Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) in e-waste plastic in Nigeria

Abstract

Plastics from cathode ray tube (CRT) casings were sampled in Nigeria and analysed for their polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran (PBDD/F) content. PBDD/Fs, consisting mainly of PBDFs, were detected in BFR containing plastic with a median (mean) concentration of 18,000 ng/g (41,000 ng/g). The PBDD/Fs levels were highest in samples containing PBDEs, but the levels of PBDFs were two orders of magnitude higher than the levels reported in the technical PBDE mixtures and where frequently exceeding 1000 μg/g of PBDE content. These higher levels are likely to arise from additional transformation of PBDEs during production, use, recycling, or storage, but the processes responsible were not identified in this study. PBDD/Fs in CRT casings containing1,2-bistribromophenoxyethane (TBPE) were dominated by tetrabrominated dibenzo-p-dioxin (TBDDs) with concentrations around 10 μg/g of the TBPE content. The PBDD/Fs in CRT casings containing tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) were found at concentrations around 0.1 μg/g of TBBPA levels. Casings treated with TBPE or TBBPA often contained PBDEs (and PBDF) as impurities-probably originating from recycled e-waste plastics. It was estimated that the 237,000 t of CRT casings stockpiled in Nigeria contain between 2 and 8 t of PBDD/Fs. The total PBDD/F contamination in polymers arising from total historic PBDE production/use is estimated in the order of 1000 t. TEQ values of CRT samples frequently exceeded the Basel Convention's provisional low POPs content of 15 ng TEQ/g. Due to the significant risks to health associated with PBDD/Fs, more detailed studies on the exposure routes from PBDD/Fs in stockpiles are needed.

Current Levels and Management of Solid Wastes in Nigeria

“…Apart from the loss of the polymeric material itself, it results in soil and air pollution. In some cases, particularly hazardous products of combustion, dioxins and furans, can be emitted during the combustion of BFR‐containing plastics (Sindiku et al., ).…”

Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PBDD/Fs): Contamination in food, humans and dietary exposure

“…It was estimated that a single years production of Penta and Octa would yield 2.3 tons of mostly PBDFs (Hanari et al, 2006) while the production of Deca would yield 0.43 (range: 0.21-0.78) tons (Ren et al, 2011). The total inadvertent byproduction of PBDD/Fs during PBDE manufacture was estimated to be at least a thousand tons (after Sindiku et al, 2015), a relatively high value in comparison to existing inventories on PCDD/Fs (Horii et al, 2011;Cheruiyot et al, 2016).…”

Overview of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects of Pollution in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Nigeria

“…Approximately 1,616,000 tons of plastics from computers and television sets were in the waste stream of Nigeria by the end of 2010 (Babayemi, Sindiku, Osibanjo, & Weber, ). These polymers contained BFRs, which are of serious environmental concern (Sindiku et al., , ; Babayemi et al., ). This situation points to the urgent need for the establishment of sustainable solid waste management systems in every state in Nigeria.…”