Objective: To study on the genomic stability of male workers engaged in e-waste dismantling area in Tianjin. Methods: In 2016, an e-waste dismantling area in Tianjin and an area 50 km away from the e-waste dismantling area (no e-waste or other chemical, industrial and agricultural pollution nearby) were selected as the study area and the reference area. Male residents of the study area and male farmers who planted vegetables, fruits, and crops in the reference area were selected as the exposed and reference group by using the convenient sampling method. The exposed group included 146 workers who engaged in e-waste recycling work more than 1 year. The reference group included 121 farmers who never engaged in e-waste recycling work. Questionnaires were used to collect information of all subjects. The semen and peripheral blood were also collected. Trace elements and polychlorinated biphenyl concentration in blood were detected. DNA damage in peripheral blood and sperm was detected, and gene expression was analyzed. DNA damage was assessed using tail DNA% (TDNA%), tail moment (TM) and olive tail moment (OTM) of comet assay. Results: The ages of the exposed group and the reference group were (33.6±12.1) and (33.9±11.9) years old, respectively. The proportions of subjects with exposure time of ≤3, 4-6, ≥7 years were 43% (63 cases), 26% (53 cases) and 21% (30 cases), respectively. The Pb and polychlorinated biphenyl(PCB) concentrations in the exposed group [(90.4±15.3) μg/ml and (101±30) ng/ml, respectively] were higher than those in the reference group [Pb and PCB concentrations were (60.2±8.9) μg/ml, and (2.5±1.4) ng/ml, respectively (both P values <0.05)]. The TDNA%, TM and OTM of peripheral blood and sperm in the exposed group were 5.9%±0.3% and 2.6%±0.90%, 0.93±0.16 and 0.51±0.20, 0.82±0.09 and 0.56±0.07, respectively, which were all higher than those in the reference group [TDNA%, TM and OTM of peripheral blood and sperm were 1.8%±0.2% and 1.9%±0.2%, 0.21±0.04 and 0.32±0.10, 0.19±0.03 and 0.20±0.08, respectively (all P values <0.001)]. The results of gene expression showed that 20 differentially expressed genes, including 13 up-regulated genes and 7 down-regulated genes, were detected in the exposed group compared with the reference group. Conclusion: There are obvious DNA damage and DNA repair gene disorder in male workers of an e-waste dismantling area in Tianjin. The current operation mode brings potential health risks to workers.
目的： 研究天津某电子垃圾拆解区男性从业人员基因组稳定性。 方法： 2016年，选取天津某电子垃圾拆解区和距离电子垃圾拆解区50 km的地区（其附近没有电子垃圾废物或其他化学、工业和农业污染）为研究区和对照区，招募研究区的男性居民和对照区的种植蔬菜、水果和农作物的男性农民为暴露组和参照组。暴露组纳入从事电子垃圾回收工作≥1年者，排除有其他化学品接触者；参照组纳入未从事过电子垃圾拆解工作者。共纳入267名研究对象（暴露组146名，参照组121名）。通过问卷调查收集信息，并采集外周血和精液。检测血中的微量元素和多氯联苯（PCB）浓度，检测外周血和精子的DNA损伤，并分析DNA修复基因表达情况，采用彗星实验尾部DNA百分含量（TDNA%）、尾矩（TM）和Olive尾矩（OTM）评价DNA损伤。 结果： 暴露组和参照组的年龄分别为（33.6±12.1）、（33.9±11.9）岁，暴露时间为≤3、4~6、≥7年的比例分别为43%（63名）、26%（53名）和21%（30名）。暴露组血Pb和PCB浓度[分别为（90.4±15.3）μg/ml、（101±30）ng/ml]高于参照组[Pb和PCB浓度分别为（60.2±8.9）μg/ml、（2.5±1.4）ng/ml]（P值均<0.05）。暴露组的外周血和精子的TDNA%、TM和OTM分别为4.9%±0.3%和2.6%±0.90%、0.93±0.16和0.51±0.20、0.82±0.09和0.56±0.07，均高于参照组（分别为1.8%±0.2%和1.9%±0.2%、0.21±0.04和0.32±0.10、0.19±0.03和0.20±0.08）（P值均<0.001）。基因表达分析结果显示，与参照组相比，暴露组中检测出20个差异表达的基因，包括13个上调基因和7个下调基因。 结论： 天津某电子垃圾拆解男性从业人员存在明显的DNA损伤和DNA修复基因的失调，现有作业方式给从业人员带来潜在的健康风险。.
Keywords: DNA damage; Electronic waste; Lymphocytes; Spermatozoa.