title: Risks of toxic ash from artisanal mining of discarded cellphones.
abstract: The potential environmental and human health impacts of artisanal mining of electronic waste through open incineration were investigated. A market-representative set of cellphones was dismantled into four component categories-batteries, circuit boards, plastics and screens. The components were shredded, sieved and incinerated at 743-818 °C. The concentrations of 17 metals were determined using U.S. EPA methods 6010C (inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry; 6020A (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, or 7471B and 7470A (cold-vapor atomic absorption). EPA Method 8270 (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) was used to identify polyaromatic hydrocarbon compounds and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. EPA Method 8082A was used to measure polychlorinated biphenyls and EPA Method 8290 was used for dioxin/furans in the residue ash. The life cycle assessment model USEtox(®) was used to estimate impacts of the ash residue chemicals on human health and the ecosystem. Among metals, copper in printed circuit boards had the highest ecotoxicity impact (1610-1930PAFm(3)/kg); Beryllium in plastics had the highest impact on producing non-cancer diseases (0.14-0.44 cases/kg of ash); and Nickel had the largest impact on producing cancers (0.093-0.35 cases/kg of ash). Among organic chemicals, dioxins from incinerated batteries produced the largest ecotoxicological impact (1.07E-04 to 3.64E-04PAFm(3)/kg). Furans in incinerated batteries can generate the largest number of cancers and non-cancer diseases, representing 8.12E-09 to 2.28E-08 and 8.96E-10 and 2.52E-09 cases/kg of ash, respectively. The results reveal hazards of burning discarded cellphones to recover precious metals, and pinpoints opportunities for manufacturers to reduce toxic materials used in specific electronic components marketed globally.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hibbert
authors.affiliation: School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Population Health & Disease Prevention, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. Electronic address: Oladele.Ogunseitan@uci.edu.
authors.forename: Oladele A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Ogunseitan
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D017745:Incineration; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D008670:Metals
keywords: Artisanal mining; E-waste; Electronic components; Incineration; Life cycle assessment