1
|
Li Y, Tian F, Zhong R, Zhao H. Source characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in surface soils of Shenyang, China: A comparison of two receptor models combined with Monte Carlo simulation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 462:132805. [PMID: 37871439 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132805] [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] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The surface soil concentrations of 16 PAHs and 15 PCBs were simultaneously determined by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in 21 locations of urban areas of Shenyang. The average concentrations of PAHs and PCBs were 26.40 ± 34.68 mg/kg and 48.03 ± 27.47 μg/kg, respectively. Factor analysis with nonnegative constraints (FA-NNC) and absolute principal component score with multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model were used to explore and evaluate the sources of PAHs and PCBs in the study area. The results of FA-NNC showed that PAHs in soils were mainly from traffic emissions (49.64%), coal combustion (46.88%) and petrogenic source (3.49%). The PCBs in soils were mainly from commercial and high temperature combustion mixed sources (20.3%), combustion and industry emission mixed sources (21.1%), electrical equipment sources (22.2%) and traffic emission sources (36.4%). The results of APCS-MLR were consistent with those of FA-NNC. The uncertainty of FA-NNC and APCS-MLR model was analyzed by Monte Carlo simulation method. The results revealed the reliability of the two receptor models on source apportionment. The estimated carcinogenic risks indicated that the risks of PAHs in soils exceed the acceptable range (10-6-10-4), while the risks of PCBs were below the acceptable risk level of 10-6.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Li
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control & Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China; School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Fulin Tian
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control & Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China; School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China.
| | - Rui Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control & Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China; School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Haibo Zhao
- Liaoning Academy of Analytical Sciences, Shenyang, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li J, Jiang H, Qin J, Qin Y, Zhou X, Shi S, Shu Z, Gao Y, Tan J. Unexpectedly high levels and health risks of atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyls in modern mechanical dismantling of obsolete electrical equipment: Investigations in a large integrated e-waste dismantling industrial estate. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 182:108333. [PMID: 37995389 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108333] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Large industrial estates for electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) mechanical dismantling and recycling are gradually replacing outmoded small factories and intensive domestic workshops for e-waste manual and chemical dismantling. However, the air pollution and health risks of persistent organic pollutants during the modern mechanical processing of e-waste, especially obsolete electrical equipment, still remain unclear. Here, unexpectedly high levels (409.3 ng/m3) and health risks of airborne polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found during the mechanical processing of obsolete electric equipment or parts in a large integrated dismantling industrial estate, which is comparable to or a dozen times higher than those reported during chemical processing. In contrast, the levels (936.0 pg/m3) and health risks of particulate polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were all lower than those of previous studies. PCB emissions (44.9-3300.5 ng/m3) varied significantly across six mechanical dismantling places specifically treating waste motors, electrical appliances, hardware, transformers, and metals, respectively. The high PCB content and mass processing number of obsolete electrical equipment probably result in the highest PCB emissions from the mechanical dismantling of obsolete motors, followed by waste electrical appliances and metals. The PCB non-cancer and cancer risks associated with inhalation and dermal exposure in different mechanical dismantling places were all above the given potential risk limits. In particular, the health risks of dismantling obsolete motor exceeded the definite risk levels. Little difference in PCB emissions and health risks between working and non-working time suggested the importance of PCB volatilization from most e-waste. Such high PCB emissions and health risks of PCBs undoubtedly posed a severe threat to frontline workers, but fortunately, they decreased significantly with the increasing distance from the industrial estate. We highlight that PCB emissions and associated health risks from obsolete electrical equipment with high PCB content during mechanical dismantling activities should be of great concern.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingnan Li
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Haoyu Jiang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China.
