Burgos Melo Hansel David, de Souza-Araujo Juliana, Benavides Garzón Laura Geraldine, Macedo João Carlos, Cardoso Rafael, Mancini Sandro Donnini, Harrad Stuart, Rosa André Henrique
Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Av. Três de Março, 511, Alto da Boa Vista, 18087-180 Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
LAB3 S.A.S - KHYMÓS S.A.S, Bogotá, Colombia.
Sci Total Environ. 2024 Jan 1;906:167349. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167349. Epub 2023 Sep 26.
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been widely used as additives in polymeric products such as electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) to help meet fire safety regulations. However, some BFRs like polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are now listed under the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and banned in many countries, due to their adverse health impacts, environmental persistence, and capacity for bioaccumulation and long-range atmospheric transport. Despite this, in Brazil, only a few studies exist of the presence of these contaminants in the environment, and even fewer in waste EEE (WEEE). Against this backdrop, this study measured the presence of PBDEs in samples (n = 159) of WEEE in the metropolitan region of Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. PBDEs were detected in 149 samples, with concentrations in 18 samples exceeding the European Union's Low POP Content Limit (LPCL) of 1000 mg/kg. Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) was the congener present at the highest concentration in most samples, with those of other PBDEs such as BDE-47 much lower. In general, samples containing >1000 mg/kg are those categorised as display items and miscellaneous EEE (n = 15.27 %), comprising: parts from cathode ray tube TVs (n = 11), audio systems (n = 2), and LCD TVs (n = 2). In addition, in 5 % (n = 3) of IT and telecommunications equipment samples (computer parts) PBDE concentrations exceeded 1000 mg/kg. Our results show the need for greater control and monitoring of the presence of these pollutants in WEEE before recycling and final disposal, to prevent PBDEs entering the recycling stream.
溴化阻燃剂（BFRs）作为添加剂已被广泛应用于电子电气设备（EEE）等聚合物产品中，以帮助满足消防安全法规。然而，一些溴化阻燃剂，如多溴二苯醚（PBDEs），由于其对健康的不利影响、环境持久性、生物累积能力和远距离大气传输能力，现已被列入《关于持久性有机污染物的斯德哥尔摩公约》，并在许多国家被禁止使用。尽管如此，在巴西，关于这些污染物在环境中存在情况的研究很少，在废弃电子电气设备（WEEE）中的研究更少。在此背景下，本研究对巴西圣保罗州索罗卡巴大都市区的WEEE样本（n = 159）中PBDEs的存在情况进行了测量。在149个样本中检测到了PBDEs，其中18个样本的浓度超过了欧盟1000 mg/kg的低持久性有机污染物含量限值（LPCL）。十溴二苯醚（BDE - 209）是大多数样本中浓度最高的同系物，而其他PBDEs如BDE - 47的浓度则低得多。一般来说，含量>1000 mg/kg的样本属于显示物品和其他电子电气设备类别（n = 15.27%），包括：阴极射线管电视部件（n = 11）、音频系统（n = 2）和液晶电视（n = 2）。此外，在5%（n = 3）的信息技术和电信设备样本（计算机部件）中，PBDE浓度超过了1000 mg/kg。我们的研究结果表明，在回收和最终处置之前，需要对WEEE中这些污染物的存在情况进行更严格的控制和监测，以防止PBDEs进入回收流程。
