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Ge Y, Cui J, Zhang L, Zhang S, Baqar M, Cheng Z. Informal E-waste dismantling activities accelerated the releasing of liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) in Pakistan: Occurrence, distribution, and exposure assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 932:172987. [PMID: 38734084 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172987] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are emerging contaminants characterized by their persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and toxicity. They have been observed in several environmental matrices associated with electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling activities, particularly in China. However, there is currently no information on the pollution caused by LCMs in other developing countries, such as Pakistan. In this study, we collected soil samples (n = 59) from e-waste dismantling areas with different functions in Pakistan for quantification analysis of 52 target LCMs. Thirty out of 52 LCMs were detected in the soil samples, with the concentrations ranging from 2.14 to 191 ng/g (median: 16.3 ng/g), suggesting widespread contamination by these emerging contaminants. Fluorinated LCMs (median: 10.4 ng/g, range: 1.27-116 ng/g) were frequently detected and their levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of non-fluorinated LCMs (median: 6.11 ng/g, range: not detected (ND)-76.7 ng/g). The concentrations and profiles of the observed LCMs in the soil samples from the four functional areas varied. The informal dismantling of e-waste poses a potential exposure risk to adults and infants, with median estimated daily intake (EDI, ng/kg bw/day) values of 0.0420 and 0.1013, respectively. Calculation of the hazard quotient (HQ) suggested that some LCMs (e.g., ETFMBC (1.374) and EDFPB (1.257)) may pose potential health risks to occupational workers and their families. Considering the widespread contamination and risks associated with LCMs, we strongly recommend enhancing e-waste management and regulation in Pakistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhui Ge
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Jingren Cui
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Lianying Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Shaohan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Mujtaba Baqar
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Sustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Zhipeng Cheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
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Rex KR, Chakraborty P. Polychlorinated biphenyls in bovine milk from a typical informal electronic waste recycling and related source regions in southern India before and after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168879. [PMID: 38013105 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168879] [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: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
For more than a decade, Chennai city in southern India has been evidenced with informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling and open burning practices as the potential sources for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs can bioaccumulate in livestock particularly cows grazing on the contaminated soil. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic led to additional challenges associated with waste management practices. Hence this study aims to elucidate twenty-five PCB congeners in bovine milk from the previously reported PCB source regions in Chennai and the suburbs before and after about three years of the pandemic outbreak along electronic waste recycling (EWR), open burning dumps (OBD), and residential (RES) transects. The geomean concentration of Ʃ25PCBs in ng/g lipid weight (lw) followed a decreasing trend of EWR (13 ng/g lw) > OBD (8 ng/g lw) > RES (4 ng/g lw). Over 80 % of PCBs stemmed from EWR and OBD transects before and after the pandemic. However, a significant surge in the level of PCB-52 was observed in the OBD transect after the pandemic outbreak. Most toxic PCB congeners, PCB-126 and -169 were significant contributors to TEQs in EWR and OBD transects and can be reasoned with the burning of waste materials and mixed plastics in these transects. The highest average daily dose (ADD) exposure risk was for children from EWR and was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than other transects. Mean ADD-induced TEQ (6.6 pg TEQ/kg-bw/day) from the cows grazing around Kodungaiyur dumpsite slightly exceeded the EU guideline of 5.5 pg TEQ/kg-bw/day after the outbreak of the pandemic due to PCB-126. However, none of the samples exceeded the US FDA (1.5μg/g milk fat) recommendation limits for PCBs in milk fat. Prolonged exposure to such persistent organic pollutants interlinked with the burning of mixed waste in the open dumps can be a public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Ronnie Rex
- Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Paromita Chakraborty
- Environmental Science and Technology Laboratory, Centre for Research in Environment, Sustainability Advocacy and Climate CHange (REACH), Directorate of Research, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu 603203, India.
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Chakraborty M, Sharma B, Ghosh A, Sah D, Rai JPN. Elicitation of E-waste (acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene) enriched soil bioremediation and detoxification using Priestia aryabhattai MGP1. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117126. [PMID: 37716383 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Given the rise in both usage and disposal of dangerous electronics, there is a catastrophic rise in assemblage of electronic waste (e-waste). E-waste including various plastic resins are among the most frequently discarded materials in electronic gadgets. In current digital era, managing e-waste has become universal concern. From the viewpoint of persisting lacuna of e-waste managing methods, the current study is designed to fabricate an eco-friendly e-waste treatment with native soil bacteria employing an enrichment culture method. In the presence of e-waste, indigenous soil microbes were stimulated to degrade e-waste. Microbial cultures were isolated using enrichment medium containing acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene (ABS) as the primary carbon source. Priestia aryabhattai MGP1 was found to be the most dominant e-polymer degrading bacterial isolate, as it was reported to degrade ABS plastic in disposed-off television casings. Furthermore, to increase degradation potential of MGP1, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was adopted which resulted in optimized conditions (pH 7, shaking-speed 120 rpm, and temperature 30 °C), for maximum degradation (18.88%) after 2 months. The structural changes induced by microbial treatment were demonstrated by comparing the findings of Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra confirming the disappearance of ≡ C─H peaks along with C-H, C=C and C ≡N bond destabilization following degradation. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyzers of the native and decomposed e-polymer samples revealed a considerable loss in elemental weight % of oxygen by 8.4% and silica by 0.5%. Magnesium, aluminium and chlorine which were previously present in the untreated sample, were also removed after treatment by the bacterial action. When seeds of Vigna radiata were screened using treated soil in the presence of both e-waste and the chosen potent bacterial strain, it was also discovered that there was reduced toxicity in terms of improved germination and growth metrics as a phytotoxicity criterion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moumita Chakraborty
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Basic Sciences & Humanities, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Barkha Sharma
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Sciences & Humanities, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ankita Ghosh
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Basic Sciences & Humanities, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Diksha Sah
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Basic Sciences & Humanities, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - J P N Rai
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Basic Sciences & Humanities, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India.
