Simultaneous Targeted And Non-Targeted Analysis Of Plastic-Related Contaminants In E-Waste Impacted Soil In Agbogbloshie, Ghana
Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Science of the Total Environment
Abstract
An LC-MS-based analytical method was developed and validated for simultaneous targeted analysis and
suspect screening of plastic-related contaminants in e-waste-impacted soils. Satisfactory recoveries (97 ± 13 %)
were achieved using ultrasound-assisted extraction for 14/15 of the targeted analytes (7 bisphenols and 8
plasticizers) in a range of agricultural and non-agricultural soils. The method was applied to 53 soil samples
collected in May 2015 in the region of Agbogbloshie (Ghana) at e-waste facilities (incl. Dump, trade, and burn).
sites), neighboring non-agricultural (incl. upstream, downstream, and community) and agricultural fields, and at
two control agricultural sites away from e-waste recycling facilities. Bisphenol A (BPA) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)
phthalate (DEHP) were the two dominant contaminants in e-waste soil (with concentrations up to 48.7 and
184 μg g− 1
respectively), especially at the trade site, where e-waste was sorted and dismantled. The non-targeted
workflow was successfully applied to identify additional plastic-related contaminants previously unreported in e-waste-impacted soils, including bis(2-propylheptyl) phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, trioctyl trimellitate, 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, diphenyl phosphate, and
triethylene glycol monobutyl ether. The agricultural soils surrounding the e-waste sites were also contaminated
by plastic-related chemicals (especially DEHP), highlighting the impact of e-waste activities on the surrounding
agricultural system.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Plasticizers, Suspect screening, Bisphenols