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Khalaj M, Kamali M, Aminabhavi TM, Costa MEV, Dewil R, Appels L, Capela I. Sustainability insights into the synthesis of engineered nanomaterials - Problem formulation and considerations. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 220:115249. [PMID: 36632884 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have been introduced into the market for a wide range of applications. As per the literature review, the fabrication of new generations of ENMs is starting to comply with environmental, economic, and social criteria in addition to technical aspects to meet sustainability criteria. At this stage, identification of the appropriate criteria for the synthesis of ENMs is critical because the technologies already developed at the lab scales are being currently transferred to pilot and full scales. Hence, the development of scientific-based methodologies to identify, screen, and prioritize the involved criteria is highly necessary. In the present manuscript, a fuzzy-Delphi methodology is adopted to identify the main criteria and sub-criteria encompassing the sustainable fabrication of ENMs, and to explore the "degree of consensus" among the experts on the relative importance of the mentioned criteria. The "health and safety risks" respecting the equipment and the materials, solvent used, and availability of "green experts" were identified as the most critical criteria. Furthermore, although all the criteria were identified as being important, some criteria, such as "solvent" and "raw materials cost", raised a lower degree of consensus, indicating that various "degrees of uncertainties" still exist regarding the level of importance of the studied criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Khalaj
- Department of Environment and Planning, Center for Environmental and Marine Studies, CESAM,University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Materials and Ceramics Engineering, Aveiro Institute of Materials, CICECO, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Mohammadreza Kamali
- Center for Environmental and Marine Studies, CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; KU Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, Process and Environmental Technology Lab, J. De Nayerlaan 5, 2860, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - Tejraj M Aminabhavi
- School of Advanced Sciences, KLE Technological University, Hubballi, Karnataka, 580 031, 580 031, India; Department of Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad, 580 003, India; University Center for Research & Development (UCRO), Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab, 140 413, India.
| | - M Elisabete V Costa
- Department of Materials and Ceramics Engineering, Aveiro Institute of Materials, CICECO, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Raf Dewil
- KU Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, Process and Environmental Technology Lab, J. De Nayerlaan 5, 2860, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - Lise Appels
- KU Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, Process and Environmental Technology Lab, J. De Nayerlaan 5, 2860, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - Isabel Capela
- Department of Environment and Planning, Center for Environmental and Marine Studies, CESAM,University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
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Gravel S, Lavoué J, Bakhiyi B, Diamond ML, Jantunen LM, Lavoie J, Roberge B, Verner MA, Zayed J, Labrèche F. Halogenated flame retardants and organophosphate esters in the air of electronic waste recycling facilities: Evidence of high concentrations and multiple exposures. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 128:244-253. [PMID: 31059919 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In response to a worldwide increase in production of electronic waste, the e-recycling industry is rapidly rowing. E-recycling workers are exposed to many potentially toxic contaminants, among which flame retardants (FRs), mainly suspected of being endocrine disruptors, are thought to be the most prevalent. OBJECTIVE To conduct an exposure assessment of four chemical groups of FRs in Canadian e-recycling facilities, and to identify the main cofactors of exposure. METHODS Personal air samples were collected over a workday for 85 workers in six e-recycling facilities, grouped into three facility sizes, and for 15 workers in control commercial waste facilities. Total particulate matter was measured by gravimetry with stationary air samples. FRs were collected on OSHA versatile samplers, which allow particulate and vapor phases collection. Fifteen polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners (PBDEs), nine novel brominated (NBFRs), two chlorinated (ClFRs), and fourteen organophosphate ester (OPEs) flame retardants were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sociodemographic data, tasks performed and materials processed by participating workers were recorded. Tobit regressions were used to identify cofactors of exposure, and their conclusions were corroborated using semi-parametric reverse Cox regressions. RESULTS Thirty-nine of the 40 FRs analysed were detected in at least one air sample in e-recycling, and workers in this industry were exposed on average to 26 (range 12 to 39) different substances. The most detected chemical group of FRs in e-recycling was PBDEs with geometric mean sums of all congeners ranging from 120 to 5100 ng/m3, followed by OPEs with 740 to 1000 ng/m3, NBFRs with 7.6 to 100 ng/m3, and finally ClFRs with 3.9 to 32 mg/m3. The most important cofactor of exposure was the size of the e-recycling facility, with the largest one presenting on average 12 times the concentrations found in the control facility. Among tasks as potential cofactors of exposure, manual dismantling and baler operation exposed workers to some of the highest concentrations of PBDEs and ClFRs. There was a reduction of up to 27% in exposure to FRs associated with a 3-year increase in seniority. Finally, particulate matter concentrations in e-recycling facilities were highly correlated with all chemical classes except OPEs, and were higher in the large facility. CONCLUSIONS Among the FRs analysed, PBDE exposure was particularly high in e-recycling. Dust and particulate matter reduction strategies in these workplaces, together with training on proper working practices would certainly be important first steps to lower occupational exposures and prevent potential health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Gravel
- Institut Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Canada; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Canada.
| | - Jérôme Lavoué
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Canada; Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal Research Centre (CRCHUM), Canada; Université de Montréal Public Health Research Institute (IRSPUM), Canada
| | - Bouchra Bakhiyi
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Canada
| | | | - Liisa M Jantunen
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada; Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canada
| | - Jacques Lavoie
- Institut Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Canada
| | - Brigitte Roberge
- Institut Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Canada
| | - Marc-André Verner
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Canada; Université de Montréal Public Health Research Institute (IRSPUM), Canada
| | - Joseph Zayed
- Institut Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Canada; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Canada; Université de Montréal Public Health Research Institute (IRSPUM), Canada
| | - France Labrèche
- Institut Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Canada; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Canada; Université de Montréal Public Health Research Institute (IRSPUM), Canada
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