| | - Juanjuan Qin
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Qin
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xueming Zhou
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shaoxuan Shi
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhao Shu
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuwei Gao
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jihua Tan
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Eker Sanli G, Erkul SN, Tasdemir Y. Spatio-Temporal Variations, Fugacity Fractions and Air-Soil Exchanges of PCBs in Industrial, Urban and Semi-Rural Sites. Polycycl Aromat Compd 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/10406638.2023.2185267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gizem Eker Sanli
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Seyma Nur Erkul
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Yücel Tasdemir
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Effectiveness of Charcoal Adsorbent in Flue Gas Filters for PCB Reduction in Smoke from Hospital Incinerators. JOURNAL OF COMBUSTION 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/5253467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The release of gas-phase polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as one of the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is an unfortunate result of combustion, especially from medical waste incinerators. This tends to make incinerators unpopular. The idea of a cheaply available air pollution control device fitted to incinerator chimneys can justify the continued use of incinerators. A gas filter unit, consisting of 3 filter beds with activated charcoal as an adsorbent, was designed, constructed, and fitted onto an existing incinerator at a university hospital in Ghana. Flue gas from the incinerator was sampled before and after the filter beds, using cylindrically-shaped mini-polyurethane foam (mini-PUF) samplers, and the analytes in the samples were then Soxhlet-extracted, purified, and analyzed for certain PCBs using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) technique. Twelve of the 14 indicators PCBs analyzed in the smoke samples were present, and 11 of them saw mean reductions ranging from 3.67% to 54.9% by the charcoal filter beds. These were PCB 18, PCB 28, PCB 31, PCB 44, PCB 101, PCB 118, PCB 138, PCB149, PCB 153, PCB 170, and PCB180. The gaseous concentrations of PCBs before filtration ranged from 0.0000788 ng/m3 for PCB 180 to 0.00129 ng/m3 for PCB 153. After the filtration by the charcoal adsorbent, they ranged from 0.00003734 ng/m3 for PCB 170 to 0.00112016 ng/m3 for PCB 153. The highest mean reduction of 54.9% came from the homologue, PCB 180, whilst the homologue with a dioxin-like character (PCB 118) saw a 22.44% reduction. This suggests that dioxins and other dioxin-like compounds are most likely adsorbed by the charcoal adsorbent. This gas filter unit should further be investigated for its effectiveness at removing other dioxin-like PCBs, dioxins, and furanes and for testing the effectiveness of thermophilic bacterial strains that can further metabolize these POPs into less harmful products.
Collapse
|
5
|
Sanli GE, Tasdemir Y. Accumulations and temporal trends of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in olive tree components. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2022; 44:2577-2594. [PMID: 34347211 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-01046-2] [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: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In this study, ambient air samples, olive tree branches (1- and 2-year-old) and their leaves (particulate and dissolved phase) were collected simultaneously between January and December months at a suburban site of Bursa-Turkey. Total polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations, sampled by employing passive air samplers, ranged from 0.03 to 0.08 ng/m3 in the atmosphere. The average annual total PCB concentrations belonging to the tree components were 1.14 ± 0.32 ng/g DM in dissolved phase in leaves, 0.71 ± 0.32 ng/g DM in particle phase on leaves, 1.06 ± 0.25 ng/g DM in 1-year-old branches, and 0.93 ± 0.23 ng/g DM in 2-year-old branches. It was determined that the correlation between PCB concentrations in olive tree components and the air was low. This result indicated that besides the tree-air exchange, other possible factors (such as soil-to-tree transitions, wind effect, etc.) affect the levels of PCB concentrations in the tree components. Total PCB concentrations decreased from summer to winter in all samples. The percentage ratio of PCB in the dissolved phase in the leaves was generally higher than other tree components in seasons. PCB homologous distributions indicated 5-CBs were dominant in the tree components and 3-CBs were dominant in the air samples. Highly chlorinated PCB congeners (8-CBs and 9-CBs) were found at low concentrations in both air and tree components samples. The samples indicated that the ratio of PCBs in tree components to the total (tree component+ambient air) PCBs slightly increased with increasing the chlorine number.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gizem Eker Sanli
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bursa Uludag University, 16059, Nilüfer/Bursa, Turkey
| | - Yücel Tasdemir
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bursa Uludag University, 16059, Nilüfer/Bursa, Turkey.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Fei L, Bilal M, Qamar SA, Imran HM, Riasat A, Jahangeer M, Ghafoor M, Ali N, Iqbal HMN. Nano-remediation technologies for the sustainable mitigation of persistent organic pollutants. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 211:113060. [PMID: 35283076 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The absence of novel and efficient methods for the elimination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from the environment is a serious concern in the society. The pollutants release into the atmosphere by means of industrialization and urbanization is a massive global hazard. Although, the eco-toxicity associated with nanotechnology is still being debated, nano-remediation is a potentially developing tool for dealing with contamination of the environment, particularly POPs. Nano-remediation is a novel strategy to the safe and long-term removal of POPs. This detailed review article presents an important perspective on latest innovations and future views of nano-remediation methods used for environmental decontamination, like nano-photocatalysis and nanosensing. Different kinds of nanomaterials including nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), magnetic and metallic nanoparticles, silica (SiO2) nanoparticles, graphene oxide, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have been summarized for the mitigation of POPs. Furthermore, the long-term viability of nano-remediation strategies for dealing with legacy contamination was considered, with a particular emphasis on environmental and health implications. The assessment goes on to discuss the environmental consequences of nanotechnology and offers consensual recommendations on how to employ nanotechnology for a greater present and a more prosperous future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liu Fei
- National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Mineral Salt Deep Utilization, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003, PR China.
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003, China.
| | - Sarmad Ahmad Qamar
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | | | - Areej Riasat
- Department of Biochemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Jahangeer
- Department of Biochemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Misbah Ghafoor
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Nisar Ali
- National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Mineral Salt Deep Utilization, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003, PR China
| | - Hafiz M N Iqbal
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, 64849, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Debela SA, Sheriff I, Goyomsa GG, Guta AT, Gebrehiwot M. Management of polychlorinated biphenyls stockpiles and contaminated sites in Africa: A review of 34 countries. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 298:134133. [PMID: 35271893 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial chemicals that are designated as persistent organic pollutants. They were used for the production of multifarious products but their manufacture, and uses were banned under the Stockholm convention which took effect in 2004. The parties to the convention had prepared national implementation plans (NIPs) detailing management measures for persistent organic pollutants including PCBs. In the current review, the NIPs of 34 African countries were reviewed to assess the size of PCBs stockpiles, their storage conditions, and the management of PCBs contaminated sites. The results showed that each of the African countries examined, except Egypt, has stored PCBs stockpiles in open fields. There are several PCBs contaminated sites scattered across African countries with Malawi having the largest number of contaminated sites, 211 as of 2005. Many of these sites are not well managed and there are only few monitoring activities of the levels of PCBs. Thus, strict implementation of the Stockholm Convention and the NIPs to reduce the PCBs stockpiles size, and appropriate management of PCBs are required in Africa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sisay Abebe Debela
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Selale University, Fiche, Ethiopia.
| | - Ishmail Sheriff
- Department of Public Health, College of Human Resource Development, 8 Black Street Drive, Off Alusine Kala Drive, Magbenteh, Makeni, Sierra Leone.
| | - Girma Garedew Goyomsa
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Selale University, Fiche, Ethiopia
| | - Ashenafi Teshome Guta
- Belfield Graduate School of Economics and Management, Belfield University, Belfield, Germany
| | - Mesfin Gebrehiwot
- Department of Environmental Health, Wollo University, P.O.Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Avenbuan ON, Meltzer GY, Awada C, Raja A, Holian A, Zelikoff JT. A contemporary review of electronic waste through the lens of inhalation toxicology. Inhal Toxicol 2021; 33:285-294. [PMID: 34715768 DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2021.1996493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Inhalation is a significant route of exposure to toxic chemicals for electronic waste (e-waste) workers, especially for those whose activities take place in the informal sector. However, there remains a dearth of research on the health effects produced by the hazardous dismantling of e-waste and associated outcomes and biological mechanisms that occur as a result of inhalation exposure. This contemporary review highlights a number of the toxicological and epidemiological studies published on this topic to bring to light the many knowledge gaps that require further research, including in vitro and ex vivo investigations to address the health outcomes and underlying mechanisms of inhaled e-waste-associated pulmonary disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oyemwenosa N Avenbuan
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabriella Y Meltzer
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christina Awada
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amna Raja
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrij Holian
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana College of Health, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Judith T Zelikoff
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
White KB, Kalina J, Scheringer M, Přibylová P, Kukučka P, Kohoutek J, Prokeš R, Klánová J. Temporal Trends of Persistent Organic Pollutants across Africa after a Decade of MONET Passive Air Sampling. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:9413-9424. [PMID: 33095578 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The Global Monitoring Plan of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was established to generate long-term data necessary for evaluating the effectiveness of regulatory measures at a global scale. After a decade of passive air monitoring (2008-2019), MONET is the first network to produce sufficient data for the analysis of long-term temporal trends of POPs in the African atmosphere. This study reports concentrations of 20 POPs (aldrin, chlordane, chlordecone, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, endosulfan, HBCDD, HCB, HCHs, heptachlor, hexabromobiphenyl, mirex, PBDEs, PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, PeCB, PFOA, and PFOS) monitored in 9 countries (Congo, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, and Sudan). As of January 1, 2019, concentrations were in the following ranges (pg/m3): 0.5-37.7 (∑6PCB), 0.006-0.724 (∑17PCDD/F), 0.05-5.5 (∑9PBDE), 0.6-11.3 (BDE 209), 0.1-1.8 (∑3HBCDD), 1.8-138 (∑6DDT), 0.1-24.3 (∑3endosulfan), 0.6-14.6 (∑4HCH), 9.1-26.4 (HCB), 13.8-18.2 (PeCB). Temporal trends indicate that concentrations of many POPs (PCBs, DDT, HCHs, endosulfan) have declined significantly over the past 10 years, though the rate was slow at some sites. Concentrations of other POPs such as PCDD/Fs and PBDEs have not changed significantly over the past decade and are in fact increasing at some sites, attributed to the prevalence of open burning of waste (particularly e-waste) across Africa. Modeled airflow back-trajectories suggest that the elevated concentrations at some sites are primarily due to sustained local emissions, while the low concentrations measured at Mt. Kenya represent the continental background level and are primarily influenced by long-range transport.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin B White
