Environmental contamination from electronic waste recycling at Guiyu, southeast China

被引:30
作者
Leung A. [1 ]
Cai Z.W. [2 ]
Wong M.H. [1 ]
机构
[1] Department of Biology, Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, G/F, Block 5
[2] Dioxin Laboratory, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
关键词
E-waste; Heavy metals; PAHs; PBDEs; PCBs; PCDD/Fs;
D O I
10.1007/s10163-005-0141-6
中图分类号
学科分类号
摘要
The disposal, recycling, and part salvaging of discarded electronic devices such as computers, printers, televisions, and toys are now creating a new set of waste problems. This study is aimed at identifying the sources and quantifying the pollution levels generated from electronic waste (e-waste) activities at Guiyu, Guangdong Province, China, and their potential impacts on the environment and human health. The preliminary results indicate that total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil obtained from a printer roller dump site was 593∈μg/kg dry weight (dry wt.) and in sediment from a duck pond, the PAH concentration was 514∈μg/kg (dry wt.). Sediment from the Lianjiang River was found to be contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (743∈μg/kg) at a level approaching three times the Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines probable effect level of 277∈μg/kg. Total mono- to hepta-brominated diphenyl ether homologue concentrations (1140 and 1169∈μg/kg dry wt.) in soils near dumping sites were approximately 10-60 times those reported for other polybrominated diphenyl ether-contaminated locations in the world. In-house study on the open burning of cable wires showed extremely high levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans resulting in 12419∈ng toxic equivalents (TEQ)/kg of waste input and 15∈610∈ng TEQ/kg for two separate tests, respectively, which were about three orders of magnitude higher than those for the open burning of household waste. High levels of Cu (712, 528, and 496∈mg/kg), exceeding the new Dutch list action value, were determined for soil near the printer roller dumping area, sediment from Lianjiang River, and soil from a plastic burn site, respectively. A more thorough study is underway to elucidate the extent of contamination of toxic pollutants in different ecological compartments to establish whether these pollutants are bioaccumulated and biomagnified through food chains. Assessments of human health impacts from oral intake, inhalation, and dermal contact will be subsequently investigated. © Springer-Verlag 2006.
引用
收藏
页码:21 / 33
页数:12
相关论文
共 54 条
[21]  
Intervention Values and Target Values: Soil Quality Standards, (1994)
[22]  
Swedish E.P.A., Assessment of Contamination Level, (2002)
[23]  
Van Brummelen T.C., Verweij R.A., Wedzinga S.A., Van Gestel C.A.M., Enrichment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in forest soil near a blast furnace plant, Chemosphere, 32, pp. 293-314, (1996)
[24]  
Bakker M.I., Baars A.J., Baumann R.A., Boon P.E., Hoogerbrugge R., Indicator PCBs in foodstuffs: Occurrence and dietary intake in the Netherlands at the end of the 20th century, RIVM Report 639102025/2003, (2003)
[25]  
Canadian environmental quality guidelines, Summary Table, (2003)
[26]  
Long E.R., MacDonald D.D., Smith S.L., Calder F.D., Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentration in marine and estuary sediments, Environ Manag, 19, pp. 81-97, (1995)
[27]  
Connell D.W., Wu R.S.S., Richardson B.J., Leung K., Lam P.S.K., Connell P.A., Fate and risk evaluation of persistent organic contamination and related compounds in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, Chemosphere, 36, pp. 2019-2030, (1998)
[28]  
Xing Y., Lu Y.L., Dawson R.W., Shi Y.J., Zhang H., Wang T.Y., Liu W.B., Ren H.C., A spatial temporal assessment of pollutions from PCBs in China, Chemosphere, 60, pp. 731-739, (2005)
[29]  
Chu S.G., Yang C., Xu X.B., Liu X.X., Polychlorinated biphenyl congener residues in sediment and soil from a polluted area, China Environ Sci, 15, pp. 199-203, (1995)
[30]  
China S.E.P.A., Building the capacity of the People's Republic of China to implement the Stockholm Convention on POPs and develop a national implementation plan, GEF Project Brief, (2003)