Health Risks of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Metals at Informal Electronic Waste Recycling Sites

Chimere May Ohajinwa, Peter M. van Bodegom, Oladele Osibanjo, Qing Xie, Jingwen Chen, Martina G. Vijver and Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg
Additional contact information
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
Oladele Osibanjo: Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria
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
Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg: Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: Concerns about the adverse public health consequences of informal electronic waste ( e -waste) recycling are increasing. This study adopted a cross-sectional study design to gain insights into health risks (cancer and non-cancer risks) associated with exposure to e -waste chemicals among informal e -waste workers via three main routes: Dermal contact, ingestion, and inhalation. The e -waste chemicals (PBDE and metals) were measured in the dust and top soils at e -waste sites (burning, dismantling, and repair sites). Adverse health risks were calculated using the EPA model developed by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States. The concentrations of the e -waste chemicals and the health risks at the e -waste sites increased as the intensity of the e -waste recycling activities increased: control sites < repair sites < dismantling sites < burning sites. Dermal contact was the main route of exposure while exposure via inhalation was negligible for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks. Cumulative health risks via all routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact) exceeded the acceptable limits of both non-cancer effects and cancer risk at all e -waste sites. This indicates that overall the e -waste workers are at the risk of adverse health effects. Therefore, the importance of occupational safety programs and management regulations for e -waste workers cannot be over emphasised.

Keywords: electronic waste; informal recycling; PBDEs; metals; soil; dust (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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