Organic contaminants and heavy metals in indoor dust from e-waste recycling, rural, and urban areas in South China: Spatial characteristics and implications for human exposure

Publication date: June 2017
Source:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Volume 140
Author(s): Chun-Tao He, Xiao-Bo Zheng, Xiao Yan, Jing Zheng, Mei-Huan Wang, Xiao Tan, Lin Qiao, She-Jun Chen, Zhong-Yi Yang, Bi-Xian Mai
The concentrations of several organic contaminants (OCs) and heavy metals were measured in indoor dust from e-waste recycling, rural, and urban areas in South China to illustrate the spatial characteristics of these pollutants and to further evaluate human exposure risks. The median concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), and dechlorane plus (DPs) were 38.6–3560, 2360–30,100, 665–2720, and 19.5–1860ng/g, while the median concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, and Zn were 2.46–40.4, 206–1380, 217- 1200, 25.3–134, and 176–212μg/g in indoor dust. The levels of all pollutants, except Zn, in dust from the e-waste recycling area were significantly higher than those from the other areas. Cd, Pb, and most OCs exhibited similar pollution patterns in the three areas, indicating that e-waste recycling activities are the major pollution source. In contrast, Cu, Cr, Zn, and penta-BDE are likely derived from household products in the rural and urban areas. The highest estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of PCBs, PBDEs, DBDPE, and DPs were 0.15–163, 3.97–1470, 1.26–169, and 0.11–134ng/kg bw/day for toddlers and adults. The highest EDIs of BDE 209 and Pb in toddlers in the e-waste recycling area were 16% and 18 times higher than the reference doses, indicating the high exposure risk of these pollutants in the e-waste recycling area.

Graphical abstract

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