Personal exposure to particulate matter and heart rate variability among informal electronic waste workers at Agbogbloshie: a longitudinal study

Afua A. Amoabeng Nti, Thomas G. Robins, John Arko Mensah, Duah Dwomoh, Lawrencia Kwarteng, Sylvia A. Takyi, Augustine Acquah, Niladri Basu, Stuart Batterman, Julius N. Fobil

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Informal electronic waste recycling activities are major contributors to ambient air pollution, yet studies assessing the effects or relationship between direct/continuous exposure of informal e-waste workers to particulate matter and cardiovascular function are rare. Methods: Repeated measurements of fractions of PM2.5, PM10–2.5, and PM10 in personal air of informal e-waste workers, (n = 142) and a comparable group (n = 65) were taken over a period of 20 months (March 2017 to November, 2018). Concurrently, 5-min resting electrocardiogram was performed on each participant to assess resting heart rate variability indices. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the association between PM fractions and cardiac function. Results: SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF and LH/HF ratio were all associated with PM. Significant associations were observed for PM2.5 and Mean NN (p = 0.039), PM10 and SDNN (p = 0.035) and PM 10–2.5 and LH/HF (p = 0.039). A 10 μg/m3 increase in the concentrations of PM 2.5, PM10–2.5, and PM10 in personal air was associated with reduced HRV indices and increased resting HR. A 10 μg/m3 per interquartile (IQR) increase in PM10–2.5 and PM10, decreased SDNN by 11% [(95% CI: − 0.002- 0.000); (p = 0.187)] and 34% [(95% CI: − 0.002-0.001); (p = 0.035)] respectively. However, PM2.5 increased SDNN by 34% (95% CI: − 1.32-0.64); (p = 0.493). Also, 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, PM10–2.5 and PM10 decreased RMSSD by 27% [(− 1.34–0.79); (p = 0.620)], 11% [(− 1.73, 0.95); (p = 0.846)] and 0.57% [(− 1.56–0.46); (p = 0.255%)]. Conclusion: Informal e-waste workers are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease from cardiac autonomic dysfunction as seen in reduced HRV and increased heart rate.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2161
JournalBMC Public Health
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021

Keywords

  • Cardiac function
  • Heart rate variability, Agbogbloshie, Madina-Zongo
  • Informal e-waste recycling, PM
  • PM
  • PM
  • Personal particulate matter

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