Exposure of e-waste workers to eight halogenated and five organophosphate ester flame retardant chemicals (FRs) was studied at a Canadian e-waste dismantling facility. FR concentrations were measured in air and dust samples collected at a central location and at four work benches over five-24 hour periods spanning two weeks. The highest concentrations in air from workbenches were of BDE-209 (median 156 ng m-3), followed by Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP, median 59 ng m-3). Dust concentrations at the workbenches were higher than those measured at the central location, consistent with the release of contaminated dust during dismantling. Dust concentrations from the workbenches were also dominated by BDE-209 (median 96,300 ng g-1), followed by Triphenyl phosphate (TPhP, median 47,000 ng g-1). Most FRs were in coarse particles 5.6-18 μm diameter and ~30% were in respirable particles (<~3 μm). Exposure estimates indicated that dust ingestion accounted for 63% of total FR exposure; inhalation and dermal absorption contributed 35 and 2%, respectively. Some air and dust concentrations as well as some estimated exposures in this formal facility in a high-income country exceeded those from informal e-waste facilities located in low and middle income countries. Although there is demonstrated toxicity of some FRs, FR exposure in the e-waste industry has received minimal attention and occupational limits do not exist for most FRs.
- MeSH
- elektronický odpad analýza MeSH
- halogenace MeSH
- halogenované difenylethery chemie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- organofosfáty chemie MeSH
- prach analýza MeSH
- pracovní expozice MeSH
- retardanty hoření analýza MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Kanada MeSH
Obtaining a complex picture of how pollutants synergistically influence toxicity of a system requires statistical correlation of chemical and ecotoxicological data. In this study, we determined concentrations of eight potentially toxic metals (PTMs) and four groups of organic pollutants in 15 sewage sludge and 12 river sediment samples, then linked measured contaminant concentrations to the toxicity of each matrix through constrained correspondence analysis (CCA). In sludge samples, Hg, As, hexachlorohexane (HCH), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) influenced the toxicity profiles, with the first four having significant effects and HBCD being marginally significant. In sediment samples, Hg, As, PBDEs, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), HBCD, HCH and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were found to explain toxicity profiles with Hg, As, PBDEs, HCB, DDT, HBCD, and HCH having significant effects and PAHs being marginally significant. Interestingly, HCH was present in small amounts yet proved to have a significant impact on toxicity. To the contrary, PAHs were often present in high amounts, yet proved to be only marginally significant for sediment toxicity. These results indicate that statistical correlation of chemical and ecotoxicological data can provide more detailed understanding of the role played by specific pollutants in shaping toxicity of sludge and sediments.
- MeSH
- chemické látky znečišťující vodu toxicita MeSH
- chromatografie plynová MeSH
- geologické sedimenty * MeSH
- halogenované difenylethery chemie toxicita MeSH
- kořeny rostlin účinky léků růst a vývoj MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
- odpadní vody škodlivé účinky MeSH
- polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky toxicita MeSH
- řeky MeSH
- salát (hlávkový) účinky léků růst a vývoj MeSH
- těžké kovy toxicita MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The exposure of the Arctic ecosystem to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was assessed through a review of literature data. Concentrations of 19 chemicals or congeneric groups were estimated for the highest levels of the Arctic food chain (Arctic cod, ringed seals, and polar bears). The ecotoxicological risk for seals, bears, and bear cubs was estimated by applying the concentration addition (CA) concept. The risk of POP mixtures was very low in seals. By contrast, the risk was 2 orders of magnitude higher than the risk threshold for adult polar bears and even more (3 orders of magnitude above the threshold) for bear cubs fed with contaminated milk. Based on the temporal trends available for many of the chemicals, the temporal trend of the mixture risk for bear cubs was calculated. Relative to the 1980s, a decrease in risk from the POP mixture is evident, mainly because of international control measures. However, the composition of the mixture substantially changes, and the contribution of new POPs (particularly perfluorooctane sulfonate) increases. These results support the effectiveness of control measures, such as those promulgated in the Stockholm Convention, as well as the urgent need for their implementation for new and emerging POPs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1181-1192. © 2017 SETAC.
- MeSH
- ekosystém MeSH
- halogenované difenylethery chemie metabolismus MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí chemie metabolismus MeSH
- medvědovití metabolismus MeSH
- polychlorované bifenyly chemie metabolismus MeSH
- potravní řetězec * MeSH
- riziko MeSH
- tuleňovití metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Arktida MeSH
- MeSH
- bromované uhlovodíky chemie škodlivé účinky MeSH
- endokrinní disruptory * metabolismus toxicita MeSH
- halogenované difenylethery chemie škodlivé účinky MeSH
- kontaminace potravin MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- polybrombifenylové sloučeniny chemie škodlivé účinky MeSH
- retardanty hoření * metabolismus škodlivé účinky toxicita MeSH
- sloučeniny bromu škodlivé účinky toxicita MeSH
- vystavení vlivu životního prostředí MeSH
- znečištění životního prostředí MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) were, and in some countries still are, used as flame retardants for plastic materials. When released from plastics, PDBE cause harm to the environment. This creates the incentive for further investigation of the PBDE degradation. This work focused on a formulation of a PBDE photodegradation model based on the PBDE properties obtained by the quantum chemical calculations. The proposed model predicted degradation routes of arbitrary PBDE congener. The routes of selected congeners were validated by the two independently published data sets and showed the high fitting degree. The model can be easily modified for any reactor system if the initial reaction rate constant of one congener is available for the given system.