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Ossai CJ, Iwegbue CMA, Tesi GO, Olisah C, Egobueze FE, Nwajei GE, Martincigh BS. Spatial characteristics, sources and exposure risk of polychlorinated biphenyls in dusts and soils from an urban environment in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 883:163513. [PMID: 37061053 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Chlorinated organic compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are a threat to both humans and the environment because of their toxicity, persistence, and capacity for long-range atmospheric transport. The concentrations of 28 PCB congeners, including 12 dioxin-like and seven indicator PCBs, were investigated in soils, and indoor and outdoor dusts from Port Harcourt city, Nigeria, in order to evaluate the characteristic distribution patterns in these media, their sources, and possible risk. The PCB concentrations varied from 4.59 to 116 ng g-1 for soils, and from 1.80 to 23.0 ng g-1 and 2.73 to 57.4 ng g-1 for indoor and outdoor dusts respectively. The sequence of PCB concentrations in these matrices was soil > outdoor dust > indoor dust. The composition of PCBs in these matrices indicated the prevalence of lower chlorinated PCBs in indoor and outdoor dusts, while the higher chlorinated congeners were dominant in soils. Di-PCBs were the predominant homologues in indoor dusts, while deca-PCBs were the most prevalent homologues in outdoor dusts and soils. The TEQ values of dioxin-like PCBs in 60 % of the soils, 100 % of the indoor dust, and 30 % of the outdoor dust were above the indicative value of 4 pg TEQ g-1 established by the Canadian authority. The hazard index (HI) values for exposure of adults and children to PCBs in these media were mostly greater than one, while the total cancer risk (TCR) values exceeded the acceptable risk value of 10-6, which indicate probable non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks resulting from exposure to PCBs in these media. Source analysis for PCBs in these matrices shows that they originated from diverse sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinedu J Ossai
- Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Nigeria
| | | | - Godswill O Tesi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
| | - Chijioke Olisah
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
| | | | - Godwin E Nwajei
- Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Nigeria
| | - Bice S Martincigh
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa
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Parmar J, Qureshi A. Accounting of the Use and Emissions of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Compounds (PCBs) in India, 1951-2100. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:4763-4774. [PMID: 36926860 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) are highly toxic organic chemicals still prevalent in the environment. While global inventories of the use and emissions of PCBs have been developed, estimates for individual countries determined using bottom-up approaches are few and often show different trends from the global inventory. Here, we determine the past, present, and future consumption and emissions of PCBs in India. A mass balance model was used to estimate middle (low-high) emissions in the period 1950-2100. Up to 7296 tonnes of PCBs have been used in transformers. PCBs imported as wastes are estimated to be approximately 5000 (2400-9100) tonnes. Total emissions from the use and disposal of transformers, industrial processes, and imported waste disposal are estimated to become 13 (0.1-537) tonnes, 89.26 (0.5-178) tonnes, 63 (3-910) tonnes, respectively, in the period 1950-2100. Congener-specific emissions are relatively high for low-chlorinated PCBs (-8, 18, 28, 31, 52, 101, 110, 118, 153, range: 0.1-118 tonnes). We find that industrial emissions are becoming important sources of PCBs and may become predominant, depending on emission scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayesh Parmar
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy, TS 502285, India
| | - Asif Qureshi
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy, TS 502285, India
- Department of Climate Change, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy, TS 502285, India
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Sohail M, Musstjab Akber Shah Eqani SA, Ilyas S, Bokhari H, Ali N, Podgorski JE, Muhammad S, Adelman D, Lohmann R. Gaseous and soil OCPs and PCBs along the Indus River, Pakistan: spatial patterns and air-soil gradients. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:531-541. [PMID: 36661269 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00363e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study presents first-hand information on the occurrence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the ambient air and surface soil along the Indus flood-plain, Pakistan. The sampling campaign was conducted at 15 site locations during 2014-15, along the Indus River (approximately 1300 km). Composite surface soil samples (N = 15) and passive air samples (N = 15) were collected for the estimation of gaseous POPs as well as air-soil exchange to evaluate the POP emission and distribution or dispersion patterns, source tracking, and contribution of the local and regional sources towards POP accumulation in the Indus River system. Among the studied POPs, levels of DDTs and PCBs were noticeably higher in ambient air (50-560 and 10-1100 pg m-3) and in soil (0.20-350 and 1.40-20 ng g-1), respectively. Regarding the spatial patterns, higher DDT concentrations (ng g-1) were detected in the air and soil samples collected from the wet mountain zone (WMZ) (p < 0.05), followed by the alluvial riverine zone (ARZ), low-lying mountain zone (LLZ), and frozen mountain zone (FMZ). The PCB data did not exhibit significant differences (p > 0.05) for the air samples, while PCB concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in soil from the LLZ, which may be associated with rapid urbanization and industrial activities in this area. The air-soil exchange of DDTs and PCBs showed net volatilization at most of the studied sites except for a few samples from the FMZ and WMZ. Results of this study about air-soil exchange gradients indicate the long range regional atmospheric transport (LRAT) of POPs to the colder areas (FMZ) of Pakistan, where these act as a secondary source of POPs in these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Sohail
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan.
- Department of Zoology, University of Central Punjab, Sargodha Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
| | | | - Shazia Ilyas
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Habib Bokhari
- Department of Microbiology, Kohsar University Murree, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Nadeem Ali
- Centre of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joel E Podgorski
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Shafi Muhammad
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Dave Adelman
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA
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Singh A, Varma A, Prasad R, Porwal S. Bioprospecting uncultivable microbial diversity in tannery effluent contaminated soil using shotgun sequencing and bio-reduction of chromium by indigenous chromate reductase genes. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 215:114338. [PMID: 36116499 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The tannery industry generates a consequential threat to the environment by producing a large amount of potentially toxic metal-containing waste. Bioremediation has been a promising approach for treating potentially toxic metals, but the efficiency of remediation in microbes is one of the factors limiting their application in tanneries waste treatment. The motivation behind the present work was to explore the microbial diversity and chromate reductase genes present in the tannery effluent-contaminated soil using metagenomics approach. The use of shotgun sequencing enabled the identification of operational parameters that influence microbiome composition and their ability to reduce Chromium (Cr) concentration. The Cr concentration in Kanpur tannery effluent contaminated soil sample was 700 ppm which is many folds than the approved permissible limit by World Health Organisation (WHO) for Cr is 100 ppm. Metagenomic Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (DNA) was extracted to explore taxonomic community structure, phylogenetic linkages, and functional profile. With a Guanine-Cytosine (GC) abundance of 54%, total of 45,163,604 high-quality filtered reads were obtained. Bacteria (83%), Archaebacteria (14%), and Viruses (3%) were discovered in the structural biodiversity. Bacteria were classified to phylum level, with Proteobacteria (52%) being the dominant population, followed by Bacteriodetes (15%), Chloroflexi (15%), Spirochaetes (7%), Thermotogae (5%), Actinobacteria (4%), and Firmicutes (1%). The OXR genes were cloned and checked for their efficiency to reduce Cr concentration. Insitu validation of OXR8 gene showed a reduction of Cr concentration from 700 ppm to 24 ppm in 72 h (96.51% reduction). The results of this study suggests that there is a huge reservoir of microbes and chromate reductase genes which are unexplored yet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayushi Singh
- Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Noida-201301, India
| | - Ajit Varma
- Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Noida-201301, India
| | - Ram Prasad
- Department of Botany, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari-845401, Bihar, India.
| | - Shalini Porwal
- Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Noida-201301, India.
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Othman N, Ismail Z, Selamat MI, Sheikh Abdul Kadir SH, Shibraumalisi NA. A Review of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Pollution in the Air: Where and How Much Are We Exposed to? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13923. [PMID: 36360801 PMCID: PMC9657815 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192113923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were widely used in industrial and commercial applications, until they were banned in the late 1970s as a result of their significant environmental pollution. PCBs in the environment gained scientific interest because of their persistence and the potential threats they pose to humans. Traditionally, human exposure to PCBs was linked to dietary ingestion. Inhalational exposure to these contaminants is often overlooked. This review discusses the occurrence and distribution of PCBs in environmental matrices and their associated health impacts. Severe PCB contamination levels have been reported in e-waste recycling areas. The occurrence of high PCB levels, notably in urban and industrial areas, might result from extensive PCB use and intensive human activity. Furthermore, PCB contamination in the indoor environment is ten-fold higher than outdoors, which may present expose risk for humans through the inhalation of contaminated air or through the ingestion of dust. In such settings, the inhalation route may contribute significantly to PCB exposure. The data on human health effects due to PCB inhalation are scarce. More epidemiological studies should be performed to investigate the inhalation dose and response mechanism and to evaluate the health risks. Further studies should also evaluate the health impact of prolonged low-concentration PCB exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naffisah Othman
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia
| | - Zaliha Ismail
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia
| | - Mohamad Ikhsan Selamat
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia
| | - Siti Hamimah Sheikh Abdul Kadir
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia
| | - Nur Amirah Shibraumalisi
- Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia
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9
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Jakovljević I, Dvoršćak M, Jagić K, Klinčić D. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Indoor Dust in Croatia: Levels, Sources, and Human Health Risks. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11848. [PMID: 36231149 PMCID: PMC9565587 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191911848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Compounds that contribute to indoor pollution are regularly investigated due to the fact that people spend most of their time indoors. Worldwide investigations have shown that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are present in indoor dust, but to the best of our knowledge, this paper reports for the first time the presence of PAHs in Croatian households. Eleven PAHs were analysed in house dust samples collected in the city of Zagreb and surroundings (N = 66). Their possible indoor sources and the associated health risks were assessed. Total mass fraction of detected PAHs ranged from 92.9 ng g-1 to 1504.1 ng g-1 (median 466.8 ng g-1), whereby four-ring compounds, Flu and Pyr, contributed the most. DahA was the only compound that did not show statistically significantly positive correlation with other analysed PAHs, indicating that it originated from different sources. Based on diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis (PCA), mixed sources contributed to PAHs levels present in Croatian households. Although our results indicate that Croatian house dusts are weakly polluted with PAHs, total ILCR values calculated for children and adults revealed that people exposed to the highest mass fractions of PAHs measured in this area are at elevated cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Jakovljević
- Environmental Hygiene Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marija Dvoršćak
- Biochemistry and Organic Analytical Chemistry Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Karla Jagić
- Biochemistry and Organic Analytical Chemistry Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Darija Klinčić
- Biochemistry and Organic Analytical Chemistry Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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10
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Rex KR, Chakraborty P. Legacy and new chlorinated persistent organic pollutants in the rivers of south India: Occurrences, sources, variations before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 437:129262. [PMID: 35897178 PMCID: PMC9233415 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
During pre-pandemic time, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were investigated in the surface water of Periyar River (PR) and Bharathappuzha River (BR) in Ernakulam and Malappuram districts of Kerala, respectively and Adyar River (AR) and Cooum River (CR) in Chennai district of Tamil Nadu. After the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, variation in OCPs and PCBs were evaluated for AR and CR. Dominance of β-HCH and γ-HCH in south Indian rivers indicate historical use of technical HCH and ongoing use of Lindane, respectively. In > 90 % sites, p,p'-DDT/ p,p'-DDE ratio was < 1, indicating past DDT usage. However during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, elevated p,p'-DDT in AR and CR reflects localized use of DDT possibly for vector control. Similarly, during the first wave of pandemic, over a 100-fold increase in PCB-52 in these rivers of Chennai mostly via surface run-off and atmospheric deposition can be reasoned with open burning of dumped waste including added waste plastic in the solid waste stream. On contrary, a significant (p < 0.05) decline of dioxin-like PCBs level, suggests lesser combustion related activities by the formal and informal industrial sectors after the lockdown phase in Tamil Nadu. Eco-toxicological risk assessment indicated a higher risk for edible fish in PR due to endosulfan.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Ronnie Rex
- Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Paromita Chakraborty
- Environmental Science and Technology Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu 603203, India.
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Montano L, Pironti C, Pinto G, Ricciardi M, Buono A, Brogna C, Venier M, Piscopo M, Amoresano A, Motta O. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Environment: Occupational and Exposure Events, Effects on Human Health and Fertility. TOXICS 2022; 10:365. [PMID: 35878270 PMCID: PMC9323099 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10070365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In the last decade or so, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) garnered renewed attention in the scientific community due to new evidence pointing at their continued presence in the environment and workplaces and the potential human risks related to their presence. PCBs move from the environment to humans through different routes; the dominant pathway is the ingestion of contaminated foods (fish, seafood and dairy products), followed by inhalation (both indoor and outdoor air), and, to a lesser extent, dust ingestion and dermal contact. Numerous studies reported the environmental and occupational exposure to these pollutants, deriving from building materials (flame-retardants, plasticizers, paints, caulking compounds, sealants, fluorescent light ballasts, etc.) and electrical equipment. The highest PCBs contaminations were detected in e-waste recycling sites, suggesting the need for the implementation of remediation strategies of such polluted areas to safeguard the health of workers and local populations. Furthermore, a significant correlation between PCB exposure and increased blood PCB concentrations was observed in people working in PCB-contaminated workplaces. Several epidemiological studies suggest that environmental and occupational exposure to high concentrations of PCBs is associated with different health outcomes, such as neuropsychological and neurobehavioral deficits, dementia, immune system dysfunctions, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In addition, recent studies indicate that PCBs bioaccumulation can reduce fertility, with harmful effects on the reproductive system that can be passed to offspring. In the near future, further studies are needed to assess the real effects of PCBs exposure at low concentrations for prolonged exposure in workplaces and specific indoor environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Montano
- Andrology Unit and Service of Lifestyle Medicine in UroAndrology, Local Health Authority (ASL) Salerno, Coordination Unit of the Network for Environmental and Reproductive Health (Eco-FoodFertility Project), S. Francesco di Assisi Hospital, Oliveto Citra, 84020 Salerno, Italy;
- PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Pironti
- Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (C.P.); (M.R.)
| | - Gabriella Pinto
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy; (G.P.); (A.A.)
- INBB—Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Consorzio Interuniversitario, 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Ricciardi
- Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (C.P.); (M.R.)
| | - Amalia Buono
- Research Laboratory Gentile, S.a.s., 80054 Gragnano, Italy;
| | - Carlo Brogna
- Craniomed Laboratory Group Srl, Viale degli Astronauti 45, 83038 Montemiletto, Italy;
| | - Marta Venier
- O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA;
| | - Marina Piscopo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy;
| | - Angela Amoresano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy; (G.P.); (A.A.)
- INBB—Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Consorzio Interuniversitario, 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Oriana Motta
- Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (C.P.); (M.R.)
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12
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Lin C, Zeng Z, Xu R, Liang W, Guo Y, Huo X. Risk assessment of PBDEs and PCBs in dust from an e-waste recycling area of China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 803:150016. [PMID: 34525731 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widely used in outdated electronic and electrical products. In the present study, dust samples from houses, kindergartens, and roads were collected in Guiyu, where informal e-waste recycling activities have been sustained since the 1980s. Haojiang was chosen as a reference site without e-waste pollution. A total of 20 PBDE congeners and 18 PCB congeners was measured. Concentrations of total PBDEs and PCBs in dust samples from Guiyu were significantly higher than those from Haojiang. In Guiyu, kindergarten dust had the highest concentration of PCBs in these three typical environments, whereas the concentration of PBDEs showed no significant difference. Concentrations of PBDEs in Haojiang house dust were found significantly higher than other two environmental dusts. According to the questionnaires, we found that factors such as shoe cabinets, electrical products, and potted plants might affect PBDE and PCB concentrations in house dust. Daily intake of PBDEs and PCBs via dust ingestion was estimated after correction by their house, kindergarten, and road dust concentrations. The mean estimated daily intake (EDI) of PBDEs for Guiyu children was far lower than the oral reference dose recommended by the environmental protection agency (EPA). The Guiyu children seem to have a higher trend of daily intakes of PCBs although their EDIs not being calculated accurately due to the low detection rate. Child exposure to PBDEs via dust ingestion in Guiyu was 36 times higher than those in Haojiang. This indicates that children from e-waste-polluted areas stay in surroundings with heavy burdens of PBDEs, even PCBs. The risk to their health from contaminants is a severe concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciming Lin
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhijun Zeng
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruibin Xu
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China
| | - Wanting Liang
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China
| | - Yufeng Guo
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China
| | - Xia Huo
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China.
