Assessment of air pollution caused by illegal e-waste burning to evaluate the human health risk

Gangwar, Charu; Choudhari, Ranjana; Chauhan, Anju; Kumar, Atul; Singh, Aprajita; Tripathi, Anamika

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2018.11.051

Cited by 140 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The study found that the geometric mean of PM 2.5 concentrations in Guiyu was significantly higher than that in the reference area without e-waste recycling work; moreover, this level of concentration also exceeded the current World Health Organization (WHO) 24-h and annual PM 2.5 ambient air quality guidelines and the Chinese 2012 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Level I. Furthermore, Gangwar et al [9] found that the highest mean concentration of PM 10 belonged to the residential located together with e-waste burning area, and those found to be higher than other sampling sites without e-waste burning activity. The detected PM 10 mean concentration at the site also exceeded the NAAQS value notified by Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests of India.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Inhalation exposure to respirable particulate matter among workers in relation to their e-waste open burning activities in Buriram Province, Thailand

Bungadaeng

Prueksasit

Siriwong

2019

Sustain Environ Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The mass concentrations of fine (PM 2.5) and coarse (PM 2.5-10) particulate matter were determined directly from breathing zones of e-waste dismantling workers during the primitive open burning processes using a Personal Modular Impactor connected to a personal air sampler. The average concentration of PM 2.5-10 was 441 ± 496 μg m − 3 (N = 33), and for PM 2.5 , the average concentration was 2774 ± 4713 μg m − 3 (N = 33). Additionally, the concentrations of PM 10 , which were the summation of PM 2.5 and PM 2.5-10 concentrations, had an average concentration of 3215 ± 4858 μg m − 3 (N = 33). The average PM 2.5 mass concentrations accounted for 75 ± 18% from those of PM 10 , suggesting that PM 2.5 was the main component of particulate matter that the workers were exposed to during the burning activity. The study also found that increased amounts of burnt e-waste significantly influenced the concentrations of coarse and fine particles emitted. Moreover, the Pearson's correlation showed a positive relationship between each type of PM mass concentrations and their own total weighted scores of activity patterns. The results indicated that the activity that most increased the exposure concentration of PM 2.5 was mixing e-waste on fire. In contrast, the activities that influenced the exposure of PM 2.5-10 are mechanical activities, such as compiling and sweeping of e-waste, which are processes that emit and spread larger sizes of particulate matter into the air around the working environment.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Inhalation exposure to respirable particulate matter among workers in relation to their e-waste open burning activities in Buriram Province, Thailand

Bungadaeng

Prueksasit

Siriwong

2019

Sustain Environ Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Electronic waste (e-waste) recycling activities include the transport, dismantling, burning, and smelting of electrical and electronic equipment for the purpose of recovering valuable metals, particularly copper and gold. These activities can pose environmental and occupational health and safety concerns, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMICs) and informal settings where controls and inspections are lax or absent (Ackah, 2017;Gangwar et al, 2019;Ohajinwa et al, 2018;Sthiannopkao & Wong, 2013). Recycling activities, particularly burning and smelting, can release significant emissions of airborne pollutants that expose both on-site workers and the nearby community.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Air Quality Impacts at an E‐Waste Site in Ghana Using Flexible, Moderate‐Cost and Quality‐Assured Measurements

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Air quality information is scarce in low‐ and middle‐income countries. This study describes the application of moderate cost approaches that can provide spatial and temporal information on concentrations of particulate matter (PM) needed to assess community and occupational exposures. We evaluated PM levels at the Agbogbloshie e‐waste and scrap yard site in Accra, Ghana, and at upwind and downwind locations, obtaining both optical and gravimetric measurements, local meteorological data and satellite aerosol optical depth. Due to overload issues, the gravimetric 24‐hr samplers were modified for periodic sampling and some optical data were screened for quality assurance. Exceptionally high concentrations (e.g., 1‐hr average PM10 exceeding 2000 μg/m3) were sometimes encountered near combustion sources, including open fires at the e‐waste site and spoil piles. 24‐hr PM2.5 levels averaged 31, 88 and 57 μg/m3 at upwind, e‐waste and downwind sites, respectively, and PM10 averaged 145, 214 and 190 μg/m3, considerably exceeding air quality standards. Upwind levels likely reflected biomass burning that is prevalent in the surrounding informal settlements; levels at the e‐waste and downwind sites also reflected contributions from biomass combustion and traffic. The highest PM levels occurred in evenings, influenced by diurnal changes in emission rates, atmospheric dispersion and wind direction shifts. We demonstrate that moderate cost instrumentation, with some modifications, appropriate data cleaning protocols, and attention to understanding local sources and background levels, can be used to characterize spatial and temporal variation in PM levels in urban and industrial areas.

show abstract

“…Other components of the pollutants include nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO), heavy metals, rare earth metals and persistent organic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Such environmental pollutants, when inhaled over time, present severe pulmonary and cardiovascular health threats [3][4][5]. For example, PM when inhaled moves through the pulmonary endothelium and enters the bloodstream [6] where it induces hypertension, airway irritation, coughing, difficulty breathing, reduced lung function, non-fatal heart attacks, atherosclerosis, irregular heartbeat, anemia and in extreme cases indirectly causes early death due to lung cancer [7,8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micronutrient-rich dietary intake is associated with a reduction in the effects of particulate matter on blood pressure among electronic waste recyclers at Agbogbloshie, Ghana

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Informal recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) releases particulate matter (PM) into the ambient air. Human exposure to PM has been reported to induce adverse effects on cardiovascular health. However, the impact of PM on the cardiovascular health of e-waste recyclers in Ghana has not been studied. Although intake of micronutrient-rich diet is known to modify these PM-induced adverse health effects, no data are available on the relationship between micronutrient status of e-waste recyclers and the reported high-level exposure to PM. We therefore investigated whether the intake of micronutrient-rich diets ameliorates the adverse effects of ambient exposure to PM 2.5 on blood pressure (BP). Methods: This study was conducted among e-waste and none waste recyclers from March 2017 to October 2018. Dietary micronutrient (Fe, Ca, Mg, Se, Zn, and Cu) intake was assessed using a 2-day 24-h recall. Breathing zone PM 2.5 was measured with a real-time monitor. Cardiovascular indices such as systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and pulse pressure (PP) were measured using a sphygmomanometer. Ordinary least-squares regression models were used to estimate the joint effects of ambient exposure to PM 2.5 and dietary micronutrient intake on cardiovascular health outcomes. Results: Fe was consumed in adequate quantities, while Ca, Se, Zn, Mg, and Cu were inadequately consumed among e-waste and none waste recyclers. Dietary Ca, and Fe intake was associated with reduced SBP and PP of ewaste recyclers. Although PM 2.5 levels were higher in e-waste recyclers, exposures in the control group also exceeded the WHO 24-h guideline value (25 μg/m 3). Exposure to 1 μg/m 3 of PM 2.5 was associated with an increased heart rate (HR) among e-waste recyclers. Dietary Fe intake was associated with a reduction in systolic

show abstract

Assessment of air pollution caused by illegal e-waste burning to evaluate the human health risk

Cited by 140 publications

References 21 publications

Inhalation exposure to respirable particulate matter among workers in relation to their e-waste open burning activities in Buriram Province, Thailand

Inhalation exposure to respirable particulate matter among workers in relation to their e-waste open burning activities in Buriram Province, Thailand

Air Quality Impacts at an E‐Waste Site in Ghana Using Flexible, Moderate‐Cost and Quality‐Assured Measurements

Micronutrient-rich dietary intake is associated with a reduction in the effects of particulate matter on blood pressure among electronic waste recyclers at Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About