Pollution characteristics and risk assessment of air multi-pollutants from typical e-waste dismantling activities

This study investigated the characteristics of air multi-pollutants emitted during typical electronic waste (ewaste) dismantling processes and assessed their risks to the environment and human health. Concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a typical e-waste dismantling workshop were 137 mu g/m3, 135 ng/m3 and 42 ng/m3, respectively, which were lower than those without emission control measures. The partial removal of pollutants due to the emission control measures also decreased the ozone formation potential and non-cancer risk of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In the workshop, the lifetime cancer risk (LCR) of VOCs (8.1 x 10-5) was close to the recommended values. Conversely, the LCR of PAHs (3.6 x 10-5) and the total exposure index of PBDEs (19 ng/d) were remarkably lower than the recommended values of 10-3 and that without emission control measures, respectively. Meanwhile, the concentrations of TVOCs, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs), PBDEs, and PAHs in the outlet were approximately 10-30 times higher than those in the workshop. In addition, the LCR of TVOCs within a 5-km radius area remained higher than the accepted value (10-6), and the inhalation exposure risk of PCDD/Fs within a 20-km radius area was five times higher than the recommended value. Therefore, the emissions from e-waste recycling processes should be considered as an important source of air pollution, and more efficient control measures should be taken in the future.

Automated summary

This study investigated the characteristics of air multi-pollutants emitted during typical electronic waste dismantling processes and assessed their risks to the environment and human health. The study found that emission control measures can decrease the concentrations of pollutants and reduce the ozone formation potential and non-cancer risk. The emissions from e-waste recycling processes should be considered as an important source of air pollution, and more efficient control measures should be taken in the future.