On-site and off-site atmospheric PBDEs in an electronic dismantling workshop in south China: Gas-particle partitioning and human exposure assessment

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2011-12, Vol.159 (12), p.3529-3535
• Main Authors: An, Taicheng, Zhang, Delin, Li, Guiying, Mai, Bixian, Fu, Jiamo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air; Air Pollutants - analysis; Assessments; Atmospherics; Biological and medical sciences; China; Congeners; Dismantling; Dust - analysis; E-waste; Electronic Waste - adverse effects; Electronics; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental pollutants toxicology; exposure assessment; Flame Retardants - analysis; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - analysis; Human exposure assessment; Humans; Medical sciences; On-site and off-site; Partitioning; PBDE; plastics; recycling; Refuse Disposal; Residential areas; Toxicology; vapor pressure; waste incineration; Workshops
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.08.014

Gas samples and total suspended particle during work and off work time were investigated on-site and off-site electronic waste dismantling workshop (I- and O-EWDW), then compared with plastic recycling workshop (PRW) and waste incineration plant (WIP). TSP concentrations and total PBDE were 0.36–2.21 mg/m 3 and 27–2975 ng/m 3 at different workshops, respectively. BDE-47, -99, and -209 were major ∑PBDE congeners at I-EWDW and WIP, while BDE-209 was only dominant congener in PRW and control sites during work time and all sites during off work time. The gas-particle partitioning result was well correlated with the subcooled liquid vapor pressure for all samples, except for WIP and I-EDWD, at park during work time, and residential area during off work time. The predicted urban curve fitted well with measured φ values at O-DEWD during work time, whereas it was slightly overestimated or underestimated for others. Exposure assessment revealed the highest exposure site was I-EDWD. ► On- and off-site atmospheric PBDEs was monitored in e-waste dismantling workshops in south China. ► The gas-particle partitioning result was well correlated with the subcooled liquid vapor pressure for some samples. ► Exposure assessment revealed that workers in I-EDWD were the highest exposure population. The findings of this study may serve as a valuable reference for future risk assessment and environmental management in Guiyu, South China.