PM10 and Elemental Concentrations in a Dismantling Plant for Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment in Greece

Katerina Papaoikonomou; Christina Emmanouil; Vasiliki Vasilato; Evangelia Diapouli; Theodoros Grigoratos; Antigoni Zafirakou; Athanasios Kungolos

doi:10.4209/aaqr.2017.12.0557

PM10 and Elemental Concentrations in a Dismantling Plant for Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment in Greece

Katerina Papaoikonomou ¹, Christina Emmanouil¹, Vasiliki Vasilato², Evangelia Diapouli², Theodoros Grigoratos³, Antigoni Zafirakou⁴, Athanasios Kungolos⁴

¹Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Pedion Areos, 38334 Volos, Greece
²Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, N.C.S.R. “Demokritos”, 15341 Athens , Greece
³Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
⁴School of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Received: December 6, 2017
Revised: April 17, 2018
Accepted: April 19, 2018
Download Citation: ||https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2017.12.0557

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Cite this article:
Papaoikonomou, K., Emmanouil, C., Vasilato, V., Diapouli, E., Grigoratos, T., Zafirakou, A. and Kungolos, A. (2018). PM10 and Elemental Concentrations in a Dismantling Plant for Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment in Greece. Aerosol Air Qual. Res. 18: 1457-1469. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2017.12.0557

HIGHLIGHTS

PM₁₀ and some elements in PM₁₀ were measured in a WEEE recycling factory in Greece.
8 h PM₁₀ were lower than international standards but increased during working hours.
Some elements were enriched in PM₁₀ indicating sources other than dust resuspension.
PCA for some elements enabled distinction between CRTs and other WEEE.
Risk assessment for some metals of toxicological concern shows non-acceptable risk.

ABSTRACT

Processing Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) causes serious environmental problems, especially when WEEE is processed in uncontrolled conditions. WEEE recycling under controlled conditions consists of the following major steps: disassembly, upgrading and refinement. Disassembly is usually done manually, and, at this stage, certain components (cases, external cables, cathode ray tubes [CRTs], printed circuit boards [PCBs], batteries etc.) are separated. This activity releases coarse and fine particles, which may also contain additional noxious substances, into the atmosphere. The current study determines the concentration of indoor PM₁₀ in a Greek plant for the dismantling and temporary storage of WEEE, based on a short-term sampling campaign. Elemental concentrations in the PM₁₀ have also been determined. Results show that the indoor PM₁₀ concentration in the disassembly area did not exceed the time-weighted average (TWA) for total particles set by Greek legislation or the 8-h TWA for total particles set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Nevertheless, these concentrations were higher than those measured in the ambient air of Greek cities. Regarding the measured elements, Zn, As, Br, Pb and Cd were quite enriched in PM₁₀, indicating significant indoor sources. Factor analysis of elements of possible anthropogenic origin showed a clear distinction between cathode ray tubes (CRT) and other possible sources. Finally, the risk assessment for metals of toxicological concern showed a non-negligible lifetime risk for 8-h workers. This is the first report of WEEE indoor air pollution in Greece and its associated origins and effects.

Keywords: Indoor air pollution; PM10; WEEE recycling; Elemental composition; Disassembly.