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Cao X, Wu X, Lu R, Zheng X, Mai B. Persistent organic pollutants in feathers of various terrestrial and aquatic bird species: Interspecies difference and source apportionment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 474:134810. [PMID: 38850936 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Feathers are regarded as important nondestructive biomonitoring tools for bird pollutants. However, external contamination of feathers by different pollutants in different bird species remains unclear. In the present study, the feathers of 16 bird species, including terrestrial, freshwater, and marine birds, were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Bird feathers from an abandoned e-waste recycling site had higher POP concentrations and were more correlated with the POP muscle concentrations than those from the less polluted areas. The significant and positive POP correlations between the feathers and muscles of different species indicate that feathers are a good indicator of inter-species and spatial pollution. For individual species, the most hydrophobic POPs in feathers, such as hepta- to deca-polybrominated diphenyl ethers, had higher proportions than in muscles and worse correlations with muscle POPs compared with other POPs. Results of the chemical mass balance (CMB) model revealed that the gaseous phase, internal pollution, and atmospheric particle phase were the main contributors to low-, medium-, and high-hydrophobicity POPs in feathers, respectively. Overall, this study provides a preliminary but meaningful framework for distinguishing between internal and external contamination in feathers and gives information concerning the fitness of feathers as POP indicators with specific physicochemical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingpei Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaodan Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ruifeng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaobo Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Bixian Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China
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Yu H, Lin T, Hu L, Lammel G, Zhao S, Sun X, Wu X, Guo Z. Sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments of the East China marginal seas: Role of unintentionally-produced PCBs. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 338:122707. [PMID: 37816403 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122707] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
The production and use of intentionally-produced polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in China have a short history compared with countries of North America and Europe, where technical PCB mixtures were manufactured in large amounts for decades before being banned. Unintentionally-produced PCB emissions increased dramatically in China, leading to unique profiles of PCB burdens. This study first time evaluated 208 individual PCB congeners at 94 sites from surface sediments of the East China Marginal Seas (ECMSs) and explored their sources. Non-technical PCBs transported from atmospheric transport and river discharge played a dominant role in most areas of the ECMSs, while historical residuals of technical PCBs occupied the fine-grained sediments in muddy areas of the central Yellow Sea (YS), regarding to the low sedimentation rate in the central YS. Furthermore, emissions from Taizhou located on the coast of the East China Sea (ECS), which is an important electronic waste dismantling site in East China, contributed additional technical PCBs to the inner shelf of the ECS. Our results indicate that non-technical PCBs have become the dominant PCB species in the ECMSs, and emphasize the synergistic effects of large riverine input, long-range atmospheric transport, and muddy shelf deposition on PCB source and sink of in marginal seas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Yu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai, 202162, China; Multiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tian Lin
- College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Limin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences and Technology, MOE, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Gerhard Lammel
- Multiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128, Mainz, Germany; RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Shizhen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Xueshi Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xiao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences and Technology, MOE, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Zhigang Guo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai, 202162, China.
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Wang S, Wang Q, Yuan Z, Wu X. Application of the multimedia fugacity model in predicting the environmental behaviors of PCBs: Based on field measurements and level III fugacity model simulation. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 263:115286. [PMID: 37481858 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115286] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The comprehensive understanding of PCBs' fate has been impeded by the lack of simultaneous monitoring of PCBs in multiple environmental media in the background areas, which were considered long-term sinks for highly chlorinated PCBs. To address this gap, this study analyzed soils, willow tree barks, water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediment samples collected from the middle reach of the Huaihe River in China for 27 PCBs. The results showed that the levels of ∑27PCBs in the soils were comparable to or lower than the background values worldwide. There were no significant correlations between organic matter and ∑27PCB concentrations in the soils and sediments. Additionally, the contamination of dioxin-like PCBs in the aquatic environment of the study area deserves more attention than in the soils. Applying the level III fugacity model to PCB 52, 77, 101, and 114 revealed that the soil was the primary reservoir, and air-soil exchange was the dominant intermedia transfer process, followed by air-water exchange. Furthermore, simulated results of air-soil and air-water diffusion were compared with those calculated from the field concentrations to predict the potential environmental behaviors of PCBs. Results indicated that the studied river would be a "secondary source" for PCB 52, 77, and 101. However, PCB 52, 77, 101, and 114 would continue to transfer from the air to the soil. This study combines multimedia field measurements and the fugacity model, providing a novel approach to predicting the potential environmental behaviors of PCBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Wang
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, PR China; Wuhu Dongyuan New Country Developing Co., Ltd., Wuhu, Anhui 241000, PR China; Center of Cooperative Innovation for Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang City Belt, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, PR China; CAS Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
| | - Qing Wang
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, PR China; Center of Cooperative Innovation for Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang City Belt, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, PR China
| | - Zijiao Yuan
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, PR China; Center of Cooperative Innovation for Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang City Belt, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, PR China
| | - Xiaoguo Wu
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, PR China; Center of Cooperative Innovation for Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang City Belt, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, PR China.
