Distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in soils of a previous E-waste processing center

Surface soil samples were taken from a previous electronic waste (E-waste) recycling centerin Taizhou area, Zhejiang province, China. Concentrations, profiles, and possible sources of 19 polychlorinated biphenyls and 7 poly-brominated diphenyl ethers were analyzed to assess their current state in the soil after phase out of massive dismantling of E-wastes. The concentrations of the 7 polybrominated diphenyl ethers ranged from 11 to 128 µg kg^?1 with an average of 41 ± 10 µg kg^?1 (dw), with 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromdiphenyl ether being the most abundant. These values were substantially lower than the levels in 2006. The concentrations of the 19 polychlorinated biphenyls ranged from 36 to 760 µg kg^?1, with an average of 181 ± 68 µgkg^?1 (dw) which was also lower than the levels in 1995 or 2006. However, the concentrations of some tetra-, penta- and hexa-chlorobiphenyls were comparable or even higher than before. Furthermore, the average concentration of 7 indicator polychlorinated biphenyls was 108 ± 41 µg kg^?1(dw) which exceeded the New Dutch List target value of 20 µgkg^?1. Principal component analysis indicated that polychlorinated biphenyls were mainly distributed into three groups in accordance with the number of chlorine atoms and anthropogenic source. Therefore, the impact of the historical dismantling of E-wastes is still significant.     

PBDEs and PCDD/Fs in surface soil taken from the Taizhou e-waste recycling area,China

The emerging issue of electronic wastes (e-waste) and the associated environmental problems has gained considerable attention from the scientific community in recent decades. In the present study, the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the surface soil obtained from the Taizhou e-waste recycling area of China were investigated. Also the correlation among these chemicals and previously published data of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls was analysed. We determined that the pollution levels of eight PBDEs congeners were serious, ranging from 27.9 to 3128.4 μg/kg. The concentration of PCDD/Fs was in the range of 218.3–3122.2 pg/g with a mean value of 659.5 pg/g. The PBDEs were not well-correlated with organic pollutants (PAHs and PCBs) in soil, whereas PCDD/Fs exhibited a significant positive correlation with the PCBs. The higher levels of persistent organic pollutants may pose potential adverse effects to soil quality and human beings and needs to be properly managed and remediated.     

Computer and mobile phone waste in urban India: an analysis from the perspectives of public perception,consumption and disposal behaviour

Sustainable management of Electronic waste (E-waste) is a major challenge for contemporary India, an emerging economy burdened with both the domestic generation and illegal import of E-waste. Considering the ever-increasing complexities of E-waste in Indian cities, this paper aims to evaluate the current trends, opportunities and challenges associated with consumption of electronic items (with respect to computers and mobile phones) and disposal of E-waste in urban India. Bangalore, a city popularly known as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, is considered as a case study in order to evaluate public awareness, household consumption and E-waste disposal behaviours. The city profile of Bangalore indicates that it has a rapidly emerging market for electronics and thus, has the potential to act as a ‘model’ for evaluating the issues concerning E-waste in metropolitan India. Questionnaires were distributed originally among 300 households with an effective response rate of 63.3%. The results indicate that the majority of households (59.3%) still retain their obsolete electronics due to lack of knowledge about proper E-waste management. High awareness about E-waste and high willingness to recycle/repair their E-waste (above 80% in both cases) are yet to be translated into responsible disposal/recycling behaviour as 95.8% of households have no knowledge about the presence of any formal recycling centre. Income, education, age and gender dimensions associated with E-waste disposal behaviour and awareness were also evaluated. Although we found no gender differences for most of the parameters, there have been some interesting correlations in age and income-wise segregation of disposal behaviour. We noted that the city of Bangalore still possesses some typical Indian socio-cultural characteristics, such as considering E-waste as ‘valuables’, changing several hands before final disposal, defying ‘brand’ or ‘looks’ consciousness, etc., which could be directed towards responsible E-waste disposal behaviours. We suggest that establishing appropriate and convenient E-waste collection/recycling facilities, ensuring responsible household disposal behaviour, implementing effective laws and legislation, and organizing mass E-waste awareness campaigns would aid in addressing the current E-waste concerns in the city.     

国外电子废弃物回收处理系统及相关法律法规建设对中国的启示

电子废弃物再生资源化过程的环境保护已成为一个突出的和亟待解决的问题。系统地研究发达国家的电子废弃物回收处理系统及相关法律法规的实施和发展情况,将为建立适合中国国情的电子废弃物管理系统及法律法规建设提供宝贵的经验,一方面,它可以促进中国电子废弃物资源再生化领域的良性循环,另一方面也为环保部门有效地实施污染控制提供参考依据。     

国外电子废弃物资源化概述

随着信息工业的飞速发展,以及人们对电子废弃物认识的深入和环保意识的加强,电子废弃物的回收利用已逐渐成为一项新兴产业。通过分析国外发达国家对电子废弃物的环境管理、工艺技术以及回收体系状况,总结了发达国家的成功经验,对我国建立和完善电子废弃物管理体系,发展研究电子废弃物资源化技术提出对策和建议。     

电子废物回收处理项目的BOT建设方式初探

在综合概述目前我国电子废物环境管理困境及其障碍性因素的基础上,提出了按BOT（建设-运营-转让）建设方式规划电子废物回收处理项目的建议,简述了BOT目方式的基本特征和项目实施过程中值得商榷的几个问题。     

龙塘镇电子垃圾拆解区土壤和河流底泥重金属赋存形态及生态风险

龙塘镇是珠三角电子垃圾拆解区之一,采用AAS方法对该地土壤和河流底泥沉积物中5种重金属(Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn和Pb)含量进行测定分析,结果显示周围农田土壤中Cd含量是《国家土壤质量标准》二级标准的3倍左右,是广东省土壤背景值的20倍左右;拆解区土壤Cd超标最为严重,最高达5.67倍,超过广东省土壤背景值达36.17倍;拆解区下游0—1500 m河流底泥中Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn和Pb含量大幅增加且部分金属超标,Cd在0—40 cm深度内含量总体逐渐降低,仍远超背景值,Cu含量采样深度内递减规律最显著且在0—10 cm内含量超标,Cr、Zn和Pb除部分点位在表层积累较多外,其余与背景值相差不大且未超标.采用BCR(the Community Bureau of Reference)法提取重金属不同形态可知,底泥中Cd主要以弱酸溶态和可还原态为主,Cu主要以可氧化态存在,Cr主要以残渣态存在,而Zn和Pb则以可还原态为主;其中Cd的可提取态比例较高(60%),容易释放出来形成"二次污染".潜在生态风险结果表明,河流底泥中Cd生态危害程度属于极强(Ei320);其他金属Cr、Cu、Zn和Pb危害风险程度属于轻微(Ei40);金属Cd对整个RI值贡献最大(88%),应重点加强对Cd污染的防控.     

Zero E-waste: Regulatory impediments and blockchain imperatives

• Copyrights on electronic products are impediments in promoting circular economy. • Manufacturers antagonize refurbishment and remanufacturing to maximize profit. • International harmonization of copyright laws will aid repair and remanufacture. • Blockchain–digital immutable ledgers–can promote trust among stakeholders. The concept of zero waste is an ideal situation that will require different solutions for different categories of waste. Electronic waste (E-waste), the fastest growing category of solid hazardous waste presents various unique challenges. Electronic product repair, reuse and remanufacture (3re) are crucial for effective source reduction of E-waste and the integration of the electronics industry into a circular or zero-waste economy framework. Increasingly, 3re implementation is restricted by regulatory difficulties, particularly the invocation of copyright laws. Here, we use the examples of electronic printer cartridges and restored compact discs (CDs) to identify the challenges and to explore solutions for managing the risks associated with E-waste through circular economy and the opportunities presented by innovative Blockchain solutions. A set of international consensuses on judicial definitions, such as 3re, refurbish fake/counterfeit product and copyright exhaustion, are proposed to accelerate source reduction in E-waste management toward the goal of zero waste.     

Legacies and health risks of heavy metals,polybrominated diphenyl ethers,and polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins/furans at e-waste recycling sites in South China

● Heavy metals and organic toxins may persist in legacy sites for a long time. ● Contaminants pose potential harms to the nearby community (HI > 1). ● PCDD/Fs had the risk of endocrine disruption and reproductive risk. ● Further intervention is needed to reduce pollution and related risks. Informal electronic-waste (e-waste) recycling sites pose substantial health risks to surrounding environments and populations, yet they are not properly regulated. In this study, the soil levels of copper, lead, cadmium, eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and 18 polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) were measured at two e-waste recycling sites in South China between 2014 and 2019. Both sites have been abandoned for natural restoration. Our results indicate that the mean Cd and PCDD/F levels at Site A in 2019 were higher than those recommended by current safety guidelines. Meanwhile, the highest exposure among children was 1.36 × 10⁻² mg/(kg·d) for Cu, followed by 5.05 × 10⁻³ mg/(kg·d) for Pb, 9.71 ng/(kg·d) for PBDEs, and 6.82 ng TEQ/(kg·d) for PCDD/Fs. Children were at elevated risk for health problem posed by Pb and Cu exposure at both sites (hazard quotient > 1) and by PCDD/Fs at Site A. Further risk assessment was conducted on the target organs and endpoints of heavy metals and PCDD/Fs. The hazard index (HI) for the target organ mixed-risk of heavy metals was high (HI = 1.27), as was that of PCDD/Fs (HI = 1.66), which can disrupt endocrine function and pose a risk of reproductive toxicity in children. Owing to incomplete cleaning, contaminants persist in soils over long periods and may harm nearby environments and communities. Our study demonstrates that heavy metal, PBDE, and PCDD/F contamination have not yet been remediated, and intervention is needed to reduce pollution and associated risks in areas affected by e-waste.