Airborne volatile organic compounds at an e-waste site in Ghana: Source apportionment, exposure and health risks

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dc.contributor.authorLin, N.
dc.contributor.authorKwarteng, L.
dc.contributor.authorGodwin, C.
dc.contributor.authorWarner, S.
dc.contributor.authorRobins, T.
dc.contributor.authorArko-Mensah, J.
dc.contributor.authorFobil, J.N.
dc.contributor.authorBatterman, S.
dc.date.accessioned2021-07-26T13:27:09Z
dc.date.available2021-07-26T13:27:09Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.descriptionResearch Articleen_US
dc.description.abstractInformal e-waste recycling processes emit various air pollutants. While there are a number of pollutants of concern, little information exists on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) releases at e-waste sites. To assess occupational exposures and estimate health risks, we measured VOC levels at the Agbogbloshie e-waste site in Ghana, the largest e-waste site in Africa, by collecting both fixed-site and personal samples for analyzing a wide range of VOCs. A total of 54 VOCs were detected, dominated by aliphatic and aromatic compounds. Mean and median concentrations of the total target VOCs were 46 and 37 μg/m3 at the fixed sites, and 485 and 162 μg/m3 for the personal samples. Mean and median hazard ratios were 2.1 and 1.4, respectively, and cancer risks were 4.6 × 10-4 and 1.5 × 10-4. These risks were predominantly driven by naphthalene and benzene; chloroform and formaldehyde were also high in some samples. Based on the VOC composition, the major sources were industry, fuel evaporation and combustion. The concentration gradient across sites and the similarity of VOC profiles indicated that the e-waste site emissions reached neighboring communities. Our results suggest the need to protect e-waste workers from VOC exposure, and to limit emissions that can expose nearby populations.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/36476
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherJournal of Hazardous Materialsen_US
dc.subjectE-wasteen_US
dc.subjectVolatile organic compoundsen_US
dc.subjectSource apportionmenten_US
dc.subjectExposureen_US
dc.subjectHealth risken_US
dc.titleAirborne volatile organic compounds at an e-waste site in Ghana: Source apportionment, exposure and health risksen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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