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Zhang J, He M, Liu Y, Zhang L, Jiang H, Lin D. Chlorine substitution-dependent toxicities of polychlorinated biphenyls to the earthworm Eisenia fetida in soil. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 128:171-180. [PMID: 36801033 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with different chlorine substitution patterns often coexist in e-waste-processing sites. However, the single and combined toxicity of PCBs to soil organisms and the influence of chlorine substitution patterns remain largely unknown. Herein, we evaluated the distinct in vivo toxicity of PCB28 (a trichlorinated PCB), PCB52 (a tetrachlorinated PCB), PCB101 (a pentachlorinated PCB), and their mixture to earthworm Eisenia fetida in soil, and looked into the underlining mechanisms in an in vitro test using coelomocytes. After a 28-days exposure, all PCBs (up to 10 mg/kg) were not fatal to earthworms, but could induce intestinal histopathological changes and microbial community alterations in the drilosphere system, along with a significant weight loss. Notably, pentachlorinated PCBs with a low bioaccumulation ability showed greater inhibitory effects on the growth of earthworm than lowly chlorinated PCBs, suggesting that bioaccumulation was not the main determinant of chlorine substitution-dependent toxicity. Furthermore, in vitro assays showed that the highly chlorinated PCBs induced a high-percentage apoptosis of eleocytes in the coelomocytes and significantly activated antioxidant enzymes, indicating that the distinct cellular vulnerability to lowly/highly chlorinated PCBs was the main contributor to the PCBs toxicity. These findings emphasize the specific advantage of using earthworms in the control of lowly chlorinated PCBs in soil due to their high tolerance and accumulation ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianying Zhang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Environment and Resources Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Mengyang He
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Institute of Environmental Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yaoxuan Liu
- Institute of Environmental Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; China Energy Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd., Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Institute of Environmental Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Haojie Jiang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Daohui Lin
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Zhang Y, Zhang H, Yan K, You Q, Zeng S, Wu Y, Chen F, Chen J, Xu J, Wang H. The Spatial Distribution and Potential Risk Assessment of POPs in Farmland around a Typical E-Waste Dismantling Site. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2023; 84:453-465. [PMID: 37129623 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-023-01000-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Pollution from electronic-waste (E-waste) dismantling is of great concern. This study investigated the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in 253 cropland soil samples around an abandoned E-waste dismantling site in Taizhou city, Zhejiang province in China, using an analytical method which simultaneously extracted, purified and determined the identity and quantity of the three types of persistent organic pollutants. Meanwhile, their spatial distributions, pollution characteristics, and risk assessments were further analyzed. Total PCBs in the test soils ranged from below method detection limits (ND) to 2985.25 μg kg-1 on a dry weight basis (d.w.), and the spatial distribution indicated a "hot spot" of PCBs pollution in the study area. The PAHs were detected in all samples with total concentrations ranging from 4.99 to 2723.06 μg kg-1 d.w. The distribution of PBDEs showed the pollution characteristics of "family-run workshops", with a total content range of ND ~ 899.34 μg kg-1 d.w., of which BDE209 was typically the dominant congener, accounting for 74.05% of the total PBDEs content in the test soils, with the highest content reaching 857.72 μg kg-1 d.w. Results showed that the ecological and lifetime carcinogenic risks of PCBs and PAHs were low in the study area, but the health risk caused by oral ingestion and dermal contact accounted for the highest proportion of the total exposure risks, while inhalation could be ignored. PBDEs in soils of the study area were a potential chronic non-carcinogenic risk, particularly for children. Therefore, in order to protect human health and environment, it is necessary to regulate the management of E-waste dismantling sites and pollution control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Kang Yan
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qi You
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Saiqi Zeng
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yuheng Wu
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Futao Chen
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Plant Protection, Fertilizer and Rural Energy Agency of Wenling, Wenling, 317500, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jianming Xu
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Haizhen Wang
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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Han L, Wu W, Chen X, Gu M, Li J, Chen M, Zhou Y. The derivation of soil generic assessment criteria for polychlorinated biphenyls under the agricultural land scenario in Pearl and Yangtze River Delta regions, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 871:162015. [PMID: 36746284 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162015] [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] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The agricultural soils in China are suffered from serious polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contamination, however, the valid management standards for farmland are absent to efficiently control the health risks of PCBs exposure. This study analyzed the contamination characteristics and main composition of PCBs in agricultural soils of the southeastern China from the published literature over the past 20 years, and derived the regional generic assessment criteria (GAC) using an exposure modelling approach for individual and total PCBs (∑PCBs) via multiple exposure pathways such as ingestion of soil and dust, consumption of vegetables, dermal contact with soil and dust, ingestion of soil attached to vegetables, and inhalation of soil vapour and soil-derived dust outdoors under the agricultural land scenario. It is identified that the averaged ∑PCBs concentration of 80.03 ng g-1 under the 95 % lower confidence limit with an unacceptable health risk of 4.8 × 10-6 has significantly exceeded the integrated generic assessment criteria (expressed as GACint) of 16.5 ng g-1. Accordingly, the exposure pathways from the consumption of agricultural produces and indirect ingestion of soil attached to vegetables contributed up to 62 %-88 % of the total exposure, followed by 11 %-33 % of the soil ingestion and 2 %-6 % of dermal contact. The derived GACint for ∑PCBs is extremely valuable to effectively assess and manage the PCBs contamination in agricultural soils of China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Han
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Soil and Groundwater Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Wenpei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Soil and Groundwater Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xueyan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Soil and Groundwater Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mingyue Gu
- Nanjing Kaiye Environmental Technology Co Ltd, 8 Yuanhua Road, Innovation Building 106, Nanjing University Science Park, Nanjing 210034, China
| | - Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Soil and Groundwater Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Mengfang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Soil and Groundwater Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | - Youya Zhou
- Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China.
