IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i3p360-d201333.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Hydrophobic Organic Pollutants in Soils and Dusts at Electronic Waste Recycling Sites: Occurrence and Possible Impacts of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers

Author

Listed:
  • Chimere May Ohajinwa

    (Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands)

  • Peter M. Van Bodegom

    (Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands)

  • Qing Xie

    (Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China)

  • Jingwen Chen

    (Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China)

  • Martina G. Vijver

    (Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands)

  • Oladele O. Osibanjo

    (Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200282, Nigeria)

  • Willie J.G.M. Peijnenburg

    (Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
    Center for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Concerns about the adverse consequences of informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling is increasing, because e-waste contains some hazardous substances such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) which is used as flame retardants in electronics. There is dearth of information on the concentrations of PBDEs and the pattern of distribution at the various e-waste recycling sites in Nigeria. This study therefore measured the concentrations of 13 PBDE congeners, in top soils (0–10 cm) and in various dust samples from different e-waste recycling sites (burning, dismantling, repair). PBDE concentrations at e-waste sites were compared with the concentrations in samples from corresponding control sites in three study locations in Nigeria (Lagos, Ibadan, and Aba). There were significant differences in the level of PBDEs congeners between each of the e-waste recycling sites and the corresponding control sites. The levels of PBDEs at the e-waste recycling sites exceeded the levels at the controls sites by a factor of 100 s to 1000 s. In general, PBDE concentrations at the e-waste sites decreased with the intensity of the e-waste recycling activities: burning sites > dismantling sites > repair sites > control sites. Our results suggest that the informal e-waste recycling has negative impacts on the enviroment and human health.

Suggested Citation

  • Chimere May Ohajinwa & Peter M. Van Bodegom & Qing Xie & Jingwen Chen & Martina G. Vijver & Oladele O. Osibanjo & Willie J.G.M. Peijnenburg, 2019. "Hydrophobic Organic Pollutants in Soils and Dusts at Electronic Waste Recycling Sites: Occurrence and Possible Impacts of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:3:p:360-:d:201333
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/3/360/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/3/360/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. da Cruz, Nuno F. & Ferreira, Sandra & Cabral, Marta & Simões, Pedro & Marques, Rui Cunha, 2014. "Packaging waste recycling in Europe: is the industry paying for it?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 59755, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Chimere M. Ohajinwa & Peter M. Van Bodegom & Martina G. Vijver & Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg, 2017. "Health Risks Awareness of Electronic Waste Workers in the Informal Sector in Nigeria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-16, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chimere May Ohajinwa & Peter M. van Bodegom & Oladele Osibanjo & Qing Xie & Jingwen Chen & Martina G. Vijver & Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg, 2019. "Health Risks of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Metals at Informal Electronic Waste Recycling Sites," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-19, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gradus, Raymond H.J.M. & Nillesen, Paul H.L. & Dijkgraaf, Elbert & van Koppen, Rick J., 2017. "A Cost-effectiveness Analysis for Incineration or Recycling of Dutch Household Plastic Waste," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 22-28.
    2. Cao, Jian & Lu, Bo & Chen, Yangyang & Zhang, Xuemei & Zhai, Guangshu & Zhou, Gengui & Jiang, Boxin & Schnoor, Jerald L., 2016. "Extended producer responsibility system in China improves e-waste recycling: Government policies, enterprise, and public awareness," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 882-894.
    3. Gonzalo Wandosell & María C. Parra-Meroño & Alfredo Alcayde & Raúl Baños, 2021. "Green Packaging from Consumer and Business Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Sisi Wu & Xuan Gong & Yunfei Wang & Jian Cao, 2022. "Consumer Cognition and Management Perspective on Express Packaging Pollution," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-23, April.
    5. Verena Radulovic, 2018. "Portrayals in Print: Media Depictions of the Informal Sector’s Involvement in Managing E-Waste in India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-29, March.
    6. Gaetano Musella & Massimiliano Agovino & Mariaconcetta Casaccia & Alessandro Crociata, 2019. "Evaluating waste collection management: the case of macro-areas and municipalities in Italy," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(6), pages 2857-2889, December.
    7. Lu Xiao & Rongrong Fan & Chaojie Wang & Jun Wang, 2020. "Policy Analyses on Promoting the Recycling of Express Packages," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-12, November.
    8. Marques, Rui Cunha & da Cruz, Nuno Ferreira & Simões, Pedro & Faria Ferreira, Sandra & Pereira, Marta Cabral & De Jaeger, Simon, 2014. "Economic viability of packaging waste recycling systems: A comparison between Belgium and Portugal," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 22-33.
    9. Jakob T. Pruess, 2023. "Unraveling the complexity of extended producer responsibility policy mix design, implementation, and transfer dynamics in the European Union," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(6), pages 1500-1520, December.
    10. Škamlová Lucia & Klobučník Michal, 2021. "Recycling of municipal waste in Slovak cities," Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, Sciendo, vol. 53(53), pages 43-54, September.
    11. Carlo Bellavite Pellegrini & Laura Pellegrini & Claudia Cannas, 2021. "Circular Economy Approach: The benefits of a new business model for European Firms," DISCE - Quaderni del Dipartimento di Politica Economica dipe0018, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimenti e Istituti di Scienze Economiche (DISCE).
    12. Eleonora Foschi & Alessandra Bonoli, 2019. "The Commitment of Packaging Industry in the Framework of the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, February.
    13. Caroline Orset & Nicolas Barret & Aurélien Lemaire, 2017. "How consumers of plastic water bottles are responding to environmental policies?," Post-Print hal-01500900, HAL.
    14. Navarro Ferronato & Carolina D’Avino & Marco Ragazzi & Vincenzo Torretta & Giovanni De Feo, 2017. "Social Surveys about Solid Waste Management within Higher Education Institutes: A Comparison," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-17, March.
    15. Octavian-Dragomir Jora & Alexandru Pătruți & Mihaela Iacob & Delia-Raluca Șancariuc, 2020. "“Squaring the Circle”—The Disregarded Institutional Theory and the Distorted Practice of Packaging Waste Recycling in Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-22, November.
    16. Xiang Gao & Sandy Dall'erba & Brenna Ellison & Andre F. T. Avelino & Cuihong Yang, 2022. "When one cannot bypass the byproducts: Plastic packaging waste embedded in production and export," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1460-1474, August.
    17. Ferreira, Sandra & Marques, Rui Cunha, 2015. "Contingent valuation method applied to waste management," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 111-117.
    18. Ibrahim Issah & John Arko-Mensah & Thomas P. Agyekum & Duah Dwomoh & Julius N. Fobil, 2022. "Health Risks Associated with Informal Electronic Waste Recycling in Africa: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-16, November.
    19. Wang, Yong & Peng, Shouguo & Zhou, Xuesong & Mahmoudi, Monirehalsadat & Zhen, Lu, 2020. "Green logistics location-routing problem with eco-packages," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    20. Eugénie Joltreau, 2022. "Extended Producer Responsibility, Packaging Waste Reduction and Eco-design," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 83(3), pages 527-578, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:3:p:360-:d:201333. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.