Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Profiles, sources, and transport of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils affected by electronic waste recycling in Longtang, south China

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We studied the profiles, possible sources, and transport of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils from the Longtang area, which is an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling center in south China. The sum of 16 PAH concentrations ranged from 25 to 4,300 ng/g (dry weight basis) in the following order: pond sediment sites (77 ng/g), vegetable fields (129 ng/g), paddy fields (180 ng/g), wastelands (258 ng/g), dismantling sites (678 ng/g), and former open burning sites (2,340 ng/g). Naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene were the dominant PAHs and accounted for approximately 75 % of the total PAHs. The similar composition characteristics of PAHs and the significant correlations among individual, low molecular weight, high molecular weight, and total PAHs were found in all six sampling site types, thus indicating that PAHs originated from similar sources. The results of both isomeric ratios and principal component analyses confirmed that PAHs were mainly derived from the incomplete combustion of e-waste. The former open burning sites and dismantling sites were the main sources of PAHs. Soil samples that were taken closer to the point sources had high PAH concentrations. PAHs are transported via different soil profiles, including those in agricultural fields, and have been detected not only in 0- to 40-cm-deep soil but also in 40 cm to 80 cm-deep soil. PAH concentrations in soils in Longtang have been strongly affected by primitive e-waste recycling, particularly by former open burning activities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aamot, E., Steinnes, E., & Schmid, R. (1996). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Norwegian forest soils: impact of long range atmospheric transport. Environmental Pollution, 92, 275–280.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asante, K. A., Agusa, T., Biney, C. A., Agyekum, W. A., Bello, M., Otsuka, M., et al. (2012). Multi-trace element levels and arsenic speciation in urine of e-waste recycling workers from Agbogbloshie, Accra in Ghana. Science of the Total Environment, 424, 63–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bucheli, T. D., Blum, F., Desaules, A., & Gustafsson, O. (2004). Polycyclic aromatic hydro-carbons, black carbon, and molecular markers in soils of Switzerland. Chemosphere, 56, 1061–1076.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Budzinski, H., Jones, I., Bellocq, J., Pierard, C., & Garrigues, P. (1997). Evaluation of sediment contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Gironde estuary. Marine Chemistry, 58, 85–97.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cai, Q.-Y., Mo, C.–. H., Li, Y.–. H., Zeng, Q.-Y., Katsoyiannis, A., Wu, Q.-T., et al. (2007). Occurrence and assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils from vegetable fields of the Pearl River Delta, South China. Chemosphere, 68, 159–168.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, L., Ran, Y., Xing, B., Mai, B., He, J., Wei, X., et al. (2005). Contents and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides in vegetable soils of Guangzhou, China. Chemosphere, 60, 879–890.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng, W. J., Louie, P. K. K., Liu, W. K., Bi, X. H., Fu, J. M., & Wong, M. H. (2006a). Atmospheric levels and cytotoxicity of PAHs and heavy metals in TSP and PM2.5 at an electronic waste recycling site in southeast China. Atmospheric Environment, 40, 6945–6955.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng, H. M., Peng, P. A., Huang, W. L., & Song, J. Z. (2006b). Distribution and loadings of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Xijiang River in Guangdong, South China. Chemosphere, 64, 1401–1411.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galarneau, E. (2008). Source specificity and atmospheric processing of airborne PAHs: implications for source apportionment. Atmospheric Environment, 42, 8139–8149.