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13
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Klinčić D, Tariba Lovaković B, Jagić K, Dvoršćak M. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and the multi-element profile of house dust in Croatia: Indoor sources, influencing factors of their accumulation and health risk assessment for humans. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 800:149430. [PMID: 34399331 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Given the large amount of time people spend indoors today, human exposure to indoor contaminants causes increasing public health concerns. The present study reports for the first time the levels of 7 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners, and 18 trace elements measured in dust samples collected in 68 households from Zagreb, Croatia. Based on the obtained data from dust analysis and the questionnaire on the house characteristics and habits of the residents, we aimed to assess the possible indoor sources of PBDEs/elements, and the associated health risks. Mass concentrations of ΣPBDE ranged from 0.16 and 200.09 ng g-1 dust (median 4.19 ng g-1 dust). The most frequently detected congeners were BDE-99 and BDE-183 found in >88% of samples, while for trace elements, Al, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu were found at the highest concentrations (enumerated in the descending order). The regression analysis indicated that renovation, number of residents and hours spent using electronic devices are significant predictors for determining PBDE dust concentrations, while the house age, and the house area were identified as the most important contributors for most trace elements. Our health risk assessment considering dust ingestion and dermal absorption of analyzed dust indicated that no adverse health effects are expected in toddlers and adults from exposure to PBDEs or trace elements in house dust. However, calculating the worst case exposure scenario based on the maximum measured concentrations and high dust intake rates, it was estimated that there is a risk of potential adverse health effects for Co (HI > 1). Even though the cases of high exposure to toxic elements from dust are sporadic, and not common among the general population, this exposure scenario should be included whenever assessing the background exposure of children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darija Klinčić
- Biochemistry and Organic Analytical Chemistry Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10001 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Blanka Tariba Lovaković
- Analytical Toxicology and Mineral Metabolism Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10001 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Karla Jagić
- Biochemistry and Organic Analytical Chemistry Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10001 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marija Dvoršćak
- Biochemistry and Organic Analytical Chemistry Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10001 Zagreb, Croatia
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Aslam I, Baqar M, Qadir A, Mumtaz M, Li J, Zhang G. Polychlorinated biphenyls in indoor dust from urban dwellings of Lahore, Pakistan: Congener profile, toxicity equivalency, and human health implications. INDOOR AIR 2021; 31:1417-1426. [PMID: 33459414 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study is the pioneer assessment of the PCBs in indoor dust particles (from air conditioners) of an urbanized megacity from South Asian. The ∑35 PCB concentration ranged from 0.27 to 152.9 ng/g (mean: 24.84 ± 22.10 ng/g). The tri- and tetra-PCBs were dominant homologues, contributing 57.36% of the total PCB concentrations. The mean levels of Σ8 -dioxin-like (DL), Σ6 -indicator PCBs and WHO2005 -TEQ for DL-PCBs were 2.22 ± 2.55 ng/g, 9.49 ± 8.04 ng/g and 4.77 ± 4.89 pg/g, respectively. The multiple linear regression indicated a significant correlation of dusting frequency (p = 1.06 × 10-04) and age of the house (p = 1.02 × 10-06) with PCB concentrations in indoor environment. The spatial variation of PCB profile revealed relatively higher concentrations from sites near to illegal waste burning spots, electrical locomotive workshops, and grid stations. Human health risk assessment of PCBs for adults and toddlers through all three exposure routes (ie, inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact) demonstrated that toddlers were vulnerable to high cancer risk (4.32 × 10-04 ), while adults were susceptible from low to moderate levels of risk (3.16 × 10-05 ). Therefore, comprehensive investigations for PCBs in the indoor settings, focusing particularly on the sensitive populations with relationship to the electronic devices, transformers, and illegal waste burning sites, are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iqra Aslam
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mujtaba Baqar
- Sustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Qadir
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mehvish Mumtaz
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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15
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Chakraborty P, Gadhavi H, Prithiviraj B, Mukhopadhyay M, Khuman SN, Nakamura M, Spak SN. Passive Air Sampling of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PAEs, DEHA, and PAHs from Informal Electronic Waste Recycling and Allied Sectors in Indian Megacities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:9469-9478. [PMID: 34029059 PMCID: PMC8476098 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Xenobiotic chemical emissions from the informal electronic waste recycling (EW) sector are emerging problem for developing countries, with scale and impacts that are yet to be evaluated. We report an intensive polyurethane foam disk passive air sampling study in four megacities in India to investigate atmospheric organic pollutants along five transects viz., EW, information technology (IT), industrial, residential, and dumpsites. Intraurban emission sources were estimated and attributed by trajectory modeling and positive matrix factorization (PMF). ∑17PCDD/Fs, ∑25PCBs, ∑7plasticizers, and ∑15PAHs concentrations ranged from 3.1 to 26 pg/m3 (14 ± 7; Avg ± SD), 0.5-52 ng/m3 (9 ± 12); 7.5-520 ng/m3, (63 ± 107) and 6-33 ng/m3 (17 ± 6), respectively. EW contributed 45% of total PCB concentrations in this study and was evidenced as a major factor by PMF. The dominance of dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs), particularly PCB-126, reflects combustion as the possible primary emission source. PCDD/Fs, PCBs and plasticizers were consistently highest at EW transect, while PAHs were maximum in industrial transect followed by EW. Concentrations of marker plasticizers (DnBP and DEHP) released during EW activities were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in Bangalore than in other cities. Toxic equivalents (TEQs) due to dl-PCBs was maximum in the EW transect and PCB-126 was the major contributor. For both youth and adult, the highest estimated inhalation risks for dl-PCBs and plasticizers were seen at the EW transect in Bangalore, followed by Chennai and New Delhi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paromita Chakraborty
- SRM Research Institute and Department of Civil Engineering SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu 603203, India4
| | - Harish Gadhavi
- Space and Atmospheric Sciences Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380009, India
| | - Balasubramanian Prithiviraj
- SRM Research Institute and Department of Civil Engineering SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu 603203, India4
| | - Moitraiyee Mukhopadhyay
- SRM Research Institute and Department of Civil Engineering SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu 603203, India4
| | - Sanjenbam Nirmala Khuman
- SRM Research Institute and Department of Civil Engineering SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu 603203, India4
| | - Masafumi Nakamura
- Hiyoshi Corporation, Kitanosho 908, Omihachiman, Shiga 523-0806, Japan
| | - Scott N Spak
- School of Planning and Public Affairs, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
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16
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Selvaraj S, Gaonkar O, Kumar B, Cincinelli A, Chakraborty P. Legacy persistent organochlorine pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface soil from the industrial corridor of South India: occurrence, sources and risk assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2021; 43:2105-2120. [PMID: 33392898 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-020-00786-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Conversion of agricultural fields into the industrial corridor under the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (SIPCOT) necessitated the investigation of soil-borne organic contaminants. This study is the first attempt to evaluate the occurrence of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils from Mambakkam and Cheyyar SIPCOT belt, along the residential, industrial and agricultural transects. Concentrations of Σ28PCBs, Σ16PAHs and OCPs were in the range 0.3-9 ng/g, 33-2934 ng/g and nd-81.4 ng/g, respectively. Residential areas showed higher OCP concentrations than other site types, probably due to their frequent use in vector control programmes. DDT isomers and α-isomer of endosulfan showed low concentrations indicating past usage of these OCPs. Principal component analysis indicated that high-temperature combustion and industrial processes might be the major sources of high molecular weight PAHs, while low-temperature combustion processes might be responsible for low molecular weight PAHs. PCBs in soil were probably attributed to unaccounted combustion processes of e-waste in the region. Carcinogenic PAHs and Σ28PCBs were higher in the industrial sites. Mean Σ28PCBs at Mambakkam (4.8 ng/g) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that at the incipient industrial corridor Cheyyar (2.7 ng/g). Lower chlorinated PCBs (3-Cl and 4-Cl) amounted to more than half of Σ28PCBs in 75% of the sites. Total toxic equivalents (TEQs) of PAHs (total BaPeq) were found to be maximum in industrial areas. Maximum contribution to TEQs due to dioxin-like-PCBs was from PCB-157, followed by PCB-189.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakthivel Selvaraj
- SRM Research Institute and Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Omkar Gaonkar
- SRM Research Institute and Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Bhupander Kumar
- Central Pollution Control Board, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi, 110032, India
| | - Alessandra Cincinelli
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", Via della Lastruccia, 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Paromita Chakraborty
- SRM Research Institute and Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India.
