Comprehensive characterization of halogenated flame retardants and organophosphate esters in settled dust from informal e-waste and end-of-life vehicle processing sites in Vietnam: Occurrence, source estimation, and risk assessment

Anh Quoc Hoang; Ryogo Karyu; Nguyen Minh Tue; Akitoshi Goto; Le Huu Tuyen; Hidenori Matsukami; Go Suzuki; Shin Takahashi; Pham Hung Viet; Tatsuya Kunisue

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119809

Comprehensive characterization of halogenated flame retardants and organophosphate esters in settled dust from informal e-waste and end-of-life vehicle processing sites in Vietnam: Occurrence, source estimation, and risk assessment

Environ Pollut. 2022 Oct 1:310:119809. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119809. Epub 2022 Aug 2.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Chemistry, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, 11000, Viet Nam.
² Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8577, Japan.
³ Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8577, Japan; Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology for Environmental Quality and Food Safety Control (KLATEFOS), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 11400, Viet Nam.
⁴ University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 11400, Viet Nam.
⁵ Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305- 8506, Japan.
⁶ Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, 790-8566, Japan.
⁷ Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology for Environmental Quality and Food Safety Control (KLATEFOS), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 11400, Viet Nam.
⁸ Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8577, Japan. Electronic address: kunisue.tatsuya.ew@ehime-u.ac.jp.

PMID: 35931384
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119809

Abstract

Information about the co-occurrence of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) in the environment of informal waste processing areas is still limited, especially in emerging and developing countries. In this study, OPEs and HFRs including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), and chlorinated flame retardants (CFRs) were determined in settled dust from Vietnamese e-waste recycling (WR) and vehicle processing (VP) workshops. Pollutant concentrations decreased in the order: OPEs (median 1500; range 230-410,000 ng/g) ≈ PBDEs (1200; 58-250,000) > NBFRs (140; not detected - 250,000) > CFRs (13; 0.39-2200). HFR and OPE levels in the WR workshops for e-waste and obsolete plastic were significantly higher than in the VP workshops. Decabromodiphenyl ether and decabromodiphenyl ethane are major HFRs, accounting for 60 ± 26% and 25 ± 29% of total HFRs, respectively. Triphenyl phosphate, tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate, and tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate dominated the OPE profiles, accounting for 30 ± 25%, 25 ± 16%, and 24 ± 18% of total OPEs, respectively. The OPE profiles differed between WR and VP dust samples, implying different usage patterns of these substances in polymer materials for electric/electronic appliance and automotive industries. Human health risk related to dust-bound HFRs and OPEs in the study areas was low.

Keywords: E-waste; End-of-life vehicle; Halogenated flame retardants; Human exposure.; Organophosphate esters; Settled dust.

MeSH terms

Dust
Electronic Waste*
Environmental Monitoring
Esters
Flame Retardants*
Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
Humans
Organophosphates
Risk Assessment
Vietnam

Substances

Dust
Esters
Flame Retardants
Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
Organophosphates