Heavy metal pollution from standardized e-waste dismantling activities: Pollution index, risk assessment and intervening measures

Abstract

Due to the e-waste complexity and recycling technology limitations, more and more attention has been paid to the inevitable pollution in the standardized recycling process. This study systematically explores the heavy metals (HMs) (from surface dust) pollution characteristics and exposure risk of a typical e-waste dismantling plant (EDP) in South China. Further, this study explores the real level of health risks through valence analysis of a typical HM (Cr), and seeks effective measures to reduce exposure risk through behavioral science methods. The current results showed that the concentration of seven HMs in surface dust of the EDP is between ND-1.91×10⁴ mg/kg. All the HM assessment models showed that the EDP has a certain degree of HM pollution. The highest non-carcinogenic risk (2.10) and carcinogenic risk (1.60×10^-4) caused by the EDP were higher than the reference dose, indicating the high potential exposure risk of surface dust. However, the valence analysis showed that the health risk may be overestimated due to the fact that the existing carcinogenic risk of Cr is calculated in the form of Cr (VI). The behavioral science method showed that improving workers' standardized behavior habits and intentions is an effective way to avoid workers' exposure to HMs.