Airborne Volatile Organic Compounds at an E-waste Site in Ghana: Source Apportionment, Exposure and Health Risks

Overview

Journal J Hazard Mater

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2021 Jun 27

PMID 34175701

Citations 3

Authors

Nan Lin

Lawrencia Kwarteng

Christopher Godwin

Sydni Warner

Thomas Robins

John Arko-Mensah

Julius N Fobil

Stuart Batterman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Informal e-waste recycling processes emit various air pollutants. While there are a number of pollutants of concern, little information exists on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) releases at e-waste sites. To assess occupational exposures and estimate health risks, we measured VOC levels at the Agbogbloshie e-waste site in Ghana, the largest e-waste site in Africa, by collecting both fixed-site and personal samples for analyzing a wide range of VOCs. A total of 54 VOCs were detected, dominated by aliphatic and aromatic compounds. Mean and median concentrations of the total target VOCs were 46 and 37 μg/m at the fixed sites, and 485 and 162 μg/m for the personal samples. Mean and median hazard ratios were 2.1 and 1.4, respectively, and cancer risks were 4.6 × 10 and 1.5 × 10. These risks were predominantly driven by naphthalene and benzene; chloroform and formaldehyde were also high in some samples. Based on the VOC composition, the major sources were industry, fuel evaporation and combustion. The concentration gradient across sites and the similarity of VOC profiles indicated that the e-waste site emissions reached neighboring communities. Our results suggest the need to protect e-waste workers from VOC exposure, and to limit emissions that can expose nearby populations.

Citing Articles

Human Exposure Levels of Volatile Organic Compounds in E-waste Recycling Area: Get Insight into Impacts of Manipulation Mode and Associations with Oxidative Stress Markers.

Yan M, Cheng Z, Zou Q, Zhao H, Yang L, Zhu H Environ Health (Wash). 2024; 1(6):405-415.

PMID: 39474053 PMC: 11503962. DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.3c00131.

Cross-shift changes in pulmonary function and occupational exposure to particulate matter among e-waste workers in Ghana.

Laskaris Z, ONeill M, Batterman S, Mukherjee B, Fobil J, Robins T Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1368112.

PMID: 38784567 PMC: 11111984. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1368112.

Health Risks Associated with Informal Electronic Waste Recycling in Africa: A Systematic Review.

Issah I, Arko-Mensah J, Agyekum T, Dwomoh D, Fobil J Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(21).

PMID: 36361155 PMC: 9655142. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114278.

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