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Kazim M, Syed JH, Saqib Z, Kurt-Karakus PB, Iqbal M, Nasir J, Akcetin MO, Akram S, Birgul A, Kara M, Dumanoglu Y, Barq MG, Amin FR, Harner T, Jones KC, Zhang G, Odabasi M. Informal E -waste recycling in nine cities of Pakistan reveals significant impacts on local air and soil quality and associated health risks. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 355:124259. [PMID: 38810680 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
The global increase in electronic waste (e-waste) has led to a rise in informal recycling, emitting hazardous heavy metals (HMs) that threaten human health and ecosystems. This study presents the first comprehensive assessment of HM levels in dry deposition and soils at proximity of forty (40) informal e-waste recycling sites across Pakistan, between September 2020 to December 2021. Findings reveal that Zn (1410), Pb (410) and Mn (231) exhibited the higher mean deposition fluxes (μg/m2.day), derived from air samples, particularly in Karachi. Similarly, soils showed higher mean concentrations (μg/g dw) of Mn (477), Cu (514) and Pb (172) in Faisalabad, Lahore, and Karachi, respectively. HMs concentrations were found higher in winter or autumn and lower in summer. In addition, HM levels were significantly (p = 0.05) higher at recycling sites compared to background sites year-round, highlighting the e-waste recycling operations as the major source of their emissions. The Igeo index indicated moderate to extremely contaminated levels of Cu, Pb, Cd, and Ni in Karachi, Lahore and Gujranwala. Ingestion was found as a leading human exposure route, followed by dermal and inhalation exposure, with Pb posing the greatest health risk. The Cumulative Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) model suggested moderate to low cancer risks for workers. Strategic interventions recommend mitigating health and environmental risks, prioritizing human health and ecosystem integrity in Pakistan's e-waste management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mureed Kazim
- Department of Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jabir Hussain Syed
- Department of Meteorology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Tarlai Kalan Park Road, 45550, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Zafeer Saqib
- Department of Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Perihan Binnur Kurt-Karakus
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey.
| | - Mehreen Iqbal
- UFZ, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Ecological Chemistry, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Organic Chemistry, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg Leipziger, Strasse 29, 09596, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Jawad Nasir
- Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARC), P.O. Box 8402, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Merve Ozkaleli Akcetin
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Sumaira Akram
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Bahria University Islmabad Campus, Pakistan; Department of Environmental Sciences, Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Askin Birgul
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Melik Kara
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Yetkin Dumanoglu
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Mohsin Gulzar Barq
- Department of Microbiology, University of Central Punjab, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Farrukh Raza Amin
- Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Tarlai Kalan Park Road, 45550, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Tom Harner
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kevin C Jones
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Gan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, 510640, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mustafa Odabasi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan
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Tariq A, Ahmad SR, Qadir A. Nesting material adaptation of native bird species with anthropogenic litter along an urbanization gradient in Pakistan. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 249:118435. [PMID: 38350545 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Rapid urbanization and associated waste generation have become a mounting ecological concern for wildlife, especially avian communities. Research has primarily focused on investigating the impacts of human activities on marine birds with comparatively less focus on terrestrial species that live in far more anthropized environments and are at significant risk. Our study has explored the abundance and characteristics of anthropogenic litter in 70 nests of four generalist bird species: Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginianus), Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), Black Kite (Milvus migrans) and House Crow (Corvus splendens), within the city of Lahore (Pakistan) and its surroundings, by determining and following an urbanization gradient. The overall frequency of litter occurrence (FLO%) for all the sampled nests was 89%. Over 80% of the recorded litter items consisted of plastic materials, primarily dominated by sheet-like plastics. There was a strong association between fabric and Black Kite nests, and metal and House Crow nests. Litter incorporation increased across the gradient from rural to urban habitats. The highest FLO% was found in nests sampled from waste dumping sites and urban sites (95%-100%), where anthropogenic influence was more intense. The high level of litter incorporation is potentially indicative of a species' adaptive response to urbanization, associated with the decline in natural nesting material and availability of anthropogenic litter. These findings highlight the need for strengthening the existing global database for terrestrial litter and its effect on wildlife and devising policy actions for better waste management and conservation of natural ecosystem balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anum Tariq
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
| | - Sajid Rashid Ahmad
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Qadir
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
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Golo MA, Han D, Balsalobre-Lorente D, Radulescu M. Financial health and economic growth responsiveness as solution to environmental degradation in Pakistan. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:31524-31545. [PMID: 38637480 PMCID: PMC11096257 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33176-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
This study analyses the impact of GDP per capita, domestic credit, savings, and population on the environment in Pakistan from 1995 to 2019. The country has consistently been ranked eighth, fifth, and eight as an environmentally vulnerable nation from 1998 to 2017, 1999 to 2018, and 2000 to 2019, respectively. Therefore, the study explores the role of environmental awareness as a potential strategy for making peace with nature. Findings of the ARDL bounds testing approach confirm the long-run cointegration among variables of concern. In further assessment, the study determines that increased per capita income is detrimental to environmental quality in the long run. However, in the short run, it shows a favourable impact. On the other hand, domestic credit worsens the environment in the long and short runs. However, savings are positively insignificant in this regard. Furthermore, the total population significantly harms the environment in the long and short run. Fortunately, environmental awareness has emerged as a key solution to environmental degradation in Pakistan. Findings show that an increase in the dissemination of environmental awareness through the Internet, mobile, and landline phones, as well as by increasing education expenditures, mitigates the populations' detrimental impact on the environment and improves environmental quality in the long run.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansoor Ahmed Golo
- School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongping Han
- School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Daniel Balsalobre-Lorente
- Department of Applied Economics I, University Castilla La-Mancha, 13071, Cuenca, Spain.
- Department of Management and Marketing, Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
- UNEC Research Methods Application Center, Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Istiqlaliyyat Str. 6, Baku, 1001, Azerbaijan.
| | - Magdalena Radulescu
- UNEC Research Methods Application Center, Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Istiqlaliyyat Str. 6, Baku, 1001, Azerbaijan
- Department of Finance, Accounting and Finance, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Institute of Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Studies, University Lucian Blaga of Sibiu, Sibiu, Romania
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El Fadili H, Ben Ali M, Rahman MN, El Mahi M, Lotfi EM, Louki S. Bioavailability and health risk of pollutants around a controlled landfill in Morocco: Synergistic effects of landfilling and intensive agriculture. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23729. [PMID: 38205322 PMCID: PMC10776943 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxic contamination of agricultural soils by trace metal(oid)s can pose detrimental effects on human health and agroecological systems. In this view, the current research explored total and available metal(oid)s in surface soils and assessed the associated hazards using pollution indices, PMF modeling, PCA, and Montecarlo probabilistic human risk assessment with 10,000 repetitions. The mean concentrations of Cd, Pb, As, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Fe were 0.89, 24.86, 1.81, 19.10, 25.44, 7.98, 49.12 and 6183.32 mg kg-1 dry weight, respectively. These findings highlighted that the concentration of pollutants exceeded the values measured in the geochemical background. Soil enrichment by heavy metal (oid)s was confirmed by analyzing available fractions using DTPA ,CaCl2 and enrichment factor (EF). Additionally, pollution indicators (Igeo, PLI, and PERI) displayed significant contamination levels, with a higher ecological risk. Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor and multivariate statistical analysis reflected that anthropogenic activities, particularly landfilling and agricultural practices were the main causes of the contamination. Furthermore, probabilistic and deterministic human risk assessments showed that carcinogenic risks exceeded the threshold values (10-4) set by the USEPA. Consequently, it is crucial to implement continuous monitoring and supervision of landfill sites to prevent additional pollution. These measures should be integrated into the management plans for waste management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza El Fadili
- Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Materials for Environment Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Ben Ali
- Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Materials for Environment Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Md Naimur Rahman
- Center for Archaeological Studies, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammed El Mahi
- Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Materials for Environment Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - El Mostapha Lotfi
- Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Materials for Environment Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Sami Louki
- Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Materials for Environment Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
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Klutse CK, Quayson MA, Forson A, Nuveadenu C, Asare EA. Ecotoxicity of heavy metals in soil around long-term e-waste recycling sites in Tema and Ashaiman areas of Ghana. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 196:74. [PMID: 38133865 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12223-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The effect of e-waste recycling activities on the prevalence of metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and a metalloid (As) in soil was assessed for four e-waste sites in Ghana. Samples of top- and subsoil were collected from dismantling and burning sections, and the prevalence and the distribution of selected metals were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The concentrations of the metals analyzed were above the background concentrations except for Cd, which was detected at a comparable level to the background levels. Levels of Cu and Pb increased with increasing soil depth. Cd, Zn, As, and Ni levels decreased with increasing soil depth. However, Hg levels showed no recognizable trend in its distribution relative to soil depth. The pollution indices evaluated revealed deterioration of the soil quality at the e-waste sites. Pollution indices are used to categorize soil pollution levels based on cut-off values. Geo-accumulation indices suggested that the soil was very highly polluted with Pb, highly polluted with Cu, and moderately polluted with As, Hg, Cd, and Zn. The enrichment factor values indicated that soil from the studied sites was very highly enriched with Pb (i.e., EF of 9.60 to 63.14; median being 28.51) and significantly enriched with Cu and Hg (i.e., EF of 3.09 to 21.86; median 7.72 for Cu and EF of 1.48 to 25.5; median 10.57 for Hg). The contamination factor analysis revealed very high contamination of soils with Pb. The metals Cu, Zn, As, Ni, Cd, and Hg exhibited moderate to considerable contamination. This study is part of the continuous effort to assist policymakers with scientific information needed to influence policy decisions on environmental management in Ghana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Kofi Klutse
- Nuclear Power Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P. O. Box LG80, Legon-, Accra, Ghana.
- Department of Nuclear Science and Applications, Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, AE1, Kwabenya-, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Mustapha Abeiku Quayson
- Department of Nuclear Science and Applications, Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, AE1, Kwabenya-, Accra, Ghana
| | - Amos Forson
- Department of Nuclear Science and Applications, Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, AE1, Kwabenya-, Accra, Ghana
| | - Christian Nuveadenu
- Accelerator Research Centre, National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P. O. Box LG80, Legon-, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ebenezer Aquisman Asare
- Department of Nuclear Science and Applications, Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, AE1, Kwabenya-, Accra, Ghana
- Water Resource Research Centre, National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P. O. Box LG80, Legon-, Accra, Ghana
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Kumari H, Yadav S. A comparative study on metal pollution from surface dust of informal and formal e-waste recycling sectors in national capital region of New Delhi and associated risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166791. [PMID: 37678522 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is considered as resource and secondary source of metals, and is being recycled for recovery of precious and base metals. But the processes of recycling and the waste generated during e-waste recycling in informal and formal sectors contribute toxic metals in to the environment. This work aimed to compare the environmental and health impacts of informal and formal e-waste recycling facilities at New Delhi and Bhiwadi Industrial area in India, respectively. Here, concentrations of Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, V, Zn, and Ag, and As in surface dust collected from informal and formal recycling sectors and their associated pollution, human health and ecological risk are presented. Metal concentrations were higher than the background levels in both sectors. Contamination factor (Cf), contamination degree (Cdeg), pollution load index (PLI), geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and enrichment factor (EnF) of metals indicated severe pollution levels in both sectors. However, contamination in informal sector was comparatively higher than the formal sector. Sampling sites in both sectors had very high ecological risk. Storage, dismantling/shredding and recycling techniques were contributors of metals in surface dust in formal sector whereas fumes deposition, re-suspension, and dried by-products during acid bath treatments were additional sources in informal sector. Metal pollution depends on metal(s), e-waste type(s) and recycling sector(s). Total non-carcinogenic health risk due to metals was 6.5E+00 and 6.0E+01 and 6.2E+00 and 5.5E+01 in adult and children in informal and formal sectors, respectively. Total carcinogenic risk was 3.3E-03 and 7.2E-03 in informal and formal sectors, respectively. Ingestion was major pathways of metals followed by dermal and inhalation and children were more prone to risk compared to adults. Formal sectors too cause metal pollution but to lesser degree compared to informal. More effective pollution control measures are required in formal sector to control environmental pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hina Kumari
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Sudesh Yadav
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
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Chen C, Ma C, Li Q, Hang JG, Shen J, Nakayama SF, Kido T, Lin Y, Feng H, Jung C, Sun XL, Lou J. Prenatal Exposure to Heavy Metals and Adverse Birth Outcomes: Evidence From an E-Waste Area in China. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2023GH000897. [PMID: 38023386 PMCID: PMC10680130 DOI: 10.1029/2023gh000897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Electronic waste that has not been properly treated can lead to environmental contamination including of heavy metals, which can pose risks to human health. Infants, a sensitive group, are highly susceptible to heavy metals exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between prenatal heavy metal exposure and infant birth outcomes in an e-waste recycling area in China. We analyzed cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and arsenic (As) concentrations in 102 human milk samples collected 4 weeks after delivery. The results showed that 34.3% of participants for Cr, which exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, as well as the mean exposure of Cr exceeded the WHO guidelines. We collected data on the birth weight (BW) and length of infants and analyzed the association between metal concentration in human milk and birth outcomes using multivariable linear regression. We observed a significant negative association between the Cd concentration in maternal milk and BW in female infants (β = -162.72, 95% CI = -303.16, -22.25). In contrast, heavy metals did not associate with birth outcomes in male infants. In this study, we found that 34.3% of participants in an e-waste recycling area had a Cr concentration that exceeded WHO guidelines, and there was a significant negative association between prenatal exposure to the Cd and infant BW in females. These results suggest that prenatal exposure to heavy metals in e-waste recycling areas may lead to adverse birth outcomes, especially for female infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- School of Medicine, and Huzhou Key Laboratory for Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic DiseasesHuzhou UniversityHuzhouChina
| | | | - Qiyao Li
- School of Medicine, and Huzhou Key Laboratory for Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic DiseasesHuzhou UniversityHuzhouChina
| | - Jin Guo Hang
- Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical UniversityTaizhouChina
| | - Jiantong Shen
- School of Medicine, and Huzhou Key Laboratory for Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic DiseasesHuzhou UniversityHuzhouChina
| | - Shoji F. Nakayama
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme OfficeNational Institute for Environmental StudiesTsukubaJapan
| | - Teruhiko Kido
- Faculty of Health SciencesInstitute of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Health SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Yibin Lin
- School of Medicine, and Huzhou Key Laboratory for Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic DiseasesHuzhou UniversityHuzhouChina
| | - Hao Feng
- School of MedicineJiaxing UniversityJiaxingChina
| | - Chau‐Ren Jung
- Department of Public HealthCollege of Public HealthChina Medical UniversityTaichungTaiwan
| | - Xian Liang Sun
- School of Medicine, and Huzhou Key Laboratory for Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic DiseasesHuzhou UniversityHuzhouChina
- Faculty of Health SciencesInstitute of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Health SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Jianlin Lou
- School of Medicine, and Huzhou Key Laboratory for Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic DiseasesHuzhou UniversityHuzhouChina
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Pibul P, Jawjit S, Yimthiang S. Soil heavy metal pollution from waste electrical and electronic equipment of repair and junk shops in southern Thailand and their ecological risk. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20438. [PMID: 37842590 PMCID: PMC10568324 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) stream in Thailand shifted from exporting WEEE to recycling them in domestic enterprises after China's import restrictions on e-waste in 2018. This study aims to investigate the pollution status, pollution sources, and ecological risk of heavy metals from manual WEEE dismantling facilities (12 repair shops and 8 junk shops) in the Nakhon Si Thammarat province of southern Thailand by examining the concentrations of As, Cd, Ni, and Pb in the topsoil (0-15 cm) during the wet and dry seasons. The results revealed that the mean concentrations of all heavy metals were higher during the dry season than in the wet season. The concentrations of analyzed soil heavy metals decreased as the intensity of e-waste dismantling activities increased, with recycling sites > repair sites > control sites (no e-waste recycling activities). Only 10% of WEEE processing workshops (junk shops) had soil Pb and As concentrations that exceeded Thailand's residential soil quality standards. However, ecological indexing models based on the geo-accumulation index found that 75% of electric repair shops were contaminated with the analyzed heavy metals, particularly Pb. Moreover, the Nemerow integrated pollution index indicated that 16.7% of electric repair shops were on the pollution warning line. Our findings suggest that policymakers should promote ecological risk assessment as a method for mitigating the negative environmental impact of electronic repair businesses, which are widely dispersed in residential areas and tend to dominate the WEEE stream because of the circular economy concept of "right to repair", and highlight the decline of junk shops and e-waste dismantling villages for waste export resulting from China's ban.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panatda Pibul
- Environmental, Safety Technology and Health, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Siriuma Jawjit
- Environmental, Safety Technology and Health, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- Excellent Center for Dengue and Community Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Supabhorn Yimthiang
- Environmental, Safety Technology and Health, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- Occupational Health and Safety, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
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