title: Evolution of electronic waste toxicity: Trends in innovation and regulation.
abstract: Rapid innovation in printed circuit board, and the uncertainties surrounding quantification of the human and environmental health impacts of e-waste disposal have made it difficult to confirm the influence of evolving e-waste management strategies and regulatory policies on materials. To assess these influences, we analyzed hazardous chemicals in a market-representative set of Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs, 1996-2010). We used standard leaching tests to characterize hazard potential and USEtox® to project impacts on human health and ecosystem. The results demonstrate that command-and-control regulations have had minimal impacts on WPCBs composition and toxicity risks; whereas technological innovation may have been influenced more by resource conservation, including a declining trend in the use of precious metals such as gold. WPCBs remain classified as hazardous under U.S. and California laws because of excessive toxic metals. Lead poses the most significant risk for cancers; zinc for non-cancer diseases; copper had the largest potential impact on ecosystem quality. Among organics, acenaphthylene, the largest risk for cancers; naphthalene for non-cancer diseases; pyrene has the highest potential for ecotoxicological impacts. These findings support the need for stronger enforcement of international policies and technology innovation to implement the strategy of design-for-the-environment and to encourage recovery, recycling, and reuse of WPCBs.
authors: Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle (SWUST), Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, 59 Qinglong Road, Mianyang 621010, China; Program in Public Health and School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. Electronic address: kyling@swust.edu.cn.
authors: Mengjun
authors: M
authors: Chen
authors: Program in Public Health and School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. Electronic address: oladele.ogunseitan@uci.edu.
authors: Oladele A
authors: OA
authors: Ogunseitan
authors: Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle (SWUST), Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, 59 Qinglong Road, Mianyang 621010, China.
authors: Jianbo
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle (SWUST), Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, 59 Qinglong Road, Mianyang 621010, China.
authors: Haiyan
authors: H
authors: Chen
authors: Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle (SWUST), Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, 59 Qinglong Road, Mianyang 621010, China.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Wang
authors: Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle (SWUST), Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, 59 Qinglong Road, Mianyang 621010, China.
authors: Shu
authors: S
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D059027:Recycling / Q000379:methods; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances
keywords: Environmental pollution; Human health; International regulatory policies; Life cycle impact assessment; Restriction of hazardous substances; Technological innovation