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Purchase D, Abbasi G, Bisschop L, Chatterjee D, Ekberg C, Ermolin M, Fedotov P, Garelick H, Isimekhai K, Kandile NG, Lundström M, Matharu A, Miller BW, Pineda A, Popoola OE, Retegan T, Ruedel H, Serpe A, Sheva Y, Surati KR, Walsh F, Wilson BP, Wong MH. Global occurrence, chemical properties, and ecological impacts of e-wastes (IUPAC Technical Report). PURE APPL CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1515/pac-2019-0502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
The waste stream of obsolete electronic equipment grows exponentially, creating a worldwide pollution and resource problem. Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) comprises a heterogeneous mix of glass, plastics (including flame retardants and other additives), metals (including rare Earth elements), and metalloids. The e-waste issue is complex and multi-faceted. In examining the different aspects of e-waste, informal recycling in developing countries has been identified as a primary concern, due to widespread illegal shipments; weak environmental, as well as health and safety, regulations; lack of technology; and inadequate waste treatment structure. For example, Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, and China have all been identified as hotspots for the disposal of e-waste. This article presents a critical examination on the chemical nature of e-waste and the resulting environmental impacts on, for example, microbial biodiversity, flora, and fauna in e-waste recycling sites around the world. It highlights the different types of risk assessment approaches required when evaluating the ecological impact of e-waste. Additionally, it presents examples of chemistry playing a role in potential solutions. The information presented here will be informative to relevant stakeholders seeking to devise integrated management strategies to tackle this global environmental concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Purchase
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology , Middlesex University , The Burroughs , London NW4 4BT , UK
| | | | - Lieselot Bisschop
- Erasmus Initiative on Dynamics of Inclusive Prosperity & Erasmus School of Law , Erasmus University Rotterdam , P.O. Box 1738 – 3000 DR , Rotterdam , Netherlands
| | - Debashish Chatterjee
- Faculty of Analytical Chemistry , University of Kalyani , Kalyani , Nadia , 741235 , India
| | - Christian Ekberg
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nuclear Chemistry and Industrial Materials Recycling , Chalmers University of Technology , SE-41296 , Göteborg , Sweden
| | - Mikhail Ermolin
- National University of Science and Technology “MISiS” , 4 Leninsky Prospect , Moscow , 119049 , Russia
| | - Petr Fedotov
- V.I. Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry , Russian Academy of Sciences , 19 Kosygin Street , Moscow , 119991 , Russia
| | - Hemda Garelick
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology , Middlesex University , The Burroughs , London NW4 4BT , UK
| | - Khadijah Isimekhai
- Ateda Ventures Limited , P.P. Box 13394 , Benin City , Edo State , Nigeria
| | - Nadia G. Kandile
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Women , Ain Shams University , Heliopolis , 11757 , Cairo , Egypt
| | - Mari Lundström
- Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering (CMET), School of Chemical Engineering , Aalto University , P.O. Box 16200 , AALTO , Finland
| | - Avtar Matharu
- Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, Department of Chemistry , University of York , York , YO10 5DD , UK
| | | | - Antonio Pineda
- Departamento de Química Orgánica , Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Marie Curie (C-3), Ctra Nnal IVa, Km 396 , Córdoba , E-14014 , Spain
| | - Oluseun E. Popoola
- Department of Chemical Science , Yaba College of Technology , Lagos , Nigeria
| | - Teodora Retegan
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nuclear Chemistry and Industrial Materials Recycling , Chalmers University of Technology , SE-41296 , Göteborg , Sweden
| | - Heinz Ruedel
- Department Environmental Specimen Bank and Elemental Analysis , Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Fraunhofer IME) , Schmallenberg , 57392 , Germany
| | - Angela Serpe
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture (DICAAR) and INSTM Unit , University of Cagliari and Environmental Geology and Geoengineering Institute of the National Research Council (IGAG-CNR) , Via Marengo 2 , Cagliari , 09123 , Italy
| | | | - Kiran R. Surati
- Department of Chemistry , Sardar Patel University , Vallabh Vidyanagar , Anand , Gujarat , 388120 , India
| | - Fiona Walsh
- Maynooth University , Maynooth , Co Kildare , Ireland
| | - Benjamin P. Wilson
- Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering (CMET), School of Chemical Engineering , Aalto University , P.O. Box 16200 , AALTO , Finland
| | - Ming Hung Wong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control and State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control , Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China; Consortium on Health, Environment, Education and Research (CHEER), Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong , Tai Po , Hong Kong , China
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18
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Anh HQ, Watanabe I, Minh TB, Tue NM, Tuyen LH, Viet PH, Takahashi S. Polychlorinated biphenyls in settled dusts from an end-of-life vehicle processing area and normal house dusts in northern Vietnam: Occurrence, potential sources, and risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 728:138823. [PMID: 32570316 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations and congener-specific profiles of total 209 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were investigated in settled dust samples collected from end-of-life vehicle (ELV) processing, urban, and rural areas in northern Vietnam. Concentrations of total 209 PCBs, seven indicator congeners, and twelve dioxin-like PCBs decreased in the order: ELV working > ELV living ≈ urban > rural dusts. Penta- and hexa-CBs dominated the homolog patterns in all the samples with higher proportions in the ELV dusts compared to the urban and rural house dusts. The abundance and pattern of PCBs in the ELV dusts suggest on-going emissions of these compounds related to processing of vehicular oils and lubricants containing PCBs, whereas the presence of PCBs in the urban and rural house dusts indicate long-time releases. However, levels of some PCBs identified as by-products of pigment manufacturing (e.g., PCB-11 and PCB-209) were higher in the urban house dusts than those from other locations, resulting from human activities utilizing paints and pigments. Daily intake doses (ID), non-carcinogenic hazard quotient (HQ), and lifetime cancer risk (CR) of PCBs through dust ingestion were estimated for ELV workers and residents in the studied areas. The workers and children in the ELV sites were estimated to be at higher risk of PCB exposure, however almost all of the HQ < 1 and CR < 10-4 indicate no serious risk related to dust-bound PCBs.
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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
| | - Tu Binh Minh
- Faculty of Chemistry, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi 100000, Viet Nam
| | - 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
| | - Shin Takahashi
- Center of Advanced Technology for the Environment (CATE), Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama 790-8566, Japan.
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19
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Dai Q, Xu X, Eskenazi B, Asante KA, Chen A, Fobil J, Bergman Å, Brennan L, Sly PD, Nnorom IC, Pascale A, Wang Q, Zeng EY, Zeng Z, Landrigan PJ, Bruné Drisse MN, Huo X. Severe dioxin-like compound (DLC) contamination in e-waste recycling areas: An under-recognized threat to local health. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 139:105731. [PMID: 32315892 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) burning and recycling activities have become one of the main emission sources of dioxin-like compounds (DLCs). Workers involved in e-waste recycling operations and residents living near e-waste recycling sites (EWRS) are exposed to high levels of DLCs. Epidemiological and experimental in vivo studies have reported a range of interconnected responses in multiple systems with DLC exposure. However, due to the compositional complexity of DLCs and difficulties in assessing mixture effects of the complex mixture of e-waste-related contaminants, there are few studies concerning human health outcomes related to DLC exposure at informal EWRS. In this paper, we have reviewed the environmental levels and body burdens of DLCs at EWRS and compared them with the levels reported to be associated with observable adverse effects to assess the health risks of DLC exposure at EWRS. In general, DLC concentrations at EWRS of many countries have been decreasing in recent years due to stricter regulations on e-waste recycling activities, but the contamination status is still severe. Comparison with available data from industrial sites and well-known highly DLC contaminated areas shows that high levels of DLCs derived from crude e-waste recycling processes lead to elevated body burdens. The DLC levels in human blood and breast milk at EWRS are higher than those reported in some epidemiological studies that are related to various health impacts. The estimated total daily intakes of DLCs for people in EWRS far exceed the WHO recommended total daily intake limit. It can be inferred that people living in EWRS with high DLC contamination have higher health risks. Therefore, more well-designed epidemiological studies are urgently needed to focus on the health effects of DLC pollution in EWRS. Continuous monitoring of the temporal trends of DLC levels in EWRS after actions is of highest importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyuan Dai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, China
| | - Xijin Xu
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, China
| | - Brenda Eskenazi
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | | | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Julius Fobil
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Ghana
| | - Åke Bergman
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Sweden; Department of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Sweden; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, China
| | - Lesley Brennan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter D Sly
- Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Antonio Pascale
- Department of Toxicology, University of the Republic, Uruguay
| | - Qihua Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, China
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, China
| | - Zhijun Zeng
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, China
| | | | - Marie-Noel Bruné Drisse
- Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Xia Huo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, China.
