Abstract
Hazardous chemicals used in electronic and electrical consumer products can re-enter commerce when these products are recycled. The objectives of this study were to 1) identify the possible sources of unexpected chemicals and elements in consumer products, including the use of recycled E-waste plastics and 2) demonstrate bromine detection with nondestructive spectroscopy as an indicator of brominated flame retardants contaminating new products via recycled waste streams. More than 1500 consumer products of diverse types purchased in 2012-2014 were examined using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy for correlations between bromine and other elements. New electronic products were much more likely than new non-electronics to contain greater than 1000 ppm bromine, consistent with intentionally added flame retardants, while non- electronic products were more likely to contain between 5 and 100 ppm bromine, suggesting unintentional contamination. A typical suite of elements present in E-waste was found in a majority of plastic products. Two product categories, vinyl floor tiles and beaded necklaces/garlands, were explored in more detail. Specific flame retardant chemicals in bead samples were identified by mass spectrometry and their distribution in beads was studied using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Five brominated chemicals typically used as flame retardants, including BDE-209, were identified in 50 of 50 Mardi Gras beads analyzed.
Highlights
Many types of post-consumer plastics can be recycled into new products, but electronic and electrical products pose a particular challenge, as they contain a greater diversity of materials and additives than simpler plastics
To test the hypothesis that relatively low levels of bromine in non-E plastic products indicate brominated flame retardants (BFRs) contamination, we examined the correlations between bromine and other elements typically found in E products and E-waste: antimony, cadmium, copper, gold, iron, lead, manganese, rubidium, tin, and zinc
Considering 1) the morphology of the beads, consisting of irregular chunks of high-bromine material embedded in low-bromine plastic, 2) the detection of bromine between 100 and 10,000 ppm in 78% of bead samples, and 3) the fact that intentionally adding flame retardants (FRs) to beaded necklaces would add cost without justification and is unlikely, we suggest that E-waste streams containing ABS and polycarbonate plastics from recycled electronics are a major source for these beads
Summary
Many types of post-consumer plastics can be recycled into new products, but electronic and electrical products pose a particular challenge, as they contain a greater diversity of materials and additives than simpler plastics. Electronic and electrical waste (collectively termed E-waste) contains many additives that pose health concerns, including phthalate plasticizers, flame retardants (FRs), and heavy metals [1]. These chemicals can re-enter commerce, potentially increasing human exposure, when these plastics are recycled [2] [3]. A recent analysis of recycled E-waste streams in the Netherlands estimated that, of the particular brominated FRs termed POP-BDEs in E-waste (POP means a persistent organic pollutant under the Stockholm Convention), 22% by mass end up in recycled plastic products [3]. That estimate does not include several other FRs such as BDE-209 ( called deca), which are not currently listed as POPs
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