Hydrophobic Organic Pollutants in Soils and Dusts at Electronic Waste Recycling Sites: Occurrence and Possible Impacts of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers

Abstract

Concerns about the adverse consequences of informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling is increasing, because e-waste contains some hazardous substances such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) which is used as flame retardants in electronics. There is dearth of information on the concentrations of PBDEs and the pattern of distribution at the various e-waste recycling sites in Nigeria. This study therefore measured the concentrations of 13 PBDE congeners, in top soils (0–10 cm) and in various dust samples from different e-waste recycling sites (burning, dismantling, repair). PBDE concentrations at e-waste sites were compared with the concentrations in samples from corresponding control sites in three study locations in Nigeria (Lagos, Ibadan, and Aba). There were significant differences in the level of PBDEs congeners between each of the e-waste recycling sites and the corresponding control sites. The levels of PBDEs at the e-waste recycling sites exceeded the levels at the controls sites by a factor of 100 s to 1000 s. In general, PBDE concentrations at the e-waste sites decreased with the intensity of the e-waste recycling activities: burning sites > dismantling sites > repair sites > control sites. Our results suggest that the informal e-waste recycling has negative impacts on the enviroment and human health.

Health Risks of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Metals at Informal Electronic Waste Recycling Sites

“…The methods employed in this study have been well detailed in our previous studies [8,16,35,36]. In brief, a cross-sectional study design was adopted to gain an understanding of the pollution levels at the e -waste recycling sites in the three study locationsin Nigeria: Ibadan, Lagos, and Aba.…”

“…High concentrations of metals and PBDEs were found at and around informal e -waste recycling sites [35,36,37,38,39,40]. Large quantities of e -waste are informally recycled in Nigeria using various recycling activities such as repair, dismantling, and open burning [41].…”

Maternal transfer of environmentally relevant polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) produces a diabetic phenotype and disrupts glucoregulatory hormones and hepatic endocannabinoids in adult mouse female offspring

“…Over a 30-year period, PBDE levels have increased exponentially in adult human tissues including blood, adipose 4 , organs 5 , breast milk, fetal 6 and child tissues sampled worldwide 7 . Despite legislative action by the European Union and a voluntary phase-out of production in the US starting in 2005, which led to a decrease in environmental concentrations, PBDE contamination remains an ongoing problem since products containing PBDEs are still in circulation and re-entering the anthroposphere from electronic waste sites 8 and inadvertent recycling 9 . PBDE levels in various sample types worldwide, including the breastmilk and sera of U.S. women and toddlers are still being detected 10 – 13 .…”

Maternal Transfer of Environmentally Relevant Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) Produces a Diabetic Phenotype and Disrupts Glucoregulatory Hormones and Hepatic Endocannabinoids in Adult Mouse Female Offspring

“…Over a 30-year period, PBDE levels have increased exponentially in adult human tissues including blood, adipose 4 , organs 5 , breast milk and fetal 6 and child tissues sampled worldwide 7 . Despite legislative action by the European Union and a voluntary phase-out of production in the US starting in 2005, which led to a decrease in environmental concentrations, PBDE contamination remains an ongoing problem since products containing PBDEs are still in circulation and re-entering the anthroposphere from electronic waste sites 8 and inadvertent recycling 9 . PBDE levels in various sample types worldwide, including the breastmilk and sera of U.S. women and toddlers are still being detected 10,11,12,13 .…”