation to hormone levels and semen quality parameters. Environ Health Perspect 118:318–323

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharpe RM (ed) (2009) CHEM Trust: Male reproductive health disorders and the potential role of exposure to environmental chemicals. Health and Environment Alliance, Europe

    Google Scholar 

  • Song D (2011) Research progress of environmental estrogens. Guangdong Chem Ind 38:192–193

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • VROM. Netherlands Ministry of Housing SPaE (1994) Intervention values and target values: soil quality standards. Department of Soil Protection, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang JP, Guo XK (2006) Impact of electronic wastes recycling on environmental quality. Biomed Environ Sci 19:137–142

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong CS, Duzgoren-Aydin NS, Aydin A, Wong MH (2007a) Evidence of excessive releases of metals from primitive e-waste processing in Guiyu, China. Environ Pollut 148:62–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong CS, Wu SC, Duzgoren-Aydin NS, Aydin A, Wong MH (2007b) Trace metal contamination of sediments in an e-waste processing village in China. Environ Pollut 145:434–442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong MH, Wu SC, Deng WJ, Yu XZ, Luo Q, Leung AO, Wong CS, Luksemburg WJ, Wong AS (2007c) Export of toxic chemicals – a review of the case of uncontrolled electronic-waste recycling. Environ Pollut 149:131–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu HM, Lin-Tan DT, Wang ML, Huang HY, Wang HS, Soong YK, Lin JL (2008) Cadmium level in seminal plasma may affect the pregnancy rate for patients undergoing infertility evaluation and treatment. Reprod Toxicol 25:481–484

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu K, Xu X, Liu J, Guo Y, Li Y, Huo X (2010) Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in umbilical cord blood and relevant factors in neonates from Guiyu, China. Environ Sci Technol 44:813–819

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu K, Xu X, Liu J, Guo Y, Huo X (2011) In utero exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and reduced neonatal physiological development from Guiyu, China. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 74:2141–2147

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu K, Xu X, Peng L, Liu J, Guo Y, Huo X (2012) Association between maternal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from electronic waste recycling and neonatal health outcomes. Environ Int 48:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyrobek AJ (1993) Methods and concepts in detecting abnormal reproductive outcomes of paternal origin. Reprod Toxicol 7(Suppl 1):3–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Yang H, Chen A, Zhou Y, Wu K, Liu J, Zhang Y, Huo X (2012) Birth outcomes related to informal e-waste recycling in Guiyu, China. Reprod Toxicol 33:94–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan DJM (2009) Environmental estrogens and society. Pract Prev Med 16:980–982

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang H, Huo X, Yekeen TA, Zheng Q, Zheng M, Xu X (2013) Effects of lead and cadmium exposure from electronic waste on child physical growth. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20:4441–4447

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng G, Xu X, Li B, Wu K, Yekeen TA, Huo X (2013) Association between lung function in school children and exposure to three transition metals from an e-waste recycling area. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 23:67–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng L, Wu K, Li Y, Qi Z, Han D, Zhang B, Gu C, Chen G, Liu J, Chen S, Xu X, Huo X (2008) Blood lead and cadmium levels and relevant factors among children from an e-waste recycling town in China. Environ Res 108:15–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research was sponsored by the Natural Science Foundation and Medical Scientific Research Foundation of Guangdong Province, China (S2011020002399 and A2010390)

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Analytical Cytology Laboratory, Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Rd, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China

    Xijin Xu, Yuling Zhang, Taofeek Akangbe Yekeen, Yan Li, Bingrong Zhuang & Xia Huo

  2. Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China

    Xijin Xu

Authors
  1. Xijin Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yuling Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Taofeek Akangbe Yekeen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bingrong Zhuang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xia Huo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xia Huo.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xu, X., Zhang, Y., Yekeen, T.A. et al. Increase male genital diseases morbidity linked to informal electronic waste recycling in Guiyu, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 3540–3545 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2289-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2289-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation