Aquatic toxicity of leachates generated from electronic devices.
Heavy metal leaching of electronic waste has been documented in recent literature. Heavy metal aquatic toxicity in the toxicity characteristic (TC) leachates produced from 56 electronic devices were tested using the aquatic toxicity assays such as Ceriodaphnia dubia 48-hr acute toxicity assay, the Selenatastrum capricornutum chronic algal growth inhibition assay (test used only for circuit-board leachates), and the MetPLATE acute heavy metal toxicity tests. The electronic devices tested, include 9 circuit boards (printed wire boards), 2 videocassette recorders, 4 remote controls, 1 cathode ray tube, 15 cellular phones, 1 calculator, 5 smoke detectors and their PC board components, 3 printers, 4 laptop computers, and 7 personal computer central processing units (CPUs). The toxicity tests showed toxicity in 51 of the 56 Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure leachates of electronic devices assayed.
Dagan
Roi
R
Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, P.O. Box 116450, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, USA.
Dubey
Brajesh
B
Bitton
Gabriel
G
Townsend
Timothy
T
D000818:Animals; D040421:Cell Phone; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D033361:Cladocera / Q000187:drug effects*; D003201:Computers; D004581:Electronics; D006794:Household Articles; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical