Study on adverse impact of e-waste disassembly on surface sediment in East China by chemical analysis and bioassays

Abstract

Purpose The primitive recycling of electronic waste (ewaste) in developing countries is causing serious environmental pollution. The objective of this study was to determine the contamination and toxicity of surface sediment of Nanguan River, which runs through the ewaste recycling area of Taizhou, East China. Materials and methods Surface sediments were collected from Nanguan River, including one from the control site, four near the household workshops, and two near the industrial parks. Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals/metalloid (Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu, Hg, and As), which are most widely detected in e-waste contaminated surroundings, were determined. Acute toxicity and genetic toxicity were evaluated by luminescence inhibition assay in luminescent bacterium Vibrio qingaiensis sp. nov. (Q67) and Vicia faba roots tip micronucleus assay, respectively. Results and discussion The surface sediment has been seriously contaminated by PCBs, PAHs, and heavy metals/ metalloid due to the e-waste disassembly process. Significant acute and genetic toxicity of the sediments presented a big threat to the aquatic life and human health through food chain, as the river is an extent water source for local residents.Conclusions The environmental issue of e-waste recycling is emergent and measures should be taken to mitigate the adverse impacts of e-waste disassembly.

Contamination and risk of heavy metals in soils and sediments from a typical plastic waste recycling area in North China

“…The Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn concentrations in sediments from e-waste recycling areas were much higher than the concentrations found in sediments from the plastic recycling area in this study Chen et al, 2010;Quan et al, 2014;Nie et al, 2015). However, the metal concentrations in the sediments in the study area were comparable to concentrations observed in sediments from the Lianjiang River, flowing across Guiyu where largescale e-waste dismantling activities have been conducted ).…”

E-Waste Recycling: Where Does It Go from Here?

“…38 Similarly, levels of PCDD/Fs in riverbank sediments from Liangjiang River (35 200 ) in surface sediment from Nanguan River draining through an e-waste recycling area of Taizhou (Table 1) were much higher than those for reference sites. 40 Human Exposure. Levels of decabrominated diphenyl ether in serum of e-waste processing workers in Guiyu included the highest value reported so far at 3100 ng/g lipid, which was 50− 200 fold higher than previously reported levels for occupational exposure.…”

E-waste: a problem or an opportunity? Review of issues, challenges and solutions in Asian countries

“…The study by Chen et al, 2010 investigated the level of PCBs from samples taken from four household workshops and two industrial parks. PCBs were detected ranging from 16 to 2990 ng/g dw exceeding the Canadian freshwater sediment quality guideline of 34 ng/g dw by nearly 20-90 times.…”