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Kalina
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Scheringer
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Petra Přibylová
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kukučka
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Kohoutek
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Prokeš
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Klánová
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Laskaris Z, Batterman SA, Arko-Mensah J, Mukherjee B, Fobil JN, O’Neill MS, Robins TG. Opportunities and challenges in reducing personal inhalation exposure to air pollution among electronic waste recovery workers in Ghana. Am J Ind Med 2021; 64:381-397. [PMID: 33522624 PMCID: PMC8046737 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Informal sector electronic waste (e-waste) recovery produces toxic emissions resulting from burning e-waste to recover valuable metals. OBJECTIVES To identify high-risk worker groups by measuring relative levels of personal inhalation exposure to particulate matter (PM) of fine (≤2.5 µm) and coarse (2.5-10 µm) fractions (PM2.5 and PM2.5-10, respectively) across work activities among e-waste workers, and to assess how wind conditions modify levels of PM by activity and site location. METHODS At the Agbogbloshie e-waste site, 170 partial-shift PM samples and time-activity data were collected from participants (N = 105) enrolled in the GeoHealth cohort study. Personal sampling included continuous measures of size-specific PM from the worker's breathing zone and time-activity derived from wearable cameras. Linear mixed models were used to estimate changes in personal PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 associated with activities and evaluate effect modification by wind conditions. RESULTS Mean (±standard deviation) personal PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 concentrations were 80 (± 81) and 123 (± 139) µg m-3 , respectively. The adjusted mean PM2.5 concentration for burning e-waste was 88 µg m-3 , a 28% increase above concentrations during non-recovery activities (such as eating). Transportation-related and burning activities were associated with the highest PM2.5-10 concentrations. Frequent changes in wind direction were associated with higher PM2.5 concentrations when burning, and high wind speeds with higher PM2.5-10 concentrations when dismantling e-waste downwind of the burning zone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoey Laskaris
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School
of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - Stuart A. Batterman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of
Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - John Arko-Mensah
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational
Health Sciences, University of Ghana School of Public Health, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School
of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - Julius N. Fobil
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational
Health Sciences, University of Ghana School of Public Health, Accra, Ghana
| | - Marie S. O’Neill
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School
of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of
Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - Thomas G. Robins
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of
Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Yue X, Ma NL, Sonne C, Guan R, Lam SS, Van Le Q, Chen X, Yang Y, Gu H, Rinklebe J, Peng W. Mitigation of indoor air pollution: A review of recent advances in adsorption materials and catalytic oxidation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 405:124138. [PMID: 33092884 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Indoor air pollution with toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a threat to human health, causing cancer, leukemia, fetal malformation, and abortion. Therefore, the development of technologies to mitigate indoor air pollution is important to avoid adverse effects. Adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation are the current approaches for the removal of VOCs and PM2.5 with high efficiency. In this review we focus on the recent development of indoor air pollution mitigation materials based on adsorption and photocatalytic decomposition. First, we review on the primary indoor air pollutants including formaldehyde, benzene compounds, PM2.5, flame retardants, and plasticizer: Next, the recent advances in the use of adsorption materials including traditional biochar and MOF (metal-organic frameworks) as the new emerging porous materials for VOCs absorption is reviewed. We review the mechanism for mitigation of VOCs using biochar (noncarbonized organic matter partition and adsorption) and MOF together with parameters that affect indoor air pollution removal efficiency based on current mitigation approaches including the mitigation of VOCs using photocatalytic oxidation. Finally, we bring forward perspectives and directions for the development of indoor air mitigation technologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Yue
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Nyuk Ling Ma
- Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Fac Sci & Marine Environm, Terengganu 21030, Malaysia
| | - Christian Sonne
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Ruirui Guan
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Su Shiung Lam
- Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Quyet Van Le
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
| | - Xiangmeng Chen
- School of Chemical Engineering and Energy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yafeng Yang
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Haiping Gu
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water, and Waste-Management, Soil, and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany; Department of Environment, Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Wanxi Peng
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wania F, Shunthirasingham C. Passive air sampling for semi-volatile organic chemicals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:1925-2002. [PMID: 32822447 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00194e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
During passive air sampling, the amount of a chemical taken up in a sorbent from the air without the help of a pump is quantified and converted into an air concentration. In an equilibrium sampler, this conversion requires a thermodynamic parameter, the equilibrium sorption coefficient between gas-phase and sorbent. In a kinetic sampler, a time-averaged air concentration is obtained using a sampling rate, which is a kinetic parameter. Design requirements for kinetic and equilibrium sampling conflict with each other. The volatility of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) varies over five orders of magnitude, which implies that passive air samplers are inevitably kinetic samplers for less volatile SVOCs and equilibrium samplers for more volatile SVOCs. Therefore, most currently used passive sampler designs for SVOCs are a compromise that requires the consideration of both a thermodynamic and a kinetic parameter. Their quantitative interpretation depends on assumptions that are rarely fulfilled, and on input parameters, that are often only known with high uncertainty. Kinetic passive air sampling for SVOCs is also challenging because their typically very low atmospheric concentrations necessitate relatively high sampling rates that can only be achieved without the use of diffusive barriers. This in turn renders sampling rates dependent on wind conditions and therefore highly variable. Despite the overall high uncertainty arising from these challenges, passive air samplers for SVOCs have valuable roles to play in recording (i) spatial concentration variability at scales ranging from a few centimeters to tens of thousands of kilometers, (ii) long-term trends, (iii) air contamination in remote and inaccessible locations and (iv) indoor inhalation exposure. Going forward, thermal desorption of sorbents may lower the detection limits for some SVOCs to an extent that the use of diffusive barriers in the kinetic sampling of SVOCs becomes feasible, which is a prerequisite to decreasing the uncertainty of sampling rates. If the thermally stable sorbent additionally has a high sorptive capacity, it may be possible to design true kinetic samplers for most SVOCs. In the meantime, the passive air sampling community would benefit from being more transparent by rigorously quantifying and explicitly reporting uncertainty.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank Wania
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada.
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wrobel MH, Mlynarczuk J. The effect of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on bovine oviductal contractions and LIF synthesis during estrous cycle, in vitro studies. Res Vet Sci 2020; 133:188-193. [PMID: 33002814 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of synthetic xenobiotics that have been used in many industrial applications. Currently, PCBs are among the most prominent environmental contaminants. Previously we showed that PCBs impair secretion of prostaglandins (PGs) at the oviduct. PGs are involved in the regulation of oviductal contractions and the synthesis of leukemia inhibitory factors LIF. Since oviductal contractions are crucial for gamete and embryo transport, and LIF is essential for embryo implantation, the direct effect of PCBs on oviductal motor activity and LIF mRNA expression were investigated. Oviductal strips and cells were taken from cows during the estrous cycle and were treated with PCBs at concentrations close to their environmental ranges. All the studied PCBs decreased the force of the contractions of the longitudinal and circular muscles of the isthmus. Additionally, these PCBs decreased the amplitude of the longitudinal muscle of the oviduct. Moreover, PCB-30-OH and PCB-153 increased the mRNA expression of LIF. Since PCBs inhibit the motor function of the oviduct and stimulate the synthesis of LIF, it is possible that PCBs can slow gamete or embryo transport and increase the potential for pathological embryo implantation in the oviduct.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michal Hubert Wrobel
- Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima Street 10, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Jaroslaw Mlynarczuk
- Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima Street 10, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Adetona O, Ozoh OB, Oluseyi T, Uzoegwu Q, Odei J, Lucas M. An exploratory evaluation of the potential pulmonary, neurological and other health effects of chronic exposure to emissions from municipal solid waste fires at a large dumpsite in Olusosun, Lagos, Nigeria. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:30885-30892. [PMID: 32537691 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09701-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Open municipal solid waste (MSW) combustion is a major emission source of particulate air pollution, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and more exotic hazardous organic pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls and brominated flame retardants. However, the adverse impact of MSW combustion emission on health among the general population is unknown. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the associations between potential exposure to MSW combustion-related air pollution and symptoms of adverse health effects among residents of a community adjacent to a large open landfill in Lagos, Nigeria. Using ordinal logistic regression and controlling for age, sex, and smoking, it was observed that residence for ≥ 11 years had increased odds (p < 0.05) of daily occurrence of tingling/numbness/whiteness of fingers (2.614), headaches (2.725), memory problems (2.869), tremor/cramps (2.748), and confusion (3.033) among other symptoms. These results indicate adverse health impacts of chronic exposure to MSW combustion emission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olorunfemi Adetona
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health,, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health,, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Obianuju B Ozoh
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine,, University of Lagos, Lagos,, Nigeria.
