Abstract
Aim: This report aims to render a proposed concept model for cancer risk in Nigerian electronic waste exposure by making deductions from data on the assessment of Nigerians' exposure to toxic metals in e-waste, using biomarkers of exposure and genotoxicity to evaluate the risk of cancer development. Material and methods: In the cross-sectional study, 632 consenting participants, consisting of 381 e-waste workers (EW) and 120 environmental e-waste exposed participants (EEEP), age-matched with 131 unexposed participants (controls), were enrolled from Benin, Lagos and Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria. Levels of selected toxic metals in blood and essential metals in serum were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Oxidative stress biomarkers, including malondialdehyde and uric acid (UA), and activities of enzymatic antioxidants [catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)], were determined in serum using standard methods like spectrophotometry. Genotoxicity biomarkers - wild-type tumour suppressor protein (wt-p53), 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase (OGG1), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG); glutathione (GSH); and tumour markers [prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and alpha-fetoprotein] - were determined in serum using ELISA. Micronucleus assay was carried out using microscopy. Data were analysed using ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient at α0.05. Results: There was evidence indicating elevated levels of genotoxic toxic metals, decreased levels of genome protective metals, increased oxidative stress markers as well as reduced cellular antioxidants in both EW and EEEP compared to controls. Additionally, the levels of wt-p53 in EW and EEEP were lower than controls, while OGG1 activity in EEEP was higher. The PSA and alpha-fetoprotein in EW were more elevated than EEEP and controls, respectively. The MnPCE/1000PCE in EW was higher than EEEP and controls. Conclusion: The proposed schematic model could be adopted to illustrate cancer risk in Nigerian population exposed to electronic waste.