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Li CA, Li SS, Zhang Y, Huang Y, Tao L. Residues of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in a wild predatory fish from an e-waste site in South China between 2009 and 2016. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:7303-7311. [PMID: 36031680 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22736-z] [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: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Crude electronic waste (e-waste) recycling has been banned due to the serious environmental pollution it caused, leaving many abandoned e-waste sites. However, information on the current levels and associated ecological risks of e-waste-derived contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in e-waste site is limited. Wild fish, because they can accumulate high pollutant levels, are suitable indicators for environmental pollution monitoring and has been widely employed as biomonitoring. In this study, we investigated the changes in the levels and profiles of PCBs in a wild fish species, the northern snakehead (Channa argus), before (2009) and after (2016) the ban of crude e-waste recycling from a typical e-waste recycling site in South China. The mean total PCB concentration in the northern snakehead sampled in 2016 (343 ng/g ww) declined by 75% compared with that (1410 ng/g ww) in 2009. The contributions of less chlorinated congeners (tri-CBs and tetra-CBs) in the northern snakehead tended to decrease over the years, indicating that the lighter congeners are more easily eliminated than the heavier ones in the environment. Our findings suggested no fresh PCB input in these years, as well as the positive impacts of laws and regulations on the prohibition of e-waste recycling. The ecological risk assessment suggested that PCB exposure may have median to high risks to the wild fish and fish-eating wildlife that inhabit the e-waste site, even after the ban of crude e-waste recycling activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-An Li
- Hefei Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Hefei, 230061, China
| | - Si-Sheng Li
- Hefei Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Hefei, 230061, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Administration of Ecology and Environment of the Pearl River Basin & South China Sea, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Eco-Environmental Monitoring and Research Center, Guangzhou, 510611, China
| | - Yichao Huang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Lin Tao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
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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: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [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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Zhu M, Yuan Y, Yin H, Guo Z, Wei X, Qi X, Liu H, Dang Z. Environmental contamination and human exposure of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in China: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 805:150270. [PMID: 34536863 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), together with 11 other organic compounds, were initially listed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by the Stockholm Convention because of their potential threat to ecosystems and humans. In China, many monitoring studies have been undertaken to reveal the level of PCBs in environment since 2005 due to the introduced stricter environmental regulations. However, there are still significant gaps in understanding the overall spatial and temporal distributions of PCBs in China. This review systematically discusses the occurrence and distribution of PCBs in environmental matrices, organisms, and humans in China. Results showed that PCB contamination in northern and southern China was not significantly different, but the PCB levels in East China were commonly higher than those in West China, which might have been due to the widespread consumption of PCBs and intensive human activities in East China. Serious PCB contamination was found in e-waste disassembling areas (e.g., Taizhou of Zhejiang Province and Qingyuan and Guiyu of Guangdong Province). Higher PCB concentrations were also chronicled in megalopolises and industrial clusters. The unintentionally produced PCBs (UP-PCBs) formed during industrial thermal processes may play an increasingly significant role in PCB pollution in China. Low PCB levels were recorded in rural and underdeveloped districts, particularly in remote and high-altitude localities such as the Tibetan Plateau and the South China Sea. However, these data are limited. Human exposure to PCBs is closely related to the characteristics of environmental pollution. This review also discusses existing issues and future research prospects on PCBs in China. For instance, the accumulation characteristics and migration regularities of PCBs in food webs should be further studied. More investigations should be undertaken to assess the quantitative relationship between external and internal exposure to PCBs. For example, bioaccessibility and bioavailability studies should be supplemented to evaluate human health risks more accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Yibo Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Hua Yin
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China.
