Genotoxicity of recycling electronic waste in Idhna, Hebron District, Palestine

A study on the genotoxic effects of e-waste recycling in Idhna, Hebron District, Palestine, found significant DNA damage and chromosome aberrations in individuals with direct exposure to e-waste. The research compared 46 non-smoker participants from Idhna—workers or residents—to a control group of 16 unexposed individuals from Bethlehem and Al-Aizariya. Results showed an average of 4.83 chromosomal aberrations per cell in exposed subjects, compared to just 0.75 in controls, with notable differences in chromatid breaks, chromosome breaks, and ring formations. The Comet assay also confirmed significantly higher DNA damage (p < 0.05) in the exposed group. These findings underscore the urgent need for mitigation measures to protect human health from the hazards of informal e-waste recycling.

Khlaif, N., & Qumsiyeh, M. B. (2016). Genotoxicity of recycling electronic waste in Idhna, Hebron District, Palestine. International Journal of Environmental Studies, 74(1), 66–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207233.2016.1236650