title: Exposure to flame retardants in electronics recycling sites.
abstract: Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) contains various hazardous substances such as flame retardants (FRs). Inhalation exposures to many FRs simultaneously among WEEE recycling site workers have been little studied previously. The breathing zone airborne concentrations of five brominated FR compounds tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBP-A), decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE), hexabromocyclododecane, 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane, hexabromobenzene, and one chlorinated FR (Dechlorane Plus®) were measured at four electronics recycling sites in two consecutive years. In addition, concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated biphenyls were measured. The three most abundant FRs in personal air samples were PBDEs (comprising mostly of deca-BDE), TBBP-A, and DBDPE, with mean concentrations ranging from 21 to 2320 ng m(-)(3), from 8.7 to 430 ng m(-3), and from 3.5 to 360 ng m(-3), respectively. At two of the sites, the emission control actions (such as improvements in ventilation and its maintenance and changes in cleaning habits) proved successful, the mean levels of FRs in personal samples being 10-68 and 14-79% of those from the previous year or alternatively below the limit of quantification. At the two remaining sites, the reductions in FR exposures were less consistent. The concentrations reported may pose a health hazard to the workers, although evaluation of the association between FR exposure and adverse health effects is hampered by lacking occupational exposure limits. Therefore, the exposures should be minimized by adequate control measures and maintaining good occupational hygiene practice.
authors: Department of Work Environment Development, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 aA, Helsinki, Finland. christina.rosenberg@ttl.fi
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Rosenberg
authors: Mervi
authors: M
authors: Hämeilä
authors: Jarkko
authors: J
authors: Tornaeus
authors: Kirsi
authors: K
authors: Säkkinen
authors: Katriina
authors: K
authors: Puttonen
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Korpi
authors: Mirja
authors: M
authors: Kiilunen
authors: Markku
authors: M
authors: Linnainmaa
authors: Antti
authors: A
authors: Hesso
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D055615:Electrical Equipment and Supplies; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005062:European Union; D005387:Finland; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D059027:Recycling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D014691:Ventilation; D018505:Waste Management / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; C526360:dechlorane plus