Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in air and dust from electronic waste storage facilities in Thailand

摘要

This study reports concentrations of brominated flame retardants in dust samples (n = 25) and in indoor (n = 5) and outdoor air (n = 10) (using PUF disk passive air samplers) from 5 electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) storage facilities in Thailand. Concentrations of ∑_(10)PBDEs (BDEs 17,28,47,49,66,85,99,100,153 and 154) in outdoor air in the vicinity of e-waste storage facilities ranged from 8 to 150 pg m~(-3). Indoor air concentrations ranged from 46 to 350 pg m~(-3), with highest concentrations found in a personal computer and printer waste storage room at an e-waste storage facility. These are lower than reported previously for electronic waste treatment facilities in China, Sweden, and the US. Concentrations of ∑_(21)PBDEs (∑_(10)PBDEs + BDEs 181,183,184, 191,196,197,203,206,207,208 and 209), decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE), decabromobiphenyl (BB-209) in dust were 320-290,000, 43-8700 and < 20-2300 ng g~(-1) respectively, with the highest concentrations of ∑_(21) PBDEs, BDE-209 and DBDPE in a room used to house discarded TVs, stereos and radios. PBDE concentrations in dust were slightly higher but within the range of those detected in workshop floor dust from an e-waste recycling centre in China. The highest concentration of BB-209 was detected in a room storing discarded personal computers and printers. Cons is tent with recent reports of elevated ratios of BDE-208:BDE-209 and BDE-183:BDE-209 in household electronics from South China, percentage ratios of BDE-208:BDE-209 (0.64-2.9%) and of BDE-208:BDE-183 (2.8-933%) in dust samples exceeded substantially those present in commercial deca-BDE and octa-BDE formulations. This suggests direct migration of BDE-208 and other nonabrominated BDEs from e-waste to the environment. Under realistic high-end scenarios of occupational exposure to BDE-99, workers in the facilities were exposed above a recently-published Health Based Limit Value for this congener. Reassuringly, estimated exposures to BDE-209 were below the USEPA's reference dose for this congener.