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Bangalore Thimmadasiah N, Joshi TK. India: country report on children's environmental health. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2020; 35:27-39. [PMID: 31926103 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2019-0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Children contribute substantially to the burden of disease in India. Most common are problems with outdoor and household air pollution, with solutions not immediately apparent or implementable. Children are also often exposed to heavy metals, industrial chemicals and pesticides. Despite advances in some regions, many children still do not have adequate access to clean water and improved sanitation. Infectious diseases remain a problem, especially for children living in poverty. The children of these regions are now facing the dual problems of undernutrition and stunting on the one hand, and overnutrition and obesity on the other.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tushar Kant Joshi
- Maulana Azad Medical College, Occupational and Environmental Programme, New Delhi, India
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Prithiviraj B, Chakraborty P. Atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyls from an urban site near informal electronic waste recycling area and a suburban site of Chennai city, India. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 710:135526. [PMID: 31784153 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies evidenced informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling as a potential source of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the metropolitan environment of India. Given the recent evidences on the release of hazardous organic compounds from the informal e-waste recycling workshops in the Chennai city, we have conducted high volume air sampling in an urban site close to the informal e-waste recycling corridor and in a suburban site located about 35 km away from the urban center. Weekly diurnal gaseous and particulate phase samples were collected from both urban and suburban sites during summer and winter samples were collected only from suburban site. Mean atmospheric PCB levels in the urban site (Avg ± Stdev, 46 ± 16 ng/m3) is several orders of magnitude higher than suburban summer (10 ± 12 ng/m3) and winter (4 ± 3 ng/m3). Back trajectories originating from the land seems to have impacted the samples recorded with maximum PCB concentration. No significant difference was seen between summer and winter atmospheric PCBs in the suburban site. In urban site, PCB-52 and dioxin like PCBs (dl-PCBs) have increased from the past observations with maximum PCB-52 concentration in night time samples. Positive matrix factorization source-receptor model outputs suggest that in the urban centers, open burning in municipal dumpsites is a major source for PCB-52, while dl-PCBs were related to e-waste recycling by the informal sector. Exponential increment in most toxic non-ortho dl-PCBs proclaims the severity of on-going sources which contributed to the high toxic equivalency (TEQs) upto 105 pg TEQ/m3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasubramanian Prithiviraj
- Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Research Institute, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Paromita Chakraborty
- Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Research Institute, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Okeme J, Arrandale VH. Electronic Waste Recycling: Occupational Exposures and Work-Related Health Effects. Curr Environ Health Rep 2019; 6:256-268. [DOI: 10.1007/s40572-019-00255-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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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.
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Chakraborty P, Sampath S, Mukhopadhyay M, Selvaraj S, Bharat GK, Nizzetto L. Baseline investigation on plasticizers, bisphenol A, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals in the surface soil of the informal electronic waste recycling workshops and nearby open dumpsites in Indian metropolitan cities. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 248:1036-1045. [PMID: 31091636 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Electronic waste (e-waste) has emerged as a global environmental problem because of its massive production volume and un-structured management policy. Since the rate of e-waste accumulation is startling and the combinatorial effects of toxicants are complex, we have investigated six phthalic acid esters (PAEs), bis (2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA)), bisphenol A (BPA), sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and eight heavy metals (HMs) in the surface soil of e-waste recycling workshops and nearby open dumpsites in four metropolitan cities of India viz., New Delhi (north), Kolkata (east), Mumbai (west) and Chennai (south). Average concentration of ∑16PAHs (1259 ng/g), ∑6PAEs (396 ng/g), BPA (140 ng/g) and ∑8HM (1288 mg/kg) in the informal e-waste recycling sites were higher than ∑16PAHs (1029 ng/g), ∑6PAEs (93 ng/g), BPA (121 ng/g) and ∑8HM (675 mg/kg) in dumpsites. Almost 50-90% of BPA, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), ∑7carcPAHs and copper (Cu) were from e-waste sites predominantly from metal recovery sites (EWR). Extensive combustion of e-waste particularly in the EWR sites at New Moore market and Pudupet in Chennai and Wire Lane, Kurla of Mumbai can explain the segregation of diethyl phthalate (DEP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and carcinogenic PAHs in the first principal component (PC-1). Copper and lead along with highly abundant plasticizers like DEHP, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and BPA were loaded in PC-2. Combined impact of burning the plastic cables in e-waste and acid leaching process especially at Mandoli in New Delhi might have driven this result. Loading of chrysene, DEHA and low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs mostly in dumpsite soil might have resulted from incomplete combustion of dumped e-waste. Copper was found to exhibit the highest pollution estimated by geo-accumulation index (Igeo). Maximum estimated carcinogenic risk for adults via dermal contact was due to copper, followed by chromium, lead and nickel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paromita Chakraborty
- SRM Research Institute, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India; Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India.
| | - Srimurali Sampath
- SRM Research Institute, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Moitraiyee Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Sakthivel Selvaraj
- SRM Research Institute, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | | | - Luca Nizzetto
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
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Škrbić BD, Marinković V. Occurrence, seasonal variety of organochlorine compounds in street dust of Novi Sad, Serbia, and its implication for risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 662:895-902. [PMID: 30708304 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The paper presents a study of organochlorine compounds in street dust, an often forgotten aspect of urban environmental pollution. Six different polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and eighteen organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were monitored in terms of levels, distribution, seasonal variation and health risks. Street dust samples were collected from fifteen urban locations in Novi Sad including schools, recreational areas, residential and industrial zones. Street dust concentration of PCBs ranged from less than the limit of detection (<LOD) to 12.1 ng g-1 (mean = 0.58 ng g-1) in summer and from <LOD to 3.82 ng g-1 (mean = 0.45 ng g-1) in winter. Among the investigated OCPs, only dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) were detected - their concentration varied from <LOD to 34.7 ng g-1 (mean = 6.2 ng g-1 and median = 1.4 ng g-1) in summer to <LOD to 50.5 ng g-1 (mean = 7.1 ng g-1 and median = 2.0 ng g-1) in winter. Principal component analysis indicated a positive correlation among PCB 101, PCB 153 and pH as well as between PCB 138 and organic matter. Regression analysis revealed that distribution trends of DDTs between the soil and street dust samples are significantly correlated in the recreational areas. The average level of total lifetime carcinogenic risk (TLCR) for PCBs (3.7 × 10-9) and DDTs (3.6 × 10-9) found in Novi Sad street dust samples were well below the unacceptable level of 10-6, indicating that the lifetime cancer risk was acceptable. It was also found that the seasonal variations were not significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biljana D Škrbić
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, Bulevar cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Vesna Marinković
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, Bulevar cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; Higher Education Technical School of Professional Studies, Školska 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
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Children's Environmental Health in South and Southeast Asia: Networking for Better Child Health Outcomes. Ann Glob Health 2019; 85. [PMID: 30873796 PMCID: PMC6571144 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.2403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Children are particularly vulnerable to environmental hazards because they receive higher doses of pollutants in any given environment and often do not have equitable access to social protection mechanisms such as environmental and health care services. The World Health Organization established a global network of collaborating centres that address children’s environmental health (CEH). The network developed a focus on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and is broadening its reach by conducting regional workshops for CEH.