| | | | - Queen Uzoegwu
- Department of Chemistry,, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - James Odei
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health,, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health,, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Maria Lucas
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health,, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health,, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kaifie A, Schettgen T, Bertram J, Löhndorf K, Waldschmidt S, Felten MK, Kraus T, Fobil JN, Küpper T. Informal e-waste recycling and plasma levels of non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs) - A cross-sectional study at Agbogbloshie, Ghana. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 723:138073. [PMID: 32229383 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Informal e-waste recycling leads to a contamination of the workers with several hazardous substances, in particular heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) belong to the group of POPs and are suspected to be associated with adverse health effects. In particular lower chlorinated PCBs, such as the congeners PCB 28 and PCB 52 are a marker of occupational exposure. The aim of our study was to assess the occupational PCB exposure in e-waste workers in relation to their specific recycling task (e.g. dismantling, burning). Altogether, n = 88 e-waste workers and n = 196 control subjects have been included in this study. All plasma participant's samples were evaluated for the PCB congeners PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180 and sum of NDL-indicator congeners by human biomonitoring. A significant difference could be detected for the lower chlorinated PCB congeners (PCB 28, 52, and 101) for e-waste workers in comparison to the control group. Analyzing specific recycling tasks, workers who dismantle and those who burn e-waste showed the highest plasma levels of PCB 28 and 52. In conclusion, e-waste workers showed occupational related elevated PCB levels. Although those levels did not exceed the BAT value, workers were contaminated with PCBs during their task. Occupational health and safety measure are therefore necessary to protect the worker's health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Kaifie
- Institute for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Thomas Schettgen
- Institute for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jens Bertram
- Institute for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Katja Löhndorf
- Institute for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Saskia Waldschmidt
- Institute for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Michael K Felten
- Institute for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Kraus
- Institute for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Julius N Fobil
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Thomas Küpper
- Institute for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Anh HQ, Watanabe I, Tue NM, Tuyen LH, Viet PH, Chi NK, Minh TB, Takahashi S. Polyurethane foam-based passive air sampling for simultaneous determination of POP- and PAH-related compounds: A case study in informal waste processing and urban areas, northern Vietnam. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 247:125991. [PMID: 32069737 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.125991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromobiphenyl (BB-153), novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), and unsubstituted/methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs/Me-PAHs) were simultaneously monitored in the air samples collected from Vietnamese urban and vehicular waste processing areas by using polyurethane foam-based passive air sampling (PUF-PAS) method. Concentrations (pg m-3) of organic pollutants decreased in the order: PAHs (median 29,000; range 5100-100,000) > Me-PAHs (6000; 1000-33,000) > PCBs (480; 170-1100) > PBDEs (11; 5.3-86) > NBFRs (0.20; n. d. - 51) > BB-153 (n.d.). The difference in total PCB and PBDE concentrations between the urban and waste processing air samples was not statistically significant. Meanwhile, levels of PAHs, Me-PAHs, benzo [a]pyrene equivalents (BaP-EQs), and toxic equivalents of dioxin-like PCBs (WHO-TEQs) were much higher in the waste processing sites. This is the first report on the abundance of mono- and di-CBs (notably CB-11) in the air from a developing country, suggesting their roles as emerging and ubiquitous air pollutants. Our results have indicated potential sources of specific organic pollutants such as dioxin-like PCBs, PAHs, and Me-PAHs from improper treatment of end-of-life vehicles and other vehicle related materials (e.g., waste oils and rubber tires), as well as current emission of PCBs and PBDEs in the urban area in Vietnam. Further atmospheric monitoring studies should be conducted in this developing country that cover both legacy and emerging contaminants with a focus on areas affected by rapid urbanization and informal waste processing activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hoang Quoc Anh
- Center of Advanced Technology for the Environment (CATE), Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, 790-8566, Japan; Faculty of Chemistry, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, 100000, Viet Nam
| | - Isao Watanabe
- Center of Advanced Technology for the Environment (CATE), Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, 790-8566, Japan
| | - Nguyen Minh Tue
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, 790-8577, Japan; Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 100000, Viet Nam
| | - Le Huu Tuyen
- Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 100000, Viet Nam
| | - Pham Hung Viet
- Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 100000, Viet Nam
| | - Ngo Kim Chi
- Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, 100000, Viet Nam
| | - Tu Binh Minh
- Faculty of Chemistry, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, 100000, Viet Nam
| | - Shin Takahashi
- Center of Advanced Technology for the Environment (CATE), Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, 790-8566, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Moeckel C, Breivik K, Nøst TH, Sankoh A, Jones KC, Sweetman A. Soil pollution at a major West African E-waste recycling site: Contamination pathways and implications for potential mitigation strategies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 137:105563. [PMID: 32106045 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Organic contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and chlorinated paraffins (CPs)) and heavy metals and metalloids (Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Zn) were analysed in surface soil samples from the Agbogbloshie e-waste processing and dumping site in Accra (Ghana). In order to identify which of the pollutants are likely to be linked specifically to handling of e-waste, samples were also collected from the Kingtom general waste site in Freetown (Sierra Leone). The results were compared using principal component analyses (PCA). PBDE congeners found in technical octa-BDE mixtures, highly chlorinated PCBs and several heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd, Ag and Hg) showed elevated concentrations in the soils that are likely due to contamination by e-waste. PCAs associated those compounds with pyrogenic PAHs, suggesting that burning of e-waste, a common practice to isolate valuable metals, may cause this contamination. Moreover, other contamination pathways, especially incorporation of waste fragments into the soil, also appeared to play an important role in determining concentrations of some of the pollutants in the soil. Concentrations of several of these compounds were extremely high (especially PBDEs, heavy metals and SCCPs) and in some cases exceeded action guideline levels for soil. This indicates that exposure to these contaminants via the soil alone is potentially harmful to the recyclers and their families living on waste sites. Many organic contaminants and other exposure pathways such as inhalation are not yet included in such guidelines but may also be significant, given that deposition from the air following waste burning was identified as a major pollutant source.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Moeckel
- NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, 2007 Kjeller, Norway; Stockholm University, 11418 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Knut Breivik
- NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, 2007 Kjeller, Norway; University of Oslo, 0351 Oslo, Norway
| | - Therese Haugdahl Nøst
- NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, 2007 Kjeller, Norway; The Arctic University of Norway, 9019 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Alhaji Sankoh
- Njala University, Njala, Moyamba District, Sierra Leone
| | - Kevin C Jones
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Sweetman
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Awere E, Obeng PA, Bonoli A, Obeng PA. E-waste recycling and public exposure to organic compounds in developing countries: a review of recycling practices and toxicity levels in Ghana. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/21622515.2020.1714749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Awere
- Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Civil Engineering, Cape Coast Technical University, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Peter Appiah Obeng
- Department of Water and Sanitation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Alessandra Bonoli
- Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Panin Asirifua Obeng
- Department of Civil Engineering, Cape Coast Technical University, Cape Coast, Ghana
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
WEEE Treatment in Developing Countries: Environmental Pollution and Health Consequences-An Overview. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16091595. [PMID: 31067685 PMCID: PMC6539380 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16091595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In the last few decades, the rapid technological evolution has led to a growing generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Not rarely, it has been exported from industrialized to developing countries, where it represents a secondary source of valuable materials such as gold, copper, and silver. The recycling of WEEE is often carried out without any environmental and health protection. This paper reviews recent literature dealing with the informal treatment of WEEE in developing regions, gathering and analyzing data on concentration of both inorganic and organic pollutants in the environment. Open burning practices are revealed as most polluting ‘technology’, followed by mechanical treatment and leaching. Significant levels of pollutants have been detected in human bodies, both children and adults, working in or living in areas with informal WEEE treatment.
