Adenuga Adeniyi Abiodun, Amos Olufemi David, Olajide Oluwatobi Deborah, Eludoyin Adebayo Oluwole, Idowu Oluwatope Olaniyi
Department of Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 220282, Nigeria.
Department of Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 220282, Nigeria.
Heliyon. 2022 Aug 20;8(8):e10296. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10296. eCollection 2022 Aug.
The global desire for modernization through technology has thrown up a major disposal challenge for e-wastes, especially in low-economic countries. This study assessed the environmental impacts and possible health risks of potentially toxic metals emanating from poorly managed e-wastes across three main representative sites in southwest Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from three major cities in Southwestern Nigeria and analyzed for As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni and Zn. Pollution assessments were done using indices including contamination factor (C), pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (PERI) coupled with evaluation of non-cancer and cancer health risks. Results showed enrichment of the local soil with metals due to e-wastes related activities, with an elevated level of C (>6), revealing that the soils around the e-waste dumpsites were severely contaminated. In addition, the assessment of individual metal potential ecological risk index (E ) showed a high level of potential ecological risk for Cd (E >320) at all the sites while As, Pb, Cu and Ni exhibited high ecological risk at the sites, especially at topsoil layer. Furthermore, the study established varying potentials for carcinogenic health risks for residents around the dumpsites, such that while a negligible risk index occurred for Cd and Ni (RI < 10), the risk is tolerable for Pb (0 < RI < 104) but within cancer-development range for As and Cr (RI > 10). The study concluded that poorly managed e-wastes in the area poses significant threats to the health of humans and the entire ecosystem. Further study is recommended to identify similar e-waste dumpsites at regional and national - scales for sustainable restoration and improved e-waste management.
全球通过技术实现现代化的愿望给电子垃圾带来了重大的处置挑战，尤其是在经济欠发达国家。本研究评估了尼日利亚西南部三个主要代表性地点管理不善的电子垃圾中潜在有毒金属对环境的影响及可能的健康风险。从尼日利亚西南部的三个主要城市采集了土壤样本，并分析了其中的砷、镉、铅、铜、铬、镍和锌。使用包括污染因子（C）、污染负荷指数（PLI）和潜在生态风险指数（PERI）等指标进行污染评估，并结合非癌症和癌症健康风险评估。结果表明，由于与电子垃圾相关的活动，当地土壤中金属含量富集，污染因子（C）水平升高（>6），表明电子垃圾倾倒场周围的土壤受到严重污染。此外，对单个金属潜在生态风险指数（E）的评估显示，所有地点的镉都具有很高的潜在生态风险（E>320），而砷、铅、铜和镍在这些地点也表现出高生态风险，尤其是在表层土壤。此外，该研究确定了倾倒场周围居民致癌健康风险的不同潜力，虽然镉和镍的风险指数可忽略不计（RI<10），铅的风险可容忍（0<RI<104），但砷和铬的风险处于癌症发展范围内（RI>10）。该研究得出结论，该地区管理不善的电子垃圾对人类健康和整个生态系统构成重大威胁。建议进一步研究，以在区域和国家层面识别类似的电子垃圾倾倒场，以实现可持续修复和改善电子垃圾管理。
