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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in surface soils from e-waste recycling areas and industrial areas in South China: Concentration levels, congener profile, and inventory

  1. Shutao Gao1,
  2. Jianwen Hong1,2,3,
  3. Zhiqiang Yu1,*,
  4. Jingzhi Wang1,2,
  5. Guoyi Yang4,
  6. Guoying Sheng1,
  7. Jiamo Fu1

Article first published online: 12 OCT 2011

DOI: 10.1002/etc.668

Issue

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Volume 30, Issue 12, pages 2688–2696, December 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Gao, S., Hong, J., Yu, Z., Wang, J., Yang, G., Sheng, G. and Fu, J. (2011), Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in surface soils from e-waste recycling areas and industrial areas in South China: Concentration levels, congener profile, and inventory. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 30: 2688–2696. doi: 10.1002/etc.668

Author Information

  1. 1

    State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China

  2. 2

    Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

  3. 3

    Guangdong Institute for Drug Control, Guangzhou, China

  4. 4

    Guangdong Institute of Eco-Environment and Soil Sciences, Guangzhou, China

*State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 10 NOV 2011
  2. Article first published online: 12 OCT 2011
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 31 AUG 2011 10:20PM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 14 AUG 2011
  5. Manuscript Revised: 9 MAY 2011
  6. Manuscript Received: 4 MAR 2011
Corrected by:

Errata: Erratum: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in surface soils from e-waste recycling areas and industrial areas in South China: Concentration levels, congener profile, and inventory

Vol. 31, Issue 4, 928, Article first published online: 17 MAR 2012

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Keywords:

  • Polybrominated diphenyl ethers;
  • E-waste;
  • Concentration level;
  • Congener profile;
  • Mass inventory

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in 60 surface soils from two e-waste recycling sites (Qingyuan and Guiyu, China) and their surrounding areas to assess the extent and influence of PBDEs from e-waste recycling sites on the surrounding areas. A total of 32 surface soils from industrial areas in South China were also investigated for comparison. The mean concentrations of total PBDEs in the e-waste recycling sites of Guiyu and Qingyuan were 2,909 and 3,230 ng/g dry weight, respectively, whereas the PBDE concentrations decreased dramatically (1–2 orders of magnitude) with increasing distance from the recycling site, suggesting that the e-waste recycling activities were the major source of PBDEs in the surrounding areas. Decabromodiphenyl ethers accounted for 77.0 to 85.8% of total PBDEs in e-waste recycling areas, whereas it accounted for 90.2% in industrial areas. Principal component analysis showed that the major source of PBDEs in e-waste recycling areas were a combination of penta-, octa-, and deca-BDE commercial formulations, whereas deca-BDE commercial formulations were the major source of PBDE congeners in industrial areas. The inventories of PBDEs gave preliminary estimates of 6.22 tons and 13.4 tons for the e-waste recycling areas and industrial areas. The results suggested that significantly higher PBDEs in the e-waste recycling sites have already affected surrounding areas negatively within a relatively large distance. Because of the environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity of PBDEs, improving the recycling techniques employed at such facilities and developing e-waste management policies are necessary. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011;30:2688–2696. © 2011 SETAC

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