Presence of novel and legacy flame retardants and other pollutants in an e-waste site in China and associated risks

Type Article
Date 2023-01
Language English
Author(s) Zapata Corella PabloORCID1, 2, 3, Ren Zi-He1, 2, 4, Liu Yin-E1, 2, 5, Rigol AnnaORCID6, Lacorte Silvia3, Luo Xiao-Jun1, 2
Affiliation(s) 1 : State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Resources Utilization and Protection, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
2 : State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Resources Utilization and Protection, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
3 : Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
4 : Research Centre of Eco-environment of the Middle Yellow River, Shanxi normal University, Taiyuan, 030031, China
5 : School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China
6 : Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Source Environmental Research (0013-9351) (Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science), 2023-01 , Vol. 216 , N. Part 4 , P. 114768 (11p.)
DOI 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114768
WOS© Times Cited 6
Abstract

Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) residues and their management have been widely identified as potential sources of plasticizers and flame retardants to the environment, especially in non-formal e-waste facilities. This study evaluates the distribution, partitioning and environmental and human impact of organophosphate esters (OPEs), legacy polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the e-waste recycling area of Baihe Tang village, in the Qingyuan county, Guangdong province, China. A plastic debris lump accumulated in a small pond during years was identified as the main source of pollution with n-ary sumation pollutants of 8400 mu g/g dw, being OPEs the main contaminants detected, followed by PBDEs. This lump produced the contamination of water, sediments, soils and hen eggs in the surrounding area at high concentrations. Plastic-water and water-sediment partitioning coefficients explained the migration of OPEs to the water body and accumulation in sediments, with a strong dependence according to the KOW. Triphenyl phosphate (TPhP), tricresyl phosphate (TCPs) and high chlorination degree PCBs produced a risk in soils and sediments, considering the lowest predicted no effect concentration, while the presence of PCBs and PBDEs in free range hen eggs exceeded the acceptable daily intake. OCPs were detected at low concentrations in all samples. The presence of organic contaminants in e-waste facilities worldwide is discussed to highlight the need for a strict control of EEE management to minimize environmental and human risks.

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