| | - Zhanyu Guo
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Xipeng Wei
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Xin Qi
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Hang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhi Dang
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
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10
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Wu JP, Feng WL, Tao L, Li X, Nie YT, Xu YC, Zeng YH, Luo XJ, Mai BX. Halogenated flame retardants in wild, prey-sized mud carp from an e-waste recycling site in South China, 2006-2016: Residue dynamics and ecological risk assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 291:118270. [PMID: 34601034 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The crude e-waste recycling has been regulated in China since the late 2000s; however, information on the recent levels and the ecological risks of e-waste derived contaminants such as halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) in the e-waste sites are limited. We therefore examined the concentrations of several HFRs in wild, prey-sized mud carps collected from a typical e-waste site in 2006, 2011 and 2016, to understand the exposure dynamics and ecological risk of these chemicals. Several ecological and biological parameters including δ15N, δ13C, body size and lipid content of the fish were also examined, to ensure an overall uniformity of the sample set among the sampling years. Among the HFRs measured, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were detected at the highest concentrations (contributing >90% to ∑HFRs), followed by Dechlorane Plus (DPs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and alternative brominated flame retardants (ABFRs). The fish concentrations of ∑PBDEs, ∑PBBs and ∑DPs significantly dropped by 65%, 57% and 53% from 2006 to 2011, and 12%, 74% and 51% from 2011 to 2016, respectively; likely reflecting the positive impact of the environmental regulations on crude e-waste recycling. The ∑ABFRs concentrations were also decreased by 80% from 2006 to 2011, but increased by 127% from 2011 to 2016; suggesting possible fresh input of these novel HFRs in recent years. In addition to the changes in the HFR concentrations, contaminant profiles in the fish were also changed, possibly due to environmental degradation of the HFRs. Despite our conservative method of risk assessment, we found that PBDEs posed an important risk both for the mud carp and for piscivorous wildlife that inhabit the e-waste site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Ping Wu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China; Center of Cooperative Innovation for Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang City Belt, Wuhu, 241002, China.
| | - Wen-Lu Feng
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Lin Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Xiao Li
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - You-Tian Nie
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Ya-Chun Xu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Yan-Hong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Bi-Xian Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
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11
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Mao S, Liu S, Zhou Y, An Q, Zhou X, Mao Z, Wu Y, Liu W. The occurrence and sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in agricultural soils across China with an emphasis on unintentionally produced PCBs. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 271:116171. [PMID: 33387783 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In addition to being historically intentionally manufactured as commercial products, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can be unintentionally released as by-products from industrial processes. Recent studies have emphasized the importance of unintentionally produced PCBs (UP-PCBs) and have even identified them as major contributors to atmospheric PCBs. However, little is known about contributions of UP-PCBs in current soils. In this study, all 209 PCB congeners were analyzed in agricultural soils on a national scale to investigate the influence of unintentional sources on Chinese soil. The concentration of Σ209PCBs in soils across China was in the range of 64.3-4358 pg/g. Four non-Aroclor congeners, i.e., PCB11, PCB44 + 47+65, PCB68, and PCB209, were dominant among all PCBs, averagely accounting for 26.3%, 8.83%, 3.03%, and 2.80% of total PCBs, respectively. PCB11 and PCB209 were found to be higher in East China, while PCB44 + 47+65 and PCB68 were higher in South China. Their spatial distributions were largely dependent on local sources. The results of source apportionment indicated that the legacy of historically produced and used commercial PCB mixtures was the dominant contributor to seven indicator PCBs in Chinese agricultural soils, especially high-chlorinated congeners. However, unintentional sources (i.e., pigment/paint, combustion-related sources, and polymer sealant), which contributed 57.4% of the total PCBs, are controlling PCB burdens in agricultural soils across China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuduan Mao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Shuren Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yuting Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qi An
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xuji Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhouying Mao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yiting Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Weiping Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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12
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Luo C, Hu B, Wang S, Wang Y, Zhao Z, Wang Y, Li J, Zhang G. Distribution and Chiral Signatures of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Soils and Vegetables around an e-Waste Recycling Site. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:10542-10549. [PMID: 32916050 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The distribution and composition of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) within soil-plant systems around a notorious e-waste recycling site were investigated. The average total PCB concentrations in rhizospheric soils (RSs) and nonrhizospheric soils (NRSs) were 2160 and 1270 pg g-1 dry weight (DW), respectively. PCBs were more enriched in RS than NRS for most vegetable species. PCB accumulation in plant tissues varied greatly among plant cultivars, ranging from 4020 to 14 500 pg g-1 DW in shoots and from 471 to 24 400 pg g-1 DW in roots. The compositions of PCBs in soil and plants showed that hexa- and hepta-chlorinated PCBs were preferentially accumulated in soils, while tri- and tetra-PCBs were abundant in plant tissues. These results indicated that low-chlorinated PCBs might be prone to accumulation and transfer within plants, which was confirmed by the relationship between the root concentration factor and octanol-water coefficient. The first eluting enantiomers of PCB 84 and PCB 95 were preferentially transferred between the soil and plants, while the stereoselectivity of PCB 136 varied among plant species. A significant difference in enantiomeric fractionation of PCB 84 between the soil and roots indicated that enantiomeric enhancement of PCB 84 occurred during its translocation from soil to root, whereas no such difference was observed in these chiral PCBs during their translocation from the root to the shoot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunling Luo
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Joint Institute for Environmental Research and Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Beibei Hu
