Toxicity characterization of waste mobile phone plastics.
Waste plastic housing units (N=60) of mobile phones (of different models, and brands), were collected and analyzed for lead, cadmium, nickel and silver using atomic absorption spectrophotometry after acid digestion using a 1:1 mixture of H2SO4 and HNO3. The mean (+/-S.D.) and range of the results are 58.3+/-50.4mg/kg (5.0-340mg/kg) for Pb, 69.9+/-145mg/kg (4.6-1005mg/kg) for Cd, 432+/-1905mg/kg (5.0-11,000mg/kg) for Ni, and 403+/-1888mg/kg (5.0-12,500mg/kg) for Ag. Approximately 90% of the results for the various metals were < or =100mg/kg. Results greater than 300mg/kg were generally less than 7% for each metal and could be attributed to exogenous contamination of the samples. These results suggest that there may not be any immediate danger from end-of-life (EoL) mobile phone plastic housing if appropriately treated/managed. However, considering the large quantities generated and the present low-end management practices in most developing countries, such as open burning, there appears a genuine concern over the potential for environmental pollution and toxicity to man and the ecology.
Nnorom
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Department of Industrial Chemistry, Abia State University, P.O. Box 809, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. chidiabsu@yahoo.co.uk
Osibanjo
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D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D009549:Nigeria; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors
D006256:Hazardous Waste; D008670:Metals; D010969:Plastics