Metal and flame-retardant exposure among solid waste workers
Assessing Metals and Flame Retardant Exposures on Solid Waste Workers
Researchers will measure heavy metals and flame-retardant chemicals in the air and in workers' blood and urine for solid waste workers at transfer stations and landfills in Florida.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172225 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you work in waste collection, sorting, recycling, or at a landfill or transfer station, this project will enroll about 40 workers and collect samples during your work. The team will take air samples during shifts and collect blood and urine to measure levels of selected heavy metals (like lead and cadmium) and flame retardants (such as PBDEs). They will compare what is in the air with what shows up in blood and urine to see which job tasks or locations lead to higher body burdens. Results aim to pinpoint exposure sources that could be reduced with better protections or monitoring.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adult solid waste workers who handle, sort, collect, or process waste at transfer stations or landfills in Florida and who can provide blood, urine, and wear air-sampling equipment during shifts.
Not a fit: People without occupational exposure to solid waste (for example, office workers or those not working at transfer stations/landfills) are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help protect solid waste workers by identifying harmful exposures that workplaces can reduce and by guiding health monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies in electronic-waste workers and some overseas landfill workers have found elevated metals and flame retardants, but this is one of the first U.S. studies focused on transfer-station and landfill workers.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ceballos Ochoa, Diana Maria — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Ceballos Ochoa, Diana Maria
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.