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shaorui Wang
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Zhen Zhao
- College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yujie Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Jun Li
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Gan Zhang
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
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13
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Zeng K, Zhang Z, Liu L, Shao J, Gu L, Liu H, Qu G, Shi J, Jiang GB. A typical derivative and byproduct of tetrabromobisphenol A: Development of novel high-throughput immunoassays and systematic investigation of their distributions in Taizhou, an e-waste recycling area in eastern China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 263:114382. [PMID: 32229371 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental distribution and concentration of tetrabromobisphenol A bis- (2-hydroxyethyl) ether (TBBPA-DHEE) and tetrabromobisphenol A mono- (hydroxyethyl) ether (TBBPA-MHEE), are obscure due to the lack of available analytical methods. Here two novel immunoassays were established to systematically investigate their distributions in Taizhou, Eastern China. Five monoclonal antibodies against pollutants were generated with two designed haptens through animal immunization. After matched with different coating antigens/antibodies, ELISAs were established (LOD for TBBPA-DHEE, 0.12 ng/mL, based on OVA-M3/mAb-D4G6; LOD for TBBPA-MHEE, 0.79 ng/mL, based on OVA-M3/mAb-D2G6) and applied for investigation of their occurrences at a typical e-waste recycling area after 2-year samples collection, where the total 33 water, 32 soil and 16 biological samples were collected with the highest concentrations of 3.46 ng/mL, 2.76 ng/g (dry weight, dw) and 5.01 ng/g (dw), respectively. Meanwhile, our study also indicated that at the centralizing e-waste recycling sites the serious pollution for both chemicals still existed despite of various efforts. Besides, obvious improvements were observed at an abandoned e-waste recycling region treated and remedied for many years by the local Chinese government. These findings highlight the importance of policy decisions in treatment of pollutants to reduce organic pollutant-related health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Zeng
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China.
| | - Liyuan Liu
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Jie Shao
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Lantian Gu
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Huizi Liu
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Guangbo Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Jianbo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Gui-Bin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing, 100085, China
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14
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Mao S, Zhang G, Li J, Geng X, Wang J, Zhao S, Cheng Z, Xu Y, Li Q, Wang Y. Occurrence and sources of PCBs, PCNs, and HCB in the atmosphere at a regional background site in east China: Implications for combustion sources. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 262:114267. [PMID: 32179224 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Multiple types of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), can be unintentionally released from combustion or thermal industrial processes, which are speculated to be the main sources of these contaminants, as they were banned on production and use since several decades ago. In this study, concentrations and sources of 40 PCBs, 39 PCNs, and HCB were analyzed in air samples collected during the period 2012-2015 at a background site in east China. ΣPCBs, ΣPCNs, and HCB were in the range of 9-341 pg/m3, 6-143 pg/m3, and 14-522 pg/m3, respectively. Seasonal characteristics with high levels in winter and low levels in summer were observed for PCNs and HCB. PCBs also exhibited slightly higher levels in winter. Source apportionment was conducted, using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as combustion sources indicator, combined with principal component analysis (PCA) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. The results indicated that the legacy of past produced and used commercial PCBs was the dominant contributor (∼56%) to the selected PCBs in the atmosphere in east China. PCNs were mainly emitted from combustion sources (∼64%), whereas HCB almost entirely originated from combustion process (>90%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuduan Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong province Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Gan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong province Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong province Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Xiaofei Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong province Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong province Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shizhen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong province Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Zhineng Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong province Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Yue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Qilu Li
- School of Environment, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453007, China
| | - Yan Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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15
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Wu JP, Peng Y, Zhi H, Wu SK, Chen XY, Zeng YH, Luo XJ, Mai BX. Contaminant-related oxidative distress in common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) breeding at an e-waste site in South China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109079. [PMID: 31887468 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The crude electronic waste (e-waste) recycling has caused severe contamination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the local environment, begging the question of whether wildlife like birds living at e-waste sites are suffering from adverse effects. We examined several oxidative status markers and their relationships with hepatic concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs in common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) that inhabit an e-waste site in South China. The results showed that the mean concentrations of ∑PCBs (19100 ng/g) and ∑PBDEs (507 ng/g) in kingfishers from e-waste site were several orders of magnitude higher than those in the species from a reference site. Correspondingly, hepatic concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in kingfishers from the e-waste site were significantly higher than those detected in the reference population, suggesting oxidative distress in the birds breeding at the e-waste site. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the liver from the exposed group were significantly lower compared with the reference group, while the opposite trend was observed for glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Significantly positive correlations were observed between PCB or PBDE concentrations and the levels of MDA and ROS; while negative correlations were found for enzymatic activities of SOD and CAT. Overall, our results may suggest a potential linkage between exposure to e-waste-derived pollutants and elevated oxidative stress, thereby indicating a potential oxidative stress-related health effects in common kingfisher breeding at the e-waste site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Ping Wu
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China.
