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Exposure to legacy and emerging phthalates and bisphenols in recycling workers : Evidence from the GreenMetalWaste study

Palir, Neža LU ; Dock, Eva LU ; Engfeldt, Malin LU ; Albin, Maria LU ; Åkerberg Krook, Else LU ; Bengtsson, Marie LU orcid ; Dahlman Höglund, Anna ; Linder, Robert LU orcid ; Modig, Lars and Lindh, Christian LU orcid , et al. (2026) In Environmental Research 303(Pt 2).
Abstract

The transition toward a circular economy is driving rapid growth in the recycling sector, yet occupational exposure remains poorly characterized, including exposure to phthalates and bisphenols. We conducted a human biomonitoring study among recycling workers handling e-waste, metal waste, and mixed waste in Sweden. The study included 114 exposed workers, 23 low-exposed workers, and 18 controls. Pre- and post-shift urine samples were analysed for phthalate and bisphenol metabolites using LC-MS/MS. Workers showed significantly higher post-shift urinary concentrations of phthalates (DiBP, DnBP, BBzP, and DnHP) and bisphenols (BPA and BPF) than controls; however, concentrations were generally lower in post-shift than in pre-shift samples... (More)

The transition toward a circular economy is driving rapid growth in the recycling sector, yet occupational exposure remains poorly characterized, including exposure to phthalates and bisphenols. We conducted a human biomonitoring study among recycling workers handling e-waste, metal waste, and mixed waste in Sweden. The study included 114 exposed workers, 23 low-exposed workers, and 18 controls. Pre- and post-shift urine samples were analysed for phthalate and bisphenol metabolites using LC-MS/MS. Workers showed significantly higher post-shift urinary concentrations of phthalates (DiBP, DnBP, BBzP, and DnHP) and bisphenols (BPA and BPF) than controls; however, concentrations were generally lower in post-shift than in pre-shift samples across all exposure groups. Higher concentrations were observed among workers handling e-waste and metal waste, and among those performing extraction and, to a lesser extent, sorting and maintenance. Evidence of work-related exposure was observed for restricted legacy compounds (DEHP, DiBP, DnBP, BBzP, BPA) and newer or less-regulated substitutes (DPHP, DnHP, BPF). Correlation analyses indicated simultaneous co-exposure to multiple phthalates and bisphenols, and weak to moderate correlations with workplace dust concentrations (up to r
S = 0.40) suggested that inhalation may partly contribute to exposure. Inadequate local exhaust ventilation was associated with higher urinary concentrations of most biomarkers and significantly higher BBzP levels. These findings highlight the complex chemical mixtures present in recycling environments and underscore the need to control emissions at the source and to continue monitoring regulated and emerging phthalates and bisphenols to support prevention strategies for a growing recycling workforce.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Environmental Research
volume
303
issue
Pt 2
article number
124765
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105039693930
  • pmid:42167510
ISSN
1096-0953
DOI
10.1016/j.envres.2026.124765
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
id
338b0576-a1f1-48d0-b0a5-b70128190843
date added to LUP
2026-05-26 15:05:51
date last changed
2026-07-01 15:06:10
@article{338b0576-a1f1-48d0-b0a5-b70128190843,
  abstract     = {{<p>The transition toward a circular economy is driving rapid growth in the recycling sector, yet occupational exposure remains poorly characterized, including exposure to phthalates and bisphenols. We conducted a human biomonitoring study among recycling workers handling e-waste, metal waste, and mixed waste in Sweden. The study included 114 exposed workers, 23 low-exposed workers, and 18 controls. Pre- and post-shift urine samples were analysed for phthalate and bisphenol metabolites using LC-MS/MS. Workers showed significantly higher post-shift urinary concentrations of phthalates (DiBP, DnBP, BBzP, and DnHP) and bisphenols (BPA and BPF) than controls; however, concentrations were generally lower in post-shift than in pre-shift samples across all exposure groups. Higher concentrations were observed among workers handling e-waste and metal waste, and among those performing extraction and, to a lesser extent, sorting and maintenance. Evidence of work-related exposure was observed for restricted legacy compounds (DEHP, DiBP, DnBP, BBzP, BPA) and newer or less-regulated substitutes (DPHP, DnHP, BPF). Correlation analyses indicated simultaneous co-exposure to multiple phthalates and bisphenols, and weak to moderate correlations with workplace dust concentrations (up to r <br>
 S = 0.40) suggested that inhalation may partly contribute to exposure. Inadequate local exhaust ventilation was associated with higher urinary concentrations of most biomarkers and significantly higher BBzP levels. These findings highlight the complex chemical mixtures present in recycling environments and underscore the need to control emissions at the source and to continue monitoring regulated and emerging phthalates and bisphenols to support prevention strategies for a growing recycling workforce.<br>
 </p>}},
  author       = {{Palir, Neža and Dock, Eva and Engfeldt, Malin and Albin, Maria and Åkerberg Krook, Else and Bengtsson, Marie and Dahlman Höglund, Anna and Linder, Robert and Modig, Lars and Lindh, Christian and Stajnko, Anja and Broberg, Karin}},
  issn         = {{1096-0953}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  number       = {{Pt 2}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Environmental Research}},
  title        = {{Exposure to legacy and emerging phthalates and bisphenols in recycling workers : Evidence from the GreenMetalWaste study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2026.124765}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.envres.2026.124765}},
  volume       = {{303}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}