Ecological influences of the migration of micro resin particles from crushed waste printed circuit boards on the dumping soil

J Hazard Mater. 2020 Mar 15:386:121020. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121020. Epub 2019 Dec 13.

Abstract

About 0.8 million tons of resin particles, which were generated from the recovery of waste printed circuit boards, were dumped on soil at Qingyuan city of China. Resin particles not only belong to micro plastic but also contain brominated flame retardants and heavy metals. There is little information about soil pollution caused by the dumped resin particles. This study found resin particles would transfer from soil surface into soil at least 10 mm downward for six months. Average content of bromine in soil within 10 cm exceeded 2500 mg/kg. The highest content of Pb, Zn, and Cu was 3450, 1143 and 1450 mg/kg, which were approximately 6.9, 2.3 and 3.6 times as much as Grade Ⅲ soil standard of China. Micro plastic, brominated flame retardants, and heavy metals made significant effects on soil bacterial community. Bacterial diversity was destroyed and the number of resistant bacteria increased obviously such as Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Paracoccus. This paper presented the ecological destroy of soil when the resin particles were deposited on soil surface. It also suggested the government to urgently manage the resin particles produced in the recovery of waste printed circuit boards.

Keywords: Bacterial community; Brominated flame retardants; Heavy metals; Micro resin particles; Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Bromine / analysis
  • China
  • Ecology*
  • Electronic Waste*
  • Metals, Heavy / analysis
  • Soil Microbiology
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis*

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Bromine