Changes in human hair levels of organic contaminants reflecting China's regulations on electronic waste recycling

To assess the impacts of regulations and laws enhancing the management of e-waste in China, hair samples of local residents and dismantling workers in a former e-waste area in 2016 and 2019, five and eight years after the implementation of legislation and regulations in this area since 2011, respectively. The temporal changes in levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) in the hair samples were investigated. Besides, the levels of these organic contaminants in hair samples collected from the same area in 2009, 2011, and 2015 reported in previous studies were used as comparison. The highest median levels of X9PCBs (719 ng/g), X3Penta-BDEs (16.1 ng/g), and X3Octa-BDEs (8.46 ng/g) in hair were found in 2011, with a significant decrease trend was observed from 2011 to 2019 (p < 0.05). As for Deca-BDE, the levels reached the maximum in 2015 (133 ng/g), following by a significant decrease to 2016 (7.46 ng/g) and 2019 (2.61 ng/g) (p < 0.05). The median levels of X8OPFRs, also decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 2015 (357 ng/g) to 2016 (264 ng/g) and 2019 (112 ng/g). Moreover, a significantly increasing trend was observed for the ratios of triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) and tris(2 chloropropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), two predominant OPFRs, to Deca-BDE from 2015 to 2019 (p < 0.01), suggest-ing a shift of legacy to emerging contaminants released from e-waste recycling in this area. The temporal changes in hair levels of typical organic contaminants in residents and dismantling workers indicated the effec-tiveness of the regulations on informal e-waste recycling activities and solid waste in China. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study assessed the impacts of regulations and laws enhancing the management of e-waste on local residents and dismantling workers in China. The results showed a significant decrease in the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and organophosphorus flame retardants in hair samples after the implementation of legislation and regulations in the area since 2011.