Abstract
Concentration levels of 16 organophosphate esters (OPEs) and 18 halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) were measured in airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from an e-waste dismantling facility in Catalonia (Spain) to assess their occurrence, profiles and potential health risks. Three different areas from the facility were studied, including an area for cathodic ray-tube (CRT) TV dismantling, a grinding area, and the outdoor background. OPEs and HFRs were detected in all samples, with concentrations between 10.4 and 110 ng/m3 for OPEs and from 0.72 to 2213 ng/m3 for HFRs. The compounds with highest concentrations in both working areas were triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) and tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) for OPEs and decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) for HFRs. Higher concentration levels were found in the CRT area compared to the grinding one, probably due to the lower ventilation and different types of e-waste being processed. OPEs were also detected in the solid e-waste from the facility, highlighting the need to evaluate pollutant levels in e-waste before proceeding to its re-use. Estimated daily intakes via inhalation during workday were calculated, as well as carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks, these being 25 and 50 times lower than threshold risk values in the worst cases, respectively. However, this calculated risk only considers the workday exposure via inhalation, while other routes of exposure (e.g., ingestion, dermal) could bring these values closer to threshold values.
Highlights
Electronic waste (e-waste) is currently the fastest growing waste on the planet
organophosphate esters (OPEs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and novel brominated FRs (NBFRs) were detected in all samples, but chlorinated flame retardants (FRs) were not detected in any sample from the grinding area, and only in some from the cathodic ray-tube (CRT) area and from the background samples
OPE levels ranged from 10.4 to 110 ng/m3, with the CRT area recording the highest concentrations at a mean value of 73.0 ng/m3, this comparing with a 17.8 ng/m3 mean value for background and 51.0 ng/m3 for the grinding area
Summary
In 2019 54 million tonnes were generated in the world, with only 17% of them being recycled, whereas by 2030 this figure is ex pected to grow to 75 million tonnes (Forti et al, 2020). E-waste can be made of plastic, ceramics, glass or metal, which are valuable and reus able materials if they are properly recycled. This has resulted in the proliferation of an e-waste recycling industry that has grown annually at an average rate of 4.86% and calculated to have been worth $14.5 billion in 2021 (Sahajwalla and Gaikwad, 2018).
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