| | - Ying Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Hui Zhi
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Si-Kang Wu
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Xiao-Yun Chen
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Yan-Hong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Bi-Xian Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
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16
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He M, Yang S, Zhao J, Collins C, Xu J, Liu X. Reduction in the exposure risk of farmer from e-waste recycling site following environmental policy adjustment: A regional scale view of PAHs in paddy fields. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 133:105136. [PMID: 31491593 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Farmland contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has drawn increasing attention across China with enhanced regulations and environmental policies proposed by government to protect soil environment safety. As the informal electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling activities were forbidden under recent environmental regulation, this study compared levels, compositions, spatial distributions, human health risks of PAHs in paddy soil within the vicinity of an e-waste recycling area in southeastern China, with 129 and 150 soil samples collected in 2011 and 2016, respectively. The soil contamination was dominated with high molecular weight PAHs. The mean concentration of EPA 16 PAHs decreased from 590.4 ± 337.2 μg kg-1 in 2011 to 407.3 ± 232.2 μg kg-1 in 2016. Distribution maps of soil PAHs concentration displayed the temporal change in spatial. Principal component analysis together with diagnostic ratios revealed the combustion of biomass and coal in industrial and unregulated e-waste dismantling were the main sources of PAHs in the study area. Both deterministic and probabilistic assessments demonstrated reduced exposure risk for farmers from 2011 to 2016. Sensitivity analysis revealed that exposure frequency (EF) is the most influential parameter for the total variance in the risk assessment model. This study implied that the more stringent environmental policy and regulation can lead reductions in soil contamination with PAHs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjiang He
- College of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shiyan Yang
- College of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- College of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chris Collins
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, Reading RG6 6DW, UK
| | - Jianming Xu
- College of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xingmei Liu
- College of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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17
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Ren J, Wang X, Gong P, Wang C. Characterization of Tibetan Soil As a Source or Sink of Atmospheric Persistent Organic Pollutants: Seasonal Shift and Impact of Global Warming. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:3589-3598. [PMID: 30821446 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b00698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Background soils are reservoirs of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). After decades of reduced primary emissions, it is now possible that the POPs contained in these reservoirs are being remobilized because of climate warming. However, a comprehensive investigation into the remobilization of POPs from background soil on the largest and highest plateau on Earth, the Tibetan Plateau (TP), is lacking. In this study, a sampling campaign was carried out on the TP at three background sites with different land cover types (forest, meadow and desert). Field measurements of the air-soil exchange of POPs showed that previous prediction using empirical models overestimated the values of the soil-air partitioning coefficient ( KSA), especially for chemicals with KOA > 9. The direction of exchange for γ-HCH, HCB, and PCB-28 overlapped with the air-soil equilibrium range, but with a tendency for volatilization. Their emission fluxes were 720, 2935, and 538 pg m-2 day-1, respectively, and were similar in extent to those observed for background Arctic soil in Norway. Nam Co and Ngari are also permafrost regions, and most chemicals at these two sites exhibited volatilization. This is the first result showing that permafrost can also emit POPs. Seasonally, we found that chemicals tended to be re-emitted from soils to the atmosphere in winter and deposited from the air to the soil in summer. This finding is opposite to most previous results, possibly because of the higher air-soil concentration gradient caused by the prevailing transport of POPs in summer. Climate warming exerts a strong influence on air-soil exchange, with an increase of 1 °C in ambient temperature likely leading to an increase of Tibetan atmospheric inventories of POPs by 60-400%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Ren
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes , Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , 100101 , China
- Research Institute of Transition of Resource-Based Economics , Shanxi University of Finance and Economics , Taiyuan 030006 , Shanxi China
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes , Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , 100101 , China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , 100101 , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Ping Gong
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes , Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , 100101 , China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , 100101 , China
