Composition changes, releases, and potential exposure risk of PBDEs from typical E-waste plastics.

Since Stockholm Convention listed polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) as persistent organic pollutants and banned their addition, alternative halogen flame retardants (AHFRs) have been substituted for PBDEs. This study systematically investigates the change trends of PBDEs and AHFRs from typical e-waste plastics and dust, as well as clarifying human exposure risks of PBDEs in formal and informal e-waste recycling enterprises, repair store and residential building. The results show that the PBDEs levels in five typical types of e-waste vary in the range of 1.08 × 10−3-30.8 μg/g, meeting the requirements of RoHS regulation. Compared with the residential buildings (1.49–1.68 μg/g), PBDEs in the dust from the formal and informal e-waste recycling enterprises are much higher, ranging from 4.70 to 536 μg/g. BDE-209 is the main congener in most e-waste plastic and dust samples. Meanwhile, AHFRs have become the important composition (3.5–61.5%) in e-waste plastics, while its contribution is lower in dust, implying the higher enrichment efficiency of PBDEs. For PBDEs exposure, the dust intake risk of PBDEs is much higher than skin contact for the workers, and the highest hazard quotient (HQ) value (1.40 × 10−1) and cancer risk (CR) value (1.21 × 10−7) both imply safe exposure levels. [Display omitted] • It firstly systemically explores the change trends and health risks of PBDEs. • PBDEs show a decreasing trend and have been gradually substituted for AHFRs. • The enrichment efficiency of PBDEs is higher than AHFRs in dust. • PBDEs exposure in Macau are much higher than that in Foshan. • Hazard quotient and cancer risk both imply safe exposure levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]