Collapse
|
20
|
Liu R, Ma S, Li G, Yu Y, An T. Comparing pollution patterns and human exposure to atmospheric PBDEs and PCBs emitted from different e-waste dismantling processes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2019; 369:142-149. [PMID: 30776597 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (E-waste) recycling provides post-consumption economic opportunities, can also exert stress on environment and human health. This study investigated emissions, compositional profiles, and health risks associated with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at five workshops (electric blowers to treat mobile phones (EBMP), electric heating furnaces to treat televisions (EHFTV) and routers (EHFR), and rotatory incinerators to treat televisions (RITV) and hard disks (RIHD)) within an e-waste dismantling industrial park. Total suspended particulate (TSP), PBDE, and PCB concentrations were 490-1530 μg m-3, 26.6-11,800 ng m-3 and 6.4-19.8 ng m-3 in different workshops, respectively. Tetra-BDEs were dominant in TV recycling workshops, whereas deca-BDEs were in other workshops. BDE-47, -99, and -209 were the most abundant PBDEs during e-waste recycling activities (expect in RIHD workshop). Penta-CBs were present at high levels in TV workshops, as were tetra-CBs in RIHD workshop. Low brominated BDEs contributed a large portion during working and non-working time. The percentages of octa-BDEs and nona-BDEs were higher during non-working than working time. PBDEs posed a higher non-cancer risk; PCBs posed cancer risk to workers through inhalation in TV workshops. This study provides insights into environmental characterization of PBDEs and PCBs during e-waste recycling processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ranran Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China; State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shengtao Ma
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Guiying Li
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Yingxin Yu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Taicheng An
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Hogarh JN, Seike N, Kobara Y, Carboo D, Fobil JN, Masunaga S. Source characterization and risk of exposure to atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Ghana. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:16316-16324. [PMID: 29705902 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2090-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
With recent evidence that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are emerging in environmental media in some developing countries that otherwise have sparing production and usage history, it has become important to identify such contemporary source factors of PCBs and the risks this may pose, in line with the global consensus on POP management and elimination. The present study investigated contaminations from atmospheric PCBs in Ghana, deciphered source factors, and accessed risk of exposure to dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs). Atmospheric PCBs were monitored by deployment of PUF-disk passive air samplers (PAS) at several sites across Ghana for 56 days. Atmospheric ∑190PCB concentration in Ghana ranged from 0.28 ng/m3 in Kumasi to 4.64 ng/m3 at Agbogbloshie, a suburb in Accra noted for informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling activities. As high as 11.10 ng/m3 of PCB concentration was measured in plumes from uncontrolled open burning of e-wastes at Agbogbloshie. Applying statistical source characterization tools, it emerged that e-wastes were a major contributor to the environmental burden of atmospheric PCBs in Ghana. The risk of DL-PCB toxicity via inhalation in the Agbogbloshie area was 4.2 pg TEQ/day, within similar order of magnitude of an estimated risk of 3.85 pg TEQ/day faced by e-waste workers working averagely for 8 h per day. It is suggested that elimination of e-waste sites would help to significantly reduce PCB-related toxicity issues in Ghana. Graphical abstract ᅟ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan N Hogarh
- Department of Environmental Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
- Faculty of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 240-8501, Japan.
| | - Nobuyasu Seike
- Division of Hazardous Chemicals, Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8604, Japan
| | - Yuso Kobara
- Division of Hazardous Chemicals, Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8604, Japan
| | - Derick Carboo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, P.O. Box 56, Legon, Ghana
| | - Julius N Fobil
- Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Shigeki Masunaga
- Faculty of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 240-8501, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Robertson LW, Weber R, Nakano T, Johansson N. PCBs risk evaluation, environmental protection, and management: 50-year research and counting for elimination by 2028. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:16269-16276. [PMID: 29934860 PMCID: PMC6033322 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2467-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Roland Weber
- POPs Environmental Consulting, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
| | - Takeshi Nakano
- Osaka University, Research Center for Environmental Preservation, Osaka, Japan
| | | |
Collapse
|