| | - Chuanfei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes , Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , 100101 , China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , 100101 , China
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18
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Mao S, Zhang G, Zhao S, Li J, Liu X, Cheng Z, Zhong G, Malik RN, Liu X. High Abundance of Unintentionally Produced Tetrachlorobiphenyls (PCB47/48/75, 51, and 68) in the Atmosphere at a Regional Background Site in East China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:3464-3470. [PMID: 30844251 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b07286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Although polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been banned for several decades, they are still detected with elevated levels due to their unintentional production from combustion and industrial thermal processes (UP-PCBs). To investigate the composition and current levels of UP-PCBs and understand which sources are controlling PCB burdens in ambient atmosphere, air samples were collected from August 2012 to August 2015 at a background site in east China. An unexpected high abundance of PCB47+48+75 was observed to be the predominant congener with an average concentration of 786 ± 637 pg/m3. It accounted for 48 ± 16% of ΣPCBs, followed by PCB51 (10 ± 4%), PCB11 (8 ± 6%), and PCB68 (7 ± 3%). Seasonal variations with high levels in summer and lowest levels in winter were observed for PCB47+48+75, 51, and 68. These tetrachlorobiphenyl congeners were strongly correlated with temperature ( r2 > 0.7), suggesting the control of temperature-dependent volatilization processes from contaminated surfaces. The decreased occurrence of PCB47+48+75, 51, and 68 in commercial products and their negative correlations (| r| < 0.35) with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) and weak correlation with other PCB congeners suggested unique unintentional sources that differ from combustion and industrial thermal processes or pigment, such as the use of polymer sealant, for PCB47+48+75, 51, and 68 in the ambient air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuduan Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry , Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640 , China
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences , Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310058 , China
| | - Gan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry , Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640 , China
| | - Shizhen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry , Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640 , China
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry , Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640 , China
| | - Xin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry , Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640 , China
| | - Zhineng Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry , Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640 , China
| | - Guangcai Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry , Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640 , China
| | - Riffat Naseem Malik
- Environmental Biology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences , Quaid-i-Azam University , Islamabad 45320 , Pakistan
| | - Xiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry , Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640 , China
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19
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Wu JP, Chen XY, Wu SK, Tao L, She YZ, Luo XJ, Mai BX. Polychlorinated biphenyls in apple snails from an abandoned e-waste recycling site, 2010-2016: A temporal snapshot after the regulatory efforts and the bioaccumulation characteristics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 650:779-785. [PMID: 30308853 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The rudimentary recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) has been banned in China since the late 2000s, leaving many abandoned e-waste sites. However, knowledge is limited on the concentrations and fates of the e-waste derived contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in these abandoned sites. In this work, we assessed the temporal trend of PCB concentrations in the year 2010, 2012, and 2016 at an abandoned e-waste site in South China, using apple snail as a bioindicator. The mean ∑PCBs concentrations in apple snails sampled in 2016 (53.2 ng/g dry weight) was approximately 11-fold higher than that (4.68 ng/g dry weight) in apple snails from a reference site. The result suggested that the abandoned e-waste recycling site was still heavily polluted by PCBs, despite of the fact that crude e-waste recycling processes have been prohibited for nearly 10 years. The concentrations of ∑PCBs were significantly decreased in 2016 compared to those in 2010 (mean: 115 ng/g dry weight) and 2012 (mean: 92.3 ng/g dry weight), but there were no significant differences in the concentrations between 2010 and 2012. Regarding the congener profiles, the contributions of lower chlorinated congeners (tri- and tetra-PCBs) in the snails tended to be higher over the years. The ∑PCBs in snails were significantly correlated with those in soils. Additionally, PCB profiles in snails resembled those in soils. These results suggested that apple snails can be used as an ideal bioindicator for PCBs in the paddy soils. Field determined biota-soil accumulation factors (BSAFs) for PCBs ranged from 0.31 to 1.9, with most of the values being 1-2; indicating that theoretical BSAFs can be used to predict the bioaccumulation of PCBs in the snails with a reasonable degree of certainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Ping Wu
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241003, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241003, China.
| | - Xiao-Yun Chen
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241003, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241003, China
| | - Si-Kang Wu
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241003, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241003, China
| | - Lin Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Ya-Zhe She
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Bi-Xian Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
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20
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Lucattini L, Poma G, Covaci A, de Boer J, Lamoree MH, Leonards PEG. A review of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in the indoor environment: occurrence in consumer products, indoor air and dust. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 201:466-482. [PMID: 29529574 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.02.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
As many people spend a large part of their life indoors, the quality of the indoor environment is important. Data on contaminants such as flame retardants, pesticides and plasticizers are available for indoor air and dust but are scarce for consumer products such as computers, televisions, furniture, carpets, etc. This review presents information on semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in consumer products in an attempt to link the information available for chemicals in indoor air and dust with their indoor sources. A number of 256 papers were selected and divided among SVOCs found in consumer products (n = 57), indoor dust (n = 104) and air (n = 95). Concentrations of SVOCs in consumer products, indoor dust and air are reported (e.g. PFASs max: 13.9 μg/g in textiles, 5.8 μg/kg in building materials, 121 ng/g in house dust and 6.4 ng/m3 in indoor air). Most of the studies show common aims, such as human exposure and risk assessment. The main micro-environments investigated (houses, offices and schools) reflect the relevance of indoor air quality. Most of the studies show a lack of data on concentrations of chemicals in consumer goods and often only the presence of chemicals is reported. At the moment this is the largest obstacle linking chemicals in products to chemicals detected in indoor air and dust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Lucattini
- Department of Environment and Health, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Giulia Poma
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Jacob de Boer
- Department of Environment and Health, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marja H Lamoree
- Department of Environment and Health, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pim E G Leonards
- Department of Environment and Health, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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21
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Influential Factors and Dry Deposition of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Atmospheric Particles at an Isolated Island (Pingtan Island) in Fujian Province, China. ATMOSPHERE 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos9020059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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22
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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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Donald CE, Anderson KA. Assessing soil-air partitioning of PAHs and PCBs with a new fugacity passive sampler. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 596-597:293-302. [PMID: 28437648 PMCID: PMC5549629 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Soil-air fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined using a novel application of passive samplers to measure air and soil air, which is air in close proximity and in equilibrium with soil. Existing methods to measure flux of semi-volatile compounds between soil and air require collecting samples from the top soil layer. Yet, the top soil layer is hard to define and oversampling may misrepresent the exchangeable fraction. Alternatively, modified active samplers can measure soil air in situ, but require electricity while deployed. We present a new method to measure time-weighted averages of soil air concentrations in situ using passive sampling and requiring no electricity: a box is placed over low-density polyethylene passive samplers deployed 1cm above the soil. Passive air samplers were also co-deployed 1.5m above the soil to measure ambient air concentrations in three U.S. LOCATIONS near a former PCB manufacturing facility in Anniston, Alabama; on a former creosoting and the current Wyckoff/Eagle Superfund site near Seattle, Washington; and near the site of a recent oil-train derailment and fire in Mosier, Oregon. Following n-hexane extraction, sampler extracts were analyzed for PAHs with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and PCBs with dual gas chromatography-electron capture detectors. PAHs were generally depositing at Anniston and Mosier sites, but volatilizing from soil in Wyckoff, the site with historically-contaminated soil. PCBs were detected most frequently at the Anniston site, although levels were lower than previous reports. Variability in concentration measurements was greater among soil air samplers than air samplers, likely due to soil heterogeneity. Environmental conditions under the novel soil air box did not substantially change soil-air partitioning behavior. This method of measuring soil air in situ will allow for understanding of source-sink dynamics at sites with recent and historical contamination, and where conventional sampling is challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kim A Anderson
- Food Safety and Environmental Stewardship Program, Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Ag. and Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR, USA.
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Wang C, Wang X, Ren J, Gong P, Yao T. Using a passive air sampler to monitor air-soil exchange of organochlorine pesticides in the pasture of the central Tibetan Plateau. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 580:958-965. [PMID: 27974151 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Air-soil exchange is a key process controlling the fate of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, the "sink effect" of soil for POPs in Tibetan pasture has not been clear. In NamCo, in the central Tibetan Plateau (TP) where the land is covered by grass, a modified passive air sampler (PAS) (thickness: 2cm) was tested. Using the PAS, the atmospheric gaseous phase organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) at 11 heights from close-to-surface (2cm) to 200cm above ground, in summer and in winter, were measured. Concentrations of OCPs in summer were higher than those in winter. Both in summer and winter, atmospheric concentrations of OCPs decreased with decreasing height from 200 to 2cm, indicating that OCPs were being deposited from air to soil. Air deposition of OCPs was possibly driven by wind speed. Furthermore, based on air OCPs at 0-3cm near the surface, the interface exchange of OCPs between air and soil was studied by the fugacity method. The results showed that pastural soil in the TP was a "sink" of OCPs even in summer. The mean deposition fluxes of α-HCH, γ-HCH and o,p'-DDT were 0.72, 0.24 and 0.54pg/h/m2, respectively, and it was estimated that the level of these pollutants in the soil will double every 24, 66 and 206years, respectively. This study will contribute to the further understanding of global cycling of POPs in different land covers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanfei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Jiao Ren
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ping Gong
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Tandong Yao
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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