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    Gaseous elemental mercury emissions from informal E-Waste recycling facilities in Pakistan
    (Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, 2023) Kazim, Mureed; Syed, Jabir Hussain; Kurt-Karakus, Perihan Binnur; Akcetin, Merve Ozkaleli; Akram, Sumaira; Birgul, Askin; Wania, Frank
    Detrimental effects of mercury (Hg) on ecosystems and human health have been well-documented. Whereas emissions of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) from e-waste recycling have been reported in developed countries, much less is known about the situation in the Global South. Using a total of 132 passive air samplers, seasonally resolved concentrations of GEM in air were measured continuously at 32 informal e-waste recycling facilities and background location in Pakistan for a period of one year between September 2020 and December 2021. Annual average GEM concentrations at the studied locations ranged from 1.8 to 92 ng m- 3. Among the studied cities, higher concentrations were measured in Karachi (mean +/- s.d: 17 +/- 22, range: 4.2-92 ng m-3), Lahore (16 +/- 4.2, 8.2-22 ng m-3) and Peshawar (15 +/- 17, 4.9-80 ng m-3), while lower levels were measured in Hyderabad (6.9 +/- 6.2, 3.1-25 ng m-3), consistent with a higher rate of informal recycling activities in metropolitan areas. Seasonally, higher GEM levels occurred during autumn (15 +/- 16: 3.3-92 ng m-3) and summer (13 +/- 8.7: 1.8-80 ng m-3) than in winter (12 +/- 8.4: 2.5-49 ng m-3) and spring (9.2 +/- 7.3: 1.8-80 ng m-3), possibly reflecting enhanced volatilization at higher temperatures and/or varying magnitude of recycling operations in different seasons. Policies and strict regulations related to e-waste management should be developed and implemented urgently in the country.
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    Using hair as a non-invasive matrix to assess the exposure of e-waste workers to selected heavy metals in Pakistan
    (Springer, 2025) Akram, Sumaira; Khan, Said Akbar; Gul, Hatice Kubra; Syed, Jabir Hussain; Kazim, Mureed; Rehman, Syed Aziz Ur; Kurt-Karakus, Perihan
    Pakistan has become a significant recipient of e-waste, largely due to lower labor costs, lack of local environmental regulations, and less stringent international controls. Limited research exists on e-waste generation, management, and pollution in Pakistan. This study aimed to analyze levels of selected heavy metals in human hair samples from workers at informal e-waste processing facilities in six major cities: Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Peshawar. A total of 150 hair samples were collected from workers aged 15 to 60 years and compared with samples from a control group of individuals who had no exposure to e-waste processing for at least the previous five years. Results revealed higher average concentrations (mu g/kg) of Zn (577) in the hair of e-waste facility workers, followed by Fe (534), Al (265), and Cu (105). Significant age-related differences were observed for Zn, Fe, Cd, and Pb (p < 0.01), indicating these metals are prevalent during e-waste recycling. Notably, Fe, Zn, and Al concentrations were significantly higher in the 56 + age group, suggesting prolonged exposure. Strong correlations (p < 0.01) were found between pairs such as Al-Cu, Al-Fe, Zn-Cu, and Cd-Pb, which can serve as markers of high exposure due to prolonged e-waste recycling activities. In conclusion, hair analysis is a noninvasive, cost-effective method to provide preliminary information on heavy metal exposure in both control and exposed groups. Further studies are recommended to evaluate the correlation between heavy metals in hair, urine, and blood samples of informal e-waste recyclers to establish exposure routes and adverse health effects on metabolic activities.