Deciphering the phenotypic, inflammatory, and endocrine disrupting impacts of e-waste plastic-associated chemicals

As the volume of plastic waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) continues to rise, a significant portion is disposed of in the environment, with only a small fraction being recycled. Both disposal and recycling pose unknown health risks that require immediate attention. Existing knowledge of WEEE plastic toxicity is limited and mostly relies on epidemiological data and association studies, with few insights into the underlying toxicity mechanisms. Therefore, this study aimed to perform comprehensive chemical screening and mechanistic toxicological assessment of WEEE plastic-associated chemicals. Chemical analysis, utilizing suspect screening based on high-resolution mass spectrometry, along with quantitative target chemical analysis, unveiled numerous hazardous compounds including polyaromatic compounds, organophosphate flame retardants, phthalates, benzotriazoles, etc. Toxicity endpoints included perturbation of morphological phenotypes using the Cell Painting assay, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and endocrine disruption. Results demonstrated that WEEE plastic chemicals altered the phenotypes of the cytoskeleton, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, WEEE chemicals induced inflammatory responses in resting macrophages and altered inflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide-primed macrophages. Furthermore, WEEE chemicals activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, indicating oxidative stress, and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Endocrine disruption was also observed through the activation of estrogenic receptor-α (ER-α) and the induction of anti-androgenic activity. The findings show that WEEE plastic-associated chemicals exert effects in multiple subcellular sites, via different receptors and mechanisms. Thus, an integrated approach employing both chemical and toxicological methods is essential for comprehensive assessment of the toxicity mechanisms and cumulative chemical burden of WEEE plastic-associated chemicals.