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Article

Heavy Metals Concentrations of Surface Dust from e-Waste Recycling and Its Human Health Implications in Southeast China

Supporting Info

Anna O. W. Leung^†, Nurdan S. Duzgoren-Aydin^‡^§, K. C. Cheung^† and Ming H. Wong*^†

Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, PR China, and Department of Earth Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China

Environ. Sci. Technol., 2008, 42 (7), pp 2674–2680

DOI: 10.1021/es071873x

Publication Date (Web): March 4, 2008

†

Hong Kong Baptist University.

‡

University of Hong Kong.

Present address: National Center for Natural Products Research, The University of Mississippi, 38677 MS.

* Corresponding author phone: +852-3411-7746 ; fax: +852-3411-7743; e-mail: mhwong@hkbu.edu.hk.

Abstract

The recycling of printed circuit boards in Guiyu, China, a village intensely involved in e-waste processing, may present a significant environmental and human health risk. To evaluate the extent of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) contamination from printed circuit board recycling, surface dust samples were collected from recycling workshops, adjacent roads, a schoolyard, and an outdoor food market. ICP-OES analyses revealed elevated mean concentrations in workshop dust (Pb 110000, Cu 8360, Zn 4420, and Ni 1500 mg/kg) and in dust of adjacent roads (Pb 22600, Cu 6170, Zn 2370, and Ni 304 mg/kg). Lead and Cu in road dust were 330 and 106, and 371 and 155 times higher, respectively, than non e-waste sites located 8 and 30 km away. Levels at the schoolyard and food market showed that public places were adversely impacted. Risk assessment predicted that Pb and Cu originating from circuit board recycling have the potential to pose serious health risks to workers and local residents of Guiyu, especially children, and warrants an urgent investigation into heavy metal related health impacts. The potential environmental and human health consequences due to uncontrolled e-waste recycling in Guiyu serves as a case study for other countries involved in similar crude recycling activities.

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History

Published In Issue April 01, 2008
Article ASAPMarch 04, 2008
Received: July 27, 2007
Revised: December 27, 2007
Accepted: January 5, 2008

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Article

Heavy Metals Concentrations of Surface Dust from e-Waste Recycling and Its Human Health Implications in Southeast China

Abstract

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Recommend & Share

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