Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Heavy Metals in a Regulated E-Waste Recycling Site, Eastern China: Implications for Risk Management

Abstract

Serious pollution of multiple chemicals in irregulated e-waste recycling sites (IR-sites) were extensively investigated. However, little is known about the pollution in regulated sites. This study investigated the occurrence of 21 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and 10 metals in a regulated site, in Eastern China. The concentrations of PBDEs and Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn in soils and sediments were 1–4 and 1–3 orders of magnitude lower than those reported in the IR-sites, respectively. However, these were generally comparable to those in the urban and industrial areas. In general, a moderate pollution of PBDEs and metals was present in the vegetables in this area. A health risk assessment model was used to calculate human exposure to metals in soils. The summed non-carcinogenic risks of metals and PBDEs in the investigated soils were 1.59–3.27 and 0.25–0.51 for children and adults, respectively. Arsenic contributed to 47% of the total risks and As risks in 71.4% of the total soil samples exceeded the acceptable level. These results suggested that the pollution from e-waste recycling could be substantially decreased by the regulated activities, relative to poorly controlled operations, but arsenic pollution from the regulated cycling should be further controlled.

Decadal Journey of E-Waste Recycling: What Has It Achieved?

“…19,37 However, the concentrations of these metals in the regulated site in eastern China were generally comparable to those in different urban and industrial areas of China such as Shanghai, Guangdong, Beijing, and Guizhou. 26 It appears that soil in the unregulated e-waste site in Guiyu was the most metal contaminated of all those measured, while newer regulated sites are somewhat elevated in concentrations compared to most reference sites throughout China.…”

“…35 In addition, the mean concentrations of cadmium (0.12 μg•g −1 ), copper (27.9 μg•g −1 ), lead (33.4 μg•g −1 ), antimony (2.11 μg•g −1 ), and zinc (54 μg•g −1 ) in soil samples from a regulated site in eastern China were approximately 2 orders of magnitude lower than those (6.82 μg•g −1 for cadmium, 1568 μg•g −1 for copper, 1423 μg•g −1 for lead, 500 μg•g −1 for antimony, and 2978 μg•g −1 for zinc) in an unregulated e-waste recycling site in Guiyu. 26,36 By comparison, the mean concentrations of arsenic (20 μg•g −1 ) and nickel (38.9 μg•g −1 ) in soil samples from the regulated site in eastern China aforementioned were 3.52 and 7.58 times lower than those (70.4 μg•g −1 for arsenic and 295 μg•g −1 for nickel) in an unregulated e-waste recycling site in Guiyu, respectively. 19,37 However, the concentrations of these metals in the regulated site in eastern China were generally comparable to those in different urban and industrial areas of China such as Shanghai, Guangdong, Beijing, and Guizhou.…”

“…23 ■ ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH BENEFITS Since 2012, potential pollution and health hazards to local residents by heavy metals and persistent halogenated compounds have significantly decreased under strict policies and regulations on ban of primitive e-waste recycling activities. 25,26 Air. In the same sampling region of Guiyu, the PBDE concentration in PM 2.5 particles (0.5−0.84 ng•m −3 ; Table 1) 27 in 2014 was approximately 1−2 orders of magnitude lower than that (14 ng•m −3 ) in 2004 but 3−7 and 2−3 times greater than those at two reference sites, i.e., Hong Kong (0.09 ng• m −3 ) and Guangzhou (0.16 ng•m −3 ), 28 respectively.…”

Pollution of heavy metal threat posed by e-waste burning and its assessment of human health risk

“…It further narrated that the consumption of lettuce and sweet potato caused the most health risk and also revealed that cowpea and cabbage were moderately safe. Another study by Yin et al (2021) revealed that there is a reasonable pollution of PBDEs and heavy metals there in the vegetables in a regulated e-waste recycling site, Eastern China.…”

E-waste scenario in South-Asia: an emerging risk to environment and public health

“…For example, printed circuit board scrap is made up of roughly 40% metals, 30% plastics, and 30% ceramics [19]. Some of the substances released from the e-waste are said to be non-hazardous, while others heavy metals such as; antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), bismuth (Bi), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), indium (In), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), lithium (Li), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (MO), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), silver (Ag), tin (Sn), titanium (Ti), and vanadium (V), also many more organic chemicals are considered toxic, nevertheless, based on the amount and the forms of contamination [20][21][22]. Table 2 shows such major types of components of e-waste concerning electrical and electronic equipment.…”