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Anh HQ, Watanabe I, Tomioka K, Minh TB, Takahashi S. Characterization of 209 polychlorinated biphenyls in street dust from northern Vietnam: Contamination status, potential sources, and risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 652:345-355. [PMID: 30366335 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A full congener-specific determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was conducted for street dusts in some areas in northern Vietnam. Total 209 PCB concentrations (median and range) of 14 (2.2-120), 11 (6.6-32), and 0.25 (0.10-0.97) ng g-1 were measured in the street dusts from an industrial park, an urban area, and a rural commune, respectively, suggesting environmental loads of PCBs related to industrialization and urbanization in northern Vietnam. PCB patterns of street dusts from the industrial park were dominated by lightly chlorinated homologs (tri- and tetra-CBs), while more highly chlorinated homologs (penta- and hexa-CBs) were the major contributors to total PCBs in the urban samples, indicating different emission sources. Linear correlations of log-transformed sum of 7 indicator congeners with total PCBs and sum of dioxin-like PCBs were observed. PCB-11, an inadvertently produced congener of pigment manufacturing processes, was detected in all the samples with more elevated proportions in the urban and rural areas than industrial park. Our results have revealed complex emission sources of PCBs in the study areas, including both historical (e.g., the past usage of imported PCB-containing oils and old electric equipment) and current sources such as releases from industrial activities and increasing use of new consumer products. Occupationally exposed persons (e.g., street sweepers, street vendors, and traffic policemen) and children in the urban and industrial areas were estimated to receive much higher doses of dust-bound PCBs than general population, suggesting the need for appropriate protection conditions.
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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; The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences (UGAS-EU), Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama 790-8566, Japan; Faculty of Chemistry, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, 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
| | - Keidai Tomioka
- Center of Advanced Technology for the Environment (CATE), Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama 790-8566, Japan
| | - Tu Binh Minh
- Faculty of Chemistry, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, 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.
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Subhavana KL, Qureshi A, Chakraborty P, Tiwari AK. Mercury and Organochlorines in the Terrestrial Environment of Schirmacher Hills, Antarctica. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 102:13-18. [PMID: 30443660 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-018-2497-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We report the levels of mercury (Hg) and nine organochlorine pesticides [OCPs: α-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH, α-Endosulfan, β-Endosulfan, Endosulfan sulfate, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD)] in the terrestrial environment (moss and soil) and water (OCPs only) of Schirmacher Hills, Antarctica. This area has never been studied for mercury and not for OCPs since 1988. Mercury levels in moss, 66 ± 37 ng/g dry weight (dw), are comparable to other Antarctic locations. Levels of α-HCH, below detection to 4.48 ng/g dw, and p,p'-DDE, below detection to 31 ng/g dw, in mosses are lower or marginally higher than other Antarctic locations. No other OCPs were detected in moss. None of the OCPs were detected in soil. This suggests that Schirmacher Hills may be considered as a background site with respect to mercury and analyzed OCPs, despite the operation of two old research stations (Maitri, est. 1989, and Novolazarevskaya, est. 1961) in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- K L Subhavana
- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy, TS, 502285, India
| | - A Qureshi
- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy, TS, 502285, India.
| | - P Chakraborty
- SRM University, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram, TN, 603203, India
| | - A K Tiwari
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Vasco da Gama, Goa, 403804, India
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Chakraborty P, Selvaraj S, Nakamura M, Prithiviraj B, Cincinelli A, Bang JJ. PCBs and PCDD/Fs in soil from informal e-waste recycling sites and open dumpsites in India: Levels, congener profiles and health risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 621:930-938. [PMID: 29223911 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Growth of informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling sector is an emerging problem for India. The presence of halogenated compounds in e-wastes may result in the formation of persistent organic pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) during recycling processes. We therefore investigated PCBs and PCDD/Fs in surface soils explicitly from the informal e-waste recycling sites and nearby open dumpsites of major metropolitan cities from four corners of India, viz., New Delhi (North), Kolkata (East), Mumbai (West) and Chennai (South). In the informal e-waste recycling sites, the range of Σ26PCBs (0.4-488ng/g) and ƩPCDD/Fs (1.0-10.6ng/g) were higher than Ʃ26PCBs (0.3-21ng/g) and ƩPCDD/Fs (0.15-7.3ng/g) from open dumpsites. In the e-waste sites, ƩPCDDs were found with increasing trend from ƩTetraCDD to OctaCDD, whereas ƩPCDFs showed a reverse trend. The dominance of PCDF congeners and maximum toxicity equivalents (TEQ) for both PCDDs (17pg TEQ/g) and PCDFs (82pg TEQ/g) at Mandoli in New Delhi has been related to intensive precious metal recovery process using acid bath. Among dumpsites, highest TEQ for PCDD/Fs was observed at Kodangaiyur dumpsite of Chennai (CNDS-02, 45pg TEQ/g). Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model identified distinct congener pattern based on the functional activities, such as e-waste dismantling, shredding, precious metal recovery and open burning in dumpsites. E-waste metal recovery factor was loaded with 86-91% of PCB-77, -105, -114, -118 and 30% of PCB-126, possibly associated with the burning of wires during the copper extraction process. Almost 70% of the Ʃ26PCB concentrations was comprised of the dioxin-like PCB congeners with a maximum concentration of 437ng/g at New Moore market in Chennai, followed by Wire Lane (102ng/g), in Mumbai. We speculate that PCB-126 might have resulted from combustion of plastic materials in e-waste stream and dumped waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paromita Chakraborty
- SRM Research Institute, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203, India; Department of Civil Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203, India.
| | - Sakthivel Selvaraj
- SRM Research Institute, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Masafumi Nakamura
- Hiyoshi Corporation, Kitanosho 908, Omihachiman, Shiga 523-0806, Japan
| | | | - Alessandra Cincinelli
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", Via della Lastruccia, 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - John J Bang
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Geospatial Science, NCCU, Durham, NC, USA
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Awasthi AK, Li J. Assessing resident awareness on e-waste management in Bangalore, India: a preliminary case study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:11163-11172. [PMID: 29502260 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-1037-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The generation of e-waste has increased significantly in India, and the informal recycling of e-waste has adverse effects on environment and public health. In this article, the E-waste management is evaluated in accordance from the resident's awareness perspective in Bangalore city, India. The survey data revealed that about 58% male and 42% female responded and 35% of the participants belong to age range between 18 and 25 years. About 60% of respondent's education level was either graduate or post graduate, 27% high school to higher school, 10% higher educated (> post graduate), and 3% primary to middle. Only 30% of the respondents were confident with e-waste rules and regulation, while 39% of the respondents were of very little information. Indian e-waste management has been improving for the last few years and it continues to develop. Therefore, the findings can be valuable for better understanding the resident's awareness for e-waste management and also need to promote the environmentally sound management of e-waste in Bangalore, India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Kumar Awasthi
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Key Laboratory for Solid Waste Management and Environment Safety, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jinhui Li
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- Key Laboratory for Solid Waste Management and Environment Safety, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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Anh HQ, Tomioka K, Tue NM, Tri TM, Minh TB, Takahashi S. PBDEs and novel brominated flame retardants in road dust from northern Vietnam: Levels, congener profiles, emission sources and implications for human exposure. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 197:389-398. [PMID: 29366955 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.01.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and selected novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) were examined in road dust samples collected from three representative areas in northern Vietnam, including seven inner districts of Hanoi metropolitan area, an industrial park in Thai Nguyen province and a rural commune in Bac Giang province. This study aims to provide basic information on the contamination status, potential sources and human exposure to PBDEs and NBFRs associated with road dust in northern Vietnam. PBDEs were detected in all the samples at a range of 0.91-56 ng g-1 with a median value of 16 ng g-1. PBDE concentrations in road dusts from urban sites were significantly higher than those from industrial zone and rural area, suggesting their environmental load related to urbanization in northern Vietnam. BDE-209, major component of deca-BDE technical mixtures, dominated the congener patterns in all samples, accounting for 60.8-91.9% of total PBDE levels. Decabromodiphenyl ethane, an alternative of deca-BDE, was observed in a detection frequency of 100% in urban and industrial areas and at levels comparable to those of BDE-209. Other NBFRs such as pentabromoethylbenzene, hexabromobiphenyl and 1,2-bis-(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane, were found at trace levels. Daily intake doses of PBDEs via road dust ingestion from 2.3 × 10-5 to 0.11 ng kg-bw-1 d-1 were estimated for residents in study areas, indicating a negligible risk with hazard indexes of 10-9 to 10-5 for selected congeners such as BDE-47, 99, 153 and 209.
