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Spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil, sediment, and combusted residue at an e-waste processing site in southeast China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 22, pages 8786–8801 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

The environmental pollution and health impacts caused by the primitive and crude recycling of e-waste have become urgent global issues. Guiyu, China is a major hotspot of e-waste recycling. In this study, the levels and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil in Guiyu were determined to investigate the effect of e-waste activities on the environment and to identify possible sources of these pollutants. Sediment samples from a local duck pond, water gullies, a river tributary, and combusted residue from e-waste burning sites were also investigated. The general trend found in soil (Σ16 PAHs) was acid leaching site > duck pond > rice field > printer roller dump site > reservoir (control site) and ranged from 95.2 ± 54.2 to 5,210 ± 89.6 ng/g (dry wt). The highest average total PAH concentrations were found in combusted residues of wires, cables, and other computer electrical components located at two e-waste open burning sites (18,600 and 10,800 ± 3,940 ng/g). These were 195- and 113-fold higher than the PAH concentrations of soil at the control site. Sediment PAH concentrations ranged from 37.2 ± 6 to 534 ± 271 ng/g. Results of this study provide further evidence of significant input of PAHs to the environment attributed to crude e-waste recycling.

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Acknowledgments

We thank colleagues and students of the Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University for field and technical assistance. Financial support for this work was sponsored by The Research Grants Council of the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong (Central Allocation Group Research Project HKBU 1/03C) and Special Equipment Grant SEG HKBU09).

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Affiliations

  1. Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    Anna O. W. Leung & Ming Hung Wong

  2. Department of Applied Science, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, Chai Wan, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    Kwai Chung Cheung

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  1. Anna O. W. Leung
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  2. Kwai Chung Cheung
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  3. Ming Hung Wong
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Correspondence to Ming Hung Wong.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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Leung, A.O.W., Cheung, K.C. & Wong, M.H. Spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil, sediment, and combusted residue at an e-waste processing site in southeast China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 8786–8801 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1465-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1465-8

Keywords

  • Electronic-waste
  • Guiyu
  • Open burning
  • Acid leaching
  • Risk assessment