Toxicity characterization of waste mobile phone plastics

J Hazard Mater. 2009 Jan 15;161(1):183-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.03.067. Epub 2008 Mar 21.

Abstract

Waste plastic housing units (N=60) of mobile phones (of different models, and brands), were collected and analyzed for lead, cadmium, nickel and silver using atomic absorption spectrophotometry after acid digestion using a 1:1 mixture of H2SO4 and HNO3. The mean (+/-S.D.) and range of the results are 58.3+/-50.4mg/kg (5.0-340mg/kg) for Pb, 69.9+/-145mg/kg (4.6-1005mg/kg) for Cd, 432+/-1905mg/kg (5.0-11,000mg/kg) for Ni, and 403+/-1888mg/kg (5.0-12,500mg/kg) for Ag. Approximately 90% of the results for the various metals were < or =100mg/kg. Results greater than 300mg/kg were generally less than 7% for each metal and could be attributed to exogenous contamination of the samples. These results suggest that there may not be any immediate danger from end-of-life (EoL) mobile phone plastic housing if appropriately treated/managed. However, considering the large quantities generated and the present low-end management practices in most developing countries, such as open burning, there appears a genuine concern over the potential for environmental pollution and toxicity to man and the ecology.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Phone* / statistics & numerical data
  • Hazardous Waste* / statistics & numerical data
  • Metals / analysis
  • Nigeria
  • Plastics / analysis*
  • Plastics / toxicity*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Hazardous Waste
  • Metals
  • Plastics