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gioia, R., Eckhardt, S., Breivik, K., Jaward, F. M., Prieto, A., Nizzetto, L., et al. (2011). Evidence for major emissions of PCBs in the West African region. Environmental Science & Technology, 45(4), 1349–1355.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Golobočanin, D. D., Škrbić, B. D., & Miljević, N. R. (2004). Principal component analysis for soil contamination with PAHs. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 72, 219–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goosey, M., & Kellner, R. (2003). Recycling technologies for the treatment of end of life printed circuit boards (PCBs). Circuit World, 29(3), 33–37.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ha, N. N., Agusa, T., Ramu, K., Tu, N. P. C., Murata, S., Bulbule, K. A., et al. (2009). Contamination by trace elements at e-waste recycling sites in Bangalore, India. Chemosphere, 76, 9–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hicks, C., Dietmar, R., & Eugster, M. (2005). The recycling and disposal of electrical and electronic waste in China—legislative and market responses. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 25(5), 459–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, D.-Y., Peng, P. A., Xu, Y.-G., Deng, Y. Y., & Deng, H. M. (2009). Distribution and deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in precipitation in Guangzhou, South China. Journal of Environmental Science-China, 21, 655–661.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, Y.-F., Wang, X.-T., Wang, F., Jia, Y., Wu, M.–. H., Sheng, G.-Y., et al. (2009). Levels, composition profiles and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban soil of Shanghai, China. Chemosphere, 75, 1112–1118.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katsoyiannis, A., Terzi, E., & Cai, Q.-Y. (2007). On the use of PAH molecular diagnostic rations in sewage sludge for the understanding of the PAH sources. Is this use appropriate? Chemosphere, 69, 1337–1339.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katsoyiannis, A., Sweetman, A. J., & Jones, K. C. (2011). PAH molecular diagnostic ratios applied to atmospheric sources: a critical evaluation using two decades of source inventory and air concentration data from the UK. Environmental Science & Technology, 45, 8897–8906.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leung, A. O. W., Zheng, J., Yu, C. K., Liu, W. K., Wong, C. K. C., Cai, Z., et al. (2011). Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in surface dust at an e-waste processing site in southeast China. Environmental Science & Technology, 45(13), 5775–5782.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo, X.-J., Liu, J., Luo, Y., Zhang, X.-L., Wu, J.-P., Lin, Z., et al. (2009). Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in free-range domestic fowl from an e-waste recycling site in South China: Levels, profile and human dietary exposure. Environment International, 35, 253–258.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo, C.-L., Liu, C.-P., Wang, Y., Liu, X., Li, F.-B., Zhang, G., et al. (2011). Heavy metal contamination in soils and vegetables near an e-waste processing site, south China. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 186, 481–490.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma, L. L., Chu, S. G., Wang, X. T., Cheng, H. X., Liu, X. F., & Xu, X. B. (2005). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface soils from outskirts of Beijing, China. Chemosphere, 58, 1355–1363.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maliszewska-Kordybach, B. (1996). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in agricultural soils in Poland: preliminary proposals for criteria to evaluate the level of soil contamination. Applied Geochemistry, 11, 121–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ni, H. G., & Zeng, E. Y. (2009). Law enforcement and global collaboration are the keys to containing e-waste tsunami in China. Environmental Science & Technology, 43, 3991–3994.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NY/T 1121.6–2006. Soil Testing Part 6: Method for determination of soil organic matter.

