E-waste recycling induced polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans pollution in the ambient environment

Environ Int. 2008 Jan;34(1):67-72. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2007.07.008. Epub 2007 Oct 24.

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been determined in 30 samples, including soil, biota and plant collected from an electronic waste recycling site and its vicinage towns. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans (PCDD/Fs) were also simultaneously analyzed in 20 samples. PBDEs were detected in all soil samples and the highest was up to 789 ng/g dry weight (dw). The toxic equivalency (TEQ) of PCBs and PCDD/Fs detected in E-waste recycling site is significant higher than those in the vicinage samples. Biota and plant were also contaminated with high level of PBDEs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs in this area. High levels of the three kinds of organic compounds in the environmental samples showed that the E-waste recycling have induced serious environmental problems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzofurans / analysis*
  • Conservation of Natural Resources / methods
  • Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis*
  • Environmental Pollution / analysis
  • Industrial Waste / analysis
  • Phenyl Ethers / analysis*
  • Plants / chemistry
  • Polybrominated Biphenyls / analysis*
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / analysis*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analogs & derivatives*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analysis
  • Snails / chemistry
  • Soil / analysis

Substances

  • Benzofurans
  • Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Industrial Waste
  • Phenyl Ethers
  • Polybrominated Biphenyls
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
  • Soil
  • phenyl ether
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls