title: PCDD/Fs, PBDD/Fs, and PBDEs in the air of an e-waste recycling area (Taizhou) in China: current levels, composition profiles, and potential cancer risks.
abstract: Atmospheric concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in Taizhou, a large electronic equipment waste (e-waste) recycling area in East China. The mean concentrations (in summer and winter) of PCDD/Fs (0.45 and 0.39 pg WHO-TEQ m⁻³, where WHO-TEQ is the toxic equivalent set by the World Health Organisation), PBDD/Fs (0.22 and 0.18 pg WHO-TEQ m⁻³), and PBDEs (270 and 225 pg m⁻³) in this region have declined compared with those in 2005, due to regulations on primitive e-waste recycling activities. However, these concentrations remain higher than the historically highest levels in Europe and North America. The congener profiles of 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs were similar, with OCDD, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF, OCDF, and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD being the most abundant congeners at all sites. The PCDD/F homologue profiles in the present study were different from those typically observed at non-e-waste locations, indicating a distinct source in this region. Seasonal differences were found in the lower brominated PBDE profiles. These differences indicate that the PBDE emission sources in summer (e.g., strong evaporation sources) differed from those in winter. However, the relatively steady congener profiles of the highly brominated PBDEs suggest that these PBDEs were controlled primarily by similar emission mechanisms. The lifetime excess cancer risks from exposure to PCDD/Fs and PBDD/Fs via inhalation ranged from 0.7 × 10⁻⁵ to 5.4 × 10⁻⁵, or approximately 80 cancer cases in the Taizhou population.
authors.affiliation: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory for Dioxin Pollution Control, National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement-CNEAC, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ye-Ru
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: She-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ai-Min
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Peng-Jun
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Zhi-Guang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Bi-Xian
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Mai
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D017605:Bromine Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001572:Benzofurans; D017605:Bromine Compounds; D004147:Dioxins; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011108:Polymers; C016068:polychlorodibenzofuran; C020887:dibenzo(1,4)dioxin