Regional soil contamination by halogenated organic pollutants attributed to E‐waste recycling, scattered industrialization and urbanization

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and industrialization can lead to the accumulation of toxic halogenated organic pollutants (HOPs) in soil environments, which poses a risk to the wider eco-environment. In this study, we explored the occurrence and health risks of halogenated organic pollutants by analysing surface soil samples (n = 209) collected from various E-waste dismantling, industrialized and urban areas, rural areas and remote areas in Zhejiang Province, China. The mean average concentrations (d.w.) and range (min-max) of the HOPs were Dechlorane plus (DP) = 0.14 ng/g (below detection limit (<DL) to 3.60 ng/g); short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) = 111.00 ng/g (<DL to 1736.00 ng/g); polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) = 1.20 ng/g (<DL to 15.00 ng/g); and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) = 21.30 ng/g (<0.16-673.00 ng/g). In the different areas sampled, the soil pollution level of HOP was in the order of E-waste dismantling areas > industrialized and urban areas > rural areas > remote areas. Nevertheless, we observed high detection ratios in rural and remote areas, indicating scattered industrialization led to ubiquitous HOP soil pollution in the region.

Soil health and ecosystem services

“…Enhanced biodiversity can provide more fertile soil and more diverse food supply, as well as the cultivation of medicinal plant species (Muon et al, 2023). Moreover, soil pollution is increasingly ubiquitous due to industrial emission, as well as usage of fertilizers and pesticides (Jia & Hou, 2023; Sun et al, 2023). Both accidental ingestion of contaminated soil particles and consumption of contaminated foodstuff can cause detrimental health effects (Hou, 2021; Hou et al, 2020).…”