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dc.contributor.authorMöckel, Claudia
dc.contributor.authorBreivik, Knut
dc.contributor.authorNøst, Therese Haugdahl
dc.contributor.authorSankoh, Alhaji
dc.contributor.authorJones, Kevin C.
dc.contributor.authorSweetman, Andrew
dc.date.accessioned2020-04-29T14:58:36Z
dc.date.available2020-04-29T14:58:36Z
dc.date.issued2020-02-25
dc.description.abstractOrganic contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and chlorinated paraffins (CPs)) and heavy metals and metalloids (Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Zn) were analysed in surface soil samples from the Agbogbloshie e-waste processing and dumping site in Accra (Ghana). In order to identify which of the pollutants are likely to be linked specifically to handling of e-waste, samples were also collected from the Kingtom general waste site in Freetown (Sierra Leone). The results were compared using principal component analyses (PCA). PBDE congeners found in technical octa-BDE mixtures, highly chlorinated PCBs and several heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd, Ag and Hg) showed elevated concentrations in the soils that are likely due to contamination by e-waste. PCAs associated those compounds with pyrogenic PAHs, suggesting that burning of e-waste, a common practice to isolate valuable metals, may cause this contamination. Moreover, other contamination pathways, especially incorporation of waste fragments into the soil, also appeared to play an important role in determining concentrations of some of the pollutants in the soil. Concentrations of several of these compounds were extremely high (especially PBDEs, heavy metals and SCCPs) and in some cases exceeded action guideline levels for soil. This indicates that exposure to these contaminants via the soil alone is potentially harmful to the recyclers and their families living on waste sites. Many organic contaminants and other exposure pathways such as inhalation are not yet included in such guidelines but may also be significant, given that deposition from the air following waste burning was identified as a major pollutant source.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMöckel C, Breivik K, Nøst TH, Sankoh, Jones KC, Sweetman A. Soil pollution at a major West African E-waste recycling site: Contamination pathways and implications for potential mitigation strategies. Environment International. 2020;137en_US
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 1807898
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.envint.2020.105563
dc.identifier.issn0160-4120
dc.identifier.issn1873-6750
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/18166
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherElsevieren_US
dc.relation.journalEnvironment International
dc.relation.projectIDNorges forskningsråd: 267574en_US
dc.relation.projectIDNorges forskningsråd: 213577en_US
dc.relation.projectIDinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/RCN/MILJØFORSK/267574/Norway/Source-Exposure Relationships for Airborne Organic Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Northern Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecosystems//en_US
dc.relation.projectIDinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/RCN/FRIHUMSAM/213577/Norway/Are reductions in environmental burdens of industrial organic contaminants in rich countries achieved partly by export of toxic waste?//en_US
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccessen_US
dc.rights.holderCopyright 2020 The Author(s)en_US
dc.subjectVDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450en_US
dc.subjectVDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450en_US
dc.titleSoil pollution at a major West African E-waste recycling site: Contamination pathways and implications for potential mitigation strategiesen_US
dc.type.versionpublishedVersionen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen_US
dc.typePeer revieweden_US


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