01‐02‐2018

Characterizing WEEE
 Trace Components  Organic chemicals
Electronic Waste Inorganic chemicals PCBs

ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH Issue Lead Flame retardants

Mercury
Dr BRAJESH KUMAR DUBEY Cadmium
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Beryllium
Arsenic
Silver

Lead
Toxicity Concerns

PWB

CRT

CRTs: Where is the Lead? CRTs: Where is the Lead?

Funnel Color CRTs Funnel Monochrome

CRTs
24% Pb 4% Pb

Face Face
0 – 3% Pb 0 – 3% Pb

Neck 30% Pb Neck 30% Pb

Frit 70% Pb

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Arsenic
Metals in Solder Semiconductors

 Solder types Antimony

 Tin/Lead
Solder, CRT glass
(63%Sn, 37%Pb)
 Tin/Copper
(99.2%Sn,0.8%Cu)
 Tin/Silver/Copper
Beryllium Cadmium
(95.5%Sn,3.9%Ag,0.6%Cu) plated contacts and switches,
CPU motherboard, heat sink
 Bismuth/Tin/Silver
plastics, batteries
(57%Bi, 42%Sn, 1%Ag)
 Tin/Silver/Bismuth/Copper Mercury
(96%Sn, 2.5%Ag, 1%Bi, Lighting, Switches, Relays
0.5%Cu)

Organic Chemicals Brominated Flame Retardants

O
 Polychlorinated biphenyls  Typical BFRs of Concern:
 Brominated flame retardants x y
 Polybrominated diphenylethers
(PBDEs)
 Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)

 Decabromodiphenyl ether (c-decaBDE)

 Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)

Br Br
CH 3
HO OH
CH 3
Br Br

Nickel Cadmium
Battery Pack

Semiconductors
Arsenic, Selenium

Battery
Lithium, Nickel, Cadmium

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Mercury Lamp
from Laptop

http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/02342/websitefinal/disposa

Routes of Exposure

 Lungs (through inhalation of dusts, metal fumes, and

vapors)
 Skin (through contact with dusts)
 Mouth (by ingestion)

Forecasting of generation of obsolete computers in developed and developing world

Yu et al. (2010), Environmental Science and Technology, 44(9) 3232-3237

Graphical Representation of Health 77

Hazard Potential Exposure Media

 Air
 Soil/dust
 Water
 Sediments
 Biota/food

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Characteristics of Hazardous Substances on the

CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous CERCLA Priority List
Substances
 Pose the most significant potential threat to human health
 The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
because they:
(ATSDR) has identified a list of the top 20 hazardous
Have known or suspected toxicity and
substances, known as the CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous
Substances. Have potential for human exposure at NPL sites

 This list is revised every two years.  A substance can be on the list if there is a high frequency of
occurrence and potential for human exposure even if it is not
among the most toxic substances.

Top 20 Hazardous Substances from the 2017

CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances Major Toxic Metals with Multiple Effects

1.Arsenic 11. Chloroform

2.Lead
12. Aroclor1260
Arsenic Mercury
3.Mercury
4.Vinyl chloride 13. DDT, P, P’ Beryllium Lead
5.Polychlorinated biphenyls 14. Aroclor1260
6.Benzene 15. Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene Cadmium Nickel
7.Cadmium 16. Trichloroethylene
8.Benzo(a)pyrene 17. Chromium, hexavalent Chromium
9.Polycyclic aromatic 18. Dieldrin
hydrocarbons 19. Phosphorus, white
10.Benzo(b)fluoranthene 20. Hexacholorobutadiene

Definition: Heavy Metals Arsenic

 A heavy metal has a high atomic weight with a  Varies in toxicity depending upon its chemical form
specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of  Byproduct of refining gold and other metals
water by five or more times at 4° C.  Used in pesticides, wood preservatives, and in manufacturing
processes
 Exposure can come from ingestion and inhalation.

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Standards for Arsenic Potential Health Effects of Arsenic

Exposure
 Skin, bladder, kidney, and liver cancer when ingested
 In 2001, the EPA announced the standard of 10 µg of arsenic  Lung cancer when inhaled
per liter of drinking water with the year 2006 set as the
compliance date for this standard.  Peripheral vascular disease

 This standard has been lowered from 50 µg of arsenic per  Cerebrovascular disease
liter of water.  Cardiovascular disease, e.g., hypertensive heart disease
 Diabetes (long-term exposure)
 Adverse pregnancy outcomes--spontaneous abortions,
stillbirths, and preterm births

Acute Toxic Metal Poisoning Symptoms of Long-Term Exposure at

Lower Levels

The symptoms of acute poisoning from exposure to  Reduced cognitive functioning

metals generally have rapid onset—from a few  Mimicking of chronic disease symptoms
minutes to approximately one hour.

Occupational Exposures Cadmium and the General Population

to Cadmium

 Occupational exposure to cadmium comes from the  Primary sources of cadmium exposure for the general
production of nickel cadmium batteries, zinc smelting, population are cigarette smoke and dietary cadmium.
manufacture of paint pigments, soldering, and from  Cadmium bioaccumulates in shellfish and is found in
employment in metal factories. some species of mushrooms.

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Effects of Cadmium Exposure Mercury

 Naturally occurring metal that is

 Osteoporosis in women
highly toxic
 Height loss in men
 Released into the environment as a by-
 Kidney damage product of industrial processes
 Elevated blood pressure  Coal-generated electric power plants
 Cardiovascular diseases are major source of Hg emissions
 “Itai-Itai” disease

Exposure to Mercury Legacy of Mercury Contamination

 At low levels, mercury represents a hazard to human Minamata disease

health because it becomes deposited in the beds of Water contamination around mines (e.g., New
lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water. Almeden) in California
 Microorganisms ingest these small amounts of
mercury.
 The process of bioaccumulation causes the mercury to
become more concentrated in aquatic invertebrates.

Target Organ: Nervous System

Spilled Liquid Mercury

e.g., Minamata Japan (1950’s)  Naturally a liquid at room temperature

 Mercury’s vapor pressure at room temperature produces
 Mercury discharged from factory
into bay air concentrations in excess of exposure limits
 Mercury transformed by microbes  Inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion
into methyl mercury  Clean-up is costly: special chemical scavenger
 Methyl mercury concentrates in compounds, vacuum equipment, PPE
fish
 then…. ?

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Lead
 Sources of environmental lead include leaded
gasoline, tap water from soldered pipes, and painted
surfaces in older buildings.
 Another common source of household lead exposure
is imported pottery that is used in food service.
Children and Exposure to Heavy Metals
(continued)
Nervous system damage
Memory impairment
Difficulty in learning
Range of behavioral problems, such as
hyperactivity syndrome and overt aggressiveness
01‐02‐2018
Lead Exposure
 Serious central nervous system (CNS) effects and other
adverse health consequences occur even when ingested
at low levels.
 Lead poisoning is one of the most common
environmental pediatric health problems in the United
States.
Heavy Metal Exposure among Children
Versus Adults
Because a child’s body weight is smaller than that
of adults, children consume more food in
proportion to their body weight and consequently
receive higher doses of heavy metals that may be
present in their food.
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Fetal Exposure Effects
 Lead and mercury have the capacity to cross the
placental barrier, causing potential fetal brain damage.
Effects of Hexavalent
Chromium(VI) Exposure
Digestive problems and damage to organs such
as the kidney and liver when ingested.
Produces skin ulcers when applied to the skin.
Inhaling chromium(VI) in high concentrations
may cause respiratory problems, for example,
nose bleeds, perforation of the nasal septum, and
runny nose.
Effects of Nickel Exposure
 One of the most common reactions to skin contact
with nickel is nickel allergy, manifested as contact
dermatitis.
 Cardiovascular-related and renal diseases as well as
fibrosis of the lungs
 Potential carcinogenic action
01‐02‐2018
Chromium
 Naturally occurring element in the earth’s crust (e.g.,
in rocks, soils, and materials of volcanic origin)
 Most common forms are:
chromium(0)
chromium(III): an essential nutrient
chromium(VI): classified as a carcinogen
Nickel
Classified as a heavy metal, nickel is one of the
constituents of the earth’s crust.
Human exposure to low levels of nickel is probably
universal and unavoidable.
Employed in the production of many of the
appliances and tools that are used in everyday life,
such as nickel cadmium batteries.
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What is Beryllium? “Chronic Beryllium Disease”

“CBD”
 Second lightest metal  replaces archaic term “berylliosis”
 Stiff  granulomas at multiple organ sites
 High melting  1st the lungs: shortness of breath
 Absorbs and distributes  Also: anorexia, fever, weight loss, night sweats
heat  Disabling, but treatable
 Reflects neutrons  Can be progressive & fatal
 Transmits x-rays  Signature disease
 Latency ~6 to 10 years (4 mo. - 30+ yrs)

Beryllium in the Workplace

“Beryllium Sensitivity” (BeS)

BeLPT
 Detects asymptomatic
people who have been
exposed.
 Early marker of
immune system’s
recognition of Be as
“foreign”
 Not yet ill on lymphocytes from
peripheral blood on lavaged lymphocytes

Copper and the Environment Exposure to Copper

 Copper appears in electrical wires, pipes, in Occurs by inhalation, ingestion of copper-

combination with other metals to form alloys, as a containing foods and water, and direct contact with
mildew inhibitor, and as a wood and leather the skin.
preservative.
Small amounts may dissolve into tap water from
 The ATSDR estimates that in the year 2000 alone,
copper piping, causing copper levels to become
approximately 1.4 billion pounds of copper were
released into the environment during industrial more concentrated when the water remains in the
processing. pipes overnight.

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Effects of Copper Exposure
 Concentrated amounts (far above trace levels) can
produce respiratory and gastrointestinal disturbances.
 Respiratory effects from dust include irritation of the
respiratory tract (e.g., nose and mouth).
 Very high levels are known to cause liver damage, renal
damage, and death.
Negative Effects of Excessive Amounts of
Zinc
 Consumption of large quantities is associated with
gastrointestinal problems such as stomach cramps, nausea, and
vomiting.
 Zinc also can cause anemia and damage to the pancreas.
 Breathing high concentrations of zinc in the workplace causes a
disease known as metal fume fever (“galvy” fever). This
condition appears to be an immune-mediated response that
originates in the lungs.
01‐02‐2018
Zinc
 A frequently occurring element found in the earth’s crust,
zinc permeates air, soil, water and, to some degree, all
foods.
 Used commercially as a coating for rust inhibition, as a
component of batteries, and in combination with other
metals to make brass, bronze, and other alloys.
“Galvanized” coatings.
 A nutritional element that is important for maintaining
health
Aluminum
 This silver-white metal is used widely in food and
beverage containers, in pots and pans, and in
construction sites.
 An ingredient in various medicines and cosmetics, for
example, buffered aspirin and antiperspirants
 Concern about possible association with Alzheimer’s
disease
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Odds ratio

Attributable risk

Odds ratio

Attributable risk
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1

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