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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; The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences (UGAS-EU), Ehime Univeristy, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, 790-8566, Japan; Faculty of Chemistry, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Keidai Tomioka
- 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; Center for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Tran Manh Tri
- Faculty of Chemistry, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Tu Binh Minh
- Faculty of Chemistry, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, 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.
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Sohail M, Eqani SAMAS, Podgorski J, Bhowmik AK, Mahmood A, Ali N, Sabo-Attwood T, Bokhari H, Shen H. Persistent organic pollutant emission via dust deposition throughout Pakistan: Spatial patterns, regional cycling and their implication for human health risks. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 618:829-837. [PMID: 29146075 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In the current study, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in outdoor dustfall was monitored for the first time along the Indus river system of Pakistan. Among the studied OCPs (ng/g, dry weight), DDTs (0.16-62) were the predominant contaminants identified in deposited dust followed by HCHs (0.1-10.2), HCB (0.09-7.4) and chlordanes (0.1-2.8). The indicative diagnostic ratio for DDTs and HCHs suggested recent emission of DDTs as well as historical emission of both chemicals in regions where they were used for crop protection and malarial control. The levels of ∑31PCBs (ng/g, dry weight) in dust ranged from 0.95-125, and compositional profiles suggested arochlor-1248, -1254 commercial mixtures as source. A few exceptions were samples from urban areas that reflected the use of aroclor-1260, and-1262 and/or unintentional leakage from several industrial processes. The WHO05-TEQ values for dioxin-like PCBs (with major contributions of PCB-126) were found to be 0.07-34.5 (median; 1.87) pg TEQg-1dw for all the studied samples. Correlation analysis identified that DDTs, HCHs, HCB and PCBs were significantly associated (r=90; p<0.01) with dusts collected in proximity to urban centers with widespread anthropogenic activities in these areas. A few cases where high levels of POPs from remote mountain highlands were detected, point to the potential for long range transport of these chemicals. Human risk assessment analysis of contaminated dust showed that DDTs and PCBs are major constituent chemicals of concern with regard to the development of cancer in children, with ingestion being the main route of exposure of dust-borne DDTs (0.12-1.03×10-6) and PCBs (0.86-12.43×10-6).
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Sohail
- Public Health and Environment Division, Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Syed Ali Musstjab Akber Shah Eqani
- Public Health and Environment Division, Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan; Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, PR China.
| | - Joel Podgorski
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | | | - Adeel Mahmood
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Government College Women University, Sialkot, Pakistan
| | - Nadeem Ali
- Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tara Sabo-Attwood
- Department of Environmental & Global Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Habib Bokhari
- Public Health and Environment Division, Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Heqing Shen
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, PR China
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Bakhiyi B, Gravel S, Ceballos D, Flynn MA, Zayed J. Has the question of e-waste opened a Pandora's box? An overview of unpredictable issues and challenges. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 110:173-192. [PMID: 29122313 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Despite regulatory efforts and position papers, electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) remains ill-managed as evidenced by the extremely low rates of proper e-waste recycling (e-recycling) worldwide, ongoing illegal shipments to developing countries and constantly reported human health issues and environmental pollution. The objectives of this review are, first, to expose the complexity of e-waste problems, and then to suggest possible upstream and downstream solutions. Exploring e-waste issues is akin to opening a Pandora's box. Thus, a review of prevailing e-waste management practices reveals complex and often intertwined gaps, issues and challenges. These include the absence of any consistent definition of e-waste to date, a prevalent toxic potential still involving already banned or restricted hazardous components such as heavy metals and persistent and bioaccumulative organic compounds, a relentless growth in e-waste volume fueled by planned obsolescence and unsustainable consumption, problematic e-recycling processes, a fragile formal e-recycling sector, sustained and more harmful informal e-recycling practices, and more convoluted and unpredictable patterns of illegal e-waste trade. A close examination of the e-waste legacy contamination reveals critical human health concerns, including significant occupational exposure during both formal and informal e-recycling, and persistent environmental contamination, particularly in some developing countries. However, newly detected e-waste contaminants as well as unexpected sources and environmental fates of contaminants are among the emerging issues that raise concerns. Moreover, scientific knowledge gaps remain regarding the complexity and magnitude of the e-waste legacy contamination, specifically, a comprehensive characterization of e-waste contaminants, information on the scale of legacy contamination in developing countries and on the potential environmental damage in developed countries, and a stronger body of evidence of adverse health effects specifically ascribed to e-waste contaminants. However, the knowledge accumulated to date is sufficient to raise awareness and concern among all stakeholders. Potential solutions to curb e-waste issues should be addressed comprehensively, by focusing on two fronts: upstream and downstream. Potential upstream solutions should focus on more rational and eco-oriented consumer habits in order to decrease e-waste quantities while fostering ethical and sustained commitments from manufacturers, which include a limited usage of hazardous compounds and an optimal increase in e-waste recyclability. At the downstream level, solutions should include suitable and pragmatic actions to progressively reduce the illegal e-waste trade particularly through international cooperation and coordination, better enforcement of domestic laws, and monitoring in both exporting and receiving countries, along with the supervised integration of the informal sector into the recycling system of developing countries and global expansion of formal e-waste collection and recycling activities. Downstream solutions should also introduce stronger reverse logistics, together with upgraded, more affordable, and eco-friendly and worker-friendly e-recycling technologies to ensure that benefits are derived fully and safely from the great economic potential of e-waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bouchra Bakhiyi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sabrina Gravel
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Diana Ceballos
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael A Flynn
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Joseph Zayed
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Gu F, Guo J, Zhang W, Summers PA, Hall P. From waste plastics to industrial raw materials: A life cycle assessment of mechanical plastic recycling practice based on a real-world case study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 601-602:1192-1207. [PMID: 28605837 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical recycling of waste plastics is an environmental solution to the problem of waste plastic disposal, and has already become a common practice in industry. However, limited information can be found on either the industralised plastic recycling or the recycled materials, despite the use of recycled plastics has already extended to automobile production. This study investigates the life cycle environmental impacts of mechanical plastic recycling practice of a plastic recycling company in China. Waste plastics from various sources, such as agricultural wastes, plastic product manufacturers, collected solid plastic wastes and parts dismantled from waste electric and electronic equipments, are processed in three routes with products end up in different markets. The results of life cycle assessments show that the extrusion process has the largest environmental impacts, followed by the use of fillers and additives. Compared to production of virgin plastics and composites, the mechanical recycling is proved to be a superior alternative in most environmental aspects. Substituting virgin plastic composites with recycled plastic composites has achieved the highest environmental benefits, as virgin composite production has an impact almost 4 times higher that of the recycled composite production in each ReCiPe endpoint damage factor. Sensitivity analysis shows that the coverage of collecting network contribute affect little to overall environmental impact, and centralisation plays an important role in reducing overall environmental impacts. Among the fillers and additives, impact modifiers account for the most significant contributions to the environmental impacts of recycled composites. This study provides necessary information about the existing industrialised plastic recycling practice, and recommendations are given. Research implications are presented with the purpose to achieve higher substitution rate and lower environmental impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Gu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Nottingham University, Ningbo 315100, China
| | - Jianfeng Guo
- Center of Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Institute of Policy and Management, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Wujie Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Peter A Summers
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Nottingham University, Ningbo 315100, China
| | - Philip Hall
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Nottingham University, Ningbo 315100, China
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