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Metal and dust exposure in workers from the metal recycling industry in Sweden : cross-sectional GreenMetalWaste study

Stajnko, Anja LU ; Levi, Michael ; Engfeldt, Malin LU ; Linder, Robert LU orcid ; Leeman, Mats LU ; Åkerberg Krook, Else LU ; Assarsson, Eva LU ; Enquist, Henrik LU orcid ; Dahlqvist, Camilla LU and Ek, Åsa LU orcid , et al. (2026) In International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 271.
Abstract

The green transition relies on metals, requiring increased metal recovery from waste. However, exposure risks among metal recycling workers are poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess dust and metal exposure among 139 recycling workers from 13 Swedish metal recycling companies and 90 controls. We documented work practices through observations and questionnaires and assessed dust and metal exposures using a combination of individual air sampling (inhalable (ID) and respirable dust) and biomonitoring (blood and pre-/post-shift urine). ICP-MS was used to measure 39 metals in air, 47 in blood, and 42 in urine. Thirty-two % of the workers were involved in the recycling of e-waste. At most workplaces, dust control... (More)

The green transition relies on metals, requiring increased metal recovery from waste. However, exposure risks among metal recycling workers are poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess dust and metal exposure among 139 recycling workers from 13 Swedish metal recycling companies and 90 controls. We documented work practices through observations and questionnaires and assessed dust and metal exposures using a combination of individual air sampling (inhalable (ID) and respirable dust) and biomonitoring (blood and pre-/post-shift urine). ICP-MS was used to measure 39 metals in air, 47 in blood, and 42 in urine. Thirty-two % of the workers were involved in the recycling of e-waste. At most workplaces, dust control was insufficient, respiratory protective equipment was rarely or incorrectly used, and hygienic routines were inadequate. This was reflected in 6.2 times higher ID levels in recycling workers; 14 % exceeded the 5 mg/m3 exposure limit for ID, and some also exceeded limits for Pb, Cu, As, Cd, and Sb. Workers had elevated blood and/or urine levels of Pb, Hg, Al, Sb, Fe and Mn with known human toxicity, and of Y, Lu, In, Ga, W, and Te with limited or unknown toxicity. Furthermore, observed were also co-exposure patterns for those metals. Inhalation was the likely primary exposure route for Pb, Sb, Y, In, and Te. In conclusion, Swedish recycling workers were exposed to elevated levels of dust and metals, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring of both known and emerging metals.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Dust, E-waste, Lead, Mercury, Metal, Rare earth element, Recycling
in
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
volume
271
article number
114694
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105019803786
ISSN
1438-4639
DOI
10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114694
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors
id
940566f1-ec65-4b1f-a6a2-66a1af9587e2
date added to LUP
2025-11-11 14:02:27
date last changed
2025-11-11 14:35:00
@article{940566f1-ec65-4b1f-a6a2-66a1af9587e2,
  abstract     = {{<p>The green transition relies on metals, requiring increased metal recovery from waste. However, exposure risks among metal recycling workers are poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess dust and metal exposure among 139 recycling workers from 13 Swedish metal recycling companies and 90 controls. We documented work practices through observations and questionnaires and assessed dust and metal exposures using a combination of individual air sampling (inhalable (ID) and respirable dust) and biomonitoring (blood and pre-/post-shift urine). ICP-MS was used to measure 39 metals in air, 47 in blood, and 42 in urine. Thirty-two % of the workers were involved in the recycling of e-waste. At most workplaces, dust control was insufficient, respiratory protective equipment was rarely or incorrectly used, and hygienic routines were inadequate. This was reflected in 6.2 times higher ID levels in recycling workers; 14 % exceeded the 5 mg/m<sup>3</sup> exposure limit for ID, and some also exceeded limits for Pb, Cu, As, Cd, and Sb. Workers had elevated blood and/or urine levels of Pb, Hg, Al, Sb, Fe and Mn with known human toxicity, and of Y, Lu, In, Ga, W, and Te with limited or unknown toxicity. Furthermore, observed were also co-exposure patterns for those metals. Inhalation was the likely primary exposure route for Pb, Sb, Y, In, and Te. In conclusion, Swedish recycling workers were exposed to elevated levels of dust and metals, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring of both known and emerging metals.</p>}},
  author       = {{Stajnko, Anja and Levi, Michael and Engfeldt, Malin and Linder, Robert and Leeman, Mats and Åkerberg Krook, Else and Assarsson, Eva and Enquist, Henrik and Dahlqvist, Camilla and Ek, Åsa and Lovén, Karin and Bodin, Theo and Snigireva, Anastasiia and Grahn, Karin and Kippler, Maria and Rydenstrand, Gunilla and Amir Taher, Evana and Runström Eden, Gunilla and Björ, Bodil and Bertilsson, Helen and Wiebert, Pernilla and Dahlman Höglund, Anna and Modig, Lars and Albin, Maria and Broberg, Karin and Dock, Eva}},
  issn         = {{1438-4639}},
  keywords     = {{Dust; E-waste; Lead; Mercury; Metal; Rare earth element; Recycling}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health}},
  title        = {{Metal and dust exposure in workers from the metal recycling industry in Sweden : cross-sectional GreenMetalWaste study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114694}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114694}},
  volume       = {{271}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}