The pollution and health risk of polychlorinated biphenyls in vegetables in e-waste recycling pollution area
2017
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are one of the typical persistent
organic pollutants, which have carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity and
endocrine disrupting effects. Due to the crudely electronic waste
(e-waste) recycling, the environment in study area was seriously polluted
by PCBs. It posed a threat to human health by environmental and dietary
exposure. According to our previous survey, the proportion of vegetables
in the dietary structure of local residents was very large, and the
vegetables were contaminated by PCBs. Samples of farmland vegetables,
soil, air, and water were collected from e-waste recycling pollution
area, remediated area and non-dismantling control area. By determining
and comparing the pollution levels and characteristics of PCBs in
these samples, the source of PCBs in vegetables was analyzed. With
the help of US EPA risk assessment model, the health risks of residents
exposed to local vegetables with PCBs contaminated were assessed.
The results showed that the average concentrations in three researching
areas were 226.68, 58.31 and 35.65 ng/g. Among them, the PCBs pollution
in leafy vegetables was significantly higher than that in underground
rhizomes and legumes. The di-chlorinated to tetra-chlorinated congeners
occupied largest proportion in the vegetables. The average PCBs concentration
of farmland soil samples in e-waste recycling pollution area was 315.90
ng/g, and the main PCB homologs were lower chlorinated. The average
PCB concentrations of air in three area were 103.59, 35.40 and 13.69
ng/m 3 , and the lower chlorinated congeners occupied largest
proportion. There was no significant difference of the PCB levels
between different irrigation water samples from e-waste recycling
pollution/remediated area and non- dismantling control area. Atmospheric
deposition and soil absorption were the potential sources of PCBs
in vegetables. Risk assessment indicated that the lifetime excess
carcinogenic risk and non-carcinogenic risk for residents in recycling
pollution area were 1.01×10 - 4 and 2.54, both of them were higher than the acceptable risk
level. The local restrictions on vegetable cultivation and the planting
structure adjustment were suggested.
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