Abstract: BACKGROUND ＆ AIM： To investigate umbilical cord blood chrome level of newborns in Guiyu town,an e_waste recycling area,and to discuss the effects of e_waste on newborn's health. MATERIALS AND METHODS： 152 full_term newborns belonged to two groups, one group from Guiyu (Guiyu group,n=100) and another group from other neighboring towns (control group,n=52). The chrome level of umbilical cord blood was determined with graphite atomizer absorption spectrophotometer. Questionnaires for mothers were used for analysis of related factors. RESULTS： Compared with the control group (20.30 μg/L), the geometric mean of chrome level 303.38 μg/L in the Guiyu group was significantly different (P<0.01). The Guiyu group of newborns with relatively high chrome levels in umbilical cord blood were from pregnant women who were working with e_waste recycling. CONCLUSION： There were close relationships between the Guiyu group of newborns with relatively high chrome levels in umbilical cord blood and local e_waste recycling activities as well chrome pollution locally. Environmental chrome pollution could threaten the children's health around the recycling site.

Key words: umbilical cord blood chrome, newborn, e_waste