Pollution profiles and health risk assessment of VOCs emitted during e-waste dismantling processes associated with different dismantling methods

Abstract

Pollution profiles of typical volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted during dismantling of various printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) of e-wastes using different methods were comparatively investigated in the real e-waste dismantling workshops in South China in April 2013. Similar pollution profiles and concentrations of VOCs were observed between dismantling mobile phone and hard disk PCBAs by using electric blowers and between dismantling television and power supplier PCBAs using electric heating furnaces. Aromatic hydrocarbons (accounting for N60% of the sum of VOCs) were the dominant group during using electric blowers, while aromatic (accounting for N44% of the sum of VOCs) and halogenated hydrocarbons (accounting for N48% of the sum of VOCs) were the two dominant groups which contributed equally using electric heating furnaces. However, the distribution profiles of VOCs emitted during dismantling of televisions, hard disks and micro motors using rotary incinerators varied greatly, though aromatic hydrocarbons were still the dominant group. The combustion of e-wastes led to the most severe contamination of VOCs, with total VOCs (3.3 × 10 4 μg m −3 ) using rotary incinerators about 190, 180, 139, and 40 times higher than those using mechanical cutting, electric soldering iron, electric blower, and electric heating furnace, respectively. Both cancer and non-cancer risks existed for workers due to exposure to on-site emitted VOCs in all workshops especially in those using rotary incinerators according to the USEPA methodology, whereas only cancer risks existed in rotary incinerator workshops according to the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists methodology.

The health risk attenuation by simultaneous elimination of atmospheric VOCs and POPs from an e-waste dismantling workshop by an integrated de-dusting with decontamination technique

“…S2). These results are consistent with previous studies from electric heating furnaces (similar dismantling processes) [9].…”

“…Cancer and non-cancer risks associated with the inhalation of VOCs, PAHs, and PBDEs for the worker were assessed using previously reported methods [9,14,29]. Detailed calculation methods are described in Supporting Information.…”

“…Since early 21st century, studies have focused on pollutant profiles and associated risks, particularly from air pollutants, both inside and outside e-waste recycling workshops [5][6][7][8]. Recent research revealed significant VOC emission during different activities associated with the e-waste dismantling process, and the severe emission was found particularly high in workshops using a rotary incinerator [9]. Another researcher observed that high levels of VOCs were emitted inside plastic waste recycling workshops [10].…”

VOCs elimination and health risk reduction in e-waste dismantling workshop using integrated techniques of electrostatic precipitation with advanced oxidation technologies

“…In this EWDW, various printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) were continuously dismantled in rotary incinerators (detail description was supplied in Supporting information and Fig. S1), where VOC pollution is the heaviest compared to other dismantling techniques [4]. Pilot-scale experiments were performed in a mid-scale custom-made integrated reactor (rated power: 1.5 kW, size: 3300 mm × 1200 mm × 1200 mm, Guangzhou Longest Environmental Science & Technology Co., Ltd.) (Fig.…”

“…Approximately 20-50 million tons of e-waste are generated each year worldwide, with an annual increase estimated at 4% [1,2]. Given high profit potential, millions of tons of e-waste are dismantled and recycled every year [3]; many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are discharged into atmosphere as a result of these disposal processes [4,5]. It has been well documented that VOC inhalation and long-term exposure, both in work and residential environments, lead to chronic health effects such as non-cancer and cancer risks [6,7].…”