Are Reductions in Industrial Organic Contaminants Emissions in Rich Countries Achieved Partly by Export of Toxic Wastes?

Abstract

Recent studies show that PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) air concentrations remain surprisingly high in parts of Africa and Asia. These are regions where PCBs were never extensively used, but which are implicated as recipients of obsolete products and wastes containing PCBs and other industrial organic contaminants, such as halogenated flame retardants (HFRs). We hypothesize that there may be different trends in emissions across the globe, whereby emissions of some industrial organic contaminants may be decreasing faster in former use regions (due to emission reductions combined with uncontrolled export), at the expense of regions receiving these substances as obsolete products and wastes. We conclude that the potential for detrimental effects on the environment and human health due to long-range transport by air, water, or wastes should be of equal concern when managing and regulating industrial organic contaminants. This calls for a better integration of life-cycle approaches in the management and regulation of industrial organic contaminants in order to protect environmental and human health on a global scale. Yet, little remains known about the amounts of industrial organic contaminants exported outside former use regions as different types of wastes because of the often illicit nature of these operations.

Occurrence of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in agricultural soils in a BFR-manufacturing region of North China

“…In certain developing countries, the primitive dismantling of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) has been demonstrated to be a substantial emission source of PCBs Wong et al, 2007). Consequently, elevated levels of PCBs in the environment and in human tissue have been reported in parts of Africa and Asia in recent years (Breivik et al, 2011).…”

Occurrence, sources, and ecological risks of PBDEs, PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs in surface sediments of the Yangtze River Delta city cluster, China

“…PCBs have not been widely used in many developing countries including China, whereas primitive dismantling of electronic waste has become a substantial emission source of PCBs (Wang et al 2011c). Consequently, elevated levels in the environment and humans of PCBs have been reported in parts of Africa and Asia in recent years (Breivik et al 2011).…”

Levels and spatial distribution of gaseous polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated naphthalenes in the air over the northern South China Sea

“…In the past two decades, there have been several investigations on the levels, distribution and fate of gaseous PCBs and PCNs in the atmosphere (Falandysz, 1998;Harner et al, 1998;Jaward et al, 2004a;Lee et al, 2007;Mari et al, 2008). The recent researches indicate that historical usage, e-waste and shipwreck are major sources of PCBs (Breivik et al, 2002b;Breivik et al, 2011;Gioia et al, 2011). Meanwhile, PCNs are considered to be released from waste incineration, industrial processes (Bidleman et al, 2010;Jansson et al, 2008;Schneider et al, 1998) and historical usage (Guo et al, 2008;Harner and Bidleman, 1997).…”