An investigation of 13 recycling companies in Sweden has found widespread exposure to hazardous metals such as lead, arsenic and rare earth elements, raising concerns over worker safety and dust control practices.
The rapid expansion of the metal recycling industry, driven by the surge in green energy technologies and electronic components, is bringing renewed attention to the health risks faced by recycling workers. This new research from Lund University reveals that employees at Swedish metal recycling facilities are being exposed to high levels of toxic metals through inhaled dust and contaminated air.
Researchers examined conditions at 13 companies handling metal and electronic waste, assessing both air quality and biological samples from 139 workers. The findings show widespread exposure to multiple hazardous metals.
The team found that inhalable dust levels exceeded Sweden’s occupational exposure limit of 5 mg/m³ in 14% of workers.
Lead levels in the air surpassed the permitted threshold for 9% of employees. In areas carrying out certain tasks such as sorting and processing metal waste, the limits for arsenic, copper, cadmium and antimony were also exceeded. Lead exposure is known to raise blood pressure and harm cardiovascular health, while arsenic is a well-established lung carcinogen.
Dusty environments were typically not enclosed, allowing contaminated particles to spread across large facilities. Workers involved in sorting, processing and maintenance – particularly cleaners – were among the most heavily exposed.
Biological sampling revealed that 19% of recycling workers carried elevated levels of more than ten metals, while 94% showed increased concentrations of at least six metals compared with a control group. Elevated metals included lead, antimony and several rare earth elements.
First author Anja Stajnko said: ‘We don’t know much about the effects of rare earth metals. Many of these metals have no occupational exposure limits, so it’s important to follow the exposures and see what effect they could have on the body.’
Despite the risks, 66% of participants didn’t use respiratory protection and among those who did, only 9% used the equipment correctly.
Eva Dock said: ‘Unfortunately, it’s often in the final step of the action hierarchy that companies start on work environment management. But for respiratory protection equipment to work properly, it must fit correctly, and beard growth, for instance, can reduce function by up to 90 percent if the mask is not positioned where it should be. In addition, you must check that the mask’s filter is changed regularly.’
The study’s last author, Eva Dock, researcher and occupational hygienist at Lund University and Region Skåne added: ‘It’s very important how cleaning is carried out. Vacuuming and wet mopping is much better than dry sweeping and compressed air to avoid spreading dust.’
The companies have now read the researchers’ results. During the winter of 2025-2026, the researchers will visit some of the companies to repeat the measurements. Researchers from Denmark and Portugal will also be involved in the follow-up part of the study.
The full research can be read here.
Photo: Eugenia Pan’kiv
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