Human exposure to halogenated and organophosphate flame retardants through informal e-waste handling activities - A critical review

Informal electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) handling activities constitute a potentially important source of halogenated (HFRs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPERs) to the environment and humans. In this review, two electronic databases (ScienceDirect and Web of Science Core Collection) were searched for papers that addressed this topic. A total of 82 relevant studies (including 72 studies selected from the two databases and 10 studies located from the references of the first 72 selected studies) were identified that reported on human external and internal exposure to HFRs and OPERs arising as a result of informal e-waste handling activities. Compared to the general population, higher levels of external exposure (i.e., inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption) and internal exposure (i.e., blood serum, hair, breast milk, urine, and other human matrices) to HFRs and OPERs were identified for e-waste recyclers and residents inhabiting e-waste dismantling and recycling zones, especially for younger adults and children. Food intake and dust ingestion were the dominant exposure pathways for the majority of brominated flame retardants (BERs) and dechlorane plus (DP); while inhalation was identified as the most significant pathway of human exposure to OPERs in informal e-waste sites. The majority of research to date has focused on China and thus future studies should be conducted in other regions such as Africa and South Asia. Other suggested foci of future research are: examination of exposure via dermal contact with e-waste, dietary exposure of local populations to OPERs, confirmation of the existence of and cause(s) of the higher body burdens of females compared with males amongst populations impacted by informal e-waste handling, and characterisation of exposure of such populations to chlorinated paraffins. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Informal handling of electrical and electronic waste poses a significant risk for human exposure to halogenated and organophosphate flame retardants. Studies have shown that e-waste recyclers and residents living in recycling zones have higher internal and external exposure to these chemicals, especially younger adults and children. The dominant exposure pathways for brominated flame retardants and dechlorane plus are through food intake and dust ingestion, while inhalation is the primary pathway for organophosphate exposure in informal e-waste sites.