  • Pies, C., Hoffmann, B., Petrowsky, J., Yang, Y., Ternes, T. A., & Hofmann, T. (2008). Characterization and source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in river bank soils. Chemosphere, 72, 1594–1601.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, B. H. (2009). E-waste: an assessment of global production and environmental impacts. Science of the Total Environment, 408(2), 183–191.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soclo, H. H., Garrigues, P., & Ewald, M. (2000). Origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coastal marine sediments: case studies in Cotonou (Benin) and Aquitaine (France) areas. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40, 387–396.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sthiannopkao, S., & Wong, M. H. (2013). Handling e-waste in developed and developing countries: initiative, practices, and consequences. Science of the Total Environment, 463–464, 1147–1153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, J., Wang, W., Liu, Z., & Ma, C. (2011). Recycling of waste printed circuit boards by microwave-induced pyrolysis and featured mechanical processing. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 50(20), 11763–11769.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z., Chen, J., Qiao, X., Yang, P., Tian, F., & Huang, L. (2007). Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from urban to rural soils: a case study in Dalian, China. Chemosphere, 68, 965–971.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y., Luo, C.-L., Li, J., Yin, H., Li, X.-D., & Zhang, G. (2011). Characterization of PBDEs in soils and vegetations near an e-waste recycling site in South China. Environmental Pollution, 159, 2443–2448.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y., Tian, Z., Zhu, H., Cheng, Z., Kang, M., Luo, C., et al. (2012). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils and vegetation near an e-waste recycling site in South China: concentration, distribution, source, and risk assessment. Science of the Total Environment, 439, 187–193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcke, W. (2000). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil—a review. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 163, 229–248.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Y., Zhang, J., & Zhu, Z. (2003). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments of the Yalujiang Estuary, North China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46, 619–625.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiang, D., Mou, P., Wang, J., Duan, G., & Zhang, H. (2007). Printed circuit board recycling process and its environmental impact assessment. International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 34(9), 1030–1036.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xue, M., Yang, Y., Ruan, J., & Xu, Z. (2011). Assessment of noise and heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb) in the ambience of the production line for recycling waste printed circuit boards. Environmental Science & Technology, 46(1), 494–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, X. Z., Gao, Y., Wu, S. C., Zhang, H. B., Cheung, K. C., & Wong, M. H. (2006). Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils at Guiyu area of China, affected by recycling of electronic waste using primitive technologies. Chemosphere, 65, 1500–1509.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yunker, M. B., Macdonald, R. W., Vingarzan, R., Mitchell, R. H., Goyette, D., & Sylvestre, S. (2002). PAHs in the Fraser River Basin: a critical appraisal of PAH ratios as indicators of PAH source and composition. Organic Geochemistry, 33, 489–515.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zakaria, M. P., Takada, H., Tsutsumi, S., Ohno, K., Yamada, J., Kouno, E., et al. (2002). Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in rivers and estuaries in Malaysia: a widespread input of petrogenic PAHs. Environmental Science & Technology, 36, 1907–1918.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H. B., Luo, Y. M., Wong, M. H., Zhao, Q. G., & Zhang, G. L. (2006). Distributions and concentrations of PAHs in Hong Kong soils. Environmental Pollution, 141, 107–114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, J., Jiang, Y., Zhou, J., Wu, B., Liang, Y., Peng, Z., et al. (2010). Elevated body burdens of PBDEs, dioxins, and PCBs on thyroid hormone homeostasis at an electronic waste recycling site in China. Environmental Science & Technology, 44(10), 3956–3962.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, K., Schnoor, J. L., & Zeng, E. Y. (2012). E-waste recycling: where does it go from here? Environmental Science & Technology, 46, 10861–10867.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuo, Q., Duan, Y. H., Yang, Y., Wang, X. J., & Tao, S. (2007). Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface soil in Tianjin, China. Environmental Pollution, 147, 303–310.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC No. 21277034), the NSFC-Guangdong Province Science Foundation (No. U1133004), the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (Nos. S2011010005901, S2012010010128, and S20110110006107), and the Guangzhou City Science-Technology Project (No. 2013J4100063).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Fang-Bai Li

    Present address: Guangdong Institute of Eco-Environmental and Soil Sciences, No. 808 Tianyuan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510650, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangdong Institute of Eco-Environmental and Soil Sciences, No. 808 Tianyuan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510650, China

    De-Yin Huang, Chuan-Ping Liu, Tong-Xu Liu, Cheng-Shuai Liu, Liang Tao & Yan Wang

Authors
  1. De-Yin Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chuan-Ping Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fang-Bai Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tong-Xu Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Cheng-Shuai Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Liang Tao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yan Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fang-Bai Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huang, DY., Liu, CP., Li, FB. et al. Profiles, sources, and transport of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils affected by electronic waste recycling in Longtang, south China. Environ Monit Assess 186, 3351–3364 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3622-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3622-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation